Deals with Daisy // LN4

49 ~ Parmesan

Daisy's POV

14th June, three weeks later

"Are you ready?" I ask Lando as we're sat at a table in the middle of a set and Lando huffs and puffs as if to say 'of course' but when I look back from my phone I can see him still typing on his, silently admitting that he wasn't. He spares me a cheeky look and I'm left watching him smirk as he drops his eyes from mine back to his phone while I turn to look at Max, motioning my silent frustration around the driver. I'm being a little dramatic though as it only takes him another couple of seconds before he puts his phone on the ground so that we can try to focus on the task at hand.

"I was born ready," he finally jokes when he looks behind the camera and we both try to remind ourselves of the purpose of this, looking at the paddles in front of us. This was just more media for him but he seemed excited because it wasn't going to be about his potential contract and this time it was Quadrant focused.

The team had decided that they wanted him and me to do a never have I ever video after the 'who knows each other best' video with me, Lando and Max came out a couple of weeks ago. It was hilarious and had quickly gone viral although not all of it was particularly positive following the revelation that Lando seemed to remember a lot more key things about me than he did with Max. He had tried to defend himself at the end by pointing out that he'd had to learn it recently rather than just growing up with it but plenty of the internet jumped on the opportunity to hate on him as they always do. I thought it was funny and so did Max, new ammunition to tease him with when it was just the three of us as things were mostly back to normal.

Sort of.

I mean I had tried to take breaks from him because I found I couldn't think quite straight around him, I needed moments to breathe and try to figure out what my 'post-Paris life looked like'. On top of that I was busy with a lot of work that didn't need Lando looking over my shoulder. I just wanted time to myself. I needed it. I needed the space, I couldn't be stuck somewhere that I'd have to leave for no reason and so I was on my own - just how I wanted to be. No one watching, no one judging, just me. Finding a new way to breathe again. It was the same as before Lando was here. I liked being alone - that's what my relationship with Luke largely was, me and him separate and so it was a bit of something old although it all felt new. It felt brand new.

I'd rushed out of the flat and I'd done it like a coward, only talking to Elena because I know that Lando would stop me. He'd make sure that we took the time to do it properly. To give us time to adjust. To give me time to adjust and to help me with it. He would continue to put me first and I just... I didn't want that anymore. I didn't want his care and consideration, I didn't want for him to watch me and see me because I knew that he would see me.

I didn't deserve it, I couldn't have that.

I needed to let him go.

After sitting through Lando explaining the video we're about to film - we're left with two piles of cards to read out and the paddles that are integral to this video. "Never have I ever driven an F1 car," I read out somewhat incredulously as Lando and I synchronise our looks of confusion to Max. He at least has the humility to go bright red and acknowledge it's a bad card as I just toss it out of the frame over my shoulder. "Do better Max. You go," I hint to Lando, kicking him lightly under the table as he scowls at me before clearing his throat in a way that has me weirdly aware of his adams apple bobbing nervously in his throat.

I had thought that time apart would help me and it did. I was numb to it when I was away but moments like this... it felt a little harder. The lights of filming stopped me from getting to into my head though.

"Never have I ever... gotten stitches?" He questions and we both turn our paddles so that they stay opposite of one another - with me saying that I have while he mentions that he hasn't. "Oh right yeah, when we were nine... right?" He asks and I shake my head, enjoying the shocked look and I grin as I twirl the paddle between my fingers.