blondie | valtteri bottas [COMPLETED]

emotional people | 08

[1258 words]

'i thought you were joking about your little plan?' she asked.

'do you mind it though?' he countered back, adopting a much more direct approach than before.

'mind the fact that we're on a date?' he looked at her expectantly.

she looked over at the scenery before them, not looking him in the eyes, and replied with a small smile on her glossed lips.

'no. of course not.' she glanced at the basket in the floor between them. her summer dress was brushing past it lightly, making a rustling sound in the breeze.

'i thought you would have had someone. i know i should have asked before hand but i just wanted to see you.' valtteri confessed apologetically as he picked the basket from the ground.

dima thought about it for a few seconds, letting the silence sit between them. she didn't know what to say.

'no. there isn't anyone.' she sounded incredulous. 'of course there isn't anyone. otherwise i wouldn't be sitting here with you like this, looking at this,' she gestured to their surroundings, 'with a cute basket between us, like this.'

he didn't even get the chance to reply when dima's lips quirked up.

'i didn't know you to be this dense vicky.' she nudged his shoulder as she said.

'i just wanted to make sure we were on the same page and i wasn't suddenly having feelings for someone again.' his pale cheeks outlined the little blush perfectly.

'again? already? cmon val you have standards.' she didn't realise it sounded demeaning until after she had said it. he noticed the way she didn't respond to the indirect question he posed. he wouldn't ask again anytime soon, she didn't look ready.

'if you're the standard then im winning i guess.'

'shut up val you're being cute.'  she hit his arm lightly in an attempt to snap him out of it.

they were both in their 30s and acting like teenagers.

'should we head back?' he asked, seeing the sun was dimming a little in the sky.

'aw i thought you liked me?' she said as she got off the grass and brushed any strays from her dress.

'never said i didn't.' he was being bold in a way that reminded him of his teenage years, in a carefree way that made it seem all the more pure and ten years younger.

the way back to the car was shorter than expected, and wanted, and the topic swiftly changed to travelling.

'oh that reminds me,' dima said as she slid into the car. 'i'm going beirut tomorrow.'

'tomorrow?' he was a little taken back. 'how come you didn't mention it this entire time?'

she made a face as if she was questioning herself. 'i don't know? i wasnt thinking about that. and nothing we talked about could have meant i'd bring it up. '

'don't know if it's my place but why are you going?'

she was quiet for a second. why was she going?

'see the parents? go see some family? i don't know to be fair, but i feel like i need to go.' i need some peace.'

valtteri sensed something had happened in these few years but didn't bother asking her. he didn't want to ruin her mood when they've had such a good time together.

'fair enough. are you planning on taking your car?'

'no valtteri i'm walking to the airport.' she deadpanned. her sun glasses were now perched on the crown of her head, her dark hair cascading on the sides.

'don't get sassy with me, i was going to offer to drop you off.'

dima's expression softened a little. her mind drifted back to lukas. he would always drop her off, and sometimes randomly decide he wanted to go with her, and she remembered how he would always get the visa on arrival in beirut. 'are you sure? do you not have any of that fast car stuff to do?' she quickly asked, not wanting to think of the absent ring again.

she was still proud, she thought of him way less than she used to. maybe she truly was moving on. she hoped the trip would help her even more.

'yeah because i would totally offer you a lift if i didn't have time.' valtteri countered, hands gliding on the steering wheel. her eyes focused on his hands and she quickly looked away, not wanting to be caught looking at his, well, quite nice hands.

'you know what the funny part about that is valtteri? you would.' dima laughed as she said, agreeing with herself on that one. she noticed how he was nearing her block of flats.

he stopped the car, but not quite wanting to leave.

'you know vicky,' she started as she unlocked the door before he could. 'it used to be my favourite thing about you.' she now stood adjacent to him, her feet stopping. she didn't want to leave either. she considered inviting him in, and then quickly decided against it, remembering how messy her apartment was when she left. she needed to look mature and wedding planner like to valtteri.

one of his hands were in his pocket, and the other resting by his side with the keys tucked away in his free hand. he noticed how their voices got quieter and more solemn.

'what do you mean?'

'you're so selfless, always thinking about others. people never forget a kind heart valtteri.' she brushed a few strands of flyaway hair behind her ear, the evening breeze now swaying her dress.

his breath hitched slightly, her words sending a stitch into his heart. she had become more poetic as time passed.

he outstretched his hand out to her, a quick action that she responded to just as quickly. he gently pulled her towards himself until they were close enough that valtteri would not have to move that much and hugged her. her arms were around his shoulders now, and it felt like it was her 16th again and he was returning home from abroad and falling in her arms again. he drew back a little and kissed her on the cheek.

her hand reached up to cradle his face slightly, almost as if studying him. to any passerby's, they would've looked like an emotional couple, but really, it was a couple of emotional people. valtteri had been told my friends, and his teammate lewis, that he had a version of a old soul. he cherished the moments where one could just stay in the others presence more than any sort of grandiose materialistic gesture. this was those moments.

'thank you for today, i loved it.' she said, her flowery perfume enhancing her sweet voice. 'i'll see you tomorrow.' dima whispered, her hand still on his cheek. she applied some pressure as if saying goodbye. her hand slid down and she made her way into the building with her belongings, looking back at valtteri before entering and sending him a dazzling smile.

valtteri had to let out a breath after she was no longer in sight. it had been long since someone had this much of a hold on him.

he got back in the car and looked at the door again before starting the car. he thought they were rushing slightly, but it didn't matter. they were adults and they could make those decisions for themselves.

dima hadn't given him a definite answer, but all the evidence pointed to one thing which was she enjoyed his company, and in a romantic way. he could live with that.

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again sorry for the long wait.

i hope you like it, i love dima and valtteri.

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