I can't seem to get myself together, and I'll regret it if things don't look better in your eyes.

After almost an hour of bickering over the Sat Nav, they finally found a car park on the edge of Bath city centre. George had rolled his eyes far too many times whilst they tried to follow the signs and nearly went up many a one-way road. Abi was smiling by the end, teasing George for his ironically terrible driving as they got out of the car and headed for the city. They were close to missing their table reservation, so George hurried towards the restaurant, Abi almost running to keep up with him.

"Slow it down," Abi begged, finally reaching his side again and linking their arms to slow him. "Not all of us are athletes, thank you." She huffed, George grinning at her.

"Just to make up for you taking the piss out of my driving." He smiled, heading towards the abbey and down a busy side street. "Come on; I need food." He groaned as he tried to pick up the pace again, Abi huffing and jogging alongside him until they reached the restaurant. Abi was sure she needed to go and blot her foundation immediately, fearing she already looked an oily mess from the ten minutes of light jogging.

"A table for two booked under Russell," George told the waiter oce they had reached the restaurant, the two unlinking their arms as they stood in the foyer. "It was for half eleven." The waiter nodded, picked up menus from the table, and led them inside. Stepping through the doors revealed a vast, high-ceilinged room with huddles of red velvet sofas and a large gold and marble bar in the middle. It was fancy.

"You didn't have to go to all of this," Abi smiled as they sat in one of the booths. "I would have been happy with a greasy spoon." George chuckled and shrugged, taking off his jacket and laying it in the space between them, Abi doing the same before gazing at the menu. It was expensive, and she was hesitant to let George buy her breakfast in such an establishment.

"Well, it's one of my favourite restaurants, so why not treat us both." He shrugged nonchalantly and picked up the drinks menu. "No place better than somewhere with a morning cocktail menu." He chuckled, passing the menu to Abi once he had decided what he wanted.

"How horrifically fancy." She smiled, taking it from him and raising her brows at the cost of some of the items. "George, this is so expensive," She whispered. "Honestly, I'll be fine with just a coffee."

"You have whatever you want; I'm the one dragging you away from whatever you had planned for the day. My treat." He smiled, rolling up his shirt sleeves to his elbow, Abi letting her eyes run over the veins that protruded on his forearms. "Whatcha fancying?" He asked eyes firmly on the menu.

"Uh, poached eggs, I think... With the spinach and chilli halloumi. Sounds good." Abi said, a little flustered as she looked back to the menu. George was smirking, knowing full well she hadn't had a second glance at the menu. Just something about George captivated her, and she hated that it did.

"A great choice." He hummed. "I might have the same," He decided as the waiter approached and took their order, two coffees and a jug of orange juice joining their order. "Bet you wish you were sunning yourself again this weekend," George said, making Abi look up from where she was idly fiddling with the rings on her thin fingers. "Must say it's pretty crap to go from all that lush weather to this."

"Ah, tell me about it. I'd kill to be laying on a beach right now." She sighed, their eyes locking and a smile falling to her face. "Hopefully, we'll go out for Abu Dhabi, so I'll get some sun then, but it's not the same." She chewed her bottom lip. "A week in Italy is really needed right now." She decided, George chuckling though not taking his eyes from Abi.

"Mm, Abu should be a good weekend, but we've got to get through Singapore first." He grimaced, fingers drumming against the table as Abi tilted her head a little. "Not my favourite track; I've never done very well there, to be honest. And it's always bloody cold." They both laughed, a jolt running through Abi when they made eye contact, and George's face softened, gently biting his lip. "Still, gotta do my job, haven't I." He smiled.

"Sadly so," Abi replied as their jug of juice was placed upon the table, the coffees soon joining it.

Abi was a little surprised by how enjoyable their morning was, sharing laughter over their plates of rich hollandaise and perfectly poached eggs. They shared ridiculous stories, pinching pieces of Halloumi from each other's plates and giggling to themselves. For such an expensive, luxurious restaurant, they were acting like children, earning numerous glares from the patrons around them. But they didn't care; they were far too engrossed in each other's company to give a thought to anything else.

Once they had eaten, they strolled along the high street together, admiring the buildings and joking as they reached the river. They paid to get into the gardens and wandered through the banks of bright carnations, crisp leaves below their feet. They chatted quietly, fingers grazing as they laughed with each other, the wind whipping and making Abi shiver as they perched upon the bench below the high arch of the bridge. It was a little more protected from the wind, though the damp shade made it drop a few degrees. George could see the goosebumps grazing Abi's arms, so he wrapped his thick wool coat around her shoulders while she was rolling a cigarette.

"You don't have to do that," She tutted a smile on her face regardless. He shrugged, back against the wall as Abi lit her cigarette. "Thank you, but you say when you get cold, you can have it back."

