4. Classification

LARA'S POV

Today was the day I had been waiting for since last season practically ended. Today was qualifying day. I was looking at some data from the private sessions this morning when I hear someone call my name, which makes me turn in the direction of the garage entrance, where I see Cameron standing and leaning against the wall. 

"Cameron?" I asked, surprised to see him in front of the garage. "The very same." he replied with a big smile on his face "What are you doing here?" I asked and I approached where he was without really understanding what he was doing in our garage. His was about four garages from ours. 

"Nothing, I came to see you and propose something it might interest you." he said turning his body in my direction "Interest me? Of you?" I asked confused "Well, I might interest you, you just have to see how good looking I am, but in this case I'm not here to propose that, but something else." 

I laughed, because even though it was true, he's good looking, it wasn't something I would say to him to make him believe it more "So what is it?" I asked now curiously "I was offered to do an interview... It's for an F1 blog and the girl is looking for someone to give her a boost." 

"Can't you do it yourself, Edwards?" I hesitated, because he could do it alone "Of course I can do it Gallego, but what more push than the woman who made history in this sport and the driver who has the most titles on the grid at this moment?" 

"When would it be?" I asked, weighing the proposal "At the time that suits you best." he said with a big smile "And is it for a blog?" I asked "Yep, not one of the boring same old questions." 

"Sounds good. I could really use any day in the afternoon." I answered, wondering if I had something else to do and let it get away, but I had nothing "Would that sound good to you after the race?" I nodded, because I had nothing to do, or at least too "Perfect." 

"Okay, I'll have Eli tell the girl." He said with his smile planted on his face "You will let me know what time it is exactly." I said and he nodded "Do you need anything else?" I asked seeing he didn't move "I would like to ask you something I'm sure you can answer without me asking you." 

"What are you taking about?" I asked again confused "Okay, okay, I'll ask. How are you? And I want the truth." he said seriously "I'm fine." I replied "Okay, perfect, then I'll see you on the track now." He said walking towards his box "See you." 

He winked at me and went back the way he came. The moment I turn around, I see Bianca with a big smile on her face, which I decide to ignore and focus on looking at the car and that everything is fine. After a few minutes, I got in the car, buckled up, and Bianca squeezed me. 

"Good luck out there and I love you, Lara." she said, giving me a kiss on the helmet "Thank you and I love you too." A small smile formed on her face, and I left the box. During the lap to recharge the batteries and warm up the tires, I move aside to let Amelia pass and a couple of drivers behind, and when 'm at the last corner line I push, making me finish second at the end of the lap. 

"Good lap Lara, come back to the box and you'll stay until the next one." I nodded even though I know they couldn't see me, and I got into the box and stayed in the car looking at the data from it. After what seemed like forever, we went into Q2 and I started on medium tyres, and after finishing the two laps I went into the pits to be changed to hard tyres. I do a couple of laps to warm up the tires well, I start the lap and at first, slipping a bit. 

On the radio they weren't silent that we should change the tyres, but I decided to ignore them and recharge the batteries to go one more lap and when I reach the finish line I push again. This time the car didn't spin, and I improved my time by a second, which is good. 

When I enter the garage, I look at the sign at the exit of the pit lane and I see I'm third, which is a good result. "Okay Lara, now we are going to go with soft ones." said Rebecca from the wall. "Would it be possible to start with media?" I asked, "Do you think you can do better with them?" 

"I think at this circuit the car responds better with harder tyres." I answered sincerely "Okay, we will try, if we see that they do not work, when you enter, we will change it, okay?" 

"Perfect. How many new tires do we have left of each compound?" I asked trying to organize the ideas in my mind " You have two new ones for soft and medium, and one for hard." He replied, "Okay, thanks, Rebbe." 

"Good luck out there and do what you do best." she said, and I smiled "I will." The moment they tell me I can go out, I let those behind me pass so as not to disturb anyone and put space between them and me. 

"You have Gallagher behind you, so please be careful with him." Rebbe said and I looked in the rearview mirrors, "I will, because I'm pretty sure he won't pass me." I replied, I would take care of that myself " Well, that's why I'm saying it, he could have done it before, but he didn't, so be careful what he might be up to, we don't want the Abu Dhabi thing to happen again." 

"It won't happen, don't worry. Better tell me how much distance I have with the ones in front" I asked " Half a turn away." I nodded again "Okay, now please don't talk to me." I ordered Perfect, let us know if you notice anything weird in the car. 

