CALL YOUR MOM | ln4

nine.

{ jonesy }

"Are you sure it's fine I'm here?"

Ruthie had joined me in Australia for the Grand Prix in Melbourne. Well, she ended up getting in late last night because when Oscar volunteered to book her a flight, getting Ruthie here Friday night was the only option that worked. We're not flying home until Tuesday, so she'll at least have a few days here before having to get back on a plane.

I laughed, nodding my head, "You've got a paddock pass, Ru, you're fine." She picked up her pace to walk next to me. "Besides, I ran it by my higher-ups and they were fine with me having a shadow this weekend as long as you don't distract me from my job."

"Which you're not doing at the moment." Ruthie laughed, hooking my arm with hers so we'd walk together.

I gestured in front of us with my free hand. "As you can see, they're nowhere to be found, which is why we're searching for them. Quali is in an hour or so and they're usually in their Drivers' rooms–"

"Weren't we just there?"

"Which is why we're searching for them." I laughed, repeating my earlier statement.

We walked together down the pit lane and over to where all of the hospitalities were located. They're bound to be here somewhere. Charlotte had demanded I get some candid shots for whatever reason, and I'm not about to disappoint her. She seems like she's got some decent pull within Mclaren. She's not even Oscar's PR manager, yet she's still making demands for him.

Weird.

I don't know, I just do what I'm told.

"Is that one of them?" Ruthie pointed in the distance.

My eyes followed where she was pointing and I really wanted to ask if she was dumb. How many times has she watched a race with me? "Ruthie, that's Max Verstappen... he drives for Red Bull."

She threw an arm out to her side, "I don't remember what they all look like!"

I tugged her to face me and gestured to the polo I was wearing, "They'll be wearing the same color I am... not navy." She mumbled a small 'oh' and laughed, pulling me with her further through all of the people.

"Well, I know that's not either of them with Max because that one's wearing red."

Red? Can't be Checo then.

I looked back to where Max was and saw Charles standing next to him. Interesting. "That would be Charles, the one you said was your favorite."

Her jaw dropped. "We've gotta–"

"Find Lando and Oscar, c'mon. I'll introduce you to Charles later."

Ruthie groaned as I tugged her with me, over closer to the Mclaren hospitality. Except, we didn't make it that far, because my name was being shouted from outside of Ferrari hospitality.

Sure enough, Lando was seated at an outdoor table alongside Carlos Sainz, a former teammate of his – his first, I believe.

I redirected Ruthie, pulling her with me over to where the Mclaren-Ferrari duo sat. Lando was excitedly waving at me and I couldn't help but laugh at his antics. These past few weeks with Mclaren have been both stressful and amazing. The work was a lot, but the friendships – both rekindled and new – I found with some of the Drivers around here were heartwarming.

With Lando, it was almost as though no time had passed. It felt like we just picked up where we left off, but this time growing closer fast. With Oscar, it was like I had the little brother I always begged Mum for – mostly on the days when I thought that Marshall wasn't paying enough attention to me. And then, surprisingly, there was Charles. My friendship with Charles was one that often brought me to tears when I thought about it too hard, with Charles, it was like I had my older brother back – almost.