The helmet is beautiful, holding it in my hands, re reading the note - this is potentially the most thoughtful gift I've ever received, from anyone in my life. I love it, yet i'm disappointed that this package wasn't from Charles at the same time.
This morning I understood him not being in contact first thing, and even being busy throughout the day, but the more I think about It - it takes two seconds to just send a message. The most minimal of efforts and he hasn't even been able to do that. I'm genuinely hurt.
Other than not hearing from Charles, today's been incredible, but right now I'd just like to be back at home - well, Charles' apartment. After looking for flights for a few minutes I see the next one from Heathrow to Nice departs in 3 hours - perfect.
I book the flight and start to pack up my things ready to head to the airport, it's just over half an hours drive from this hotel in a taxi so I should make it with plenty of time to spare.
A minibus arrives just for little old me, anyway I'm off on my way and the drive from Surrey to Heathrow is surprisingly quite lovely, small pockets of countryside and open fields along both sides of the road before being met with this monster of an airport.
This airport is truly my idea of hell, none of it makes sense and it's absolutely enormous. I thought I'd make my flight with lots of time before boarding but I've been walking around this place for 45 minutes and I still haven't found the right area to check in.
Thank god, I make it to the gate and board the plane with 15 minutes before take off. It's been a real whirlwind last 24 hours and I'm mentally drained. Every so often I glance at my phone, just hoping for a message from Charles to pop up, but it doesn't.
5 minutes before take off - still nothing.
My phone vibrates, FINALLY!
Oh, it's not Charles.
Instagram message - Lando Norris
Lan: Did you get it? 📦
Lil: Get what?...
Lan: Oh nothing just ignore me, how has your day been?
Lil: I was just messing I did get it, thank you ❤️ it's probably the most thoughtful gift I've ever been given. My plane's about to take off in a couple of minutes so I won't be able to reply after that
Lan: really? Ok let me know that you've landed safe
Lil: Yes really, and I will. I'm sorry to ask but have you seen Charles today?
Lan: Yeah but we've not spoken, there's not been an awful lot going on here today - it's been too wet to get out on the track so everyones just spent most the day around the paddock waiting for the rain to pass
Just as I receive his last message the plane departs, quickly ascending above the clouds. I know my heads my own worst enemy but all I can think is what the actual F?! So he's not been extremely busy with media or practice or anything of the sort, but he's still not been able to contact me - I'm genuinely so confused.
Charles POV
Ah today is going to be so busy, it's very strange to be back here. Xavi has told me we are having some problems with the set up which isn't the best news, and it's supposed to rain all day so we might not even get out on the track.
That might be a good thing actually - at least that way the other guys might not know we are having problems.
It's nice to see everybody back at the paddock, a small sign of things getting back to normal but it's going to be very strange with no fans here watching, and having to social distance form everyone is going to take some getting used to.
What a total waste of a day. I mainly did work in the simulator because we couldn't get out on the track, even without the rain I don't think our car is ready so that really needs fixing before practice on Friday or we are going to be fucked.
Thinking about the sim I suddenly remember that Lilly will be also be doing sim work today hoping to get her deal made with Carlin, where is my phone? I need to message her.
Ah no signal at all. This place is ridiculous. I'll have to contact her and find out how things have went once I'm back at the hotel - I hope it's went well for her, she deserves a seat.
After a few hours working on potential strategies for Sundays race, it's getting a little late and the engineers are also leaving, I think it's time for me to drive back to the hotel. I cant wait to call Lilly when I get back and find out about how things went at Carlin for her.
There he is.
I see the papaya coloured shirts walking towards Seb and I. I wasn't sure how I was going to react when I saw him, I felt betrayed by both of them.
Lilly and I are going to be fine and I have far more history with her, but Lando and me were at least friends - I thought we were anyway before all of this.
Id seen him earlier today a couple of times and we have not spoken, but it looks like he's walking directly towards me this time.
"Hey Mate, look I'm sorry I got involved with your and Lilly's relationship or whatever it is you have going on, I don't have anything against you at all and we're going to see each other every day so let's just put this behind us?" Lando says.
I have to admit it takes some balls to walk over here and at least apologise after our last conversation, I'll be civil with him but we are absolutely not going to be friends.
"You were in the wrong mate but I appreciate the apology, there's no issue here." I respond.
"Lilly asked if I'd spoken to you by the way, she's on her way back to Monaco now but you should probably get in touch, I'm assuming you haven't been by her asking me if I'd seen you."
He must be joking even mentioning her to me, why was he even contacting her?
"I'll contact her mate. Id appreciate it if you wouldn't." I say.
"If she doesn't speak to me I won't speak to her, she was only thanking me for the birthday present I'd sent it's not a big deal, but she did say it was the most thoughtful thing she'd ever been given, how shit was your present mate?." He jokes, smiling at me.
My heart absolutely drops.
Her birthday.
How could I have forgotten, no wonder she's spoken to him asking if he's seen me. The most important day she's had for her career in years, and her birthday - and I've not even sent a message. Fuck. I've really fucked up.
I need to make this up to her, now.
—————————————————————————
YOU ARE READING
DNS
FanfictionThey were drivers, they were best friends. No one was expecting lockdown to happen in 2020, and Lilly and Charles certainly weren't expecting for their story to turn out like this.
