From the Past - Lando Norris

Four: Team Papaya

--Ella's POV--

Lando followed me on Instagram so I spent hours going through all his posts. I may have also looked at Max's page, as well as the other drivers who I remember seeing that night. The first guy I talked to was Daniel I'm pretty sure. The only thing I remember from that night is all of them being really nice. No wonder Lando posts so much with them. He sent me a message telling me to meet him out front at eleven am before they started their practice. I have my camera packed and the battery packs charging so I can get decent photos.

When I arrive outside there are fans everywhere and it's a little overwhelming. My camera bag is thrown over my shoulder as I try to get to the front. I walk up to the front and say my name and the guy lets me in making me feel so legit. Most of the time when I shoot models I walk in with my bosses and they don't even pay attention to me. I see a sea of orange which makes me feel like I'm going in the right direction. I pull my camera out and take a picture of the Formula One sign above their area and see Lando walking towards me. He smiles as I point the camera at him getting a quick photo.

"This place is insane," I tell him looking around. I know racing is a big part of the countries roots but I never paid much attention to it. Which sounds silly and I kind of regret not looking up Lando's name sooner. It was the past...I just never saw the point, "You're like rich and famous now," I point out as he shakes his head.

"Don't even start. I'm the same old Lando you knew when we were kids," he says.

"Is that a Rolex watch?" I ask as he hides his hand pushing me into his locker room area. However, it looks nothing like a locker room. This place is so comfy. There is an orange couch and a closet for all of Lando's things. It's like the size of my apartment but for his shoes. The door opens behind us as he gets me water and I hear a scream. I immediately turn around to see his parents and run over giving them a hug.

"What the hell are you going here?" His mom asks as she rocks me back and forth.

"Lando just missed me so much," I joke as she pulls away getting a good look at me. She looks the same but a little older since I haven't seen her in close to ten years.

"You look amazing. I can really see your mom in your eyes," she says as she pulls me in for another hug. I can hear the sadness in her voice as his dad pulls me in for another hug. We used to be a giant family. Sometimes we even spent holidays together. Adam keeps his arm around my shoulder as he leans in, "Please tell me you're sticking around 'cause Lando's such a snob now," he jokes as Lando tells his dad to stop.

"I'll be here all day taking photos for him and his teammate. His name is Oscar?" I question not trusting my gut and the research I did last night. Lando nods his head and walks to the door to go find him. When I'm left with his parents they ask me about school, my work, and if I'm happy in Monaco. It's the typical questions all parents ask their kid's friends. It's hard to ignore the slight tears in Cisca's eyes as we talk about my mother. When Lando comes back in Oscar is right behind him with a bright smile on his face.

"Wings?" he asks as Lando nudges his shoulders, "Sorry Ella, nice to meet you," He says making me smile. The look his parents give each other makes me squirm as they know the origin of the nickname.

"Nice to meet you. What kind of pictures are you guys looking for?" I ask.

"Anything. We just need good photos to build up team morale and make McLaren look good," Lando says as I get my camera out again. Adam and Cisca tell us they will see us later as I think of some good ideas. There's a knock at the door as I finish explaining the last duo photo. I turn seeing Max popping his head in to say hello but he fully walks in when he sees me.

"Ella, wasn't expecting to see you today," he says as he walks towards us.

"I'm just too good Lando had to have me take pictures of him today," I tell him as he looks at the guys behind me before looking back at me, "You're Red Bull, right?" I ask.

"I thought you didn't watch F1?" he asks walking forward and crossing his arms. His arms flex in the white shirt he's wearing making me wish I never stopped watching racing.

"I did my research," I say with a slight smirk as I lick my lips taking my bottom lip in with it as he continues flirting with me.

"Maybe I'll put in a good word at Red Bull so you can shoot some pictures for us," he says.

"I may be up for that," I tell him as he nods his head starting to walk away.

"I'll get back to you then," he says before walking out. When I turn around the two guys are looking at me with their arms crossed but in a menacing way as I give them a grin.

"You were just flirting with the enemy," Lando says as I laugh at how serious he is.

"How is he the enemy?" I ask as I change the lens on my camera to get some fishbowl shots. These photos always do the best on social media.

"Cause I'm your friend and he's not on McLaren," he says, "Just promise to make us look better if he does get you some work over there," he says holding his pinky out.

I pinky promise him as Oscar looks at us like we are children, "For...no reason but is he single?" I ask as I go to leave so Lando can get dressed for practice.

"Max is single," Oscar says as Lando pushes him out making us both laugh. I walk with him and take some single shots of Oscar as he walks to his room. He stops before walking into his room so I can show him some of them and he tells me they look great.

"Do you mind if I ask you about Lando real quick?" I ask. He nods his head and I take a deep breath as I shove my camera in my bag, "Will I regret..."

"Letting him back into your life?"

"Yeah"

"He's a great guy. He's not what most people think..ya know? The media attention and money haven't gotten to his head....yet," he says as I smile hearing what I wanted to, "Why does he call you Wings?" he asks.

"That's something you'll have to wait to hear when we are closer," I tell him as he laughs walking into his room. I walk throughout the McLaren garage and take some photos of the behind-the-scenes waiting for the guys. I feel like I'm in a different dimension. Everything looks so expensive here. I jump when I feel a hand on my shoulder, immediately hearing Lando laughing.

He leads me through the garage and shows me his car and the small details. I'm shocked with how much I remember after not watching races for years. Everyone is moving around so quickly I can barely keep up with everything Lando is saying. He sees I'm a little overwhelmed and slows down giving me a small smile, "Do you want to show me the pictures as they prepare the car?" he asks. We sit off to the side and it's hard not to get distracted by the loud noises and laughing engineers.

"Do you like it here?" I ask him as I turn to him looking at a photo of him back to back with Oscar. He lifts his head after a second and his lips turn up a little as he nods his head.

"It's better than anything I could have imagined. What about you? Do you like what you're doing?" he asks.

"I'm getting there"

"Maybe Max will pull through," he says nudging my shoulder as I roll my eyes playfully, "I've never seen him flirt before and it was a little terrifying to watch," he jokes.

"Ha ha so funny"

"Lando, five minutes until practice," a man in head-to-toe orange says. He thanks him and I stand up following him so I can get some shots of him in the car.

"Good luck," I tell him.

"I don't need it"

"You are so full of yourself," I whisper shaking my head.