Cocktails & Emotions ~ [DR3]

15. Melt

Sunday 2nd April 2023
"I wanna give us a shot, please"
-Ammunition, Zara Larsson (WHO is doing it like her?! I LOVE HER!!)

Enjoy 🫡

Much to Daniel's satisfaction Max, of course, won the race. It was exactly as easy as Daniel said it would be, and I wish I was stood beside him to see the satisfied smile on his face when max crossed the line. Instead all I received was a smug text stating 'told you' that had me laughing outloud through the cheers of the Red Bull supporters around me.

Time seemed to pass in a blur following the race. The podium celebration meant that swarms of fans came screaming down the track straight, it was an insane sight to see - I don't think I've seen so many people in my life. And soon after the celebration Michelle announced that she was leaving, along with half of Daniel's family and I joined happily. Bella stayed glued to my side for most of the journey and again the seven of us stumbled into the hotel restaurant for food. The whole family has practically adopted me this weekend and I've been more than grateful for it. Each one of them is just as warm and welcoming as Daniel. Especially Joe, who is practically Daniel's twin. Daniel's dad is so gentle, kind and caring whilst also being able to pull smiles from everyone he encounters. I realised the similarities more when Daniel arrived from the track, pulling a chair up next to mine and stealing slices of pizza from my plate whispering about a party later in the night.

It's how we ended up here.

Me in a black one sleeved mini dress and a pair of shining sandals that have my feet aching after dancing in them for hours. Daniel with a seemingly endless stream of alcohol in his hands that he hands to different people (including me) and Max grinning proudly as he oversees the whole affair of people cheering him, clapping him on the back and celebrating his well deserved (yet easy) win.

"It's not too hard, you know?" Max had joked when Daniel and I congratulated him earlier. His accent somehow sounded thicker than it has at any other time this weekend over the bass of the music. I was quick to realise that this was because of the alcohol he'd consumed making his words clump together awkwardly as Kelly, his girlfriend, smiled softly in admiration of her partner. I've spent practically every moment third wheeling in a conversation with Daniel and some other far-off friend or dancing with Kelly who was delighted to have company - as sad as Max may be that it's not a girlfriend of Daniel.

"I think I'm going to find Max." She yells in my ear as the Dua Lipa song we'd been singing along to draws to a close. With the ache in my feet I can't bring myself to protest. Maybe I'd find a seat along the way, or at least a table to press my weight against. I simply nod in understanding, my voice already strained from yelling most of the night. "I don't want him getting carried out of here - and with Daniel it's a real possibility." Kelly continues with an entertained smile, an edge of teasing in her words. It leaves me laughing and nodding in agreement. Most of my time with Daniel ends with me wondering how I ended up in the situation, it makes sense that other people would experience the same thing.

Kelly grasps my hand in hers and we snake through the clusters of people. My body gets shoved a few times by careless groups of people (intoxicated and not) who are dancing a little too boisterously or telling a story too animatedly. Instead of rolling my eyes I simply smile, the alcohol swirling through my veins and making me feel too bubbly to care. It's been a while since I felt like this, probably since Daniel and I went out for food.

Kelly points out Max a few more steps away and I nod in acknowledgement, feeling my heart glow at the sight of Daniel at his side. They're grinning and poking at eachother (literally) before another shot is tipped to their lips. We reach them easily, and just in time to see the wince on Max's face. Kelly snuggles into Max's side poking fun at his reaction as Daniel seems to reach from me, pulling me to his side away from the walkway of people.