away we go • formula 1

The night of nights

We arrived at the club which was surprise surprise the bar of a hotel like it usually was. "So since I am by far the oldest here I should be in charge.", Daniel exclaimed. "That's the worst idea you've ever had.", I replied. The guys all chuckled at that. "Ok whatever let's get inside and kids behave.", he said as if he had any authority or anything like that. Max was walking behind me and kept his hand on the small of my back. I felt safe.

"So dear friend can we maybe get you to drink your first shot of the night with us? The four musketeers back together again?", Alex questioned and I quickly obliged. "What kind of question even is that. Let's go!", I was pumped. We left Max and Daniel at another table. The bar was packed with all sorts of people associated with F1. I even saw some of my team members and made a mental note to get talk to them later.
Alex, Lando, George and I were standing at the bar getting ready to chug down our first shot of the night. "To our hero!", Alex exclaimed. "Yes to our hero." The boys chimed in and we touched glasses and downed the shot. "Oh god! What was that?", Lando screamed. "Fricking tequila. I hate you Alex.", I laughed at the horrible taste. "Ah how I miss the days when we were sixteen and Linny was drinking tequila as if it was water.", George laughed at the memory. I didn't even notice but his hand was around me. "Those were the times", Lando laughed. "Let's not bring that up. I made some questionable decisions back then.", chuckled and leaned into George. "I hate to break it to you but you still do.", Alex sassed. "Right... well maybe I'm just a bad girl. Just like I always wanted.", I joked. "Oh you mean back when you were wearing only black and used more eyeliner than should ever be allowed?", Lando teased me. "Well at least I had some boys after me when I looked like that. Remind me again how tall you were at that time?", I mocked him. He blushed and pushed his bottom lip forward. "Mean. And it wasn't boys it was George.", he corrected. "True.", George said and I smiled at him. "Well that's long gone isn't it. And then the next guy was Stoffel. And that didn't work out either. Which only proved my theory that I am just not one to date and that's why I gonna be your wing woman from now on. Because that I'm good at.", I explained.  They all looked at me wearily. "That one shot sure has done its damage.", Alex said and Lando nodded. "You're mean so bye.", I chuckled and went back to where we left Max and Daniel. I felt someone behind me and turned to look at them. "Oh it's you.", I was a bit surprised to see George. "Yeah I didn't wanna leave you alone here. There are a lot of people.", he truly was the biggest gentleman you'll come across. "Thank you. But you could've stayed with those two idiots. I can manage on my own. I'm not 15 anymore.", I smiled at him. "I know. I just still worry.", he grabbed my hand. "Thank you. So wanna come to Max with me?", I asked him. "Mhmm I'll pass. But I promise we'll join you later.", he motioned his head to where Max was sitting. "Ok. You really promise you'll come later on?". "When have I ever broken a promise to you?", he looked into my eyes and left me to get to Max.
"Ah back already?"Max asked and he seemed kinda off. "Yes. I wanted to join you but if you'd rather be in bad mood again I'll leave.", I snapped. He looked at me with realisation in his eyes. "Sorry. I don't know what came over me.", he looked sorry.  A silence lingered between us - both of us sitting on opposite ends of the bank. It was awkward and we both knew why but nobody was finding  the courage to say it out loud.
"Wow you two seem like the life of party. Hello? This is your night. Get your booze and let loose.", Daniel danced around us. I faked a smile and got up to get some booze as Daniel suggested.
"One vodka Bull please", I ordered. "How is such a beautiful young lady alone tonight.", a guys voice said from next to me. "I'm not." I answered shortly wanting to be left alone. "Well I don't see anyone here?", he said lascivious. I felt uncomfortable and tried to ignore him the best I could. The bartender gave me my drink and I tried to leave but the man from before blocked my way. "Can you please let me get back to my people?", I asked controlled. "How about we have some fun babe?", he ignored me and grabbed my waist. I was disgusted by his actions and sadly this wasn't the first time something like this happened to me. "Sod off mate. That's my girl.", George suddenly stood next to me and got me. "Uh sorry man", the guy seemed intimidated by George's height. "Get out I don't wanna see you here tonight again.", George bellowed and with that he scurried away. "Thanks he was getting on my nerves.", I hugged him. "No worries. But I actually came to tell you that Max has been looking for you.", I tried to hide my excitement that Max wanted to talk but my eyes gave me away. "You like him, don't you? Just be careful and smart but that's you anyways.". "I will.". "There's one thing I gotta talk to you about though. Maybe tomorrow?", George asked. "Sure." "Good now get to Max he's by the other bar."

