⌞ the chain ⌝

⌞ thirty-six : gold string, tying you to me ⌝

"Just breathe, kiddo. You'll do great, like you always do. Just race."

_ 

I felt like I was about to get the lecture of my life. Lewis and Nico were sitting in front of me, this being the first time I'd seen them together since the hospital. It was nice to have them both here but the blank stares were giving me major anxiety over what was coming. The Redbull news had come from me in a string of words that seemed barely understandable with like nine apologies thrown in the middle and now they were just sitting there, looking at me. 

"Please say something..." 

"Are you happy with this decision?" 

"It was what would get me moving forward, so yes." 

The both nodded, as if in sync and it threw me off just a bit. From what I'd been hearing, they had practically ignored each other. So sitting here, next to each other, acting like everything was fine. It felt like I was being co-parented after a divorce. 

"Then we're happy for you." 

"Lew." 

"What?" 

"Nico is the only one talking, say something." 

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don't like the team, but I am happy you're doing well. And so. I will be a you fan, never a bloody Redbull fan." 

I couldn't help but snort, shaking my head at him. That was possibly the most Lewis thing he could have said to me and it made the whole thing feel lighter. They weren't mad at me and Dani was right. They just wanted what was best for me. If I had the option, I would have gone to Mercedes, in a heartbeat. I'd proved myself to make my own name but Redbull was the seat open and I had to take it. 

"So you'll be at the signing?" 

_ 

I listened as Christian droned on about how much of an honor it was to have me here but I couldn't pay attention to it. The amount of cameras was making me dizzy. I realized that F2 was a step up from F3. They could pull me as a reserve driver at any moment but the reality of it didn't hit me until now. All of my grid fathers were standing in the back, beaming. 

I had called the rest of them after telling Nico and Lewis, all had been happy. Sebastian, however, had practically cried tears of joy to know that I was going to be at Redbull and had been the first to show up today. I don't think I was let out of that hug for a solid five minutes. But then he started talking to everyone else and I had the chance to breathe. 

The thing that was throwing me off was my friends. Lando, George, and Alex. I had texted them, knowing those three were awful about picking up calls. Especially if it came from me. I sometimes believed that they actually ignored me on purpose. But I knew they didn't. We were all busy. And the responses I got were... neutral at best. George seemed excited for me, and Alex was in between. But Lando. Lando was the one I was worried about. Happy you got to prove something to them.

I didn't know what that could have meant. I didn't want to leave him, he had to know that. But I couldn't tell. Maybe I should have called him. That being said, I didn't have time to find them in the crowd before the whole thing started and now a pen was being shoved in my hands. 

I blinked away the thoughts as I forced a smile, taking the pen from Christian. The real contract had been signed the day before when I first arrived at the factory. This was just for show at this point but I did the thing, making the dramatic swoops of my name before clicking the pen. Jem stood on one side of me and Christian on the other, the cameras flashing to take all the pictures. 

But after that, that was the mingling. I had offered smiles, gratitude, handshakes, fucking everything. But all I wanted to do was find Lando. I prayed and prayed that he had come, just wanting to see that dorky smile again. He had become my best friend and I couldn't imagine him not being here. It wouldn't feel right. But then I saw that familiar head of curls and a real smile finally tugged at my lips.

"Lan!" 

He turned around and I could see the tightness in his smile. It didn't stop him from hugging me back as I finally made it to his side. My heart was racing, needing to know if he hated me for what I'd done. 

"Hey." 

"Hi." 

"You don't hate me, right?" 

He looked in shock before shaking his head in laughter. "Girl, no. I'm just going to miss you. No more of our shenanigans and such. No one to beat my ass in poker." 

I let out a sigh of relief. "Hey now, I heard you got pulled to F2 for McLaren. That's a step and we'll get to see each other all the time." 

"Not the same as being teammates." 

"I know..." 

He shook his head. "And Wright?" 

I groaned. "Don't even start, I'm not exactly that happy about it either." 

"He's so gross." 

"I'll crash into him, just for you." 

We both burst out laughing then and I couldn't find it in me to care about the looks. I hadn't lost my best friend over a decision that would further my career. The people in my life actually cared about me enough to know that I was doing what I needed to reach my dreams and they were supporting me for it. 

"Oh, by the way. I got you something." He held out a box for me. 

I took it, raising an eyebrow that only earned me a gesture to open it. It was definitely a jewelry box but I had no clue what it could be. Knowing Lando, it could damn well just be some joke gift in some fancy box. But as I untied the ribbon and pulled off the lid, I let out a soft gasp. It was a silver chain with a four on it, a bracelet. 

"Lan..." 

"I didn't know if you wore bracelets but I knew how special your necklaces were so I didn't want to get another one of those. But it's a charm bracelet and I figured you could add a charm to it each season for something that reminds you of it. I did the four cause, well. Me. But if you don't like-" 

"I love it." 

"Oh." He smiled, rubbing the back of his neck as I slipped it onto my wrist. "Good." 

"This is the most beautiful gift I've ever been given. Thank you." 

"Eh, don't mention it. But I got a matching thing." He held up his wrist to show a gold version of the bracelet I was wearing with a seventeen charm. "That way you can't forget me." 

I almost started crying. The matching bracelets were adorable and yet, the most thoughtful thing I had ever been given. My best friend. The person I thought was going to hate me because I had left the family we built at McLaren had got me the most precious gift in the world. I pulled him into another hug, realizing that he was now just a bit taller than me, savoring the fact that I was finally in a place that I felt safe with who I was. 

"I could never." 

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a/n: you all thought L2 was dying? ha. no. never. they are my children. i could never let them go. plus, we needed some happy things before the real shit starts and you guys hate me again. remember. i am bribing you with this and the brocedes fic. ehe. as always, love it or don't :p