On and Off the Track

E I G H T Y E I G H T.

The next morning, Charles woke up early. I could feel him stirring beside me before he slipped out of bed, trying not to wake me. The sun was barely peeking through the curtains, and I stayed curled up under the covers, half-asleep. I must've dozed off again because when I woke up later, Charles was gone, and I noticed the soft light flooding the room. I stretched lazily, my mind wandering to the fact that today was the day. The Vogue piece was finally out. Meanwhile, Charles had made his way to the hotel lobby, practically buzzing with excitement. He wanted to surprise me, so he decided to buy a few copies of the magazine. When he found out they'd just received their shipment, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Ten copies later, he was on his way back to our room, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning, imagining my reaction when he surprised me with the stack. When Charles opened the door, I was sitting up in bed, my eyes going wide as I caught sight of the stack of magazines in his hands.
"You got them!" I exclaimed, a mixture of disbelief and joy lighting up my face.
"Ten copies," he said with a smirk, placing them on the bed beside me. "Figured you'd want enough for yourself and to share with family and friends." My eyes sparkled as I picked one up, flipping through the pages eagerly.
"This is amazing! It turned out exactly how I wanted," I said, my voice bubbling with excitement as I scanned the glossy photos and the article. It captured everything perfectly, my journey, my dreams, my vision for the future. I couldn't believe it was real.

The day passed in a whirlwind of excitement, with Charles and Arthur around to share in the moment. Arthur was busy preparing for his F2 race, but I caught him glancing over at the magazine whenever we had downtime, and I couldn't help but do the same. I kept flipping to my favourite parts, rereading the story they wrote about me as the next big supermodel, and about my own ambitions, all tied together with stunning visuals. It felt surreal. In the hotel lounge, as we all relaxed together, I pointed out my favourite shots to Arthur.
"Look at this one! It's my absolute favourite!" I exclaimed, showing him a vibrant image of me in an outfit I'd styled myself.
"Wow, you look incredible!" Arthur said, genuinely impressed. "You're going to be a big deal, you know." Charles leaned in, smirking.
"She already is a big deal. You're just late to the party, Arthur."I laughed, feeling a warm glow at their encouragement.
"I just can't believe it's all real. I worked so hard for this moment." As the day went on, we enjoyed each other's company, chatting about the upcoming race and swapping stories. I felt on top of the world, riding high on the thrill of seeing everything I'd worked for come to life. Every now and then, I'd catch myself sneaking another peek at the magazine, unable to resist. It was so surreal to see my own face in Vogue, and I felt this intense mix of pride and disbelief. How have I gotten here? I was grateful for every step of the journey. That evening, after dinner, I turned to Charles, holding the magazine in my hands.
"Thank you for being so supportive," I said earnestly. "I couldn't have done this without you." He shrugged it off, though I could see the small smile playing on his lips.
"You did all the hard work. I just bought the magazines." I laughed, nudging him playfully.
"But seriously, it means so much to have you here. I'm so excited for the future."
"Me too," he replied, his gaze softening. "Now, let's celebrate your success properly on Sunday, shall we?" We curled up together after that, surrounded by the excitement of the day, and I couldn't help but feel like everything was finally falling into place.

Thursday morning came quickly, and Charles left early for the track, buzzing with energy as he prepared for media day. Arthur and I decided to spend the day together, heading to hospitality and exploring the paddock.  As we walked through the bustling paddock, I took in the vibrant atmosphere, the roar of engines, the smell of rubber on the asphalt, and the sight of teams busy preparing their cars. After wandering around and catching glimpses of drivers and their teams, we made our way to the hospitality area for lunch. The sunlight poured through the large windows, lighting up the sleek tables and the lively conversations around us. We sat down with plates of fresh pasta and salads, but I noticed Arthur suddenly growing quiet. His energy shifted, and I leaned in, sensing something was on his mind.
"Is everything okay?" I asked, concern creeping into my voice. He sighed, poking at his food.
"It's just... being here, seeing everything Charles has accomplished, it makes me think about my own future. I want to get into F1, but I feel this huge pressure because Charles is already there. It's like everyone expects me to follow in his footsteps, and what if I can't? What if I fail?" I nodded, fully understanding where he was coming from.
"I know how that feels. With my mom being who she is, there's always this expectation for me to succeed in fashion. Sometimes it feels like I'm just living in her shadow, and the pressure to measure up can be a lot. And it's hard not to compare myself to her. No matter how well I do, I always wonder. Will it ever be enough? I think the key is finding what makes us happy, not just what people expect from us." Arthur looked at me, a bit surprised by my honesty. He thought about my words, his gaze drifting out toward the busy paddock.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I just want to make my own mark, you know? I don't want to just be known as Charles's little brother."
"Of course. You've got your own talent, your own path," I reassured him, feeling that sense of connection in our shared struggles. "You'll find your way. Just keep pushing and believe in yourself. The pressure can feel overwhelming, but it can also drive you to succeed."

