Saying goodbye to his mother was one thing, but saying goodbye to Sophia was another. She had basically thrown a tantrum, unable to hold back her tears, even though Luca had made it clear three days ago that he was leaving for Grey-Husson's. He'd packed his belongings well in advance and spent most of his time drilling her on what to do and what not to do, particularly her rebellious outings. He even made a list, a timetable, and more, quickly realizing that he did most of the work at home and that Sophia was rarely assigned any chores.
Mrs. Rennick, however, still believed there was time to convince Luca not to leave them. Luca quieted her plea with a hug, reassuring her that nothing would happen to him. It was a difficult moment for what remained of the Rennick family, now that Luca was leaving, permanently stripping away the role he had taken on in his mother and sister's lives.
Mallow waited patiently, leaning against the hood of his car as Luca and his family shared their final moments together. Finally, Luca urged his sister to let go so he could walk down the stairs. He loaded his luggage into the trunk of Mallow's Volkswagen and took his seat in the passenger side.
"It seems they are not used to your absence?" Mallow broke the silence, his hands resting on the steering wheel of the idling car.
Luca nodded, adding, "Not at all," as he strapped his seatbelt across his body. "I'm afraid of what might even happen." Luca tried his best to keep his gaze straight ahead and not to the side to face his mother and sister, a gesture to tell them–this is how it is now.
Mallow inserted the key, twisting it to start the engine, and then clicked on his own seatbelt. "I wish I had someones who'd care that much if I left," Mallow remarked, briefly glancing at Luca. "You're lucky."
Raising a brow, Luca asked, "What do you mean? You're not married? No kids?"
"I was married. No kids," Mallow muttered, inhaling deeply as the late morning sun streamed through the windshield. "But don't worry, the place got cell service. You can call them anytime."
Luca exhaled as well, sinking deeper into his seat as the engine purred beneath him. He finally glanced over at his sister and mother, offering a brief smile and wave as Mallow pulled away from the curb. The car eased into the street, and Luca continued waving back to his family, watching as they waved more vigorously in return.
Eventually, their figures faded from view as the car turned down the street. Luca realized he had been holding his breath and slowly exhaled, just as Mallow switched on the radio. The soft strains of "Someone Like You" filled the car, lulling Luca into a sleepy haze, though he fought to stay awake.
"Who's paying for the flight?" Luca suddenly asked as they merged onto the expressway.
"You mean who paid for it?" Mallow corrected.
"Yeah, that. Is it you?"
"Who else, son? Vance?" Mallow asked with a short laugh. "Don't think you have to pay me back in some way, just do your best as a Grey-Husson academic, you don't know how much you'll make me rich if you become tied with success."
Luca's mind dissolved Mallow's words. What if I don't get tied to success? Nah, I will, I will, I'm sure. "Thank you very much," Luca said with genuine appreciation, fully aware of how costly flights could be. Even a short one-hour flight to Birmingham seemed out of reach for his family, especially for his mother.
Luca settled into the passenger seat and allowed himself to relax, watching as the world blurred past the window. It wasn't long before they reached the airport, and both Luca and Mallow stepped out of the car. Waiting at the terminal was a staff member Luca recognized as one of the marshals of Stadhaven. The man accepted Mallow's car keys, nodding briefly before driving off after Mallow grabbed his bag from the backseat.
The airport was bustling, typical of a regular morning. Mallow and Luca weaved through the crowds, eager to get through the formalities and board the plane as quickly as possible. Luckily, everything went smoothly, and before long, Luca was stepping into the second flight of his life. He rarely ever traveled even when his father raced around the world.
Once onboard, they found their seats. Mallow settled by the window while Luca took the aisle. Luca wasn't particularly nervous, but a low hum of anxiety vibrated through him as he thought about what awaited him. The unknown always held its own sense of weight.
[Host, your heart rate has suddenly increased. Is it because the plane is about to take off?]
I guess so, Luca replied internally.
[Host, you should become accustomed to flying. After all, how else will you travel around the world, competing in various circuits and environments?]
You're right, you're right. What can I do to calm my heart rate? Meditation again? Deep breaths?
[Certainly, host. Please proceed.]
Luca inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. Inhale… Exhale… Nah, it's not working. Maybe I just need to talk to someone. That'll do.
Luca turned to Mallow, who was absorbed in a candy game on his phone. "So, other academics, will they be arriving today with their agents too?" Luca asked, trying to ease his anxiety.
"Nope, they're already there. Grey-Husson's preparatory scheme started a while ago," Mallow replied, not taking his eyes off the screen as his fingers tapped rapidly. "It's a 14-day programme, and you're two days late."
"What? Why's that? Why am I late?"
Mallow finally lost the game and glanced at Luca. "There are thirty boys, aged between 18 and 24, all set to participate. My boss, Mr. Vance—the Operations Manager at Stadhaven—had the privilege of selecting two participants for Grey-Husson. He chose one, Harry, who's already there. Time passed, and they filled up the last slot with another participant, starting the programme on schedule. The same day you proposed, I called and demanded a spot meant for a Stadhaven selectee. So, here you are—participant number 31, two days behind," Mallow explained in a low, calm tone as the plane's hum filled the background.
Why does it have to be me? Luca thought when he had no response to Mallow. Thirty participants is a lot of competition.
