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Prize Giving Ceremony | Felipe Drugovich

warnings: none really, fluff, maybe mentions of alcohol

word count: 1.8 k

note: special thanks to my friend and editor @clemswinecorn4r, who helped me so so much and without her I wouldn’t have finished this in at least 2 years.

I looked up at the gorgeous building that the annual prize giving of Formula 2 and Formula 3 was held in. Our team; MP Motorsport, won both the team’s and the driver’s championship this year and I had no choice but to attend. Not like I mind showing up in a nice dress in Monaco to have a taste of the rich life. As I stepped inside, I could already see Ollie Bearman chatting with the Leclerc brothers all three sipping the champagne that is given out at the entrance.

“Did you know that the drinking age here is 18?” I asked Ollie after the brothers left us.

“I’m really close to 18, okay?” he replied.

“Like 6 months?” I asked with a huge smile, remembering how drunk he got at a club after Monza.

“Closer than you are!”

“Young man, you are being rude.” I nudged his shoulder.

“You started it, old lady.” he chuckled. “But doesn’t matter how old you are you still look good.”

“Thank you, Ollie, you look handsome.”

“I’m guessing you have to go.” he after spotting the golden boy of my team in the background.

I made my way over to Felipe Drugovich, winner of the Formula 2 championship this year, and the one that I had to stick with the whole evening. He looked lost standing in the hall, all by himself. His expression changed as soon as he recognized me. He looked like he found who he was looking for.

“What are we supposed to do now?” he asked me after greeting me with a hug.

“I don’t know, just chat around, you know.”

“Chat with who?” he stared at me, terrified with big eyes.

“I don’t have a list of people you have to talk to. We could introduce you to some new people maybe?” Felipe gave me the same horrified look. “Or… we could try to find some familiar faces from MP or even some Aston dudes?”

“Who is coming from MP?”

“Umm… Not sure, they only told me about is Sander Dorsman.”

“I don’t think that is a good idea.”

“You must be right. How about we talk to Victor Martins? I see him just now.” I nod in the direction of the Formula 3 champion.

“Do we really have to?” he asked me with a tortured look.

“I will help if it gets dull. That’s what I am paid for.” I grabbed his elbow and dragged him towards a group of people.

“Ah, here is our other star! Hello Felipe how are you?” asked Bruno Michel as soon as we arrived.

“Excellent, thank you.” said Felipe with a flawless smile, and then giving me a side-glance, that could kill. I always find it difficult not to giggle when Felipe is forced to socialize. He always needs somebody by his side, but he manages to do the job just fine himself. I’ve known him for three years now, and I had stood next to him countless times on occasions like this one, supporting him.

I took a sip of the champagne I’ve been holding since my arrival and finally took my time to check him out. He took things casually, but I could still see that he put a lot of effort into his appearance. I even thought he made a great decision with choosing a black shirt instead of a traditional white one.

There was something unusual about him that I just couldn’t figure out. He was glowing in a way. He looked like he was enjoying the conversation I dragged him into. Something I never thought would happen. Or maybe, after countless occasions he was able to fool even me into thinking he enjoyed himself. That thought disappointed and scared me at the same time. After complaining for almost a whole year about how much he missed my assistance while he was with another team, he was fine. He applied the techniques I taught him to deal with anxiety, subtly fidgeting, while keeping that perfect smile on his face the whole time.

It reminded me of something I wanted to keep out of my mind; this is my last time working with him. He won the championship, and he is leaving. I have known that for a while but it never hit me as hard as that moment. Highly unprofessional of me to be upset about it. But somehow, in the last three years we have grown a bond, making us more than just work mates. I really liked him as a person, as a friend.

His laugh snapped me out of my thoughts. I quickly looked around and everyone was looking at him, with bright smiles and some even politely laughing. But his eyes were glued to me. I had absolutely no idea what joke was made, but it looked like Felipe was the one to make it. And I was supposed to laugh too. I didn’t even realize that I lost my smile somewhere in my thought process. I took a sip again to hide my embarrassment as everyone carried on talking. From the corner of my eye, I could see Felipe still looking at me confused, but I chose to act like nothing happened.

With more and more people to arriving, and the small circle we were standing in, started to grow bigger and bigger, as everyone wanted to join the two champions. Finally, Laura Winter stepped on the stage and asked everyone to find their assigned seats and get ready to start.

