STREETS -
act two chapter three.

italics symbolize spanish speaking.

ALICIA HUGO HAD BEEN SUBJECT TO A LARGE AMOUNT OF SURPRISES LATELY. The first domino would, obviously, be being fired, and then being taken to Spain by her two best friends, and then her two best friends became 'best buds' with her dad whilst the girls (including Mandy) went out for cocktails.

Alicia had thought that to be the biggest surprise, but it was clear there was more in store for her.

Everyone was laughing in the Hugo household, Carmen and Mandy were laughing at George in the kitchen, Alex and Lily giggling while they took pictures of Alicia's baby pictures that her father was happily showing them. Alicia didn't even have to be involved in the laughter to be happy.

If any, she had everyone in these four walls. She didn't need anything else.

But, there was always the voice in the back of her head that told her someone was missing. The someone who she had lost years of friendship with, the boy who had braided her hair before they'd set off on track, the boy who at a time had been her only friend.

A friend who had always been more than a friend to her. But, there was always the fear that held her back. That fear had never really mattered because Carlos and Alicia lost their friendship one day anyway, Alicia didn't have to fear the rejection but instead she raged over his inability to defend her over the crash he had caused.

Alicia would, probably, always blame Carlos for the crash. But, she'd always blame herself for her pettiness that led to the end of their friendship.

She wished she'd just talked with him, instead of storming off and refusing to speak to him. Alicia wished she'd just asked him why instead of never giving him the opportunity to talk.

Again, it wouldn't matter anymore. Alicia had missed out on talking again. She had quite the habit of that.

"Alicia! Can you get the door?" Mateo asked before he continued giggling with Alex like two school girls.

Alicia had been far too focused on the picture of her hung in the corridor to notice there had been a knock on the door. It had been at her favorite karting track, only because she always beat Carlos and would stand on the top step. He was stood right beside her, smiling despite her victory.

Subconsciously, she let a frown fall on her face. Life had been much easier those days. Alicia's biggest weekend issues would be how could she make her kart faster or if she'd ever actually make it to formula one, or if Carlos would ever work up the courage to kiss her! But, now, Alicia didn't have a car to worry about, she didn't even have a career to worry about.

And she'd spend her weekends declining comments to gossip magazines or being a guest on the news.

Wasn't life much easier when we were young? She supposed, finally stepping away from the picture and towards the front door.

She opened it immediately, thinking it would just be a package that Mandy had ordered or a dog toy Alicia had forgotten she'd bought. But, the package came in the form of a Carlos Sainz.

Which, she was sure Waffle would enjoy barking at but couldn't exactly tear apart.

"Who is it?" The corners of Carlos' lips tugged upwards at the sound of Mateo's voice. He had begun to open his mouth but Alicia beat him to an answer.

"The neighbor. He thought we had his... spaghetti bowl." Alicia had never been skilled in lying to her father, but this had to be a new low.

"Spaghetti bowl?" Mateo asked again, really making sure his daughter was telling the truth.

Alicia nodded her head, as if her dad could see, "Yes, Papa, go back to showing Alex and Lily my beautiful pictures!"

He muttered something but Alicia stepped outside the house and closed the door, her eyes widened when she realized she was a little too close to Carlos, but the Ferrari driver didn't seem to be taking a step back and Alicia didn't have any more room to take a step back. So, their noses nearly touched when he looked down to talk to her.

"Hola." He smiled, as if turning up on Alicia's doorstep was the most normal thing on earth.

"Uh, Hi? What are you doing here?"

Carlos shrugged, "I wanted to check up on you. You were only responding to the group-chat and not your private messages. Alex told me you were here, so I thought why not come round. It was a short journey."

It was at least an hour drive to Carlos' house from Alicia's.

"A short journey?" She snorted, shaking her head a little. "You didn't need to come over and check up on me Carlos, I'm fine. I'm not worth an hour drive, anyway."

He frowned, "Alicia, I would drive hours just know if you're okay. And even if you say you are, I don't believe you. No-one loses a job, they deserve, and are expected to be fine."

"I'm fine." Alicia reiterated.

All Carlos had to do was tilt his head to the side to cause Alicia to roll her eyes. He didn't believe her. And was probably correct in doing so.

Alicia was not fine. She didn't really know what she was, because whatever she was feeling was pushed aside so that she didn't have to think about the fact she had been dropped, fired, sacked - however you want to phrase it! - she didn't think about it, so she didn't know how she felt.

She liked to think people didn't notice, but everyone she had surrounded herself with the past few days knew. Not because it was obvious but because they knew her too well.

Alicia often forgot how well Carlos could see past her lies.

