Gilles approaches Bill before the race session starts and asks him why he helped him during the qualificiation, why he provided him an advantage of the slip stream.
Bill just smirks, rubs his forehead with his hand and then starts speaking: "Does that really bother you that much? Well, I saw your interview in the newspaper, honestly practicly everyone on the grid has read it."
"Really? I mean, what does that have to do with what happened during qualification?" Bill reaches out his hand and signatures Gilles that he should stop talking.
"I was just about to say it. You seem to have a good heart and a good head despite your young age. I like that, I like how you worried about the other driver. Most of the other drivers wouldn't. They wouldn't care about it at all. No! They don't have a good heart nor a good head, just a vision of success."
"Yeah, I think I have already heard that somewhere." Rubs his hand nervously.
Bill monitors him, "I hope that when you get into Formula One, you won't turn into such a success addicted monster as well."
Gilles stays in a shock for a while and then gathers a composure to speak, "Wait! I propably heard wrong. You wanted to say "if" I get into Formula One, right?"
Bill chuckles while shaking his head, "It gives you such a problem to admit a success everytime? That's something you should work on before entering Formula One."
"Well, yeah. But you didn't answer–"
"Jesus Christ, kid. It isn't enough that you obviously think that I am blind," he smirk, "but you seemingly think that I am deaf as well. It doesn't take one much time to notice you have a very impressive driving skills. It is just a matter of time until you get into Formula One. You, unlike us, have the advantage of being relatively young. How old are you again?"
This question takes Gilles off guard because he was so reveled in such a huge praise he was not used to and it takes him few seconds until he realises that he propably should answer and not just stare at his fellow competitor, "Uhm, twenty four. Why are you asking that?"
"Ah I see."
"What? Something wrong?"
"If I were you, I would definitely tell others that you are younger, it will improve your chances of getting into the higher leagues. Trust me because I am someone that won't get there due to the age."
"How old are you?"
"Does it even matter? Do you listen to me, kid? Or do you just stare at me like I am a God personified? I wanted to say that you should work on your self confidence and self recognition more originally. But now I see that you also need to check your ears," smirks after that and rubs in Gilles' hair, "okay then, I'll go now, kid. See you on the track!"
Bill walks away and Gilles has still so many questions on his mind but this feeling is overwhelmed by the feeling of gladness for all the praise that Bill gave to him. Something however starts bothering his mind more than praise or the question, it's the last thing that Bill told him. Not the part with checking his ears but the fact that he should work on his self confidence and self recognition more. Gilles tryes to remember those words.
"And I wanted to tell you one more thing, kid! Please give me a challenge during the race. Didn't you think I helped you just because I think that you are a scouty good boy, right?" After this he finally disappears somewhere into the pits.
Even thought Gilles was focusing on the praise and advices, this caught his attention even more than the previous things. What did he mean? What does this all mean? Is he really looking for a challange? Is he so bored? Or is he just playing mind games? And if so, did he mean all the things that he has said previously?
With his head filled with so many thoughts Gilles goes to his team where he finds out another overwhelming information. The main mechanic informs him that Joann went home because little Jacques was feeling sick and propably had a fever.
"Yeah and she said something in the way that she will tidy up your hotel apartment so ya can come back into a clean and shining place after a good race. So she propably wanted to tell ya by this that ya better end up on some good position." Gilles practicly freezes after this sentence, realising that she will for sure find the letter and photos from the reporter.
"What's the matter, kid? Something wrong? Are ya feeling sick as well?"
"Don't worry about it, sir," sighs, "you wouldn't understand."
Gilles doesn't know how to feel, so many thoughts consuming his mind. He doesn't know on which thought he should focus first. Most importantly, he doesn't know how he is going to race in such a state!
To be continued in the second part of this chapter!