George
I'm late, Rosie is going to kill me! She always likes me there for a briefing before the race, like our own unofficial one. I've got used to arriving later! I practically run down the paddock, weaving around the other people in an attempt to make up time. I see the entrance to the back of the garage and I increase my pace. I jog through the back of the garage and spot my sister immediately, hunched over her laptop in her usual seat. "Ro I'm sorry!" I say as I walk over expecting her to be mad at me "it's cool, I know Marcus didn't do these, make sure you are on time next weekend" she tells me with a soft smile on her face. What just happened? She is beyond calm "okay Rose, thanks" I sit in Marcus' chair knowing he won't be in for another half an hour "right let's discuss turn 4" she starts and I realise how good it is to have her back in the garage.
I pull my helmet on and slide down into the seat, this is it first GP of the season. "Radio check" Rosie calls over the radio "all clear" I let her know "great, let's have some fun" she tells me and I smile in my helmet "let's!" She doesn't respond and I see everyone clearing the grid. Head down, focus. I fix my gaze on to the 5 lights and wait for them to go out. I react immediately and get a good start. "Sainz is gaining, 2.2 a lap" Rosie tells me and I get my head down, he didn't make it to Q2,yesterday, she warned me he would come through the field. I'm currently sitting in p11 and I'm hoping to make up some more positions. Carlos passes on lap 12 "okay George, our race isn't with him, next up the road, Hülkenberg" she tells me and we settle into a nice pace.
Rosie
My eyes scan the data and I see what I believe to be a potential pit window, 9 laps time we will be clear from Kyvat who is currently 19 seconds behind "right George, push for the next few laps" I say and he pushes the a-firm button. I keep full focus on the track for the next 5 laps. "just went past Sainz, he is on fire, gonna be at least a safety car" George tells me and I look at the track data and see Carlos pulled up just after turn 3. "Okay George, yellow flag" I look for him on the track "Box Box, Box Box" I tell George and I see the mechanics ready behind me in the pit lane. A couple of seconds later I hear the car pull in, I spin and watch the stop "2.2 seconds, you will come out behind Ricciardo" I let George know "what position?" He asks "p7 head down, 30 laps to go" I keep an eye on the footage of the marshals.
"Chequered flag, P7 George, beautiful work!" I tell him "great work this weekend, let's keep pushing" he replies and I smile "right George, go to parc ferme, switch off, see you soon" I say "great to have you back Rose" I grin at Marcus before jumping off of my stool and walking back into the garage. I take a seat at my computer and start to compile the data for our debrief! "I can do this if you wanted to go see a certain Ferrari driver?" Marcus asks from behind me "it's okay, I can see him after debrief" he smiles "okay but the offer still stands" I shake my head, the whole garage is in good spirits and I'm glad that we've started off the season strong.
"Okay guys, that's all from me" I say after we went through George's and Nicholas' data from this weekend. "Perfect! Thank you everyone" Claire says and we stand up to leave "Rosie do you have a moment?" She asks and I nod "sure Claire" I follow her into her office "I just wanted to check in, I know it's been a difficult few months for you! How are you finding being back?" I smile softly "it's been good to be back!" I assure her "well if you need anything just ask" I nod "thank you Claire, for everything" she smiles "everyone wanted you back"
I walk through the garage and out into the paddock. I scan around and I'm surprised that Charles isn't there waiting for me, it's 7pm now and he is usually here making sure I leave! I look towards Ferrari and decide to go find him instead. I pull my phone out and dial his number but it just rings out. He might still be in his debrief? Suddenly I bump into someone "I'm so sorry" I say looking up and locking eyes with Lando. Shit. I step back "it's okay! Rosie" he tells me with a very sheepish smile "I wasn't paying attention" I try to explain "seriously it's cool, how are you?" He asks and the question throws me off "oh ummm I'm getting there" I say and he nods "I saw you and Charles are together" I look at him "we are" I confirm and I see his expression change "I am happy for you both, I know it's been a rough time" he doesn't even know the half of it "actually you don't know, without Charles I'm not sure I would still be able to come here and do my job" I say getting angry that he thinks he knows how it's been for me. He holds his hands up "I miss her too" I keep calm "nothing we can do, she is gone" I say and a hand rests on my back. The relief that runs through me from turning and seeing Charles is indescribable.
