chapter 6: home

                                    

                                          

Ollie's POV
I don't think I'm very impulsive.
But then again, I ended up buying flights back home ten minutes after hearing that the FDA training camp is cancelled.
For which, I think I'm a little impulsive.
I don't know the reason exactly for the cancellation but I took it as my queue to go home. Not back to the apartment but home.
And the fun part?
Alivia doesn't know.
I love surprising her like this.
I was a few minutes from landing and I'm pretty sure the people beside me thought I was crazy for how big of a smile I had on my face. 
Like, it wouldn't go away at all as my mind fixated on the fact I got to see my best friend again.
Looking out the window I could see a bit of the country now, as well as homes coming into view. It was overcast but not raining.
After landing and collecting my luggage, Jackson met me at the airport. He was back at home for a few days as he had some meetings at Mclaren HQ. I shook his hand before he lead me to his car, shoving my suitcase in the back before climbing into the passenger side.
"She's gonna freak out, you know that right? Like more than when I got home".
"I don't know about that but I am excited to see her reaction".
"Ollie seriously she likes you more than me". I blushed a little at his comment. 
"No that's not-"
"When are you gonna ask her out?"
I froze. For which he just smiled. My cheeks were embarrassingly hot.
"W-what?"
"You heard me, when are you going to ask out my little sister?" He started up the car before giving me a knowing look. "I know you have liked her since that first day, when she bought you ice cream at the karting track. I had to look out for you guys remember? My eye sight is crystal clear so I caught all the giddy smiles you were giving... now tell me because I feel like I've been waiting a lifetime".
"I-i...I'm pretty sure she only sees me as a friend. I mean she's close to a lot of people at the paddock and Prema and she even mentioned that Arthur might like her too so-"
"So you will let him ask her out? Dude she never shuts up about you. Not anyone else on the grid, and definitely not Arthur, just you. She's always like 'I miss Ollie' or 'When can I go see Ollie?' or 'Guess what Ollie did today?'", he mocked before stopping at a red light and turning to look at me. "You make her really happy and don't play this off like you have never once considered asking her out. Now tell me, when do you plan to do it?" 
The light went green as he started to drive again and I sighed.
"When I win my first feature race in F3...I mean I'm hoping that happens this year. Otherwise I will ask her earlier but if I got P1, I think that would probably make it the best day of my life. I'd get out of my car and she'd be waiting at the barricade and-"
"Remember I'm still her older brother so I don't need all the details but...that's sweet. I hope it happens soon then".
"Yea...thanks". I was happy that I had a chill relationship with Jackson. I think in some ways he already viewed me as a brother which, as corny as it sounded, warmed my heart.
The car ride continued with slight chatter about the season ahead and the preparation we had been doing for our next race before he pulled up in front of the house.
"Now I said before leaving that I was going to get groceries so let me go in first with a few bags to not look suspicious", he joked as I laughed and nodded.
We each got out of the car and I left my suitcase on the porch to take in after the surprise. As Jackson entered, he shut the door slightly as I waited outside, listening in on the conversation.
"I think I might need help with this really large item I got from the shops for you, they had it on special but it's too heavy to carry without a trolley".
"You're the athlete I don't understand why I have-" The door swung open as my eyes immediately met hers and my face morphed into a smile.
"Hi Via".
"Shut up", she mumbled in a state of shock before turning to her brother, "no way." 
He smiled at her before gesturing, to me, "See I knew you'd like it".
"Like it?" She exclaimed before turning back to me and engulfing me in a hug I didn't know was possible for someone of her stature and minimal visible muscle. "I love it." She mumbles into me as I wrap my arms around her and spin her around a little. "But yesterday you said that-"
"It was cancelled this morning".
She pulled back and smiled. "Well whatever the reason, I thank the FDA".