Right On Track

Chapter 75

Kiara Wolff

"How's the tyres?"Santiago asked as Kiara moved onto the final few laps of the race.
"They're okay."She said."I think I can catch up to the car ahead."
"The gap to Esteban ahead is six seconds."He said."I don't think it should be too hard for you."
Yeah,like that race start...Kiara almost sighed to herself.She couldn't understand how she had made such a mistake,but she had dropped two places in the race start,nearly colliding with Charles and Alora.Kiara had already started at P3.By lap two,she had already dropped to P5.
And just when she thought she could regain positions again,a red flag was brought out as Lando had crashed out.Debris had flown all over during the big incident and a piece had punctured Kiara's front left tyre.Fortunately,she got to pit like many of the other few drivers who were affected as well.But overall,she left the pits and had to fight her way up from fifteenth.
And there she was later on in the race,trying to get to seventh as she spotted Esteban ahead.She knew that once she passed him,she could chase down two more cars and at least make fifth by the end of the race.
Kiara caught sight of the Alpine driver ahead and went straight for it,speeding down the straight and catching up to him.
Esteban noticed her and sped through the next corner,defending as best as he could.His driving was a little shaky and she could tell.Santiago informed her that he was also on an older set of tyres.
Kiara saw an opportunity opening at the next chicane as well.From the line he was following,she could tell that he would leave a little bit of a gap there.
The chicane finally came up and Kiara went straight for it.As she expected,he left the gap and even felt the intensity of the G-force while she came up beside him and was about to make the overtake at the chicane.
But Esteban,obviously not giving up easily,tried to keep his position.And he didn't realize that by trying to get ahead of her,his reaf tyres would hit ur front wings.
And when it happened,Kiara's car jerked forward and the wings broke of.
"Verdammtes kleines-"Kiara swore in German,trying to gain control of her car before it hit a barrier.Fortunately,she managed to keep control and carry on driving.
Except Esteban was still ahead now.
"That's a penalty."She said to Santiago."He turned in on me."
"It's getting checked out,Ki."Santiago said."And as for the wings,we can't stop for a change now in the final five laps."
"I really thought I had it there."She muttered,trying to keep her temper in check.
A few moments later,while struggling on the hard breaking zones without front wings on the car,she swallowed to herself and tried not to let any cars behind catch up.
"Five second penalty for Ocon."Santiago said.
"Sounds correct and familiar."Kiara said.That move he made was just ridiculous,in her opinion.He should have known the consequences it would have.Esteban just ruined such an opportunity for her.Today was the day she would actually do something to prove to Helmut Marko that she deserved a contract extension.She knew that they would probably still keep her as a choice.But she could have brightened up that choice by showing them why she deserved it.
And there it was.Ruined by Esteban Ocon.
Kiara had too many thoughts running through her mind.This would mean that Alora would overtake her in the champions standings.Kiara would drop from second to third and would only have one race left to get back to her original position.
The race ended with Kiara in eighth,her radio quiet as she gripped tightly onto the steering wheel while parking the car.
She had her eyes set on the Alpine ahead,frustration coursing through her.She grabbed onto the halo and got out of the car,her movements clearly displaying her thoughts as she got out and looked at the damage on the front of her car.
Ahead,Esteban was still getting out of his car,seeming to purposely not look her way.
Kiara lifted her visor,her jaw clenched along with her fists as she stormed over to the pink and blue Alpine.
Esteban snapped his gaze to her as he got out,stepping back as he pointed a finger at him.
"What the fuck is your problem?"She gritted out,stepping closer.
"Me?"He scoffed,lifting his visor."You were the one driving too aggressively."
"Too aggressively?"She snapped."In your view,it's called losing a position.And I'm surprised that you aren't familiar with the concept by now."
"What is wrong with you?"He exclaimed,throwing a hand up in frustration.
"What is wrong with you."She retorted,her hand gestures indicating her anger.
"You know,not everything always has to be about you,Kiara."He said,stepping even more closer to seem intimidating."You aren't always right."
"Excuse me?"She glared up at him.
"What?"He faked a sympathetic voice."I'm not wrong."
"You are wrong."She lifted a hand,wanting to shove him back because he was so close.
Just as she was about to shove him out of her way,he grabbed her wrist and snapped."Admit it,you only do things because you think that you're the only one right."
She angled her head,her fist tightening.So,he wanted to get personal?
"Look who can't defend themself in racing situations."She gave a bitter laugh."I guess you want to bring personal things into this now."
"Hell,yeah I do."He gritted out as she yanked her hand out of his grip."You think I don't know what you're doing again?"
"What?"She frowned.
"Stop using me to always get to Carlos."He snapped."You mess with my feelings,then you just crawl back to Carlos."
"I don't know what you're talking about."She shook her head.She hadn't done anything of that sort this time.Well,she had done it before.But that was a long time ago.So she couldn't even understand why he was suddenly acting like this.
"Sure."He shook his head,stepping back."Of course you don't.Because I'm just always something for you to use."
Kiara paused,watching him quickly turn and walk away.
She looked to her right,noting the marshals that had come closer in case a fight had broken out.A cameraman was also nearby.She realky hoped that nothing was heard.
"Hey,you okay?"Fernando and Lance asked as they walked past her.
"Yeah."She muttered,looking down.
Nearby,she saw Carlos getting out of his car,his gaze questioning as he lifted his visor.He was about to walk over to her,but she shook her head and just walked off.

