Just Us-Oliver Bearman

3. It's not my fault

If I had to answer what we drivers do when mechanics and engineers are busy developing the car, the answer would probably be nothing. I’m not kidding. In fact, right now, we’re not doing anything. We’re sitting on the sofas, each of us minding our own business. We don’t even spend time getting to know each other, apart from Bearman, with whom I’m not going to get acquainted, we all know each other here. I have known Dennis and Jehan for a long time, and they are good friends, especially the Norwegian, who is more sociable than the Indian, who is more introverted. Dennis Hauger is a Norwegian guy, an outgoing Formula 3 champion, who after an almost perfect season in Prema, deserved one of the two seats available in Formula 2. Although from the outside he may seem a grumpy guy he is literally a golden retriever made by person. Actually, with that blond hair, it looks a lot like that.
Jehan Daruvala instead is an Indian boy, who with Prema will race his third season in Formula 2, guaranteeing the team an experienced driver. Although he’s not a super extroverted guy, he always knows how to pick up someone’s molar.
But, in reality, the only guy who can save me from sinking into total boredom is only the little Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
When I see him coming, it feels like a mirage.
He is the only one, apart from Arthur, who speaks Italian. So when we get bored to death the only thing that comes to mind is to make foreign drivers speak Italian. It makes me laugh so much that every now and then, maybe after a bad race, Arthur or Dennis would read particularly complex Italian words, just to get a smile out of me. "Arthur, Dennis, you know what we’re about to do, Jehan may be new to you, but you’re gonna love it, I promise."

We laughed so hard, I think even the mechanics heard us.
Hearing Dennis say procrastinare was the best thing I’ve done in a year. We made fun of him a lot, even though I can’t say it right either, but this is a detail.
We look alarmed, when we notice the figure of Renè leaning against the door, intent on studying us.
"Don’t make that face, guys, I’ll only take it out on Isa."
So he signals me to follow him, I imagine in his office, and as I get up discouraged the other guys give me a mixed look at the amused and worried.
"Good Luck"
"Yeah, thank you boys"

As I imagined, I find myself sitting in the swivel chair in front of my Team Principal’s desk, which doesn’t look very happy.
"I know why I’m here, we promised not to make a mess not to disturb the mechanics, I’m sorry, but we were bored."
"I’m not mad about that."
"So what else did I do?"
"I realized you haven’t gotten over what happened two years ago, but you can’t treat him like that.You’re both grown up, you’re gonna be adults soon, act like adults.
You are no longer children having fun on karts. By now you should be able to separate work and private life. But from what I saw earlier, I don’t think so. You’ve completely isolated it. And you know that if you have it with him, the others will follow. Your relationship won’t improve if you don’t even try!"
"It’s not my fault, Rene!
It’s true I’m ignoring him. But I’m not telling others to do the same. They can be friends with both of us. But I can’t be friends with him. Everyone sees him changed and grown, I always see the same kid who called me Daddy’s daughter. I can try, but he hates me. We can’t stay in a room without ignoring each other or exchanging cold looks."
"Do I have to remind you how you were the first time you were here? You didn’t trust anyone, he does the same.You were grumpy and cold, but no one isolated you. Do you remember how close Charles and Antonio were to you? well. Now it’s your turn to help someone. You’re two amazing pilots. Don’t let your past influence your future."

When I go back to the others, they offer me to have lunch in a bar nearby and I can only accept.
So we convince Angelina to let us go and take our jackets, since it’s freezing outside.I think about it a few seconds, but not too much, I might lose this spike of courage. So I grab the FDA red jacket and call the owner back.
"Hey Bearman, are you coming?"
Before I can answer I throw him the jacket, which grabs, reserving a strange smile.
So I leave the room followed by the English, under the strange looks of others.

We had lunch quietly, we met some fans, but they were all very kind and did not bother us. Bearman seemed more comfortable. We hardly ever talked during the meal, but that’s okay. Maybe he’s changed after all. I just hope so.
"Any predictions for your first season in Formula 3?" Jehan approaches us, leaning at the table, curious of our opinions.
"I think Isa will kick everyone’s ass, as always", Dennis chuckles, who as always jokes that she is the only girl to run in these categories by Sophia Florsch, who left the series a few years ago. Out of the corner of my eye I see Bearman nod a smile at Dennis’s words. Is it so funny that he’s the only one who could beat me? I ignore his reaction with a puff, throwing a look at the Norwegian, who laughs at the scene.
"You may be a little too optimistic, Dennis, but I’ve been waiting my whole life to beat Arthur on the track so I can throw it back at him forever. Are you ready for the best season you’ve ever run Tutur?"
"I guess at this point I’ll have to really commit, it’s my pride. Anyway I’m all about Ollie"
"No way!" I and the Englishman in question exclaim in sync, before I turn around quite embarrassed.
Oliver you are really fast this season, as you have shown in the past seasons, I also think you have many chances in the championship", Kimi raises, who is watching me laughing. They’re doing this on purpose, just to see how I react. Even if at this moment I would like to get up and insult everyone present, I remember the conversation I just had with Rene and I just whisper a fuck to both of them. I turn to English, waiting for your answer.
"I hope not to waste this opportunity, that’s all. This year there are really many talented drivers, for example Martens or Maloney."
We’re still a little on the conversation before we head back to headquarters.

Back at the office I convinced Dennis to let me park his car, so once arrived in the parking lot the owner gets out of the car, leaving me full control of the car.
"Just a scratch and you can consider your career over"
So, under the watchful eye of others I insert the back and sneak into the parking lot. Once I get off I admire my masterpiece, maybe a little crooked, but not too bad for someone who doesn’t even have a license.
We have another meeting to analyze the data of the new car, and then, finally, we can relax on the sofas, which we absolutely did not do all morning.
We talk about next season, the new calendar and the line-up of the other teams. Then most of them leave, and it’s just me and Bearman in the room. I probably would have left quickly from this uncomfortable situation, but when I do to get up, he holds me, grabbing my arm. I immediately get rid of his grip, and then turn to him, waiting for an explanation.
"I just wanted to thank you for today. And then I have to apologize, yesterday I was an asshole, I mean, I’m sorry."
"Don’t worry, but I can’t pretend nothing happened two years ago. Break?"
"Break"