Right On Track

Chapter 80

"This is it,Ki."Santiago said in an encouraging tone."Five laps left."
"Gap to Alora?"She asked.
"Five seconds."He replied."It's been increasing since you overtook her."
Kiara acknowledged that as she moved onto the final laps of the race.
She had finally managed to overtake Alora to claim second in the race.If she kept the position till the end,she could also take second from Alora in the championship.Max was,of course,still ahead.He had started on pole and left everyone car behind.
If the race finished with current positions,it would end with a one-two for Red Bull.An excellent way to end the season,of course.
Carlos,unfortunately,had to retire the car.He was no longer in the race and Kiara couldn't help but sigh at the feeling of not being able to share a podium with him in the season finale.
"Final lap,Ki."Santiago said.
Here we go,Santiago."She told him,making the next turn at the first corner.
She moved along through the next few turns,her smile growing as she got closer to the end of the season by each second.As she got closer to the end,she couldn't wait to see that chequered flag.As she was driving,she remembered every moment she lived throughout the 2023 season of F1.Truth was,she loved it all.It sure had its ups and downs,yet she loved it so much.Her second season in F1 was one she hoped never came to an end.
Coming closer to the end,she spotted the chequered flag being waved.
She crossed the finish line in second,moving onto the cool down lap as she finished the final race of the season.
"Wow."She said on the radio."That's another season gone already."
"An amazing one for us too,Ki."Santiago replied,his voice filled with enjoyment."What a season for the team."
"Well done,Ki."Christian said as he came on the radio."Ending on a 1-2,especially.We had a good season."
"Yeah,thanks."She said,a grin on her face.
"Max says you should meet him at the straight to do some doughnuts."He added."Go enjoy it,Ki."
"Oh,danke."She chuckled,then murmered a few other words in German.
There it was,her second season down with excellent results.

