19.Dec.2022:
The floor of Welton High school court was a polished mirror, reflecting the overhead floodlights and the chaotic jerseys darting across it; the only thing that mattered was the orange sphere bouncing in sync with the floor.
Ruslan felt Ace coming up behind him, his hand swiped at the air near his elbow, but he already passed the ball to his teammate.
They were playing the most anticipated basketball game of the year.
Welton High school VS Dartford High school.
Dartford beat them last year which explains why everyone at Welton was playing their hearts out tonight, one more loss would leave their reputation in the mud.
Ruslan wasn't part of the team anymore since he graduated last summer, but they still needed him.
Tonight's game was serving as a reminder of what his days were like before the chaos that is his life nowadays, things have been happening so quick he's barely digesting them.
The atmosphere in the stands was very electric, Ruslan turned towards a girl sitting in the front row, she already had her eyes on him sending him a quick kiss he smiled at, before he turned his attention back to the battlefield.
He was not the star player tonight; nevertheless all eyes were on him, friends and foes alike had their minds reeling from last week.
Ruslan was awarded the FIA Formula two driver's championship trophy last Friday-a milestone achieved by few. Yet he didn't think of it as an extraordinary achievement as it was never the end goal for him, but everyone here seemed to think otherwise, some even showed up here merely to meet him-Ruslan was told.
The ball rippled through the net, and the sound that followed was visceral.
The ball had bounced off the iron after a missed shot from one of Dartford's cocky players, Ruslan snatched it out of the air with an amused grunt, then started sprinting as fast as his long limbs allowed him.
Before a couple of blue jerseys could corner him, he passed the ball over to John who was playing with a point to prove.
The shot clock was now a glowing red wound in the air, ticking down the final moments.
Ruslan shot a quick look to the stands, but Lara's eyes were fixed elsewhere this time, speaking on what looked like his phone.
Slightly confused, Ruslan redirected his focus back to his teammates who were charging toward the player in the blue jersey who had managed to narrowly escape them, inspite of their plan to stall him. However it did him little good as the clock had run out before he could make his move.
Joy erupted through the crowd as Welton emerged victorious, regaining their almighty reputation.
Ruslan left the court soon after, avoiding the chaotic celebratory scenes, his eyes were wandering left and right searching for Lara until he spotted her at an exit door.
"Welton has finally regained its rightful place-a game for the ages this one" He started before he approached her and only then did he notice the slim figure of a man just outside the door.
"Jerry, are you stalking me now? What are you doing here?" Ruslan joked with the man next to Lara, who pulled him aside quickly.
"You won't believe what I have to say -because heck neither can I! And as I apparently couldn't wait until the morning I dialed your number at once and she answered, so here I am" Jerry was speaking so quickly and so joyfully leaving him no room for inquiry, while literally draging Ruslan along by the shoulder.
Jerry pushed open the nearest door and motioned for them to come in.
"Alright what's the matter? and why are we shoved in a classroom?" Ruslan wondered, after he walked in hesitantly, curiosity written all over his face. Lara walked after him, her expression mirroring his own.
Jerry took a deep breath before saying, "I was just on the phone with Stewart" he then paused as If to measure their reactions.
"Lancaster wants you as their second driver for next season" Jerry dropped the bomb.
Ruslan was just standing there, frozen, eyeing Jerry with a confused look, as he was trying to comprehend the news.
Jerry stood right in front of him, shaking his shoulders with an ecstatic look, "You made it to Formula 1!" he shouted.
Ruslan remained still, a hundred thoughts racing through his mind at once, until he was snapped out of his daze by Jerry embracing him tightly, "We did it kid, we did it" he whispered between his breathy laughs.
Lara then practically jumped at his neck, laughing, crying and cheering all at once, happiness radiating from her.
Ruslan then moved wrapping his arms around her for a brief moment before turning back to Jerry. "But how did that even happen?" Ruslan exclaimed, still in utter shock.
"Gomes left for Maserati; they bought him out of his contract" Jerry explained blissfully.
"This is insane... dear Lord" Ruslan laughed, his face was buried in his hands, unable to conceal all the emotions washing over him.
"But what are we going to do now? We don't have enough time, I haven't even received my super license yet, I need to start training and prepare...".
"We will see to all the details tomorrow" Jerry cut him off, "Tonight, you go celebrate kid. I can already see your father jumping from excitement" he joked while the three of them were walking down the empty school corridors; everyone else was still celebrating back in the court from the looks of it.
"You have a wild imagination Jerry, you know that? see you tomorrow, okay?" Ruslan laughed. He walked toward his car, holding Lara's hand in his, a glisten of tears in his eyes and a wide smile lighting up his mesmerising features.
He'd gotten carried away with Jerry, and forgot he was supposed to take Lara back home before ten o'clock. Mr Diaz wasn't one to tolerate empty promises and Ruslan didn't like to take his chances.
It was nine-forty when Ruslan started the car. Now he had to find a way to make it to Notting Hill in twenty minutes and without breaking any rules in the process; a speeding ticket was not the first impression he planned to make after officially becoming an F1 driver.
"Getting to Formula 1 was a case of being in the right place at the right time" was a statement recited often in the motorsport world, yet it wasn't until now that he had fully grasped it.
Ruslan won the Formula 2 championship this year-the final stepping stone to Formula 1- Yet making his F1 debut the following year wasn't what he had anticipated.
Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motosport; a high-stakes marriage between the cutting-edge engineering empowering its cars and the peak human athleticism of its drivers. They're elite athletes operating at the absolute threshold of human endurance, piloting the most advanced technology on the planet.
There are only twenty spots on the grid; therefore, unless one was deemed worthy of a shot by any of the ten teams formally participating in Formula 1, they won't be joining the exclusive club.
Ruslan has been part of Jaguar racing Lancaster Academy for three years now, meaning he was tied by a contract to only drive for their teams. Owing to the fact their formula one team didn't have a vacant spot-with both their drivers locked in for at least two years-Ruslan expected to only serve as their reserve driver. However, in light of tonight's news, all of that was about to change.
It must be Christmas.