Love At First Sight (Sebastian Vettel)

Chapter 2: His Fan And... Friend?

In March, on the following year, Jacqie went to Australia with her parents. She really wanted to watch the Australian GP race and see Sebastian as the new Red Bull Racing driver.

After browsing on the internet, she got an information that Seb had moved from Scuderia Toro Rosso to Red Bull Racing. He had replaced David Coulthard who decided to retire from the sport.

On Thursday, Jacqie went alone to Albert Park circuit because her father had bought her 4-day tickets as there was an autograph session. While Sebastiaan and Martha were having a walk near the hotel.

Jacqie had asked some people to know where the autograph session took place. And she finally found it. "Wow! What a long queue! And I stand behind all of them," she grumbled.

She didn't expect that it would take a long time. She had to stand for about 20 to 30 minutes, under the bright sun. After waiting, she almost got Seb's autograph, but something unexpected happened. Someone in front of her took two cards with his autograph. The rule was that one person could only get one card.

"Sorry, man, but you can only get one. This is for the girl behind you, not for you," Seb said. He looked a bit annoyed although he said it calmly.

"Oh yeah. I'm sorry, Seb," that man replied.

"Never mind. Sorry again but she is waiting behind you," Seb spoke again and the man put one of the cards back on the table.

Jacqie was a little surprised to see it happen. She didn't know whether that man was greedy or he planned to give another card to his friend. A woman whom she believed was Seb's Press Officer, Britta, tried to explain it to him. He was a bit disappointed, but he didn't forget to say sorry once again to Seb. He probably didn't know much about the rules on autograph session.

She stopped daydreaming when she heard someone call her. "Hi! I'm sorry about that. I will give you the new one, okay?" Of course that was Seb.

"Oh thanks, Seb. But, why did you apologize to me?" Jacqie asked him after he gave her the card.

"Maybe you were surprised to see the annoyed Seb," he laughed.

"No problem, Seb. I can understand that," she replied, smiling at him.

When Jacqie was looking at the card, Seb suddenly asked, "By the way, what's your name? Are you coming here alone?"

Jacqie shook her hand with his and introduced herself. "My name is Jacqueline van Thompson, and people usually call me Jacqie. I come to Melbourne with my parents, but they're at the hotel or probably having a walk somewhere, so I come here alone."

He frowned his forehead as if he was thinking. "Wait! I think I've seen you before. Are you the girl who walked with your parents at Monza circuit last year?"

Jacqie was completely surprised as he could remember that it was her. In the last 6 months, he had surely met so many people, but he didn't forget that he met her at Monza.

"Oh yeah that was me, with my parents. How can you remember?" Jacqie answered and also asked him nervously.

"Of course I remember you because... you are so tall!"

His words made her laugh as well. He remembered her because of her height which was almost the same as him. She was probably just one or two centimeters shorter than him.

"Are you from The Netherlands? I guess it from your surname and... usually the Dutch girls are so tall," he asked her.

Jacqie nodded. "Yes, I am. I was born in Amsterdam. My dad and my sister were born there too, but my mom was born in Indonesia. And now I live in Indonesia, since July last year," she replied it politely.

"Indonesia? The country near Australia?" he asked. She bet that he never came there. She had to suggest him to go there next time.

"Yes, that's right. I'm studying at a university there," she answered his question.

"Oh, I see. Erm, you've just said that you have a sister, where's she?" he asked her, again. Is he interrogating me now?

"She lives in The Netherlands with my family members. She studies at University of Amsterdam since 2007. She's only one year older than me."

"So do you mean you don't live with her for now?"

He asked so many things, which was a surprise to her. "Erm yeah, but she is going to come and live with me next year, after she finishes her study."

Seb nodded as a sign that he understood. "Okay. Jacqie, I'm sorry that I asked you too many questions and I have to go now, as I will walk the track with my team. If you don't mind, can I have your phone number?"

After asking some things about Jacqie's life, Seb also asked for her phone number. Although she was confused, but she did as he asked. "I'll mention my number."

Seb took his phone from his jeans pocket and she started mentioning her number to him. He also gave his number to her with a missed call. "Thanks. It's so nice to know you. If I have time, I will text or call you, okay?"

"Erm okay. By the way, thanks for the autograph!"

"You're welcome. Bye, Jacqie!" Seb waved his hand to her before he left his place.

"Bye, Seb!"

Jacqie also waved her hand to him. And she left that place as well. She still couldn't believe with what had just happened to her. How can he become familiar so easily with me?

Technically, that was her first meeting with Seb. But he had asked so many things about her life, and even her phone number. He was her new idol before the 2009 season began. But after that meeting at the autograph session, she would love to consider him as a friend too. She felt that her life was full of surprises.

After taking some photos at the circuit, she went back to the hotel. She was curious to know what her parents' reaction was when they heard about that. She bet that they wouldn't believe with the story she would tell them.