Formula 1 | One Shots

Just Friends | Carlos Sainz

Authors Note: So random, but I got the inspo for this from the old Jonas Brothers song "Just Friends" hehe.

Written in Carlos POV

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Do you ever meet someone in your life and wonder, wow right person, wrong time? That's how I feel about my best friend Angelina, Angel for short. It feels like just yesterday when our paths crossed. We met when we were 20, I had just signed with Toro Rosso and had moved into a new apartment close to headquarters in Italy. 

I remember moving in and seeing a pretty brunette entering her own apartment a few doors down. We hadn't said anything to each other that day, but a few days later we ended up in the same elevator ride back up to our apartments.

We got to talking and she shyly invited me over for some coffee to welcome me to the building,  it was history ever since. We instantly clicked and we talked about everything and nothing at the same time. We had a lot in common, both growing up in wealthy families, but wanting to branch out and do our own things.

 Our coffee hangout lasted 3 hours, and ended in sushi takeout and cheap white wine. I don't think I had ever laughed so much in one night, especially with someone I had just met. Angel was a professional ballet dancer who had been born and raised in Italy. We had talked about my career in F1, something she was familiar with as her dad was an avid Ferrari fan. Although we both traveled a lot for work, we exchanged numbers and promised to keep in touch whenever we were in town.

Everyone who knew us always teased me that we were more than just friends. They couldn't believe two people with chemistry like ours weren't together. It was always the same story when responding to them. 

"No, I don't want to ruin our friendship," "no, I don't have feelings for Angel." all of which were a lie. 

I would be kidding if I didn't feel instantly attracted to her when we first met. Further down the line I knew my romantic feelings grew for her after getting to know her more. I knew she would never feel the same about me, so I swallowed my emotions and was lucky to have her as my best friend. The timing also wasn't the best. It was my debut in F1, and I couldn't have distractions- shitty on my part, I know. 

Angel and I constantly texted, facetimed and checked in on each other while traveling. My friendship with her was easy, it almost felt like second nature. As the years progressed, we both had our fair share of relationships....failed relationships. 

It was like every time we started dated, our partners would be jealous of our friendship. My last ex girlfriend even tried to get me to stop being friends with Angel, something I refused to do. It was probably unfair of me to date other girls knowing where my true feelings lied. Angel's last boyfriend was an asshole. Super manipulative and controlling, and I'm glad she ended things with him. 

Over the years, we supported each other with our careers, Angel coming to a few races and I attending some of her recitals. Our families knew each other at this point and so did our mutual friends. Our friendship has been going strong for 8 years. We had been together through the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

Every time we saw each other, it became harder for me to hold back my feelings for her. I refused to act selfishly and admit anything to her, knowing what repercussions it could have on our dynamic and friendship. The guys even tried to set me up with girls to distract me from Angel. For the past year and a half I only committed to meaningless hookups, but refused to date anyone. 

Right before Jeddah, I was hospitalized for appendicitis. I couldn't race and was admitted to the emergency room. I knew Angel was across the world for a recital in Monaco, but a few hours after getting out of surgery, she stood before me, teary eyed.