"I will do that." I assured " We'll talk when you finish the lap." With that I focused on doing the lap and controlling Gallagher from behind who I could see at times getting too close to my rear with the front wing of his car, and I didn't like that at all. With this lap I qualified second, and on the panel, I saw Cameron was first and Amelia third. I go into the pits again and they put me inside it to change my wheels and thus be able to see the data of the lap. 

"Good result with these tyres, do you think you can improve your time on them?" Rebbe asked and I nodded "Clearly." I responded when I realized she couldn't see me, "Do you want these, or can we put the new ones on you?" 

"I prefer these if you don't see anything weird about them." I answered "Everything's perfect with them" she answered "Okay. Distance with Cameron?" I asked "A second and a half. I know you can improve that time." 

"And I'll do it." With time left for two laps, I'm unloaded from the jacks and given the green light to go out, this time I'm the one behind Gallagher which is great, at least I could have him away from me when I warm up my tires. 

While I warm up the tires and charge the batteries, I move out of the way to allow drivers who were on the lap and start to accelerate at the start of the lap. I could see my car, Cameron's, and Amelia's on the screens around the circuit. 

In the last couple of laps, I see a car in front of me, and it doesn't pull away, so even though it would lose me some time, I pull away, but it turns in my direction causing me to hit the wheel left front and I broke the suspension of that wheel and ended up against the wall. 

"Que cona foi eso? Seica non veu que estaba xirando ou que? (What the fuck was that? Didn't see I was going to move away or what's wrong?) I said angry with whoever it was "Lara, are you okay?" asked my sister "Quen cona foi ese Bianca? (Who the fuck was that, Bianca?)" I insisted "Gallagher. Now please take a deep breath because no one will understand you as long as you continue in Galician. Are you OK?" 

"I'm great, the car isn't so great." I protested "Don't worry, we'll fix it. Now relax, I'm sure he'll get a penalty for that." she assured me, but that didn't mean I stopped being angry. "I'm not so sure." It wasn't the first time they didn't penalize him for something like that " I know, but hey, at least you were on the podium." 

"At this moment I don't care one... very little." I said containing my anger. I didn't need to say anything else to be called names "I know." 

I took out the head support, the steering wheel, unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car. The doctors were on my side checking me, but I really was fine, just angry. I decide it's best to go through the middle of the loop to get to wherever I need to go so I can calm down a bit before interviews. 

When I got to the back of where the boxes were Bianca was waiting for me with Eric. I take off my helmet, which Bianca ends up taking out of my hands to carry it herself. "At least I'm glad to see you good, dear." Eric said with a small smile on his face "I am, but pissed off you don't imagine." 

"Normal, that guy screwed up your ranking." my sister snorted and to which Eric nodded "Don't even remind me." I said, "Better let me take you to the podium so they can interview you." My sister said after a few seconds in silence and the truth is it was what I least wanted "It's not what I most want right now." 

"I know, but you have to do it, then we'll de-stress you." Bianca assured me, "Then we have to fix the car." I said and she denied "You don't have to, but if it de-stresses you, we will." 

"Who's on the podium?" I asked after a while "Cameron, Amelia and you." They both answered at the same time "I'm happy for them." I said, "I know, now let's go before you get killed on the team for not showing up for the celebration and interview." 

"Alright." I sighed "By the way, congratulations Lara on the podium." Said Eric and I smiled, because I'm completely sure he meant it now he could tell I was a little calmer than I was a couple of minutes ago "Thanks Eric. Where were you?" I asked "Fourth. I will start by your side. And let me tell you, the tire choice is strange for one of the top qualifiers." 

"When do I follow what everyone is doing?" I asked ironically, because it was something I didn't usually do "That's true. Good luck in your interviews and see you tonight. We'll throw darts into Gallagher's face." 

"Sounds like a great plan to me." I answered laughing. Eric gave me a hug and Bianca walked me to where the podium was. I didn't feel like doing the interview at all, but at least I was calm, so I know I wouldn't say anything weird. 

By the time I got there, I could see both Cameron and Amelia looking in my direction and I gave them a smile so they wouldn't worry, it wasn't real at all, but at least it would calm them down for a while. 

"And here we have the third classified. Congratulations on your podium Lara." said Jason, our interviewer "Thank you, Jason." I replied, "Before we start, tell me, are you okay after the accident?" 

"I'm fine, but we'll have work ahead of us to get the car ready for tomorrow." I said honestly, because even though we didn't have that much damage to the car, it was going to take time to assemble it and hopefully it would be the same as it was before the accident. 

