"That's lap 30 Daniel, good pace, good driving, keep it up" the engineer repeated down Daniel's radio, I was listening in with the headphones the garage supplied.
The race had started off interesting, there was a crash in the first corner and caused the race to be put on hold while they leave the track up, and after a while they decided to just restart the race completely. But since then it's been fairly boring, Daniel is in the lead by a shocking 14 seconds, Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari was in second, George Russell in third and Hamilton was in fifth.
I felt my phone vibrating in my hand. Pulling down the headphones off my ears and letting them rest around my neck, I answered the phone and brought it up to my ear
"Delaney!" Liams voice yelled
"Jesus Black, calm down" I muttered "yeah?"
"Get to the VIP lounge now!" He continued to yell "you'll never guess who's there right now, I just saw it pop up on my news alerts"
"I don't know, the queen?"
"Yeah cause she rose from the dead to attend the Italian Grand Prix. No! Rod Laver!"
My jaw dropped "no way"
"Yes!"
"But he's - he's"
Rod Laver, if you don't know, is the greatest male tennis player of all time. He retired back in 1979 after winning nearly 200 tennis titles and 11 Grand Slam Titles. Hes Australian, growing up I had a poster of him on my wall. Even the main arena for the Australian Open where the finals are held is literally called 'The Rod Laver Arena'. However, ever since he's retired he rarely makes public appearances. I've only been able to meet him once in my life, it would be an honour to meet him again.
"Where did you say he was?" I asked
"The VIP lounge, above you-" I cut him off, ending the phone call.
I took the headphones off my neck, dropping them on the half wall in front of me and speed walking out of the garage.
I walked as fast as my heels would let me, out of the garage, up the stairs, through a hallway until I eventually reached the VIP lounge. It was jammed packed. The lounge is also huge, stretching above all the garage down the whole way. It's kind of like a long hallway with bars and couches and TVs.
"Delaney Ricciardo-" someone said,
"Sorry, I'm in a rush" I cut them off, speed walking past them and down through the lounge. I scanned the area as I walked through it, hoping and praying I would spot the old man.
No luck.
I kept walking. But the only people up here were strangers, all of them were either talking amongst each other or looking out at the track in front of them.
I was coming near the end of the lounge, and still no sign of Rod Laver.
"Come on, come on" I muttered
And then.
I spotted him.
He was being pushed in his wheelchair through large double doors at the end of the lounge by his security.
I picked up my speed. I'm not about to miss this opportunity to meet my absolute idol. Rod Laver is probably my only idol, I've always looked up to him and the way he plays the game. My uncle used to sit me down and we'd watch his tapes together, and that's how I learned some of my favourite moves.
Rod disappeared through the doors, one of his security members stood outside the door.
I walked straight up to him, standing tall as I did.
"Hello, I'm Delaney Ricciardo and I'd like to meet Mr Laver" I said to him
He looked me up and down, not in a checking me out sort of way, more in a, how hard would it be for me run away and not get caught sort of way.
"No one sees Rod" he said in a rough voice
"Please, I just want to have a moment of his time, tell him it's Delaney Ricciardo-"
"Delaney, my dear" a voice said from behind me. And I felt myself freeze as the person walked over to me, coming to a stop beside me.
Darren Cahill.
Darren Fucking Cahill.
My old coach.
The man I dumped my uncle for to allow him to coach me.
The man that also dumped me to allow him to coach some new and upcoming 16 year old.
He abandoned me the second I started loosing, and in the process completely knocked my confidence. He didn't just say he wasn't going to be my coach anymore, he told me I was finished and would never win another title and it would be sad to watch me even attempt. He told me how I'd already wasted the last two years of my life trying to win something more, and it was embarrassing.
Charlie Thyme. That was the women who he had dumped me for. He's spent the last couple of years coaching her now and as much as it pains me. She was good. She'd won two slams, but had to miss the Australian Open due to something to do with her wrist. But I'd read in the papers earlier that she'd be back in time for the French Open.
"Cahill" I said, suddenly feeling my confidence slipping "what a lovely surprise"
"Please my dear Delaney, we've known eachother for long enough now, it's Darren" he said. His grey hair was slightly slicked back, he was wearing grey trousers and a white polo shirt along with a large watch and some other bracelets on his other arms
"Here you go Mr Cahill" the security guard said, handing Darren a pair of sunglasses
"Thank you Matthew" Darren said with a smile, a smile I knew all too well. It seamed genuine and kind, but it was masking all sorts of horrors.
"Congratulations on Charlie's win yesterday" I said, keeping my tone cold while also desperately trying to keep it friendly. I wanted him to think I was over what he did, that I haven't spent a second thinking about it since, that I had risen above it.
"Why thank you" he said, sending me a sly smile "I'm so lucky to have such a good player like Charlie, she's a player who really knows her stuff, a player who really wants to win. It's such an advantage"
"I'm sure" I nodded
The doors to the left of us opened.
There was Rod Laver coming through the doors in his wheelchair, a large smile covering his wrinkled face
"Ah, Rod!" Darren boasted "let me introduce you to Delaney, my ex trainie"
Fuck this guy
"Delaney Ricciardo, also the women who won 9 slam titles without the help of Mr Cahill" I said, smiling and extending my hand to Rod
"Of course" Darren said
"Ah yes" he said, his voice was croaky and his hand was slightly weak as he shook my hand "I've heard plenty about you Delaney, you're the fiery player from Perth who is coming out of retirement"
"That is me" I smiled
"Lovely to meet you. Darren see you again" Rod said, smiling at the pair of us before his security guard wheeled him away and over to a small group.
We both stood there is silence for a second, before I turned to face Darren
"You know, I was a little surprised when you started coaching Charlie Thyme of all players, an American. I always thought coaching Australians was your one true love, close to home as well"
"I guess, just like any man, you get tired of the same old same old" he said.
I felt my face slightly drop. I suddenly felt very nauseous and sick.
"Goodluck with this season, I hope Charlie will get the honour of playing the women I made" he nodded, smiling again before walking off, leaving me standing there, alone.
****
YOU ARE READING
She's back ~ L. Hamilton
FanfictionDelaney Ricciardo is fierce and her determined to win at any cost has not made her well liked. But by the time she retires from tennis she is a twenty four grand slam winner and regarded as the greatest tennis player the world has ever seen. But si...
