Chapter 7: 7. Distracted
LARA'S POV
"That guy could be good for you." my mother said in the last couple of weeks "Just look at how he looked at you in the interview." grandma continued "I'm with them Lara, and I already told you, the sexual tension between the two of you…" my sister continued, and honestly, I'm a little tired of the subject "You three can leave the subject. Seriously, we're just friends."
Normally I liked to come to the grand prix from home because both my mother and my grandma could come, but this time, I began to doubt it was a good idea for them to come. Ever since they had seen the interview Cameron and I had done, they hadn't stopped telling me Cameron seems to have feelings for me and I don't know what else, and then there's Bianca, who tells them things that aren't true, feeding more of Cameron's fantasies my mother and grandmother have.
"As far as I know, friends don't look at each other the way he looks at you. That's the way your grandfather looked at me, and your father at your mother." Grandma said and I rolled my eyes "Well, I need to take you to the eye doctor because you're losing vision, seriously."
"Lariña, we seriously tell you. We're not doing it to annoy you." grandma said and even though I knew it, it didn't mean it wasn't going to bother me less "Someone bothering Lara other than me? Now that's strange."
The moment the three of them hear those words, they look behind my back, and at this moment I'm cursing inside my mind. Cameron has to come at the same place we are right now. It's true Cameron and I had spent a lot of time together so far this season, and I might have been a bit attracted to him, but lately he seemed to be appearing in my soup, and sometimes at inopportune moments like right now.
"Wow, that's why I haven't seen you all day, you're with more people than usual." He said with a big smile. "To what do I owe your presence, Edwards?" I asked irritated, and not exactly with him "Aren't you happy to see this beautiful face?" he asked with a big smile on his face "To see it, I would have had to turn around, and I haven't."
"Lariña, that's rude. We didn't teach you that." Beside me, Bianca was trying not to laugh, and my mother had the face she put every time she scolded me about something. In order for my mother to change that face, I decided it was better to turn around, thus leaving me in sight of a Cameron with a smile that hardly caught him on his face.
"I like it better that way. At least I can see those beautiful eyes of yours." he said, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes "Come sit with us boy, don't just stand there." My mom said, "Thank you very much, miss."
"Oh, since I married your father, nobody treated called me that." my mother said with a big smile on her face "Well, let me tell you, you could almost pass for being Lara's sister, if I'm honest." he replied, sweet hearting my mother "Gústame este rapaz para ti, Lariña (I like this guy for you, Lariña)" she said with a big smile on her face.
"Mom, please don't start." I growled, because now there wasn't going to be no one to prevent them from talking about it "Túa nai ten razón, vese un bo rapaz (Your mother is right, he seems a good guy)" Now Bianca really couldn't hold back her laughter and began to laugh loudly, causing the entire cafeteria to turn in our direction. Cameron looked like he didn't understand anything, and I was glad he didn't, because I didn't need him to use that against me.
"What are you saying?" Cameron asked, confused "We were saying you're…" my sister started, but I put my hand over her mouth before she could say anything else "Nothing, they weren't saying anything. She's Rita, my mother, and she's Carmela, my grandma."
"It's a pleasure to meet you ladies." Cameron said giving each one a kiss on the hand "Oh no, you can call me Rita." My mother replied with a big smile on her face, "And to me, Carmela." continued grandma "As you want girls. I've been wanting to meet you for a long time. Lara speaks wonders of you."
At this point I was kind of regretting spending time with Cameron, because it seemed like he was doing everything he could to win over my mother and grandmother, like he didn't have them in the first place.
The entire time we were in the cafeteria, Cameron continued to win over my mother, my grandmother, and Bianca. Since he arrived, I hadn't talked much, because I don't know what he was doing here to begin with.
"Well, we should go because qualifying starts in an hour. Nice to have met you ladies." replied Cameron "The pleasure is ours. We go to the hotel for a moment to get a couple of things."
"And I accompany them, I don't think it's necessary for them to get lost like two years ago." Bianca said "Bianca, I can go." I said "Don't worry, they don't need me at the moment and I'm sure you want to take a last look at the car, so I'll go." With that, the three left and I was going to pay when Cameron came forward, so I decide to start walking towards the circuit, which shouldn't be more than a quarter of an hour away. It doesn't take long for Cameron to catch up with me and for a while, we go in silence.
