Roses || Lando Norris

3

The following couple of weeks felt like a blur. I've been training, I've been on the sim, had a couple of meetings, and every day felt the same. So I texted Paul. Turns out he was staying in the same town as me so we started going out for coffee, getting to know each other. It took me some time to "come out of my shell" as he'd say, but now I see him as a friend.

I like Paul. He is a very genuine person. He always paid for my coffee and he also enjoys silence. The first time we met up, he wore a black shirt with pink writing that said "Women know better", which made me laugh out loud. It caught everyone's attention. Of course it did, he was a ripped, tattooed head-to-toe guy who drove the newest McLaren.

Another thing that I learned about him, is that he's gay. One time he brought a guy with him, and I was scared he was trying to set us up. Before he introduced him as his boyfriend.

Alex looks nothing like Paul. His blond hair and very light wardrobe complement Paul's dark one. He always has all the gossip and knows how to read the room extremely well. He is also very outgoing and can sense a party from a mile away.

From then on, what seemed like a never-ending cycle of boring days filled with anxiety turned very fun. Until it was time for the car reveal.

I sat in the cramped room, mentally repeating everything I had to say. Next to me sat Paul and on the opposite side sat Alan, Lando's manager. I've seen Lando only a small number of times in the past few weeks. Sometimes in the hallways of the headquarters, sometimes in the parking lot, and rarely in meetings. Still, we haven't spoken. The only cue of acknowledgment I received from him was the light glares he sometimes shot toward me.

His behaviour started getting on my nerves. Was it so hard to say hello? I've never had a teammate who looked down on me like he has in the brief month we've been teammates.

I've also talked to Paul about him. He didn't directly tell me why Lando has a distaste for me, he just said we needed to talk it out. Of course, he also knew I'd never initiate that sort of conversation. At least not when it's not a big deal, or bothers my performance.

Lando stormed through the door, wearing his racing suit just like I was. He greeted us (us probably being Paul and Alan) and sat down next to Alan.

"I was about to call you mate!" Alan informed him.

"Yeah, yeah I'm here now," Lando replied, closing his undone collar. He hasn't even acknowledged me. Better than a glare, I guess?

"You two know what to say?" Paul asked us. Oh yeah, I could recite it word for word in my sleep. Better yet, I could sing it backward. I've always had a love-hate relationship with speaking in front of big crowds. As much as I loved the attention, I hated the anxiety that came before it. Apart from press conferences, they were just boring and I hate them because of different reasons.

"Yeah." I almost exhaled the word. Lando nodded and leaned his head back against the wall. He looked bored and it made me almost jealous of it since my mind was doing backflips, seconds away from collapsing on itself.

"Alright, it's showtime." Alan took a look at his watch and clapped his hands. Lando and I stood up and started making our way to the stage. Zak was already standing on it among Naomi Schiff, who was the presenter for tonight.

Right before we emerge from the backstage, we stop and wait for our names to be announced.

"Don't fuck up," Lando whispers at me. A glare made its way to my face and before I could form a proper reply, we were called on the stage. My grimace morphs into a light smile, my eyebrows rise a little too high.