Right On Track

Chapter 7

After leaving Saudi Arabia and catching a flight to Spielberg,Kiara sat with a smile on her face as her driver took her to her home. Throughout the drive from the airport,she leaned back in her seat and looked out the window at all her surroundings.The last time she had been home was in February.It wasn't a very long time,but she always missed home.Being a driver also meant that she had to travel a lot,which increased the longing to be at home and with family members.Of course,she grew used to the travelling.But the longing never came to an end.
The car soon pulled up in front of the house,the cream exterior coming into view.
Kiara got out of the car,the driver fetching her bags from the back.She left him to it and approached the front door,stepping onto the large wooden porch and approaching the door.
Just before she could knock or ring the doorbell,the door swung open and someone dashed into her arms.
Kiara looked down at Elijah with a laugh,her cousin holding her tightly while saying."I didn't know when you were coming back."
She ruffled up his brown hair and asked."Didn't aunty Lina tell you?"
"Nope."He shook his head."She must have forgotten."
Kiara pursed her lips for a moment,then forced a smile and knelt down,hugging Elijah.Her mother,for some time now,had started to have trouble remembering things.She would always insist that she had an excellent memory.But even Alora and Elijah could agree with Kiara when she said that her mother could even forget her own birthday at one point.
Kiara and Elijah stepped aside to let Timothee,the driver,pass through with the bags.
"It's a bit chilly to be wearing shorts,Elijah."She motioned to his blue shorts and t-shirt,then to her own coat that she wore.
He shrugged and looked up at her with his hazel eyes.He seemed to start a sentance,but stopped just at the beginning,a frown coming to his face as he mumbled a word.
Elijah was learning to speak German.He wasn't from around here,since he was born in London,where his father was from.He lived there till the time he just turned five.He moved in last year with Kiara's mother after an accident with bad consequences.Elijah had been left without parents after the incident.And it always pained Kiara to even think about it.Every time she would look her cousin,she thought about his parents.
"When is Alora coming?"Elijah asked as they entered.
"Maybe tomorrow."Kiara said while following him through the house.She walked with him to the kitchen,looking around for her mother in the process.
Standing near the kitchen island,her mother looked up from the dish she prepared and immediately set it aside.
"Oh,my god."She said,excitement in her voice."You're already back."
Kiara nodded and smiled,hugging her mother as she rushed over to her.
"And Alora is coming tomorrow."Elijah put in,running over to one of the kitchen counters.
Kiara didn't focus on what the little boy did,though.She looked at her mother,who smiled widely squeezed her in a hug once again while exclaiming."You won!"
"Yeah!"Elijah said from behind."I saw it all on TV.It was amazing."
"Thanks."She told them,moving out of her mother's tight grasp.
She was about to carry on with a conversation with her mother,but Elija grabbed her hand."Come on!"He insisted.
"Okay..."She smiled,lifting a brow as he pulled her over to the counter nearby.
He pointed at the table and let go of her hand,picking up the helmet that rested on the granite surface.
"I got a new one."He joyfully said,handing it to her.
She took it from him and grinned as she looked at the custom design and mixtures of the colours blue and black with two thin,dark purple stripes running along the side.It was a design that looked just like her own helmet.The only difference was that she had the Red Bull logo on both sides,on top of the purple stripes.And,obviously,the number was different.
"Cool."Kiara told Elijah.
He gave a toothy smile in return.
But just as she passed it back to him,she paused and pointed at the red lines that outlined the purple ones.The same red was used for his number.
"I see you added a design of your own."She handed it back to him.
"Red for Ferrari."He giggled.
She let her mouth fall open,then put a hand on her chest to seem offended."But what about Red Bull?"
He traced the red outlines while tilting his head to one side."I prefer Ferrari."
"Oh no."Lina said,trying to sound dramatic for Elijah.
And just when Kiara thought that things couldn't get any worse,Elijah said."Carlos Sainz is better than you."
"I am offended."She said,crossing her arms.
"It's just true."He said,trying to sound innocent.
"Does Carlos Sainz have more than fourty points so far?"She arched a brow at him,the corners of her mouth slightly lifting.
Elijah put the helmet back on the counter and folded his arms.His bottom lip stuck out as he began to pout.
"All right,"Kiara heard her mother tell him."Why don't you go and play on your video box thing?"
He frowned."It's called an X-box,Aunty Lina."
"Yeah,Aunty Lina."Kiara leaned against the counter."Get it right."
Lina rolled her eyes and motioned for Elijah to carry on.He grabbed the helmet and ran off,disappearing down the hallway to the lounge.
Once he was gone,Kiara looked at her mother and said."That was unexpected."
Lina shook her head."He went whole Ferrari mode after you left."
Footsteps approached the kitchen.Timothee nodded and informed Kiara that her bags were placed in her bedroom.She thanked him,then greeted him as he left.
"I knew he liked Ferrari..."Kiara said."But it wasn't this much before I left."
Her mother laughed."You are just complaining because his favourite is Carlos."
"Why shouldn't I complain about that?"Kiara crossed her arms."I mean...Out of all drivers-"
"Let the boy support who he wants to."
Kiara sighed and let it slide,moving over to help her mother with whatever she was preparing.She chose not to mention Nathan while doing so.But she happily answered questions about the race and the start of the season.
"So Alora is coming tomorrow?"
Kiara nodded."But she'll only be here for two nights."
"Only?"
"She has some things to do at the factory."
"Oh."
Kiara walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed a can of Red Bull,taking a sip while leaving the kitchen and walking to her room.
When she entered her room,she sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled out her phone.She opened up a few messages that she had received,mainly replying to Ivy's.