1 step forward... 3 steps back

Hungary.

George had been dreading this weekend... something he never did. But of course... he knew the exact reason he was slightly nervous.

He hadn't spoken to Alfie after their interaction at the airport, as he spent the week overhinking his feelings, trying to decipher why he felt weird around his best friend.

Throughout their childhood, George and Alfie spent almost everyday together. They experienced so many things as a pair, their first karting championship, first F3 race, and even their first kiss.

They were 16 at the time, Alfie was fed up of all her other friends having boyfriends, and experiencing their first kisses, and being romantic. George too had been one of the only boys in their year at school to not have a first kiss. One day, Allison and Diana took the pair to a local beach for the day, and whilst the two adults where tanning and gossiping about their work, George and Alfie had gone exploring in a cave.

They had sat watching the waves and chatting about F1 for a while until their topic of conversation turned to relationships. It had been George who had suggested that the two of them have their first kiss together, to get it out of the way.

It was quick, awkward, and they both swore to never do it again.

But now, George couldn't even hold her hand without getting an unfamiliar sensation in his chest. He thought he would eventually go mad from the feeling.

It didn't help Alfie had posted a picture on Instagram two days ago, in which she was posing infront of a large cherry blossom tree, in a dress which hugged her curves perfectly, her confidence shining through the phone. She had looked very attractive.

'But this is stupid. She's my best friend.' he told himself. Multiple times.

He'd managed to push his thoughts aside before the weekend, and slept through his flight to Hungary, refusing to let his thoughts consume him before a big race. On the Friday, He walked into the paddock, ready for first practise adorned in his Williams Team kit, hair blowing slightly in the wind. Before he was able to reach the Williams garage, he heard voices coming from ahead of him, and as he drew closer saw Kota and Alfie sitting down on a patch of grass laughing.

George examined Alfie as he approached them, her Alfa Romeo shirt falling just across her thighs, hair perfectly done up in a half up half down style, keeping most of it out of her face. Hazel eyes filled with happiness as she double over from laughter, nose scrunched up.

Great.

Before he could escape into the saftey of his garage, Alfie spotted him as she recovered from her fit of laughter. "Hey George!"

George turned around and was met with the smiling face of his best friend. "Hey Alf."

Kota gave George a wave as a means of greeting, then checked her phone. "I'd love to stay and chat but the boss man is calling." She said referring to Daniel. "He's probably lost his gloves again. Idiot." She gave Alfie one last hug before retreating back towards the Renault garage.

Alfie jogged up to George who smiled. There was no point in him dwelling on these feelings, they would go away soon enough.

Alfie held her arms out." What I don't talk to you for a whole week and I don't even get a hug?" she teased.

George rolled his eyes at the Grattan girl before pulling her into a hug. "Oh shut up Alf." Alfie poked his side and wrapped her arms around his waist, sighing into his chest.

George frowned at the small gesture, pushing Alfie off him to look at her, "Hey what's up?"

Alfie shrugged "Nothing. Just Fred stuff." She said dismissively. When George gave her a skeptical look, she continued. "He's just banging on about Antonio, honestly mate I'm fine."

George knew once Alfie said 'she was fine', then that was the end of the conversation. He threw an arm round her shoulder and began to drag her towards the track. "Come on, me and you are going to walk the curcuit."

Alfie groaned but didn't protest as George pulled her towards the track entrance. They stepped out onto the warm tarmac, and began to walk. Alfie had her head pressed up against George's side as they walked, her eyes scanning the track wincing slightly from the sunlight. George noticed and he dove into his pocket, retrieving a pair of sunglasses and offered them to her. Alfie took the glasses and muttered a small 'thanks' before sliding them onto her face.

To say they were too big was a understatement. The second she removed her hand, the sunglasses slipped from the bridge of her nose down to the end. George pushed them up slightly and Alfie turned her head towards him and smiled.

That damn smile.

She looked back at the track, scanning the tarmac and memerising the best racing lines. George couldn't help but stare as she marvelled at the track, and became lost again in those unfamiliar feelings.

It seemed like he'd take one step forward, and three steps back.

Alfie began to walk slightly quicker, and George narrowed his eyes slightly, "What are you doing Grattan?"

Alfie had a teasing smile on her face. "Nothing." she said in mock innocence. She spead up more, and was now a couple of steps in front of her best friend.

George raised his eyebrows. "Oh ok. So we're doing this now huh?" He spead up himself, and Alfie started a slow jog.

George copied her every move as she continued to move quicker. It was at the point where the two were just one step away from running, and Alfie turned to George. "Race you to the first corner?"

George laughed but nodded. "Sure."

"Great ok. One two- GO!"

"Alfie no!"

Alfie has began to sprint towards the first corner, leaving George behind her. George began to sprint towards her, but he knew he wouldn't catch her, he'd left it too late. Instead of attempting to catch up, he watched her run, her hair flying back behind her, shoes almost flying across the tarmac. She looked so happy. Away from all the media, just running away.

Alfie reached the first corner and fell down onto the soft grass behind the curb. George jogged towards her and stood over her, chuckling at her exhausted figure.

"Note to self, don't run down that straight." she muttered, still attempting to catch her breath.

George crouched down beside her and took the sunglasses off her face. Alfie squinted, but realised George was blocking the sun from her face, and relaxed it. She turned her head to the left slightly to look at George and smiled.

There he was again. Completely captivated in her presence. All she did was smile.

George held his hand out to her. "Come on. We've got a track to walk."

After a day of work, Alfie was laying on her hotel bed, TV mindlessly playing in the backround, when there were rapid knocks on her door. Confused, Alfie walked up to the door and opened it, revealing Dakota.

Her makeup was ruined, mascara running down her face, eyes red and puffy. "I blame you for every decision I make."

Alfie was confused, "Kota what-"

"I told Lando."

Alfie looked at her friend sympathetically. "Come on." she gestured for Kota to come into the room, and the Ricciardo girl walked in, settling on the small sofa. Alfie shut the foot behind her and walked over to her friend, rubbing her shoulders.

"I don't know why I did it. It just slipped out. He- he sort of froze and told me he didn't like me like that, walked away." Kota sniffed slightly, and leaned her head against Alfie's shoulder.

"Kota I am so sorry-"

"It's not you're fault. It's mine. I was stupid enough to think he actually meant everything he said."

"We all thought he was... I mean he..." Alfie didn't quite know what to say. Lando and Dakota were inseparable, they were meant to be together. It made so much sense, and the constant flirting indicated to her that Lando would have been happy to hear his best friend liked him. But perhaps that's why he freaked.

"Can we just watch sad rom come we find on Netflix." Kota asked, sighing into Alfie's shoulder.

"Ofcourse. Come on, I'll get you some chocolate."

Time to be a best friend.

soooooooo

how we feeling?