Right On Track

Chapter 20

Kiara held back a smile and watched as Elijah ran up to Carlos,saying."Let me show you my kart."
Carlos smiled at him and stood up from the couch,letting Elijah lead him outside to the backyard.
Kiara kept her eyes on them through the lounge window.She looked at the two of them and smiled as they already seemed to be in a conversation about the kart.As much as she wouldn't admit it aloud,she actually didn't mind Carlos being around there anymore.It kind of started already when her mother and Elijah had returned home and seen Carlos.Seeing Elijah's excitement was the best part.
"You didn't tell me that he was coming." Alora said and seated herself beside Kiara on the couch.
"Didn't Charles at least tell you or something?"Kiara arched a brow.
Alora shrugged,refusing to meet Kiara's gaze.
Kiara narrowed her eyes at her sister and asked."What happened?"
"What?"
"Did something happen?"
"No."Alora shook her head.
Kiara didn't want to assume things,but she was suspecting that it had to do SOME with the new person she met over the weekend.
"You can talk to me,Alora." She said."Whenever you want to."
Alora gave her a reassuring smile and nodded."Thanks.But you can too,you know?"
"Oh,I'm fine." Kiara forced a little laugh.
"Hmm." Alora arched a brow,then motioned to the window.
Kiara,as much as she knew what she'd see when looking out,glanced out the window and saw Elijah showing Carlos his helmet.He said something to Carlos,making a few hand gestures and laughing a little.
Carlos laughed too,then looked towards the window.He met Kiara's gaze and she quickly averted her own.
"Alora,do me a favour and close the curtains."She said.
Alora laughed."Nope."
Kiara rolled her eyes and stood up from the couch,walking up the stairs and to her room.She flopped down on the bed with a sigh,lying down on her back and looking up at the ceiling.Alora just happened to follow her up the stairs,closing the room door behind her as she walked in.She sat down on the bed,leaning against the headboard.
"Okay,Ki." She started."Why did you invite him if you don't even want to look at him?"
Kiara didn't respond for a moment.She had to think about some answer to that,something that sounded believable.But eventually,she answered."Remember when we were in high school and I liked that one guy in our Math class?"
Alora caught onto the memory and clearly looked as though she was holding back a laugh."I'm soryy,Ki.But that was one hell of a bad one."
"Yeah,whatever."Kiara let out a weak laugh and made a hand gesture. "But do you remember how I would literally bunk that class just so I could avoid him?"
"Didn't make sense to me,but yeah.I remember."She nodded."And I also remember the yelling you got from dad after that one."
Kiara smiled at the memory.She missed that part of her life.
"So..."Alora said."What you're basically trying to say is that this is similar to what happened back then?"
"Well,kind of."She said."Basically,I have a bad habit and tend to avoid anyone I like at any costs."
Alora paused,looking down at Kiara with wide eyes."So,you admit it?"
"Maybe."Kiara replied.
Alora nearly squealed."I knew it!Oh my god,I was right!"
Kiara just sighed.
"But..."Alora trailed off.
"But what?"Kiara slowly sat up.
She shrugged."I mean...It's just funny."
"Why?"
"Because I saw the airport video."
"Oh."
"Yeah,that didn't seem like you were avoiding him."
Kiara groaned and pulled her knees up to her chest,leaning back against the headboard."I'm never going to go a while without hearing about that video."
"I mean,thank the paparazzi."
"For?!"
Alora laughed."At least you're a little forgiven now for your little stunt in the paddock when you kicked him.I'm surprised that Carlos let it go that easily."
"Alora..." Kiara sighed.
"What?"She raised he palms up in defence."You kissed him on the cheek.There is nothing wrong."
Kiara glared at her sister,then watches her laugh at her expression.
And to her surprise,she found the corners of her mouth slightly lifting up as well.

"We're going to be late!"Elijah exclaimed as he ran to the car and hopped in.
"No,we are not."Alora told him,climbing into the driver's seat.
"Elijah!"
Kiara sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose as her mother climbed into the front passanger seat with Elijah's helmet.
"Sure,Elijah.Go racing without a helmet."She clicked her tongue as she passed the helmet back to where he sat in the seat between Carlos and Kiara.
"Alora,go!"He said.
"Can you relax?"Alora snapped."We still have one-and-half hours till your race starts."
"Not enough time." He shook his head.
Kiara looked at Carlos,feeling a little embarrassed with the chaos in the car.He just smiled at her and shook his head,indicating that it wasn't bothering him at all.And she felt a little relieved at that.
Alora started to drive off,going a little faster because of Elijah's panicking.And thankfully,the track wasn't too far away.But Alora couldn't drive too fast even if she wanted to because of the trailer with Elijah's kart.
Kiara glanced Carlos's way,seeing that he was explaining a certain driving style to Elijah.
She looked away as soon as Carlos found her gaze on him.
About ten minutes later,they arrived at the track.Alora parked the car,then motioned for two people to come over for the kart.Two of Elijah's mechanics,who used to be close friends of his parents,came over and opened up the back of the trailer,greeting Carlos more than anyone else for few moments.
Elijah hopped out of the car and gathered some of his equipment from the trailer,Alora helping him.
"Anything I should help with?"Carlos offered.
Alora looked at the mechanics and they shook their heads,giving a thumbs-up.
"Show him around,Kiara."Lina said as she pulled Elijah's backpack out of the car.
Kiara looked back at Carlos,then at her mother.After a moment,she said to Carlos."Come on."
Kiara walked with Carlos through the area where the tents were pulled up,showing him the tent where Elijah's small crew would operate.He chuckled at the way she worded it over the house of the busy area,over the sounds of karts being tested out.
"He has quite a big passion for the sport."Carlos said as they walked along the grass path near the track."How far does he intend to take it?"
"He won't stop telling me about his plans for F1."She replied."So..."
Carlos laughed."Who knows?Maybe we'll compete against him one day."
"Oh,I'm not showing any mercy,if so."
They both laughed at that,and as she did so,he glanced her way and looked at her,his gaze softening.
Some silence passed by,then he said."Kiara..."
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry."
She stopped walking,both of them now under the shade of a tree.She lifted an eyebrow and waited for more of a response.
"For the way I spoke to you."He said."Trust me,telling you what I did became one of my biggest regrets."
She glanced around,not knowing how to respond.He was actually apologising?
"You don't have to forgive me,but I just wanted you to understand how much I beat myself up about it."He told her.
She studied his expression.His gaze said it all.He was being sincere.
Kiara didn't know how to respond at all.She usually didn't know how to respond to people apologising to her.But Carlos seemed to understand that.He gave her weak smile,then motioned for her to keep walking with him.And she did.
They started to make their way back to Elijah and everyone else in silence.But it wasn't the sort of silence that made her feel uncomfortable.It gave her a few moments to think.
And as they reached the tent,Kiara stopped Carlos just outside of it and said."I forgive you."
He nodded in thanks and she added."And I'm sorry,too."