second chances ~ ollie bearman (2)

part 52

"i'm sorry, but if you can't talk to jules, talk to me? i think im better than arthur." she says, trying to make a joke.

"thank you, but just fans being difficult, to say the least." i say.

"im sorry, but they don't know you. i'm sure whatever they said was false."

"thank you, i guess ive got to go and talk to arthur now."

"good luck." she says, before we part ways and i head over to mike and arthur.

"angel! i'm sure you've heard about what happened to jules. so, arthur will be your temporary engineer for now."

"yeah, i've heard. do you know he's going to back? will he be here for the race?"

"no, i apologise angel. but im sure you will do great with arthur here." he says, before walking away.

"so, will you give me a good race today?" he asks.

"i'm not giving you anything, i will have a good race." i say.

"sure you will." he scoffs.

"just do me a favour and shut up. we both know i don't want you here."

"quit the whining for crying out loud, your paid to race. correct? and that's what i'm here to help you do."

"i can race without you, your just a fucking-"

"shut up with the complaining!" he says, shaking his head.

"my apologies, your highness." i say, before turning around and heading to my driver room.

i came out for the meeting, and went straight back in. usually, i would let jules in, but there was no way in hell i was letting arthur come in. so i sat in there alone, unless i was needed. but thankfully, i had done most of the media yesterday.

but finally, it was time for the drivers parade, and i could complain to ollie and kimi about the absence of jules.

i leave the garage, and the first group of people i spot were kimi and eli, who were more than happy to see me.

"what's happened lina?"

"everything! jules isn't here, and i hate the new temporary engineer, and quite frankly i just can't to cry!" i say.

"dont cry." eli says, pulling me into a hug.

"he told me to stop complaining! said i was paid to drive and not to complain. what a loud of utter shit!" i say.

"i would say try to ignore him, but... i guess you can't do that." kimi says.

"i need today to go well, and i just can't do that with arthur."

"you will do great, no matter who your engineer is. he isn't in the car, only you are. if you need too, act like you can't hear him." eli says.

"i will remember that, thank you." i say, smiling at her as ollie comes over.

"hey- what's wrong?" he asks.

"a lot, jules has left and, i'm not explaining again. but new engineer is a dickhead."

"jules has been fired?" ollie asks.

"no, just injured. but i haven't been able to speak to him since." i say, and ollie pulls me into a hug.

"im sorry, i just needed to talk to him." i say, tightening my grip on him.

"that word is still banned. why don't you call him?"

"i don't want to bother him, ill just- ill be fine okay? don't worry about me." i say, pulling away and giving him a reassuring smile before we head further down to the parade bus.

"you have eaten though, right?" he asks after a few moments of silence, getting the attention from kimi and eli who was still walking us down.

"yeah, emily brought it to my driver room for me."i say.

"good, but it doesn't matter if you have jules or not. you are an amazing driver. doesn't matter who your engineer is."

"but i can talk to julew, and he doesn't tell me to stop complaining." i say.

"i know, but don't let him get to you."

"i'll try." i say, as we were called over to the parade bus.

once we were on the bus, me, ollie and kimi find a space to stand together, waving at the fans as we drive past them, waiting for our interviews.

"are we doing anything tonight?" i ask ollie, who gives kimi a glance before looking back down at me.

"yes, yes we are." he replies.

"really? i thought we weren't." i reply, confused.

"well we weren't, but i've planned something for us." he says, going pink at the ears.

"i'm sure it will be amazing, whatever it is." i say, before being called for my interview.

|| authors note ~ hope you enjoy 🫶🏼