Chapter 8: 8. What are you doing?
LARA'S POV
The holidays started a week ago, and at this moment I'm sitting on the balcony of my mother and grandmother's house thinking about everything that had happened during this season.
To begin with, I was leading the world championship, but with little difference in points with Cameron and Amelia, who had learned quickly. Then there was Cameron, the man who did nothing but mess with me since I met him and with whom I had a great friendship and a pending date.
Never in my life did I think I would have a date with an F1 driver, let alone Cameron Edwards. During this week I thought everything since the day I met him, and it's true, he attracts me, and I loved the feeling that ran through my body every time he took my hand or put his arm over my shoulders and got closer to him. Let's not even talk when he kissed me on the forehead, it made me get goosebumps.
At that moment, I hear how my cell phone starts to ring somewhere on the balcony, and when I see it in the pot, I pick it up, and my smile widens when I see Cameron is calling me, which is soon considering during this week he called me later.
"Hello beauty, how was your morning?" Cameron asked, and I'm pretty sure he had a big smile on his face. "Reading." I replied vaguely, "If that's what you're supposed to be doing right now, let me tell you, you're doing a lousy job. That book will just fall from your lap."
"What…?" I started without understanding how he knew " Look down." I get up from my chair, I go to the railing and that's where I see Cameron with a suitcase next to him and a big smile. How the hell does he know where I live?
"What…?" I repeated and heard how he laughed " I see that I left you speechless, but you can get an idea of how I got your address." I kept thinking for a couple of seconds until I realized who "Bianca... "
"I knew you could find out. Now, are you going to open the door, or do I ring and have your grandmother open it for me?" he asked with a big smile on his face. I put the book and phone on the floor and ran down the stairs. I almost fell for them I must admit, but once I reached the bottom, I see my grandmother drying her hands.
"Lariña, vas acabar caendo polas escaleiras. A que ven tanta prisa? (Lariña, you're still going to fall down the stairs. Why are you in such a hurry?) I didn't even answer her anymore, I ran to the door and opened the door, letting me see Cameron's smile more closely. "From what I see, I wasn't the only one who wanted to see you." He replied putting the phone in the pocket of his jeans "Cameron! What a surprise. What are you doing here?"
"I've always heard Galicia is a beautiful place to visit, and it just so happens the most beautiful girl on the whole grill lives here, so I asked myself why not go visit her? I'm pretty sure she was too bored without me in her life." He said half-jokingly, and I would never admit it was true, so I leaned against the door frame and rolled my eyes "You are exaggerating. I was well entertained with my books, thank you."
"Don't believe her, she waited all day for your calls." Grandma replied with a big smile on her face "Abuela! Eso non é certo (Grandma! That is not true)" I protested "Lariña, as dúas sabemos que o é (Lariña, we both know that it is)"
"Necesitao saber? (Does he need to know?)" I asked crossing my arms. "A que ven tanto jaleo. Oh Cameron, que sorpresa (What's all the fuss about? Oh Cameron, what a surprise)" My mother said, to which a big smile ended up appearing on her face "I hope a good one."
"Of course, Lara was too bored and sulking around the house." My mother added, "Mom, don't start you too." I protested again "But it's true, you can't hide it, Lariña." She replied casually, "Sometimes I really think you two spend too much time with Bianca."
"Okay kid, don't stay at the door and come through. You can stay to eat if you want. How long will you stay?" Grandma said making it happen and moving me out of the way. Apparently now the one that mattered was Cameron "Well, I still don't know, really."
"And where will you stay?" asked this time my mother "In a hotel." He replied "Oh come on, Lara has room in her house, and she practically spends her days here. You could have him there." My grandmother responded, turning in my direction, "It's not necessary, Carmela, I'll have the hotel room."
"My grandmother is right; I practically spend my days here. You could stay for as long as you decide to be around here." I answered, because it was true, I practically spent my vacations here "If you don't mind..."
"I don't." I said "The food will be in an hour and a half. Why don't you take him at your house so he can drop his suitcase and take a shower?" my grandmother said, practically shoving me towards the door. "Okay. Let me go get the cell phone and we can go."
"Espero que non collas esa maquina do inferno (I hope you don't go to that hell machine)" Grandma said and I rolled my eyes "Grandma, my car runs a lot faster than the motorcycle." I said sincerely, but I understood to some extent why she didn't like the bike "But you don't fall out of the car."
