Loud and Clear (F1 x CL16)

7. Swindled

Charles and I turned at the same time to look at where the voice came from.
"Pierre." I said his name softly, as if any moment my voice could break some bubble or something.
I saw his confused look. He asked earlier what happened between me and Charles, and now he knew before I could even tell him. And he didn't even know the real reason.
"You know I wanted you two to be friends for once. But this just goes over the limit." Pierre's voice was filled with disgust.
"P, let me explain." I started, but he raised his hand.
"Don't say a word. You two are disgusting. And you didn't even tell me." Pierre looked sad now. God I even felt sad now.
"Let. Me. Explain." I said again, but Pierre was done listening.
"I need some time. Don't come near me. Both of you." He turned around and walked through the hallway. God I felt so stupid. I should've asked for longer. But than again I didn't expect this to happen.
"This is wrong." I said as I pointed from me to Charles. "Pierre is right." My head hung, but Charles didn't step back, he even slipped his arms around my waist again.
His fingers tilted my head back up. "You think so?" He asked. And I knew in my head that this was all wrong. But in my heart...
"Yes. I love Pierre. He's my best friend. I can't put some... fling between me and him. I'm sorry." I said and stepped out of his arms. I felt him trying to keep his grip on me, but I rejected.
I looked at his face to see... no emotions. Not even a drop of sadness or whatsoever in those eyes. "Fine. I'll leave than." Charles said and he left. For real. I watched as he walked away, but looked outside my window when he was almost at the door. A tear was rolling down my cheek. I knew he was looking at me as he stood in the doorway. But I couldn't look at him now, not after I stopped whatever it was that was growing between us.
That evening I went to bed alone, with too much snacks left and a pizza that was send back to the kitchen. I felt terrible for everything I had done this evening.
I ruined my friendship with my oldest friend. I rejected the one that made my heartbeat fasten like only a race car did. And of course, I cried my eyes out. It was starting to feel like a normal habit to just cry every evening. But I missed those comforting arms around me, like yesterday. God I already missed him. And we weren't even friendly to each other before yesterday. This really was messed up.

Sunday
As exhausted as I was... I was still ready to race. P1, the best place to start. Clear track ahead. Only worrying part is the 19 drivers behind you. I checked into the paddock an hour ago and was now chatting with Alex. He was on his way to an interview, and I decided to join him on the walk since it was on the way to my destination.
"So, you seem off. What's on that mind of yours?" Alex asked and I had to smile at the fact that he already noticed such stuff. Maybe we were more than teammates. He started to feel like a friend.
"Just some issues with Pierre and..." I wasn't ready to say his name. I didn't want anything to escalate any further.
"Ah.. is he mad?" Alex asked and I nodded. "Hmm I'm going to guess why." He started to think and I waited as he tried to come up with something. "You... forgot his birthday."
I shook my head. "Just 6 months and 3 more days before his birthday."
"Oh uhm... you slept with his girl- no wait that doesn't make sense. Wait!" He was so close to the right answer and it made me feel anxious. "I know it." Alex said as he raised his finger. "He's mad because you... no I'm lost." I had to laugh at Alex's attempt.
"Close enough, mate. But now enjoy your interview, I'm gonna search for my companion for the day." We said goodbye and I walked a few feet further, where the Mercedes facility was.
"Brie!" I heard my voice being called and I immediately recognised that French accent. "I haven't seen you in ages!"
"Hi Este, how are you?" I asked Esteban as we hugged.
"Well enough for a test driver. How is it at Toro Rosso? Crazy day since you're starting on pole, huh?" He had tons of questions, but right now I wanted to know about his life, mine was too chaotic to talk about.
"Yes it's going very well. Now tell me something about your life. We always talk about mine." I hooked my arm in Estebans and we decided to take a stroll.
"Well.. I am without a seat right now, but I'm enjoying it here at Mercedes." Esteban got sidelined by Racing Point and right now was without a seat. I felt incredibly bad for him. It was a nightmare to sit out an entire season. But I did have hope for him to get back next season.
"And any teams that want you yet?" It was almost summer break and I knew there had been some talks.
"Renault seemed to have an eye on me and maybe Williams or something. But I'm still at a loss." Esteban answered and I nodded. We were walking to a little stand in the paddock, where they sell donuts. "Oh I'm starving! Let's get a whole box." Esteban said happily as we approached the stand.
"Ah if that isn't my favourite driver!" The seller said and I immediately smiled.
"Hi John! Nice to see you again after a whole year." John was the seller, and we always had a little chat when the Grand Prix was here in Hungary. It was the only time I saw him the entire year. I remembered coming here in 2017 with RedBull when I was still in GP2. The man said I had talent and would be my biggest supporter if I ever reached F1.
"This is the best time of the year. Here are your favourite donuts. And don't come back until after the race! I want to hear everything." He gave us a full box of sugared donuts and chocolate donuts. They were my favourite!
"I'll come back! See ya!" I waved at him and hooked my arm with Estebans. "So what do you want to do?" I asked Esteban.
He shrugged. "I don't know, maybe we can just walk a bit and you can tell why you look so troubled. Same goes for that blondie over there." Esteban pointed in front of us. There was Pierre, around one hundred feet in front of us, and not even trying to make eye contact. I just couldn't understand why he was this mad.
"We had a fight. Well not really. He just wasn't happy with the progress me and Charles made in our... friendship." I said it, friendship. So he was a friend... right?
"Really? You are friends now?" His eyes grew wide. He knew how much I hated Charles, but not the reason.
"Well... technically yes. I forgave him and we... kissed?" I said that with hesitation. I didn't know what Esteban would think of that.
"Wow you're really a conflicted person." Esteban said. And I just shrugged.
"He basically kissed me both times. I just didn't pull away for some reason. And this is weird to discuss with you." Normally I would just talk to Pierre about this. Esteban was my sporting friend. We always talked about sports.
"I'm just in uttermost shock. How did that all change so quick?" He asked and I seriously did not have an answer for it.
"Let's just talk about something else..."