The Dutch Grand Prix [EN] [16+]

1

Second free practice of Formula 1 just finished so I am sitting in the stands, reading my book while waiting for Formula 2 practice to begin. Suddenly I hear girls around me screeching like fangirls. I look up but see nothing happening on the track yet so I continue to read.

"We are going to get some food," says my Bonus dad. I do not even look up and mumble that it's okay.

"Is that your sister?" A stranger asks. I punt my finger on the sentence that I last read and look up to the person speaking to me. "Who? My mom?" I ask before I realise who I am speaking to, it is Lando Norris. He is smiling from ear to ear. "Sorry did not notice that she was your mom," he laughs. "Well, she is twice my age," I respond. George Russell pushes Lando's back to the seat, "sorry for my friend's utterly inappropriate behaviour," he says. No problem I mumble when a bunch of teenage girls approach the drivers for some pictures and autographs so I try to continue to read my book.

When the girls leave, I cannot help myself but ask if they are not supposed to be in the paddock instead of the stands. I cannot remember ever seeing drivers in the stands, withstand Formula 1 drivers. George looks like he is caught by surprise and Norris answers before he notices: "Yes, my bud here saw you reading in the stands while all the other girls were on their phones so he was intrigued by you." I smile and look at George, whose cheeks turned red. Then I look behind him because I see another group of fangirls approaching, I try to let him know that with my eyes. He turns around and sees the girls. Lando stands up, greets the girls and gives them autographs and pictures. George signs some of their stuff and then sits down in Lando's seat. I look up to him. He looks uncomfortable. "Wasn't such a clever idea to come to the stands was it" I ask. He smiles awkwardly. "I did not think it would be this bad on Friday afternoon already," he confesses.

Lando sits down in George's former seat as these fangirls stick around and start asking him questions. One tries to include George too by asking him questions as well so I continue to read while they focus on their fans. After a few minutes, the girls start taking out their snacks and sharing them with the drivers. George offers me some. Who can refuse something from George Russell? Exactly, nobody. So, I take some crisps and thank him.

He apologises again for Lando who thought my mom was my sister. I smile at him. "Really it is not a problem. At least for once people don't start about my divorced parents." I laugh to make it less awkward. "What are you reading?" he asks. Now it is my turn to blush and I try to hide my book. "Can I see it?" he asks while leaning in to try to reach my book. I try to push my book more to the side with my left hand so he cannot see it. I make the mistake to look up and my nose almost touches his nose. His eyelashes are as long in real life as on the pictures. "Come on, don't be shy, it's just a book," he says. So, I hand him my book to create some distance between us. "Oh, you're reading fantasy, that's cool," he says while examining the back cover of the book. "I would rather hear from you what it's about than reading the back," he tells me while he hands me the book. I look down at the book in my lap wondering if I really should tell him what the book is about or make up a story. Then Lando pinches George with his elbow. He managed to get rid of the other girls and asks George to go back to the paddock. George nods and turns to me. "Would you come with us to the paddock where we won't be disturbed and you can tell me all about your book?" I am surprised, I did not expect him to ask me that. I have been in the paddock before but never at formula1. "Is that not very strictly secured? You need a pass and everything to enter," I hear myself say. I can hit myself in the face. A Formula 1 driver wants to hang out with you Mauve and you try to get rid of him?! What the hell are you doing? The voices in my head are right.

"I know a place where we can go where we won't be disturbed by the fans," Lando says. He whispers something in George's ear. George nods, turns to me and asks me again if I want to come with them. I obey the voices in my head, grab my linen bag and go with them.