"No, but the accidents at those speeds can be worse than one you can have with the motorcycle." I replied "Yeah, yeah, now get out before I change my mind and burn that thing." My grandmother hated my bike, she hated it more than anything in the world and she trusted more in a car that could do three hundred and forty with DRS. The truth is it's difficult for me to understand her a bit, but I always assured her nothing would happen to me. At least on a motorcycle I could go fifty per hour without having an anxiety attack, so I preferred the motorcycle.
As soon as I picked up the phone, I went downstairs, said goodbye to my mother and grandmother, who were talking to Cameron animatedly. "See you later girls." Cameron said with a big smile on his face "See you later Cameron." My mother and grandma said.
With that, we left the house and began to walk towards my house since it wasn't too far from my grandmother's house, just over half an hour. "What did your grandmother say about the motorcycle?" he asked with curiosity evident in his voice. "She hoped I wasn't on that machine from hell."
"Hell machine?" he asked confused, and I laughed, because it was weird to see a confused Cameron "Let's just say grandma isn't a big fan of motorcycles. She's afraid something could happen to me in it." I replied with a shrug, "And she's not afraid of what might happen to you in the F1 car?"
"Yeah, but for her, it's safer than that hell machine." I assured, because that's what she thought, at least since I had the accident, "It could be." He said with a shrug, "Now tell me what you're really doing here."
"What I said is true, both of them. The first time they told me recently, the second time ago." He replied with a small smile on his face "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have picked up at the airport." I said "And miss your face when you realized I was at your door? Not even dead. I wanted it to be a surprise."
"Well, you've got it." I said, turning to face the front again, "I hope it's a good surprise." I nodded, because honestly it had been "Well, I'm glad. I would like to know the place where you grew up, you know?
"It's a small village. There's not much to see I would say." I answered, because it was true, but that didn't mean it isn't a beautiful village, especially since they began to fix the houses with the money both Bianca and I gave.
"I don't care about that, but you can also show me other places in your around here. I have read there are places of everyone dreams around here." I nodded, because that was true at least.
After a couple of minutes, we arrived at my house. From this you could see the beach, and more than anything for that reason I bought it. It wasn't a very big house, not at least I could afford with all the money I had, but I preferred more normal things and using the money for other things.
CAMERON'S POV
Once we entered the house, I began to look at everything around me while she opened the blinds and windows, and after a while, she appears in front of me. "It's not the size of a house you're used to, but…" she started, but I stopped her. "It's great and I live in a flat, so don't worry."
"I'm sure it's not small." Lara said rolling her eyes, and I have no idea why she thought so "The size of this plant or a bit more." I assured, because it was true, "Huge for a flat."
I shrugged, because it might be " Well, you can stay in any of the other two rooms except this one." She said pointing to one of the doors, "Don't you want me to look your things?"
"I really don't care what you're up to, except here." She replied, and I know she's serious, "Okay." The last thing I want to do is upset her, and it wasn't like I'm going to mess with her.
"You have the bathroom at the end of this corridor or on the ground floor, and I think there's nothing else like that can really serve as information about the house." She said thinking for a moment "So what's in there?" I asked curiously "It's my room, okay? And I appreciate my privacy. If you need anything you can call me."
"Where will you be?" I asked confused for a moment "I'll go to the beach for a while, so when you're done you can go out, you'll find me there." Lara responded turning around to go down the stairs, "Okay."
With that, she left, and I went to one of the rooms to leave my suitcase, grabbed a few things and changed. When I arrived at the airport this morning, Bianca was waiting for me, and I asked her to show me the route Lara and other people, including Bianca, took in the go-kart race. She showed it to me and asked me why I wanted to know, and I just told her I was putting together the idea for our date, to which she seemed surprised. I must assume she didn't know about our date, which left me wondering if I'd done the right thing by telling her. I asked her not to tell Lara anything about the idea, I wanted it to be a surprise, and she only agreed if I told her the whole idea, which I did, and told me she would help me, which was great, because I didn't understand what hardly anyone tells me around here.
