I remember

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Tuesday 3rd April 2018

Sienna POV

'So.... S. Have you seen or spoken to Lando since THAT kiss?' Talia questions as she sits on my bed painting her toe nails. She's supposed to be helping me pack for Bahrain but helping isn't really the word I'd use to describe what she's doing right now. I don't particularly want to go but my dad is insisting. He wants to do some scouting for new talent whilst we're there and wants a second pair of eyes. I am dreading the trip. It'll be the first time I've been anywhere close to the paddock since Pierre and I broke up and the thought of seeing him again is putting my stomach in knots.

'Urm.... Kind of. We've seen each other a couple of times but we've not hung out since I went back to uni in January, although we've been texting each other. I just want to give us some distance, see if it helps me'

'And.... Is it? Helping you, I mean' she says, looking at me intently. She's waiting to see if I'm going to lie to her. She's one of my best friends, there's no point lying to her. She sees right through me, everytime.

'Not really' I chuckle, 'but I have started seeing somebody. He's.... nice.'

'Nice?' She laughs. 'Is that the best descriptive word you can come up with?'

'Yeah, you know he opens doors for me, asks me about my day, takes an interest. He's nice.'

'He sounds really..... boring' she rolls her eyes at me and then pretends to fall asleep. 'You know...' she starts 'there's no rule that says nice guys wont break your heart. Racing drivers haven't got a monopoly on heartbreak' she finishes, waving the nail polish bottle at me to emphasise her point.

Saturday 7th April 2018

Sienna POV

I'm pacing up and down in my room, trying to rid myself of the anxiety that is taking over my body. I had a close call with Pierre yesterday, only managing to avoid him by turning around at the last minute, and it's made me really anxious about going to the paddock today. I can feel by chest tighten and I'm struggling to breath, tears running down my cheeks.

I don't so much see Lando enter the room but I feel and smell him and then he's right beside me, gripping my hand. He puts his fingers under my chin and gently forces me to look into his eyes. 'Breath Sienna, breath. Copy me'

He takes a deep breath and slowly releases it. 'Come on, now it's your turn' he urges.

I take the deepest breath I can, hold it in for a while and then release it. After a few more times copying him, I feel my heartbeat slow down and the room comes back into focus.

'You want to tell me what happened?' he asks

'I had a narrow miss with Pierre yesterday and it's playing on my mind. I hate that he still affects me this way. I don't want to be looking over my shoulder all the time whenever I'm walking through the paddock. I just want to put him behind me and move on with my life.'

'Stick with me today. We can split the day between McLaren hospitality and the garage. Limits the time you're out in the open so to speak. Sound ok?'

'Sounds perfect actually' I give him a faint smile.

He gives me a hug and leads me out the door.

Lando POV

I only leave Sienna's side when it's time for the sprint race. But, I make sure she's surrounded by people in the garage. I hate leaving her vulnerable but she should be safe here, as long as she doesn't go walking around the paddock.

When I walked into her room this morning and found her having a panic attack my heart broke for her. I hate that he's done this to her. She should be free to walk wherever she wants without the fear of bumping into him. Although I do wonder if she did, what would happen? Would it send her over the edge or would it have the opposite effect? Would it enable her to confront him? Say what she obviously needs to say or maybe give him a good slap, there's no question that he deserves it.

After the race I decide to introduce her to the rest of the F2 drivers, they seem to be a good bunch of guys and for the first time all day I see her laughing her head off. Not laughing to be polite but a real belly laugh. There's this guy called Alex who seems really quiet when you first meet him but he's got this wicked sense of humour. George is another British driver, he's very English school boy with his perfectly coiffed hair and posh accent but he's a complete goofball. Has us all in stiches with his impressions. This season is going to be a blast, I can tell already. If there are more days like this, with the exception of this morning, I might even be able to convince Sienna to come to more races.

Sienna POV

I've been doing well, so far, dodging Pierre. I've seen him from a distance a couple of times but never close enough for him to see me. I'm not sure if he even knows I'm here. We've followed Lando's plan, only spending time in McLaren hospitality and the garage. This does also mean I've been spending lots of time in close proximity to Lando, he only leaves my side when he needs to be in the car. He's such a sweetheart, always checking in on me, making sure I have everything I need. If he wasn't a driver he'd, literally be, the perfect guy.

It's the end of the day and I've actually had fun. Lando's introduced me to everyone and we hung around with some of his fellow F2 drivers, what a crazy bunch they are. It would be great to get to know them better. We're walking to the car park when I realise that I've left my bag in the McLaren motor home.

'Hey, Lando, I've forgotten my bag. I'm just going to go back and get it'

'I'll come with you'

'No, don't be silly, I'll meet you at the car. Everyone's gone home, I'll be fine' I reassure him

I'm walking back towards the orange building when someone reaches out from a gap in the buildings, grabs my arm and pulls me to them. Their body presses my back against the wall and hands rest either side of my face. I'm suddenly face to face with the person I never wanted to see again.

'Ah, ma Cherie, you've been avoiding me'