Turbulence [𝗠.𝗩.]

Monaco, Post-Race

@LiamLawson40 & @OscarPiastri brought me cookies I love these two - JessicaBond57

@JessicaBond57 I'm going to make @OliverHarrington change your contract to stop you from hanging out with those two! - @ClaireTThompson

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MONACO
AFTER THE RACE
MAY

I want to scream.

After a rather disappointing but not unexpected result, I've had another round of questions that are subtly alluding to the fact that I shouldn't be here. The latest reporter - some guy whose name I really don't care to remember - is being far less subtle than the others. In fact, he's being about as discreet as a brick thrown through a fucking window.

And it's taking all my patience and energy to not lose it right here, right now.

Because if I do, I prove him right. God forbid I be the one to get fed up with something. If the guys do, it's fine! But me? A woman? Being emotional? Oh no, we can't have that, can we?!

"Given your current struggles, do you think you would have benefitted from extra time in Formula 2, before coming up to Formula 1?"

If I wouldn't get fined out the arse, I'd be swearing right now.

"Have you asked Logan this question as well?" I can't stop myself. I'm done, I want out. I want to go back to my hotel room and get away from this nonsense. "He's had less time than me, so have you asked him too?" That gives the response I wanted: silence. "Thought not."

I go to leave, but someone catches my arm in a firm grasp, pulling me into a hug that's punctuated by heavy pats on my back. It's Daniel. I know it is before I look up. He's a tactile person, and I've quickly learned that he does this whenever he hugs someone.

When he pulls back, he's dragging me aside, out of the room. I have a sinking feeling at the glint in his eyes. He's up to something, and whatever it is, I'm not going to like it.

"Soooo..." He starts, and that feeling in my stomach gets worse. "What happened in Miami?"

I raise a brow at him. What is he on about? Is he upset still that I bailed out of going to the club with him and the others? Is it because I gave a rather flimsy excuse? Shit, did I offend him by not going out?

No, I realise, as he pulls his phone out and shows me a photo, it's not because of that.

Well... Fuck.

The photo is from the airport, taken by someone randomly, and shared online. Max and I appear to be deep in conversation, and I can already tell what Daniel's trying to imply. I read the caption attached to the post it's from, and I feel a stab of dread at what conclusions anyone could leap to from it.

"We were both waiting for our flights at the same time. What of it?" I have to brush this off, because I don't need more stupid rumours and drama following me, or my team.

"Aw, come off it, Jess! Look at you two! Look at him!" He swipes on the screen, revealing another photo. I look like I'm staring at Max as he stirs his drink. God, it really does look dodgy. Daniel swipes again, and I realise I did not look at all subtle when I tried to keep an eye on him whilst drinking. It looks like I'm stealing chances to stare at him. It looks so bad.

"We were chatting. Daniel, I've talked to him like.. Twice outside of the track. Okay, we've texted a bit but it's mostly him sharing cat photos with me and me turning them into memes."

I realise all too late that I've fed a monster. Daniel is practically bursting with excitement. "You two look cute!"

"... Daniel. I've hung out with him twice. And I'm pretty sure he's just trying to be nice because I'm not exactly what you call sociable." I'm omitting the fact that it is a bit odd he's made so much of an effort with me, mostly because I don't think it's going to help to admit that.

"Four times, actually." He corrects me with more glee in his voice than I'd like to hear. He's not letting this go, is he? "There was lunch at Milton Keynes and dinner at that fancy place... So... when are the two times you two hung out without me?"

Shit.

I don't know what to say to get out of this. The best I have is deflection or turn this whole thing against him. The latter will get me answers.

"Why are you even doing this, Daniel? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're trying to set us up."

"Maybe I am!" He's not showing so much as a shred of guilt. Fucking hell. This is his goal. It really is. I've spent all of what, a few hours alone around Max, and Daniel is trying to play matchmaker already. Christ.

"Daniel. I will hit you." My threat gets laughed at. He's got it in his head already, hasn't he?

"Come on, you two do look cute!" He does an overdramatic gasp and I am dreading whatever dumb idea he's come up with. "Did you two go on a date then? Where? Somewhere nice? Did he pay?"

I can feel my face burning. "No. Daniel. Stop it."

I'm pointing a finger at him, and it's not working. He's on a roll now.

"I mean it. We're friends." I insist as he keeps grinning like a hyena.

"But you get along so well!"

"We have hung out twice." I repeat.

"And? I only hung out with Heidi a few times before we gave it a go." He nudges me with an elbow. "Go on!"

"No." I say as firmly as I can. "I'm not interested. Even if I was, it's bound to end messily because we're essentially rivals. So, no. We are not dating, and we won't be dating anytime soon."

I leave before he can say another word, well aware the burning in my face has not stopped.