After about half an hour, I went out the door of the house, leaving the door closed and going to the beach, lucky for me, I could see Lara from the door. She was sitting about a hundred meters from the entrance of her house, with her hair loose and she had something in her hands, I think a book, which I confirmed once I was closer to her. It seemed she was quite entertained and didn't know what was going on around her, so I stayed there for I don't know how long looking for her. She looked beautiful, and the breeze is blowing her hair moved, brushing it away from her face and leaving it clearly visible to me. I could also see she had glasses on, which I had never seen on her, what's more, I don't know if it was because she needed them, or for fashion.
"Shit Cameron, you don't need to give me these scares. How long have you been planted there?" Lara said raising her hand to her chest "If I say he was there about half an hour, would you believe me?" said a voice behind me. Lara happens to look somewhere behind me. I turn to see who it was, and I'm a little confused to see Bianca with a big smile on her face.
"What are you doing here?" Lara asked with a frown and looking at her best friend "I was going to Grandma's house to see you, but apparently you had come to your house so Cameron would stay in it, and she told me to let you know because we would eat soon."
"Okay, and for your information, I don't believe you." She said getting up and rolling her eyes "Well, you can do it, because honestly, wouldn't surprise me. I know I've been looking at you for a while." I assured Lara " Are you one of those weirdos who stares at someone?" she asked with a raised eyebrow "When it comes to you? Of course, I have to."
"Non podo creer que non me dera conta de que tiñas una cita antes. Como ostia non me dixeches tiñas una cita con él? (I don't know how I didn't realize before you had a date. How the fuck don't you tell me before you go on a date with him?)" Bianca started, but lately I got a little lost "Because it's really not your thing." Lara replied, "Of course it is, I'm your sister." She rebutted this, and now I was even more lost. "Yes, but it doesn't imply ..." she started, but I interrupted her before she finished saying whatever it was, she was going to say.
"Wait, are you sisters?" I asked surprised, but at the same time confused "Yes, is it so strange?" they both asked and with their arms crossed and a raised eyebrow, the same posture and the same expression. Now everything made more sense.
"I thought you were best friends or something… I'm confused right now…" I answered and I could see how they both laughed "Rita and Xurxo adopted me when I was little, so we're sisters." Bianca replied with a big smile "I don't understand."
"Why do you think we're together every time?" Lara asked. "For being her being mechanical head?" I asked and she denied "No, she's my sister, and even though she's irritating sometimes, I love her, and she's my best friend. What better thing than having family and a best friend with you all year long?"
"Why doesn't anyone know?" I asked still confused and they both shrugged their shoulders, it's as if they were two people with one mind "No one asked, it's quite evident when we have the same lasts names. It would be too much of a coincidence if my best friend had the same lasts names as me."
"I never noticed. Wait, is that why you both turned when I say Gallego?" I asked, starting to put the pieces together "Well, at first, yes, but then I realized that's what you called my sister, so I stopped paying too much attention to it."
"Wow, I didn't think being here I would discover so many things about you Lara. You are full of secrets." I said with a smile on my face "Just like that date you didn't want us to know about. Wait when I tell Mom and Grandma."
"Let's go before she comes looking for us with walking stick in hand." Lara said, turning around and starting to walk towards wherever we're going. "I think being here is going to be more confusing than I expected."
"Why?" Bianca asked once I reached her side. "I don't understand shit what you're talking about at times." I answered sincerely "Don't worry, I can teach you so when Lara gets mad at you, you can understand what she's saying. She tends to change to Galician."
"Look, I better leave you two and I go home to eat, you do what you want." Lara rolled her eyes and began to walk towards what I guess is the direction of her grandmother's house, meanwhile next to me, Bianca couldn't stop laughing.
"Cameron, I'm serious, that woman has a lot of character." Her sister said and I nodded, because I already knew "When Eli told me, I didn't think it was true." She said denying and I started to focus my gaze and attention on her "What?" I asked, because who knows what Eli had told him.
"I thought you just wanted to get in my sister pants and that's it, but you're really attracted to her, otherwise you wouldn't do anything you're doing for her. For starters, how do you know about the go-kart race?" she asked, and I smiled, because apparently it wasn't something Lara talked about too much. "She told me."
"Well, I guess there was no other way for you to know. Just promise me something." Bianca said "What?" I asked "Don't hurt her. She might come off as a tough girl and all, but deep down she's sensitive. The most sensitive person you can find," she said, and I know she was serious. "Isn't everyone?"
"I suppose, but you also know what she carries behind her back, and it's something she doesn't talk about, so I'd like to be clear she didn't give you her heart and most precious memories for nothing." Bianca said and I couldn't help but frown, her heart? "Lara's heart?" I asked.
