Lucky number 4

A Game of Truth or Truth

He seems awfully agreeable tonight. Maybe it's because he had a good first and second practice today that put him in a talkative mood. "If you could still be friends with someone from your childhood, who'd it be and why?"

Lando raises a curious eyebrow at me. "I'd expected you to ask my favorite color, not ... that."

I shrug, staring out the passenger window. "I don't have to ask about your favorite color, to know that yours is neon yellow. It's in all the little things around you. Your helmet, bracelets, even that piece of board they hold up with your name and nationality on it is flashy yellow."

A small smile flashes over his feature. "Have you been stalking me, love?"

I scowl, a small blush creeping up my neck. "No, only the blind would not notice."

Lando snickers but doesn't comment further on it. He thinks on it for a little while. I hadn't expected him to respond anymore when suddenly I hear his voice. "If I could still be friends with a childhood friend, I'd want it to be with Tavi. He and I were connected at the hip before I started carting at the age of 8."

"What happened?"

Lando shrugs, "I started carting, switched to home schooling and a different agenda, and we fell out of touch after that. I know he went on to college and works now in a business firm. He was always smart like that, but we don't talk anymore."

"Would you like to?"

"The thing is" Lando speaks after a bit, "I don't know if we'd hit it off anymore. We headed two completely different roads and honestly, I'd be sad to know if it turns out we have nothing in common anymore."

I ponder over it for a bit. "I understand that feeling" I say, nodding my head.

"My turn to ask a question" Lando breaks the silence. I nod and he continues. "What's the best and worst part about being in science?"

I'm momentarily stunned by his question. "How do you know I'm in science?"

Lando raises an amused brow. "You dropped off the boxes for the medical exam today."

I shrug, "I could be a PT, an organizer or simply delivery."

"You're not letting this go, are you?" Lando smiles. It transforms his whole face; he looks younger and less anxious when he does. I set my jaw and nod. "Fine, I asked about you." I frown at his revelation. "Don't worry, Mike had a lot of good things to say about you."

Silence falls between us. I'm slightly flattered that he asked about me. It definitely overshadows my yapping about his favorite color. "The best thing about science" I start staring out the window, "is the mental game. I'm never bored, no day is the same, I like that I'm surrounded by like-minded people, I like the challenge and the feeling of answering a particular hard question or better yet, coming up with a new question."

I think back to the lab. My supervisor and his team. His team that only consists of young woman. When I first started working there, I thought it was the best place ever. Woman, similar in age, that share the same interests as me were to be my new colleagues. However, the ugly truth came out relatively soon after starting my degree. "The worst thing about science" I continue after what must have been the longest break in the history of breaks, that I'm surprised we hadn't arrived at the club yet. "Is the competitiveness." I lie. Lando glances at me sideways, telling me he doesn't buy my bullshit. "The healthy dose is good of course" I continue as if he didn't see right through me. "But it can take a turn for the worst. Ruin friendships, collaborations and innovation if you ask me."

Lando nods his head, playing along. "I would say that's also the saddest part about F1."