Drive or Die - Alexi Cross - Chapter One Bahrain International Circuit

Aug 7, 2026

Upload by Aurora

Drive or Die opens with a flight into Bahrain, where the narrator records a pre-race study routine and deals with an awkward neighbor on the plane while preparing for a Formula 1 journalism apprenticeship. After landing, the story follows the shock and excitement of an unfamiliar destination, rapid airport interactions, and messages from family and contacts. The narrative then builds toward an encounter with Sam Morgan, leading into the narrator’s backstory about earlier study plans and a turning point through a sports apprenticeship application.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages235

Reading Time6 h 2 min

AccessFree to download

Chapter One Bahrain International Circuit

Flight preparation and on-board discomfort

Arrival in Bahrain and family messages

Sam Morgan encounter and backstory

[OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) This one’s foryou, Dad. Thanks for all the cups oftea and takeaways. I’ll be sure to leave a good Tripadvisor reviewfor Bowers Towers. [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) CHAPTER ONE Bahrain International Circuit I pause my music and grab my backpack – my laptop, book and sleep mask already packed away – the moment the fasten your seatbelt light blinks oϦ, ready to disembark in the most eϩcient manner this cabin crew has ever seen. They’ll speak of me in future training sessions, I’m sure: the gold standard of aeroplane passengers. My neighbour, the heavy breather in seat 25C, is still ϯddling with his seatbelt, so I step over him to get into the aisle. He frowns at me, but letting me pass is the least he can do, seeing as he’s spent most of the ϲight with his knee pressed against mine and his leg stretched out in my footwell. I tried counterpressing to maintain my personal space, but I think, if anything, he just enjoyed that. When I ϯnally asked him to please move his knee, he looked me up and down and said, ‘Sorry, sweetheart. Long legs.’ The ϲight was ϯne apart from that, and my headphones mostly drowned out 25C’s snores so I could still read through my notes, testing myself on drivers’names and statistics, championship results, and the highs and lows of each of the teams, with Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album providing the soundtrack to my Formula 1 education. I’ve been in full research mode for weeks, worried I don’t have the foundation knowledge to make the most of this journalism apprenticeship. Some people (my sisters) might say I’ve been unbearable to live with and that I’ve been obsessing about a world I’m not the slightest bit familiar with, but I consider it preparation. Usually, it’s me kicking my sister, Róisín, out of my room, but for the last few weeks I’ve been following her everywhere, attempting to download from her F1 superfan brain. Formula 1. I still can’t believe it. Before I get my case, I bob my head down and look through the small, round windows. I’ve been so focused on preparing for where I’m going, I haven’t taken a moment to realize I’m really there… the ϯrst stop. I can’t see much, but it’s deϯnitely diϦerent from Dublin airport, the only other place I’ve ϲown to visit Dad’s family. Oh, and Dubai, as of three hours ago. ‘Bahrain,’ I whisper to myself. ‘Actual Bahrain.’ ‘Yes, actual Bahrain,’ says 25C, still sat in his seat. ‘I’d also like to get my bag, if that’s all right with you, sweetheart?’ I ϲash him a fake smile, then reach up and push a case across in the overhead bin. 25C’s elbow is sticking over his armrest and now digging into my leg, and he shakes his head and tuts at me. I grab the handle of my case and pull it towards me, accidentally knocking his shoulder and arm as I bring it down. He gasps and clutches his arm where he’ll probably get a bruise. Shame. ‘So sorry,’ I say, feigning shock and pulling the handle of my case up with ashrug. ‘Short arms.’ 25C’s cheeks turn as red as the airline’s logo, and I smile and shuϬe along the aisle towards the exit and what has to be the most unexpected and exciting opportunity I’ve ever had. A couple of texts welcome me to a Bahrain phone network, and my screen ϲashes with notiϯcations from my parents, my older sister Nora, younger sister Róisín, then the Finn Fam (Finnerty Family) WhatsApp group. My sisters have sent a photo of them both tucked up in my bed, wearing my pyjamas, and I look at them both, exactly the same shade of light-brown hair and nose freckles as me, and choke on a little chuckle. I can only manage a quick, I’ve landed safely! message and promise to call once I get to the hotel; I don’t feel like bursting into tears at passport control. My phone vibrates again but this time it’s Sam Morgan, welcoming me to the country and reminding me where to ϯnd him. Floor-to-ceiling screens promoting pre-season testing at the Sakhir Circuit ϲash with digital graphics, and

FAQs

What is the narrator preparing for during the flight to Bahrain?

The narrator prepares for a Formula 1 journalism apprenticeship by studying driver names, statistics, team results, and championship highs and lows while reading notes on the plane.

How does the narrator react after arriving in Bahrain?

She quickly confirms her location through airport phone alerts and messages from her family, then tries to handle passport control without becoming emotional.

Who does the narrator recognize at the airport, and why is it significant?

The narrator recognizes Sam Morgan, a famous Formula 1 journalist. The encounter signals an important step connected to her opportunity and journalism path.

Aug 7, 2026

Upload by Aurora