"Come on, I don't see you as stupid. She may not know it, but she has her heart set on you. What's more, whenever you teased her, she wouldn't stop talking about you for hours. I've never seen her like this for anyone, so that's why I ask you not to hurt her, because then you won't have enough world to run." She said in a serious tone.
"Don't worry, because I won't do anything to her. Not the slightest damage." I replied, it was the most serious thing I could say "You better." With that, we resume our walk towards the house, and when we got to it, Carmela was waiting at the door of the house with a cane in hand, and the moment Bianca sees her, she raises her hands.
"Abuela, prométoche que non fixen nada (Grandma, I promise I didn't do anything)" She said, and I'm lost, because I don't understand anything happening right now "Cómo cando eras pequena? (The same as when were you little?)" Carmela asked and Bianca denied "Esta vez é verdade (This time it's true)"
"Entonces explícasme como é que apareceu antes túa irmán que ti a casa? (Then explain to me how your sister came before you went?)" her grandmother asked again. "I wanted to make sure Cameron was serious. That's all." She said and Carmela's posture relaxed "And does he?" Carmela asked "I believe so, you just have to know he's riding for their date and you will know it."
"I hope you tell me and Rita about it later, boy." Carmela said now looking in my direction "I'll do it, don't worry, just..." I started, because the last thing I needed was for Lara to find out "Don't worry, I'll take care of Lara." assured Bianca
Carmela left the cane next to the door and Bianca lowered her arms. I wasn't understanding anything of what was happening at this moment, but the only thing I'm more than clear about is I had to hold back my laughter, I don't want Carmela take out the cane again.
During the meal it was all laughter and stories about what the two of them did when they were little. It also gave me the opportunity to learn more about Lara and her life here, and I must say I would have liked to live in a smaller place like Lara's village than London. Always traffic and the air didn't feel as clean as it did here.
When we finish eating, some friends of Lara's mysteriously show up and by the time I'm out the door, Carmela and Rita ask me what I have planned, and when I told them, they said it was the best thing to do and they would help me since I didn't drive around here and I didn't understand anything most of the people were talking about. Hopefully, during the afternoon, we managed to do that race
That night we went back to dinner at their grandmother's house and then we went to Lara's house. Bianca and I sat on the sofa talking about whatever was on our minds. After a while, there's no sign of Lara.
"Hey, and Lara?" I asked looking around "I don't know, probably at the beach." She said with a shrug, "At this time?" I asked surprised "That's when she usually goes." Bianca replied, "It's rare to go at this time." I said shrugging.
"It's not for her, weird that she didn't stay on the balcony." She answered and I could see she's more serious than usual, and that's weird coming from Bianca "Balcony?" I asked curiously "In her room, when she's at home she usually spends time there or on the balcony."
"Why?" I asked, trying to learn things from Lara "It's something that calms her down and if we didn't have our heads in a car, we spent time at the beach with dad. I guess it's another way of feeling close to him." She replied, "And what do you do to feel closer to him?"
"My work keeps me attached to him. Like I told you, if we weren't with our heads in a car, we were at the beach. My father was a mechanic and whenever my mother was working, we went with our father to his job." Bianca replied with a small smile on her face.
"So, you guys spent a lot of time with him I guess." I said, "Practically every day." Her sister said, "Why didn't your grandmother take care of you?" I asked again "At that time she also worked. She stopped doing it the moment Daddy died. We had to keep an eye on Lara. Even my mother took a couple of months to be with her."
"Why do I get the feeling something more happened to her than the death of your father?" I asked with a frown. "How far do you know?" She asked "That she saw your father die and that's why she has a motorcycle. She terrifies street cars."
"That's true, but you're right, you're missing part of the story." She said crossing her legs and settling on the sofa "What?" I asked "She suffered a blow to the head, quite severely, and she was under observation for a couple of weeks to make sure everything was fine. And then later sha had surgery on her hand."
"Why" I asked again, because I really didn't have the slightest idea "Lara stopped talking and locked herself in the room. I don't know exactly what happened, but I know one day, she appeared with a swollen hand and a red that didn't look good. It was broken, so sha had a surgery. To this day we don't know what happened to her hand and I think we will never know." She said with a shrug.