"Woah!"Kiara chuckled as she nearly fell back.Both Ivy and Alora had given her a hug at the same time as soon as they saw her.She hesitated at first,but soon just eventually hugged them back.
"Man,I'm starving."Ivy sighed as they pulled apart.
"Charles better not be late."Alora said,glancing around the restaurant as they entered.It was supposed to be the drivers dinner,actually.Yet a few had apparently not been able to make it,unlike last year.
"Oh,come on.I'm not that bad on time."
They all turned to look at Charles as he walked in behind them,a smile on his face.Soon after,Lando and Carlos also arrived at the diner.
"Who else confirmed?"Ivy asked as they all made their way to the table.
"I think..."Charles thought for a moment,then replied."Lance,Pierre,Daniel,Yuki...And maybe Valterri and Alex."
"So,the others are too busy?"Lando arched a brow.
"Too busy to put up with you."Ivy told him.
"Hey!"He frowned,following her to the table.
Kiara smiled,then started to make her way to her seat.
"Hola,mi niña."Carlos said quietly,grazing a hand against her side as he walked beside her.
"You are not sitting next to me."She said.
"But-"
She ignored him with a grin and and moved to sit down between Alora and Ivy.
Carlos gave her a flat look,then moved over to the seat next to Lando.
But,unfortunately for Kiara,she hadn't thought it through.That seat of his was right across from her.As he sat down,she could see the hint of a smile on his face.
"Why are you all so quiet?"Daniel chuckled,finally arriving."I know I'm the life of the party,but..."
"Hey,guys."Alex said with a smile as he walked over.Everyone else also arrived after some time,the night finally coming to life as they started to interact.
"I dare you to 'accidentally' kick Carlos."Ivy quietly told Kiara.
"Oh,yes."Alora snickered,encouraging it.
All three of them glanced forward at Carlos,Lando and Charles,who were deep in their own conversation.
"I'll go first."Ivy suggested mischeviously."Whoever ends up doing it and gets us caught has to accept the next dare."
Kiara and Alora just grinned,the Wolff twins clearly encouraging her to go first.Kiara told herself that it was a bad idea.But it sounded fun enough,so she went along with it.
Ivy sent them a wink.Then,not even a second later,Lando quickly shifted in his chair in shock.
"Oops,my bad."Ivy told him after 'accidentally' kicking him under the table.
Lando arched a brow at her,then carried on talking to Carlos and Charles.
"Me next."Alora whispered to them.
"No,wait a minute or two."Kiara told her."So it doesn't seem obvious."
"Oh,don't worry about me."Alora said.
"Huh?"
"You'll see."
A moment passed by and Charles' eyes widened as his chair jerked.She had clearly kicked him a little hard,but he tried to hold his expression back.Well...Alora was the one wearing high heels,so Kiara couldn't really blame Charles.
He looked at Alora and she pretended to put on a guilty look,mouthing a sorry his way.He just winked with a nod,quietly saying."It's okay."
"Oh,Alora."Ivy jokingly said in a hushed tone.
"He's too sweet to notice."Alora snickered.
Then,they both looked at Kiara.
"You next,Ki."Ivy almost laughed.
"You're definitely getting caught."Alora said.
Kiara frowned."I am not getting caught."
She looked ahead at Carlos,his gaze elsewhere,thankfully,as he spoke to Lando and Charles.
She glanced at Ivy and hesitated for a second.
"What?"Ivy grinned."Scared to hurt your Carlito?"
"No,"Kiara snapped."I'm scared because he might kick me back as a joke.And trust me,it will be harder than he thinks."
"Just do it."Alora urged."Don't you two always beat each other up for no reason?"
"What the-"
"Do it!"Ivy sighed impatiently.
"Fine."Kiara said.
She looked at Carlos,who wasn't focused at all.
Then,she shifted in her chair a little and got ready to do it.
There was a quick and loud thud as the table shook,causing a few of the others to look over as she did it
The table went quiet for a second.Then,everyone went back to talking.Ivy's eyes widened a little,as if to let out her thought being Why the hell did you do it so hard?
Kiara finally worked up the courage and lifted her gaze to Carlos'.
He sat there with a blank expression,glaring at her as he hadn't even flinched one bit after she kicked him.
"Um,"Kiara pursed her lips,trying to play it off as an accident."Sorry."
Carlos tilted his head back a little,a smirk almost touching his lips.
Oh,you fucked up...She told herself,holding back the urge to break his gaze and run away to the bathroom.
"Idiot."Ivy whispered."You got caught."
"Oh,I know what's the next dare for you now."Alora said as she and Ivy pretended to look elsewhere while Carlos still gazed at Kiara.
"We dare you to use the bathroom excuse and see if he follows you after what you just did to him."Ivy said.
"No."Kiara snapped,feeling butterflies in her stomach as Carlos' gaze dipped down to the low dip of her surplice shirt.
"A dare is a dare."Alora mumbled,not looking Kiara's way."You agreed to be part of this."
Kiara held back a sigh,internally swearing herself.
She looked at Ivy,then Alora.
"I'll be back in a second."She said,loud enough for a few others to hear.
"Oh,okay."Ivy said,she and Alora acting as though they hadn't made her do it.
Kiara stood up from her chair and turned away from the table,avoiding her boyfriend's eyes as he watched her leave.
She walked to the bathroom,hoping that they were separate instead of one.
And she almost loosed a sigh of relief when she walked down the small hallway and saw that it was not some bathroom with stalls.
She walked in and shut the door with a sigh,locking it and shaking her head.Of course it happened to her this time instead of Ivy.
She walked over to the sink,glancing at the mirror.It could turn out fine,right?All she had to do was wait in there a while,then go out after Carlos left.Well,that was actually dumb.She knew that he wouldn't mind waiting little.After all,she learned from experience...
She waited a minute longer,then decided to look outside.She pulled out the key from the door and looked through the keyhole,squinting her eyes to see if he was there.
A sigh of relief left her and she put the key back,readying herself to go back to the table.
She opened the door and walked out,closing the door behind herself.
She was about to walk down the hallway,but something caught her eyes.She turned,spotted him leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
Shit
Then,she quickly turned away and was about to make a run for it.She ran for probably only a half a second before she felt strong arms grab her from behind.
Kiara almost yelped as she was slightly lifted into the air while his arms tightened around her waist.
"Let me go,you pigeon!"She gritted out,clawing at his arms.
"Did you just call me a pigeon?"Carlos chuckled,unfazed by her kicks and scratches.
"You're stupid like one,so yes."She grunted,her feet barely touching the ground.
"Well,I wasn't stupid when I noticed you misbehaving earlier,right?"He lowered his voice,his head lowering to her neck.
"It was a mistake!"She snapped,turning her head to look at his face,their nose's brushing against each other's for a second she did.
"Sure,as if we couldn't hear Ivy and Alora giggling as you were about to do it."He said.
"You guys knew?"She arched a brow.
"Well,we're not stupid."He said.
"Whatever,"She frowned,grabbing at his black t-shirt."Just put me down already!"
"Say sorry."He said,holding her firmly.
"No."
"I'm not letting go until you say sorry."
She sighed."Fine,I'm sorry."
"For?"He urged with a smile.
"For kicking you."She rolled her eyes.
"Buena niña."He said satisfied,then finally let go.
As soon as he did,she frowned up at him and crossed her arms.
He winked,which just aggravated her more.So,she gave him one last warning glare,then quickly pinched his arm and ran again.
"Kiara-"
She just ignored him and hurried back to the table,ignoring the snickers from Ivy and Alora as she sat down again.