"Are you mad at me?" Cameron asked after a few minutes. "I'm a lot of things, except angry." I answered sincerely "Annoyed?" he asked again "How the hell did you know where to find us?"
"Lucky?" and that question was the one that confirmed it wasn't true "That question does nothing but confirm to me you knew where we were." I said and he put his hands up in the air "Okay, okay. Let's just say I know you always come to this cafeteria with your mother, your grandmother and Bianca."
"How?" I asked "Instagram." he simply replied, "Are you telling me you were looking at my Instagram?" I asked in disbelief "Can I?" he asked again, and I shook my head "What are you up to Cameron?"
"Why do I have to bring something up my sleeve?" he asked, but at least he wasn't upset that he said it. "Trying to win over my mother and grandmother? Looking at my Instagram? Doesn't that tell you something?"
"If I tell you, I'm completely sure you won't believe me." he replied, putting his hands in his pocket "What I don't believe is why you do all that. I highly doubt it's worse than that."
"I like spending time with you, more than maybe I should." he said, and I frowned, because I wasn't understanding what he was trying to say. "What are you talking about Cameron?" I asked confused "I'm attracted to you, okay? And if you accept, I would like to go on a date with you."
The moment those words leave his lips I stop dead in my tracks. A date? With Cameron? What the fuck was going on at this moment? "Lara, say something." he asked, and I looked at him trying to see if he was kidding or not "A date? With me?"
"Yes, with you." He replied "Why?" I inquired, because this was something I didn't expect "As I told you, I'm attracted to Lara, and all the time we've spent together this season makes me like more things about you, like the sparkle in your eyes when you talk about your father or your home. I would like to know you more, Lara."
"Since…since when are you attracted to me?" I asked trying to understand what's happening "Do you remember when I said in the interview, I teased you to get your attention? Well, it wasn't because I always saw you busy and stuff. It really was because I was attracted to you."
"The girl you were talking about…" I started, because right now I was having a hard time understanding what was going on. "It's you." confirmed "Why didn't you tell me before?" I asked and he shrugged. "You'd think it was another way to mess with you."
"Says who?" I asked half offended "No one, is what I suppose." He said like it was no big deal "Why are you telling me now?" I asked "Because the idea someone could win your heart terrifies me... I would like to at least try to win it..."
At this moment I wasn't understanding anything. Well, I did understand it, but it was a bit complicated to understand, or believe it at all. I don't know at this moment in my head everything is chaos.
"You don't have to answer me now, Lara. Think about it, and then tell me. Let's go to the circuit, I don't think you want to be late." We resumed the walk and when we got to the box, Cameron kissed me on the forehead and went to his box. I was able to see my mother and grandmother at the end of the garage, but I went to change and check the car.
Once qualifying started, I tried to focus on it, but from time to time, Cameron's words would come to my mind and I had a hard time getting my focus back, causing me to qualify third, behind Cameron and Amelia. The good thing I got out of this is Amelia had taken her first pole, which was great.
During the interviews, they asked us the questions we normally get, so it was easier for me to get more into my world. Once these were finished, I congratulated Amelia again and went to the box to change and go for a walk. I was about to leave the circuit, when Bianca caught up with me.
"Mom and grandma are waiting for you at the hotel." Bianca said once she reached my side. "Ok." I was about to start walking again when Bianca grabs my arm and turns me in her direction, some concern visible on her face.
"Lara, is everything alright?" she asked with a worried tone "Yeah, Bianca." I assured her "And with the car? It seemed like at times you had trouble keeping it on track." She asked again "Everything's okay with the car." I assured once again "So what happened out there?"
"Nothing happened." I said, "It's not what it seems. You had more speed this morning." she replied, and even though I know my sister is right, I wasn't going to tell her Cameron had asked me out, "You can't always get pole, Bianca."
"Are you sure everything is alright?" she asked once more "Yes, Bianca, all good. Can I go?" I asked tired of her interrogation "Sure." With that, Bianca released my arm, and I stepped out of the track. I started walking through the streets of Barcelona until I got to the beach, and sat on the sand, looking at nothing. The sun began to hide on the horizon when I notice how someone sits next to me. When I see its Elisabeth, I look to the horizon again.
