September 2024 – Singapore Grand Prix
Lando pulled his car around to the first-place spot near the FIA weight station. Getting out he stood on his car a feeling of pure exhilaration sliding through him as the crowd screamed and cheered around him. It was a feeling that he would never get used to and would never get enough of. The only thing that made this particular win, just a little bit sweeter, was the lack of a Red Bull on the podium.
It was Lando, in a McLaren, followed by the two Ferraris.
It wasn't just the win; it was the points that put him ahead in the driver's championship. It was the feeling of all of his dreams getting closer, getting within reach.
"Where was Max?" Lando asked after he had finished hugging his team. He slipped into the cooldown room, both Charles and Carlos giving him a congratulatory hug. Being in the cooldown room was a sweet feeling, being there with them. It was ten times sweeter.
"He didn't finish." Carlos said looking at the highlights playing on a screen on the wall.
"What?" Lando asked, his own yes finding the screen.
"See? He hit the wall. Had to retire." Charles said pointing to the replay.
"Horner wasn't happy." Carlos went on. "He demanded a penalty."
"To who? The crash was clearly his fault." Charles said motioning to the screen, even though the replay was gone. Carlos just shrugged.
"Don't underestimate Horner where Max is concerned, I should know." Lando said giving a light shrug as he dropped himself into one of the chairs. Not caring if it was the one that said 1, 2, or 3.
"Feels good doesn't it?" Charles asked, dropping into the chair beside him. "Beating them after they dropped you." Carlos glanced at Lando knowing the truth; Red Bull didn't drop Lando. He left, and it cost him to do it. Thankfully McLaren was more than happy to welcome him back their rookie choice not doing the best.
"Feels amazing." It was the truth, although his tone didn't mirror the feeling. Charles gave him a raised eyebrow, curious, look, but Carlos just gave his friend a pat on the shoulder and turned, focusing once again on the replay real.
It felt amazing, and each race it felt better than the last. Except he knew it wasn't because he was winning, and his dreams were coming closer. It was because the more time went without a phone call from Arabella, the more time he got to be okay with it. To be okay with the fact that it might be time to move on.
The idea didn't scare him anymore. Which perhaps scared him more than anything.
October 2024 - Netherlands Slopestyle Competition
"Do you how horribly this could go?" Jesse said from his spot along the spectator's fence near the bottom of the slopestyle course.
"It's not even on the FIS calendar, she's going to be fine." Seb countered although he didn't sound so sure.
"Fifty says the box takes her." Vlad said from the far end of their group making Seb and Jesse turn to him their eyes horrified.
"I say it'll be the rail, look how long it is. She's going to need a lot of speed to do the whole thing." Benny said and the two of them turned to face their other two, mortified, roommates.
"What is wrong with you?" Jesse said, shaking his head. He was their fourth male roommate who, since his family lived relatively close, was hardly ever there. "Her brother is here."
YOU ARE READING
He's my teammate
Fanfiction**There will be some edits over the next few months** Arabella Van Dijk is a well-known Dutch snowboarder, especially after taking her place on the podium at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. As a Red Bull sponsored athlete no less. After her...
