Something Gained

Chapter Four

Qualifying.

Where you go hard or go home. Where it sets up your whole Sunday.

I got ready, pulling on my uniform and picking up my bag, my ID and my keys and walking out my door.

As requested last night, I was driving Daniel and Lando in this morning. So I stood in the lobby waiting for them both to materialise, hopefully on time.
I stood occupying myself by scrolling through work emails and anything going on at the moment in relation to the team and drivers.

"Morning" Lando said, making me jump at how silent he had appeared beside me. Setting him and Daniel into a fit of laughter.

"It's 7:45am and you're already winding me up" I said walking down the hallway with the boys in tow.

"Don't worry, she requires caffeine to not be so moody in the morning"

"I heard that" I shouted over my shoulder

"Caffeine in the morning, noted" I heard Daniel say. Before I got to the car and stepped inside.

Daniel was in the front, clearly being fair with the whole shotgun situation they had got into.

"Zak wants to brief before the practice session" I told them. Both nodded.

We arrived at the track, went through security and walked through the paddock to our trailer. The boys signing things and taking pictures with the fans that were in the paddock as we walked.
After the briefing with Zak the boys got their race gear on, and we went to do a few bits with some fans before getting them in the garage to do what they were here to do.

"Alex, my buddy, my pal" Daniel leaned casually against the wall just inside one of the briefing rooms upstairs in the hospitality.

I sat at the table, eyes flicking from my phone to my laptop, typing up some notes and filling in some details.

"I thought you didn't like buddy?" I asked, I snuck a look towards him before carrying on what I was doing.

"I don't like being called it-" he spoke, before coming over and taking a seat, leaning back in his chair casually.
"-anyway what you doing later?" He asked

"As in after we leave the track or" I stopped typing and strolled through some appointments that were set up for Lando and Daniel.

"Yeah when we're finished for the day, fancy a walk?" He asked. He had my full attention then, I looked towards him and he looked ridiculously relaxed, a smile on his face as usual.

"Like... me and you?" I queried. He shrugged casually

"Yeah, get to know who I'm working with" he said.

I sat for a moment in thought. It wasn't unusual for me and Lando to hang out, we did often during the race weekends. But Lando had never directly asked what I was doing and if I wanted to hang out.

"Sure why not" I said shrugging. He nodded almost triumphantly, but something felt a bit strange about it and I couldn't work out why.

"You're being weird" I said after a while of watching him tap away on his own phone, he looked up immediately

"How?"

"I don't know, asking to hang out?" I queried

"I'm just being friendly is all" he said, his eyes met mine and I felt less weird about it. This time my smile wasn't so forced and I nodded again. He had nice eyes, like an amber/hazel colour. Full of warmth and happiness.

I broke away from his gaze as quickly as I realised I was staring at him.

We let the silence sit between us, waiting for Lando so we could begin what they needed to do.

When he arrived, I sat them down on the sofa as they were doing some bits for fans and things. They had certain opportunities and commitments during race weekends, it was a big hit when the fans could see a little more about the guys they were supporting every weekend.

It would be simple stuff like questions, or fun little tasks. Last year, when I had Lando and Carlos doing these things, I was always laughing at them.
Daniel being the person he was, and the way everyone spoke about him, I knew these things would probably be equally as funny.

I walked into the garage right as both Lando and Daniel were getting into their cars ready for qualifying. I sat myself down with a couple of the others near the stats screens, headphones in and glued into the session.

"Daniel that's p6, that's p6 well done mate. Lando in p7 right behind you. Well done" I heard through the radio when it was all wrapped up.

There was a certain atmosphere in the garage knowing that the team had done fairly well, Daniel was settling in nicely, and both cars were together, which meant equal performance between the two.

Later, I was back in my hotel room just watching the tv while laying in bed when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in" I shouted, I was far too comfortable to be moving. Daniel came walking in and stood at the foot of bed, he was wearing shorts and a white T shirt and a baseball cap.

For a second I just looked at him, admiring him out of team gear and how laid back and good he looked. Then I shook myself from the ridiculous thoughts and waved to him casually as he stood in front of me.

"So she does stop working" he remarked

"Sometimes" I shrugged, stretching my arms above my head. Doing anything to keep my mind wandering again.

"But lying in bed, I thought we were going for a walk?" He asked flopping down next to me on his stomach.

"I got comfortable" I responded, "which apparently so are you" I raised my eyebrows at his casual behaviour

"I can see"

"Are you always like this with people you barely know?" I questioned

"Like what? Comfortable?" He asked

"Yes"

"Only the nice ones" he smiled

"Smooth" I rolled my eyes before throwing my blanket off of me. He jumped up as soon as I had.

I grabbed my sunglasses and my bag, and followed him out the door to wherever we were going.