GRIDLOCK - Lando Norris [BOOK 1 Gridlock Series]

15

As much as I tried to fight the feeling off, what happened with Lando was playing in my mind on repeat. He was right, everything was stacked against us, but I thought we had reached some sort of understanding.

Hey, are you okay? – Charles his message startles me.

Yeah I'm all good, thanks for checking in – Evelyn

I didn't need to become everyone's problem, especially with how close championship was. This was probably a reason I was sworn of getting involved with any of the grid.

By the time we made it down to trackside, my nerves were kicking in. I didn't want to be confronted with the reality of what happened. Before I left my hotel room this morning, I made sure to grab my sunglasses and they have proven to be a godsend. As I walked down pitlane, I could feel everyone's eyes on me, but I didn't have to make contact with any of them.

"You had some balls didn't you Ev", I hear being shouted from one of the passing garages. I look up to see Lance resting against the garage door. 

"What do you mean?" I ask him. 

He chuckles "throwing yourself at Lando like that, what were you thinking?"

I look at him confused, "huh?" I grunt at him

"Yeah, Lando is telling everyone how you kept pressuring him to go out with you. No matter how much he told you it was inappropriate. But you wouldn't stop" the smirk that covers his face tells me he is really enjoying this. 

And just like that floor beneath me crumbles. That is what Lando saying? All of the interest was for my benefit and all on my side.

I ignore Lance and continue towards the Red Bull garage. This time, feeling like all the eyes on me was for a different reason.

"I'm going to boil that down to a strategic move on your part, Miss Verstappen, even I know you wouldn't be so stupid" I am met with the judgemental face of Christian. The pit goss obviously reaching him.

I open my mouth to speak, but absolutely nothing comes out. There is no way to explain this.

"Evelyn", my mother makes appearance by my side " you and I need to talk."

Out the corner of my eye, I see a familiar shade of papaya, lurking in the shadows. Against my better judgement, I let my eyes wander over to make contact with Lando, who is staring at me over the shoulder of Maddie.

And that is it. That is my breaking point and my cue to leave.

"Evelyn!" My mother shouts, as I Begin to walk away.

"Later!", the first time I've ever snapped at my own mother. 

I run as fast as I can down the pit lane back towards where the carpark is for the drivers. I know it's the easiest route out of here without getting amongst the crowds. 

I felt like everything in me was prepared for a moment like this, I knew, something in me knew all along that this would happen, but it still hurts. 

By the time the uber got me back to the hotel, my eyes couldn't hold in anymore. An overflow of sadness, embarrassment, hurt and confusion completely took over me and I think back to every moment with Lando, did I read the signs wrong?

I ran straight up to my room and threw myself onto the bed. 

Idiot. I am such an idiot. 

I pull out my phone, because I can't seem to help myself, and open up the live feed of how qualifying is going and I hate seeing Lando's name in pole position. I hate that out of all of this, he is still extremely talented in his chosen field and I hate that I still feel a sense of pride when I see him doing well. 

Through my tears, I watch as the last qualifying comes to an end and Lando is in P1 for tomorrows race, Max beside him and Charles and Lewis just behind them. 

Throwing my phone across the other side of the room and letting my arm fall heavily over my face, I replace every sadness emotion with anger, in myself more than anything. For being so delusional. 

I'm alerted to a pounding coming from my door, I hadn't realised I had fallen asleep, and the determined calling from Charles from the other side, somehow relieves me. I'm glad it isn't mother. Or Christian, or even Max. And especially not Lando. 

"I'm coming" I call out to him as I struggle off the bed and across the hotel room. 

Once I open the door, I can see the frantic in his eyes as he makes himself welcome inside my room. 

"I heard what happened with Lance, I am so sorry, I tried to find you at the track, but I just" he's rambling and it actually brings a comforting smile to my face. At least someone cares.

"Yeah, I couldn't be there" I admit. 

Then realisation hits "It's your fucking birthday, Ev. This shouldn't be happening, not today" 

I chuckle slightly, because I had actually forgotten, just how sad is that. "It's fine, I kind of should have expected it" I admit defeat. 

Charles shakes his head in frustration. "Nope, I'm not having that. It's your birthday, and that jackass isn't going to ruin it" 

I accept his offering out hand as he leads me out of the room and down the hallway to the elevator. 

As it opens, we are reluctantly greeted by my mother exiting at the same time. 

She opens her mouth to speak but Charles chimes in, holding a hand up to her face. "No, Mrs Verstappen, it's Evelyn's birthday and whatever you have to say to her, can wait until tomorrow. I'm taking her out for drinks and she will be back at a decent hour. Bonsoir" 

My mother and I exchange a look which mimics each others. Charles has shocked us both. 

But her gaze travels down the length of my body with only disgust filling her eyes as she walks past both of us. 

"I'm sorry, I know I overstepped my mark and I didn't mean any disrespect" I cut off his stupid rambling by throwing my arms around his neck and pulling him in for a tight hug. 

He responds immediately by wrapping both arms tightly around my waist. "Thankyou" I mumble into his ear. 

"Anything for you" he replies, and it sends an unexpected array of goosebumps across my skin. 

We part slowly before heading onto the elevator, down to the lobby, across the Mable flooring and out the front door to where the Vally has his car awaiting for him. 

He opens my door and assists me getting in before hopping around to the drivers side. 

"You ready to enjoy this birthday, Ev?" he sends me a playful smirk. 

I nod my head in agreement. I can at least pretend that everything is fine, just for a moment.