Lost and Found

Chapter 23

"Unbelievable." Sara laughed, making Juliette laugh as well. "That's something else, but no partner?" Juliette shook her head.

"I'm way too busy now. I don't have time for a relationship. You?" Sara noticed Juliette play with her paddock pass.

"Uhm." Sara looked down and bit on her lip. "I am kind of seeing someone but it isn't serious yet. We are kind of in the first stage?"

"Sweet." Sara's heart was racing as she spoke to the girl that had been her best friend years ago.

"Did you speak to Pierre yet? And Anthoine?"

"I still talk to Anthoine, we're still good friends." A feeling that could only be described as her heart being ripped out of her chest went through Sara. Juliette was still good friends with Anthoine. Why did she still talk to him? Why hadn't he told her? "However, I don't speak to Pierre anymore. I..." Juliette shook her head but Sara wasn't really listening to what Juliette was saying anymore.

"Look, it was a while ago, Julie. I honestly don't remember a lot from it. I just know I was stupid, jealous and I wished it had never happened." It was a lie. Sara was still very well what had happened, the disadvantages of having a very good memory and despite really wishing it had never happened, this was just not as heartfelt as she tried to make it seem.

"Yeah, I just felt like you didn't understand it, which isn't relevant anymore." Sara had to do her best to keep herself from tensing up visibly. Juliette hadn't seen her point as well. It wasn't just all to blame on her. Of course, she had done things she regretted but it wasn't like it was all on her. Sara's blood started to boil all over again.

"We are both not in the sports anymore. Well, you are, but not like the past." The conversation had suddenly become even more forced and awkward from Sara's side.

"It was so stupid."

"Yup." It was the only thing Sara could come up with. It wasn't stupid. Not at all. Sara was deeply hurt on so many fronts by what Juliette did and it didn't feel like it was stupid at all. It didn't at that point and it would never and Sara honestly didn't understand how Juliette could talk it right that easily.

"We were young. We didn't know anything about life." Juliette looked at her watch. "I have to get back. It's pre-showtime." Sara stood up along with Juliette and pulled the skirt down a bit. Sara was quite happy she would be able to get away from Juliette but to her luck, Juliette had to go in the same direction, so it would only make sense to walk together, no matter how uncomfortable Sara felt. When they walked past the Renault garage, Sara saw Elvira and looked at Juliette.

"I'm going to say hi to El." She quickly walked away from Juliette and plastered a smile on her face. A genuine one this time as she was genuinely happy to see Elvira again after Monaco. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing well, the little one as well. But what about you? You looked like you were going to faint." Sara chuckled sheepishly.

"If it would have gotten me out of that situation, I would have."

"Why?"

"I was walking with my former best friend and it just was super awkward."

"Who?" Sara turned around and pointed at Juliette. Juliette smiled and Elvira, curious as she was, though she would have a chat with Juliette.

"Hello, I'm Elvira, nice to meet you." The two greeted each other and started a civil conversation, leaving Sara to stand at the sidelines for most of it as Juliette asked about the pregnancy.

"We do have a name in mind but we want to keep it a secret. Just like the gender."

"Trust me, I have tried to figure it out," Sara said and they laughed and for a moment it felt like old times between Juliette and Sara. Their laughs seemed to mix nicely into an obnoxious sound but that sound was so normal to Sara it sounded right. "No, it's a good thing you keep it a secret."

The conversation continued for a little more until Juliette had to leave.

"Sara, it was lovely to talk to you again. Enjoy the qualification."

"It's hammer time!" Sara enthusiastically said and kissed Juliette on both cheeks. "Bonne chance!" When Juliette was out of hearing distance, Elvira turned back to Sara.

"That didn't seem like it was that bad." Sara shook her head.

"I honestly don't know. I'm still so mad but it felt familiar. Despite it being the first time in about six, seven years." Elvira looked at Sara in shock.

"That long? What happened?" Sara shrugged.

"She left, never called or texted. Never explained why never said goodbye. She just left. Anthoine, Pierre, Juliette and I were the best of friends and then suddenly we weren't." She sighed deeply as she blinked rapidly. "But I need to find Anthoine and Pierre." She kissed Elvira's cheek and bent down towards her belly. "Please be nice to your mom."

The walk to Red Bull was only short from Renault and within ten minutes, Sara was walking out of there again to look for Anthoine. There was one question she needed to be answered.

"Hi, Tatiana!" During the race weekends, Juliette had visited since the beginning of the season, Sara had run into the only female driver in formula two on a couple of occasions. "Is Anthoine here." Tatiana nodded and quickly directed Sara in the right direction.

"Sara!" Sara hugged her friend. "What are you doing here?"

"I was coming over to wish you luck."

"Was?"

"But then I ran into Juliette." Sara bit her lip. "Why did you never tell me you were talking to her again?" She started rapidly blinking again as tears were burning.

"Because I didn't want to see that look on your face." Anthoine's voice was soft, deep and reflecting the pain Sara was expressing on her face. "I didn't want you to hurt because she hadn't contacted you?"

"Did she contact you first?" Anthoine shook his head. "But she did respond to you, unlike she did to all of my texts." Anthoine nodded and Sara nodded. "I understand. Good luck Anthoine, win for me will you please." She winked and forced a smile on her face to not worry Anthoine. "I am going to watch all of it from McLaren, so I will see you afterwards." With another hug, Sara said goodbye and left with her heart bleeding and her blood boiling.