Right On Track

Chapter 26

Carlos Sainz

Carlos glanced at his watch and swore under his breath.He was going to be late.Alora had given him a specific time and he was clearly going to go over it.Charles,who was drumming his fingers on the steering wheel,was probably thinking the same thing.
They had arrived together,Charles filling Carlos in with the details on the way.Kiara's plan was to get Charles over in time for dinner since it was,not only hers,but Alora's birthday tomorrow as well.Kiara considered this a 'risky surprise',according to Charles.And Charles was also really nervous as he had informed Carlos that he and Alora were not on the best of terms.
Carlos could relate to that.And he was equally as nervous as he was going to see Kiara again so soon.Just like Kiara had planned for Charles to come over,Alora had planned to surprise her sister with Carlos coming over.Alora had thought it to be a funny,yet also a helpful surprise.But Carlos didn't know what to believe.He tried to give the shortest and least detailed story to Alora when she had asked about his situation with Kiara.
"At least we manage to pull this off without letting either of them know what's coming."Charles said.
Carlos nodded in agreement,fidgeting with his fingers.Kiara had no idea about Carlos arriving.And Alora had no idea about Charles coming along.Both ways,there was a surprise for the Wolff twins.
Carlos glanced out the car window as Charles carried on driving.He sighed to himself,anxious.He didn't know how Kiara would react to it.She would probably want to punch him in the face.
He would let her,to be honest.Especially since her thought himself to be the problem in the first place when he had kissed her.If she was so uncomfortable with it,she should have spoken up.Or maybe he should have given it more time.But either way,he could still remember the wave of regret that drifted across her face for a moment.He couldn't help but feel embarrassed after that.He kept asking himself whether he had pressurised her too much that night.It sure seemed so by the way she refused to meet his gaze the next morning.
"Almost there..."Charles muttered,mostly to himself as he checked the GPS again.
"Formentara at this time of the year?"Carlos forced a laugh,trying to distract himself."They didn't plan this out too well."
"Alora prefers this type of weather,anyways."Charles said."She mentioned once that she wasn't too fond of the hot summer type."
"Kiara is similar,I guess."Carlos said."I think she prefers autumn."
"Let me guess,"Charles smiled."You learnt that from a threat she gave you?"
"Maybe..."
He laughed."Only you two,Carlos."
Carlos looked out the window,seeing a few small buildings come into view.He started to think about the picture Caco had made him post.It wasn't Carlos's choice.He had been against doing it without Kiara's permission.But Caco knew that she would refuse,so he made sure that Carlos just went ahead and posted it.To avoid any conflict,Carlos had asked Charles to comment something.
And he had mentioned Kiara in his own comment just to show that he was being apologetic for his behaviour when he had left.He hoped that she didn't take it the wrong way.
Charles stopped the car outside a little ocean-themed restaurant.He looked at Carlos and loosed a breath."Here we go,mate."
Carlos got out of the car,glancing around as the night breeze hit him.He walked with Charles towards the entrance,trying to act natural as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants after patting down his blue button-down shirt.
Charles,who loosed a sigh and dusted off his leather jacket entered first,asking the man who stood at the front about where to go.
Carlos nodded to the man,then followed Charles through the restaurant.And soon,after a few moments,Carlos heard the familiar voice of a little boy begging to have ice-cream as dessert.
"No!"Alora said."You already had some earlier."
"Alora."He pleaded,picking at his pasta.
Carlos and Charles approached the table,stopping at the head of the table.
Elijah dropped his fork into his bowl,eyes wide."Carlos!"
He hopped down from his seat and ran into Carlos's arms.
"Carlos?!"Kiara's eyes went wide.
Alora stood up from her chair."Charles,what the hell are you-"
Kiara stood up as well.She turned to Alora and said."Uhh...Surprise?"
Alora glared at her for a long moment.
Charles put a hand on the back of his neck and Carlos stood there,unsure of what to do.
Kiara snapped her attention to Carlos and pointed a finger at him."And what are you doing here,exactly?"
Alora tapped her on the shoulder,trying to imitate her sister's tone as she spoke."Surprise...?"
Kiara glanced between Carlos and Alora.Something like realisation came across her expression for a second.She blinked,surveying Carlos.
Elijah,who still clung to Carlos,giggled."Kiara is confused."
