I'm biting my nails as Lewis' car crosses the finish line. Qualifying is over, deciding the starting grid of tomorrow. Jesus I'm starting to sound like Will Buxton.. Anyway. The race tomorrow is going to be very interesting, seeing as the three top teams are leading the race, promising the fans quite the battle for tomorrow. Carlos hot chili pepper Sainz is starting in front of the grid, followed by Max, Charles and Lewis. In P5, we have Lando who is incredibly happy with his performance today too, especially since this is his home race.
I walk over to my dad, who's very focused on the screen in front of him before looking up. "They did good, no?" Toto Wolff may seem like an intimidating man, but honestly if you know him, he's one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet. Although I may be biased when it comes to my dad. I probably am. Anyway. The two Mercedes drivers drive back into the garage, getting out of their cars once they parked. Lewis is the first to get out of the car and walk over to me and my dad. "Good job Lew!" I give him a high five, which he just ignores, pulling me into a sweaty hug instead. "What is it with drivers and giving me sweaty ass hugs? Y'all are dirty!" I shrug myself out of the stinking hug of Sir Lewis Hamilton, glaring at the Brit while he laughs. "Don't be dramatic Bo. It's not that bad." I roll my eyes in return. As you probably know by now, I have a flare for dramatics. "Good job Lewis, keep up the pace and we're getting a podium tomorrow.." Dad pats his shoulder before letting Lewis get to his drivers room.
"George George George.." I start teasing the other Brit, who's had a bit of a messier start. "What are we going to do with you?" He doesn't hesitate to ruffle my hair and mess it all up, in return for my bullying. "Don't mind her George," My dad starts, looking at me with a pointy look. We all know this qualifying session wasn't it, but George's strength is in the races themselves, not the qualifying. "she's just fucking with you. We know you'll do amazing tomorrow, as you always do." I gasp at his words. "Language father! Language!" Once again, my hair gets all messed up by a member of the mercedes team. This time it being my own dad. "I forgot how tiring you could be.." George sighs deeply, trying to annoy me. "I'm not falling for it Georgie. Anyway, tell Peppa I said hi, I'm probably with Pierre or Lando if anyone would need me." With those words I salute the two men, who are shaking their heads at my madness.
I make my way over to the McLaren hospitality, praying to every single existing god that I don't bump into their team principal. Apparently the gods are deaf because as soon as I even set a foot into the garage, to make my way to Lando, whom I spotted on the other side of the garage, I'm met with the incredibly annoying face of Zak Brown. "Bo. Funny seeing you here." I turn on my heels, plastering a fake smile on my face. "I'm looking for Lando, any idea where he is? We're going out for dinner with Daniel.. Christian said he looked a bit underfed.. You guys wouldn't know anything about that would you?" My fake smile doesn't falter the slightest bit when Zak narrows his eyes at me. "Anyway, I've gotta go get Norris. We can't have Danny waiting for too long, can we?" Zak's face straightens out. "He mentioned something about bad vibes around here, I can see what he meant by that.." I mutter, loud enough for the team principal to hear me. "What was that?" I turn back to the man. "It means people like you would be called an absolute asshole by others. Not my words though. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have things to do." With those words, I leave the probably fuming team principal behind to get to one of my favourite Brits.
"Laaaaaandoooo!" I make my way over to the driver with the number four on his back, indicating it indeed is Lando Norris who's standing in front of me. "Booooooooo!" I smile while wrapping my arms around him from behind. "Hello.." The Brit in front of me snorts, then turns around to turn our position so he's now hugging my neck, standing behind me while I look through the garage. "You are very random you know that?" I shrug. "Aaand why the hell is Zak glaring at me? Sorry, correction, you?" I look over to the team principal, who indeed is glaring my way. "Oh, that, yeah I mentioned Danny Ric when Zak was being an asshole again.. And I may have told him he's an asshole.. Oops?" Zak keeps on glaring until I'm giving him a dirty look back, making him realize two can play this game, and I don't like to lose.
"You're going to be banned from the garage one day.." The Brit shakes his head after he's released me from his grip. "He can try whatever he wants, the FIA won't allow it. Believe me, we tried.." Lando raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'we tried'?" Ah shit. Here we go again. "Righttttttttt soooooooo uhhhh you didn't know this yet but thereisaslightverybigchanceolivermightbearoundmorecausehissisterisoneofpierresengineers?" The sentence is barely understandable but Lando's eyes look like they are about to fall out of its place. "He is what? Who? Bro what the fuck??" Confusion is sprawled across his face. Then anger joins. And to top it off, concern joins the party. "I don't know either mate." I sigh deeply. "How are you feeling about it?" I shrug once again. "It's a shitty situation to be fair. I don't know how to feel, scared? Angry? Tired? No idea. I'm just done with the drama he brings in my life.." The brunette pulls me in a side hug as we walk out of the hospitality to a place with a bit more privacy.
