all eyes on you - carlos sainz jr F1

07

"And, how did you two become friends with Lando?" One of the interviews asks. 

Sarah and I were placed on the stage with microphones next to Lando and the other McLaren driver, Oscar Piastiri. 

I laugh, looking at Sarah. Amanda had forced a cover story down our throats moments before we'd been put on the stage. "Well," I say, looking at Lando who's standing next to Sarah. "We sort of just ran into each other Melbourne, which was a while ago now," I say smiling. 

"He was a pompous prick when we first met," Sarah adds, smiling and I laugh, and so does Oscar. 

"Oi!" Lando says in protest but laughs too. 

The interviewer smiles at the four of us. "Well, I can see that you're all getting along quite well." She says and I put my arm around Sarah's shoulder, giving her a wee squeeze. 

This whole thing was bizarre. 

"And, Cami, is it true that you are headlining the closing ceremony on Sunday night?" She asks and I smile. 

"Yes, I am. I'm very excited as it's my first interaction with the sport." I say. "And it's not a part of my reputation on the tour circuit so it makes for a good break," I say with a smile. 

"We're all super excited to hear your work." Oscar pipes from down the line and I smile widely at him. 

"And, the photos taken of you with the Ferrari drivers? Are you friends with them also?" The interviewer asks. 

"Ah, yes. We both are. We only met them both recently though." Sarah says. 

I nod in agreement. 

"Okay! That's all we have time for today, have a nice evening you four." She finishes off and I smile as widely as I can. 

The camera recorder stops and the interviewer begins to pack up her stuff. "I'll see you all later. Thanks so much for the interview." She says smiling before turning and leaving the room. 

Once she's gone I sit back and let out a sigh. "Interviews never get easier," I mutter and Oscar groans in agreement.

 Amanda rushes out, her iPad still in her hands. "Well done guys! Looked very authentic. And the namedrop of Ferrari was seamless! Exactly what Georgiana and I wanted." 

Sarah and I share a look before she stands and offers me her hand. "Can I go look at the stage? Just so I'm prepared." I say and Amanda nods. 

"Yes, Lando, can you show Cami the way? I have to go get the media team ready for tomorrow." She says, looking down at her iPad in the same familiar way Georgie does. 

Lando nods. "Yep, sure thing. It's the Amber Lounge right? On the yacht?" He asks and I do a double take. 

"Wait, a yacht?" I ask and Amanda nods, looking up from her iPad. 

"Didn't Georgiana tell you? The after party is being held on a yacht." She says. 

I turn to Sarah and resist the urge to strangle her for what she's gotten me into. 

⋆

As we walk to the yachts, Lando is trying to keep polite conversation going but I can feel the overwhelming feeling of era beginning to swallow me as we get closer and closer to the water.

"...so yeah, I guess that's why I like racing at Silverstone the most. It's my 'home race' so to speak, so the crowds are always fun." He says, and for the first time he turns back to look at me, really look at me. 

He stops walking and I follow suit. "Okay, Camielle. What's going on, you're as white as a sheet right now." He says and I groan. 

"I feel nauseous." I murmur and he grimaces. 

"What's wrong? Seriously, I'll try and help as much as I can but I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong," he says, his voice soft. 

I sigh. Where to start? "Well, I hate performing in front of cameras. I hate it. I always have since I was a kid, when I had to act for Black Swan I was constantly shitting myself anytime they put me in front of one. I hate the idea that what I'm doing is being immortalised in tape. I guess people would call it stage freight. It's okay when I'm performing in front of fans because they're there to watch me do what I do best, but interviews and all that stuff, I hate it." I say, the words tumbling out of my mouth so fast I don't even take a breath. "And the other reason I'm so pale right now? My second biggest fear after stage fright is boats. I fucking hate boats. I saw the Titanic when I was around five, the worst decision my parents made. I refuse to get on boats, even if it's a 47-storey cruise that is completely safe. The notion of being on something that is just floating..." I shudder. "Not my thing." 

Lando stares at me, his mouth agape. "So you're facing your two biggest fears in one go..." He murmurs. "Fuck me! You're insane." He says with a laugh. 

I scowl at him as he continues to laugh. 

"No, honestly It's admirable. You're facing two of your biggest fears in one night, all I do is race around a track at 100 plus kilometres per hour." He says shaking his head as he sighs. "Cami, you've got to get over your fears or else they'll become you," he says, seriously. 

I'm taken aback by his words. "That was incredibly thoughtful," I say and he shrugs.

"It should be, I saw it on a TED talk." He says with a grin and I laugh. 

I smile at him. "I like you a lot more than I thought I would, Lando Norris," I say, grinning. 

He gasps, offended. "What's not to like?" 

"Your ego, to start." A voice says from behind me and I spin around to see Carlos Sainz walking towards us. 

Lando scoffs. "Okay, you don't count. You were my teammate, your opinion isn't valid." He says, before looping an arm around my shoulders. "Besides, Cami  likes me." He says, with a grin. And I know he's done it to see the reaction he'll get from Carlos, and I'm surprised by the way Carlos's eyes flash with an emotion I can't quite place before he smiles. 

"Yes, but legally she has to like you, all those interviews we have to do would be hard if she did not," Carlos says, his smile tight. 

Lando ignores that comment and I laugh. "What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were tied up with interviews." He asks. 

Carlos shrugs. "I'm done for the day. All my interviews are finished, Amanda ordered me to come to find you. Apparently, there's some last-minute challenge for you and Oscar to do." he says and Lando groans. 

"But I'm taking Cami to-." Lando starts but Cando cuts him off with a smile. 

"I can take her for you, Amanda seemed pretty..."Carlos trails off with a shrug. 

Lando groans excessively. "Fuck." He groans and I smile. 

"I'll be fine with Carlos, Lando. Go find Amanda." I say smiling. 

Lando shrugs as he walks off, back in the direction from which we came. 

Carlos spreads his hands wide. "Shall we keep going?" He asks and I smile even wider. 

"We shall." 

 ⋆

new chappy!! enjoy yall, love you heaps. almost as much as cami and carlos...almost xx