Right On Track

Chapter 30

"I should kick you right now."Kiara held back a grin and walked up to Lydia as soon as she entered the paddock.
"Necessary tasks."Lydia winked."But anyway...How was your "media free" birthday trip?"
Kiara crossed her arms at her PR managemer,saying."Not too bad,especially since I was free of this annoying stunt."
Lydia shrugged."I hate to break it to you,but this "stupid stunt" has to still carry on now that you're back.We can't exactly just stop it."
Kiara groaned,rolling her eyes.
"Come on,Ki."Lydia said."You had time off already."
"I know,I know."She sighed.
"Plus,today is Thursday."Lydia added."Media day,moreover."
Kiara checked her watch,glancing around the paddock.Then,pursed her lips and nodded."What's first?"

"So,are you positive that you will be able to reclaim that speed streak of yours after what happened at the Australian Grand Prix?"The Sky Sports interviewer asked Kiara.
Kiara thought about that for a moment,trying not to glance around the media pen.
She eventually nodded,replying."I think that I'm ready to get in the car and push to the front again..."She carried on,giving the reporters the answers they wanted.
Though,she wasn't lying when she had said that she wanted to push to the front this weekend.She also knew that the  sprint format was something she had to get a little used to,since it would be used this weekend.When asked for her opinion on the weekend format,she had simply told them what was on her mind about it.It was that she would have to wait and see whether it was something to take a liking to or not.
As the interview for the Thursday driver wrap came to an end,Kiara looked around the media pen.She saw Ivy nearby,still stuck with one of the interviewers.Lando was nearby too,occasionally glancing at his teammate,who refused to look at him.
Kiara's eyes drifted to one side of the paddock,looking for someone.But instead of seeing who she had originally started to look for,she met the gaze of Esteban Ocon.He waved,then she waved back.
"You're part of the second conference,Ki."Lydia said while walking up to her,checking her phone."In...ten minutes."
Kiara tore her gaze away and looked at Lydia."Ten minutes?I think I deserve a better notice."
"Well,you know now."Lydia said,starting off and motioning for Kiara to follow her.
Kiara sighed.She wasn't exactly in the mood for a press conference.If anything,she should be-
"Woah-"Kiara nearly tripped over the cord of a camera.She stumbled a little,but managed to catch her balance again,feeling a little annoyed at that.If that was caught on camera,that was about to become a meme in about...ten minutes or so?
She looked around,hoping that not too many people had seen it already.And just to her troubled luck,Esteban laughed a little at her from nearby as he walked away from his finished interview.He approached her and asked."You alright?"
"Can we not talk about that?"She shook her head.
He chuckled."Okay."
To her left,Max walked by and held back a smile.But his gaze asked whether she was okay.She sent a nod his way,then turned back to Esteban and said."I have to go to the press conference now."
He nodded,starting to walk off."See you around,Wolff."
"Huh?"Kiara heard her father say,turning around and glancing around.
She shook her head at him."Not you,dad."
"Oh."He frowned."Too many Wolffs in the paddock."
Kiara shrugged,then started to walk away with Lydia.
On her way to the press conference,she managed to glance at the Ferrari motorhome,just in time to see the certain driver walk out.He didn't notice her easily with the amount of people walking about.But he once he did,he smiled at her,then carried on walking towards the media pen,glancing over his shoulder to look one more time.
Kiara tore her gaze away from Carlos and followed Lydia further,finally reaching the press conference room.If she had the courage and the time,she would have asked Carlos about who he went out with.But then again,it wasn't like he needed to answer before her for everything.Yes,they were in a relationship in the eyes of the media.But it's not like they were actually together behind the scenes.And that meant that either of them had the right to do what they wanted without having to ask the other.
After the conference,Kiara was almost done with her schedule.She walked out of the conference room with Pierre,talking to each other about how their break went.
"So,I fell off the golf cart..."Pierre said,trying to make her laugh as he noticed the grim look on her face.
She did,though,snicker at that and said."I can bet it happened more than once."
He shrugged."Kika said the same thing."
"She's not wrong."Kiara said."Speeding across the golf course wasn't the best idea."
He crossed his arms."At least it didn't crash."
Kiara shook her head at him."I can't with you-"
"What did he do now?"Esteban caught up to them,walking beside Pierre.
"Fell off the golf cart while speeding through the course."Kiara playfully rolled her eyes.
"Ok,that should have been on video."He laughed.
Pierre frowned."Trust me,it was on video."
