Kaya just started her internship as a medical researcher at the world's biggest car circus.
Formula 1! She is over the moon and willing to make the most out of the experience.
Kaya is a good girl with a taste for anything that makes her feel alive...
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I wake up slowly.
So slow in fact that it startles me.
I shoot upright and throw my phone off the bed in the process. "Shit", I mumble as I crawl towards it. What time is it?
I jump up in a panic when I see the time. My flight is in 1 hour.
How did I sleep through my alarm? I never sleep through my alarms. I'm throwing random pieces of clothing into my suitcase. I'll worry about ironing later.
Did I even set my alarm?!
I'm never this irresponsible.
I rush out the door exactly 7 minutes later, calling an uber as I go.
"Kay?" a familiar voice asks. I look up to see Lando loading his suitcase into a car. "You're still here?"
I thank the uber before I sit my ass on my suitcase, outside the hotel. "Yeah, I overslept."
I feel like I'm still sleeping. The world has not yet returned to its clear self. "What time is your flight?" Lando looks worried coming over to me.
"Euh, less than an hour" I say, trying to rub the drowsiness from my face.
"You also fly to Azerbaijan, right?"
I nod.
Lando nods to the car. "Let me give you a ride."
My eyes fly open wide. "Really?"
Lando looks really concerned now. "Yeah, of course. Kaya, are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah!" I reply perhaps a bit too quick. I clear my throat and try again. "I'm fine. Just haven't slept well." Lando doesn't press on and helps me with my luggage. In the car I cancel my uber reservation and check the flight data to see if I can still make it.
"Kaya".
A voice penetrates the cloud that has taken residence in my head. I look up surprised.
Lando's frown tells me he didn't say my name for the first time. I shake my head and put on the most nonchalant smile I can muster.
"Whassup?"
Lando raises an eyebrow amused, but I can still see a lingering worry.
"What are you checking on your phone?"
"Ow. I'm seeing if the airline can hold the doors open for me."
"What? No, you Muppet, you can fly with me."
My jaw must be on the ground because Lando blesses me with one of his genuine smiles. "I thought that was obvious. You're never going to catch that flight. The airport is like an hour away."
I blink. Because I couldn't remember the trip being that long coming in. Or maybe I can, but I hadn't thought about it.
"Are you sure?" I feel so stupid for missing my flight. He shouldn't have to deal with it. With me.
"Absolutely." Lando looks contemplative. Like he can't figure me out right now. I don't blame him. I can't figure myself out right now.
"Did you just call me Muppet?" I wonder, trying to break the tension. Lando sighs out a laugh, looking at his shoes before meeting my eyes again.
"How's your eye?" he asks instead.
"Look who took a page from the 'evade and ignore' handbook". Another laugh. "It's good" I go on. "I barely feel it anymore." Lando nods.
"Did your supervisor go back home?"
"Euh yeah" I stammer, being caught off guard by the question. "He also had a plane booked this morning." Talking about the devil, my phone blares up with an incoming call. I frown at the screen.
Lando eyes me curious. I notice and take a deep breath before I pick up.
"Hey".
"Hey Kaya! Why aren't you at the gate? Are you not feeling well?"
"I.. Euh"
Why?
How?
"I have a change of plans. I'm taking a ride with a friend". I smile at Lando who returns his.
"Oh, that's unfortunate. I wanted to surprise you."
"Surprise me how?"
"Joining you to Azerbaijan of course. We talked about it yesterday."
"Yesterday?" I repeat putting my face in my other hand. Did we discuss this? Why is my brain failing me today? "Oh yes!"
"Do you remember? I asked you if I should extend my stay."
"Of course, I remember" I lie. "It just slipped my mind."
"So I will see you there?"
"Yeah. Yep! Sounds great!"
I end the call and want to jump out the car into full traffic. How did I nod know? Did he not tell me? Did he lie about telling me? Why am I such a mess?
"Everything alright?" I forgot Lando was in the car, and I jump from his voice.
I sit up straight and try to look as composed as I can possibly feel right now. "I'm fine. That was my supervisor. He is Euh... extending his trip to the next race," I say, not looking him in the eye.
Lando nods, but remains quite the rest of the car ride. At the airport, we are cleared through security in a heartbeat and seated in Lando's private jet within 10 minutes. While it's only a 5-hour flight and we just had breakfast, I can't fight to stay awake. I'm slumped in my chair and the strain on my neck jolts me awake. I look for another comfy position when I feel something on my arm. I jolt upright and nearly knock Lando in the face, doing so.
"I'm sorry" I whisper shocked.
Lando, on the contrary, looks amused. "I just wanted to let you know that you can incline the chair. The seat had to be upright for take off, but you were out long before that for me to tell you."
"Ow" I mumble, "how do I do that?"
"Are you going to give me another concussion?"
I huff, "another? Maybe I have a concussion because I can't remember that." Lando laughs and I try not to gawk at the extend this seat moves backwards.
"This is not a chair anymore but a bed" I fail to look unimpressed.
"Hope this will help you sleep better, but I should say, we arrive at night so you might not sleep later".
I whine throwing my body back into the chair. "You tell me after you incline the chair for me".
Chuckles fill the air. "I'll give you an hour. Consider it a powernap and I'll wake you up after that."
