Past and Present

19

As promised, double update!

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TIME JUMP: MINNESOTA, 2021

"Happy Birthday again, Schuyler!" Madeleine excitingly speaks as she side hugs me while the others clap their hands or whistle happily and throw confettis.

My fellow interns threw a surprise party for me at our pantry area. By how sparkly the design is, I know off the bat that this was all of Madeleine's idea and she just forced the others.

They sang me Happy Birthday and I get to blow my birthday candles; this is the first time that Minnesota felt like home. Today is a happy day because before this, I got to scrub in at a pediatric heart transplant and received birthday wishes from everyone back in Monaco. A call from my parents. From Max. I even received messages from the other drivers who has my number – Daniel, Lewis, Carlos, and Sebastian; I may not reply to them, but they never fail to greet me on my birthday. Then there's an Unknown number greeting me a Happy Birthday as well.

If I remember it correctly, today's race week in the Formula 1 world. That's why imagine my surprise when I received a call from my parents and text from the drivers.

Everyone greeted me but one. Lando. Maybe he's still busy with McLaren duties shooting content and all. It's a downer since he always greets me first and I kind of expected it to be the same this year; but no. No missed calls, no birthday greetings, nothing. I pout at the thought and decided to shake it off since I don't want to spoil the surprise party with my sour mood because of some petty reason.

I am currently saying endless thank you's to the Doctors, Nurses, and staff that are greeting me right now when my phone suddenly rang. I excused myself from everyone and answered the call.

"Hello?" I said as I bring my phone up to my ear.

"Come down to the lobby, once you're done up there." Lando spoke as he immediately hangs up before I could even answer him.

I look at my phone screen confused by what he said not noticing that Madeleine is standing beside me already, "who was that?"

"Lando. He told me to go down the lobby." I explained to her. I shrugged and hid my phone in my scrub pocket before looking at Madeleine and giving her a tight hug.

"Thank you again for this, Mimi." I whispered to her ear as Madeleine hugs me back and spun me around.

Madeleine pulls away from our hugs and looking at me, grinning, "You're always welcome, Sky! Now go to the lobby; there's a birthday gift waiting for you."

I looked at her confused, "but my shift's not done–"

"Oh boohoo, Wolff. Go, i'll cover for you!" Madeleine declares as she hands me my handbag and pushes me out of the pantry while shooing me away.

Why the heck are my friends being so weird and confusing right now?

I shook my head thinking about what just happened as I make my way to the lobby. I fished for my phone again and check if there are messages from Lando again hopefully clarifying what meant. When I saw that there is none, I decided to call him while I walk to the lobby.