Flight Attendant - Lando norris fanfic

22 - Home Race

The energy at Silverstone was something else. The roar of the crowd, the buzz of excitement, and the overwhelming sea of papaya-clad fans filled the air with an almost tangible electricity. But as I stood there, watching the McLaren garage hustle and bustle with purpose, I felt like I didn't quite belong. Lando had invited me to his home race, the British Grand Prix, and while I knew how much this weekend meant to him, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was an outsider in his world. A world that, for better or worse, I was still trying to understand.

Lando had insisted on keeping our relationship as private as possible, but with his massive following, it had become increasingly difficult to hide. His fans had been piecing together the dots for a while now—spotted glimpses of us together, my reflection in his Instagram stories, or the odd moment where we were caught walking hand in hand in public. And now, as I stood in the McLaren hospitality area, a VIP guest of the team, I felt the weight of all those eyes on me, even if I wasn't sure if they were looking.

I took a deep breath, scanning the paddock. It was a different world. The constant buzz of media, the effortless way the drivers moved through the crowds, the ease with which they handled the pressure—it was all so foreign to me. I had always seen Lando as, well, Lando. The guy who made me laugh uncontrollably when we stayed up late binge-watching terrible TV shows, who could spend hours talking about the most random things. When we were alone, everything felt normal. But here? This was his world, and I didn't know how to fit in.

"Hey, you okay?" Lando's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. He was dressed in his McLaren team gear, looking every bit the racing driver I saw on TV. His face softened when he saw my expression, his eyes searching mine for reassurance.

"Yeah," I smiled, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "Just taking it all in."

He studied me for a moment, clearly sensing my unease. "I know this is a lot. But you're here with me, alright? That's all that matters."

I nodded, wanting to believe it. But there was a part of me that felt like I was intruding, like I didn't truly belong here with him.

Lando wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. "C'mon, I want you to meet someone." His tone was light, trying to ease my nerves. "Max is around here somewhere. You'll like him."

I had heard Lando talk about Max Fewtrell before, one of his closest childhood friends and now his business partner in Quadrant, Lando's gaming and apparel brand. They had been through so much together—growing up in karting, traveling the world, and now standing at the pinnacle of motorsport. Their bond was strong, and from the way Lando described him, I had a feeling I'd get along with Max.

We made our way through the paddock, Lando expertly navigating the sea of people as if he'd been doing it his entire life, which, I supposed, he had. Eventually, we found Max leaning against a wall, chatting casually with one of the McLaren crew members. He was tall, with an easy smile and a friendly aura that instantly put me at ease.

"There he is," Lando grinned as we approached, giving Max a playful shove. "Max, this is Cordy. Cordy, Max."

Max extended his hand, smiling warmly. "So, you're the one who's been keeping this guy in check, huh? Nice to finally meet you."

I shook his hand, laughing lightly. "I try. It's not always easy, though."

Lando rolled his eyes dramatically. "You guys are already ganging up on me. Great."

Max laughed, but there was a warmth in his tone when he looked at Lando. "We've got to keep you grounded, mate."

The three of us fell into an easy conversation, much to my surprise. Max had a way of making me feel comfortable, like I wasn't an outsider after all. He and Lando joked around effortlessly, their banter reminding me of the way Lando and I joked when we were alone. It felt familiar in a way I hadn't expected, and for a brief moment, I forgot about the overwhelming world around us.