Private life | Lando Norris

25 - I'm Worried

12 days earlier 

You should always worry when your 53 year old mother, who is in perfect health and condition, calls you at 5:30 AM asking if you can fly to London. 

"Wh-why at," I pulled my phone away from my face, blinking at the bright light. "5:32 AM Mum?" 

"Love! Its 6:30! I get up at 6!" Claudia projects into the phone. 

I smack my hand to my forehead. "Not where I live." I sigh into the phone and she scoffs. 

"Getting up early is good for you." Her voice rings out, trill and confident. 

"Is, is it though?" I ask, confused. My mother was always trying to up her game. Never stop, never give up and always perform. She would wake me up at 6 AM on the weekends, when I was off school, to go running and anything she wanted. One time she got me up to make smoothies. 

Smoothies! 

What the hell? At 6 AM? Sometimes she really annoys me but at the end of the day, she's my Mum and I love her.

"It is! Anyway, I think you should come over and see us! Me and Clive miss you!" She exclaims.

"Oh My God! How is Clive?" I ask, concerned for our ancient dog. 

"Good, good. Still trekking along." She answers back. I hear a bark in the back and the gentle sounds of my dad yelling back at him. "Clive, stop it!"  My dad has always gotten up when my mum has. You never seen one without the other. 

"Well, mum, I can't come over yet but I should be able... soon." I reply and sit up, surveying my room and the state its in. Not good. 

"Oh okay, why not?" My mind goes straight to Ginny, the situation playing on repeat. 

"Work Mum, I can't just up and leave." I mutter. Jesus I need more sleep. With Ginny and Charles busting in, i've had about give or take 5 hours of sleep. My body is working overtime right now. 

"Just tell your boss you need a holiday!" She shouts down the phone. I hear the signs of my father getting up to tell her to calm down. "Claudia, you alright?" Adam yells. 

"Tell dad I can't come over because of work, he'll understand." Not trying to sound mean but if you wanted something, Adam was the person to go to. Not my mum. 

She sighs and relays this to him. "She needs to work to get money Claudia." He says softly, me hardly hearing him. "She can't rely on Ginny or us to live." 

God, my dad is the best. I used to have parts of my childhood where I would hyper focus on one thing. My mum would never get me anything to the fixation but my dad would. Every time. Not complaining. I once had a mad obsession with dancing, so he bought me the leotard, got the shoes and paid for the classes. I love both my parents but I will always have a soft spot for him. He also never pressured me into knowing what I wanted to do when I grew up. He said 'it will come and find you'. Best advice ever. 

"Okay Jennifer, but you have to tell me when you're free." She pipes down the line. Claudia hates anything to do with technology. With a burning passion. Only use's it when totally necessary. 

"Alright Mum, I love you." 

"Love you too. Oh and Dave says it as well." 

"Tell him, I'll text him later." I yawn and a giggle comes down the line. My younger brother Dave is currently working abroad at some swanky lawyers firm and earning triple figures. Lucky dude. 

"You tired?"  When am I not?

"Yes Mum, I'm tired because you woke me up at the ass crack of dawn and I have work," I pull my phone away to check the time. "In about 3 hours." 

"Oh, right, well have fun!" she sequels and the line goes quiet. 

Wonderfull. 

Today should be another ordinary day, but I have a strong feeling it won't. Last night was still ringing in my head and I was waiting  for a call from either Charles or Ginny. I tear my self away from the warm, comfortable, lovely bed I was just snuggled up in and force my self to take a shower. I plan on it taking a short amount of time, but I spend just under half an hour standing under the stream trying not to fall asleep.

In the shower I contemplate going back to bed but I decide to torture myself even more and go on a run. I hate running but Ginny loves it, so I'll be dragged along for whatever active she wants.  Usually it's just running to the store but sometimes (and this is the worst because he likes to brag about how in shape he is) Ginny will invite Charles. Charles! Isn't my day bad enough running, which I hate, and then she has to add the most self-centred idiotic man know to earth? 

Wait, no, that spot is reserved for Lando. He just decides not to text me back. I thought we were getting along okay, but whatever. His loss. 

I pull on my jogging clothes and feel the unwelcome constriction of my thighs inside the mega tight leggings. I probably have to get another pair soon. I swipe my phone and EarPods off the bedside table. My feet slip into my running shoes and I'm off. Reluctantly. 

Off course its a beautiful day and the sun is already out, peaking over the horizon like a kid not wanting to be told off by their parents. The birds are chirping and the sounds of Monaco swirl around me. I should be having a good time but the stitch in my side stops me from smiling. Instead I stop running, bend over and try to catch my breath as much as I can before starting again. 

My music stops me from hearing anyones footsteps but It's hard to ignore someone when they're speaking right in your ear. 

"If you wanted to meet me you could have just said."

"JESUS CHRIST!" I spin around to find Lando smirking at me, his face proud. He looks terrible. The dark circles under his eyes show the parting and his eyes lack his usual small spark you have to look closely to see. "Want do you want?" My voice grinds out. 

He lets out a tiny chuckle but doesn't meet my eye. "Nothing, thought I would scare you." He looks up to me. "It worked." 

"I really don't know why you think you can talk to me." I sigh and fidget with my EarPods in there  case. 

"I feel like it." A thread of my patience snaps. A moment passes. 

"Why didn't you text me back?" The words come out in a blur and I can see the resentment coat his features. He recovers quickly and puts the frown back on. 

"I... can't." He mutters so soft I almost miss it. "I didn't have the time, I was busy." he finishes, speaking up a bit louder. 

"Oh, well I'm sorry." I offer and turn to leave. His words stop me in my tracks.

"I saw your text but didn't respond." His arms swing by his sides, awkwardly slow. 

"Why not?" I question softly. My voice is quiet but he seems to flinch at my words. 

"I... couldn't." He responds the same way, not knowing what to say or do. His hands go to his cap to turn it backwards. "Well, I didn't really want to and it was funny you believing that I wasn't fine." His words snap another thread. 

"Okay, well I have to go Lando." I respond, my voice a contrast to the bright warm morning. I turn around and speed back up the hill, trying to get as far away from his hurtful words as possible.  

"Whatever Jen." he calls out behind me.  

"Fuck you." I yell behind my back and I don't wait to hear his response. 

~~~~~ 

hey y'all!

proud of that podium by Lando and so grateful that china is back, I love that circuit. sad about the unfortunate sprint race but what can you do?

Thank you for 7.4k reads and 191 votes! this is a dream come true and you guys are the best! 

Hope you are having a good weekend! 

Why do you think Lando was being mean? Comment! ~~~~>