Precious Star

Lead

"This is unbelievable!" The checkered flag, ready to be waved with the wind as the grid began to approach the finish line. "Legendary Ayrton Senna's bloodline has become the first woman to win her first ever grand prix in the bigs!" All the Ferrari mechanics were leaning over the wall, greeting me with smiles and cheers. "Alaina Senna takes it all in Baharain 2022!"

"Time? What was my time?"

"1:29:42"

"And Verstappens?"

"1:33:56! That's pole!"

"Yes, vamos!" [Let's go!] I cheered through my radio. "This is for Papa and Jules!" I looked up at the sky as I took my victory lap, the stars barely visible as the lights of the track and the fireworks took up their lights. Nonetheless, three stars shone brighter than any firework. They danced and shone brighter than any other night that I have seen.

~

Max and Checo sprayed me after our respective national anthems had played. Feeling sticky and sweaty was the last thing on my mind as my adrenaline was up in the skies. Jumping off my podium and spraying my mechanics as they looked up at the stage. They cheers and hugged each other, with pure joy and pride running through their body as their rookie took her first pole in her first grand prix. Everyone cheered me on, everyone but him.

The bright Ferrari suit stood out from everyone, besides his efforts to blend in and hide from the crowd. Crossed arm, leaning against the wall no sight of any possible happiness seen in his body language. He stood there, looking monotone. Not even a small smile or glistening in his eyes. God how can someone be so cold hearted and dull? "He can't even put up a fake smile," I whispered to Max.

"Don't take it personally, he's probably more mad about his DNF," Max whispered back, placing his hand on my lower back, leading me off the podium

"Let's cheer him up."

"Wh-?" Before he could finish his sentence I leaned over the stage flirtatiously waving down at Leclerc, smiling like a maniac. Proud of myself after his brows raised up and his mouth opened slightly, taken back from my gesture. Walking back my smile grew impossibly larger as I passed Max, patting his shoulder as he stood taken back as well. "Lieve God," [Dear God] Max sighed as he shook his head, following me off the stage. "Grace is going to be pissed."

"Grace loves me, everyone loves me. She won't be mad-" Before I could finish my sentence Grace's voice rang through our ears.

"Miss Alaina."

"Grace, what can I do you for?" I questioned, hugging my trophy as if they were my schoolbooks.

"That little stunt you pulled, really?"

Shrugging and smirking once again, his bewildered reaction replayed in my mind, "I was just waving at my fellow teammate."

"Darling, we all know that was backhanded. We will work on that," Grace scolded. In the short time I have gotten to know Grace I realized that she has taken up the role of motherhood, scolding me like one of her own.

"I'm going to rain check you on that," She just nodded her head before walking off. Turning my head I see Max became accompanied by none other than Carlos, Pierre, Lando, Daniel, and Lewis.

"Study what exactly?" the thick Spanish accent coming from Carlos.

"My notes, I need to review and study my notes. My turns were a bit tight at times and my-"

"Alaina!" they all shouted simultaneously.

"You did a wonderful job, better than any of us could have done on our debut," Lewis encouraged, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as he began to guide me to my driver's room.

"Exactly, now you need to go out and club with us," Pierre cheered, wrapping his arm around my other shoulder.

"Clubbing with you all is the worst possible decision I could make tonight-"

"Or the best," Lando said as he squeezed his way in between Lewis and me. He at me with the biggest puppy eyes, how could I say no to Landito?

"Meet me in the lobby in 2 hours."

"Yes!" They cheered dramatically before they ran off to their garages.

Max stayed behind, Redbull in hand with his suit wrapped around his waist the same way mines was currently. "You father and Jules couldn't be prouder."

A soft smile grew on my face, I couldn't bear responding to him, and he knew I wouldn't. He knew I couldn't. Max knew his limits on what he could and couldn't get out of me. Their deaths being something no one has been able to get me to talk about. I never received therapy, never plan to. Yeah people say it's worth it and how it helps heal, but I don't have anytime for that right now. I am in my prime, racing is my priority it's my life. I live and breathe it, same way my papa did and the same way Jules did. I just hope and pray I am able to meet their triumphs, and possibly make some of my own.