golden | d.ricciardo

eight

VIII. Lost and Found

AUSTRALIA: March 2023

FP1 and FP2: The practice races had finished and post interviews happening. Max was as usual busy with them. His best friend on the other hand was busy with something else.

After the practice races, Clara was doing her normal routine, leading the two racers to their interviews but no one can find where Daniel was.

Christian looked like he was going to bite Clara's head off. So, as part of her job she went around looking for him. Every nook and cranny of the place was somewhat turned over by her but it seemed as if Daniel had disappeared.

She was about to give up when she caught sight of a Red Bull hat on the corner of the garages and the hospitality areas. Pursing her lips she walked to it, she thanked the heavens that people were drawn towards the result of the free practice runs because between the buildings, that's where the missing driver had found his solice.

Daniel was sitting there, his hat on the ground, his race suit half on, displaying his white fireproof, his water bottle next to him and his headphones on. She walked to him with furrowed eyebrows.

"Daniel." she said as she tapped his shoulder. Daniel jumped a bit but relaxed when he looked up to see her. A concerned look on her face that made his mood lift up a bit. At least she cared.

She motioned to his headphones and he took them off. "What are you doing here?" she asked. Daniel looked around and shrugged, "Sitting."

Clara huffed and rolled her eyes, "I can see that." she said a bit annoyed but the feeling subsided when Daniel didn't retort any jokes back at her. That worried her. "Interviews are happening."

"I know."

Clara could not decipher what was happening to the driver, earlier wasn't a bad race, he was still excited from media day, what could have gone wrong? Her mind was being drowned with the possible reasons why the sudden change of behavior. But then her thoughts were interrupted by him.

"Are you just going to stand there or are you going to join me?" Daniel asked as he moved his hat and water bottle to the other side so that she has space to sit. Clara didn't say anything she just sat there.

She can hear the song playing from his headphones. A familiar tune of Harry Styles playing. "Golden?" "What?" Daniel asked but all she did was motion at the headphones. "Oh. Yeah. Do you- do you want to listen?"

Clara hummed and nodded, she watched as Daniel disconnected the phone from the device. The voice of Harry Styles singing filling the air around them. Daniel started to hum as he bopped his head to the beat.

The Dutch girl pursed her lips as she glanced at him. She knew she didn't have to say anything, after getting to know everyone, she had read how Daniel would share on his own pace, not when he is told to share.

He sighed making Clara turn to him. Furrowed eyebrows was what welcomed Daniel. He chuckled and turned to her slightly, pushing her eyebrows away from each other.

"My dad, he won't be able to come this race day. He isn't feeling the best and I don't want to sound selfish and I really worry about his health but I just wished he could be there."

Clara pursed her lips, looking at him as if asking permission if she could say something. Daniel laughed at this action, he was not used to this cautious version of Clara.

"Well...If he won't be able to come because of health reasons then maybe you can dedicate this race for him." Silence was what Daniel replied to her. Clearly, she had to explain further and she did. She just hoped that it would reach him.

"I know you're disappointed. But like what you said, you don't want to be selfish. Win this race for him. Do it for him."

Silence.

Clara didn't know if it worked. She stared at him as he played with his fingers, his eyes now focused on whatever he was doing.

She thought Daniel would need more than that but then he nodded. He replied, "I guess you're right." He shrugged his shoulders.

The PR Manager scoffed as she stood up, "Don't guess. I'm right." she said with a smile. "You are right."

Daniel stood up, a small smile on his face. Clara smiled back, it wasn't his usual smile but at least he was smiling.

"So what are you still doing here? Go and show him that this whole weekend is for him."

"I will."