BERKSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM. JULY 2026.

The double header with Silverstone following Austria meant that Jake immediately flew to England to prepare himself for his next race. Him and Olivia hadn't spoken since their argument and neither reached out to the other first. His victory in Austria was still fresh yet bittersweet.

His parents, Marcus and Emmeline, sat across from their son as they made their way to the hotel, their expression predominantly filled with concern for their child. Jake's mind was elsewhere as he stared out the window, the landscape below blurring into a patchwork of greens and browns as they drove towards their hotel. Tomorrow, he was going to meet Thierry, Jax and Sophie who were all invited to come back and speak as alumni at their former school. Jax and Sophie would also then be staying in England to watch Silverstone and support Jake and Thierry.

The Championship race was heating up, Jake and Thierry were still second and third respectively but with poor performances from Max, they were both closing him down and looking to leapfrog him. Silverstone was a race that felt like a second home, but the anticipation that usually accompanied this thought was overshadowed by the silence between him and Olivia.

As the car cruised down country roads, Marcus tried to engage his son in conversation. "That was an incredible race, Jake. You were brilliant. From last to first, cracking drive."

Jake nodded absently, his thoughts still drifting to Liv. The fight played on a loop in his mind and he couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness her absence left.

"Thanks, dad," Jake replied, forcing a smile, "it was a tough one, but we pulled through."

Emmeline reached over and placed a comforting hand on Jake's arm. "She'll come around, Jake. Just give her some time."

Jake sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I hope so, mum. I just wish she were here. Silverstone is like a home race, and it doesn't feel right without her."

The rest of the drive passed in relative silence, with Jake lost in his thoughts and his parents exchanging worried glances.

The next day, he reunited with his three best friends and they all took a car towards their old school. The gates of Wellington College stood tall and familiar, bringing a wave of nostalgia to Jake as he drove up the long driveway. In the passenger seat, Jax was already reminiscing, pointing out spots where they had shared countless memories. This invite back was a full-circle moment for the group of them.

As they parked and made their way towards the main building, the four all smiled to themselves. Wellington had been a significant chapter in their lives, a place where dreams had been nurtured and where Jake met Jax, Sophie and Thierry. The school's sprawling grounds and historic architecture had witnessed their formative years, and now they were back as accomplished individuals ready to inspire the next generation.

The headmaster greeted them warmly, leading them on a tour of the school. The familiar hallways and classrooms brought back vivid memories of late-night study sessions, classes, and all sorts of mischief they used to get up to. They paused at the sports fields where Jax had trained rigorously when playing rugby, and the drama studio where Sophie had developed her skills as an aspiring actress.

The tour culminated in the assembly hall, where rows of eager students awaited their arrival. The headmaster introduced them, and the applause that followed made them all smile. They took their seats on the stage, each taking a turn to share their journey.

Jax spoke first, his voice confident and with a thick American accent. "Wellington gave me the platform to excel in sports. The scholarship I received here opened doors to American colleges, and eventually led me to my career in the NFL. I owe a lot to this place, I came from a household where we didn't have much and Wellington scouting my talent when I was living in the States and offering me a rugby scholarship changed my life."

Sophie followed. "The drama program here was instrumental in my development as an actress. There were so many shows we put on and so many teachers that supported me. Applying to go to a university abroad was terrifying and not at all like applying for a uni here but the support I received here when applying for Juilliard made it all less scary and a lot easier. The teachers here believed in me, and that belief made all the difference."

Jake and Thierry took the stage together. "The people at Wellington made sure we could attend karting weekends and took us around the country when we were competing in the F4 circuit," Jake began, "those experiences were crucial for us to join the McLaren Driver Academy and eventually make it to Formula One."

Thierry added. "We wouldn't be where we are today without the foundation this school provided us."

The students listened intently, their faces reflecting admiration and aspiration. After the speeches, the group mingled with the students and staff. Many of their old teachers were still there, proud of their former pupils' achievements.

Sophie took a separate session with the A-Level drama students, sharing her journey in more detail and offering advice. "Success in acting requires dedication, resilience, and a lot of hard work," she told the small class, "but most importantly, it requires passion. If you love what you do, it will shine through in your performances."

Back in the main hall, Jake and Thierry engaged with students interested in motorsport, answering questions about their careers and the challenges they faced. There were two current students who heavily reminded Jake and Thierry of themselves. Jax shared insights into the world of professional NFL football, emphasising the importance of perseverance and discipline - and since his success in the NFL the school had started offering American football as a sport students could participate in.

Photos were taken, autographs signed, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement and inspiration. For Jake, Jax, Sophie, and Thierry, it was a reminder of their roots and the journey they had undertaken as a group. As they posed for a final group photo with the headmaster, their spirits were high.

As the day drew to a close, they walked back to their cars, the memories of their time at Wellington fresh in their minds. "That was something special," Sophie said, her heart warm and a smile on her face.

Jake nodded. "It was. We owe a lot to this place."

With a final wave to the headmaster and students, they drove off, making their way back to the hotel they were all staying at and getting ready to leave for Silverstone the next day.

