Ellen Matthews and Lando Norris had been inseparable since childhood. Growing up in the same neighborhood, they’d spent countless hours racing bicycles down the streets, playing video games, and dreaming about the future. Lando had always been the fast one, the daring one, while Ellen was his steady companion, the one who kept him grounded. Their friendship had weathered the ups and downs of life, and even as Lando’s career in Formula 1 took off, their bond remained unshakable.
But life had a cruel way of changing things in an instant. Just a few months ago, Ellen’s world had been shattered by the sudden loss of her father. He had been her hero, the person she looked up to the most. His passing had left a void in her heart that nothing seemed to fill. Ellen had tried to put on a brave face, but Lando could see through her façade. He knew she was hurting, even when she tried to pretend everything was okay.
It was after a particularly tough day, one where Ellen had struggled just to get out of bed, that Lando showed up at her door with a proposal. They sat together on her couch, the silence between them heavy, as he watched her stare blankly at the wall.
"Ellen," Lando began, his voice gentle but firm, "I’ve been thinking. The new season is starting soon, and I want you to come with me. Travel with me to all the races."
Ellen turned to him, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What? Lando, you’ve got a job to do. You don’t need me tagging along."
Lando shook his head, his expression serious. "That’s exactly why I want you there. I don’t want you to be alone, and I don’t want to be worrying about you from halfway across the world. I know you’re going through hell right now, and I want to be there for you. You could use a change of scenery, some time away from everything here."
Ellen was quiet, taken aback by his offer. The idea of leaving home, of escaping the constant reminders of her father, was tempting. But at the same time, she didn’t want to be a burden to Lando, to distract him from his career. "Lando, I appreciate it, I really do. But I don’t want to get in the way of your racing."
"You won’t be," Lando insisted. "In fact, I think it’ll help both of us. You’ll have something new to focus on, and I’ll have my best friend with me. We’ll figure it out together, like we always have."
Ellen bit her lip, thinking it over. She knew Lando well enough to see that he was serious, that he genuinely wanted her to be there. Maybe he was right—maybe getting away would help her heal. And the thought of being with Lando, of having someone by her side who understood her better than anyone else, was comforting.
"Okay," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I’ll go with you."
Lando’s face lit up with relief and a wide grin spread across his face. "You won’t regret it, I promise. We’re going to have an amazing time, and who knows, maybe you’ll find something new to love along the way."
The next few weeks flew by as Ellen prepared for the journey. She packed her bags, tied up loose ends at home, and mentally prepared herself for what was to come. The idea of traveling the world with Lando was exciting, but it also felt daunting. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but Lando’s confidence in their plan reassured her.
Their first stop was Bahrain, and as the plane touched down, Ellen felt a mix of nerves and excitement. The hustle and bustle of the paddock, the roar of the engines, and the adrenaline in the air were all new to her. Lando, of course, was in his element, and seeing him so focused and in control made her proud.
As the season progressed, Ellen found herself getting more involved in the world of Formula 1. She spent time in the garage, learning about the cars, and even got to know some of the other drivers and team members. It was a whirlwind, but it kept her mind occupied, and for the first time in months, she felt a glimmer of happiness returning.
Lando made sure to include her in everything. He would take her out on the town in every city they visited, exploring new places, trying new foods, and creating new memories. At night, they would stay up late, talking about anything and everything, just like they used to. Slowly, the weight on Ellen’s shoulders began to lighten.
But it wasn’t all easy. There were days when the grief would hit her out of nowhere, when the emptiness would return, and she would struggle to hold it together. On those days, Lando was there, offering a shoulder to cry on, a distraction, or just his quiet presence. He never pushed her, never demanded that she move on faster than she was ready. He was just there, solid and unwavering.
As they traveled together, something began to shift between them. The long nights of conversation, the shared experiences, the way Lando looked at her when he thought she wasn’t paying attention—it all started to feel different. Ellen couldn’t deny the flutter in her chest when he smiled at her or the warmth that spread through her when he touched her hand. But she wasn’t sure what to make of it, wasn’t sure if it was real or just a result of everything they had been through.
One evening, after a particularly intense race weekend in Monaco, they found themselves on a quiet balcony overlooking the city. The lights of Monte Carlo twinkled below them, and the sound of the sea was a soothing backdrop. Ellen leaned on the railing, lost in thought, when Lando came up beside her.
"You’ve been quiet tonight," he said softly. "What’s on your mind?"
Ellen sighed, turning to look at him. "I’ve just been thinking about everything… about us. This whole season has been… I don’t know, eye-opening."
Lando nodded, his expression serious. "It has been. It’s made me realize a lot of things too."
There was a long pause, the air between them charged with unspoken words. Finally, Lando broke the silence. "Ellen, I… I’ve been thinking about how much you mean to me. You’re not just my best friend, you’re so much more than that. And I know things are complicated right now, but I don’t want to go through life wondering ‘what if?’"
Ellen’s heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat. "Lando… are you saying…?"
"I’m saying that I care about you, Ellen," Lando continued, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I care about you in a way that I’ve been too afraid to admit for a long time. But being with you this season, seeing you fight through everything, it’s made me realize that I don’t want to hide it anymore."
Ellen felt tears welling up in her eyes, a mixture of relief, fear, and overwhelming emotion. She had always loved Lando, but she had never dared to hope that he might feel the same way. "Lando, I… I don’t know what to say. I’ve been so scared, so confused about everything, but being with you has made me feel… alive again. And I think… I think I might feel the same way about you."
A slow, hopeful smile spread across Lando’s face, and he reached out, gently taking her hand. "Then maybe we should stop being scared. Maybe we should just take the leap."
Ellen looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity there, the love that she had always known but had never fully recognized until now. She nodded, a small, hopeful smile forming on her lips. "Maybe we should."
As they stood there on that balcony, the city lights of Monte Carlo reflecting in their eyes, Ellen realized that this journey had been about more than just healing from her loss. It had been about finding herself again, and in the process, discovering a love that had been there all along, waiting for the right moment to bloom.
In the weeks and months that followed, their relationship deepened. They faced challenges together, just as they always had, but now there was something more between them—a love that was stronger than friendship, a bond that had been forged through years of shared experiences and the trials of the season.
Ellen found that the grief she had carried with her was still there, but it no longer defined her. With Lando by her side, she felt like she could face anything, and for the first time in a long time, she looked forward to the future with hope and excitement.
Lando had been right—traveling with him had been the best decision she could have made. Not just because it had helped her heal, but because it had led her to a place she had never expected to find: a place where her best friend had become the love of her life.