"What did that brute Cam tell you?" she asked "Why was he supposed to tell me something?" I asked again. It was something that tended to annoy a lot of people, but as was said out there, the Galicians answered one question with another "Because I know him, and from what I know about you, today you would have reached second place at least. You were distracted."
"Who says so? You don't know me at all." I responded more abruptly than I intended "Personally? No, I don't know you at all. Of your career? I know everything." She replied, "Well, good for you."
"He told you he's attracted to you right?" Elisabeth asked and that made me turn slightly in her direction "Why do you say that?" I asked "Because it's the only thing that could distract you enough not to have your head on qualifying. Maybe he even had the nerve to ask you out on a date."
"How do you know all that?" I asked confused. "I've known Cameron my whole life, and once he gets an idea in his head, he does whatever it takes to achieve it. I guess that's why he has three world titles." she said with a shrug. "Drivers tend to be stubborn."
"I realized the moment I became Cameron's physio. But I'll tell you something, he's not kidding." She said turning to look at me "Why do you say it?" I asked now curiously "Since I've known Cameron, I've never seen him like this for anyone. Even while he was solving a problem at home, the times we talked, he asked for you."
"The trouble at home was the time your sister was murdered, right?" I asked and for a moment I thought she was surprised I knew it "I'm not really surprised you know, and that's one more thing that sets you apart from any girl he might meet."
"What?" I asked "He told you. He didn't tell anyone. What's more, he covered it up as a break from F1 so no one would know, and here you are, being one of the few people who knows what happened to his sister." She replied "Why did he tell me now? I mean, according to him, he has been attracted to me since I started in Formula 1."
"And he is, you could say, from before. He had been following your career for a couple of years, and when he found out you would be in F1 next year, he was happy and called his sister to tell her. She was a fan of yours, and she knew he was attracted to you. Cameron started teasing you just to get your attention."
"He said the same thing." I said, turning to look forward again, "Because I told him so. Cam doesn't realize those things in general. I mean, he knew he was attracted to you, but after all this time you spent together this season, he started to develop feelings he himself doesn't understand."
"He didn't say that." I whispered, "Because he doesn't want to risk telling you and then having it not be true." Elisabeth said, "What's all this about, Elisabeth?" I asked, trying to understand why he was here. "Cameron may seem like a womanizer and he doesn't give a damn in the world, but he's the complete opposite. He's never slept with too many women if that's what you're worried about, and he cares about everything that's going on around him, especially about you. He really cares about you, Lara, and I know you care too, or at least like Cameron."
"What are you talking about?" I asked again "The tension…." But before she could continue, I stopped her, because I'm pretty sure she was going to come out of her mouth right now. "You spend much time with Bianca."
"But it's the truth, and as much as you deny it, in the back of your mind, you know it." It could be there was tension between the two of us, not specifically sexual, but I sensed there was something going on between us, and I usually liked him to hold my hand or put his arm around my shoulders, and he made me laugh like nobody else quickly, but really, that to have sexual tension between the two were very different things.
"If you're afraid he might break your heart, there's a very, very low chance he will, and if you're afraid of what they might say about you, which I doubt, don't worry, Cam will help you, so think about giving him that opportunity." With that, she got up and left me again with my thoughts and everything she had told me about Cameron. I wasn't afraid of what they would say about me, because I had really gotten used to them always saying something about me, and not a good one most of the time, and I wasn't afraid Cameron would break my heart either, because I could really see he meant it when he told me this morning.
On the other hand, I liked his company, we always had a good time, and I trusted him as if I had known him all my life when we really got to know each other this season. I'm almost sure behind that man who likes to flirt and mess with me is a sensitive man, part of him had let me see when he told me about his sister, which tells me he also trusts me.
Without further ado, I decided to stop spinning my head and got up from the ground to go get my mother, my grandma and Bianca for dinner, since whenever we were here, the four of us had dinner together. It's at that moment my cell phone begins to ring, and I don't even look at who is calling me anymore because there were few people who would be calling me at this time.
"My little girl, where have you been all afternoon?" Grandma asked. "I'm sorry, Grandma, but I needed a while to think. What were you calling for?" I asked getting up from the ground and starting to walk towards the hotel "To see if you would come to dinner with us, because you didn't reply to Bianca's message."