Thursday came soon enough and the group - all with paddock passes - explored the ever familiar Silverstone paddock. Even after the trip back to Wellington, Jake's heart wasn't in it in FP1 as well as his media obligations and meeting with fans.

"Where's Olivia?" one fan asked as he stopped to take a photo.

Jake paused, he wasn't sure how to answer that question. "She's back in LA, she's busy."

That seemed to have sufficed as an answer as the fan didn't ask anything else.

Jake's press conference was accompanied by his fellow drivers, Lando Norris, Esteban Ocon, and Carlos Sainz.

The questions came quickly, most of them focused on Jake's remarkable comeback in Austria. One reporter asked. "Jake, after such a dramatic victory in Austria, how are you feeling heading into Silverstone?"

Jake forced a smile. "It was an incredible race, and I'm thankful for the support of my team and my family. Silverstone is like a second home to me and it's the team's home race, so I'm looking forward to putting on a good show for the fans here."

The press conference continued with questions about the upcoming race, but Jake's thoughts kept wandering back to Olivia. He missed her presence, her support, and the way she made everything feel right. It just didn't feel the same without her.

After the press conference, Jake had some time before his meeting. He took a moment to check his phone, hoping for a message from Olivia. There was nothing. It felt like a punch to the gut. He knew he should reach out, but pride and hurt kept him from dialling her number.

That evening, Jake sat in his hotel room, staring at the phone. His parents had gone out for dinner, giving him some space and he had turned down plans with Jax, Sophie and Thierry because truthfully, he needed a moment alone. The three were aware of the tension between Jake and Liv right now and they were truly worried about both parties.

He picked up the phone, his fingers hovering over Olivia's contact. Memories of their argument flooded back, but so did the memories of happier times.

With a deep breath, he typed in a message before deleting it, before typing another message before deleting it again. With a sigh of frustration Jake threw his phone to the end of his bed and collapsed, his head meeting the pillow. He had to do something but he also knew he was in a position right now where any poor performance in Grand Prixes could jeopardise his charge towards the Championship which would make the history books. He was in two worlds and he couldn't balance it.

Eventually, after what felt like hours on dwelling about what to do with his life and his career, Jake shut his eyes, forcing himself to sleep and rest up for the race weekend.

Silverstone qualifying day dawned with a morning chill, the weather forecasts were predicting rain and in a country like England, Jake was expecting it. He arrived at the track with a mixture of nerves and confliction. The presence of his parents and his friends offered some comfort, and the sight of familiar faces and sounds of roaring engines provided some form of normalcy.

In Q1, Jake's performance was shaky. His mind wandered, distracted again by Olivia and the hole in his life it caused. He barely made it through, sitting in P15 as the session ended. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for Q2. He needed to focus.

His race engineer, Rick, provided a steadying influence. "Shake it off, Jake. Let's get it done in Q2."

"Come on," Jake muttered to himself, "let's get yourself together."

He gripped the steering wheel tighter and pushed the distractions aside, allowing the roar of the engine and the feel of the track to consume him. In Q2, he improved significantly, securing P5. By the time Q3 rolled around, he was in the zone, setting the fastest lap times and ultimately securing pole position. Thierry had finished in P2 and the two offered each other congratulations. They were rivals this season, everyone was predicting a tight championship just like Lewis and Max's 2021 season but this year, their rivalry was more amicable unlike last year's.

Race day arrived with an electric atmosphere at Silverstone. Marcus and Emmeline watched in the hospitality suite alongside Jax and Sophie. Jake sat in the cockpit, trying to steady his breathing and focus on the race ahead. In his right wing mirror he could see Thierry's Ferrari out the corner of his eye. The start of the race was clean, and Jake maintained his lead. His car felt fantastic, and every lap was a reminder of why he loved racing. As it progressed, Jake let himself forget about everything on the outside world and only let his mind be consumed by the car and the circuit.

The pit stops went smoothly, and Jake's focus never wavered. With more and more laps passing, he could feel Thierry's presence pushing him, but he stayed ahead, managing his tires and maintaining his speed. When the checkered flag finally waved, Jake crossed the finish line first, claiming back-to-back victories.

It was a fairly straight-forward race and Jake had shut himself off from every emotion he was feeling and purely focused on the Grand Prix. When he stepped out it all entered him again and he was filled with melancholy and longing despite another race win under his belt.

Standing on the podium, the cheers from the crowd were deafening. The British fans celebrated both McLaren's win and Jake's, but despite the jubilation, his heart ached. He wished Olivia were there to share this moment with him.

Little did he know, she was watching from Los Angeles, her eyes glued to the screen, silently cheering him on. It pained her that she wasn't there, it pained her also to know Jake hadn't messaged her. She wanted Jake to reach out to her but his silence reinforced her insecurity about how she would never be as important as racing to him.

After the podium celebrations and a brief moment of revelry in the McLaren garage, Jake felt a pull stronger than anything else. He thanked his parents for their support over the past two races and said his goodbyes.

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES. JULY 2026.

