Escaping

Chapter 10: First race

At the exact moment i walk out of ferrari's garage, i see a running Kika coming in my direction.

-We need to talk Beth.

-Is something wrong?

-Yes there is ! But we can not talk about it here, there's to much ears around.

-Yeah, okay, let's go.

After walking for a while, we finally found a place with no people around.

-Why did Pierre told me Charles called him because you were not talking to him?

-He did?

-Yes !!! He told Pierre you barely said any word and you ditched his hug. And this morning you told him you would get a cab to come to the track in the afternoon. What have gotten into you?

When she says that all together, it sounds really bad. 

-Do you realize how hurt he must be? And i know it hurts you too. Why would you do that?

-I'm doing that for his own good you know ! It's not like i enjoy not talking to him. My voice thightens as i speak. We lived together for a few weeks now, of course it feels wrong no talking to me.

-Then why? I don't understand.

-Because i can not take care of him if he's in love with me! My dad killed my mom because she was in love with him. I don't want to kill Charles.

She looks at me with wide eyes, speechless. Sudenly, she takes me in her arms tightly.

-Oh my god. Beth, it's not what is gonna happen. She takes my face in her hands for me to look at her. Your dad was a bad person. Really bad. But you're not. You're sweet, and smart, and amazing. You can love, and be loved. And if there's one thing that is gonna kill Chalres, it's your silence. 

-He raised me, i don't see how i could be any different.

-He did not make you bad, he left you traumatised. It means you need more love than any other person. That's all. And Charles can give you that love. I'm not telling you to date him, but just as a friend, he will give you all that love you are craving for.

-I..i no, it's not what it is.

-You are pushing away love because you were not used to receive it and the unknown is scary. But i promise you, all you're gonna do is hurt him, which is exacly the thing you're trying to avoid.

I did hurt him. For two entire days, i ignored the most important person in my life.

-Fuck, you're right. Oh god, what do i do now? I ruined everything.

-No you did not. but you need to find him before he goes into that fucking car and speak to him.

-The race start in 10min, he's gonna go in any moment now.

-I think that means you need to run.

I quickly hug her before starting running towards ferrari's garage. In no time, i enter by behind, and keep running in the building. From afar i see Charles putting his helmet on and starts going in the car.

-Charles!

He stops what he is doing to look at me and i run as fast as i can in his arms.

-Charles i am so freacking sorry i have been ignoring you lately. I'll explain everything once the race is finished. Please be safe. Do your best. 

His arms slowly takes their usual place around me when i stop talking.

-I missed you. He holds me really tight, like he's afraid i might escape.

-I'm so sorry.

He looks at me through his helmet. 

-I tought you were never gonna talk to me again.

-I could never stop talking to you.

Someone from behind say that there's only seven minutes till the race starts and that Charles really needed to go.

-I'll see you later Beth.

-Be careful.

He gently puts his hand on my head before going in his car.

Half of the race has passed now, and Charles has gained five position, and is now P4. I was watching the race from the tv, and whan i hear the engineers asking Charles to pit, i decide to go see him. I see his car arrive, and within two second, he is gone already. I hear some whispearing about Charles undercutting someone, but i have no idea what that means. A girl slowly approach me, and starts talking to me.

-Hey you must be Charles's guest. I'm Luna, it's nice to meet you. She says smiling.

She extend her hand for me to shake it. I do it while responding to her.

-Yes, i'm Beth, nice to meet you too. You work here?

-Yeah, i'm one of the manager. You seemed a little lost. If there's something you don't understand, you can ask me.

-In fact, i barely know anything about formula 1, i'm just here to support Charles, so i was wondering what everyone was talking about? Like, what did Charles do?

-I understand, it can be quite confusing at first, but you'll learn pretty quickly.  Right now, Charles is trying to overtake someone by pitting sooner than the driver ahead of him. The pitstop in the center of race strategy.

-Oh, i see. And do you think it's gonna work?

-Well, it depends on the driver's performance, but Charles has been doing good today, he drives pretty safely. It's actually quite surprising, he usually have a very agressive style.

Suddenly, the mechanics around us start screaming in joy, and i realize Charles is now P2. He is now trying to reach Max, who is first. There's now only six laps left, and Charles is right behind the leader, but he does not seem to find any opportunity to overtake him. Even if i don't watch f1, i've heard Max's reputation, and i'm scared Charles may not be able to overtake him in so little laps left, even though he has fresh tires. I'm watching carefully as the laps pass, when suddenly, at only one lap from the end, charles overtakes Max during a turn. Everyone in the garage is screaming and celebrating, but i stay focus until he pass the finish line.When he does, i let out a sigh of relief.

Charles just won the azerbaidjan grand prix.