Formula Short Stories And Stuff

LN Iced Chai

Sitting in a small cafe just outside of London, a slight breeze rustled the trees outside. A worn out book on my lap and 4 empty glasses in front of me I had no intention of leaving anytime soon. Heck for me I was just getting started. I hear the bells on the door jingle and a familiar laugh fills my ears.
"4 already? I swear you're gonna become an iced Chai latte one day if you keep going on at this rate" the voice chuckles as they pull the chair in front of my out to sit down.
"Sta' Zitto Norris (Shut up Norris). I have very few indulgences in life so let me have this one. I'm just a gal who enjoys a Chai latte and I don't get them often because when I drink them I want to have time to enjoy it" I huff letting my eyes roll as he lets out another breathy laugh.
"But its freezing outside and from the looks of it you're having iced chai. How are you not freezing Iz?"
"There is no temperature in the world that isn't perfect for an iced chai latte. Warm chai you have to wait for it so it doesn't burn your tongue and if you miss the perfect window it's ruined. Plus if I buy 10 I get one free, what a deal! I can't wait. Maybe I'll try for it today. I do have to pee though. It's going through me quicker than I though. Maybe I should have eaten something aswell. I didn't plan this out too well." I sigh as I cross my legs in my chair. I really should have thought this through more.
"Izzy, you treat drinking chai lattes like you're pregaming before the club. I don't think I've even seen you plan this much for a project that cost you a third of your grade. You're the craziest person I've ever met. And you call me unhinged. You are not drinking 10 today. Not on my watch. I promise I'll take you out for more when I come back from Abu Dhabi but I might have to cut you off soon you addict." He laughs again stacking the cups at the front of the table.
"But that's like 2 weeks away Lan. I can drink lattes without you being here you aren't my boss or my keeper. I'm a grown up. I've done my taxes once before and I actually slept with my closet door open the other night so I'm basically fully grown up. Fully competent."
"I may not be your keeper but I am your best friend and I'm not letting you consume enough chai to take out a small village. You will go crazy if I don't keep an eye out for you. You know that. And look at you with the closet door. I'm proud. Our last slumby you made me check the front door was locked 3 times before we could sleep. So this is a big improvement. Maybe next time we can even sleep with the door open. Or you can sleep window side" He rolls his eyes jokingly. I let out a huff and look him dead in the eyes.
"Number 1. I live on the first floor of an appartment and while it is convenient when I have groceries and when I moved in, my grandma says that people tend to break into first floor apartments because they don't have to scale the building like spiderman so I was just being extra cautious and you know I will never sleep with the door open or on the window side. I need to hear the sound of the door opening when someone breaks in so I have time to grab my bat and prepare to fight my way out of murder"
This really gets him laughing.
"You mean your hello kitty pink t ball bat? I'm sure all the scary murderers and intruders will crumple in fear when they see that. Especially in your footie pajamas. And if a murder wanted to murder you I think first floor or 7th floor it wouldn't matter. Your appartment doesn't have the most secure security. I don't even have to buzz in. I just jiggle the front door and make my way to the elevator."
He's right. I don't live in the Ritz Carlton or anything but it's still a fear of mine.
"We can't all afford living in prime real-estate Lan. Plus you're the one who chose to be my friend this long so that seems like a you issue. Plus you would never give up our slumbies. You would miss my parmesan popcorn too much. And who let's you be little spoon every other time? I don't think Daniel let's you be little spoon when you're out traveling the world. So there" I cross my arms satisfied with my rebuttal. Maybe I shouldn't have brought up the little spoon thing. My heart beats a little faster thinking about it though. I miss our cuddles when he's gone. Even though he can be a real pain in the ass the man knows how to cuddle.
"That reminds me that we need to have one soon because you're right I do miss your parm popcorn. That stuff is like crack and magic. Cragic. I don't know. Plus you know for a fact you're little spoon way more. I don't mind because you are so pocket sized but you can't use that card. And you don't know if Daniel let's me or not, you never come to my races anymore."
Hes right. I haven't been to one of his formula 1 races yet. I used to go to his F2 and F3 races but when he got to F1 I made excuses on why I couldn't go anymore. I was afraid people would hate on me or I would get in the way.
"I'm busy you know that. Plus I don't want to be in the way or a bother. I want you to focus on the race and your work and not worry about me and if I'm alright. Also like I don't know anyone but you and George and Alex. What if someone took a photo of us together and people thought we were together. That wouldn't be great. It would dampen your chances of bagging a model or an actress or something. You would also get hate. I also dress like a teenage boy. I don't have Paddock style. Last week I bought a shirt that said 'this is my favorite long sleeve shirt' and it's a short sleeve shirt. I mean that's not really vogue material."
He stops for a second and then reaches across the table to grab my hand.
"I don't care what people think. I want you there. You have been my good luck charm since karting and who cares if you don't dress in designer. I think you dress cool. Plus you have to show me that shirt. It might be one I steal. And I would worry about you because you matter to me but it wouldn't take away from my job. It would only enhance it. I get to share something I love with someone that means a lot to me. I miss you in the garage. Same little smile when I drive back in. There for the wins and the losses. And shut up about the model thing. I don't care about that and you should know me better than that. And would it be the worst thing if people thought we were together? Am I that bad?" He scoffs.
