Right On Track

Chapter 41

"Kiara!"Elijah yelped as she picked him up and tickled him.
Kiara laughed as he squirmed in her grasp,kicking his legs in the air.
"You always do that!"He giggled as she finally put him down.
Kiara shrugged,crossing her arms and leaning against the wall nearby.
Elijah looked at her bags that were on the floor near the front door,saying."Five bucks if I take them up to your room?"
"Ten bucks if you can actually do it."
"Deal."He said,then moved to pick up the first bag.
Kiara laughed as she watched him drag it towards the stairs.
"Hey,weren't you supposed to only reach tonight?"Her mother smiled,walking into the entrance hall and giving her a hug."You're early."
"But not as early as me."Alora laughed from the lounge.
"Nobody likes a show-off."Kiara snapped,hearing her sister."My flights got moved around."
"Oh."
"Hey,Ki."Elijah said from the top of the stairs."I watched the race.Why P3?"
"Because it's still a good result,Elijah."Kiara replied,referring to the recent weekend where she had come out third for the Canadian grand prix.
It had been two weeks since the Spanish Grand Prix.Two weeks of ignoring certain difficulties.
But now it was finally her home race.She was finally going to race here in Austria.Though,it wasn't only her.It was Alora too.And a home race for the team as well.
She couldn't let the team down this weekend,nor herself.
"Want to go out tonight?"Alora asked,coming up beside her as she walked up the stairs."I'm showing Charles around."
Alora was only asking because she knew that Kiara wasn't going anywhere today.She didn't want to see Kiara just do nothing while it was their home race.
"No,that's okay."Kiara replied,grateful for the consideration."I think I'm going to-"
Alora leaned closer and whispered."You can bring Esteban."
"Alora!"Kiara frowned,lightly hitting her shoulder.
"Okay,okay.Sorry."She chuckled."But seriously,though.You're inviting someone along and you're coming with."
Kiara gave a weak smile,knowing that her sister was only trying to distract her from all the commotion running through her mind.
"We're going for dinner."Alora said."So,make your calls,Ki."
"Okay,fine."Kiara smiled,nodding."Dinner together it is."
Kiara walked into her room,going past Elijah,who still tried to haul the last bag into the room.
"Need help?"
"Nope.I only have one more."He said."And then I expect my pay,Ki."
Kiara laughed."Who taught you to talk like that?"
"Some guys at the go-kart track were fighting over something."He shrugged."I just overheard them."
"Okay...Right."Kiara arched a brow,then went into her room and sat down on the bed.
She pulled out her phone and started to go to her contacts,ready to give someone a call to join for dinner.
She clicked on one of the contacts,about to dial them.
Then,she immediately stopped,staring down at the screen.
A moment passed by and she blinked for a moment.
Then,she swore under her breath in German and exited the app,setting her phone aside for a second.
"Hey,why did you say that."Elijah frowned as he brought the bag into the room.
"And since when do you understand German?"Kiara lifted an eyebrow.
"I used Google translate for that word when I heard Aunty Lina yell it at someone."
"Oh,kids these days."Kiara sighed,shaking her head.
"Oh,drivers these days..."He said,imitating her sigh.
"Excuse me?!"
"Nothing."He shook his head,then ran out of the room.
Kiara almost laughed at that.
Then,she stood up from the bed and moved to close the door.After doing so,she picked up her phone again,making sure not to almost dial Carlos again.
And this time,she first went to her contracts and blocked him.She didn't find herself hesitating,but still felt a little regret after.
She then started to consider who else she could ask to come along,since it would be a little weird if it was just her with Alora and Charles.
She considered asking Daniel.But then she remembered that he wasn't even around.He had to cancel plans on this one,so he was back in Perth for the weekend.
Kiara came to a decision after a moment,knowing that this person was one of the drivers who were actually here already.
She dialled Esteban.
A second later,he picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hey,sorry to bother."Kiara said.
"No,it's okay.Everything alright?"He asked.
"Uh,yeah."She said."At home,finally."
He replied."Nice.I reached earlier today too."
A second passed by and Kiara finally asked."Are you busy tonight?"
"I think so."He said.
"Sorry to ask on such notice..."She sighed."But do you want to come to dinner with Charles,Alora and I?"
"Yeah,sure."He said."Sounds good."
"Thanks."Kiara nearly loosed a sigh of relief."And once again,sorry for such short notice."
"That's okay."He said."Text me details."
"Okay,"Kiara smiled."See you tonight."
"Bye."He said.
The call ended and Kiara loosed that sigh,sitting down on the bed again.
She dragged a hand through her hair,thinking deeply.