Formula 1 | One Shots (1)

I'm Just A Girl | Franco Colapinto

Authors Note: This storyline was requested by user: WHIFF99 

God I love writing angst ya'll...4,198 words!!

Done in reader POV 🌸 
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Another weekend, another Grand Prix... The paddock was loud with its usual chaos, yet somehow, I felt invisible, lost in the crowd...again.

I spotted Franco across the motorhome, his smirk on full display as he leaned against a table, chatting with two women who I didn't know. They laughed at something he said, one of them brushing her hair behind her ear in a way that made my stomach churn. I knew flirting when I saw it.

I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to look away. It wasn't the first time I'd seen him like this. Hell, it wasn't even the tenth time. Franco was always like this...charming, flirtatious and effortlessly attractive. Everyone adored him and why wouldn't they? 

But sometimes, I wondered if I was just another one of his countless admirers, someone he used to fill the gaps between races and conversations.

"Hey, Lena! You okay?" My colleague snapped me out of my thoughts. I forced a smile and nodded.

"Yeah, just tired," I mumbled, though my exhaustion had nothing to do with the long weekend and everything to do with Franco.

By the time the day ended, I was on edge. I had run into Franco earlier near the his team garage and he barely looked my way. No grin, no teasing remark, just a glare before he returned to scrolling through his phone. Yet hours later, I got a text from him, 'Hey, what's up? Wanna hang out?'

It was always like this. He came to me when he was bored, when there was nothing better to do. And like an idiot, I always said yes. I couldn't stop myself...what were friends for I guess?

That evening, I trudged along to a nearby restaurant with a group of friends, Franco included. Franco sat at the far end of the table, while I sat on the opposite end, watching him joke with a girl I didn't recognize. She leaned closer, her laugh too loud and her hands too touchy. My appetite quickly vanished.

I sat near some friends from my crew and Alex, who was always a good time. Although everyone was trying to make conversation with me, my eyes were focused on Franco, although I tried to fight it.

The final straw came when this random girl playfully smacked his arm and he caught her hand, smirking at her as if the rest of us didn't exist. I scoffed and stood up abruptly, muttering something about needing air. Stepping outside did little to calm my racing thoughts. Footsteps approached behind me and I turned to see Franco.

"Lena?" His voice was low his hands shoved into his pockets. "You okay? You left pretty suddenly."

I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Why do you care, Franco? Really. Why do you care?"

His brows knitted in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I couldn't hold back anymore. "It means you only notice me when it's convenient for you. When you're bored, or when there's no one else around to entertain you."

He blinked, his mouth opening and closing like he was trying to find the right words. I didn't let him.

"I'm tired, Franco. I'm tired of being invisible to you until it suits you to remember I exist. You ignore me in the paddock, at events, when we're with friends. But then you send me a text late at night, acting like I should be thrilled you've decided to talk to me."

"That's not fair," he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

"Isn't it?" I challenged. "You flirt with everyone, Franco. And I mean everyone. Half the time, I don't even know if you actually like me or if I'm just another option in your rotation."