Right On Track

Chapter 79

"I swear,if you pull up with an engine even better than this one for next year..."Ivy sighed,playfully rolling her eyes."I an going to kill you all."
"That's if you can catch up to us."Kiara joked,pulling out of the hug Ivy was giving her.
Kiara had set pole position for the race,like she had aimed for.It was not unexpected,as she her ambition had grown each session.Setting pole for the last race of the season was something she didn't want to put to waste.
"I heard Carlos didn't have a good session."Ivy pursed her lips.
"Yeah..."Kiara nodded.Carlos had qualified 16th.It had been a huge shocker to almost everyone.Apparently the car didn't feel right either ever since he had crashed in practice on Friday.Kiara had tried to go to see him after that had occurred.But she hadn't even gotten the opportunity to do it.And she felt really guilty for it.
"Anyway,"Ivy said,giving Kiara one more hug."I have a session briefing.I'll see you soon."
"Okay."Kiara nodded,then waved at Ivy as she left.
Kiara glanced around the paddock,then started to walk back to the Red Bull motorhome.
She wanted to find Carlos to talk to him,but she was informed that he wasn't around the garage or hospitality.He was most-likely gone for an interview or something else.
"Kiara?"Someone called from behind.
Kiara stopped walking and turned around.
"Hola."Carlos' mother said,walking over with a smile.
"Oh,hello,Mrs.Sainz."Kiara said,trying not to panic.
"Oh,no."She shook her head."For the last time,call me Reyes."
Kiara just nodded,giving a tight smile.
Yes,she was scared.
"So,Carlos tells me that you have both been quite busy recently."She said."You two haven't been able to spend much time together?"
"Um,yeah."Kiara replied,thinking about the bet."It's been a really busy time,actually."
Reyes nodded,her brown eyes showing some understanding."You should come by in the winter break.I'm sure you'll love it."
"Carlos actually suggested it."Kiara said.He had and she had been two-minded about it,wondering if his family would be fine with it.But since his mother was literally asking,there was a little more relief.
"But you two are going on vacation first,no?"She asked,arching a brow.
Kiara almost frowned."I..."
What did Carlos tell her?
"Carlos said you two might only be able to come after the trip to Lake Como?"
So,we're suddenly going to Italy? Kiara thought to herself.So,he had literally told his mother about plans they hadn't even discussed?
"Uh,yes."Kiara said,just playing along so she didn't seem like a fool in front of Reyes.It would be embarrassing if she admitted to not knowing about the plans Carlos had made."But I'm sure time will just go by and before you know it,we'll be coming to Madrid."
Reyes smiled,pausing for a second.Then,she said."Carlos doesn't stop talking about you."
Kiara's eyes lit up at that.She looked at her,holding back a smile.
"Recently,it's been increasing."She added."He won't stop talking about how much he misses you.Whenever I speak to him on the phone,he always brings it up."
"Oh."Kiara blushed,not meeting her gaze.
Reyes just smiled more.After another moment of silence,she said."Keep him happy,Kiara."
Kiara met her gaze at that,immediately giving a nod."Of course."
Carlos' mother just nodded,then said."I'll see you around.I have to go find Carlos Sr."
Kiara gave a tight smile,then watched as she turned and left.
Well,that wasn't so bad...

