Lifeline (Sebastian Vettel)

Chapter 19: Desire

2 February 2014

“Hey!” Tully smiled up at Seb as he wandered into the kitchen and took a seat at the counter. His hair was completely wet again from the shower he’d just had after they got back from the pool.

“I got a message.” he said blankly, staring down at his phone before thrusting it towards Tully over the counter.

She took the phone from his outstretched hand, first noticing the name at the top; Hayley. Her eyes skimmed over the latest message.

“Going to stay with family in Berlin for 2 weeks. I want to give you space, but I also want us to talk again when I get back. I miss you Seb.”

“She’s still got hope?” Tully muttered, looking up to find Seb nodding.

“But I get to go back home now for 2 weeks at least.” he said brightly.

“Oh I’m sorry, has it been so terrible staying here?” Tully teased.

“Well, it’s a rough neighborhood. I almost got my throat cut open.” Seb retorted.

“That was one time!” Tully replied in exasperation.

“I live out of a suitcase enough as it is, I admit I do miss home.”

Tully nodded in understanding and passed him his phone back, “Then that is where you need to be.” she said, smiling gently.

---

"Today we are going to play a game." Tully announced as she jogged down the front steps of Seb's home the next morning. Seb had left the town house the day before, finally getting to sleep in his own bed for the first time in what felt like an age. Now, it was as if everything was back to normal… minus Hayley.

Tully had arrived at 8am for their morning session and apparently had some sort of new activity in mind. Seb was beginning to appreciate that they rarely did the same thing twice in a row, or even twice in the same week. Tully was proving herself to be quite imaginative...

"A game? Are we role-playing the Saw movie?" Seb asked casually, following her out of the driveway and around towards the little track that would take them to the lake's edge.

"Well... it is up to you when the game ends, but you don't have to cut your leg off." she said with a sly glance back at him over her shoulder.

"How do I play this game?"

"It's simple, and it will incorporate both physical and mental skill." she replied mysteriously, stopping as she reached the rocky shore and turning back towards him.

"Okay, I'm intrigued." he laughed.

"You are going to stand here for 30 seconds." Tully began, watching Seb cock his head to the side as he listened.

"And once that 30 seconds has passed, all you have to do is catch me." she grinned.

Seb laughed and nodded, "Easy."

"Oh easy he says! Ready then?" she arched a challenging eyebrow.

Seb raised his wrist to count the seconds on his Casio watch.

"Go." Tully said before spinning on the spot and bolting away from him towards the wooded area up ahead.

Seb watched the seconds count down intently, flicking his gaze up now and again to check how far away Tully was progressing. This would be no problem.

Finally, 30 seconds passed and Seb pelted after her, flying along the lakeside towards the trees at the base of the upward-sloping landscape in front of him.