She/her pronouns

- 1980 words

“Come ooonn we could literally do anything else this weekend and you want to go go-karting?” Your best friend whined as you dragged her out of the house.

“Obviously! You know me well enough by now.” You smirked.

And she did in fact know you well enough, considering Motorsport is pretty much all you talk about these days. If you could, you probably would've tried to become a formula 1 driver but money was pretty stiff when you were younger and being a woman isn't exactly easy going into that sort of job.

You currently work as a journalist but go-karting is a guilty pleasure of yours. You only go occasionally because of the expenses but the rush you get from being the kart is always worth it.

“I still don't get why you're so excited about this.” Your best friend chuckled in the passenger seat of your car. “I mean do they even go that fast?” She looked sceptical but you simply laughed at her comment.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Sorry it's just... You're definitely going to be surprised when we start racing.” You chuckled once more.

After a 20 minute drive you eventually arrived at the karting place and went inside the reception to grab your racing suits and helmets. Outside you could see the group before yours still out on the track, speeding up the straights and swerving around the corners. Some were clearly better than others, as shown by the same kart that kept crashing into the barrier at the same corner every time. The noise of the engines was deafening but at the same time, made you feel alive.

“Okay I already take back what I said, this looks way more intense than I thought it would be.” Your best friend admitted while you got your suits on.

“Did you just think it was going to be a bunch of toddlers and children plodding along slowly like junior Mario kart or something?” You laughed while strapping up your boots.

“Okay first of all, savage and second of all... Maybe I did think that.”

“Well I can assure you no toddlers will be going on these karts, since they go like 70mph.”

“I'm sorry what? That's how fast I go on the damn motorway!” She looked at you in shock.

“Told you you'd be surprised.” You gave her another smirk before sliding your helmet on.

After getting kitted up, you and your best friend made your way outside to wait by the track.
You couldn't wait to get out there, it'd been months since you'd last came because your job had kept you quite busy but you were finally allowed to take a few days off and karting was the first thing on your mind.

“Hellooo Y/n you still awake?” Your best friend was clicking her fingers in front of your face to snap you out of your daydream.

“Ah jeez- yes I'm still awake. Did you need something?” You chuckled swatting her hand away.

“I just wanted to tell you I'm going to the toilet so if we're up in a few minutes come get me please.”

“Will do.” You gave her a thumbs up.

As she left, you began to watch the karts on the track again and fell right back into your daze.
You were growing a bit impatient now, the group before you was still on the track but technically they should've come off 5 minutes ago.

“Oh come on!” You grumbled a bit too loudly while checking the clock behind you.

“I know right. We should already be in the karts right now.” Someone you hadn't even noticed standing next to you moaned in agreement.
They were in a racing suit and had a helmet on too so they were clearly here to race as well.

You turned to them suddenly at the sound of their voice, it had made you jump a bit.

“Oh sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.” The person said to you in a smooth deep voice, presumably a young man. He was quite tall with a slim muscular build.

“No it's okay. I wasn't really paying attention, I didn't even see you standing there.” You laughed awkwardly.

“Damn, am I that invisible?”

“Oh god no- I didn't mean-”

“Relax, I'm just messing with you.” He chuckled, clearly enjoying how flustered you were.

You just rolled your eyes in response even though he probably couldn't see it underneath your helmet.

For some weird reason his voice sounded familiar but you couldn't put your finger on why it did.

“So... do you come here often?” He asked, breaking the silence.

“I only come occasionally because of my job. but don't be fooled, I know this track like the back of my hand.” You gave him a cocky grin.

“Is that so?” He turned to face you directly. “You know I'm somewhat of an expert myself.” He sounded so sure of himself and it made you burst out laughing.

“Hey! I'm serious!” He chuckled slightly at the sight of you in hysterics.

“Oh I'm so sorry Ayrton Senna.” You mocked.

“Well if you're so sure that you're better than me, why don't we make things interesting?” He challenged.

“... Okay what do you suggest?” You had to admit, he intruiged you.

“Fastest time at the end of the session wins. Loser buys the winner lunch.”

You smiled.

“Alright deal.” You firmly shook hands and looked at each other intensely.

“Nice grip.” He stated.

“Weird compliment.” You retorted.

You could see his eyes crinkle through his helmet as he laughed.
You felt oddly comfortable in his company which was weird considering you'd only just met. What was it about him that made him so easy to talk to?

