Brightside | ✓

36 | florida!!! | part two

Let it be said that Brendon Ellis stared at most people like they were crazy at any given time, but Eddie was certain she deserved it that time. "Um... Hello. Don't do that."

"Hi." Eddie took a breath if only because she needed to remember how to with how stuffed her head was of other shit. "Great practice laps, you killed it. How much to hit me with that car? I have cash."

Brendon closed his eyes for a moment longer than a blink. "It's concerning how many times I've been asked by my friends to hit them with my car."

"Just saying that I would punch you in the face if you asked." Eddie shrugged. Some kind of reciprocation.

"I would not ask, but I appreciate the offer," Brendon said. "Can I, uh, get you something to drink or—"

"I—no, thank you." Eddie was talking the small win that she was being responsible and not drowning her sorrows in anything Brendon could find in a Formula One stadium. "You don't have, like, Windsor sweatpants or something, do you? I'll pay for those, too."

"I can have them mail you a swag box," Brendon said. Because he was too nice for his own good. "You don't need to pay for them. The merch, not the punch. But also, no punching, please."

"I won't punch anyone unless he shows up," Eddie said. "Promise."

"He could be multiple people, but I would support you punching any of them," Brendon said. "Just, again, not me, please."

"I wouldn't hit you," Eddie said. "On purpose."

"That's not any less terrifying."

Because she was ever so classy, Eddie said, "There's blood on my pants, I think we should be thankful I haven't taken out the entire stadium."

Realization dawned on Brendon's face. The one thing she really needed was an embarrassing ask, despite Eddie knowing Brendon had lived with women all his life. If admitting she was on her period when she didn't expect to be prevented her from complaining about her dumb life despite flying to Miami to do so, she would take the escape. "Oh. You need the sweatpants now. Right. Um... I don't think... mine might be a little long on you but Reyna probably has an extra pair around. She's upstairs if you wanna follow—"

Eddie didn't like the way her heart skipped a beat at the thought of being introduced to someone new. She didn't like the way the fear of the unknown felt like being punched in the chest with no ribcage, straight lung. "Do... do I know Reyna? Do we trust Reyna?"

Maybe Eddie could wear Brendon's pants and trip down a set of stairs.

"She's one of our reserve drivers that they just announced is taking Rix's spot after he retires at the end of the season," Brendon said. "Stevie said, and I quote, she's such a girl's girl, I love her."

Considering Stevie likely had similar trust issues to Eddie, she could work with that. "Then lead the way. Please. Thank you. Sorry."

Brendon waved his hand and led her out of the walkway she'd cornered him in and up a set of stairs. Eventually, the Windsor colours surrounded them and Brendon held open a door for her. Eddie scurried through with a hand in front of her stain like she actually thought Brendon one, would've cared, and two, would've looked. The paparazzi had poisoned Eddie's view of herself and others.

"You can wait in my room. Drop your things off. I'll check with Reyna," Brendon said. He motioned at a mini fridge not far from where Eddie stood. "There's a fridge with water and apple juice and stuff. Help yourself."