"Clearly."Carlos chuckled,giving Elijah a pat on the back.
"I...Uhh..."Charles let out a short,weak laugh,meeting Alora's gaze.She studied him for a long moment,then moved towards him and grabbed his arm,leading him away to most-likely kill him in private.They disappeared around a corner,maybe going outside onto the terrace.
"Fill me in later."Lina sighed,pinching the bridge of her nose and going back to eating.
Elijah moved to sit down again and Kiara glared at Carlos.
"Hi?"He said.
"Explain yourself,Sainz."She said,then grabbed his hand and tugged him away,pulling him towards the short hallway that led to the bathroom.
They stopped in the narrow hallway,a little out of view from anyone.
"Before you assume that I just tagged along with Charles,"Carlos said,raising his hands in defence."Alora wanted to surprise you since,you know,tomorrow is literally your birthday."
"But she knows-"Kiara stopped herself.
"Knows what?"Carlos crossed his arms."That we aren't on the 'perfect terms' that she wants us to be on?"
"Exactly."She rolled her eyes.
"Charles and Alora aren't in the best of situations either."Carlos pointed out."Yet,you still called Charles over."
"But...no that's-"Kiara stuttered."That's different."
"How so?"He stepped towards her.She took a step back,nearly against the wall.
"I was just trying to help."She said,her tone lowering.
He looked down at her,her gaze not meeting his.By her tone and expression,he could tell that she was being sincere.She was only trying to do something nice for her sister and she was probably going to be accused of doing something bad if Alora didn't see it that way.
He allowed his gaze to soften and tried to cheer her up,poking her shoulder while saying."I bet five bucks that you're plan is going to work."
Her expression lightened,a smile faltering at her lips.He looked down at that,thinking about how it had been less than a week that he had-
"Ten bucks that it'll work by tomorrow."She smiled a little,looking up at him with amusement shining in her brown eyes.It made him smile more,seeing that he had managed to lighten up her mood.
"The day we leave."Carlos stated."Ten."
She laughed for a moment,the sound causing him to go silent as he grinned.
That silence lasted a few moments,then her expression darkened once again.
"What's wrong?"He asked.
"Nothing."She shook her head.
"Kiara,"He said."Tell me."
She sighed,leaning her back against the wall."Please,tell me Caco and Lydia don't know about you coming here."
"Oh,Caco knows,obviously."
She pinched the bridge of her nose,shaking her head."Of course he does."
"But," Carlos added,causing her to pause and look up at him."I told him to leave us alone and that we need a break from the stunt."
She smiled,heaving a sigh of relief."Thank you."
He gave a reassuring smile in return.
Then,she gave a quick change to the subject before silence could fall over them once again.
"Okay..."She checked the watch on her wrist,slightly lifting the sleeve of her black cardigan."Before you start to ignore me again,let's eat dinner."Something shifted in her tone while saying it.
She started to walk off and the realisation hit him,the rememberance of how he had ignored her before he had left.And that explained her sudden change of tone...
She gave him no chance to reply to that as she walked away and back to the table,clearly trying to hide the upset expression with a forced smiled as he followed behind.
Carlos was about to ask her to give him a little more time to explain himself.But he soon stopped himself and realised that her should probably find a better time to do it.
Kiara sat down in her seat,across Elijah,who gulped down his glass of juice as if it was going to run away.She told him to slow down before he did something stupid and Carlos held back a smile at that.He liked how she went all parent-mode when it came to Elijah.He found it cute.
Carlos pulled out the chair beside Kiara and sat down.Whether or not she was bothered by it,she didn't show it.
Alora and Charles still weren't back yet.Carlos could only wish Charles good luck.
"Oh,my-" Kiara sighed as she looked at Elijah again.The little boy was trying to cut up his straw with a butter knife he had gotten hold of."Elijah,no!"
Elijah simply replied."My teacher says that plastic is bad for the ocean.So,I think if I cut it smaller,the pieces won't harm the water as much as before."
Kiara glared at him."That's not how it works.Now,put the knife down."
He ignored her and carried on with his little 'experiment'.Just as Lina was about to take action,Carlos leaned forward and said."Elijah,listen to Kiara."
He shook his head,not meeting Carlos's gaze.
Carlos arched a brow."You know,by cutting it smaller,there won't be much of a difference."
