Book 1: Oh love, how could I forget~ (Lance Stroll)

Chapter 61: Quite Chilly

Another media day has come and yet it started differently.

"Have you seen.. Lance at the briefing?" Lily asks George as they met at the paddocks.
"Not really. I think he called in sick" George says which Lily finds a bit weird. Lance didn't tell her that he was sick. It got her really worried.

Lily went on with her day, checking her phone every now and then but still no response from Lance.

"Ma belle are you okay?" Charles asked as he notices her pacing around.
"Uh.. did you see Lance anywhere today?"
"Not really no. Why?"
"He hasn't texted back or anything. Only thing I heard from George was that he called in sick." Lily sighs
"Hmm.. yeah I did hear someone say that earlier"
"Really? Gosh what do I do?"
"Maybe he's resting ma belle. Just give it some time. He'll respond later. Don't stress too much"
"But still. I've been texting him since morning and now its afternoon already" Lily frowns

"Charles! We need you here" another Ferrari staff from the marketing department called him in for a video. Lily understood and nodded him goodbye.

"Ma belle!" George was carrying his bag ready to go back at the hotel.
"Georgeee!"
"aren't you going back now?"
"Charles has to do something. Might take a while"
"Why don't you come with me to the gym then? To release some steam?"
"Hmm.. okay let me just tell him first"

Charles understood this and so Lily went back and got into George's car. They went back to the hotel and met at the gym.

"I mean.. isn't it weird that he hasn't asked to go there atleast?" Lily getting a bit annoyed.
"Well.. maybe he's busy?" George answers as he does some workout.
"I mean, we met this week and it was pretty romantic too. Just kinda weird that he's somewhat cold this weekend"
"Ma belle. Can you pass that dumbbell" George receives the dumbbell as Lily was still pressed on this.
"Why don't you ask him then?"
"I tried calling but he didn't pick up. I don't want to seem annoying so I only called twice. Maybe he is busy" Lily sighs as she sits on another machine.
"Maybe he is? But you said he still manages to text a thing or two when he has a full schedule"
"Ugh. I don't know anymore. Maybe I'm just overthinking this. What do you think?"
"You do tend to overthink ma belle"
"Geoorrrrgggeee!"
George chuckles as he finishes his set.
"Have you tried asking him out?"
"Whyyyyy don't I have prideee" Lily exhales as she tries to finish her set.
"I'm just saying. If you're that worried you should go there"
"I want to.. but too risky. There's some photographers who have been following me since thursday so I need to be careful."
"Aren't you guys tired of hiding all the time?" George thoughtlessly asked which made Lily stop what she was doing and just sits near George's machine.
"A bit yeah..."
"Have you asked him if he was okay with it?"
"Well.. he said.. it's fine"
"You don't sound too confident"
"Uhmm.. okay let me ask you something.. like as a guy"
George stops and he knew Lily was getting a little serious this time
"Do you always agree on what the girl says?"
"What do you mean by always" George grabs a towel, wipes off his sweat and sits down infront of Lily
"Like.. if you really like a girl do you say yes to almost everything she says?"
"Most of the time yeah"
"Then doesn't that make you feel like she wouldn't know you at all if you like what she likes?"
"Not really but you do have a point there. Some mates like other things or have different opinions"
"Exactly. But I don't think I know him much than he knows me.. do you get what I'm trying to point out here?"
"So you think... he wants to go public but doesn't want you to get in-between the mediawar that's why he just said yes to you.. thoughtlessly?" George slowly figuring out what Lily was saying
"Yeah.." Lily sighs
"I can't speak for him but I'm very open with what I want or not like in the relationship and I think that both opinions and decisions should be made together"
Lily sighs some more. She was thinking if Lance was getting fed up hiding all the time for her.

"Maybe I'm just getting clingy or am I just uhh I don't know paranoid?" Lily trying to wrap her thoughts. "Ma belle. Just do whatever your heart wants yeah? Okay?" George pats her head then proceeds to mess her hair making them laugh.

"Thanks for taking me here"
"Don't mention it. I'll always be here when you need me" George assures her as they walk back to the lift

"Max?" They see him in the lift as they go in too.
"You guys went to the gym?" Max asked.
"Yeah mate they have pretty good machines here" George responds as he pushes their floor
"How's Selena?" Lily asks with a smile on her face.
"We've been uhh.. great" Max was a bit hesitant as he answers.
"Ohh this is me. Good night boys" Lily says as she waves them goodbye.

Lily went back to her room and showered. She was still waiting on Lance's reply but there was none. She kept sighing all night until someone knocked on her door. "Lily are you there?" She hears Charles' voice from outside.
"Yes.. what's up?" Lily opens the door and sees a smiling Charles with some takeout
"Dinner?" He asks as he goes in.
"Thank youu" she closes the door and goes to the table as Charles prepare the food.
"Hmmm what's happening here huh?" Lily teases Charles. It's been awhile since they've done this.
"Nothing. Just wanted to eat dinner with you" He smiles.
"Can you eat this? Tomorrow's practice might be tough"
"Isn't it always?" They both laughed.

"So.. how are you.. two?" Charles hesitantly asks.
"I don't really know.. last Monday he was very sweet and then now he's been weird"
"He still hasn't replied?"
"Yeah.. I don't know maybe his phone broke?"
"Do you.."
"Do i what?"
"Do you want me to drive you there after Quali? You seem really worried"
"Will you really?"
"Anything ma belle"
"No take backs okay?"
"Yes" Charles smiles as he sees Lily become a little bit happier.

Practice came and like always, it was hectic. Especially inside the Ferrari garage. There was something off about the car and yet it was not up to Lily so she made sure her tasks are well done.

Lance was present for practice and secretly Lily was monitoring his race too. He got good results but Lily was still a bit sad that he hasn't responded.

She was walking outside for the post interviews with Charles as she sees Lance walking in the opposite direction talking to his manager. Lily stops walking. She wanted to call him out but they were outside, plenty of media near the paddocks plus he was talking to someone who doesn't know about their relationship.

She gulps as she feels her throat dry up. What was this thing that she's feeling.

"I'll drive you there tomorrow ma belle. Don't stress on it too much yeah?" Charles rubs her back softly as she sighs and nods.

Later that night, Lily sleeps in early so she didn't notice that she received a text.

Lance: Sorry babe.. my phone broke couldn't turn it on until now. Can we talk tomorrow?