"I won't get cold, and it suits you better." He smiled, watching the blush appear on her cheeks. "Always chilly you; I remember when we went camping, and you'd appear in your dressing gown with your sleeping bag zipped to your chin." He laughed, the two smiling at each other. "They were good times," He hummed, fingers tapping his thigh. "We should do it again, you know. A little reunion in the broads." George suggested, making Abi raise an eyebrow and smile.

"That doesn't sound like too bad an idea," Abi smiled, wrapping the coat around and bringing the cigarette to her lips. "I suppose I can mention it tomorrow? I mean, that's if I dare broach the subject of... you and I." She said through a breath of smoke, an uneasy feeling settling in George's stomach. He chewed his lip and looked at his lap. "Like, us, you know, getting to know each other. It's a bit new, and before you know it, we'll have people selling goofy pictures of us to the papers."

"I'm sure the Mail won't be that interested in pictures of you and me in our school uniforms." George chuckled, Abi shrugging and looking to him, their eyes meeting again. "I get what you mean." He smiled, though the feeling settled at the bottom of his stomach.

He had been trying so hard to gain Abi's forgiveness that he knew he had to take every step he could. But the trip to see her? The second he knew Alex wanted to see her again, he knew he had to make a move. He loved Alex like a brother, but Abi was Abi... Abi was the girl he had fallen in love with when he was but a boy, the girl he had shared the most blissful night with. As they sat apart on the bench, eye to eye, all George wanted to do was reach and kiss her just like the first time.

"After the season," She reassured, smiling sweetly and placing her hand upon George's knee. "We can broach things and see what's going on with us," Abi said softly, moving his hand from George's thigh as she brought the cigarette to her lips. "I promise, I... I've always enjoyed your company, and even though I guess circumstances have changed, we're still similar people, the same people." She continued, though George's skin was burning at the loss of her gentle touch.

"We are." He nodded, knowing that it was the most sensible conclusion. The end of the season was just five weeks away. He knew that they could still call and meet up in that time. But it gave five weeks for Abi to mull it over. George knew that Alex was still in the picture; he had let slip they were still talking when he and Lando had had a CoD session with him during the week. He understood, and he knew he had to be mature about it. "You need what's best for you; I just like spending time with you. Today is just us getting back to being friends. It's not, uh, a date," He said, suddenly interested in the toes of his loafers.

"Just friends being friendly." Abi laughed, a smile brightening her face. George grinned at her and watched her take a final drag of her cigarette. "Come on, before you catch a chill because I've nabbed your coat." She beamed as they stood and headed back towards the exit, knuckles grazing once again as the wind whipped and Abi continued to shiver through her many layers.

"Come on, let's get a coffee and warm you up." He laughed, wrapping an arm around Abi as her head rested against his shoulder.

"You know exactly the right words to say." Abi grinned, the two sharing a look before laughing and heading toward the nearest Pret.

After drinking their mugs of steaming hot coffee and having another stroll around the stores, they headed toward the park where the photo shoot was taking place. Abi's legs were a little sore from the number of hills they had climbed, the two sitting down on the outskirts of the park so she could give her calves a massage. George apologised, insisting they could have got a taxi instead and reiterating how bad he felt. Abi's legs always got sore after the minutest of hills. Several treks through the forests when she and Cal decided to go rural for their weekends had taught her that, so she knew it wasn't George's fault in the slightest. But it didn't mean she couldn't play up to it a bit.

Once her calves had relaxed, they continued their walk, George carrying the bags of clothes they had invested in over the day. It wasn't much, a new jumper for himself and a Loony Tunes charity shop sweatshirt for Abi. George had snorted at the sight of it; bright blue with the opening card embroidered on the front - if anything, it was George's detest for the sweatshirt that made Abi buy it.

The shoot setup came into view as the sun began to settle beyond the horizon. Massive white sheets hung in front of the Victorian crescent, hiding it from the cameras set up on the grass in front of the two next-season cars, Robert already sat on the tyre of one of them having photos taken.

"Not late, are we?" Abi asked, a little worried as they approached the mass of crew and fans. "Lots of people here."

"Nah," George smiled, looking around the set, Robert catching his eye. The two men waved. "Perfectly punctual." He hummed as they shuffled past the revelling crowd, a reassuring arm wrapping around Abi's waist as they crossed the threshold. One of the security guards immediately halted them, though once he had looked to his clipboard and back to the youngsters, they were allowed in to greet the crew. Abi said a quick hello but soon sat on the grass behind the cameras when George was rushed off to be suited and booted. The wind had calmed, and it had turned into a clear evening, though as the sky turned golden, the temperature had dropped, meaning Abi remained cold below her several layers.

She lit a cigarette and watched George reappear from the cabin to the side of the set, laughing with the stylist beside him and offering Abi a wave as he was dragged to the sound team. It was interesting to watch, a photographer getting as close as he could to Robert to take photos as they strapped the microphone to George's suit, Abi smiling a little at how great he looked in the new branding. As much as she had liked the martini stripes, the shade of blue complemented the deep tan on George's high cheekbones perfectly, and it was hard for Abi to hide her blush as he unzipped the suit to have the mic strapped to his bony collarbones.

