Damage, Inc - [Daniel Ricciardo]

1.9

"I'm on the edge of the war. I'm holding on and hanging by a thread. I am the eye of the storm. And you haven't seen the last of me just yet".

Black Vultures // Halestorm

"It makes me want I never came here".

Daniel's breath hitched in his throat after her words and he flinched at the door that slammed closed behind her. In anger, he kicked against the table that stood next to him, causing the thing to fall over with a loud thud. He rubbed his temples in hope to get rid of the headache that was about to break through, he had another session to drive and he didn't want people to think he was distracted by the incident with Giulia. He wasn't going to let her walk away like that. He knew she could do crazy things if she was upset or mad and he didn't want to risk anything weird she could to this time. Daniel forced himself to keep focussing on the second free practice and it was a bit easier now Max was in the car too.

Everyone seemed to mention that Daniel wasn't in his usual concentrated mode, however they didn't want to ask as they didn't want to make things worse. Daniel still drove his laptimes and the engineers got the data they wanted, so there was nothing to complain about. The ongoing fight with Giulia was eating him away from the inside and they needed to talk, desperately. He didn't want it to go on for more raceweekends. They could ignore each other at home, but here, on track. He hated that she was around to watch him drive on the track during the second practice. He kept looking over his shoulder to see if she magically appeared, but of course she didn't. Maybe she went back to the hotel already, or maybe she was inside her cabin. Daniel didn't know and he hated that. It made him feel nauseous.

Daniel was relieved that he could finally get out of his racing overall after all of the interviews and the last briefing with the engineer, tomorrow was a race day after all. He shook his arms out of the sleeves and stepped out of the Red Bull overall, replacing it with one of the team shirts and a simple pair of jeans. Anna hadn't bothered him with more media things and he was glad about it. He moved to the parking lot to get to his car, Sam following as they drove back to the hotel together. "Have to make a quick call". He muttered as he sat behind the wheel. Sam absently nodded and just continued playing the game he was playing on his phone. He dialled Giulia's number, but she didn't pick up. He sighed deeply and looked at the picture he had on his background, a picture of them when they were little and eating ice cream together.

"She'll be fine". Sam suddenly spoke up and Daniel put his phone in his jeans. He blinked as he looked up at his trainer. "I could sense something was going on between you two. You're normally like Bonnie and Clyde and this weekend there was nothing. Not even the friendly glance or the supporting smile. If you're friends for this long, she'll come back to you, Daniel". Daniel let out a breathy chuckle. "She's stubborn as hell". He replied and checked his mirrors before driving out of the parking lot in reverse. "Italians". Sam rolled his eyes and that made them both laugh a bit. "Let's go". Daniel mumbled and drove away from the track, his fingers gripping the steering wall tightly, determined to get everything right at the end of this day.

"Giulia, just open the door". He knocked on the door of her hotel room, knowing she was in there being in a grumpy and stubborn mood. "Go away, Daniel. I don't want to see you now". She yelled in response. "I don't want to see you either but at least let me in so the whole hotel doesn't have to listen along". She didn't respond and he groaned, knocking on the door again. "Are you 10 or 24?". Daniel tried and Giulia finally made her way to the door to open it. "What do you want?". She snarled and slightly stepped aside as he barged through. "I want to talk. I don't want to fight. We're saying ridiculous things to each other". Giulia nibbled on her lower lip as she knew he was right, yet she didn't want to give in.