You didn't have time to finish the thought as your best friend popped back up behind you.

“I'm back!” She placed her hand on your shoulder very suddenly, making you jump once again.

“Oh my god- stop scaring me!” You playfully elbowed her.

“Not my fault you're so easily scared.” She laughed.

She then noticed the guy standing in front of you and was about to introduce herself when your group was being called up to race!

“Finally!” You all said at the same time.

“Alright see you out there Lightning McQueen.” The guy said to you and then headed off.

“What kind of a nickname is tha-” But he was already halfway across the pit lane.

Your best friend tapped you on the shoulder.
“So who's the hunk?”

“What?”

“The guy who just called you Lightning McQueen you idiot.”

“Oh uh he's-” Only then did you just realise that you didn't even know his name.
“I don't even know his name...” You mentally slapped yourself.

“I'm sorry, you were talking to him for a good 5 minutes and you didn't even get his name?” She gave you an amused look.

“Oh shut up- look we need to get in our karts now anyway.” You quickly changed the subject, realising almost everyone was set up in their karts... Basically everyone but you two.

You quickly ran over and spotted the two free karts. One was near the back and the other was right at the front. You recognised the driver behind the front kart by his helmet which was a bright red and looked custom made. It was the guy you were just talking to and clearly your best friend had noticed too because she was already pushing you towards him.

“Go on! You are not missing out on the chance to ask a guy like that out on my watch.” She encouraged you, while practically shoving you over there.

“What do you mean 'guy like that-”

“You and I both know that he's hot now get your ass in that kart.” She gave you one last push before heading off to her own kart at the back.

You shook your head with amusement before walking over to the front, where you were greeted by the guy you had met giving you a small wave. You waved back with a smile and sat down in your kart.

As you watched the race guide in front of you giving out brief instructions, you could hear the rev of the kart behind you as it nudged into yours.

Oh it is ON.

The guide had finished speaking and was now getting himself out of the way to let you go.

He held up three fingers to count down for your start.

3...

2...

1...

Go.

You immediately punched on the gas pedal and sped off onto the track. The g-force was a bit of a shock at first but that shock quickly turned into excitement.

“LET'S GOOOO!” You shouted at the top of your lungs as adrenaline coursed through your body.

The noise of the engines was deafening so no one could actually hear you but you couldn't care less even if they did.

The feeling of racing in that moment was just... Incredible. Even though it may seem silly to others, this feeling is what you waited 3 months for and boy was it worth it.

You had almost completed your first lap when you noticed a kart directly on your tail. You took a quick glance to see who it was and you weren't surprised to see that it was the guy you'd met earlier.

You smirked.

Clearly he was determined to win your bet but you weren't going to let that happen.

He made a hand signal at you as if to say “I'm coming for you” .

Yeah right.

You forced your kart to go even faster and completely left him behind on the main straight.

Many laps had passed and you were still in front. You even lapped your best friend when she ended up spinning off into the barrier which made you snicker. As if she could see you laughing at her, she flipped you the finger as you drove past... Kindly of course.

You were absolutely flying by and completely confident that you would get the fastest lap.

One more right hander and the finish line would be in sight. You left the stranger behind a long time ago.

“Ha!” You scoffed with a big smile on your face. “That’s some Lightning McQueen energy right here if you ask me”.

As soon as you hopped out of your kart the young man walked up to you while taking his helmet off.

“Guess I’m gonna have to buy you lunch now.” He smirked, looking down at you with his beautiful ocean eyes.

Eyes you would recognise anywhere.

It couldn't be...

You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding, trying your best to act as normal as possible.

“Hi I’m George-”.

“...Russell.”

He looks at you surprised. “Sorry I didn’t mean to-“, you mumble embarrassed, looking down at your feet. “Hi I’m y/n.”

“Hey it’s fine, don’t worry about it”, he smiles at you while sticking out his hand. “Hungry?”

“Very.” You giggle as you place your small hand in his bigger soft one.

You quickly glanced back behind you to look for your best friend to find her smirking and then winking at you, giving you the all clear to go off with George.

You rolled your eyes at her eagerness and then turned back to the young Formula 1 driver standing next to you.

Now there's a sentence you'd never thought you'd say.

“Let's go.” You smiled up at him as your cheeks flushed slightly.

Your hands swung in between the two of you as you left the karting track behind.

“I most definitely let you win by the way.”

“Sure you did.”

-

Written by Fay and Veronique.