Chapter IX. Happiness Is A Butterfly

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Despite her best friend being the sister of a football player, Vivienne has always considered herself more of a motorsports girlie particularly Formula One.

Maybe it's because her father used to be a racer or the fact that both her brothers Charles and Arthur are drivers for this elite sports or maybe its because while growing up she had lived and breathed for the stench of gasoline clinging to her clothes, the roars of a V10 echoing in her ears, the burning smell of tires screeching against the race track and the thrill of sitting behind a car and becoming one with it.

Before music, songwriting and performing in front of million of people became her everything, Formula One and karting used to be her everything.

In fact, when she was younger she wanted to be a Formula One driver, and just like her father, godfather and brother's dream to drive for Ferrari, Vivienne had also dreamed of driving for Ferrari. Even when tragedies hit her with the death of Jules, her godfather and then her father in 2017, she had prevailed. But then her crash had taken place in 2018, the very crash that had left her at the mercy of crutches and plasters, the very crash that had destroyed her dream of becoming the first female F1 driver since 1970s.

Life has a weird way of working things out for you. In 2019, Vivienne had lost all hope and her dreams had been reduced to nothing but then she'd found an old notebook and had started writing all her hurt in her while also going through physical therapy.

And that's when she found her next passion; to write, to sing, to perform.

"BOO!"

Vivienne's train of thoughts is broken when Pedri suddenly screams straight in her ear, making her jump in her place as an extremely loud and surprised shriek leaves her mouth.

"Pedri, what the fuck!" She exclaims with wide eyes while putting a hand on her chest where she can feel her rapidly beating heart.

In response, he just chuckles mischievously which makes Vivienne roll her eyes at his childishness. One would think that being a pro-athlete would make someone strict and serious but for Pedri it's the opposite because whenever Vivienne sees him (and she has been seeing him a lot these days), he's always in a happy go lucky mood. The most she has seen of his anger was on the pitch today.

Seeing Vivienne's sulky expression and the pout on her face, Pedri consoles her with fake sympathy, "Aww," He coos, "Were you really startled that much?"

Instead of responding to his teasing, Vivienne hits him on the chest lightly with her back of her hand.

"Mi vida, that hurt!" He exclaims dramatically in faux pain and clutches his chest as if Vivienne has just impaled him with a sword.

"You'll live." Vivienne mutters.

Suddenly, without any warning, Pedri's leaning towards her till his cheek is hovering right above her lips.

At his sudden close proximity, Vivienne flushes a bright red and jerks back as she stutters out, "W-what are you doing?"

"Waiting for my cheek kiss." He replies casually.

"Why would I give you a kiss on the cheek?!" She asks aghast.

A frown comes across Pedri's face as he leans back so that he can look Vivienne straight in the eyes.

"Isn't that the French way of greeting? To give kisses on the cheeks." He asks with a frown. "I was looking forward to it."

She deadpans at his answer because of course what else could she have expected from this man child.

"I'm Monagasqué."

And with that she starts to walk towards the back exit of the stadium that's exclusive to staff and players only. Pedri follows her but not before mumbling somethimg along the lines of Monagasqué is just expensive French. But other than that it's silent between them. Yet the silence only lasts so long because the moment they step outside in the parking area, both Vivienne and Pedri spot a few fans pointing their phones at their faces.

Pedri turns to Vivienne with a mischievous grin, one that means trouble and nothing else.

A warning like expression crosses Vivienne's face but before she can even get a word out, Pedri's opening his mouth to sing an awful and extremely offkey rendition of her hit song Please Please Please.

And not to hurt Pedri's feelings or anything but Vivienne is glad that he chose to be a footballer and not a singer because god forbid he does not possess the vocal cords of a singer.

Vivienne runs towards him with an embarrassed squeal as she tries to shut Pedri up by putting her hands on his mouth but every time she comes in close proximity, he dodges her and moves to the other side all while singing horribly.

Still his sloppy English and deafening vocals are so hilarious and pair them with the troublesome twinkle in his brown eyes, it's enough to bring a smile on her face.

"HEARTBREAK IS ONE THING," He shouts on the top of his lungs, "MY EGO'S ANOTHER!"

Vivienne lunges at him with a horrified laugh but he side-steps her easily and continues his karaoke.

"I'M THE ONE WHO SCORED A GOAL TODAY, MOTHERFUCKER!"

Vivienne snorts after hearing him alter the lyrics to fit today's events, "That's not even the right lyrics!"

But her words fall on deaf ears as Pedri continues to act like an opera singer.

Vivienne tries to clamp his mouth shut once again and this time she actually succeeds, even though it causes her to cling to Pedri's body. Even after her hand comes in contact with Pedri's mouth, he continues to sing in a muffled voice.

"Gotcha!" Vivienne says in triumph but her victory is short lived as Pedri's licks across her palm.

"Ew, ew, ew!" She mutters as she ferociously wipes her palm on Pedri's shirt.

The sounds of Pedri's boisterous laughter and Vivienne's groans of disgust echoes in the almost empty parking lot.

And just like that they're filled with a childlike excitement as they engage in this cat and mouse game all while laughter spews from Vivienne's lips and a dopey grin is ever present on Pedri's face as he teases her.

From her peripheral vision she can see the fans excitedly snapping photos of them and no doubt that tomorrow both of them would be seen in various gossip tabloids.

But in this moment, she can't seem to care that all of this is for show, that all of this is fake because right now it doesn't feel fake. It feels real.

After a long time, Vivienne Leclerc feels free.

Vivienne Leclerc feels happy and that's all that matters in the end.