REMEMBER THE NAME

2019:34

The lobby in the hotel was fairly quiet. There was still a few people milling around, but the early morning rise clearly wasn't for everyone. The only reason why Sophie was up was because she had arranged to do a podcast and was meeting with the boys in less than 5 minutes. Just as the lift doors open and she began to walk out, she almost walked right in to someone.

"What a lovely surprise." Charles smirks as he catches her waist and drags her back in to the lift, quickly closing the doors behind them.

"Sorry I wasn't looking where I was going." She smiles up at him, lightly rubbing here eyes since she was still very tired. Without realising she leans in to him, placing the side of her head on to his chest and listening to his calm heartbeat whilst he tightens his grip around her waist.

Internally she was still a bit panicky - they were in public and at any moment those lift doors could open and expose them to the world. But with her exhaustion and his comforting embrace she couldn't care less.

"I can tell." His laugh rocked her body. "What are you doing up this early anyway?"

"I have to go to the track before qualifying. I'm going on a podcast and this is the only time that we could schedule it for. What about you? Why are you out and about so early?" She peels her head off of his chest to gaze up at his face which was already looking down towards her.

"I was at the gym. I'm still not great with the time difference."

A ping grabbed their attention as the doors opened. Quickly the two sprang away from each other, both of their heart rates increasing. But Sophie's calmed down once she realised it was Lando standing at the other side, engrossed in his phone.

Walking in his head pops up and he spots his best friend and her situationship since Charles still didn't want the labels. "Oh hey guys."

"Hey Lando." They both say, with Sophies being a bit happier than Charles' welcome.

"Soph are you still coming on Sunday after the race?" He turns his phone off and pops it in his back pocket.

"Yeah I was just about to ask Charles if he would like to come as well." She moves her eyes from Lando to Charles, who was standing there with a confused look on his face.

"After the race on Sunday there's a few of my friends who are going to a nearby rodeo bar. We want to try and get familiar with some of this states culture. Would you like to come with us?" She looks up, appearing more awake.

"Who is going?" He scratches the back of his head.

"So far there's me, Lando, George, Alex, Nicholas, Jack, Mick and Tatiana." She explains, counting with her fingers to make sure she hadn't missed anybody.

"Thanks for the offer but I'll let you spend time with your friends." Charles awkwardly smiles as the lift conveniently stops at his floor. "I'll see you later." He steps out and hurried down the corridor, leaving behind a slightly taken aback Sophie and a very confused Lando.

As the doors to the lift close Lando turns to peer down at Sophie who was beginning to overthink the situation. "I thought you guys made up?"

"I thought so too. It's not a big thing if he doesn't want to meet my friends?" She looks up to him with a raised eyebrow, seeking his support since she has no clue about the inner workings of a man's mind.

"I mean it's good that he's not so possessive and supports you going out with your friends regularly. But has he ever met any of your friends outside F1?"

"I've taken him to family events where he's met a few people." she defends. Sophie didn't have a pile of friends, and those that she did have tended to be interlocked in the world of racing.