Starting from the Pit lane - Lewis Hamilton

Fly

Two months had passed and the two-week break had already ended. Melissa was able to return home for that period.
Her father had jumped for joy when she told him, strictly on the phone, that she was back with Marco. "he's a good fella, I'm so happy that you chose him as your partner. It's important that you decide now who to spend your future with, it's very important" and many other talks about the future and how Marco was a "bravo ragazzo".
Her knees were a little milky but her mother had been close to her. The last free Sunday she had was spent with her entire family: her grandmother, her mother, two uncles and her cousin who was more or less the same age as her.
They had had a very good time at lunch and she would be flying out that same night.

Melissa confided in her cousin. They were in Melissa's room and were lying on the bed in her old bedroom, like the good old days. They also had the window open, perfume and mints to smoke secretly, everything the same as when they were two teenagers.

-I am starting to think I have a crush on someone- she smiled sincerely looking at the tips of her fingers with which she was holding the cigarette.
-Yes, I heard you came back with Marco- she forced a smile.
-But not on him-
-luckily- she sighed as he took a drag and they laughed -who's the lucky one?-
-Let's say we work together- she smiled sweetly.
-and did something worth telling also happen?-
-Nothing much- Melissa smiled looking into the air.
Her cousin opened her mouth -oh God I have to know!-
-Nothing, really- she chuckled.
-when you do this it means that something has happened-
-Just one finger... come on, two actually-
Her cousin laughed -so what are those two fingers like?-
-Of chocolate-
-Then I can't wait for you to tell me about the aubergine too...-
-AOOO what are you saying!?- she laughed like crazy.
-What's up? It is well known that black boys...-
-Yes, I know- she giggled bitterly.
-Oh oh. What it was?-
-What?-
-That look-
-What?-
-I read you like an open book, you can't hide anything from me-
-We don't get along very well-
-Yes, you live so much in the discord that has been inside you while you are dating someone else-
-it was before making it official with Marco again! And anyway yes, we are not on good terms. All we do is argue at work-
-when will you see him again?-
-Next Sunday-
-not tomorrow?-
-No, I only have access between Friday and Sunday. Sunday is practically a certainty, Friday and Saturday depends. Lately, we've actually been avoiding each other a bit-
-Do you avoid each other or are you the one avoiding him?-

Melissa put out her cigarette on the balcony of the window and swallowed disheartenedly. It wasn't a stupid question at all.
It's true that she hadn't really looked for him but she also stayed very far from the Mercedes paddock and hid behind the Ferrari screens. She pursed her lips and looked at her cousin –I know this can't work-
-how do you know?-
-it's objectively impossible, trust me-
-But it's obvious that you like him. Why don't you give him a chance? I repeat, are you sure you're not the one making it impossible?-
Melissa looked out the window and sprayed some perfume on the curtains and then played with the box of mints.
Her cousin could see the disappointment in her look -I'll take you to the airport this evening- she got up and hugged her from behind. Melissa smiled at her and hugged her back.

Her cousin drove in silence and accompanied her as far as she was allowed. She hugged her gently and kissed her cheek –call me!– she whispered in her ear with a tear rolling down her cheek.

Melissa landed after 8 hours and decided to share the taxi and the hotel room with Chiara. The blonde noticed that her friend was upset but didn't pressure her. They shared a hotel room and worked together as they prepared for the GP. Melissa updated Chiara on Marco's situation, in the end things were going well between them. He flew to her as often as he could, the sex was satisfying, they called each other at least once a week and wrote to each other every day.
Chiara had suspicions and did not leave her friend's side for any reason. She would have done it at the first sign, which deep down she was anxiously awaiting also to be able to sneak away with that very cute American colleague.

Friday had come very quickly and they were watching screens next to each other while holding hands. Qualifying for Lewis had gone quite badly.
Melissa nodded yes to her friend and went alone to the Mercedes paddock. The team was happy to see her again, everyone smiled at her and treated her very well. She sat down on the usual chair in front of the locker room door.

Lewis was very surprised when he saw her, he stood there and looked at her, not knowing what to say.
-I'm here for our interview- she smiled shyly at him.