"I'm sure your mechanics will manage to fix it. Now tell us how the accident happened." he asked, but the truth is I refused to tell something when it was clear with the images "Everything is clear in the images. As it was seen is what happened, and I won't give more details than those." 

"Okay, better why did you decide to try hard tyres?" he asked and I smiled, because I knew this question was going to come up "I think it's a good strategy, and I'm fast with them, so I don't lose anything by trying something different from the other drivers in front of me." 

"It's clearly a risky strategy, aren't you worried it might not work? Isn't that too risky for the first race?" he asked, and again I smiled, because it was "I'll have a hard time warming them up, that's for sure, but once that's done, I'll fly down the track, or at least I hope so, and of course, it's a risky strategy, but this sport itself it's already a risk, and to win the title is what I need to do." 

"So do you think you can win your second title?" he asked and I nodded, because I knew I could, but I was also clear it was going to be harder than last year "I think anyone on this grid could win it, all I have to do is get good points, not break the car and think about every move before do it." 

"Thank you, Lara, that would be all for today, congratulations on the podium again." I thanked him and took Bianca's helmet and went to weigh. After doing so I congratulated Amelia and I didn't do it with Cameron because he was busy, but at a moment when he looks in my direction, I vocalize him to which I nod. Once I do that, I went to the box and the rest room. Before I go inside, I hear Rebecca calling my name, so I turn in her direction to see what she wanted this time. 

"To make you happy a little more, I just want to tell you they sanctioned him. He comes out last." Rebecca said with a big smile on her face. "Fuck her." I said smiling "Fuck him." she repeated with another smile. "Does the car have too much damage?" I asked looking in Rebbe's direction, but I was really asking my sister. 

"Nothing we can't fix, so don't worry, the boys and Bianca will start fixing it the moment they finish eating." he assured and out of the corner of my eye, I could see my sister nod "Perfect, thanks, Rebbe." 

"You're welcome, take your time to calm down." she said and I nodded, because I know why she was telling me "Don't worry, I almost am. I'm going to take a shower and then I'm going to the interview." I assured her "Ava will be waiting to go with you." I nodded and went into the break room and headed for the shower, but before I can get in, I hear my phone start to ring, so I go to see who's calling me, but seeing it's my mother, I turn off the water, lean against the sink and answer. 

"Thank goodness you're well." was the first thing my mother said when I answered "I'm fine mom, it's just the car that's damaged. I'm great." I assured her, " We're glad to hear that." She answered "Are you with Grandma?" I asked and I could almost see her nod. 

"Yes, we were looking at the classification. What's wrong with that guy? He doesn't know how to drive or what's wrong with him?" my mother now said angrily, which made me laugh. Everyone assured I'm similar to my mother when it comes to bad temper "I don't know mom, but it's doesn't matter, everything is fine." 

"I know, and I could see you calmed down enough not to explode." she assured, probably with a smile on her face "I did it mom, if you taught me anything it's better to calm down than to put on a show." 

"Sometimes it's not bad." he said and I agreed, because I knew better than anyone, but here I couldn't afford the luxuries of doing it "Yeah, mom. Better tell how you two are." I asked to try to get her to leave the subject alone. 

"Well, your grandmother has a bit of a cold." she said, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes, I don't know how they hadn't told me before "Non lle digas eso a rapaza, Rita, non debería preocuparse por min (But don't tell that to the girl, Rita, she shouldn't worry about me.)" I heard how my grandmother protested close to her "Abuela, eu sempre me preocuparei por ti e sabelo. (Grandma, I always worry about you, and you know it)" 

"I know, I know. I'm glad to see you talk your mother language." I laughed, because we both knew it wasn't what I would do, neither of us would do it no matter how long we were away from home. 

"Not even dead I would grandma. I'm going to take a shower. I love you both very much." I said "We love you too Lara." they replied "If you need anything call me or Bianca." 

"We don't need anything, but we will do it if it's really necessary." my mother answered, and I wasn't so sure they were going to do it. I would have to make sure Bianca, or I talked to them several times throughout the day, at least until we made sure Grandma was okay. 

"Thank you. I love you two." I said with a smile on my face "E nos. (We too)" I hung up and turned the water back on. This time it didn't take so long to warm up and I stayed in there for half an hour to finish calming down, what a great need I was going to do, because if I'm sure of anything, it's that they were going to ask me again about the bloody accident to which I would give the same answer. 