"I didn't see it, but of course, we're going to have dinner. I have to go somewhere else first." I said, thinking of the places Cameron could be, " Shall we wait for you?" she asked, and I denied "No, I won't take too long, so you can go there."
"Okay, see you in a bit my little girl." Grandma said, "See you in a bit, Grandma. I love you and tell mom I love her too." I replied with a small smile on my face " I'll tell her. I love you too."
My grandmother hung up and I started to walk to the hotel where Cameron was staying so at least to let him know I would agree to go on a date with him.
CAMERON'S POV
It was about seven-thirty in the evening when Eli walks through the door of my hotel room. I honestly don't know where she had spent the whole afternoon, so instead of going out for a drive, I was in the garage looking at a couple of things about the car I hadn't looked at during qualifying.
"Where have you been all afternoon, Eli?" I asked her once she comes into the room. At least I know she's okay. "Do I have to tell you where I am at all times?" she asked raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms. "No, but I was going to say if you wanted to go for a walk. I know you like the beaches of Barcelona."
"You're right about that, what do you think if we go tomorrow? Early in the morning." she asked, and I frowned, because if I knew anything about Eli, it's that she hated getting up early. "You don't like getting up early, Eli." I said, "I'll make the effort, although maybe I shouldn't after all I've just done for you."
"What are you taking about?" I asked confused "Let's say I ran into someone, and we were talking about you." she said with a smile on her face "Who did you meet?" I asked "With someone. Now, can you explain to me how you ask her for a date before qualifying? Didn't it occur to you it could distract her?"
"Who told you that?" I asked, "I didn't need her to tell me. You just had to see how she drove today and you know you must have said something to her." She responded as if it wasn't a big deal, but that's when I realized what she was talking about "You were with Lara..."
"Obviously." She replied "And what are you supposed to talk about me?" I asked now full of curiosity "That doesn't matter to you anymore. I'll just tell you I was helping your case a bit, nothing more."
"Helping my case?" At that moment someone bangs on the door and Eli's going to open while I put on a shirt, and I don't hear anyone speak so I leave the room and see Lara in front of my door.
"Lara?" I said, but it sounded more like a question "Hey, I came to talk to you" she said with a smile on her face "I'm going to have dinner with a friend, see you later Cam." Eli didn't even give me time to tell her anything, she went out the door, leaving Lara and me alone. I had no idea what she was doing at my door, maybe she was coming to tell me she didn't want to go on a date with me.
"You can come in. Want a drink?" I asked going to the fridge in the room "No, I just had a moment to tell you something." she replied, and I started to focus my attention on her "Okay, what is that you want to tell me then?"
"I agree to go on a date with you." she said and the moment those words come out of her mouth, I stare at her without understanding, or rather, too happy she agreed to go on a date. Thousands of ideas were already beginning to form in my mind, but I put them aside for a moment to focus on her again and make sure I had heard correctly.
"Oh really?" I asked surprised to hear it "Yes. Did you think I wouldn't accept?" Lara asked, and I nodded, because it's what I expected "No, well I don't know, I guess not. One must see what a beautiful woman you are to think you would accept…"
"Well, I don't know why you think that, but I'll tell you something nobody knows, or at least nobody has confirmed." she said leaning against the wall "What?" I asked "I'm attracted to you too" I couldn't be happier. So, she was attracted to me too? I'd be jumping around the room right now if it wasn't for Lara in front of me.
"Okay, I'll let you know when I have everything ready." I replied with a big smile on my face "Perfect." She started to turn to leave, but I stop giving it to look back at me, so I wait for what she has to say.
"Did you have dinner yet?" Lara asked, and I shook my head. "No, I was going to go with Eli to get something, but apparently that plan just got cancelled." I replied, "Do you want to come with me to dinner with my mother, my grandmother and Bianca?"
"Are you inviting me to a dinner, Miss Gallego?" I asked "Something like that, so you won't have dinner alone. I think it's a better plan, and believe me, my mother and grandmother would like to have you. You captivated them." she responded with a shrug, "Then I can't miss that dinner."
"Well, let's go, they are waiting for us. Well, more like they're waiting for us to have a drink and we'll have dinner later if that's okay with you." Lara responded pushing away from the wall "What time?" I asked, "About nine."
"That's late for dinner." I said. I was used to having dinner before that time "Not really for us. We have dinner much later at home, but if you want, we can bring it forward." She said, but the truth is that I didn't care right now, I just wanted to spend time with them "It's not necessary, that time is good for me."
