Baby, just say ... yes? | Landoscar <3

I Know Places

Hungarian Grand Prix

"You two have just made up, completely fine again?“, Logan asked me in disbelief while we went on the vehicle for the drivers parade. I only texted him two weeks ago that everything was alright, nothing in detail.

"Yeah, it was a misunderstanding. I made a bigger fuss out of it than necessary“, I answered him casually and looked back to the crowd. I saw a bit papaya here and there which made me happy. After our last race result I couldn’t help but be optimistic.

"You are not the type of guy to make a fuss and you seemed pretty … devastated because of him. You sure that you’re okay?“ He looked really worried now, searching for my eyes but I was too embarrassed so I held my gaze on the cheering fans. I cannot believe I cried – in front of another person. I try to suppress the memory and think about an answer I could give because I am okay now and I believe what Lando said.

"I know but we talked about it and it was really just a misunderstanding.“ I gave him a smile and finally he seemed pleased with my explanation. But I shouldn’t complain about a friend who cares for me, it’s really sweet.

"Who actually won the paddle matches in the end? I was a bit too distracted to notice“, I asked him, truly interested. "To be honest, Alex and I discussed it a bit and we came to the conclusion that him and Lando won the rookie match because ehm … you really messed up your serve,“ he looked shy now but I nodded to show him that it was fine. It wasn’t really the game that upset me this much that day, "but we have to admit that you and him would’ve won the teams match, you two had clearly more points“, he continued.

"Wait, I'm happy about the hypothetical win but do you want to tell me that, although I attacked him the whole two matches, Lando still won? Both??“

"So you admit it was an attack on me and you should’ve been disqualified?“ I felt Landos hand on my back, drawing a small circle on it before he pulled away. It sounds very stupid but after spending some days together in the UK where I live, we had to come back to the MTC for some obligations before the next race and with the whole team and staff around we made up a secret signal. When we missed the other among all the whirlwind, which came basically at any time in our job, we would demonstrate them through the signal but we had different ones for each other. Because I wasn’t too comfortable showing affection in public, especially by touch, I'd give him a thumbs up – a double thumbs up if I couldn’t bare missing him anymore.

We had made out in his drivers room half an hour ago and he is his smug self again so I give him only one thumb up, "Yes Lando, I admit it“, I say stretched while rolling my eyes.

"And do you also admit that I’m the best paddle player on the grid? Logan here brought the facts“, he said and gestured in direction of Logan. "Hold on, he just said we would’ve won against Williams. What about all the other drivers on the grid? I heard the Spanish are unbeatable“, I countered.

"Too easy, we organize a match and then I’ll show you“, Lando answered and raised his head proudly. Logan spoke up, "ehm … Alex told everyone about our match and he may have made things seem more … dramatic than they actually were. I don’t think anybody wants to play with you anymore,“ he sounded apologetic.

Lando and I looked at each other, "That’s on you Osc.“ I heavily raised my eye brow, very in doubt of his statement. "Okay okay, it’s on me. Come let’s go, it’s nearly our turn for the interview.“ I followed him after saying bye to Logan.

"So, how are we feeling today? Too many people?“, Lando asked me when nobody could hear us. "Yes, too many people but it’s okay so far.“ He knows that I struggle with all the attention sometimes but I feel much safer because of him. When it was my turn for the interview he stood beside me the whole time, encouraging me with his bright smile.

Unfortunately I couldn’t see this smile in my race car but it was probably for the best because after overtaking him in turn 1 it most likely wasn’t a smile anymore. I was already looking forward to pointing this out to him until he undercut me in lap 19. His car was so close to mine I imagined seeing the smile back on his face.

In the end Lando finished P2 and I P5, another Brit and a RedBull crushing the hope of a podium for me. But the pace was strong so I stayed optimistic for the next races. After being forced to tell a modified version of this summary in what felt like 500 interviews I could finally see Lando again and congratulate him.

I greeted him with a double thumbs up whereas he drew a circle on my back while we took the group photo with the whole team. Beeing his boyfriend was the greatest thing ever.

When we finally arrived at the hotel we were so tired that we just laid down in bed, facing each other. "Don’t you want to party with the team or your friends for your second place?“, I aksed him, my eyes nearly closed. "Why would I want to do that when I can lay beside you and watch how you try your best to stay awake?“ He reached out and stroked my cheek. I just mumbeld "sorry" and put my arms around him. Intertwined, we fell asleep.

I woke up again in the middle of the night searching for my phone. Then I remembered that I left it in my hotel room which is right next to Landos. It’s pretty useless having two rooms when you spend your whole time only in one but we couldn’t tell McLaren to just book one room, would be suspicious.

I normally wouldn’t mind not having my phone here but I set an alarm which should wake me in the morning because if I trusted Lando on waking up on time we would miss our flight. So I stumbled, half asleep, to the other room. When I picked up my phone I saw a new message, it was from an unknown number.

BREAK UP WITH LANDO

Below was a video where Lando and I make out in a stairwell. It was the hotel in Silverstone, I recognized.

What. The. Fuck.