POV CAMERON 

I could see from the screens on the track someone had had an accident, but I didn't have time to see who it was. But I was happy with how I had done in qualifying. I finished first, and that was great after two years off. 

I went into the garage and left the car in the corral where the first three left it. When I arrived, I see one of Collen's cars, which is either Eric or Amelia, which I'd be happy about. 

I turned off the car and started taking everything out. Once I got out of the car, I take off the helmet, the balaclava, the gloves and I go to where Elisabeth is and I give her a hug, because I was happy, and adrenaline was running through my veins. 

"Congratulations on pole position Cam." Eli said with a big smile on her face "Thank you. Do you know what happened out there?" I asked curiously, "Gallagher, that's what happened." 

The moment those words come out of Eli's mouth, I worry, because if there's anything more than clear to me, it's that son of a bitch would do whatever it takes to screw Lara over. "You're right, but don't worry, he didn't even get the podium out of her and she's fine, so don't worry about her." she replied with a smile that hinted she knew what was going through my head "Are you sure she's okay?" I asked and she nodded. 

"Yes, she said something on the radio I really have no idea what it means, but I know she was angry." my best friend replied with a laugh, "Obviously, I'm pretty sure it was on purpose." I huffed and she pointed somewhere behind me. "You'll just have to look at the screens and you'll see." 

"So, she's third?" I asked with a smile on my face. Despite the accident, they hadn't managed to get her off the podium, and that made me happy "Yes, and with a hard tire to start the race tomorrow." 

"Hard?" I asked confused, it wasn't the best option to start in front, and it seems strange to me the team let her put those tires "Yeah, everyone in the garage didn't understand it either." Eli assured "She's risking it..." I said with a small smile on my face "Yes, but it's Lara, I'm sure she has a plan in mind." 

"I'm completely sure." I moved away from where Eli and the team were to go over to Amelia who had a big smile on her face, which is quite understandable, because in her first race and she was qualifying second ahead of her teammate, that's very rare. 

"Congratulations on your second place, Amelia." I congratulated her "Thank you, and congratulations to you on the first one too." She congratulated me "Thank you. I see you are going to be a tough competition along with Lara." I replied, because I could see it "Power girls." she said laughing "I like it, but first you'll have to pass me." I assured, and Eli rolled her eyes. 

"We will do it." Amelia assured, and I nodded, because I know they would try whatever was necessary to pass me, but luckily for everyone, I knew how to defend myself from possible overtaking "I don't doubt it." 

"Did you see the accident thing?" she asked, and I denied, because what it's to see itself, I had not done "I saw it glancingly on one of the screens, and now Eli told me about it." I replied "I saw it, and it was on purpose. Gallagher turned toward Lara's car." 

"I don't doubt it, but she's fine, so let's not worry about her anymore." They called Amelia to go do her interview, and on the screens, I could see how Lara was crossing the circuit through the centre to get to the back of the pits. I could see her good, which calmed me down a bit, but I was angry with what that man had done to her, because from what I could see she had been improving in all sectors and would end up ahead me, I have no doubt about that. 

After a couple of minutes, they call me to do the interview and ask me about the accident, which they reproduced for me on the back screen. Everyone could clearly see the movement had been intentional, but the only thing I answered was it was clear from the images. 

At the end of my interview, I go to where Amelia was to weigh me and that's when I see how Lara arrives where we were. I keep looking at her, and she gives me a small smile, but it doesn't reach her eyes, so I know it's to reassure us a bit. 

When the interview ends, she goes to congratulate Amelia and that's when they call me to sign the wheel, but at a moment when I look in the direction she was before, I see se vocalizes the word congratulations, to which I nod with a smile. 

All I wanted was to go to her and make sure she was okay, but I must get this over with, so I decide it's better to talk to her before the interview after, I just hoped I'd catch her before this one. 

Half an hour before our interview begins, I head to the back of Lara's box to see if I could catch her, and Eli doesn't take long to follow my steps. "I spoke with Zara, and she told me she can interview you at six. It will give you time to rest for a while." 

"Brilliant." I replied "You didn't tell me who you want to do the interview with. Have you already found someone?" she asked full of curiosity "Of course, otherwise I wouldn't tell you to call her and tell her tomorrow we could do that interview." 

"And who's the lucky one to do the interview with you?" she asked again, but I denied, because I really had no intention of telling her who I was going to do the interview with "I'm the lucky one." 

