-𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀-

Charles and I had been avoiding each other. Well he avoided me. I don't really have a filter all the time. The time I told him I wasn't a fan of his aggressive mistakes was one of those times. It was testing time and the car was ready. I was wearing a pair of white jeans with a Ferrari polo. My red hair in a ponytail and my sunglasses in my hair. I walked around the paddock to the hospitality area of Ferrari. I dropped off my bag and went to the garage. I talked with the mechanics and some other important people before finding my spot on the pit wall. I looked at all the screens so I knew where to look at. Charles sat down next to me so we could talk through the plan of his first drive of the 3 testing days. I talked him through the things he should focus on with this drive and then I heard a loud whistle behind me. My muscles tensed as I recognized the sound. Charles frowned at my reaction to the whistle. I squinted my eyes closed and crossed myself while making a silent prayer only my mouth moving. I turned around and saw my father. He was wearing his usual tight and expensive suit combined with his shiny leather shoes and jewelry.

"Dellaphina! Ma fille!"

"Papa..."

I made my way towards him meeting him half were the way on the pit lane. He opened his arms to hug me but instead I flinched and took half a step back.

"Don't slip your act Dellaphina!"

"Sorry father..."

I told him I had to go back to work and I would see him later but he quickly said he wouldn't be here long. He was apparently here for a meeting of sponsoring McLaren and then he would be flying home again. I was relieved to hear that. I went back to the pit wall and Charles looked at me a little bit suspicious.

"You flinched. When your dad tried to hug me."

"No... I didn't..."

"You did I saw it. You crossed yourself and said a silent prayer before going to him."

"I'm a Christian can I say my prayers please?!"

He lifted his hands like he was just asking me harmless questions. Maybe for normal people he was but I don't let people inside anymore. Not after the last boy my father forced me to be with. I refocused myself and after a while we were finally done. I had 2 more hours before Charles would go out on track. I heard two screams behind me and then I spotted the brunette and blonde who I called my best friends but they actually don't know me that well. I've known them for 10 years now but well... they're worrying about theirselves all the time and I kind of liked it... it meant I didn't have to open up to them. We talked for a while and Charles walked past and they started talking and flirting with him. Gross.

"Della how old are you even?"

He suddenly asked me that question and I looked up from my phone to meet his blue eyes. Celine answered that question for me.

"She's 24."

"I'm 25."

Celine and Alicia turned their heads towards me and frowned as they saw my serious expression.

"We missed your birthday?"

"Uhm... yeah."

I smiled softly at their faces. They both looked a little sad at me. They never remember my birthday. I was used to it.

"2nd of February."

"Yes we know... I guess we were just to busy to realize that. We should eat dinner at that new hotspot in town here! I heard it's perfect for instagram pictures."

Together they rambled about it being the perfect place for pictures for their instagram.

"I've to get back to work... see you guys later."

They didn't hear me so I sighed softly and walked past Charles to walk into the garage. I felt his eyes burn into my back and I went up to my office on the second floor.

Testing went alright today. It was the first day so we had to get used to everything. It was 22 o'clock and I was still in my office. I had my glasses on and a single desk light lid the room a little bit. I opened a file drawer and searched through them as I heard a knock on my door and then it opened revealing Charles.

"Are you ready to go? We want to lock the hospitality for the night."

"I need a little longer. You can leave I'll lock everything up."

"Don't you think it's time to go back? It's 22 o'clock and we've to be here by 9 tomorrow. You wanted to celebrate your birthday with your friends right?"

"They went out to celebrate without me."

I smiled gently at him before looking back to the files.

"Della?"

"Yes..."

"Those aren't friends."

"They are to me..."

"Then your view of friends is really fucked up."

"It's not if your in my shoes."

"Then tell me how are your shoes?"

"Too small for your feet."

"You know that's not what I meant."

"I don't open up to people Charles. Not even to friends. That's all you will ever get."

He gave me a nod and left me alone. I dropped myself on my chair and rubbed my cheeks a little. I felt frustrated. I didn't know why but I felt the need to scream all of my thoughts and problems at someone. Just let it go. Maybe I should head back to the hotel and just go to the hotel pool to take a swim. I quickly packed up my stuff and ran to the door as Charles was the last to leave. All the other people already leaving the paddock gates. He locked the door behind me as we walked in silence.

"What made you change your mind on leaving?"

"I need to clear my head with a good swim I guess..."

"Can I join? I wanted to go swim as well but it's more fun to do it together."

"Uhm... yeah... sure."

He smiled at me and I smiled back at him softly. I climbed into the car with some other team members as we drove back to the hotel. I watched my instagram stories. I stopped at a story form F1.

F1 tagged you in a story

At least they didn't pick an ugly picture I guess. My followers had increased by 30.000 already and I was kind of shocked about that.

(1104 words)