Breaking the Grid

Finally

The engines roared to life as I sat in my car, feeling the adrenaline pumping through my veins. Free practice had been rough; the car wasn't feeling quite right. It felt sluggish, as if it was resisting my commands. But my team—my incredible engineers and mechanics—had worked their magic. They dove into every detail, adjusting and tweaking the setup, and somehow managed to transform my car into a performance beast just in time for qualifying.

When the qualifying session kicked off, I was on fire. Each lap felt smoother, faster, and more in tune with my instincts. I pushed myself harder than I ever had, and it paid off. I made it to Q3 and secured P5 on the grid. In front of me were Lando, Sergio, Carlos, and then Max in P1. I felt a mix of excitement and nerves; this was my chance to prove myself.

As I climbed out of the car after qualifying, I could hear the cheers from the fans. I took a moment to soak it all in. The tension was palpable, but I felt ready for the challenge ahead.

Kyra's POV

I was curled up on the couch at home with Steph and Caitlin as the Grand Prix was about to start. The atmosphere was electric, even from the comfort of our living room. I glanced at my phone, my heart fluttering as I received a barrage of messages and photos from Mia and Liam at the track.

"Look at this!" I said, beaming as I opened one of the photos. It showed Blair chatting with Liam in the garage, both of them wearing their helmets, clearly in their element.

"She looks so focused," Caitlin commented, glancing over my shoulder. "And Liam is adorable."

Mia's texts kept coming, updating me on their day at the track. She raved about the food and how nice Blair was, describing her interactions with the kids. It made my heart swell. They were just so cute together; it felt like a small slice of perfection.

I turned my phone around to show Caitlin and Steph the pictures, and they leaned in closer. I appreciated their quiet support—neither of them pried into my feelings about Blair but allowed me to share the moments that made me smile. They were the only people I felt comfortable talking about Blair with, and it was nice to feel at home with them.

As the race began, we settled in, the commentators filling the room with their energetic voices. It was lap 12 when everything changed.

"Whoa! Did you see that?" I gasped, watching on the screen as two cars collided in a dramatic crash. Max and Carlos—both frontrunners—bumped into each other, and it looked serious. "Is Max okay?"

The commentators quickly chimed in, explaining that Max's car was badly damaged and he had to stop. I exhaled, relieved it wasn't worse. But then they mentioned Carlos would have to pit to change his wing after losing time.

"Why doesn't he just go to the garage?" Steph asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

I shrugged, feeling equally baffled. "I guess there's a strategy or something," I replied, trying to sound knowledgeable, but honestly, I didn't understand it either. The commentators were criticizing the team's decision, and I could sense the frustration in the room.

As the race continued, it became clear that Sergio, Lando, and Blair were in a tight race, with Charles trailing behind them. The atmosphere shifted; the excitement built again as we watched the three cars zoom around the track.

"Come on, Blair!" I cheered, unable to contain my enthusiasm.

The race had turned somewhat uneventful after the crash, but that changed dramatically three laps before the end. The radio chatter from Sergio suddenly cut through the airwaves, announcing that his tires were in bad shape and he was pushing too hard. Lando was right on his tail, looking to capitalize on any mistake.