Later that night,Kiara sat at the bar of the hotel,staring down at her drink.She was alone,Ivy having to leave for something's earlier on.
Kiara,unlike most other drivers,didn't go out to the nearest party out in Vegas.Many would have expected her to just go to a casino or something with the other drivers.After all,she wasn't labeled as the 'party driver' for nothing.
Tonight was different,though.In fact,she was still in her leggings and Red Bull shirt,sitting alone at the hotel bar.
Now and again people walked up to her and asked for signatures or photographs with her,so she didn't feel entirely alone after some time.But the truth was,she missed someone.She missed him,though she wouldn't admit it aloud.
After today's incidents,she wanted to huddle up and sleep in his arms that night.She wanted to rest with her head on his chest as he comforted her so well like he always did.Maybe even hearing one of his jokes in-between.
Stupid bet.Stupid ego and pride. She told herself.
And yet,she still refused to call up Carlos as say the simple 'I need you'.
After a few moments,though,she felt a tap on the shoulder.
"Well,this is surprising."Pierre said,sitting down in the stool next to her.
"So is this."She said,motioning towards him."Why aren't you out?"
"Kika wasn't feeling well."He replied."We came back early."
"Oh."She nodded.
Pierre sighed,ordering a drink as the bartender walked over.He turned back to Kiara after a moment,saying."Hearr about your fight earlier."
"Huh?"She frowned."Who told you-"
"You're forgetting that Esteban is my teammate."He said.
Kiara sighed."Listen,I-"
"You don't understand how he knew,right?"Pierre asked.
"Knew?"She arched a brow.
"That you used his name again to provoke Carlos."
Kiara pursed her lips.She looked down at her drink,then gave a tight nod.After the fight,she had remembered that she had actually used his name against Carlos that morning in the breakfast area.And after,she had just wondered about how he found out.But Kiara didn't even think of it to be so serious.It was just a joke...
"Charles mentioned it."Pierre said,taking a sip of his drink as the bartender walked over."He apparently heard it when he was waiting for Carlos to come back to their table during breakfast the other day."
"So he told Esteban?!"She frowned.
"No..."He sighed."He told me."
"And you told Esteban?!"Kiara scoffed,shaking her head."Pierre,what the actual-"
"I'm sorry I was drunk!"He said,pinching the bridge of his nose.
"The night before the race?"Her eyes widened.
"Oh,come on."He told her."It was just this one time.Admit it,we all do that once in a while,Ki."
"Don't tell me you were hungover during the race."She gave him a flat look.
"I was.Not very."He nodded."But...yeah?"
"Oh my God."She slapped her palm against her forehead.
She shook her head,then looked at him again."Pierre,everything that happened with Esteban was in the past.Now,look what you've done!"
"I'm sorry."He raised his palms in surrender."I didn't mean to."
"Yeah,well thanks for making me look like a bad person."She rolled her eyes,drinking the last bit of alcohol in her glass.
"Listen,Ki."He said."I'm sorry.I didn't know that he would react like that."
"Sure."Kiara clicked her tongue.
She got out of her seat,leaving a tip for the bartender before starting to walk away.She needed to go back to her room.
And sleep?Yes,she just wanted to sleep.
Honestly,she found it all just ridiculous.