All the Way - an F1 story

8

*translations will be in the comments*

19 May , 2021
📍Monte Carlo, Monaco

The bedroom hadn't changed musch since Calina once occupied it with her mother when they lived in Monaco. There was still the same queen-sized bed and wardrobe, same cream-coloured curtains that blocked out the morning sun, and the same family pictures from over the years. It remained her room even when she came to visit, or in recent years, to race, and she didn't know why she never changed it. Calina could only guess it was because of the memories of her childhood, that was what kept her from doing it, or because she simply liked the simplicity of the room. Nonetheless, it was perfect in its own little way.

The darkness was peaceful, and combined with the warmth the duvet provided, the squishy pillows and the soft mattress, Calina never wanted to leave the room, but alas, work was a priority, no matter what. She figured it was around eight o'clock, since she could hear the voices of Colette, Bastien, Ivelle, and Lella in the kitchen, hushed so as not to wake Calina or her brothers or her cousins.

Having showered the night before made her morning routine much easier. She went into the small washroom attached to the room, and made a quick job of straightening her hair so it wasn't a frizzy mess, before doing her skincare. The clothes she was going to wear were folded on the chair in the corner: the team t-shirt, ripped jeans, the gold chain and rings, and a pair of white socks. Her grandmother probably picked them out for her while she was still sleeping, like she did for her as a child. Every morning before school, she would pick out her outfit for the day, and leave her shoes by the door. She got dressed quickly, and tucking her t-shirt into her jeans, she walked out of the room, moving into the kitchen.

"Oh, and one's finally awake," her uncle mused, raising his mug of steaming black tea. "Let's see how long it takes for the others."

"You'll be waiting at least another hour for the sleeping beauties over there," Calina smirked, nodding her head towards the door to the room where her brothers slept. She pulled her Chuck Taylors, before going to sit at the table beside her aunt, where Lella had spread out her breakfast: avocado toast with egg and a fruit smoothie. "At least for Seb. Mathis is always better."

"It's not even 8 am and already you are mentioning my name. What is it now?" the younger of the twins asked as he walked into the room, evidently still half asleep as he yawned mid-sentence. He was still dressed in his pyjamas, his torso bare, and his leg brace strapped lazily over the plaid pants. He still needed to have it, but thankfully, he could walk normally without the crutches.

"I didn't say anything bad, don't worry, and get a shirt on, you pig."

Mathis responded by flipping her off, taking the cup of tea that was being handed to him by their grandmother. Bastien let out a loud laugh at Calina's comment, nearly choking on his tea, but was quickly quieted by the look of disapproval from his wife.

"You two really aren't morning people," Colette said, an amused look on her face as she greeted her grandson with a kiss on the forehead.

"Oh no, this is normal for Calina. You should see her on race weekends, takes forever to get out of bed. Fucking insufferable," Lella told her, ignoring Calina's groan of denial. "Thank God for Elara."

"Where is she anyways? It's unusual. She hasn't been at the last three races." Calina looked up at her uncle as she ate her food, with an expression that told him not to push it too much.

Elara was halfway across the world—in Canada—as she had some commitments for her snowboarding. She had to meet with her team, sponsors, and with such big events coming for her within the next year, she was so busy, and wouldn't be able to be back in Europe until the Styrian grand prix weekend, maybe even longer. Elara kept insisting that she could do it all online, so she could continue to travel with Calina, but the older wouldn't have it.