As they raced across the grass, ripping it to shreds with endless doughnuts, the crowd gasped in awe, the men coming wheel to wheel on far too many occasions. Abi grinned on, the sound of the engines giving her the same feeling as it always did.

She wondered what it would be like to be behind the wheel, doing 100 around a hairpin without fear. She knew the lads weren't going full pelt down the track that they had made in the grass, but it was still fast enough to make her tense. One wrong steer, one unaccounted for bump, too much throttle, too little brake. She shuddered at the thought, strangely overcome with relief when the director called it a night and the men appeared from their cars.

She had been chaining without realising, looking at the cigarette resting between her fingers with a frown. It had been a very quick hour and a half, the sky now lit only by the floodlights that laced through the park, and Abi was exhausted. George headed back into the cabin to change, Abi gathering their things and said goodbye to the camera operator she had spoken to sporadically, smiling at George as he walked over.

"How was that then?" George asked, a new bag slung over his shoulder, taking the others from Abi as they headed back towards the exit.

"Really cool. It was making me stressed, though." She laughed as George wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "The clips were looking good from what I saw too," She added, a few people looking at them suspiciously as they walked past and onto the tarmac track that led down to the main road.

"Good," He smiled, eyes upon Abi. She looked tired, so he decided not to suggest dinner, instead running his eyes over her long lashes and along the soft line of her nose, ever-pouting lips curled into a small smile. "Want to head home? We can stop and get dinner at one of the services, yeah?" He suggested, Abi turning to look at him, a sleepy smile crinkling the soft skin beside her eyes. Those deep blue eyes that George was sure he could go swimming in should he get too close, the flecks of gold and hazel that made them all the more unique, how bright they became when she was happy, the fire that lit them when his met them for the first time in two years. Her glasses so perfectly framed her face, straight mousy hair tacking to her lipgloss. Her cheeks were rosy under the white lights, so close to his side as they walked along the path.

"Yeah, if that's alright." She smiled, George nodding and smiling back at her.

"Of course." He said as she turned back to look around the park, the bustling of the shoot still going on behind them, metal clattering and echoing throughout the night. But George's eyes were still upon her, not distracted by the commotion.

He wanted to kiss her, lean forward and feel the touch of those lips again. He knew it would be the same, the same halted breath, the same soft taste of smoke and lime, the thump of his heart in his ears. He could stop and bend forward, steal the forbidden fruit. The longer he looked at Abi, the more he wanted to squash his conscious and do it, cup her jaw once more and feel that familiar warmth. They were close enough that if he were to guide her shoulder a little, they would almost be facing each other, and he could dip down and kiss her. Kiss her.

"Scuse me, Mr Russell." Fuck. Moment ruined.

The pair paused and looked at the kid staring up at them, shaking hands holding a scrapbook that was hesitantly extended towards George. Behind stood the child's father, a proud smile on his face. George took his arm from Abi and knelt to be at the child's height.

"Do you mind if you sign this for me?" The boy whispered, and George looked at the drawing on the page. It was a crayon scribble of his car, presumably done that evening. It was incredibly sweet, and, as the shaking child smiled at him, any annoyance he had momentarily felt at not being able to make his move vanished.

"Of course; what's your name?"

"Jenson." He whispered, George smiling at the boy's father before uncapping the Sharpie in his hand. He signed it to the boy and then passed it back, allowing dad to take a photo of them before they hurried away in the opposite direction.

"Jenson," Abi smiled as they continued on their way. "Clear to see a love for the sport runs in the family." She added as George moved to wrap an arm around her waist.

"One of the greats, it's a fantastic choice." He shrugged as they reached the park's iron gates, heading down the hill and back towards where they had parked the car. "Christ, parking is going to be colossal, isn't it." He groaned, making Abi snigger.

"Not like you can't afford it, Mr F1," She pointed out with a smile, making George roll his eyes and smile at her sweetly.

"Well, after buying us brunch, I've pretty much blown my budget for the month." He teased, making Abi smack his chest with the back of her hand, the two laughing.

"Hey, I did try to split the bill, but you refused." She added, George shrugging and squeezing her waist.

"Hmm, just cause I'm such a gentleman." She snorted a laugh, and the two grinned at each other as they approached the alley that led to the car park they had found earlier that morning.

"Such a gentleman." She mocked, it then being George's turn to hit Abi playfully. "A gentleman." She wailed, the two laughing as they reached the car.

"Come on, sit down and shut up before I leave you here," George said, opening the door for Abi. She blew him a kiss as the door shut. George paused, smiling at the floor and shaking his head. It was just a joking kiss, but it made him blush nonetheless.

That damn girl.