Luca wanted to ask more, but when he saw Mallow focused back on his phone, he decided to let it go. He did his best to relax as the plane reached its cruising altitude. Pulling out his small mp3 player and earpiece, he leaned back and drowned his nerves in heavy metal, letting the music carry him through the short flight to Birmingham.
To Luca's surprise, he hadn't gotten far through his playlist when Mallow tapped him gently, signaling it was time to brace for landing, following the pilot's instructions. This wasn't the first time Mallow had interrupted him. Earlier, he'd tapped Luca when the air hostess brought snacks, when he needed to head to the bathroom, and once to excitedly point out a famous tower near a local circuit. Formula 1 racing had become a universal sensation, and it seemed every region had something to showcase from the great sport.
Luca took a deep breath, pulling out his earpiece and sitting up straighter in his seat. He adjusted his seatbelt, listening to the hum of the engines as the plane began its descent. His muscles tensed, instinctively bracing for the landing. Outside, the vast landscape below rapidly shrunk—fields, roads, and buildings becoming a neat patchwork as they approached the runway.
Softly, the wheels of the plane touched ground and all passengers felt a gentle jolt, reacting with a soft stagger on their seats. I'm in Birmingham? Wow.
The aircraft slowed down gradually, allowing Luca a clearer view of the airfield from Mallow's window. Just then, Mallow's phone popped into his sight. "Fifteen minutes past twelve, not bad," Mallow said, showing Luca the time on his screen.
Luca squinted to make out the numbers, the golden midday sunlight streaming in through the small window, partially blinding him. "Yeah, that's great," he replied, letting out a long exhale as the plane came to a complete stop
With a hum, the engines powered down.
After collecting their small luggage, Mallow and Luca waited their turn before disembarking from the plane. As they stepped down onto the tarmac, Luca felt a cool breeze brush against his face, ruffling his hair. Despite it being noon, the air carried a lingering chill, hinting at the unpredictability of the weather here.
After clearing all the airport formalities, Mallow hailed a cab for both of them, giving the driver direct instructions to head to Grey-Husson's.
Luca felt his blood boil with anticipation and anxiety. He couldn't believe he had just skipped town, and was in a taxi to a place he had never seen before.
He gazed out the window, watching as the towering buildings of the city began to loom over them, casting long shadows on the bustling road leading away from the airport. To Luca's surprise, Birmingham wasn't all that different from London. The busy streets, tall buildings, and constant hum of activity felt familiar. He thought that if he were to wake up here one day without knowing where he was, it might take him a while to realize he wasn't still in London.
The 20-minute drive stretched out like an eternity for Luca. Mallow had mentioned earlier that the Grey-Husson's facility was located on the outskirts of the city, much like Stadhaven's placement in London. But now, after winding through various roads and stretches of lush greenery, they were nearing their destination.
On the horizon, Luca's eyes caught sight of something unmistakable—the massive "G" emblem soaring above the landscape. Against a backdrop of endless, meticulously trimmed green fields, the symbol stood proudly atop a sleek, sprawling building. Luca didn't need any explanation to know that the iconic letter represented Grey—the legendary name behind Grey-Husson's.
Mallow had mentioned that the Grey-Husson's facility and its once-prestigious racing circuit were the pride of Birmingham before its transition to just a top-tier training and scouting location.
It's prestigious indeed, Luca thought to himself, marvelling at the exterior as the cab approached the electric gate.The architecture was quite modern, with clean lines and bold steel-and-glass facades that reflected the sunlight. Even as a training facility, it was more magnificent than Stadhaven.
An automatic security system activated as they approached the gate, and Mallow responded smoothly to the request for identification, allowing them to proceed.
Wow, Luca thought as the cab drove into the facility, moving round a courthouse fountain, before diverting into a major tarred path that ran deeper into the complex. They passed a series of smaller buildings that likely housed offices, training equipment, and lounges for racers and scouts alike. Beyond those structures, Luca spotted several tracks, neat and exquisite as if the asphalt was just applied yesterday.
His eyes widened in amazement when he caught sight of several F1 cars sitting idle in the distance, their sleek bodies gleaming under the midday sun. Engineers and mechanics were working on the cars, but they paused to glance and stare with curiosity at the yellow cab rolling into the facility.
"We're here, lad," Mallow muttered, drumming his fingers on his lap. "Let's just say this will be your home for the next two weeks. If you do well enough, you might not even head back. You could find yourself traveling from city to city."
Luca gulped as Mallow's words sank in. The idea of moving constantly, chasing races and opportunities, sounded both thrilling and overwhelming. Thoughts of his mother and sister filled his mind suddenly. Maybe I should call them... especially Mom, let her know I arrived safely, he considered.
Mallow stepped out of the cab, beckoning for Luca to follow. After paying the driver generously, Mallow led the way.
Luca's nerves spiked the moment his feet hit the ground. He shut the car door behind him and stood still for a moment, taking it all in. The air here felt different—crisper, charged with energy. His palms were already sweaty, his heart racing though there was definitely no need to.
Just then, Mallow's hand came down firmly on his shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Come on, let's get going," Mallow urged, guiding him toward a wide, grey building adorned with a few grand pillars. "Hola!" Mallow called out with enthusiasm, waving at the mechanics who had resumed their work on the F1 cars. They gave brief nods, waving back before diving back into their tasks.
"Beautiful day," Mallow muttered to himself, then, turning to Luca with a grin, added, "Welcome to Grey-Husson's, Luca."