He looked up at that.
"You might actually make it harder for recycling."Carlos said,trying to break it down as simple as he could for the kid.
Elijah considered it for a moment,then looked at Kiara.She nodded and he sighed,setting the knife and straw aside.
"What are you?Some scientist?"Charles said as he came back to the table and sat down next to Elijah.Alora came along seconds later.Anyone could see that she was trying not to push Charles off that chair as she sat down next to him.
Elijah shrugged,saying."I was just trying something."
Carlos met Kiara's gaze as she turned to look at him.She looked away as soon as she saw that he noticed.
Kiara looked at her mother,who leaned forward in her seat and glanced between Charles and Carlos,apologising for not properly greeting them when they walked  in.Carlos just told her to brush it off,since he could see that she was tired.
Kiara called the waiter over to take down what was wanted by Charles and Carlos.After they ordered,Elijah went into a full conversation with Charles,mostly about racing.
Carlos glanced Kiara's way,observing her for a moment.She looked his way and met his gaze.Then,a little bit of amusement shone in her eyes for a brief moment.He didn't know the reason,but he didn't think to hard on it.

After dinner,they went to the villa.And Kiara,of course,was probably feeling the regret as she knew that Carlos was going to be staying under the same roof again.Alora was most-likely feeling the same in terms of Charles.
Kiara motioned towards the stairs that led upstairs and she said."Just go ahead and pick a room already."Soon after,she walked to lounge and sat down on the couch,leaving Carlos and Charles to "fend for themselves".
Carlos went upstairs,carrying his suitcase along with him.He didn't know where exactly to go.The first room on his right was occupied by Kiara's mother.The next one on the left was Elijah's.Beside her Elijah's,was what he assumed to be either Kiara or Alora's room.
There were seven rooms,with three left unoccupied.
Charles glanced at the room beside Alora's,seeing that it was empty.Well,Carlos hoped that it was Alora's.He didn't know how Charles just knew.
Carlos took note of the empty one at the end of the hall,next to Charles,though more than a couple of meters away.He went in and left his suitcase at the foot of the bed.
He sat down on the bed for a few moments and thought to himself.He wasn't exactly fully prepared for this trip.Alora had given him a call only three days in advance.He wanted to set things right one time while he was here.He wanted to now show Kiara how he felt regret after he had ignores her complete that day he had left Austria.
"You look wierd when you do that."Someone said from the doorway.
Carlos blinked out of his train of thought and looked at Kiara as she stepped into the room."Do what?"
She shrugged,a smiled faltering at her lips."That face you make when you're completely zoned out."
"Haha,very funny."He said sarcastically.
She smiled,then shut the door behind herself and slowly approached him.He still sat on the edge of the bed,watching her movements while wondering what this woman was up to.
She stopped right in front of him,not even inches too far.
Carlos grew a little confused as he looked up at her face,which had mischief written all over it.He didn't know what to do,what exactly she was asking for.So,he  just sat there and looked up at her,waiting for an answer.
"It's okay."She said,referring to what she had said earlier about his expression when he was completely spaced out."It's funny.But I also find it cute."
"Cute?"He grinned,then lifted an eyebrow as she grabbed both of his hands and placed them on her hips."Oh..."
She leaned down and he needed to spread his legs a bit at that as she put one hand on his shoulder and the other on the back of his neck,her untied hair slightly come forward.
"Kiara,"He started."Are you sure-"
She kissed him before he could finish his sentance.
Carlos's eyes went wide for a moment,but he soon went along with it,seeing that she was doing what she wanted to.
It lasted a few seconds,Carlos savouring it while it happened.He found it surprising,but went with the flow.One of his hands trailed up to cup her face,but she grabbed it before he could.He didn't care.He just allowed her to do whatever the hell she wanted.
But just when he thought she would go for more,she paused.
Then,she completely pulled back with a sly grin.And before Carlos could do or say anything more,she left him sitting there alone again as she left the room and shut the door behind herself.
Carlos sat there,confused as fuck.
"What..."He frowned to himself,feeling a little empty as he was once again alone in the room.
Then,the realisation hit him.And the puzzled look vanished from his face as he realized what was her intentions as she had done what she did.She was basically walking out on purpose.She was taunting him.He tried not to smirk at that thought.