"Then it's Lara." she assured and now I'm confused "Why?" I asked, "Because it's the only way you can be the lucky one." she reassured "You know me perfectly." I said with a smile on my face. Sometimes I couldn't understand how she knew me so well "We're childhood friends for a reason." 

"Also, true." A couple of minutes later Lara comes out of the box with a woman who I must assume is the team's press officer since I want to assume Bianca will be with the rest of the mechanics to make sure they have the car fixed for tomorrow. 

"Cameron, I thought we'd see each other at the interview." she said surprised to see me "Nah, I couldn't let you miss this beautiful face." A small smile appeared on her face, which made me practically the happiest man in the world. I had managed to get a smile out of Lara when I'm completely sure she was still angry about what had happened. 

"Wow, and here I thought you'd want to see this face before I kick your ass tomorrow." She said and I shook my head, because even though I liked her, I wasn't going to let her get past me so easily. "Who says you'll kick me?" 

"Intuition, strategy, I'm in your rear... everything says it." she assured with a big smile on her face "The strategy isn't the best. Starting hard… risky." Lara nodded, so at least it was clear to me she knew the risk she's taking. "No risks, no championships, Edwards." 

"True, but still, you have to pass this beauty to take first place." I replied pointing at myself, and she rolled her eyes "And I will, you just make sure you don't miss out on the podium." 

"Oh, don't you want me on the podium next to you?" I asked "Honestly? I'd be glad, but I prefer Amelia and Eric." she replied, and I knew she meant it. "Wow... that's a blow to my heart, Lara." 

"It is." Eli said from behind me, but I'm sure she was laughing at me. "Now getting serious, did you hurt yourself?" I asked "No, I'm great, the car not so much, but at least it wasn't worse than what it could do." 

"True, but at least he'll come out last. He won't get to the front." I assured and Lara nodded "Also true." she repeated with a small smile. "Do you remember the interview I told you about before starting the classification?" I asked and she nodded "Do you know when it is?" she asked and now it was my turn to nod. 

"Tomorrow at six. It will give us time to rest." I said "Great, tell me where it is, and we'll meet you there." Lara answered "It will be here." 

"She won't be able to see the cars, but I have no problem." she assured, and I smiled "Don't worry, we'll get her to see the cars another day." I said "I don't have a problem with that." 

"So, everything is solved. Do you want me to pick you up in the room?" I asked, hoping she would let me accompany her at least "It's not necessary, but the road won't be boring, so you can do it." 

"Brilliant." I smiled and inside, I celebrated. At that moment we arrived at where the interview would be, I opened the door for them to come in and then I went inside, letting the door close. 

"My, I didn't know you were such a gentleman, Edwards." Lara said joking and I smiled, because I was beginning to realize she's a totally different person from what she let us see on the track and to the others "Well, I am Gallego. A British gentleman." 

"Mhm, interesting." she said without looking in my direction "Interesting? Handsome and champion are adjectives that describe me better than interesting." I replied, "Whatever lets you sleep better at night, Edwards." 

With that, Lara went to where the press girl from her team was and I received an elbow in the ribs from Eli, I'm completely sure. 

"Now what?" I asked, placing my hand where Eli had hit me. "You don't have to be so flirty; you know?" She said "First I can't tease her and now I can't flirt with her? Is there something I can do with her?" 

"I'm not saying you can't do it, but you don't have to be so smug." my best friend replied, rolling her eyes. "She was laughing. That's not a sign of trouble." I replied, confident of my answer "She could be laughing at you and not at with you, don't you think?" 

When she said that, doubts began to invade me, could it be Lara was laughing at me? Being Lara the way she is, I don't think she would, but the possibility was there. "Do you think so?" I asked and Eli rolled her eyes. "No, but it could be." 

"Sometimes I don't understand how twisted you are, Elisabeth Smith." I protested, "Someone's going to have to put the other possibility into that head of yours. Without me you would not be here today." she replied with a smug smile "Okay, okay, you're right, but I can't do anything to him. It's my way of being." 

"I know, just try not to be so smug." She said seriously and I nodded, because I didn't have that intention "I won't do it, but if I do, Lara will tell me, or you will tell me." I assured and she nodded "Right." 

With that, I went to my place between Lara and Amelia and the interview began. A large part of the questions for Lara were about the accident she had had during qualifying, but she answered the same as she did in the before. What surprises me is she doesn't respond badly to any of the reporters, it's something I would have to learn from her.