"Send it!"Kiara demanded.
"Nope."
Esteban sighed."Come on,mate.Just send it."
Pierre scowled."Leave me alone!"
Kiara laughed at him,then looked at Esteban and said."Your teammate looks as if he's desperate to hide right now."
"Normally,that's me after I try to prank him."He said."It's either that or call my mechanics for help."
"What,you two have baguette fights instead of sword fights?"Kiara held back a laugh.
"Haha,very funny."Pierre said sarcastically.
Esteban,though,chuckled."If it's possible...I volunteer to try!"
"You know what?"Pierre sighed and checked his watch."Im out.Goodbye,idiots."He soon walked away.Well,more like jogging away.
Esteban looked at him in confusion,then turned back to Kiara."Was I that annoying?"
Kiara shrugged."He just couldn't handle out excellent sense of humour."
Esteban laughed."Well,he's the one missing out."
They carried on walking out of the building together,talking a little about the break and what they hoped for this weekend.Kiara tried not to embarrass herself as she did so.But he somehow made her relax a little afterwards.
After stepping outside,not knowing what to say or part ways,he checked his watch too,then asked."Are you free now?"
She nodded."Yeah.A little bit of a break now."
The Alpine driver nodded,then met her gaze and asked."Do you...maybe want to get lunch with me so long?"
She nodded,smiling a little."Sure thing."
They walked over to the nearby stall that was put up,instead of walking to their team hospitality centres.It would be odd if Esteban just walked into the Red Bull hospitality with her.It applied the same way if Kiara walked into the Alpine hospitality as well.So,Esteban got their lunch and chose to sit down at one of the benches near the Alpine hospitality.As it already was,Pierre and Charles were sitting together at one of the benches,seeming to be in some deep conversation in French as Charles had both hands on the table.
Esteban chose one of the other benches,motioning for Kiara to sit down as he moved around to sit on the seat across from her.
"So,"He said."I never got to see you after your crash.How are you-"He stopped himself."Well,I mean...How were you after..?"
She shrugged."Fine now,I guess.It was a little troubling at first...But now it's all good."
He nodded and she studied him,saying."But you crashed too.So,I guess I should be asking you the same question."
He smiled."I mean,it was confusing at first when Pierre and I collided.But...I guess it slowly came right after that when I realised that we were both fine."
"I saw it in the highlights."Kiara said,remembering how she had seen the two French drivers collide during the race,not long after her.
Esteban nodded,then went back to eating his food.Kiara opened the plastic container and arched a brow."How did you know to get chicken salad?"
"I saw you having it before."He said."Just thought you would want it."
"Thanks."She said with a smile.
As they ate,they spoke more about the race calendar.They also spoke more about the break,Kiara obviously leaving out any details with Carlos.She avoided the topic about him,as much as she wasn't supposed to.But just to her "luck",Esteban asked."So...are you and Carlos like a thing or...?"
Kiara paused,slowly putting her fork down.At first,she was confused about what to reply with.But the main point of the sunt came to mind and she eventually had to nod and reply."Well,I don't really know how to explain it...But in a way,yes."
"Oh."Esteban nodded,pursing his lips for a moment.
Kiara watched as he quickly changed the topic,asking."What do you have after this?"
She observed him as she replied."Some team building activity.You?"
"A meeting with the team."He said,picking at his food.
She chuckled."Good luck with that."
He smiled,then said."Let's hope that luck actually works when we talk about what happened in Melbourne."
"Do you think-"
Kiara was cut short as Lando suddenly appeared,saying."Hey,guys.What's up?"
Esteban lifted an eyebrow at him."We were just-"
"Come on,Ocon."Lando said,giving Esteban a push and making him stand up from his seat."Mate,I need to tell you something.I was wondering-"
"Lando,what are you-"
"See you later,Ki."Lando waved,dragging Esteban away.
"I'll text you later?"Esteban said as Lando took him away.
Kiara nodded,though utterly annoyed at confused as to what Lando was up to.
However,as soon as they were soon out of view,Carlos sat down where Esteban once was.
"I should have known."Kiara rolled her eyes at Carlos.
"What?"Carlos said."I'm just sitting down and-"
"Getting your right-hand man to drag away whoever was with me?"Kiara frowned.
"So?"Carlos shrugged."I needed to talk to you."
She groaned,leaning her face against her hand as she leaned her arm on the table."What?"
He lifted an eyebrow."You weren't saying that  last week."
"And you weren't snooping around in my business last week."She crossed her arms,looking him up and down.
