The Race Director's Daughter (Sebastian Vettel)

42. Where's the Good in Goodbye?

"There you are!  You're a hard man to track down Vettel," Daniel said as he caught up with Seb who had just come out of the Aston Martin motorhome in France. 

"Maybe because I don't want to be tracked down," Seb muttered under his breath.  Daniel thought to himself about how rough Seb looked.  His hair, although still quite short, was a mess.  He was in desperate need of a shave and he looked like he hadn't slept for a month. 

"I've been trying to call you since Austria."

"I know. I didn't want to answer," Seb replied bluntly.  Daniel grabbed Seb's arm, forcing him to stop walking.

"Mate, I heard about you and Leah. I'm sorry."

"I don't want to talk about Leah."

"You don't want to, I think you need to though.  And you need to talk to her.  You're a mess. She's a mess. Surely you can work this out."

"I'm not talking to her.  She's not who I thought she was!"

"Yeah she is."

"You know who her dad is right?"

"Yeah. And what difference does it make?  She's still the same person.  She's still that shy, awkward girl you fell head over heels for."  Seb shook his head vehemently.

"No Dan. No, she's not. She's a Chandler-Webb," he said and carried walking. Daniel kept up with him. 

"So you're saying if she was honest with you from the start you wouldn't have persued  her?" 

"I'd have avoided her like the plague."

"Liar. You wanted her from the minute you saw her."

"As did you."

"I've never denied that, but she wanted you. You're a fucking idiot man. The way you're acting is the whole reason she kept her dad a secret in the first place.  She knew that you and him hated each other.  She risked her relationship with her father to have a relationship with you.  Yes, she should have told you, and she knows that. She was just scared you'd react exactly as you did react."

"Daniel, I'm not being funny but this is none of your business.  It's between me and her."

"Then talk to her."

"I have nothing to say to her.  I said it all at Silverstone.  Now if Leah is all you want to talk about then leave me alone!"

Daniel shook his head in defeat.  "Ok, I've said my piece.  I'll say no more about her. What you up to after the race Sunday?"

"Probably drinking myself into a stupor in my room.  My flight to Budapest isn't until Tuesday so I don't have to be up early Monday."

"Come out.  There's this club that Pierre told me and Michael about.  A few of us are going. We can get shitfaced.  Maybe meet a few girls."

"I don't know."

"It's the best way to get over you know who, you need to get laid man."  Seb thought about it. 

"Can I let you know?"

"Sure."   They reached the media centre.  Britta was waiting outside for Seb. She tapped her watch and scowled at him.  He was late, as usual. 

"I'll catch you later Daniel."

Daniel turned and headed towards the FIA motorhome.  He leant against the wall outside. He took his phone out and texted Tamara.

Daniel:  I'm outside.  Can you come out for a minute? Don't tell Leah 😘

A couple of minutes passed, then the door opened and Tamara came out.