Right On Track

Chapter 37

"Finally!"Kiara said,a bit too loudly while looking out the window as the helicopter landed.
Max,who had been asleep,quickly got up in surprise and glanced around."Wha-"He straightened in his seat,blinking a few times."Where...What-"
"Just go back to sleep,Max."Kiara said,waving him off."I mean,who even falls off to sleep on such a short helicopter ride."
Daniel laughed from where he sat nearby."Don't do it.She plans to ditch you here in the helicopter alone while we all leave."
Max rubbed at his eyes with a yawn."We're already here?"
"Yes,"Daniel whistled lowly."Monaco,here we are."
Kiara smiled,looking out at the lights that shone throughout the night.Finally,they had reached.Earlier on,before they had left Imola,there was a long delay to the flight.Which,in turn,resulted in Daniel and Max falling off to sleep on each other while waiting to finally board.Kiara had taken a picture of that,holding back a laugh while retrieving the new 'blackmail'.
Unfortunately,the race in Imola had been cancelled due to the flooding in Italy.There was no chance that the race weekend would be able to go on.It also resulted in many of the drivers being stuck in their hotels for a while.
Kiara grabbed her small backpack from nearby and stood up from her seat when the helicopter landed.She gave Max's shoulder a little push as he nearly fell back off to sleep again.It took a minute,but he eventually got up.
Soon,she was walking out of the helicopter with Max and Daniel.She would go to her house straight after this.And so would Max.Daniel would be the one staying at the hotel that was near the circuit.In the car,Daniel was the one to fall asleep.Kiara looked at outside at the dark night sky with a yawn as Max muttered something about why they had arrived so late.
When she finally got dropped off at home,she didn't waste time while going in and straight to her bedroom.She even tossed her duffel bags aside and flopped down onto the bed with a yawn.She didn't even have the urge to change into her night wear.She just went straight to bed.
However,just as she was about to fall asleep,her phone rang.
She groaned,reaching out to the side table.She was going to consider cutting the call,but then saw that it was Carlos.
"Hmm?"She answered.
"Woah,bad mood Kiara."Carlos said.
She sighed."I was sleeping,Carlos."
"Well,so was I."He said,letting out a breath that sounded like a short laugh."But-"
"You're here in Monaco?"She asked.
"Yeah."He replied."I reached a while ago."
"Oh,okay."
"So,how was your flight?I heard there was a delay."He asked."You reached fine?"
"All good."She muttered,shifting in the bed.
"Okay,just checking in."He said.
"Yeah,thanks."She mumbled with a yawn.
"Okay."He chuckled."I'll see you tomorrow.Good night,mi amor."
"Night."She replied,then hung up and set her phone aside.
Not even a few minutes later,she fell asleep.

"I hate this..."Kiara muttered,shaking her head as she got out of her car.
FP2 came to an end,leaving her in P7 by the end of the session.
She expected better from herself,since she normally did better on the street circuits.
When she went to her drivers room,Christian just walked in,gave her a pat on the back and told her that it was only practice,that she could improve by tomorrow.She sure hoped that he was right.Something didn't feel right about this weekend.She wasn't as comfortable as she thought she would be.Normally,street circuits happened to be where she did good,even better than Max.But she just wasn't sure about what was happening...
After stepping out of the garage and walking through the paddock,she eventually found Ivy,who wasn't in the best of moods either.
"Messed up after the tunnel?"Kiara said,sitting down next to Ivy on a bench behind the Mclaren hospitality.
"Yeah."She nodded."You?"
"Same."
She smiled a little."Plan on swiping another win from us?"
"We'll see."Kiara winked.
There was silence for a moment,then Ivy asked."How's things with Carlos?"
"Fine."She nodded,even though she barely saw the man since the last grand prix."I mean,we haven't been able to meet up much.But..."
"But?"Ivy arched a brow.
"He calls almost every night to check up on me."Kiara smiled,leaning back.
"Oh."Ivy said,a smile coming to her face."And?"
"And he mailed me a care package last week."She said,thinking about it all.God,she was even starting to blush.
"Woah."Ivy chuckled."That's some guy you got there.I can even see you blushing about it right now."
"Shut up."Kiara laughed,playfully hitting her shoulder.
She winked.Then,the silence fell on them again.
Kiara looked at Ivy,seeing her expression go a little dull after a few moments.She sudden felt some regret,talking about Carlos like that.She should have thought about Ivy first.
"So..."She said,trying to make up for it."What's up with you and..."
"Lando?"Ivy scoffed."There's nothing to talk about there."
Kiara straightened,saying."Did you two talk about it or..."
"There's nothing to talk about."She said."He doesn't like me.I don't like him anymore,either.I mean,hell,he even lied to me just to prove a point."
"So,everything just ends like that?"Kiara frowned."You're just going to stop trying?"
"What?You want me to make a move on him?"Ivy sarcastically rolled her eyes."That's double humiliation when he tells me off again."
Kiara looked at her for a long moment.She didn't want Ivy to just stop like that.She didn't want to see them go distant like that,either.There was obvious a connection between the two.And it would all just be a waste if neither of them realised that.
Kiara thought about something that she could maybe bring up.Something that Ivy would listen to and take advice from.
Then,after hesitating for a moment,Kiara said."Remember how I rejected Carlos in front of everyone last year?"
Ivy looked up,meeting her gaze."Yeah?"
"Did Carlos stop trying after that?"
"Uhh...no?"
"Exactly."Kiara said."He waited for me."
"And?"She sighed,seeing where this was going.
"You all saw the connection,Ivy."Kiara said,putting a hand on her shoulder."Even when I kept denying it myself."
Ivy pursed her lips,just giving a nod.
"So,why should you give up?"Kiara said,smiling a little as she thought about moments from the past.
"Wow."She let out a weak laugh."You sound like my mom telling me about how she met my dad."
Kiara laughed."But it's still good advice,though,right?"
Ivy shrugged."I guess so."
Kiara smiled."Text me if you need anything,okay?"
She nodded and Kiara stood up,needing to go to the media pen soon.She gave Ivy a hug,then started to walk away to find Lydia.