Jake, Jax, Sophie, and Thierry caught the first flight to Los Angeles, Jake knew what he had to do, it was all he was thinking about that weekend. He was thankful that all his friends were happy joining him. Jaxon and Sophie were meant to be heading back anyways but Thierry said he wanted to spend some of the time off in LA. Even if he didn't specify, Jake suspected Thierry just wanted a break from his training regimen back in Monaco.

"How do you make it work?" Jake asked Jax on the plane, referring to his relationship with Hailee.

Jax shrugged. "Communication I suppose. We both have busy schedules and careers but we talk to each other and make sure we both feel heard."

Jake felt a pang of guilt. He felt that he didn't listen to Olivia at all. All she really wanted was some reassurance that Jake was going to be ok, after all, the crash must've left a harrowing memory in her mind. He internally kicked himself, he should've listened better and communicated properly to her.

"You both just need to talk," Sophie advised, "just a calm, civilised conversation. Especially after an argument, you say stuff you don't mean when your emotions are high. Trust me, I know."

They landed in LA, and Jake felt uneasy and anxious but nevertheless, he knew what he had to do.

As they exited the airport, Sophie placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You'll make it right, Jake. She loves you."

Jake nodded, taking a deep breath. He couldn't wait any longer. He needed to see Olivia, to apologise, and to make things right.

They took an Uber to Jax's apartment (which he was looking to move out of soon and into a house in Beverley Hills) where Jax kindly let Jake borrow his car to drive to Liv's. He made a pitstop to a couple shops before he arrived.

Jake stood outside Olivia's apartment door, his heart pounding. He took a deep breath, clutching a small bouquet of her favourite flowers in one hand and a box of her favourite chocolates in the other. He had rehearsed what he wanted to say a hundred times, but now, faced with the real thing, his mind felt like a blank slate.

He knocked, the sound echoing in the hallway. Moments later, the door opened, revealing Olivia dressed casually in a hoodie (coincidentially one of Jake's McLaren hoodies) and some grey sweatpants. Her eyes widened in surprise, a shocked expression on her face.

"Jake? What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice soft.

"Can I come in?" he replied hopefully.

Olivia hesitated for a second before stepping aside. "Of course."

He walked in, handing her the flowers. "These are for you." he then handed her the box of chocolates. "These too."

She took them, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Thank you."

They moved to the living room, sitting on opposite ends of the couch. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken words and lingering tension.

Jake was the first to break it.

"Liv, I'm sorry. For everything. For how I reacted and the things I said. I know how much racing scares you, especially after last year, and I didn't consider your feelings as well as I should have."

She looked down at her hands, then back at him. "Jake, it's not just about the racing. It's about us, our communication, and understanding each other. Last year, when you crashed, it was the most terrifying moment of my life. I can't go through that again. It hurt when it seemed like you didn't understand that."

He nodded, his eyes earnest. "I love racing, Liv. It's been my dream since I was a kid. But I love you too, so much. I realise now that I haven't done the best job of balancing the two - the incident made me realise how important other things were in my life but I guess when racing came back into the picture I forget about it all. I want to work on that, together."

Olivia sighed, her gaze softening. "I want you to know that I don't want you to give up your dream. I wouldn't want to give up my dream and you've been so supportive with my singing. I just want to feel secure, to know that I'm not going to lose you every time you get in that car."

Jake reached out, taking her hand in his. "It's a dangerous sport, I can't entirely remove the risk but what can I do to make you feel better about it? What can we do?"

She thought for a moment, then spoke. "I think we need to be more open with each other. About everything. If something scares me or worries me, I need to tell you. And you need to listen, really listen."

He nodded, he understood the dangers of his sport and wanted to reassure Olivia as much as possible. "I can do that. And I'll make sure to communicate better, to let you know how things are going and how I'm feeling. I don't ever want you to feel left out or in the dark."

Olivia squeezed his hand. "And I'll still be supportive, I'll always be your biggest fan. I also just care about you outside of the sport so naturally these risks scare me. I know I haven't been open about it, truth be told I never realised how scary it would be until it actually happened."

"I get that Olivia," Jake responded, "I really do. I know you're my biggest fan. I said some stupid things I didn't mean that night and I'm really sorry, I'm so lucky to have you by my side."

She leaned in, her forehead resting against his. "I love you, Jake. I don't want to lose you."

"I love you too, Olivia. More than you'll ever know."

They stayed like that for a moment, their foreheads touching, hands intertwined. Jake leant in and they shared a soft and passionate kiss, the empty hole in both their hearts had been filled.

Jake spoke softly after their kiss. "We'll always talk to each other, no matter how difficult the conversation might be."

Olivia nodded. "Yeah, we will."

After their difficult conversation, Jake was honest and filled Olivia in about the last two races he was in.

"I just couldn't do anything," Jake said, recounting Austria, "my mind was just on you."

"I was always watching," Olivia said softly, "I'm so proud of you for both races."

Jake smiled. "Thank you Liv."

Olivia decided she wanted to re-join Jake this season and Jake was more than happy to let her provided she didn't have any commitments in their career. She was a missed figure in the paddock and truth be told, Jake always felt like he did better when Olivia was there.

And if he wanted to excel this season which was shaping up to be one of the most closely contested seasons in a while, maybe Olivia was exactly what he needed at each race.