We shifted the conversation to lighter topics after that, but the weight of what we'd discussed lingered between us. It felt good to share these moments, talking about our childhood dreams and ambitions. I could tell Arthur appreciated having someone who understood what he was going through. After lunch, we wandered around the paddock some more, chatting with other drivers' families and laughing with team members. I could feel a shift in Arthur's mood, and I hoped he felt a bit more confident after our talk. Later that evening, when we reunited with Charles, I noticed the weight seemed to have lifted from Arthur's shoulders. The conversation we'd had earlier seemed to have been a much-needed release, and I couldn't help but feel proud of his determination. Charles noticed the bond growing between Arthur and me, a silent understanding passing between us. I could tell he was grateful for the connection we shared.

The next day dawned bright and early, and the excitement in the air was undeniable—practice day at Interlagos. I felt that familiar thrill bubbling inside me as I got ready to head to the track with Charles and Arthur. Race weekends had this contagious energy that I thrived on, and today was no different. After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we made our way to the paddock. The buzz of engineers, mechanics, and team members filled the air, and Arthur and I wandered through it all, soaking in the atmosphere as the teams prepared for the day ahead.
"Ready to watch my brother dominate today?" Arthur teased me, nudging me as we approached the Ferrari garage.
"Always!" I grinned, his enthusiasm infectious. "This track is amazing. I can't wait to see how he performs here." We found a perfect spot in Ferrari's hospitality suite, with a clear view of the track. As practice began, I felt the adrenaline building up, watching Charles take to the circuit. These sessions were where he thrived, fine-tuning his car and getting everything just right for the weekend. Arthur and I watched intently as Charles sped through the twists and turns. My heart raced with every lap he completed. The focus in his eyes, the way he handled the car, it was mesmerising.
"Look at him go," Arthur said, pride shining in his voice as he pointed to the screen. "He's on fire!" I couldn't help but snap a few pictures of Charles on the track, capturing his intense concentration and skill. Watching him out there, I felt a swell of pride. After the first practice session, we met up with Charles in the Ferrari hospitality area. He was deep in conversation with his engineers, going over the data from the session. Arthur and I exchanged a few encouraging words, and Charles's face lit up at our support.
"Feeling good out there?" I asked, leaning against the counter with a playful smile.
"Yeah, the car feels solid. Just need to make a few tweaks for the next session," he replied, his eyes sparkling with that familiar determination.

As the day wore on, I found myself really enjoying the atmosphere of the paddock. I bumped into some of the other girlfriends of drivers and we chatted about the weekend, sharing tips on how to survive the hectic race calendar. Over lunch, we laughed and reminisced about past races and all the hilarious moments we'd experienced together. When the second practice session kicked off, Charles was back out on the track, and I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. Every time he sped past, my heart raced a little faster. The whole paddock was buzzing with energy; everyone was invested in the outcome, and it was exhilarating to be part of it. Once practice wrapped up, Arthur and I rejoined Charles, who was buzzing with a mix of excitement and focus.
"P2 for the day!" he announced, grinning from ear to ear. "I'm happy with that. Just need to keep pushing."
"Great job!" I cheered, pulling him into a hug. "I knew you'd do well." As we walked out of the garage together, I could feel the excitement practically buzzing in the air. We spent the rest of the day relaxing, grabbing a bite at a local restaurant nearby. We shared stories, laughed at old jokes. And I just felt grateful for everything. Later that evening, when we returned to the hotel, the anticipation for the race weekend was still building inside me. Crawling into bed, I found my familiar spot curled up next to charles.