Loud and Clear (F1 x CL16)

1. Winner

My head shot up as my door opened. Pierre walked in with a huge smile on his face. "How is my former teammate?" He said enthusiastically and he opened his arms.
I accepted his hug and squeezed him tight. "I'm fine. But how are you? First raceweekend with RedBull!" I punched his arm. Pierre got to drive for RedBull this year, an amazing opportunity since we both started last season. He had performed outstandingly last season and he deserved that RedBull seat.
"I'm so nervous. What if I don't qualify high enough? Or what if I crash? Jeez I'm flipping." Pierre was freaking out, I knew because I've known him since birth.
"Tu iras très bien, Pierre. Tu le mérite." I said to support him. "You'll do great." I said again to remind him. I gave him a reassuring smile.
"Ah you're the sweetest. I'll see you on the track? Okay?" Pierre hugged me one last time and then left again.
"Okay, bye?" I said as Pierre was out of sight. He was such a weirdo sometimes. It was like he had some kind of ADHD, one minute he was panicking and the next he's all switched up and ready to fight.
I shook my head. He was a weirdo, but my weirdo. Pierre and I knew each other since our mothers were very close. We were born in the same year and month, and were thereby immediately best friends. Our moms always did things together and we would play around in those moments. When I found out that Pierre started racing, I immediately wanted to start too, and look where that took me. I was amazing on track and had beaten Pierre multiple times. But Pierre got the better options. He was a boy, a perfect example for an amazing driver. Me, as a girl, didn't have those better options. I was stuck with what was given to me, talent is only a side effect. I was amazing in my karting years, but no one wanted me in GP2 when I was available. They all said I had 'lack of experience'. Which was bullshit since I started at the same time as Pierre. But now I'm here, in my own drivers room, getting ready for the first qualifying of the season.
I was hopeful, I always performed amazing at qualifying. And this season was already feeling good. I was not a rookie anymore and I was about to show everyone that.
A knock on my door made me jump up. "10 minutes till qualifying, you ready?" My performance couch, Anne, said on the other side of the door.
"All ready." I said as I opened my door and walked outside. We walked through the paddock to the garages. It was incredibly busy and I could barely see where I was going. Some people called my name, others asked for a few answers. I wasn't interested and just kept walking, head down and sunglasses on. I had to set my mind to racing, and not something—
My thoughts got interrupted as someone bumped into me. I fell back, but Anne caught me in time. "Jeez. Watch where you're going." I said to the person that just kept walking.
"Watch it girl—" the person started but they stopped as they turned around. Their eyes widened. "Brigitte." Charles said and I almost scowled.
"Charles. Didn't know you were that rude." I said, not quite sarcastically.
"Just as rude as you." Charles said and I scowled this time.
"Good luck with qualifying, you'll need it." I mentioned and waved over my shoulders as I walked off. I despised him. He was the worst person in my life and I'd say my one and only enemy. We met at karting, Pierre introduced me to him before the race. I qualified P2 earlier that day and Charles P1. At that point I was already mad, but more at myself because I couldn't be better than him. But when the race started... things went down pretty fast. Charles was a dangerous driver and I had to watch out where I placed my kart because he took all the space. When we were on the last lap, I was side to side with him. It was dangerous to stay beside him, because he still didn't give any space. But I pushed. I overtook him in the chicane, gave him some room to still fight, but when he took that space... he just shoved me off the track. I crashed into the barriers in the last corner just before the long straight where the finish line was. Charles still won the race and I did not finish the race.
But today was different. I wouldn't finish last. I wouldn't start last. Today I would show everyone who I really was.
We arrived at the garage, the team was already sprinting around and getting everything ready. My car was in the middle of the garage, almost 20 people were surrounding it and inspecting it. This year's car felt amazing at testing, and I was sure I would score some amazing points out on track. The pace was there, now only luck is what I needed. We weren't the fastest team. We didn't have a competitive car, not like Mercedes and RedBull. We were fighting more for the last five places that got points. Last season we ended in the standings at P6, amazing if you ask me. For the drivers championship I placed P12. It wasn't amazing, but everyone was really strong. I finished the season off with 50 points and a podium at Spa. This season was going to be better.
Anne passed my helmet and gloves to me. We were in a bit of a rush because of the interaction with Charles earlier, but I didn't care much. Qualifying was starting in 5 minutes. I was putting on my gloves when Alex walked towards me.
"Hey, good luck out there. I'll see you at the front-row right?" He jokingly said and I chuckled. I shook his hand and than put my helmet on. Alex walked back to his car and jumped in.
Game on.