CHECKERED FLAG - c.l [2]

Sixteen

"Give us a twirl," Lewis calls as I step into the living room.

Dee had convinced me to go out for cocktails with them this evening, despite this trip being a training holiday, her words '5 won't hurt' rang through my head as I twirled around for Lewis.

I was wearing a short black, strapless dress with a long fur coat to keep me warm getting out of the car, the same dress I had worn on new year's in London with the group.

Dee had on a red version of the dress, her fair coloured skin complimenting it well as she had done a bold makeup look.

"You are a vision," Lewis kisses me on the cheek as I smile at him, he was wearing a white shirt, slightly undone with some brown suit trousers, his jacket slung behind his back.

"Now I'm saying this now, we're not going crazy tonight," I say as Dee forced a drink into my hand, telling me to drink it quickly.

"You said that on new year's, and who carried you out to the taxi home?" George's voice fills the room.

I turn to see him walking into the room wearing a black shirt, undone like Lewis's and black suit trousers, he had just showered so his hair was still wet as he approached us in the living room.

"So, George is pulling tonight," Dee raises her glass, taking a sip as she does so. "Let me get a photo of you guys," she goes on to say, pulling her film camera out of her purse.

I roll my eyes, walking up alongside George and Lewis who made me stand in the middle, the two of them posing for the photo while Dee counted down.

"I feel like my mum's taking yearbook photos of me all over again," George says through a smile, holding the pose as Dee continues to take photos, the flash blinding me every time.

"Take one of me and George then I'll get one with Lewis," I say passing her my phone.

George moves us to the armchair where he sits now and I perch on the arm, his hand on my hip as we pose.

He digs his fingers into my side, making me squeal falling off the arm onto his lap on the chair. We laugh as Dee continues to take the photos, Lewis coming around to the chair now as he helps me stand up off George's lap.

I feel George's hand on the back of my thigh as I'm standing, making me turn back to look at him as he stared up at me, a smirk on his face as I swat his hand away with a laugh.

I take some photos with Lewis and then Dee before we hear a beep from outside the door, signalling our driver was here to pick us up.

Although I had only had one drink, it went straight to my head as I had decided against dinner after skiing, nothing in my stomach to soak up the alcohol.

We drive into the nearest town, Dee telling us she had booked a table on the drive here. But as we pulled up to the building the line was wrapping around the block.

"I hope you got a booking confirmation Dee," I motion to the line as the car comes to a halt outside the door.

We hadn't made it obvious we were here in the Dolomites, but my Instagram story must've given it away as there was paparazzi lining the pavements, waiting for someone important to appear.

"Oh fuck," I say under my breath looking at all the cameras as Lewis goes to slide the door to the van open.

"You'll be fine," George squeezes my hand as Lewis steps out, the lights flashing immediately as he waves, saying hello to them.

A few people in the line scream as they see Lewis and George exit the van.

Dee was next to get out and I wish she had waited for me because there was a pause in us getting out, the crowd of paparazzi flooding around them.