Drive to Survive [Lando Norris]

-29-

After a peaceful sleep it was back to work and getting ready for FP1. Willow was looking forward to spend her weekend in Monaco and then the date Sunday night. 

Monaco was always such a beautiful and amazing track to race at, and that she was looking forward to as well. And hopefully also being able to impress Red Bull at a famous street circuit like this. 

"Okay, let's get you warmed up" Lilly announced as they began their warm up drills. 

While warming up, Willow told Lily about her current situation with Lando since it was technically Lily, who forced her to actually talk to Lando about everything. Lily was more than happy for her friend, and she had a smile on her face, when she saw how focused Willow was again as she walked around the garage with music in her ears preparing for FP1. 

--

"The left front tire feels a bit loose, Mark" Willow reported during her fifth lap in FP2. She had scored a solid P6 in FP1 and Willow knew that everything counted here in Monaco. Especially quali since it was such a hard circuit to overtake in. 

"Copy that, Willow. We're checking it out, in the mean time, please avoid the barriers and just come back to the garage" Mark informed her and even though she didn't like it, she did as he said and carefully drove her car back to the garage. 

And it turned out to be a very good decision to drive back to the garage, because just as she drove into the pitlane, the left front tire had a puncture and was barely hanging on the car anymore. 

After pushing the car the final way back into the garage, Willow got out and took her helmet, balaclava, gloves and neck support off. 

"What the hell happened?" She asked frustrated to Mark and some of the other strategists and the people sitting at the pitwall. 

"We don't really know, Willow. Maybe you hit something that we just couldn't see here. I'm sorry, but you still got P7 so far." Mark said trying to cheer her up. Willow sighed knowing that she couldn't do anything else and thanked Mark before making her way to her drivers room to get some other clothes on before she would move on to the interviews. 

-- 

"Hey, I heard what happened in FP2, I'm sorry" Willow turned around to be met with the tall British guy who was now walking besides her as they were leaving the paddock for today. 

"Yeah, I don't really know how it happened, but suddenly my tire felt wrong, and then I got a puncture in the pitlane. It sucked" Willow explained to George who gave her a reassuring smile. 

"Well my session wasn't much better. I was on a perfect lap before I had to avoid another car and touched the barrier. That sucked too" George said with a little chuckle and shrugged his obvious frustration away. 

"I guess we both had a shitty session" Willow said cracking a smile. 

"It seems like it, yeah. Well, I'm sure we're both gonna do better tomorrow" George smiled. 

"I hope so. Scoring some good points in Monaco of all places would be amazing." Willow said dreaming her way to a Monaco podium one day. 

"Well, never say never Willow, you never know what might happen" George said adding a wink causing Willow to laugh., 

"That's true." she laughed and they had now left the paddock. 

"I'll see you on track tomorrow. Sleep well when you get there" George said with a smile.

"Thanks, George. And you too" Willow replied before they both walked to their own cars and drove back to the hotel. 

-- 

The next day made Willow nervous. She had scored P8 in her FP3, but in an hour, it was time for qualifying. And at a track like Monaco, qualifying was very important. Of course Charles Leclerc was the hometown favorite, and that didn't exactly help Willow seeing all the fans just rooting for Charles. Of course she understood them, but it was just very important to Willow that she would get a good result here. 

"Willow?" Willow found herself completely zoned out while her thoughts were racing and she was unable to really understand what was going on. 

"Willow?" Someone called for her again, but she couldn't figure out where the sound came from.

Suddenly she felt someone interfere their fingers with hers and dragged her away. Her surroundings became more dark, and finally it was like her thoughts stopped racing for a moment and she could focus again. 

"Willow!?" she took a quick breath and finally adjusted her sight only to find herself starring right into Lando's worried yet weirdly comforting eyes as she noticed he had his arms around her and were stroking her back gently. 

"Lando?" she asked a bit confused as to how she was now standing inside a building in a corner with Lando in front of her. 

"Are you okay?" he asked still worried and pulled her into a hug. She didn't really hug him back, but only because she was so confused. 

"What happened?" she asked and Lando looked at her again. 

"I saw you standing outside with a very confused and almost scared look on your mind and you weren't responding to me, so I pulled you inside. Are you sure, you're okay?" he asked again and she nodded. 

"Yeah I- I think, I just zoned out" she said feeling herself calm down in his presence. 

"Are you sure that's all? You know, you can tell me right?" he asked softly with a little smile. Willow looked around the room to make sure that no one could see them since she really couldn't deal with the media or anyone else right now before she softly kissed his lips just for a few seconds before she looked at Lando again who know had a smile on his face. 

"I know" she sighed, "Thanks Lando, I really needed that" she explained causing Lando to smile even wider. 

"I didn't really do anything, tho" he shrugged and she chuckled. 

"Maybe not, but I still needed this" she said with a little smile. 

"So are you sure, you're alright now?" he asked again. 

"I'm sure." she said and they finally left the building and gave each other a quick hug before they both had to get ready for qualifying. A thing that still made Willow nervous, but her little meeting with Lando a few moments ago distracted her just enough to shrug her nervous self away and instead be happy and excited as she was now sat in her car ready for Q1. 

A/N

Hello dear readers <333

I just wanna say a massive thank you for the support on this book. I also wanna apologize for not updating in so long. My life has just been very bus lately, and I also have a massive writing block right now. I seriously don't know where to take this story anymore, so if you have any ideas, please wright to me in private or just hear in the comments. thank you <33