I started to recall all the moments that happened and that could have happened. Was it me? Had I done something wrong? I couldn't think straight until I was snapped out of my gaze.
Max's Pov
"Lando!" I shouted. He had clearly zoned out and couldn't hear me. He turned to look at me. His eyes were staring in to mine
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They were the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. He broke the eye contact first by looking down into his lap.
He was clearly uncomfortable but he still spoke up. "Max, what did you lie about?" He asked me. I was startled. How could I explain this. "Well.." I started. I could feel my stomach flipping inside. "My dad overheard the radio conversation between us" I continued. "Anddd.." he questioned. "He told me some not nice things in Dutch about me being gay" I spoke quietly but loud enough for Lando to hear. "I'm sorry" he replied "when did you realise that you were gay?" I questioned myself at Lando's question. When did I realise? I thought to myself. "2 years ago at the last Belgian Grand Prix" I replied. His eyes lit up. "How did you realise?" He continued. Oh shit! I should have just lied. How do I tell him it was him that made me realise that I was gay. It was his beauty, his charm, his eyes, his smile, his everything basically. Luckily, he filled the awkward silence by saying, "I was at the race two years ago too" Oh shit, I thought to myself. What if he put two and two together?
Lando's Pov I didn't realise that he was gay. I felt so bad for him. He doesn't deserve all the hate. " when did you realise that you were gay" I asked him. He told me that it was at the Belgian Grand Prix two years ago. I had been there. Was it me? I thought to myself. No don't be silly lando of course it wasn't you. "I was at the race two years ago too". I was desperately trying to avoid the thought that it could have been me. Why would it be me anyways? I filled the silence, " anyways, great race out there. You were a lion on track". I knew he wasn't fully listening - it was obvious that he was lost in his thoughts. I got my phone out and started to scroll through instagram as I knew Max was too busy to chat. After a few minutes, I heard a knock at the door. "Max! Max! Where have you been?" Bradley (Max's trainer) popped his head into the room that we were sat in. "Max, you know we need to do your cool down and massa- Oh hello Prince Lando, sorry to disturb you but Max needs to have his massage to avoid his muscles seizing up". The thought of a half-naked Max appeared in my head. "No worries Bradley, would you like me to leave" I responded. "Don't leave Lan! You can stay" was all Max could manage to get out. He was clearly desperate for me to stay. And he called me Lan, he's never done that before. I tried to ignore it.
Max's Pov
"Don't leave Lan! You can stay" was all I could say in the time I had. Shit, Shit, Shit! I had just called him Lan in my desperation for him to not leave. I hoped he could just overlook it. I could decide whether Bradley had come at a good time or a bad one but whichever one it was, I was desperate for Lando to stay, I still needed to get his number.
I did a few stretches before it was time for my massage. I removed my race suit and then my fireproofs until I was left in just my boxers. I felt pretty self conscious with Lando in the room. I just hoped that he hadn't seen the bruises. Bradley knew about the bruising but never mentioned it to me. I know he knows because he always avoids the sensitive areas when training me. The issue is, my dad has threatened to beat me more if I tell anyone about it so I need to make sure that no one questions me. I've never talked to someone about it.
Lando's Pov
I was watching as Max was getting ready to have his massage. As he took if his fireproof top, I noticed some bruising. That can't be comfortable, I thought. I figured that it was from racing but I made a mental note to ask him if his seat was comfortable to see if I could eek out some information from Max. Max was widely regarded as a cold, closed person who didn't share much. Many compared him to Kimi Räikkönen in his media presence: quiet but there.
I thought it was one of his best traits. To me he was perfect. He was built like a statue. He was a lion to most, but a kitten to me.
Max's Pov
"Lando," I started, "I don't know what you saw earlier but I need to speak to you". "Why?" he replied. I knew I just needed to spit it out. I couldn't contemplate it any longer. Someone needed to know.
I needed help.
"What is it Max?" Lando asked impatiently. I felt trapped. I just couldn't speak. I was sick to my stomach.
"Help me. Save me." I pleaded. I needed someone and that someone was him. A charming, charismatic boy who has flipped my life: taught me that there's more than just racing.
But Lando was no longer in front of me. He was gone.
