Still Learning [C.L]

Pride

I took Katie to the Ferrari garage where she got to meet Charles and Carlos and each of them took their time with her, showing her around the garage and describing what each monitor did.

After around ten minutes, the boys had to do their warm ups with the trainers and so I returned Katie to her parents in the hospitality suite before making my way back down the paddock. I was just outside the Ferrari motorhome when I heard a familiar voice call out to me. I froze on the spot on the bottom step and rolled my eyes before I turned to face him.

"You can't avoid me forever" Mick smirked at my response to his presence
"Right, I'm not doing this out here. Get inside" I grabbed him arm and pushed him in the motorhome, directing us to an empty meeting room, away from the crowds of prying eyes "sit down"
"Aren't you going to sit?" He moved the chair next to him with his foot
"No I'd rather keep my distance" I stated, folding my arms across my chest
"Am I that hard to resist?" He winked and my stomach physically churned

I couldn't stand him but this conversation had to happen whether I liked it or not. I couldn't constantly be on edge whenever I attended a race for Charles, nervous at the fact I could run in to Mick with every corner I took on the paddock. It was a small place.

"What is your problem? Why are you being like this? You act all sweet and innocent for the fans and the media and then you've got this bloody big man bravado, 'I can have anything I want' attitude around me. I just don't understand it, one of those personalities is fake and I need to know which one. I can't stand the dread I feel every time I walk down the paddock, feeling physically sick at the thought of being near you with the way you're behaving. You have no respect for Charles and I and our relationship when you act the way you do. Yeah, you got Julietta and destroyed a friendship with Charles in the process but I am adamant that you will never get me"

I finished my rant, letting out a deep sigh after finally releasing what I'd been holding in since the last encounter in Nice. Mick lifted his head for the first time since I began my rant and he looked like he was about to cry. I stiffened my appearance, returning my arms to their previously folded position

"I'm sorry" he whispered, dropping his head in to his hands and rubbing his eyes

The tension in my body eased slightly when I realised he was actually crying. I had never meant to make him cry, I just wanted to address our situation. I walked round the meeting table before standing in front of Mick with the box of tissues

"Everything's just so shit" he wiped at his eyes, keeping his head down "I'm not really like this, I promise. It's just nothing's going my way being the nice guy all the time. I work well in the team, I try my hardest out on track with what I can and they still fucking drop me. I just want to make my family proud. I want to make my dad proud"

His words stung, digging deep in to my heart as I know that's exactly how Charles feels every time he goes out on track. I pulled out a few more tissues from the box, handing them to Mick and taking one for myself, sitting down next to him.

"They'll always be proud of you. It doesn't matter if you're driving a Ferrari or a school bus, they're your family and you make them proud every single day" I reassured him

Oh how the turns table, I actually felt sorry for this Mick. The real Mick.

"I have to ask." I started, needing answers "Why have you been acting like this with me?"
"I don't know" he shook his head "I think I've just been trying to make Charles jealous. I don't actually want to be with you"
"Well you've sure got a funny way of showing it" I laughed "Why would you do that? Why did you want to make Charles jealous?"
"It wasn't just a fling with Julietta, I loved her. I think I still do"

Nice boy, bad judge of character

"When Charles found out about us and broke up with Julietta, she broke things off with me and tried to get back with Charles. She thought he was the better option because he was in Formula 1 and I was still only in Formula 2. I held a grudge against Charles for the way things ended with Julietta. So when you came along, I thought I'd be able to give Charles an experience of what I had to go through. Losing the person you love"

I tried to absorb his words as we both sat in silence. I tore the tissue in to small pieces, thinking about everything that had occurred over the past few months

"I get it. You're an idiot but I get it" I laughed lightly "but you can't take it out on Charles. It was Julietta's decision to do what she did"
"I know, it's stupid. I think I've just been blinded by the situation" he shook his head

I stood from my seat, disposing of the pieces of tissue in the bin and turning back to face Mick

"Now that's all sorted, friends?" I asked
"Yeah, friends" Mick smiled, bringing me in for a hug
"And no funny business" I warned jokingly, pulling out of the hug

We both made our way out of the motorhome and went our separate ways down the paddock. I headed in to the Ferrari garage again just as Charles was finishing his warm up with Andreas and I greeted him with a kiss

"You good?" I asked him, watching as he prepared his helmet
"Yeah, feeling ready" He smiled "Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah I'm great" I smiled "Go make us proud"

I gave him a final kiss and took my place at the back of the garage to watch the race as Charles made his way out on to the grid. I watched on proudly as Charles took third in the race and I followed the team round to the podium

jenwalker

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Proud of you ❤️
@emmasmithh nahh you're too cute
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   - @emmasmithh 🤭🤭

~ Author's note ~

I got bored studying so surprise chapter!

Omg the relief of not having to write Mick as the bad guy now, he can go back to our little golden retriever Mick that we love 😅

Hope you guys enjoyed!
Love you loads xoxo