Right On Track

Chapter 12

When Friday came by,Kiara found herself feeling a little uneasy.She wasn't having a good time with the car and she felt as if a new problem was rising in the vehicle.Throughout the first practice session,her driving had been a little shaky.Christian had even come onto the radio to tell her to focus.By the end of FP1,she placed eighth.And she had to admit,she felt like shit after that one,especially since Max flawlessly made his way to P1.
Fortunately,though,FP2 had been much better.She started to get a little more of an advantage and managed to get back where she wanted to be.She got third.It wasn't first,but it was still an improvement from FP1.And Santiago encouraged her on the radio and told her that she was slowly getting there.But he had also informed her that her efforts for first place wouldn't work out by the end of the session,which somewhat stopped her mood from moving over to the positive side.
"You okay?"Max asked Kiara when both of them were in the garage.
"I'm fine."She told him,gripping her helmet as she held it in her hands.
He gave her a flat look."You've been my teammate for a quite a while and I can definitely say that you're head was not in the drive today."
"It was just some car trouble."She said."Besides,it was just during FP1.Everything is fine."
"FP2 included."He added.
She frowned at him,since he was bringing up how she had nearly screwed up the second practice session.Okay,maybe she had gotten a little anxious at the final corner...But that was only because her mind had drifted to a moment from last year.Yes,it was irresponsible of her to do that while driving the car.But what else could she do?She was human,after all.
"You nearly spun into the barrier."Max said.
"Hmm."She gave him a sarcastic look."I'm aware."
"Kiara,"He told her."If something is on your mind-"
"Thank you,"She showed him a lazy smile."But I'm fine."
Max sighed,then shook his head and walked off.He wasn't going to push her for an answer.He knew that it would be a waste of time trying.
Kiara left for the drivers room,where she could maybe have a little time to herself.As she changed out of her racing suit and into a red bull polo shirt and jeans,she remembered what had just happened on track.The last corner of the track was where she messed up.Yes,it was her second time on driving at this track.But that didn't mean that certain parts of the track wouldn't remind her of the very first time she raced on it.That one final turn kept giving her the memory of when she had spun off at the Australian Grand Prix last year.It was normally an incident she tried to forget.But it was difficult,considering the fact that it was the exact same turn.She grew anxious every time she neared that corner and that was what was causing her driving to be a little shaky.Aside from the fact that she had received criticism after walking out that crash,what stayed in her mind was the fact that so much worse could have happened when her car was buried beneath that barrier.Moreover,the fact that she had blacked out for more than a minute.
"Hello."Someone tapped her on the shoulder when she exited the garage.
Kiara turned around to look at Alora,who seemed to be in a good mood.
"Hi."Kiara said to her sister.
Alora motioned for Kiara to walk with her,making a hand gesture.
Kiara shrugged,but soon started to walk through the paddock with her sister,saying."If this is about the press conference-"
Alora laughed lightly,taking off her sunglasses and looking down at Kiara."No,it's not."
"Good."She said."Because I was just being curti..ous."
"As much as I want to talk about it,"Alora said."I have another question to ask you."
"And that is?"Kiara arched a brow.
"Where do you want to go for your birthday?"Alora asked with a smile.
"Really,Alora?It's your birthday too."Kiara shook her head."That's in two weeks." And also something Kiara had forgotten about even though it was her own.
"I know."Alora said."That is why I am asking."
"I was just going to go back to Monte Carlo or maybe back to Spielberg."She told her sister.
"Don't be boring,Ki."
"I'm just saying-"
"We'll bring Mom and Elijah with."Alora said."And Dad,if he can make it."
"I wasn't planning to really-"
Alora put a hand up and cut her off."Hold on."
"What?"
"Name the first place that comes to mind."Alora said.
"Wait,"Kiara frowned."Why?"
"Just do it."
Kiara sighed."Fine."She took a moment,then said."Uhh...Spain."
"That's giving me certain thoughts about why you chose it."Alora laughed."Car-"
"No!"Kiara snapped."Not that!You said first place that comes to mind."
"Fine."She grinned."But where in Spain?"
Kiara put her hands on her hips and thought about that for a moment.The last time she had been to Spain,she had visited Ibiza.And before that,Madrid and Valencia.There were plenty of other places.But one part of the Balearic islands soon came to mind.One that a friend had visited and told her about.
Alora gave her a look that said. If you don't choose,I will.
"Formentara."Kiara told her sister.
"Okay."Alora said."That's where we're going for your birthday."
Kiara gave her sister a flat look.Alora just flashed her a grin.
"It's your birthday too."Kiara said."Where do you want to go?"
