dinner

"Hi Bette." Alfie said weakly.

This was the part she had been dreading.

Bette gave her cousin a very fake smile, "Alfie, wonderful to see you again." she turned to George, and her expression changed, into something more welcoming. "George. How are you?"

George gave her a half hearted smile. "Good thanks. You?"

"Ugh. I've had an earfull of it from Dad since Mum left. It's been non stop."

Alfie tried to hold her tougne, knowing that if she said something even mildly sarcastic, Bette would have her burned at the stake.

Thankfully, Diana walked back into the room at that precise moment."Drinks are coming around now. Oh, hello Bette dear, sorry, you weren't down when we asked about drinks. I suppose you'll have to go ask Henry for one. Do you mind if I have a quick word with my daughter?" she said rather quickly, so Bette couldn't inttupt.

"Of course Aunt Diana."

"Just Diana will do love."

Bette glared at the back of Diana's head as she went into the kitchen. Diana sat back down on the sofa, and Alfie and George did the same. Henry came in to five George and Alfie their drinks, before going back out to get his, Marvin's and Diana's."There you go. Bar maid hands." he teased.

Bette seemed to be struggling in the Kitchen; her frustratated sighes could be heard from the living room. Diana. rolled her eyes, and went to stand up, but Alfie placed a hand on her mother's shoulder. "Let's do rounds. I'll go."

Diana gave her daughter a thankful look before sitting back down. Alfie walked into the kitchen, and watched Bette struggle for a while. The wine she wanted was right at the top of the cupboard. It was rather amusing.

"Need some help?"

"No"

Alfie held up her hands in defence, and continued to watch her cousin struggle. "You know, I don't think someone of our height will be able to reach that."

"Yes thank you Alfie. That's incredibly helpful."

"Well you said you didn't want it."

Bette turned to glare at her. "George is tall. Go get him to get the bottle."

Alfie returned the glare. "No. He's not running around for you like a servant. I'm sure if you asked nicely him like a human being he'd gladly help."

"Would you cut the sarcastic act? Neither of us want to be here. I don't understand why you brought him."

Alfie raised an eyebrow at the sudden outburst. "He, is my best friend. Practically family."

"Oh please. He's only still around because he hasn't fucked you yet."

Alfie glared at her cousin. "Excuse you?"

Bette sighed and stopped reaching for the wine, turning to her cousin. "Look, men are simple. You can't have a man for a friend without them having thought about you like that at least once. Trust me, he's been around 10 years or something, so he's probably thought about sleeping with you a minimum of three times. "

Alfie started at Bette. She took the chair from the small dining table and pushed it towards her cousin,"Stand on that. Might want to take your heels off. Wouldn't want you falling now would we." she said before storming off.

She walked into the living room and faced her mother. "Mum can I have a word?"

Diana saw how angry her daughter looked and stood up. George went to stand as well, but Alfie gave him a look that said not now. He reluctantly sat down, and Alfie and Diana walked up the stairs into the guest room. Diana closed the door so Alfie wouldn't be heard and turn to her. "What did she do?"

"She told me that I couldn't have a guy friend, meaning George, without them thinking about... sleeping with me." Alfie said, attempting not to rant too much.

Alfie could see her mother doing the same. Diana rubbed her daughters forearm."Leave earlier than us. We're staying an extra night down here anyways, so Marvin won't miss your company as much."

Alfie held the bridge of her nose, breathing heavily. This was exactly why she'd dreaded seeing Bette. Even since they were kids, she always been trying to make Alfie feel awful about racing. She would alway criticise her driving, like even she knew what an accelerator pedal was.

Alfie knew that Bette's opinion meant nothing to the Team Principles and sponsors, but to her, it meant a lot. Her own cousin tearing her down, it took a toll on her when she was younger.

Diana held her daughters hand and took her downstairs, into the living room. Whilst they were gone, the food had been set up by Henry, and the rest of the family were sitting at the dining table.

Marvin had settled himself on one of the ends, with Henry next to him. To his left, George sat by an empty space, left for Alfie. Diana sat down at the other end of the table, with Bette on her right.

Alfie took a breath before sitting down. She felt George hook his foot around hers, as a silent gesture to make sure she was okay. She turned to him and smiled, which he returned.

After everyone had started eating, Marvin turned to George. "So what does the rest of the season look like for you?"

George let put a breath. "Well, with the car I've got not much."

Alfie nudged his side. "Hey, you've been quite close to some good results."

"That's being modest. You're fighting for what P7? I'm stuck up in 15th."

Bette scoffed slightly from the opposite side of the table. "P7? Alf you've done way more than a P7 before. Wins and all"

Alfie turned to Bette and held her galss up to her lips. "Yes well, my Alfa isn't up for wins. Its a mid-feild car."

Bette shrugged. "Well, like you said, George has had some good results, in a worse car than yours. No offence." she said turning to George, giving him a sickly smile.

Alfie placed her glass down with more force than usual and locked eyes with her mother. Diana turned to Henry who coughed, "Well, George how's your Dad ? And Mum?" he said swiftly changing the subject.

George turned to Henry, "Yeah, all good. They just can't wait until they can come to a Grand Prix again."

"Us too, we can't wait to see you lot race in person."

Bette spoke up again. "Yeah, maybe if we were there we could figure out why Alf isn't performing properly."

Alfie tried not looking at Bette. She knew her cousin was trying to get a reaction out of her, and was trying her hardest to not amuse her.

George, who Marvin had hooked into a conversation about the Championship Title, placed a hand on her thigh, calming her slightly.

Bette had noticed this small gesture and caught Alfie's eye. She looked from George's hand to Alfie and gave her a look.

Alfie suddenly became aware of how it must look, and shifted slightly, so George's hand fell back down to his side. He frowned, but didn't turn to face her, as Marvin was deep in the conversation.

Alfie tried to focus on her dinner, but could practically feel Bette smirking on the other side of the table.

The moment Alfie got into George's car, she let out a deap breath. George got into the drivers seat, and didn't speks to Alfie until they were far away from the street. "Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah, I just, want to go."

"Don't let her get into your head, she doesn't know what she's talking about-"

"George I don't want to talk about it can we please just go home?" Alfie said, rather harshly.

George didn't say anything. He continued to drive, until he found a space to park. He turned on his hazards, and turn the car into a space.

"George what-"

"You do this everytime you see her. You let her get into your head, and then it affects your racing. I've seen it. What did she say to you?"

Alfie ran a hand through her hair. She couldn't tell him what Bette had said, after all, it was about him.

"Alfie."

"It doesn't matter George, can you just start the car?"

George stared at her. "No, I can't just start the car Alf. Look I know how this goes. She says something, you overthink it, and then you don't perform well in the race. It's the same cycle. If you would just tell me-"

"Well maybe I don't want to tell you? I don't have to tell you everything that goes on in my life do I? Would you just leave it?"

George started at her. Alfie had never been this defencive before.

Alfie sighed, realising how harsh that had sounded, "George I'm. sorry I just-"

"Don't. Let's just go home."

They didn't speak the rest of the journey.

I hate this

anyways

Bette = no like