But he also knew she wouldn't just say it outright, he'd have to win her over into opening up.

And Carlos Sainz being the man that he is, knew exactly how to win Alicia over.

carlossainz55 via instagram stories:

view replies!

userone:
is this not where
you and alicia used
to kart

usertwo:
tell me if alicia
is alive
f1 twitter is
eating me ALIVE
carlos.

alex_albon:
looks a bit stormy

carlossainz55:
i'll stay dry mate 👍🏻

landonorris:
this is why you canceled
golf?
to kart with five year olds??

carlossainz55:
there are no five years old there
i rented the place out
to practice

smoothoperator via instagram stories:

view replies!

landonowins:
fraternizing with the enemy?!,!?!

smoothoperator:
your enemy
not my enemy
alicia's my best friend

landonowins:
what the fuck
blink twice and i'll
bring you home carlos

smoothoperator:
😐

alexthegoat:
this isn't giving
the spaghetti bowl back to
the neighbor

smoothoperator:
she is eating spaghetti
if that makes you feel better

alexthegoat:
it warms my heart carlos

prlord:
this has really knocked my
cotton socks off

smoothoperator:
good for you mate!

"Even fifteen years later, you still can't beat me." Alicia smiled, cutting her meatball into pieces, "I hope you didn't just let me win because that would really ruin my ego."

"When have I ever let you win?" The question was answered in full honesty, the pair had never just let the other win. They always raced each other, not to prove one was better than the other but to have a real competition and know what their future would be like.

"Plus you try and run me off track anyway." Carlos muttered, smiling as Alicia's eyes widened dramatically.

"If you are not careful, Sainz, this spaghetti will be all over you."

Carlos laughed loudly, "You're one to talk, you've got the sauce everywhere." This had been a reoccurring thing for Alicia when they came to eat at the karting track.

Alicia always chose the spaghetti, Carlos always choosing the carbonara and Alicia would always get it over her clothes, her face and the table - it wasn't her fault the sauce was too runny! (It didn't matter how runny it actually was, it was far too delicious for Alicia not to order every-time)

Carlos rolled his eyes, even if the adoration was clear in them, and stood up slightly and wiped the sauce, that she had narrowly missed, with his own thumb.

"How do you manage this every-time, angel?" He asked with a humorous laugh, while Alicia felt as though she had lost every ability to speak.

She couldn't remember the last time she had been so close to Carlos. Or the last time his scent of cinnamon and hints of Tom Ford settled within her.

Alicia gulped. She had to come back from this, considering the smallest of actions had probably made her cheeks burn bright red.

"You have some pasta on your shirt." She mumbled, Carlos furrowed his eyebrows at the volume but looked down nonetheless.

He now realized why she had mumbled, it had only been in an attempt to cover her laughter at her terrible, terrible prank.

"Made you look!" She laughed loudly.

Carlos narrowed his eyes, denying that smile that so wanted to creep up onto his face.

"I let you win in karting, and this is how you repay me?"

Alicia's laughter ceased immediately, "You did not let me win, I won fair and square. As I always do, thank you very much."

"One more round can't hurt then."

liked by: smoothoperator, alexthegoat, dogimpersonator, prlord and 46 others.

hug0boss: when i win 12/15 of the karting rounds but he still tries to say he "let me win"

view all 32 comments.

landonowins: why are you saying "him" as if we don't all know who you were with
hug0boss: someone sounds jelly 🙁
hug0boss: drink your milk and get over it

prlord: that's 80%
hug0boss: what exactly do you want me to do with this statistic
prlord: be happy

alexthegoat: you remind me a lot of a whale, always squeaking
hug0boss: BLOCKED.
hug0boss: also just celebrate my achievements for ONCE

nadiacanswim: i'm ignoring this but i'm coming to spain tonight and going swimming with you tomoz
hug0boss: it'll have to be the day after i'm a busy and booked lady 😉

prlord: what are you doing tomorrow @hug0boss
alexthegoat: what are you doing tomorrow @hug0boss
hug0boss: none of your beeswax

smoothoperator: i let you win every-time
hug0boss: sure...!
smoothoperator: you hit me off before the line like six times
hug0boss: learnt from the best! 🫡

alexthegoat: THE CHEEK.
prlord: they're going to break up again (platonically just so lando doesn't get confused)

alexthegoat: logan said he wants to follow your account
hug0boss: tell him to bury himself like a mole

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PRICK:
can we talk?

ALICIA:
oh boy

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
they're so not going to have a happy ending
i hope you know this and give yourself sufficient time to let that sink in

BUT at least you'll get some time with them...!