Between Love and Hate (Year 2)

Happy Anniversary

Of course they were going to be in a press conference together – this was the race where they infamously clashed - the Spanish Grand Prix. He was seated next to Laura, seeing her for the first time since Finland. He looks across at her and he's given a tiny smile, a knowing smile. He returns it, his knee knocking into hers before her eyes flick back to the media in front of them; but her knee remains pressed to his just casually burning a hot circle into his bare skin.

"Sebastian, do you expect a close fight with Laura this weekend? And do you think you'll both crash?"

Sebastian blinks. "I think it's going to be a close fight between both Ferraris and Red Bulls. It's clear both cars are evenly matched and I think we will need to wait to see how things go. And no. We won't crash. We have proven we can do close racing fine on a number of occasions."

Laura leans forward on her arms smirking.

"Sebastian, there were a lot of words said last year in the heat of the moment. A year on, do you regret those words? Have your opinions changed about women in motorsport?"

Laura rests her chin in her hand looking at him way too much interest, waiting for his response.

"I think a lot of things are said in the heat of the moment, and Aston and I have personally moved on from that. And as for women in motorsport... if they prove themselves, like the rest of the us, I have nothing against it." And he does believe that, Aston had proved she belonged here, she deserved her seat as much as anyone else.

"So sweet and charming," Laura comments and he glares at her. Did she have to antagonise the situation? Couldn't she let them simply do this and get out?

"Do you not believe him Laura?" someone calls from the floor.

"I was being completely sincere with my comment," she responds, sarcasm dripping from her tone. "Sebastian and I are now the bestest of mates. We're all good."

Sebastian rolls his eyes and shifts his knee to knock it against hers in warning. She returns the gesture, knee knocking his much harder. His winces. She does it again, and this time he curses his under breath shifting away from her and he glares at her pleased expression.

The moment the press conference was finally over, they leave together. "Anyone would think you enjoy making things as hard as possible for us."

Laura gives him an expression of indifference shrugging. "Can't handle it?"

"I can handle us just fine Aston," he promises and he's rewarded with a smile. "How's your head?"

Her fingers shift across the same place she'd knocked it. "Fine. I'm all good to thrash you again on Sunday."

He squeezes her hand briefly. "Good, don't use it as an excuse on Sunday when you finish behind me."

She's giving him a full-on grin now. "We need to talk."

He shakes his head and moves away from her, "No Aston. It's not talking we need to do. And later."

She raises her eyebrows. "Sunday?"

"I'll collect my reward after I win," he smirks back.

She rolls her eyes and turns to head back to Red Bull. He stares after her for a moment before telling himself he needed to focus. Race first. Concentrate on the race. Laura was second, satisfying his urges was always second.

* * *

Miles smiles as Molly drops down to join him for lunch on Friday morning in the Energy station. Her face though was set in a frown. He raises his eyebrows at her and she asks, "What happened between Lillian and Sebastian? Lillian looks like she wants to strangle him and Seb is walking around on eggshells looking guilty as fuck."