I looked around the room to find the Dutchman. "You were looking for me?", I asked. He turned to me and his face softened. "Yes. come on.", he took my hand and pulled me to a secluded area. The area was dimly lit and nobody was there apart from us. "So?", I asked when we were standing there looking at each other. "So.", He said looking anywhere but at me. "You do know that you wanted to talk to me?", I chuckled at his behaviour. "Yeah sorry. I'm not usually like this. Congrats on your race again.", he looked incredible nervous. "Thanks but you already congratulated me. Are you alright? You seem agitated or something?", I smiled at him. Obviously something was going on and to be frank I was hoping it had to do with the two of us. "Yes I just- I don't really know how to say it.", we kept silent after that because I thought he needed to sort himself out before going on. "I know I told you in Graz to tell me when you are looking into dating again. And you promised to call me once you do. That was unfair. Dilara called after that day. We have been dating for two years and after a long talk I saw that I couldn't just let it all go. Not at this time. We are back together and I feel like this time we are stronger than before. Your honesty with this showed me that I had to act like that too. So I am back with Dilara and I felt like you should know that.", my world stopped turning.

Breathe.

How could this evening go from potentially the best to one of the worst in no time? And the worst is - he looked genuinely happy which made it all that much worse for me. His eyes sparkled when he talked about it and I feel my heart shatter with every word he spoke. I wouldn't show him though. "That's great. I'm happy for you and thank you for telling me. Let's get back to the others then.", I faked the biggest smile and hid my emotions better than I ever did.
To him it must've looked like I was completely fine to the guys back at the front it didn't. Stoffel and George saw through my facade with the blink of an eye.
George grabbed my hand and pulled me from the table to save me from my misery.
"You wanna leave?", he asked and I nodded once we were out of sight.
He called a taxi to bring us back to the track. "How did you know?" I asked in a small voice. "I dated you I notice certain things. Especially you putting up a front. It may have been years since we were together but I still notice.", He asked while holding me. "I don't understand how everything goes to crap every time. Whenever something good comes along the bad follows like a shadow.", I mumbled.
We stood there in silence until our taxi came. "Do you wanna tell me what happened?", he asked while we drove along the country roads. "He told me he was back with Dilara and that my honesty has inspired him to do so.", I sniffled as I was still in George's arms. "And to think that I thought he was jealous about you when secretly he probably hoped we would get together so he didn't have to feel sorry for me.", I finally connected the dots. "Wait hold up. What did he ask about us?", George couldn't follow my story. "Daniel asked if we ever were together. You and me. Max tensed and I said yes but it's long over. Max seemed down about that so I kinda tried to tell him it's really over. He wasn't more relaxed after that. But in retrospect it's probably because he was hoping we were back on. Or that I was still interested in you.", I explained frantically sniffling. "Oh babe.", he rubbed my arm. "Whatever... what was I thinking anyway. Look at her and then look at me. She's a literal model and I'm basically a boy.", a tear tan down my face. "Hey don't talk about yourself in that way. You are beautiful.", he wiped away the tear and we sat in silence for the rest of the ride.
George paid the taxi driver and we got into the track area. "I'm such a shit friend. I didn't even say a word to Stoffel.", I realised and slapped my forehead when I saw a McLaren banner. "Just message him he'll understand.", George calmed me down.
I'm so sorry. I guess you kind already figured out I left? I had to get out or I would've drowned my sorrows. I love you pls don't be mad <3 -Lin ❣️

We arrived at my motorhome and I let us inside. "I haven't even drunk enough to be tipsy.", I complained. "Say no more.", George chuckled and pulled out some liquor from my cabinet. "Wait a second since when do I have that stuff here?", I asked confused. "Lando stashed it here to hide it from his father.", George explained. "Wow.", I chuckled in disbelief.
He poured us both a shot.
One shot turned into ten and I was completely drunk by then.
"So much for not being drunk.", George said and laughed. "Yeah but I needed that."
We were sitting practically on top of each other. "You know I meant it.", George said. "What?", I ran my hand through his perfect hair. "You are beautiful. You were when you were 15 and you are now", he looked straight into my eyes and I blushed. "Don't say stuff like that. You know I am bad with compliments.", I whispered and looked away. "But it's the truth.", he whispered.  "Thank you for being you.", I whispered while turning my head back to look at him. "No thank you.", our faces grew closer. "Should we really?", George asked in a hushed voice. "Yes.", I said and connected our lips.