"So, let's go." She said with a big smile on her face "I'm going to take my phone and wallet and we can go whenever you want." Lara nodded and I took the key so as not to be locked outside again waiting for Eli to appear, and I went out. Lara was looking at her cell phone, but as soon as I leave, she puts it away and we walk to the restaurant, which is no more than half an hour away.
When we get to the restaurant, I can hear Bianca's laughter from here, and I'd say Eli's too, I'm not so sure, but I confirm when we got to the table where Lara's mother, her grandmother, and Bianca were.
"Wow, I didn't think we would have that many people for dinner. I hope you don't mind we invited Eli to have dinner with us, Lara." Carmela said and Lara denied "Don't worry, everything is fine grandma." She answered after giving Carmela and Rita a kiss "Then sit down, what are you waiting for. Grab a chair over there."
I looked for the closest chair and when I found it, I put it next to Lara. As soon as she sees the chair behind her, she gives me a smile and sits down to thank me. The smile of both her mother and her grandmother widens, I give them another one and I take a chair to sit next to Lara, but Carmela insists I sit next to her, so I do.
At least this time it wasn't like the morning when Lara didn't speak practically anything since I arrived. This time she was participating in the conversation, and of course, I couldn't help but mess with her at some point, because that's how I was. And when we went for dinner, another thing of the same. I sat between Carmela and Rita and did everything possible to make them laugh, so much so that Carmela asked me for time out so she would at least have time to breathe.
When we finished dinner, I got up to go pay for dinner, but Lara goes ahead and tells me it's already paid for, so I sit down again until we decide it's better to go to our rooms, or at least Carmela insists Lara, to kick my ass on the track, which makes both her and I laugh.
Eli and I decided to accompany them and once at the door of the hotel, we said goodbye, I'm giving hugs to all of them, but I stopped a little more at Lara. "Rest, you'll need all the energy you can get to get ahead of me." I said half-jokingly. It wasn't going to take her much time to get past me, she's the best driver on the track right now, but it wasn't something I was going to say to her "It's nothing I haven't done so far this season."
We laughed and I separated from her so she could enter with her grandmother who was the one who had been waiting for her. Apparently, she didn't trust her to go to sleep early. From what she had told during dinner, Lara used to go to sleep late because she was reading a book.
Eli and I started walking towards our hotel, which wasn't too far from Lara's, and the first one had a smile that practically didn't catch on her face, which, if I didn't know her, would scare me and go to the other side of the street to prevent her from doing something to me.
"What's with that smile?" I asked, because it was rare to see her with such a smile at this hour "I'm happy." She replied simply "I supposed so, but why?" I asked curiously "When everything with your sister happened, you lost that joy you always had, but tonight, I could see that part of you didn't go with your sister. It's still there and I'm happy about it."
"Lara makes me happy, and I don't even tell you the jokes her mother and grandmother tell. I miss having that kind of family." I said, "Did you go see your mother at the residence?" Eli asked knowing the answer "I went, but all she wants is to get out of there. She wants to leave England, and I swear I would let her, but I don't know where she wants to go.
"She doesn't tell you?" Eli asked "No, so I'm stuck there at the moment." I responded trying to find a solution for my mother "And if you take her out of England these holidays?" she asked and I shrugged, because I had no idea what to do. "I don't know Eli."
"I no longer tell you to take her with you wherever you go. I can take her to France to see my mother. You know they are friends, and my mother would love to see her." She responded, but I didn't want to leave everything to her either. "And leave my mother with your family alone? It seems risky to me."
"Better with me, she's known me all her life, she likes me, and I know what I have to do in case she gets one of her attacks." Eli said and even though I knew it, that wasn't going to imply I liked the idea "Okay, but I'll go with you to get her out of there and to France."
"It seems perfect to me, now let's celebrate Lara accepted your date... well, better tomorrow after the race." She said with a big smile on her face "How do you know…?" I asked confused and not understanding how she knew "I'm a fortune teller, didn't you know?"
We laughed and once in our hotel room, we each went to their room. Before she goes into her room, I hugged her, said good night, and then went to my room, where I'm completely sure I wouldn't sleep early for all the joy in my body, which would give me time to plan the date with Lara.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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