"No Lan that's not what I mean but we have always been friends ya know? And I'm sorry I don't come but then you get to invite other people. Cool people and then I can watch on TV from the safety of my apartment with a large bowl of parm popcorn and a to go chai latte in secret." I try my best to defend myself and also not make him feel bad.
"But I want you there. I don't care about inviting other people, I want to invite you there. Plus you'll always be safe around me I'll never let anything happen to you Iz. Not on my watch. You'll be VIP. I'll have someone around you at all times. Plus you can sneak an iced chai from hospitality while I'm in practice or media. I won't even yell at you. I just miss you there. I miss hugs after the podiums and how you always would touch my helmet right before I would leave the garage. I miss sitting in the drivers room and having you tell me I did good even when I feel like I didn't and I miss knowing I had to get back safe so you wouldn't be left alone. I love having you there. You mean a lot to me. Probably the most to me second to my family"
I listen to his words. They come out soft and sweet like a marshmallow. I miss those times too. I hate to admit that I miss our little slice of calm in the crazy of the weekend and I miss standing below the podium smiling up at him archiving his dream.
"You mean a lot to me to Lando. And I miss those times as well. You always come back safe to me don't you. Who else would sneak the oreos out of my pantry or finish my food when I'm too full. I'll think about coming. I promise I will think about it okay?" I say softly squeezing his hand. We look at each other for a moment. A comfortable silence washing over us. His beautiful brown eyes looking into mine. He pulls my hand to his lips and softly kisses my knuckles. My heart stops.
"That's all I could ever want Izzy. And I'll always do those things for you. You're my girl. Always." His eyes sparkle and my heart skips another beat.
"Well until you get a girlfriend. Then I won't be your girl" I don't like thinking about that but all I want is for him to be happy.
"What if I don't get a girlfriend? What if I already have what I want in mind? What if I've loved her for a long time and was too scared to say anything and what if I was to throw caution to the wind and maybe tell her how I felt?"
My mouth goes dry. I was not aware of another girl in his life but maybe he did meet someone while away. I reach for the last sip of my latte to wet my mouth before I clear my throat.
"That's amazing then Lan. Thats all I ever wanted for you was to be happy and loved. What's she like? Where did you meet her? Was it a recent race or did you hide this from me for a long time?" I urged him to answer grabbing my hand back gently. Nervous to be holding his hand if he has eyes for someone else.
"No not recent. I've known her forever actually. At least it feels like that. She's beautiful. Smile of an angel and her laugh can make flowers bloom. She has this really weird obsession and she is very oblivious. I feel like I've been pretty bad at hiding my feelings from her but maybe not." He sighs.
"She sounds dope Lan I'm really happy for you. I want to meet her sometime or maybe from afar. I'm a little nervous around new people. I'm sure she is incredible and I'm sure she's into you too. Who wouldn't be? You're Lando Norris. Formula 1 driver and twitch streamer extrodenaire. Multi talented people are hard to come by these days. She's a lucky gal." I whisper the last part to myself. Hoping he doesn't hear me.
"You know her actually. And she is dope. She's the best. She may be lucky but I'm really the lucky one." He says with a dreamy look in his eyes.
I know her? Hm I don't know any other friends that are girls of Lando's but maybe I'm forgetting. As happy as I am for him I can't help but have a little piece of my heart break.
"Maybe I just don't remember but as far as I know I'm the only friend you have that's a girl. But I'm happy for you Lando you deserve this". There's a moment of silence between us before his palm hits his forehead making me jump slightly.
"It's you dumbass. Wow do I need to write it on one of those big banners? I thought I was being very obvious but apparently not. You're the girl silly salamander. It's always been you".
And this time my heart does stop and my brain goes blank and my eyes shoot open.
"Me? Lando that's not funny. Don't joke with me like that."
"I would never joke about loving you Izzy. I have since we were kids. I just was too nervous to tell you. But what the hell now is a better time than any I guess. It's always been you. You chai obsessed, short, worrying weirdo." He grabs for my hand again and I'm far to shocked to pull my hand back. The air has left my lungs. I have no thoughts and hundreds of thoughts. I think back. All those times I thought he was just being friendly and protecting me like a friend he was doing it because he loved me? All those times he held me in the dark during a storm he was protecting me because he loved me?
"I don't know what to say Lando. I never thought you felt the same." I try and say it at an audible level but it comes out more like a whisper.
"You love me too?"
"Ofcourse I do. I think I have my whole life Lando."
He smiles as me as he begins to stand pulling on my hand as a signal for me to get up with him. I stand up facing him. Hand still in his eyes looking at each other with new knowledge.
"I've loved you my whole life too Izzy and I'm gonna love you the rest of it too. I'll buy you chai's for the rest of our lives or until you get sick of them. I'll do anything for you" He says leaning in slowly.
"I could never get sick of chai" I mutter quietly as our lips connect for the first time.