golden | d.ricciardo

nine

IX. Race Day

AUSTRALIA: April 2023

Daniel and Max were prepping for the race, they were talking with their mechanics when Christian and Clara walked to them.

"Boys, you ready?" the team principal asked as Clara looked at them seriously. Max smirked at her but she just widened her eyes at him, "Yep." "Yeah." the drivers said. Christian shook his head at his drivers while chuckling, "Well if that's so, you know the drill Clara."

Max and Daniel groaned as Christian left them on the hands of their PR Manager. Clara smiled at then and opened her hands. Max groaned while Daniel huffed, "Oh stop it. You know the drill." Despite not liking it, they gave her their phones.

"Good luck Maxie." Clara said with a smile. Max chuckled, "Thanks Maeve." Daniel huffed, the best friends turned to him to see him with his arms crossed, "What about me?" he asked with a pout. Clara turned to Daniel and smiled. A genuine one, Daniel noted

"You'll do great. You have inspiration." she said with a shrug. Daniel couldn't help but smile wider, "I do." The two were smiling at each other making Max confused, what the hell happened. So, he decided to ruin the moment.

"Who? Maeve?" Clara shook her head and glared at Max, a little blush appearing on her cheeks. He smirked at her, challenging her. She rolled her eyes, "No Maxie, his dad."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Clara found me yesterday and took away my funk." Daniel answered nonchalantly. This made Max more confused, "Your funk?"

"His sadness." Max turned to his best friend, placed a hand on her forehead to check her temperature, "And you did this willingly?"

Clara pushed him away, "Yes." Max hummed and nodded, "So you forgave him?" Daniel looked at her hopefully. He had not stopped apologizing from what he had said and acted, hoping that she had already.

"Yes."

RACE DAY: Daniel had finished P2 just a few seconds behind Max. He was over the moon, when he got down the podium he was not expecting Clara to approach him . He expected to be reminded on interviews but was shocked at her words.

"Congratulations Daniel."

"Thank you."

Clara couldn't help but give him a smile. One that reached her eyes and one that made his heart jump. "You did it. For your dad."

Daniel laughed, a laugh that made him tilt his head back. One that Clara noted was genuine and real. "I did. Thank you."

"For what?"

"For reminding me how to handle it." Clara felt it, the tug in her chest. She gulped and nodded, "You've got it. Sometimes you just forget that there are people that can help you in times when you are drowning in emotion."

"Are you one of those people?" he asked hopefully. He waited patiently and when she spoke, his heart swelled.

"That's what I do."