𝙇𝙊𝙊𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝘼𝙏 𝙈𝙀 ᵒᵖ⁸¹

twenty ✓

📍 tokyo, japan

TWO-forty five, and the four women had been set up around different spots in the paddock they wanted to watch qualifying in. gina and bethany wanted a little more peace and quiet while they watched, staying up in the top part of the paddock where they could watch on a tv or look out the window into the pit lane. they would go down every once in a while to the actual garages where vivienne wanted to be, who brought willow to stay with her.

they were stood to the side of the garage as they watched everyone around them working. mechanics doing checks in the cars, race engineers setting up all of their last minute equipment, and both of the actual drivers entering through the doors that came from their driver rooms.

oscar and lando passed by them both, not quite noticing that they were there in the midst of their quali-focused minds.

the girls didn't mind though. it was cool to see how it would all work on a normal day without any "theatrics" put on because they were there. it made it feel more real.

the boys got in either of their cars and were handed their steering wheels, then their race suit attachment to the car was double checked.

when they had both left the garage to try and get a good qualifying time in, zac called for willow and vivienne to sit with him in front of the tvs. he handed each of them a headset so they were able to hear either of the boys from in their cars.

zac pressed a button on his controls and spoke into the mic attached to his headset, "lando?"

both girls could hear zac in their headphones.

"yeah?"

"willow and vivienne are sitting in on this session, just to let you know"

"ooh hello willow! hello vivienne!"

"hello lando!" vivienne replied for them.

it was silent for a few moments before lando spoke again. zac thought it would be something about actually racing, but it wasn't, "willow, if i get top 3 in qualifying can we do karaoke together?"

she laughed, "sure, lando. but by the look on zac's face i'd focus on driving right now"

"yay, thank you!"

zac took over talking to lando, making sure he was fully focusing on the car now that he got what he wanted.

— 🤍 —

QUALIFYING one was over and both oscar and lando made it to quali two with their times. the cars were pulled back into the garage and they both got out, doing any necessary talks with mechanics or zac before taking a quick break before qualifying two.

willow and vivienne had moved to sit on a few chairs at the back of the garage, joined by lando when he noticed where they were, "so far, it's looking like im going to be choosing the song"

willow nodded, keeping a straight face, "looks like it, norris"

oscar joined them too, but a bit surprised seeing willow in the garage too. he, during their long conversation a few nights ago, learnt that although vivienne had a deep love for the sport, willow wasn't as big of a fan. when she said this, oscar told her that he'd find a way for her to like it as much as her friend.

friend.

friend?

was he friends with willow?

"you did good out there, oscar" the boy, in his own thoughts for a mere moment, hadn't realized that lando had mainly been talking to vivienne now — the two of them discussing what song would optimize his karaoke time with willow (one of their options so far was a 12 minute long song?).

willow moved to the chair on the other side of him so she could talk to him. hoping to, at least.

"thanks, i've never really been on this track apart from yesterday so i think it was okay"

"well, i've never been on it either or have ever driven an f1 car so i think anything looks good to me" she paused, "wait— that sounded bad" she turned to face him fully and gave him a straight face, "you did do good, 5th fastest time so far is good"

he laughed lightly, letting her know he knew what she said had good intentions, "the next thing is just keeping that in q2"

"i'm sure you'll be fine"

he smiled, liking how she had confidence in him even after only seeing him actually in the car for a little while. maybe he'd have to return the favour one day.

"oscar, oscar, oscar!" lando turned to the two of them, "and willow, hello. i think i know just the song that i'm going to serenade you with after this weekend!"

oscar was extremely confused, especially when lando went back to talking to vivienne like it was nothing.

willow explained everything for him, "earlier on the radio he asked me if we could do karaoke together if he got top 3 in qualifying and i said sure. now, he's been going on about what song he wants to sing to 'make the most of it'. i hope he knows though that friends of mine don't have to make deals like that to hang out with me" she got a bit off track at the end, but it was a good thing.

if she considered lando a friend of hers, surely she considered him to be one as well.

—💌