Right On Track

Chapter 32

"Okay...That was a little tricky."Kiara said on the radio to Santiago.She was just finishing up the sprint shootout,still seeming positive through it all.
"Alright,that's P2."Santiago told her."Good job."
"Where's Max?"She asked.
"Max is at P3,just behind."Santiago replied."And Charles is on pole."
"Woah."Kiara said as she parked her car in the spot for P2.Charles,despite damaging his car in SQ3,had still managed to keep the fastest time for pole position in the sprint.
"Well done."Christian said to Kiara,giving her a pat on the shoulder when passing by.
"Thanks."She said as she pulled off her balaclava and set her helmet aside.
"You are really going at it this weekend."Santiago grinned as he walked into the garage and approached her.
She shared a high-five with him,saying."Just want to get back up after the last race."
"Think you can overtake Leclerc quickly by the start of the sprint?"
"Depends on whether Ferrari does something sensible or not for him."She said,grabbing her bottle of water and taking a sip before wiping her sweaty brow with the towel handed to her.
A few minutes later,she walked out of the garage to get some air.She would have to go back to the garage later on as the sprint race would start to build up.So,she didn't have that long of a break today.
Everything was more of a rush today.
She walked through the paddock and finally met up with Lydia,who just gave her a smile and said."Before you ask...No,you don't have to do anything with Carlos today."
Kiara just nodded,knowing very well that she herself didn't care about doing it for media stunt anymore.
"But tell me that I get to go home straight after the sprint..."Kiara said."You know,just to keep the day going good."
Lydia shook her head."I hate to break it to you,but you have interviews.There's no escaping your beloved media pen."
"Beloved?!"Kiara scoffed."More like-Behated...If that is even a word."
"It's not."Lydia gave her a flat look.
Kiara just shrugged it off and started to walk off,Lydia going in the other direction back to the Red Bull hospitality.
"Be back at the garage on time."Max pointed at her as he passed by.
"When have I not?"She glanced his way as passed her.
He gave her a look that told her that she had done it before already.She acted clueless and he just laughed,shaking his head and walking away.
Kiara slowed down after some time when reaching the Ferrari motorhome.She glanced at the entrance,slowly walking past.
"Spying on us,hey?"Someone said,hugging her from behind.
She quickly turned around and looked up at Carlos,stepping back while pushing his arms down and saying."Not in-"
"Public?"He arched a brow,poking her shoulder."Everyone already knows.Even when it was just the stunt."
"But we weren't so public about it!"She said,shaking her head.
"Why?Am I embarrassing you?"He grinned,pulling her forward and wrapping his arms around her.
She squirmed in his grasp,blushing as people around turned to look at them."Carlos-" Even Charles,who was walking out of the Ferrari hospitality,stopped and lifted an eyebrow as he saw them.And just to Kiara's luck,Alora was passing by too.
"Oh,Kiara."Carlos joked,making his tone sound dramatic."Please,don't be embarrassed by me,mi amor!"
"Carlos!"She tried to shake off his grip on her."Let go!"
Charles laughed at them as he passed while approaching Alora,who just held her hand to her lips to cover her laugh.
"I'm going to kick you again."Kiara warned.
Carlos finally let go,saying with a laugh."Okay,fine!Please,don't do that."
She stepped back and crossed her arms,glaring up at him.
He just smiled,then said."Walk with me?"
She checked her watch."As long as you don't do that in front of everyone again..."
"I promise."He said.
She smiled up at him and nodded."Okay."
They started to walk off together,keeping in mind that they wouldn't have much time to do that,though.Maybe just about fifteen or twenty minutes before they had to go back.
"Well done on the sprint shootout."Carlos said.
"Thanks."She replied."You didn't do so bad yourself."
"Not where I want to be,though."He said.
"Where did you want to be?"
He grinned."Somewhere that puts me looking down at you from my higher spot in the sprint."
She gasped dramatically."How dare you!"
He winked."The grand prix is tomorrow-"
"And I will be the one waving down at you."She told him.
"Really,now?"He arched a brow.
She nodded,pleased with herself."Don't worry.I won't forget to spray some of that champagne over the railing to reach the spot you'll be standing below."
"So,you want me to be there to watch it if it happens?"
She nodded again."Yes,when I win this race tomorrow."
"And if I'm on the podium,"He put in."You have to so the same."
She chuckled."We'll see about that."