Carlos Sainz

After finishing the tough qualifying  session,Carlos walked through the paddock.He was quite frustrated over the weekend so far.The car was acting up again.It was shit.He wouldn't hesitate to admit it aloud.Earlier on in the garage,the team had also made it as though it was his fault.It got a little annoying.And that was why Carlos had just left and went for a walk through the paddock.It was infuriating,especially since his family were there to watch him this weekend.
Carlos dragged a hand through his hair,loosing a frustrated sigh as he walked through the paddock.He was barely stopped by fans because of how fast he was walking.He didn't even know where he was going himself,though.Perhaps he would just end up finding Kiara or Lando along the way.
Everything annoyed him about this week so far.Especially the whole situation with Kiara going out with Esteban.Yes,she had not been alone.But Carlos couldn't understand what she meant by 'talk something out with Esteban.'
He couldn't understand it.What could they possibly need to talk out.Alone,especially.
Carlos clenched his jaw,thinking about it.
However,just on point as he thought about it,he started to pass the Alpine hospitality building.
He glared at the entrance for a moment,wanting to barrel inside and find Esteban.But just as those thoughts were in his mind,the other French driver exited the building.
Pierre,looking down at his phone,walked out of the building.
Carlos stopped walking.He remembered how Kiara had said that Pierre was the one to plan the dinner in the first place...
Pierre carried on walking,seeming to go towards the media pen.Gasly sure had some explaining to do.
Carlos followed him before he could go in.He quickly grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around.
"What the-" Pierre grunted as he almost lost his footing.
"Tell me about Wednesday night,Gasly."Carlos said,getting straight to the point.He didn't want to attract a lot of attention from people around.
Pierre arched a brow,looking up a little at Carlos."If you're referring to my allergic reaction to the pasta,then-"
"Pierre."Carlos said,a little warningly."Why did you leave her alone with Esteban?And what did you need them to talk out?"
Pierre frowned,his blue eyes filled with a look that said seriously?
"I guess Kiara didn't fill you in on the situation,huh?"He said.
Carlos just glared at him warningly.Pierre took that as his last warning.He finally continued."Esteban got mad since he now knows that Kiara was basically just using him a lot.So,he wanted to make the last race hard for her because of that whole situation.I wanted them to talk it out because I knew it would affect the team if he did something reckless in the race."
Carlos frowned."Reckless?As in hit her during the race?"
"I don't know."He shrugged."Maybe.But I doubt-"
"Where is Esteban right now?"
"The hospitality."He replied."Why?"
Carlos didn't reply to him.He just turned away from Pierre and walked towards the hospitality.
"Mate,you can't just go in there."Pierre said from behind.
Carlos ignored him and walked straight into the Alpine hospitality building.Pierre didn't follow,probably not wanting to get involved.But Carlos knew that he would stick around outside in case things went extremely downhill.
Glancing around the room,Carlos spotted Esteban sitting at one of the tables by himself,scrolling on his phone.The hospitality was a little empty,everybody probably busy after qualifying.
He walked up to the table where the French driver sat,trying to keep his temper in check.
Esteban jerked back in shock as Carlos harshly braced a hand on the table,glaring down at him.
"Oh,god."Esteban sighed,shaking his head."What do you want,Sainz?"
"You want to hit her?"Carlos said,his gaze hard."You want to crash into her and risk her getting hurt?"
"Carlos,what the hell?"He frowned,barely being able to hold his gaze.
"You think I don't know about what you're trying to do?"Carlos told him."Why don't you grow some balls and handle things off track instead?"
Esteban's frown deepened."I don't-"
"Trust me,Ocon,"He said,leaning down further."You don't want to try something stupid out there on track."
Esteban went quiet at that,just seeming to avoid Carlos' glare at all costs.
"Not that you have the skill to even catch up to my girl,"Carlos said."But you better watch yourself.Because if you do something reckless and I don't sort you out,you'll find her fist hitting you in the face."
The Alpine driver didn't reply.He just swallowed,as if feeling small in that moment.
Carlos glared at him one more time,then turned to leave the hospitality.

Kiara Wolff

"So,we're going to Italy again,I hear."Kiara said,approaching the Ferrari in the parking lot.It took her a while,but she eventually found him.
Carlos looked up from his phone,stopping before he got into his car."Who told you what I had planned?"
"Someone."Kiara said,not spying out his mother."Now,care to at least enlighten me?"
Carlos sighed,smiling as he put his phone away.He closed the car door and leaned against the side of the Ferrari."I was going to tell you soon,I promise."
"Soon as in the day before?"She smiled,crossing her arms as she walked over to where he stood.
"Exactly."He chuckled."It was supposed to be a surprise."
"Well,there goes the surprise."She said,stopping right in front of him."Italy again,though?I thought you wanted to go to-"
"It's not about what I want."He said."You said that you hadn't actually seen a lot of Italy to begin with.You have only been to Bolgna,Monza and Amalfi."
"That's three places already."She pointed out.He could have chosen somewhere that he wanted to see next.
"Two of which were only for race weekends."He replied."So,technically,like only one of them as an actual holiday trip?"
She sighed."Fine,as long as you're good with Lake Como,I am too."
"All good,mi amor."He said with a wink.
She studied his face.He seemed like he wanted to ask something for a moment.But that soon disappeared as his usual smirk soon returned in it's place.
She shifted even closer,looking up at him through lowered lashes."Carlos?"
He gazed down at her softly."Yes?"
She studied his face as she thought to herself.She wasn't an idiot.She knew that going on holiday with him was also another way for him to try and win the bet.
"Who else will be there?"
"Just me and you."Carlos replied.
"Really?"She raised an eyebrow."No others?"
"I mean,if you want,we can get others to come."He said.
"No,it's okay."She said with a nod.This was about to get much harder.
They stood like that for a moment longer,silence soon arriving.
Kiara looked up into his brown eyes.He just gazed down longingly.
Noting the way he did it,she thought about what happened on Thursday...That moment between the motorhomes and what he had said...
"Like you said..."Kiara said,putting an hand on his shoulder.
He arched a brow down at her hand,clearly confused.But he didn't object.
"Just touching you doesn't mean that I'm giving in."She said,repeating his words.
Before he could react further,she grazed a hand over his thigh,then stopped at the certain point between his legs.
His eyes widened,one of his hands clenching as she pressed down.
"Good luck for tomorrow's race."She said,then gave him a sweet smile.
She pulled her hand away and turned around to leave,leaving him stunned.