For Now, For Good

23. - A Year Ago

LANDO NORRIS

I spotted her the minute she emerged from the side of the building. How could I not? From the moment we met, (humoured that it was only 14 hours ago), it's like I knew exactly where she would be at all times.

But instead of heading toward me, she disappeared behind the concrete wall, out of sight.

Was she hiding from me?

Surely not.

But I stayed there glaring at the side of the building anyway, waiting for her return and yet, she never came.

Peering down at my phone, I questioned myself as to whether I had arrived at the right time. I questioned whether it was really her that I saw.

I sit resting on my hood of my car, oblivious to the other people passing by in front of me, although my ears did pick up on some of their whispers and wonders.

"Hey dude, are you Lando Norris?" One wide eyed boy asks, eyes full of wonder and hope as I then spot the Red Bull Racing cap he is wearing.

"Yeah, nice to meet you" I humour with a fake smile, masking my concern about Baylee.

"Woah, this is amazing. I've been rooting for you in Formula 2" he expresses.

"Thanks heaps, pretty rotten season I'm having so far though" I mock.

He shakes his head, "No way, you're doing so good. My dad and I think you're next into Formula 1 for sure. We've watched every single race since I was little"

"Thanks man, I appreciate that" I gush, although I don't believe him.

"What are you doing here?" he quizzes as if I owe him an answer.

"Just waiting for a friend" I inform, pointing toward the building.

He nods, accepting my answer, "It was so nice to meet you anyway. My dad and I are coming to the race this weekend. Good luck" he compliments before jogging on his way.

I let out a sigh of relief once he disappears in amongst the other cars in the carpark and my eyes dart back to the side of the building.

I know she's there; I can feel it.

I'll just wait her out. I don't mind. I could sit here all day.

As long as she's behind that concrete wall, I know she isn't with that douchebag boyfriend of hers.

I see a girl approach the area, speaking as if she's talking to the ground which only confirms Baylee's whereabouts.

What I don't understand is why she won't talk to me? What is she hiding from?

My phone buzzes in my hand and I jump to see its notification, hoping it is from Baylee.

But it isn't.

It's my friend, Max, the one who stood me up last night.

Clicking on the answer button, I pull the phone up to my ear with a chuckle in my voice. "You realise you're just a few hours late with this call, right?"

I hear him groan through the other end, "I'm sorry, okay. I kind of forget we were meeting"

I shake my head in amusement, "Yeah, I kind of figured. That's alright though, worked out amazing for me."

"What do you mean?"

My eyes stay pinned on the location where the girl has been dragged down behind the divider too.

"I don't know if I want to jinx it yet, it's probably too early to.."

Max suddenly cuts me off, "Oh, I didn't know that you knew" he mumbles.

"What?" I ask, confused.

"Kipper said he wasn't going to say anything until after this weekends race"

Now I'm even more confused.

"Max, what the hell are you on about man?" I chuckle.

"Vettel retiring" he boasts.

"So" I gush, shaking my head, yet no movement from Baylee.

"So, man this is what you needed. Obviously, Ferrari will take Charles, there's no question there, he practically has legacy bid there" he mocks, "But this opens another seat"

"Yeah, but he's retiring from Aston, they've got reserve drivers they'd put in before me."

I can feel his annoyance come through the speaker, "Not necessarily. With the seat open at Aston, talk is that Alonso will go over there instead of renewing at McLaren"

Suddenly a little fire sparks in my chest.

McLaren

I've wanted to drive for McLaren since I was younger, watching the likes of Alonso and Lewis make history in that seat.

"Lando, mate, are you listening? This could be your shot" Max gushes through the line.

"Yeah, I'm listening." I mutter.

"Why do you sound like this isn't the news you knew about?" He questions.

I chuckle lightly, "Because that wasn't what I was talking about"

His line goes silent for a beat too long, "Oh"

"Yeah, Kippers going to kill you now, mate" I tease.

"What the hell was your news then?" he asks

"Oh" I gush, "I met someone"

"You meet people all the time" he mocks.

I let out a chuckle, shaking my head, "Hey, fuck you, firstly. And secondly, it's different"

"How can it be different when you only met her yesterday?" he questions the obvious.

"Don't worry about it, look, I'll just talk to you later okay. There's something I have to do"

"Are you going over to the track later?" He asks.

I pull my phone down, looking at the time, "Yeah, in about an hour or so."

"Alright, I'll see you there. Need to get you trained up mate"

I roll my eyes, knowing he can't see it. "Later" I chuckle, pulling the phone from my ear and sliding it back into my pocket.

I relax back onto the hood of the car, crossing my arms across my chest.

Vettel is leaving.

A seat may be open.

It's with McLaren.

McLaren.

Wow, that isn't an opportunity I want to give up.

But something deep inside me tells me that to take one opportunity would mean giving up another.

I take one last look over at one of my opportunities and begin to feel it drifting further into risk before turning back and getting into the front seat of the car, choosing to see how much risk is involved with the other.