The Alchemy

1

One

"IF you're just tuning in, we have a close one here at The Strip this afternoon!" the commentary analyst shouted. He shot from his seat, binoculars in hand to watch the Formula one cars speed around the track.

"Sainz has taken the lead for Ferrari with Charles Leclerc and Chase Maverick on his tail." The heavy metaled vehicles followed along one another as they formed a sequential straight line as they neared the bend to the finish.

Carlos Sainz, shifted gears to prevent the McLaren champion from passing. It was only a few meters more before the race would conclude and things were beginning amp up.

"Leclerc's on your tail Mav" Zac calmly stated through the microphone, attached in the girls helmet. She drew in a deep breath, sucking in the little air she could gain while obtaining the amount of Gs the car was carrying at such a high speed.

Maverick grunted, gripping onto the compact steering wheel. She could see it, nearly there.

She was merely less than a second behind the Ferrari driver, he was dead ahead of her. It also didn't help that Lando, her teammate was caving in on her distant lead ahead of him, following shortly behind Leclerc.

"Attempting to overtake now" Chase toggled with the wheel, stiffing it around the bend of the track. "You're clear, left side is engaged" she heard the crew chief confirm.

Hot on his tail, she slid through the left side past the corner of the turn, placing pressure on the first place holder.

And when the opportunity arose and the pocket widened, she increased her speed, sliding past the once first place holder.

"And Chase Maverick has taken the win for McLaren!"

A breath of fresh air.

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There comes the pressure of watching and the pressure of the one being watched. My entire life I have been placed under the smallest of microscope, having every single detail of my private life, public.

Clyde tugged on my shoulder, pulling me from my mindless thoughts. "How are you sitting here all by yourself, at your own party?"

I shook my head, glancing away from my manager and best friend since primary school. "I'm not much of a party person, you know that" I shot back at him.

The amused look on his face made me push him back from my side. He slithered away onto the open crowd of people who I reckoned were on cloud nine.

I held a cheap glass of whiskey in my hand, it seemed like the only thing worth paying attention to.

"Can I get a mojito please, preferably in the largest glass you have". I heard this somber sounding voice next to me, taking the unoccupied seat just a few meters from my chair.

The blonde woman, seemed troubled almost, her hands pulling at a few strains of her hair. I wanted to say something to her, but what, I wasn't sure of.

"Are you just going to keep staring at me all night long" she spoke, catching onto my gaze. I could feel my cheeks heat up, noting that I had been caught.

"Sorry" I mumbled, too embarrassed to utter anything else. The woman smiled confidently now, inching herself to the seat next to me.

"Why are you sitting here all by yourself?" I heard her ask me. I felt her warm breath against the shell of my ear.

My hands fell to the top of the bar, pressing myself backwards to inhale a deep breath. "I could ask you the same question" I glanced over at her. To my surprise, she was staring right back at me, her Arctic blue eyes captivating me in.

"Well I was hiding away from my friend, in all honesty, I don't want to be here" she backed away to retrieve the drink the bartender placed down.

"No?" I questioned. She wasn't in that alone, it made two of us.

"She's trying to set me up with someone new.. again" the woman bellowed. The bartender placed the glass in front of her, the blonde wasting no time in drinking it.

I laugh before I lean back in my seat. "I said my peace, your turn" she shoots back a me. I place my hands up in faux offense.

"Im just not one for a party is all. Too much booze, too less of talking" I complain. She scoffs then signals towards the bartender.

"2 shots of tequila for the lady and I" she tells him then turns back to me. "Sounds like a speakeasy is more of your style then" the woman says.

I chuckle. "Perhaps" I shrug, then lean back in my chair, my gaze rests on hers.

"I didn't catch your name" she slyly smiles at me. "It's Mav" I nod back at her. "And you?" I push.

"Taylor" her angelic voice rings out. The bartender places two full shots in front of us.

"Cheers Taylor" I chuckle as I raise my glass towards hers. "Cheers to you Mav, as mysterious as you are" she chuckles, our glasses touching.