Behind the Pit Wall: Jamie Albon's Challenge // Lando Norris // F1

Chapter 28: The Flight Back

Jamie woke up early, her mind still heavy from the events of the past few days. She sighed, feeling the weight of Lando's latest message. His persistence was exhausting, and even though she tried to brush it off, it gnawed at her. She tossed her phone onto the bed and decided to focus on the day ahead.

Checking her calendar, she noted that Alex and she were scheduled to fly back to England with Lando and Carlos. But the thought of spending hours in close proximity to Lando was unbearable. She knew she needed to avoid him, so she made a quick decision: she would book an earlier, regular flight.

Jamie quickly packed her things and headed to Alex's room. When she knocked, Alex opened the door, still half-asleep.

"Jamie? What's up? It's early," Alex mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"I'm leaving on an earlier flight," Jamie said quickly, trying to sound casual. "I have some plans in England, and I think it's better if I fly with the regular team members."

Alex frowned, looking at her suspiciously. "Is that true? Or are you just avoiding the jet because of Lando?"

Jamie hesitated, but then shook her head. "No, I really do have plans. Plus, it feels more right to fly with the regular crew. You should stay on the jet."

Alex studied her for a moment, clearly not entirely convinced but too tired to argue. "Alright, if you're sure. But if you change your mind, just let me know."

They hugged briefly, and Jamie turned to leave. She called a taxi and headed to the airport, trying to put Lando out of her mind. As she checked in her luggage and went through security, she felt a small sense of relief. She was putting distance between them, and for now, that was enough.

While waiting at the gate, Jamie received a message from Carlos. He was asking if she had time to visit Monaco next weekend. Confused, she texted back, Why should I fly to Monaco?

Carlos quickly responded, explaining that he and Charles wanted to introduce her to their girlfriends, Alexandra and Rebecca. They had planned to do it in Bahrain, but the argument with Lando had made them decide to wait.

Jamie smiled at the thought and, after a moment of consideration, agreed. Sure, I'll fly to Monaco next weekend. Thanks for the invite! she texted back.

Carlos replied, Great! No need to book accommodation. You can stay with either Charles or me.

Jamie thanked him and closed her phone as the boarding announcement came over the speakers. As she settled into her seat, she received one last message from Lando: Even if you flee and get onto another flight, you can't run away forever.

Jamie rolled her eyes, her frustration mounting. He's not going to let this go, she thought, annoyed by his persistence. She turned her phone to airplane mode and decided to ignore the message. She was done letting Lando get under her skin.

The flight itself was uneventful. Jamie spent most of it watching movies and catching up on some much-needed sleep. When she finally landed in England, she took a taxi back to the apartment she shared with Alex. It felt good to be home, away from the chaos of the race weekend.

After unpacking, she cooked some pasta and settled in for a quiet evening. She received a message from Alex letting her know they had just boarded the jet and would be in England in about six to seven hours. Jamie considered picking him up from the airport, but the thought of seeing Lando again made her hesitate.

She texted Alex, Should I pick you up? but Alex replied that Lando would be driving him home since Lando's car was already at the airport.

Jamie sighed in frustration. The last thing she wanted was for Lando to have any reason to interact with her. Just be careful driving. It's gonna be late, she texted back.

After a couple of hours of watching movies, Jamie decided to cook something simple for Alex. She made some tacos with grilled cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, and aioli cream. After she finished, she covered the plate and left it on the table with a note for Alex. She then retreated to her room, hoping to avoid any late-night interactions.

It wasn't long before she heard the front door open, followed by the familiar voices of Alex and Lando. Jamie pulled the blankets over her head, trying to block out their conversation. She didn't want to talk to Lando, didn't want to face the mess they had made. Maybe if she stayed quiet, he would just leave.

In the living room, Alex thanked Lando for the drive and offered him some of the tacos Jamie had made. They both sat down and shared the meal, chatting about the race and their plans for the upcoming week.

As they ate, Lando glanced down the hallway toward Jamie's room. Alex noticed and asked, "Did you talk to her?"

Lando shook his head, a mix of frustration and guilt on his face. "She's still avoiding me."

Alex nodded slowly. "She told me she wants to focus on work and doesn't have the energy to fight with you anymore."

Lando's jaw tightened. "But we need to clear the air, Alex. I can't stand that she's just... pretending like I don't exist."

Alex sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Look, Lando, I get it. But you've got to be careful with how you handle this. She's clearly hurt, and pushing her too hard isn't going to help."

Lando nodded, though his frustration was evident. "I've already made up my mind. Even if it drives her crazy, I'm not giving up. I'll make her talk to me again, just like before."

Alex gave him a wary look. "Just don't hurt her again, Lando. If you do, I'll have to step in."

Lando met his gaze, nodding in understanding. "I won't. I just want things to be normal again."

They finished their meal in relative silence, and after a few more minutes of conversation, Lando decided it was time to leave. He thanked Alex for the food and headed out, his mind already working on his next move.

As he drove home, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Jamie's stubbornness was making this harder than it needed to be, but he wasn't going to back down. He knew they needed to talk, to clear the air, and he was determined to make it happen, even if it meant pushing her buttons until she couldn't ignore him anymore.

Back at the apartment, Alex cleaned up the dishes and headed to his room. He couldn't help but worry about what would happen between Jamie and Lando. He just hoped that whatever Lando was planning, it wouldn't make things worse.