The MP family’s table was right in the middle, visible to everyone in the room, alongside ART and Prema. The three teams that clenched a title this year. I sat down right next to Felipe and Jen. Everyone was politely chatting to their neighbors, or in some cases to somebody that was sitting on the other side of the table.

The lights got dimmed, a signal that the ceremony will begin shortly, and everyone finished the sentence they have started.

Felipe looked at me, smiling, enjoying the spotlight for once, but with fear in his eyes. Without words, I reached for his hand under the table and pulled it into my lap to hold with both of my hands. His eyes widened with surprise but he held my hand and squeezed it twice. I started playing with his ring, which seemed like a reasonable way to pass the boring moments, but I just ended up not paying attention, and not clapping when I was supposed to. And Felipe didn’t clap either. Seeing me terrified, he untangled our fingers and just placed his hand on my thigh. I hesitated, but put my palm on the back of his and, not wanting to let go of his touch.

“It is definitely easier to clap this way, right?” he mumbled so only I could hear.

I would lie if I gave any opinion about the ceremony, since I don’t remember anything other than Felipe’s thumb circling on my skin. I also remember feeling cold when he sometimes took it to clap, and once when he went to collect his trophy.

Once everyone got their awards and trophies, they asked the stars of the evening to gather for pictures. Felipe stood up and when he realized I wasn’t planning on joining him he bent down to whisper in my ear: “Are you seriously not coming with me?”

“Well… Uh, you have company, and I only have to accompany you when you would be alone otherwise.” I suddenly forgot how to speak English when he pressed a kiss on my cheek and said “You are an idiot. I want you to come.”

I closed my eyes for a second to gather my thoughts. I slowly stood up and face Felipe, him holding his arm out signaling for me to cling ono him. And I did.

“Looks like someone is very quiet this evening.” he murmured with a mischievous grin.

“Looks like someone decided to be unhinged this evening.” I responded, suddenly finding my voice.

“I have to shoot my shot, you know. I live on a rock that spins really fast.”

He guides me toward the few people that are already at the couch that they decided to use as a photo-corner.

“Felipe! Congratulations, I didn’t have the chance to talk to you yet.” said Fernando Alonso, greeting Felipe like an old friend. “And sorry, who are you?” he asks looking at me.

“Felipe come, please!” the photographer shouts, and as Felipe excuses himself, I am left with Fernando and George Russell, both staring at me, waiting for me to introduce me.

“Oh, sorry, how rude of me. My name is y/n, I work for MP Motorsport, as a social media manager basically.” I shook both of their hands.

“I knew you looked familiar.” George exclaimed. “You have been in this position for some time now, right?”

“For three years now, so yes, you could say.”

“Sorry to interrupt, but I believe we have to go.” Felipe placed a palm on my lower back and guided me towards the exit.

“We can’t just leave Felipe! Half of these people are here to celebrate you!” I yelled at him as soon as he opens the door for me.

“But I want to be with you.” he said in a low voice.

“How many drinks have you had?”

“One?”

“Are you asking me this? Or are you asking yourself?”

“Why are you trying to change the subject? y/n, we really need to talk.”

“It can wait. Don’t get me wrong, I know we have to, but this is not an appropriate time.”

“Why? I have waited months and honestly, I feel like I wasted these months.”

“Months?” I felt my heart dropping to my stomach.

“Yes. But now we won’t be working together anymore. y/n, I think I am in love with you. And I hate the thought of you being away from me. Which may sound a little selfish, but I was hoping you would feel the same. So would you go on a date with me?” he asked anxiously while stepping closer to me.

“Felipe…” I breathe out.

“y/n, you know you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. No pressure or anything, I just really wanted to tell you, okay?”

“No, it is not like this. I just don’t even know what to say and I really want to kiss your right now.”

And I did kiss him. Or perhaps he kissed me? Or perhaps it happened at the same time. It didn’t matter, because as soon as our lips met there was no way back. Suddenly all the puzzle pieces fell into place. I felt that this was right. He was right. I arrived to the destination I didn’t even know existed. It was home.

“You’re shivering. Let’s go back and from now on if anyone asks, you are my date.” he pulled me in for another kiss.

“That’s so stupid.” I said with the widest grin ever.

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