Mon Chéri

20

CL16:

I flew to Austria the day after Great Britain to get back in my car before Belgium. Christian had my car transported a week ago when I told him when I would be back. Max caught the same flight to accompany me and make sure I didn't kill myself almost again. Pulling my gloves on hurt I'm not gonna lie. I was able to run a round of wrap around my arms but my hands I couldn't or they wouldn't fit, so I have to deal with it. "You sure you can do this?" Max asked. "Yeah, I'm sure." I said. I sat in my car and pulled my visor down. Officials and Max rolled my car out and I started it up. That sound is glorious. "Be careful." I heard being shouted and I nodded.
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I took slow laps warming up my tires and getting the feel of being in a car again. My hands stung like a bitch but it's only pain, it won't kill me. I rolled by Max and he nodded at me trying to get me to do a good lap. Alright then, let's see if I still have the nerve to race. I pulled up to the grid box and stopped. The official started the lights and as soon as they went out I stepped on it. Trying my hardest to forget the burn on my hands and the fact I was in the hospital two weeks ago due to racing this damn car. After the first few corners, I finally found my focus and I made it through without an issue. I saw Max sitting on the wall pumping his fist in the air and smiling like an idiot. I did a few more laps at full speed and each time felt better and better. Other than my hands which was the reason I didn't stay out longer. "My guy you did good after almost dying." Max said. "Not too shabby." I replied.
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Max flew out to Hungary while I stayed back in Austria to get more time in the car. Next weekend I'll be back on the grid. I can't fucking wait. I drove back to my hotel and I took a much-needed shower. After I got out I noticed a missed call from Max so I dialed him back. "Hey, you called?" I said when it answered. "Yeah, I was gonna let you hear my father and Nova going at it again." He said. "Shit, that would've been a great show." I said. "Oh, it was. Summing it up he said something stupid about her being a woman in a man's sport and she didn't belong here or something and then she went ape shit. Told him he was an ass hole and told him to eat a bag of dicks. Along some many other colorful things." He said and I started dying. "Holy shit man. That's funny as hell." I said trying to stop laughing but I couldn't. "It was man. I'll never forget his look of shock when she replied to one of his snarky comments in Dutch as that's what he said it in at Austria. Priceless." He said. "Oh, I bet that was a glorious sight." I said and he laughed. "You have no idea." He replied.
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I landed in Belgium on Monday to have some time to adjust to a different time zone again. When my plane landed there was a problem on the runway so we all got stuck in the plane for longer than we wanted. I took a taxi to my hotel and got into my room a bit past 5 pm but after that, it was all good. As I sat on the bed watching TV my phone buzzed. I picked it up and saw it was a text from Max inviting me out to a club with some other drivers tonight. I told him I'd be there and just to text me the address. He replied with the address and said to be there at 9 pm. I sent an okay and went back to the show I was watching. 8 pm rolled around so I got up and got ready to go. Black jeans and a dark blue button-up shirt. I grabbed my wallet off the counter thing and heard out so I could get a taxi.
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We were all drunk before we knew it. Max and Daniel with their usual dumb assery, Lando and Yuki being idiots, Pierre and I just watching the shit show that we called our friends, and lastly Nova and Carlos sitting at a booth trying to hide from everyone in the club. I was surprised she came after knowing how she feels about people the first time we met. "Hey, I'm gonna go get another drink. Want one?" Pierre asked. "Nah I'm good I don't want to be shit-faced." I said and he nodded. I stood against the wall in my own world of thoughts. I should watch my crash from what Max said in the hospital, but I'm too scared to. I don't want to see all that shit I don't think. The only thing I can vaguely remember was hearing a voice yelling while my body was being moved but I have no idea who it was or when it happened. If it even did happen.
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"You ready for practice man?" Carlos asked as we were walking to the paddock. "I think so yeah. I felt good in the car last weekend in Austria so we will see." I said and he nodded. "You're lucky you're alive you know that right?" He asked. "That's what everyone keeps telling me." I said. "I'm glad you didn't die, Charles. We don't need to lose more than we already have. We lost Jules and we lost Anthonie." He said stopping in front of Ferrari. "I'll do my best." I said and he nodded with a smile. I made my way to Redbull and said yellow to Christian and Max. "You ready for this?" Christian asked. "As I'll ever be."