"I don't think we'll be able to have fun in two places in one day."Alora told her.
"We can go wherever you want for the day."Kiara said,trying to give Alora a say in it.
"No,"She shook her head."I think I'm fine with Formentara."
"Are you sure?"Kiara asked as they carried on walking around."Because-"
"We can go with my choice next year."Alora gave a thumbs-up.
"Oh,so we are doing the whole 'It's my turn next' sibling thing?"
"I guess so."Alora shrugged with a laugh.
Kiara gave her sister a nod of acknowledgment and she got a bright smile in return.
"And what are the Wolff twins finally agreeing on?"Charles chuckled as he approached.
"Birthday arrangements."Alora told him.
His eyes went wide."But your birthday is in December?"
"It's in two weeks,amigo."Carlos said as he came up beside Charles.
"Somebody has quite the memory."Alora said.
Carlos glanced at Kiara for a moment,then looked back at Alora."Just came to mind."
"Alora,"Charles said."You lied to me."
"Maybe..."Alora said.
"Why?"He quickly questioned.
Kiara shared a look with Carlos,confirming that both of them knew that Charles and Alora were going to be at it for a little while.
"I didn't want you to get me anything."Alora told Charles.
"Alora-"
Kiara moved away from Charles and Alora.Carlos did the same and stepped closer to her.
"What are you doing on that day,though?"Carlos asked.
"You are the second person to ask that."Kiara playfully rolled her eyes.
"Did someone beat me to it?"
"To asking me out?"She arched a brow."No.But I doubt the next person will be as slow as you."
He crossed his arms."Fine."
"Fine what?"
"Are you free tonight?"He asked.
"No..."She trailed off.She had a meeting later tonight...
"Exactly."He said."When are we even free this weekend?"
She sighed,nodding."Now I see what you mean."
"Next week."He said."What are you doing?"
She shrugged."Still to be scheduled."
"Okay,"He nodded,exhaling a little.
He took one more step closer and paused for a moment.Then,he asked with a little humour in his tone."Kiara,may I take you out for dinner Monday night?"
She hesitated for a moment,then decided to go silent for a bit.Obviously,he was eventually going to ask her.But it took him long enough.She soon decided to cause a little mischief.And maybe that little mischief could indicate that she was tired of waiting.
"Kiara?"He said,confusion slowly rising to his face as she faked her next move.
"Carlos."She looked away from him."I...It's-"She quickly tried to make it seem as if she was reconsidering everything.And she had to do her best not to smile as worry came to his face.So,she looked down and covered half of her face with a hand.
Carlos stood there,looking down at the ground while hesitating to say something.
"I'm sorry."He apologised."I pushed it,didn't I?"She could hear the apologetic tone and the hesitation to say anything more.
He was about to turn around.But she finally let herself smile,a short laugh leaving her as she grabbed his arm.
Carlos froze,looking down at her hand on him,then her grin.And in a few seconds,He caught on and loosed a sigh of relief and a shaky laugh,saying."Damn you,Wolff."
She laughed."You fell for that one so easily."
He closed his eyes for a moment."Don't do that again."
"Okay."She said."But no promises."
A smile slowly crept up to his face."So..."
"Yes,Carlos."She told him,dropping her hand from his arm and stepping back."I would like to go out with you."
A grin came up to his face and she turned around to walk back to the Red Bull garage,smiling a little.
As if she could hear it,she knew that for a moment he pumped his fist in the air,saying 'yes!' under his breath.She even heard Charles give a low whistle as she walked further away from them,trying not to glance back.
"What was that about?"Daniel asked as he caught up to her,glancing at her, then back at Carlos.
"Nothing."Kiara told him.
"That did not look like nothing."Daniel shook his head."And from the fact that you're smiling to yourself like that,I'm going to assume..."
"Assume whatever you want."She said.
He chuckled."Is this not the same guy you threatened to drown at a pool party?"
"That was last year,Daniel."She rolled her eyes.
"And the same guy you rejected in front of everyone in the paddock?"
"Shit,just stop mentioning that!"She snapped at him."Once again,that was last year."
"Yeah,but do you know what was this year?"He said,holding back a laugh.
"What?"She sighed.
"You whacked him with a golf stick."
"By accident!"She exclaimed.
He laughed and she clicked her tongue."How do you even know..."
"Lando."
"That little-"
"Hey,it's not his fault."Daniel said."Pierre asked him,then I asked Pierre."
She pinched the bridge of her nose,shaking her head while walking into the Red Bull garage with him.
Daniel ruffled up her hair and gave a thumbs-up before leaving.