ALICE Ch 134

It's the night before qualifying in Monaco.

Faye’s still working on her pink racing suit in the cramped cabin that’s been repurposed as FUTA’s changing room. Alice is already suited up.

“Are we doing gloves?” she asks.

“Dunno,” Faye replies, a bit frustrated as she struggles with her zipper. Alice isn’t stupid enough to comment, but Faye’s racing suit is a little too tight. Alice likes it.

This is the first time they’ve been alone together in days. While Alice feels free to defy Glynda in private, the team has openly denied the relationship. It doesn’t help that Faye struggles to act cool around Alice, so even if they’re at the paddock or something and they’re photographed together it will be trouble.

It’s not that Alice is spending all of her time longing to be Faye; she hasn’t even sorted her feelings out about that. But this thing where they have to be so careful about everything is just so complicated that it’s always on her mind. She’s even scared to be too chatty with Faye over text. Faye is passionate, affectionate, and horny. It’s too easy to picture a scenario in which they’re in separate hotel rooms and things get explicit with photos or Facetime. Alice cannot let that happen. While a hack or leak of nudes isn’t a foregone conclusion, it’s a possibility. While she could probably survive something like that, Faye could not. Best to leave that door firmly closed.

“I’ve missed you. I’m sorry,” Faye frets as she hops around, struggling with her zipper. Alice wants to help, but she’s afraid that she’ll get it stuck. Then they’ll have a real crisis on their hands. “I just can’t! I have it!” Faye zips up and throws a fist in the air in triumph, beaming.

“Great job.” They look at each other in the little cabin. “You know, is this what it felt like for old-timey gay women who weren’t allowed to be gay? They could like be around each other but had to be super careful.”

Faye puts her arms around Alice and squeezes. “I’m sorry,” she repeats. It’s not an apology for anything in particular, and she doesn’t need to blame herself for the reality of celebrity or Glynda’s behavior. She does anyway.

“It’s OK. First-world problems,” Alice replies awkwardly, hugging her back.

Faye makes a noise, muffled by Alice’s chest. Sort of a growl of frustration.

“What are we mad about now?”

“I told you. I miss you. And I don’t like having my photograph taken,” Faye grumbles, going to the mirror.

“Should’ve thought of that before you begged your nepo mom to make you a nepo F1 driver so you could seduce hot girl stallions like me,” Alice teases. “Must be true. There’s an article about it Jeremy Clarkson shared on Twitter.”

Faye throws her a glare and mimes strangling with her hands.

“The Daily bloody Mirror,” she says through gritted teeth.