ALICE Ch 248

The day is gray, but there will be no rain. The fans are out in force. The meadows surrounding the track are like a mosaic because of all the tents. British F1 fans have little use for quiet and order. They’re going completely insane as the cars are wheeled onto the track under the steely sky. Commentators gush on camera, and beer flows like water.

For once, Alice has no smudges on her helmet. She has noticed how strange Glynda’s being this morning, but Glynda’s been weird since the last race. It’s understandable. The thought makes Alice chuckle in her helmet. She’s feeling very Zen. Her wrist is sore from signing FUTA caps with silver Sharpies.

She pictures Faye in bed with one arm hoisted and the other in its weird cast, watching. It’s not funny, but it makes Alice smile. Faye is almost always weirdly comical, but drugged up on pain meds is almost too much.

It’s bizarre. Alice has never felt this way on race day. She never imagined that something could make her more nervous than racing. It’s ridiculous.

FF1

Kylie sits cross-legged on the bed that she shared with Lora and that girl last night, intent on the TV as she stress-eats glazed buns and tries to drown her hangover in black coffee.

It’s not lost on her that she hasn’t got a brain like Lora’s, but when she’s sober and not wallowing in self-pity, it still works. There’s a lot riding on this race in a lot of ways, more than any other race this season. For her, that takes all the fun out of it.

Alice was so chill during their warmup this morning that they finished quickly, and Kylie had time to spare getting back to the hotel. She doesn’t want to be around the team at the moment. Well, the Amazons. She’s a distraction to them, and she doesn’t want to distract them today. Although it is nice that they still notice her.

“We are racing in the UK!”

Kylie stops chewing and prays.

“Max Verstappen! Very quick off the line! Lando sticking to him, but a blistering start from two-time world champion Fernando Alonso! Flores, looking sluggish! Hamilton and Bottas, reunited! That was almost a touch, and we’re into the first corner, looking very crowded…”

Kylie watches the cluster of cars, and the bee-like buzzing of the engines only makes her anxiety worse. Or maybe that’s the coffee; she’s had about a liter at this point. She gulps more.

“Alice Wilde on attack, but that’s no bother for Sainz; he’s got more than enough speed to hold her off. She’ll have to worry about Lewis Hamilton. Missy Woodcock! She almost lost it there, but she’s back on, Sara Pattinson is past, and Patty Dunham wants some as well! Missy Woodcock defending, but Bottas is pulling away! The midfield is split! DRS detection! Lando Norris has designs on Max Verstappen, but Verstappen is not having it! Immaculate through those corners and into the straight! Oh! Oh dear! Those are very tight, and Kevin Magnussen is not minding his manners, but everyone’s got through in one piece! Hamilton wants Alice Wilde on the straight! There’s nothing she can do!”