I had watched his qualifying and practice sessions over the past two days. He'd put himself in such a strong position for today's race, starting in P3, behind Max Verstappen and with Carlos Sainz on his right front corner.
Starting behind Max gave him a really nice slip stream to sit in as they approach the first right corner.
Okay, so I'd picked up a little about Formula 1 from the past year. I couldn't stay away, no matter how hard I tried too. I found myself searching and keeping myself informed on how he had been doing since we met this time last year.
"Are you ready?" Jade asks, popping her head around the wall of the bathroom, "Woah! Okay girl, I thought you were trying to blend in" she coos as she dances toward me.
"Does it look okay?" I ask in concern, rechecking my reflection in the mirror.
"You look hot, B." she appreciates.
Turning my head from the mirror in embarrassment, I gaze toward her, "you look so good!" I compliment, "That dress looks amazing on you".
We decided to wear the outfits we had picked out at the boutique, although I'd be lying if I said I hadn't gone through my entire wardrobe multiple times to see if I had anything, different? better? something else?
"What time do we have to be there?" Jade asks.
I shrug whilst letting out a breathily chuckle, "I thought you were organising this whole thing"
"Yeah, I got us tickets, job done on my part" she sasses.
"Where is the Fangio Grandstand anyway?" I ask out of curiosity.
Jade's face grows incredibly suspicious as she turns to walk out of the room.
"Jade?" I call out after her, following her path.
"It's close to the action" she deadpans.
"Just how close are we talking?" I concern.
"It's too late for you to back out now" she muses.
I slide my phone out of my pocket and type in the seating plan for the Albert Park Circuit.
"JADE!" I gasp. "It's the start/finish grandstand"
"Yeah"
"And we are front row" I add.
"Yeah"
"Jade?" I groan.
"It's going be fine, stop" she informs me, although I completely don't buy it. "Let's go"
6. - A Year Ago (the sixth hour)
"You look tired" Lando chuckles.
"I am" I confess, "But I'm not going to bed"
"Alright, so we need something to keep us awake. What's open this time of night?" he asks.
I look at him in amusement. "McDonalds"
His head tilts slightly at me, waiting for the punch line. When it doesn't come as I just continue to stare at him blankly, he lets out a puff of breath, "Okay, McDonalds. We can work with that. They do coffee. Do you drink coffee?"
"I will tonight" I agree, rubbing my hands together.
"Alright, here's the plan. Let's go to McDonalds, order everything we think looks good, and then head back to my hotel room, and we'll go from there?" he suggests.
"Hell of a plan" I mock, "But sounds good"
As we walk side by side back toward the main part of the city, I can't help but recognise that the rest of the city is slowly closing down, as it approaches 1am, the cars die off, the pedestrians all go home, and business close their doors.
A strange, yet calming feeling to be in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the country and have it almost at a complete stand still.
"What are you thinking over there?" Lando teases, nudging me slightly with his shoulder.
"It's just peaceful" I appreciate, gazing up the river as the lights of the city begin to make themselves visible.
Lando takes a moment, looking around. "It is beautiful."
"I guess I'm feeling a little guilty too" I confess.
"Why?" he looks at me puzzled.
I can't even bring myself to say it. I feel like mentioning it will burst our little fantasy bubble and It'll bring the entire evening to a halt.
"Oh" Lando mutters anyway, obviously catching on. "The jackass, I mean boyfriend"
I chuckle at his joke, "Yeah"
"Why guilty though? You aren't allowed to hang out with a friend of the opposite sex?" He asks.
"We're friends?" I ask playfully.
"Sure, we can be friends" he chuckles.
I don't like the way that him saying that makes me feel almost rejected in a way.
"But I understand what you're saying" he adds, this time his tone appearing a little more sympathetic.
I nod my head, appearing that that's the only thing I can say in response to him right now.
"Do you believe there is only one person for everyone? Like there's only one person, in this whole world, who you're meant to be with?" Lando asks.
"I'm not sure?" I utter.
"I don't." He answers. "I mean, think about it, there are how many billion people living in how many different countries all across the world. You can't really tell me that the chances of you finding that one person is going to occur in your home city"
I turn my head towards him in curiosity. "So romantic" I mock.
He lets out a giggle, "Do you believe this Finn guy is your one person?"
"It wouldn't stop this being wrong?" I comment.
"This?" he asks.
I let out a struggled breath, "The enjoyment of being in another man's company. The feeling of not wanting the night to end with that said man"
"Oh" he replies, "We'll, I guess."
I nod gently as we continue in silence up the riverside.
"Do you want me to just walk you back to your hotel?" Lando suggests.
"No" I reply a little too eager. "I don't"
"Good" he chuckles, "I would have protested anyway. I really didn't want you to agree to that right now"
"I guess in reality, we only really have right now, don't we?" I ask.
"How do you mean?" Lando questions, almost looking hurt by my comment.
"I mean, you and I met by chance tonight. And we get along really well. It seems as though we needed to meet each other. But we live seperate lives. And after your race, you'll be going home and I'll be going back to school" I rant.
"This is true, I guess" Lando comments.
"So, I guess. We can stay in our little fantasy bubble. For tonight. You can pretend you aren't a Formula 2 driver with all these added stresses and worries. And I can pretend I don't have a major exam that will make or break my career in a few months, and we can just enjoy tonight?"
A smirk appears slowly, yet determined across his face, "I like that sound of that." he agrees.
"Good" I nod.
"However, I would like to add one more thing to the list"
"What's that?" I chuckle.
"Do you think, for tonight, you could pretend there's no Finn, either?"
YOU ARE READING
For Now, For Good
FanfictionA year ago, their paths crossed unexpectedly and whilst timing and circumstances were completely against them, Lando and Baylee couldn't deny the connection between them. They vowed to meet up again, a year from now, when they hoped the world offer...
