HOME

Alfie was woken up by the buzzing of her phone.

It had been a couple of months since she had taken up residence at the Russell home.

Her parents had been stuck in Quantico. Luckily, they had been able to explain their situation to the hotel manager, who was let them rent their room out for the length of their stay.

Alfie looked at the contact name on the phone.

MOTHER DEAREST❤️

Alfie's eyes widened and she immediately answered the call. "Mum? What's wrong?"

"Don't worry, we're all fine. More than fine actually."

Alfie frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Your father and I just got to an airport and will be boarding a plane to Britain soon."

Alfie jumped out of bed. "Are you serious?"

She could here her mum laughing on the other end of the phone. "Deadly."

Alfie squealed, completely forgetting that her room was directly opposite George's and began to jump around. "You're coming home! You're really coming home!"

"Yes we are! Alright sweetie we have to go, but I will call you as soon as we land. I love you."

"I love you too." her mum ended the call and Alfie began to jump up and down.

Her parents were really coming home.

Suddenly, George burst into the room, his hair wavy and tousled, and only his shorts on.

"Alf what's wrong?"

"My parents are coming home! My parents are coming back!" she whisper shouted, in hopes that she didn't wake anyone else.

George's face broke out into a large smile. "Alfie that's great!"

The girl ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. George snaked his arms around her waist, and buried his face in her hair.

It was then she realized that he was awake at two o'clock in the morning. "Oh god George, I'm sorry I woke you."

She could feel George shake his head slightly, "No, no don't apologize, you have every right to be excited."

She smiled and hugged him tighter. George lifted her up and spun her around slightly, gaining a quiet laugh from the brunette.

What they didn't know was that Cara had woken up to get a glass of water, and on passing Alfie's room, she paused and looked at her brother and friend.

She smirked slightly at the sight of her brother chuckling as he spun his best friend around. Of course, Cara had no idea what they were so happy about, but she didn't care. It made them both smile.

Diana and her husband Henry had landed a week ago. The two had gone for Covid tests when they landed, so that Alfie could come back home as soon as possible.

Alfie had had a test to, to ensure she wouldn't have to self isolate with the Russell's, resulting in a permanent stay.

Alfie had had her test results back two days ago, and she was waiting for the call from her parents to see whether they were Covid free.

Her and George were sat on the sofa, watching TV, when her phone rang. The pair shot up and George immediately muted the TV and crouched down in front of Alfie.

"Mum?"

"You can come home."

Alfie's smile was the biggest it had ever been. "Really?"

"Really!" After a short conversation, Alfie hung up and placed her phone in the desk.

"So?" George asked.

Alfie grinned. "I can go home."

George stood up and grabbed Alfie's waist and pulled her into a hug.

"You know from that reaction people would think you couldn't wait to get rid of me." Alfie teased.

She could feel George's chest vibrate as he laughed. "I'm trying to have a serious moment with you and you have to make a sarcastic comment didn't you?"

Alfie shrugged "Not my fault, you were the one who showed me Lost, and Sawyer imbedded himself in my personality."

She felt George laugh again. It was only then that Alfie realized that she wouldn't be seeing George everyday again.

"I'll miss you." She muttered into his chest.

"I'll miss you too Alf."

Allison, Steve, Cara and George were all stood outside of the house, as Alfie pushed her suitcases into the back of her car. When she closed the boot, she walked back up to them. She gave Allison and Steve hugs, thanking them for letting her stay with them.

She turned then to Cara. She hugged her tight. Cara had always been like a sister to Alfie, and it was going to be unusual to go from seeing her everyday, to not seeing her at all.

Then finally, she turned to George. He extended his arms. "Come here you."

Alfie crashed into him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. George grabbed her waist and pulled her close to him.

Alfie could feel herself getting a bit emotional, something she hated, and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

"I'm going to miss you Grattan."

"I'll miss you too Russell."

The two hugged for what seemed like an eternity. George pressed a small kiss to the top of her head.

Alfie finally pulled away after giving him on last squeeze. She smiled at the family and then walked towards the car. She got in and started it up. Before she drove off, she looked out of the window and waved at everyone.

They waved back, and Alfie drove away.

George watched her as she drove down the street, and around the corner.

He took a deep breath. He knew it was going to be hard not seeing his best friend everyday, after the months they had spent together in the house.

Allison walked up to her son and rubbed his back slightly. George turned around and hugged his mum. "Thank you for letting her stay."

Allison smiled. "Of course, she's family."

George smiled. He pulled away from the hug and looked down the street one more time, before the four walked back into the house.

The first thing Alfie did when she walked into the house was pull her parents into a massive hug.

All three were crying, and they sank to the floor, sobbing, clutching onto each other tightly, afraid that if they let go, they might loose each other again.

Alfie was in the middle, her father in her left side, her mother on the right, as she sobbed uncontrollably into her father's jumper.

"I missed y-you so mu-much." She managed to let the words escape her mouth.

Henry rubbed his daughter's back. "We missed you too."

FOUR DAYS LATER...

It had taken Alfie a while to convince Lando, Dakota and May (Alfie's race engineer) that nothing had happened between the two whilst she was living with him.

All three seemed to think it was impossible for them to live in the same house for months, and not even share a kiss.

Alfie didn't understand why they thought this, as her and George were only friends, but she convinced them non the less that nothing had happened, much to their dismay.

One Saturday morning, Alfie took the post from the door and started to file through the envelopes

Mr. Grattan

Mr. Grattan

Mrs. Jones-Grattan

Mr. Grattan

And then...

Ms. A Grattan.

Alfie frowned then looked in the top right corner of the envelope.

RENAULT FORMULA ONE

Alfie's breath hitched in her throat. She walked straight into the kitchen and placed her parent's mail onto the island. She sat on on of the stools and slowly opened the letter.

Dear Ms. A Grattan,

I would like to congratulate you on your performance last season, you drove exceptionally well.

Daniel has decided that after this year, he will no longer be working with us here at Renault, which at the moment is private information, so we would ask you to keep it to yourself until Daniel is ready to make an announcement. Therefore we have a seat available.

I am writing to you to offer you the seat at out team. I would like to give you a ring about this decision on the 23thrd of April, so that I can discuss this with you in more detail.

I am aware your contract with Alfa Romeo ends this season also, so if you should decide to move, our doors are open to you.

I hope you are well, and I will be speaking to you soon.

Au revior,
Cryil Abiteboul
CEO Renault Formula One Team

Alfie dropped the letter.

She was being offered at seat at Renault.

Renault who, last year, had come fifth in the constructors championship.

"Oh my god."

INTRODUCING....

DIANA JONES-GRATTAN
EMMA THOMPSON

HENRY GRATTAN
GARY OLDMAN