"I swear,Elijah,if you don't show that kid who's boss-"
"Kiara!These are kids!"
Kiara muttered her response,looking down at her phone screen.She was on a video call with her mother and Elijah.She had just been told that Elijah had gotten pushed off the track by another kid during the race.And,as seen by many,that push was not an accident.Hearing about it,Kiara couldn't help but think about her karting days and the way that would often happen to her,since she and Alora were the only girls in their karting league.
With a sigh,Kiara said."Fine,ignore what I just said,Elijah."
Elijah crossed his arms."It's not fair."
"I know."She said."But I need you to just...try harder next time.Let this motive you."
"I've been trying,Ki."He said."He just won't stop trying to make me finish last."
"Hey,"She told him."Stop letting it get to you.What did I tell you about letting them push you around like that?"
"But Alora said-"
"I don't care what Alora said."She cut him off."What did I say?"
He replied."If they push you,let them through till they eventually lose speed and get what they deserve."
"Kiara Wolff."Lina snapped."What do you mean 'get what they deserve'?!"
Kiara winked,causing Elijah to laugh.
The door bell rang a second later and Kiara stood up from the couch,saying."I'll call you back later."
"Bye,Ki."Elijah said.
"Bye."She smiled,waving at the camera.
She hung up,setting her phone aside and walking towards the front door.
She slightly opened the door,then allowed it to fully fall open as she saw Carlos.
"I don't remember giving you my address."She said.
Carlos smiled."I just asked Lydia."
She stepped aside to let him walk in and when he did,she closed the door,saying."How's Monaco so far?"
"So far,it's alright."He nodded."Charles is already pushing for it."
"I mean,it's his home race,Carlos."Kiara said,stepping closer to him."Of course he'd want to win it."
"I know,I know."He said.
Kiara smiled,looking up at him.She met his gaze and he loosed a sigh."I missed you."
Before she could even tell him the same,he pulled her into hug,holding her close and shutting his eyes for a moment.
She hugged him back,smoothing a hand up and down his upper back in a comforting manner.
Yes,they had been apart for almost three weeks now.But that wasn't something that could be so bothering that his mood was so low.Something else was troubling him.
"What's wrong,Carlos?"She asked,pulling back to look up at him.
He shrugged."I just...missed you.That's all."
She crossed her arms."Hey,I missed you too.But I know for a fact that 'that's' not all."
He sighed."Can we talk about it later?"
She studied him for a second,then nodded and said."Okay."
He gave a smile,then pressed a kiss to her forehead.To brighten up the mood,he added."On a scale of one to ten,how much did you miss me?"
She shook her head,trying to annoy him."Somewhere close to zero."
He faked a gasp,putting a hand on his chest."Ouch."
She laughed,motioning for him to follow her.
He walked beside her,complimenting her on the way she had chosen to have the house done up.
She led him towards the back,approaching the glass doors that led to the terrace.
"Nice view,"He said as she led him outside,showing him the view she had of the Monte Carlo harbour and parts of the city.And the bonus was that it was night.And it looked even better as she showed Carlos.
"See,"She walked over to the railing,pointing ahead at yachts."If you look a little further,you can see the tunnel."
He came up behind her,looking to where she pointed."Oh,yes.The 'famous' chicane area."
She sighed,leaning forward against the railing."I nearly damaged my wing there.Twice."
"Same."He chuckled,putting his hand on hers as she placed it on the railing.
He rested his chin on her shoulder,saying."I think you'll do fine this weekend.You like street circuits,no?"
"I do."She nodded."It's just...I don't know why this weekend isn't going so well for me."
"Qualifying is still tomorrow."He said reassuringly,placing both hands on her waist."You only did practice.Who knows what you'll pull out soon?"
Kiara smiled at his enthusiasm,then slowly turned around to face him."What about you?"
He smiled,pulling her against him."I plan on trying to at least get a podium."
"Really?"
He sighed,shaking his head."If the strategy goes well,I might be able to."
"Only time will tell."She sighed,putting a hand on his arm.
He smiled again,leaning down and whispering against her skin."I know you missed me.A lot."
She got goosebumps just feeling his lips near her neck again.And he knew that,causing him to smile more.
"I...might have."She said,lifting her chin.
He chuckled."You really know how to avoid an answer."
"And I know how it easily gets to you by doing so."She said,pleased with herself.
He leaned down again,finally kissing her.
She held it more a few moments,then smiled and paused."Fine...I missed you."
"I know."He winked.
Then,he took her hand and gave it an assuring squeeze,leading her back into the house.