The Grudge •||• PA17

•||•

3 August 2025

The Hungarian sun was brutal, baking the paddock until every step felt like wading through heatwaves. The smell of rubber and sweat clung to the air. I wasn't racing this weekend, I was here for Kimi and Ollie. Just to watch, to support, to exist without the pressure of lights out.

That was the plan.

Until I saw Paul.

He spotted me first, helmet bag slung casually over his shoulder. "Didn't think I'd see you here."

"You always say that," I muttered, trying not to smile.

He raised an eyebrow. "And yet you always show up."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm here for Kimi and Ollie."

"Of course," he said, smirk curling, "but you didn't say you weren't here for me."

"Paul."

"What? You were smiling. Don't deny it."

He fell into step beside me as we walked toward the pit building. The tension that used to crackle between us, all the unsaid, unacknowledged, was back, only quieter now, simmering under layers of exhaustion and careful restraint.

He kicked a pebble off the path. "So, how are you?"

"Still alive, I think."

"Good. That's an improvement on two years ago." His voice lost its playful edge. "Seriously, though. You look tired."

"I'm not the one who drove F2 practice in this heat," I countered. "How did that go? Did you actually use the tires, or were you just admiring the view?"

He scoffed. "I set a decent lap time, thank you. You should have been there to watch the masterclass."

"I was busy talking setups with Ollie's engineers, thank you very much." I paused, then relented. "Okay, fine. I saw your time. Solid. Especially for a stand-in."

"High praise from the F1 Academy champion-to-be." He bumped my shoulder lightly, a familiar, easy gesture that used to be routine. "Honestly, it felt good. Getting back in something that fast. I forgot how much I missed that chaos."

"You missed the chaos, or you missed the attention?"

Paul stopped walking and looked at me, a flicker of pain in his eyes. "Both. But mostly, the driving. You know how it is. Sitting on the sidelines waiting for your turn to drive maybe for a few laps and giving the car back eats me alive"

I looked away, suddenly reminded of my own eighteen months waiting, watching everything from the couch. "Yeah. I know."

The silence stretched. It wasn't awkward. It was loaded. A thousand unsaid things hanging between us. I hated how easy it was to fall into old rhythms, to laugh at nothing, to pretend like the last few weeks hadn't torn everything apart.

From the other side of the paddock, I heard Ollie's voice, loud, irritated, unmistakable. He was with Kimi, hands moving sharply as he spoke. I froze. Paul noticed immediately.

"He's looking for you," Paul noted, his voice quiet.

"I know." I swallowed, feeling the inevitable confrontation approaching. "He's wound up. He needs this race."

Paul nodded, his expression softening. "He does. And I shouldn't be a distraction. You should go."

I nodded, then hesitated. "Have fun today."

He grinned faintly. "You too, supporter girl."

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