"Listen,"He said."I don't know why you're suddenly ignoring-"
"We only did it twice,Carlos."She said."And we didn't confirm anything either.So,go ahead and carry on with whatever the hell you actually want to do." By that,she was referring to him going out with someone else.
"What are you saying?"He frowned.
She sighed."That either of us don't get involved with each other's relationships outside the stunt."
"Oh,so you suddenly found someone?"He crossed his arms and observed her.
"Maybe both of us did."She told him.
"Let me guess,"Carlos clenched his jaw,looking over his shoulder."It's Ocon?"
"Excuse me?"She arched a brow."You can't just go around assuming things about my personal things."
He let out a short,sarcastic laugh."Since when are you so bothered?"
"Leave me alone!"She snapped,trying not to show her jealousy at whoever the hell he went out with yesterday.
He sighed."And I thought we were fine with each other after that trip."
"I thought so too."She said,standing up."But it seems like you're moving on quite fast."
He just blinked at her as she walked away,looking a little confused at her final sentence.
She didn't want to look back.But she eventually found herself doing so,seeing Carlos still sitting there,eyes on the spot she had been seated at.He knew running after her would be pointless.
Kiara knew that she would still have to be around more than she needed to because of the media stunt.And that made things harder,as he would obviously question her each time.She didn't know how to explain it to him.To explain that he could just go along and be with whoever he wanted to be with outside of the stunt.Though,the part that bothered her was that he was acting as if he didn't do anything.
Later that day,Kiara was walking back into the hotel by herself.And on her way up to her room,she ran into Ivy,who was also staying at the same hotel.Ivy exchanged a look with Kiara,then approached her with a smile and hugged her.
Kiara sighed,but smiled at the Mclaren driver in return.
"Sorry for not greeting you in the paddock when I walked by."Ivy said."I was a little busy."
Kiara pulled back."It's fine."
Ivy yawned."Media day can be such a drag sometimes."
"Tell me about it."Kiara sighed.
Ivy motioned towards her hotel room."Want to watch a movie?"
Kiara snickered."That's the first thing you decide to ask me?"
She shrugged."I mean,we could go downstairs for dinner,if you want."
Kiara shook her head,gesturing towards the hotel room."No,it's okay.I think we should just relax tonight."
They walked into Ivy's hotel room,sitting down on the couch while talking about their day.
Ivy picked up the TV remote,saying."Kiara,I'm sorry to ask...But you're kind of confusing me about this whole Carlos situation."
Kiara glanced at her as she sat down on the couch."How so?"
"I mean,are you two confirmed or...?"
Kiara sighed."Maybe."
"Come on!"Ivy groaned."Just answer me properly."
Kiara,having no option but to lie due to the PR stunt,said."Fine,we are.But-"
"I knew it."She said,holding back a grin."But wait..."
"What?"Kiara asked.
Ivy thought to herself for a moment,then finally replied."But why keep it...You know,a little bit of secret for the media to find out themselves?"
Kiara looked at her for a long moment,having to think about that for herself.She took a few moments to think about the response for herself.Even Ivy lifted an eyebrow and looked at her.
Finally,Kiara came up with something."We don't want to receive a lot of hate...Especially since our little incident at the last race weekend."
"Ohh."Ivy nodded,as if realizing something."I should have guessed that."
"So,yeah..."
Ivy hesitated,but soon added."I saw you with Esteban today.What was that all about?"
"Just talking to a friend."Kiara said,turning to look at the TV.
"For a long time,I guess."
"Huh?"
She said."When I first saw you two leaving the press conference,I was on my way to an interview.And then when I was done and going back to the hospitality,you two were having lunch together."
Ivy crossed her arms and studied Kiara,causing her to frown."Ivy,what?!"
"You can't do that,Ki."
"Do what?!"
"You can't just do that to Carlos."She shook her head."Imagine if he saw all of it.How do you think he would feel,since he's literally dating you?And just by the way...I bet you didn't even know that Esteban recently broke up with Elena-"
I'm not doing anything if Carlos and I are  not actually together.Kiara wanted to say.But of course,she couldn't.
If only she could share her problems with Ivy instead of lying...It really bothered her.
"Kiara,trust me."Ivy said."If you keep that up,it will only make him trust you less."
"He'll learn to trust me if he actually cares,Ivy."She replied."Now,can we please just forget it?"
Ivy glared at her for a moment.Then,she muttered something and turned back to the TV,choosing not to question Kiara again.