Lando
I see her immediately relax into him, she seems relieved? I know things haven't been great between us but I can see how content they are together. "Hey mate" Charles greets me "hey! Good race today" I comment as he finished p4 just ahead of me "yeah not a bad start!" Charles agrees and pulls Rosie into his side "George did great today" he tells her and she grins "it's our best start to a season for a really long time" I can see how much this means to her "congratulate him for me" I say and both of those blue eyes snap to me "I will, see you later Lando" she says finding and escape "yeah see you guys around" I say walking back towards McLaren. I turn to see the two of them holding hands walking towards the exit of the paddock. My heart sinks, they actually look really happy together.
Charles
All I've wanted to do is get to Rosie but I got stuck talking with a sponsor in the paddock. "Anyways good luck next weekend" the man tells me and I thank him politely before quickly going to Williams. I spot her a few moment later with Lando? She is pretty much at Ferrari so she must have been looking for me. That thought makes my heart swell, she is my girl. I walk behind them and place my hand on her back, she immediately looks up at me and I feel her relax against me. My worried thoughts about her wanting to be with him wash away when I realised how comfortable she is with me here now. "Hey mate" I say attempting to be civil with him "hey! Good race today" he says and he isn't wrong, p4! I've been wanting to tell Rosie about it all afternoon! "Yeah not a bad start" I say and look down at Rosie pulling her into my side "George did great today" her features light up "it's our best start to a season for a really long time" she tells us and I can see how proud she is. "Congratulate him for me" Lando says and her eyes immediately snap to his "I will, see you later Lando" she says and I fully take that as our que to leave "yeah see you guys around" I take Rosie's hand in mine and we walk towards the hotel.
Rosie
Seeing Lando was more difficult than I expected it to be, not that I have any feelings for him now but Juliette was 50 percent him and I still wonder what features she would have had. I shake my head to clear my thoughts "what shall we do for dinner?" I ask Charles and he takes a second to reply "well do you wanna go out?" And I have a think "actually that would be nice, can we invite George? And Pierre?" I ask knowing that my brother won't have any plans "of course we can Mon Ange" he squeezes my hand as we arrive outside the hotel. We have stayed together the whole weekend and I have to say I don't think I will ever want to stop waking up next to him.
Once I'm changed into a new outfit, I go to find Charles. He is stretched out on the sofa "ready?" I ask as we agreed to meet the others at reception in a few minutes "wow Rosie, you look incredible" he tells me and I blush, I did make an extra effort. "Thank you, let's go!" I tell him holding out my hand so he can pull himself up. Unsurprisingly he keeps holding it. We walk out of the elevator and I spot George and Pierre having a chat "Hey guys!" Charles shouts and they both grin "I'm starving guys!" George complains and we heard him outside and down the street towards the restaurant I made reservations at.
"Rosie look at me" Pierre says and he snaps my picture when I turn round "what?" I ask him confused "I felt like you might want to document tonight" he tells me knowingly and I smile. Him and Charles are best friends, I'm not surprised he knows the extent of how down I've been. We walk into the restaurant and the boys are all recognised immediately by the staff and suddenly extra fuss is made. I sit down in the booth with George, Pierre and Charles facing us "I like being able to look at you" Charles practically whispering and I blush "don't stare it's rude" I joke and he smirks at me before turning his attention to the menu.
I am absolutely stuffed "so what's your guys plans between now and Bahrain?" Pierre asks "well I need to be in the factory from Friday so I'm staying with Soph" I tell them and Charles raises an eyebrow "you aren't staying with George?" He asks and I shake my head "he is having uhm company?" I say and he laughs "you have a girl?" Pierre immediately questions and George sends a playful glare my way "kind of! When I figure it out I will let you guys know" he says and shrugs "well I'm glad Soph will have you" Charles says and I know he is concerned about me being alone but life goes on and I need to live mine.
I say goodbye to Pierre and George with quick hugs. Pierre holds me tight "thank you for making him so happy" he tells me "it's nothing compared to all he does for me" I say and step back feeling Charles arm immediately wrap around my waist. We head into our room and I sit down on the bed to take off my sandals. "Mon Ange?" Charles asks and I look up to see him standing awkwardly "yeah Charles? Everything okay?" He nods "more than okay, will you come for dinner at my mums Wednesday? Arthur and Lorenzo will be there?" I nod my head "of course I will" he grins at me "great! I will let mum know" I pull out my phone and see a message from Pierre with an image attached, I look at it and part of me sees a stranger.