oblivious [l.n.]

43

giana's pov

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"Is there absolutely nothing we can do to convince you to come to the race tomorrow?" Carlos pleaded once more.

Charles also looked up at me with the same pleading look in his eyes. "We'll do anything."

We were in the middle of having breakfast in Belgium. After days of once again staying at Charles' apartment, we both flew out here. Him for the race and me for the concert. Since we arrived at the restaurant this morning, Carlos and Charles kept trying to convince me to be at the garage the following day for the race.

"Guys, I can't. I don't think people would appreciate seeing me on F1tv when I'm supposed to be on stage." I teased as I finished the last bite of my waffles.

"Your dad would be really happy to see you there." Charles tried to leverage.

"That's foul, using my father against me like that." I shook my head as he grinned. 

Charles was right though. My dad had already asked me if I wanted to go to the race. I haven't seen much of him lately so it would be nice to go. However, I did have a show to give.

Carlos then interrupted my thoughts as he spoke up. "What about today? Can you at least come to watch quali?"

I was already thinking of agreeing when Charles suggested something that guaranteed my attendance. 

"If you come to quali, I'll let you drive my Ferrari."

My head shot up to look at him instantly. I had been trying to convince him to let me drive for the longest time but he kept refusing because according to him my driving was "unsafe and dangerous." He claimed that his car was not guaranteed to come back in one piece if I drove it.

"You'll let me drive the Daytona?" I confirmed to make sure I wasn't imagining things.

He grudgingly nodded his head. "Yes."

"Okay. I'll be there today." I happily agreed. This was an opportunity I was not willing to let pass.

****

Once I was walking through the paddock of the Spa-Francorchamps track, I was regretting some of my life choices. Maybe driving Charles' Ferrari wasn't something I really wanted to do. However, this decision was irreversible as I found myself walking further into the paddock. Charles had promised to stay by my side the entire time which made it much easier for me.

Before I knew it, the qualifying session was over and it was time to leave the track. Although I arrived with Charles, Carlos was the one to drive me back to the hotel.

I naively believed that I had successfully avoided Lando. However, it was like I manifested him when I thought that. At the exact moment the thought came into my head, life chose to put him in my way.

Literally.

We were nearing the exit of the paddock when fans were swarmed around somebody. I assumed it was one of the drivers because people were starting to call Carlos' name, trying to get his attention and take pictures.

We walked rather slowly as he stopped here and there to sign stuff and pose for pictures. I was in the middle of signing something myself when I finally heard his voice. My body froze for a second as I registered the sound of him speaking. My heart felt like it skipped a beat.

When I looked up to return the cap that I had finished signing to someone in front of me, I saw Lando standing only a couple of feet in front of us. He had not noticed Carlos and I there which I thanked the heavens for.

But once again, life didn't always choose to be nice to me.

Someone from the crowd called out my name. "Giana, Giana! Over here!"

Since I had spotted him, I had been unable to remove my stare from him. Therefore, I noticed the speed in which his head shot up towards my direction when he heard the sound of my name. His body tensed and his lips parted slightly in surprise.

Although it wasn't too close of a distance, I could notice the physical differences on him. There were bags under his eyes, his hair was longer than normal, and he seemed thinner. With the way I had felt recently, I'm sure he also noticed how worse I looked.

It was like we were both stuck making eye contact with neither of us moving. Everything around us seemed to melt away and my stomach turned heavily.

Lando was the first one to tear his eyes from mine as they darted to look at someone next to him. I followed his gaze and that is when a wave of nausea overcame me.

I couldn't see her face but there was nobody else it could be.

Crystal.

Who else had that long black hair?

I wanted to look away but for some reason I just couldn't. It wasn't until someone's hand on my arm seemed to snap me out from a trance as I turned to face them. It was Carlos and the look on his face told me everything. He looked apologetic as he gave me a sad smile.

"Can we just get out of here?" I asked, low enough for only him to hear.

He didn't hesitate to nod as we walked away quickly from the crowd.

****

The next day, I forced myself to push the memory of Lando and Crystal from my head. I opted to put my energy into the concert.

The entire day I had practiced endlessly, praying that everything ran as smoothly as possible.

With only twenty minutes before I went on stage, I paced back and forth in my dressing room. My manager, Elena, entered the room carrying a small box.

"Honey, you need to take a breath. Everything will be perfect." She said, placing the box on the counter.

"I know....I just feel a bit lightheaded." I stopped pacing and took a seat on a chair opposite from the couch in the room.

The couch that was always specifically requested because there was usually a plus one with me in the dressing room. He was always tired from the race so he would nap while I got ready. He always showed up with my favorite pastry before knocking out. It had become a tradition that was never broken until recently.

Elena had asked if I wanted for it to be removed. She understood the significance that something as simple as a couch symbolized. I chose not to, it felt wrong for some reason. Like somehow, if I got rid of a couch, I was pushing him further away. I wasn't ready to let go of the tradition.

It was stupid and didn't make much sense, but nothing had been making sense lately.

I then took a deep breath, trying to force Lando from my mind once again as I exhaled.

"It's because you haven't eaten much today." Elena continued as she opened the box she had entered with. She then took something out from it, handing it to me.

It was a donut. Maple flavored.

My favorite.

I looked up at Elena in surprise. "Where did you get these?"

She seemed caught off guard by my question as she looked at the box. "They were delivered a couple of minutes ago, I thought you had asked for them."

"I didn't"

"Then who-?" She paused mid-sentence as she came to realization. "Lando."

Although the moment from yesterday still stung, a small smile appeared on my lips.

Seemed like he didn't feel like letting go of traditions either.

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