Love In Full Gear

Chapter 1 - A New Beginning

Eight months ago 

The small town of Rosenheim lay peaceful under a soft gray sky, the muted winter sunlight filtering through the trees lining the Krause family's street. Amelia Louise Krause paused for a moment in front of her parents' modest two-story house, hands deep in her coat pockets as she gazed at the familiar red shutters and slightly crooked mailbox. This place had been her whole world for twenty-two years. Now she was packing it all up, setting out for a new life across the ocean.

Amelia took a deep breath, feeling the crisp January air fill her lungs, grounding herself before the inevitable goodbyes. Just as she was about to head back inside, the front door flew open, and Bene, her younger brother by four years, bounded down the steps.

"Come on, Amelia, don't just stand there like a statue!" Bene called, grinning. His brown hair was unkempt, and he wore one of her old Ferrari jackets, clearly intending to tease her with it.

"Bene, if you put even a single fingerprint on that jacket..." she warned, her eyes narrowing playfully.

Bene smirked. "Too late. Besides, this is basically a historical artifact by now," he said, nodding toward the car. "The Krause family Ferrari fan club's prized possession."

Amelia snorted, rolling her eyes. "If you're the president, I'm quitting."

They laughed together, and Bene's eyes softened. "You're really leaving, huh?" he asked, his voice lower now.

"Yeah." She nodded, more to herself than to him. "Guess I am."

A pause settled between them, both struggling to find the words to bridge the gap between excitement and loss. She wanted to reassure him, to tell him that everything would be okay, that she wasn't really leaving him behind. But the weight of her departure was undeniable.

"You know it's just Colorado, right? Not Mars," she joked lightly, nudging him with her elbow.

"Sure, but that's way too far to crash at your place every weekend," Bene muttered, rubbing his arm. "What am I supposed to do without my big sister? And who am I going to beat at Mario Kart now?"

Amelia chuckled, reaching over to ruffle his hair. "Well, at least you'll finally get to win."

Bene shoved her hand away, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, like that's what I wanted."

Just then, their mother, Marta, stepped out onto the porch, her green scarf wrapped tightly around her neck. She waved her hand toward them, ushering them back inside.

"Come on, Amelia! You're going to freeze out here before you even get to America," she called, her tone both motherly and anxious. She'd been a whirlwind all morning, alternating between worrying about Amelia's travel plans and double-checking her packed bags.

Amelia gave Bene one last affectionate nudge before they headed inside, back into the warmth of the living room where her father, Nils, was adjusting the clock on the mantelpiece, as if time itself needed his attention today.

"There you are," Nils said, turning to greet them with a smile that was a little too wide, his attempt to mask his sadness transparent. He walked over and pulled Amelia into a tight hug. "You know, we could just lock the doors and keep you here," he whispered.

Amelia chuckled, returning the hug fiercely. "Not a chance, Dad. Colorado's calling."

"Well, I can't say I didn't try," he sighed, stepping back. Nils looked at her, his expression a mix of pride and the faintest hint of sorrow. "I am so proud that you are stepping into the world of Formula 1 like this. And your grandpa too.