"It's not difficult to her, do some things with it?" I asked curiously "Normally not, only when the weather changes or it has been hit with rubber from the track, but otherwise, it's rare it impedes her from doing anything." Bianca answered and I nodded.
"How did she get over it?" I asked, "I don't know. She basically spent all her time in her room reading or studying." She replied, "Wow, I didn't think she would have such a bad time after her father, I mean, your father."
"Well, she did, and I think she'd didn't want no one know about it." She stated, and I nodded, because I could understand why she didn't want it. Above all I consider she still hadn't gotten over it even today "I hope you don't get in trouble for telling me." I said. The last thing I wanted is for Bianca to get in trouble for it telling me.
"Nah, I don't think she'd have a problem with you knowing, especially after what you planned for tomorrow." She said with a big smile on her face "Do you think she'll like it?" I asked "If Lara will like it? She'll love it, I can assure you. Oh, and one more thing before I go."
"What?" I asked "If you hear a lot of movement around the house, the pills are in the kitchen cupboard. The one right next to the fridge."
"What do I need those pills for?" I asked curiously and trying to remember where the pills were. "Lara's too stubborn, and she has insomnia." Bianca said with a snort at the end, "Why?" I asked again "Well, I don't know, but she's too stubborn to take them by herself, so if you hear there's too much movement, give them to her."
"I'll do it." I assured her "Now, I should go home. "She answered getting up from the sofa and putting on her shoes "Won't you stay here?" I asked confused "Oh, no, I'm going to leave you privacy." She said with a smile that reminded me of Eli's smile when she wanted to imply something "We're not going to…" I started to defend myself, because that was the last thing I wanted to do.
"I just want to make sure. I'm going to say goodbye to Lara. See you tomorrow, Cameron." Bianca said with a wave of her hand, "See you tomorrow, Bianca." And at that moment I was left alone. I still wasn't sleepy, so I decided to go outside and see if Lara needed anything. I could see how Bianca was leaving the way we had come before and I went to the beach.
Once inside, I couldn't see Lara anywhere, which seems strange to me because Bianca had left here recently, and I must say I'm scared when I didn't see her, but then I saw her come out a couple of meters away.
"What are you doing here?" Lara asked with a frown. "I should ask you the same thing." I said with a smile on my face "I'm swimming, you're standing there." She said rolling her eyes "Swimming at this hour? Isn't it a little late for that?"
"As far as I know the beach doesn't have a schedule." She sarcastically said "Maybe." I responded with a shrug, "Now seriously, what are you doing here?" she inquired approaching the shore "As far as I know, nothing prevents me from being here. And the beach doesn't have schedule" I said, repeating Lara's words.
"Okay, whatever you want." Lara started swimming again and I sat down on the sand. I don't know how long we were on the beach, but after a while, Lara came out of the water and lay down on the towel, which I hadn't seen there.
"I must say I missed you." She said and the smile on my face increased in size "Wow, I thought you would never admit it Gallego." I responded laughing, but I was glad to hear that, because I had missed her too "Don't be smart Edwards, because that way I won't tell you again."
"Ok, ok. But know I missed you too." I said, "I already knew it, but why?" she asked "Well, because during this season I realized I like your company and I don't need to tease you to get your attention. You're the perfect girl for me." I answered sincerely "And who says you're the perfect guy for me?" she said raising an eyebrow.
"Maybe I'm not, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to do everything in my power to get there. What's more, maybe I never will." I answered seriously and without taking my eyes off her, "But that's what I decide." Lara said and I nodded, because it was more than clear to me "I know, and that's why I leave the option to you. Do you have something important to do tomorrow?"
"No, I will train for a while and little else." She answered "Perfect, do you remember the pending appointment we have?" I asked and she nodded "Well, it's tomorrow." I confessed, and her eyes widened by two "Tomorrow? What the hell are you talking about?" she inquired "Well, that's it, tomorrow is our date."
"And may I know where we are going?" she questioned and I denied, because I couldn't tell her "That's something I can't tell you, I'll just tell you, you don't need to dress up for it." I replied "Where do you intend to take me? You don't even know anything around here."
"I know, but I know enough, and I hope you like this quote." I explained "I think I better go to bed, because I'm either too sleepy, or I have no idea what you're talking about."
I laughed, and waited a couple more minutes looking at the body of water in front of me until I decided to go home and get some rest before what I hope is one of the best dates Lara ever had.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone