the connection ~ Kimi Antonelli

Chapter 17

Practice day at Silverstone was a thrilling prospect, and as I readied myself for the day ahead, my heart brimmed with excitement. Florence, my ever-enthusiastic companion, was with me, and we shared stories, laughter, and fond memories as we prepared for our eagerly anticipated trip to the paddock. We both knew that the day promised excitement, and we were looking forward to witnessing Ollie and Kimi in action.

As we boarded the train bound for the circuit, Florence couldn't contain her enthusiasm, and she leaned in, her eyes dancing with mischief. "You won't believe what happened while you were hanging out with this new guy that has you wrapped around his finger."

I leaned in closer, unable to hide my curiosity. "Tell me, Flo!"

With a mischievous grin, Florence continued, "Ollie came by yesterday, and we ended up talking for two hours straight, Y/n. It was amazing. We finally talked, I cried, he was even comforting me. I feel like so much weight has been lifted off my shoulders."

I couldn't help but smile, envisioning Ollie comforting Florence. "That's sweet of him. You're such a softie, Flo."

Florence playfully rolled her eyes, saying, "I know, I know. But don't tell him that, okay?"

As we arrived at the paddock, we were greeted by Ollie, who sported a friendly grin. "Hey, bee, Flo, welcome!"

Unable to contain my excitement, I rushed to give Ollie a warm hug. "How's practice preparation going?"

"Better than ever," Ollie replied with a confident air. "Hopefully you guys are here to bring us some extra luck."

With Ollie leading the way, we made our way to the garage, where we found Kimi deeply engaged in conversation with his engineer. I couldn't resist the urge to surprise him. Sneaking up behind Kimi, I playfully placed my hands over his eyes and teased, "Guess who?"

Kimi's lips curled into a smile, and he replied, "Hello, bella," turning around to place a sweet kiss on my cheek. My cheeks flushed with warmth.

Florence, always ready for some fun, joined in on the playful introduction, saying, "I'm Florence, Y/n's incredible best friend, also known as her favorite person."

Kimi chuckled and played along, pretending to be protective. "Favorite person, huh? There might be some competition for that title, Florence."

Florence raised an eyebrow and teased, "Oh, really? I've been known to be quite the troublemaker. Are you up for the challenge?"

"Um, I actually hold that title, so no need for fighting." Ollie draped his arm around my shoulder, wearing a grin that hinted at their ongoing rivalry.

We continued our light-hearted banter, introducing Florence and Kimi to each other, their similar senses of humor allowing them to quickly establish a playful rapport.

Soon, Ollie and Kimi headed out for their practice, and we exchanged words of encouragement. The session unfolded smoothly, with Kimi securing P7 and Ollie taking P4. The atmosphere in the garage was electric, and Kimi celebrated with infectious enthusiasm, even extending our hug, spinning me around playfully, before giving Ollie, his new teammate, a jovial bro hug.

While the drivers attended to their data analysis discussions with the engineers, Florence and I used the opportunity to explore the bustling paddock. I crossed paths with my friend Arthur, and our familiar banter easily resumed.

Arthur grinned and teased, "You've managed to snatch up the rookie, huh? Who would've thought you'd get even more entwined with the racing world?"

I rolled my eyes and replied with a playful smirk, "I haven't confirmed anything, Arthur, and you're just jealous you didn't get a chance with the Italian charm first."

Arthur chuckled and playfully nudged me. "You can have him. Just make sure to cheer for me as much as you cheer for him, eh?"

"Always, little Leclerc, always," I assured him, patting his shoulder affectionately.

After our friendly exchanges, Florence and I decided to explore further, encountering familiar faces in the paddock. A cheerful reunion with Jack was filled with laughter as he teased me about hugging a sweaty, post-practice driver.

With a grin, I playfully pushed his shoulder. "Please, Jack, I've seen you in worse states."

"Let's not bring that up, shall we?" Jack's eyes widened comically, and I burst into laughter.

Florence teased me about knowing practically everyone in the paddock. "You're actually so annoying to be friends with sometimes," she remarked as we continued our explorations.

I shrugged with a grin, replying, "You love it, Flo. Admit it."

In truth, I couldn't deny how much I missed this world and the people within it. It was an integral part of my life, a crucial piece of the puzzle that led me to my aspiration of becoming an F1 reporter, fueled by a deep passion for journalism and sports reporting.

Upon our return to the garage, Ollie and Kimi were engrossed in discussions about data analysis with their engineers. They expressed the need for a brief respite and suggested that Florence and I rest up for the forthcoming qualifying session. We bid them farewell, filled with anticipation for the events of the following day.

On the day of the qualifying session, Florence and I arrived at the paddock early, eager to offer our support to the boys. Kimi appeared a bit nervous, and I approached him, taking his hands in mine. My fingers gently traced his jawline as I offered words of comfort, "You'll do wonderfully, Kimi. And even if you don't, it won't matter because it's your debut qualie race. Everyone knows you'll improve."

Kimi's gaze held mine, gratitude evident in his eyes. "Thank you, bella. Your confidence means a lot to me."

The qualifying session was intense, with a mix of excitement and anticipation. Kimi secured P3, Ollie claimed pole position, and Jack Crawford took second place. The pride and joy in Kimi's eyes were unmistakable, and I couldn't have been happier for him.

"I'm so proud!" I exclaimed, engulfing both Kimi and Ollie in tight hugs, followed by Florence's warm embrace.

"Well, what a birthday gift this was for me," Ollie said with a laugh. "Kimi and I need to talk to the team for a bit and get ready, but we'll meet you at the restaurant for my birthday dinner."

Just before Florence and I were about to leave, Kimi took me aside and planted a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"Grazie, bella," he said to me. I raised my eyebrows in curiosity.

"I didn't do anything," I told him, puzzled by his gratitude.

Kimi smiled down at me. "Your my good luck charm."