Turbulence [𝗠.𝗩.]

♦ Friday, Free Day, November ♦

Out of hospital at last! Now to go and demand an explanation off the FIA about James being disqualified. - @JessicaBond57

@JessicaBond57 They're gonna fine you for that tweet lol - @LiamLawson40

@LiamLawson40 I'm so hopped up on painkillers that I don't care if they do - @JessicaBond57

@JessicaBond57 @LiamLawson40 Let me film it - @NandoLorris🔒

⸻

BRAZIL
FREE DAY
NOVEMBER

"You don't have to be here, Max." I huff out as I lay back on the plush, deep red hotel bed. I'm not allowed to fly yet, and that means I'm stuck in Brazil until Sunday at the earliest. I'm also on strict orders to rest.

"I know." He says, dumping his suitcase on the floor, next to mine. He should be back home, or at the Red Bull factory in the simulator, but he's here, because... because he is. Because we're admitting this is more than just chemistry and seeing where it goes.

Still, I feel bad about it. He should be preparing for Vegas.

"You should be in the sims. Or training. Or—"

"Jess." His voice is firm as he gives me a steeled stare. "I want to be here."

I hold back a sigh, nodding. I have to accept this. I don't like it; it feels like we're blurring the lines of work and personal lives, but I also know I'm stumbling around as blindly in the dark with all this as he is. "Okay. I just... I feel guilty."

"Don't." Is his simple answer.

I want to tell him why, but my mind won't let me. It screams to a halt, unwilling to comply. All I can do is shuffle on the bed, trying to get comfortable, but my shoulder sends a sudden jolt of pain, rendering my arm temporarily useless as the pain shoots up to my neck. I wait for it to subside before trying to move again, without using my left arm - not that I can use it much, thanks to the sling it's trapped in. Max pulls the white curtains partially closed, to accommodate the nagging headache that's been pestering me since the crash.

He goes to join me on the bed, but pauses; his phone is going off. After glancing at it, he goes in search of mine. "Your dad wants you to call. Or text."

"You... have my dad's number?" When did he get that?!

"I don't. James is telling me what your dad is saying."

Thank fuck.

My phone is handed out to me, and I can see I've missed a lot. The Jaguar team chats are filled with plans for Cassandra to step up - it's not heartless for them to be doing that. They have to keep their minds on the remaining races. And she is the reserve driver. This is her job.

The various driver group chats are filled with different conversations. The rookie group has a few updates from James and Mick to the others. I read through them, before deciding where to pop my head up in.

GROUP: F1 - DRIVERS ONLY

George's Other Girlfriend (Me);
Morning (Evening?) all
Took a good nap, did Max win the race?

Grid Dad #1 (Sebastian);
Jessica! Are you feeling better?