Lando might seem like a kid sometimes, at least that's the impression his impulsive nature seems to give people who don't know him. In reality he's a bit of both worlds. If you need comedic relief, Lando is one of the people fit for the role, but the same thing goes if you need someone to talk to. If it were Max or Mick, even Carlos, I would've changed the conversation the moment we got out of the hospitality but Lando is one of the few people that are able to dig deeper than others. "No, I get your reaction. I'd be scared for my life if my ex would just show up in my life out of nowhere, let alone Oliver showing up." I suck in a deep breath. "You have every right to feel the way you do. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a dickhead. You are valid, your feelings are valid and you are safe. We love you and I'd rather die than let him close to you ever again if that's what you're worried about." I chuckle softly. Somewhere along the way my eyes got watery and Lando's words aren't doing it much good. "I'm not scared per se, it's just all of it together. I'm not in the mood for him to create drama in the paddock because his masculinity is fucking fragile you know?"
That got a laugh out of Lando. "What's the worst that could happen?" I open my mouth to answer him when the Brit realises he probably shouldn't have asked this kind of question. "Worst scenario possible? You all boycott the races until the FIA banns him from coming to races." I mutter, knowing at least half of the grid would be down to do it if it meant Oliver would be prohibited from coming to races in the foreseeable future. "Don't. Lando Norris. I mean it. Don't even think about it." He grins. "I'd be down though, if you ever change your mind." I playfully shove the boy next to me. "No but on a more serious note, if he's ever making you feel unsafe, let us know okay?" The brunette boy places his hands on my shoulder, looking me straight in the eye. "I will.. Don't worry about me Norris. I'll be fine." He smiles softly. "Someone has to look after you, since you obviously can't handle yourself.." He teases me, immediately throwing his arms in the air to brace himself for the hit he'd receive from me. "Thin ice Norris. Thin ice." The boy in front doesn't answer, he just opens his arms for me to get in. It's like he's able to read my mind, knowing when something's wrong, when I need a hug, it's incredible.
"Come here you. It's all going to be fine. You'll be okay, don't worry about it too much okay. If I need to dropkick the bitch, I will." I snort at the last part. "Promise?" I ask, sticking out my pinky for him to lace his through mine. "I promise, but I think there are some fans filming this and taking pictures so to prevent any goddamn rumours I say we get back to the paddock." He moves his head a bit to the left to indicate a group of girls taking pictures and video's and everything. "We are so fucked." I laugh at the situation we find ourselves in. "Why are you even laughing you mad woman. I swear, you have to be the weirdest person I've ever met. By far." I smack his arm in return. "And the most violent one too. Let's not forget that one either." He zaps my sides while running slightly to catch up with me. "I hate you sometimes, you know that?" I glare at the Brit, who's currently dying from laughter due to my spastic movements after the zap. "Sometimes? Darling with me it's a full time job.." He nudges me playfully. "How are you still this insufferable after all these years? God, you'd think it'd get easier with time but noooo, it's just getting worse day by day.." My sarcastic remark doesn't fall in taste with Lando, seeing it as the Brit starts tickling me, causing me to make a run for it.
"Fuck you Lando!" I stick my tongue out to the brunette as I hide behind Kym Illman, the paddock's photographer. "Well hello to the two of you? Would you mind if I ask you guys some questions and take some pictures?" The Australian widely smiles at the sight of me running and hiding from Lando. "Sure, as long as Lando behaves himself I'm in." I send Lando a challenging look. I know the drivers and Kym have a very good relationship, thanks to the respect the photographer has and vice versa, so Lando isn't going to try anything really. "Alright alright, I'm in too." Kym smiles widely before taking his camera. "Same mantra as always, just be yourself guys." I look at Lando, Lando looks at me. "You thinking what I'm thinking?" I nod quickly before hopping on his lowered back. We're pulling stupid faces, smiling, dying of laughter and being serious all at once. In conclusion, we are having the time of our lives.
"Beautiful. You guys could easily pass as siblings!" Kym compliments us as I hop off Lando's back to get the questions started. "We should try that next time we go out, oh my god Kym you're a genius!" Lando and I are hyped like three year olds are when they go to Disneyland for the first time. "So for the questions, when did the two of you get this close?" Kym smiles while asking us multiple questions, differing from my favourite racer (I was forced to say Lando Norris, help me please) to our favourite foods, to quadrant, we even talked about Lando cutting his curls, which I absolutely forbade. Threatening to share pictures from Lando the one time he thought it'd be fun to bleach his hair.. He walked around with his cap on for three months before he finally grew it out. "So yes, Bo will be joining one of the upcoming quadrant video's." Lando winks to the camera filming him. "Do I now?" The Brit turns to me. "Yes you do." I chuckle at the statement. "I guess I do. Anyway, it was lovely to see you again Kym, but we planned to have dinner with a few drivers so we kind of have to go..." I excuse both myself and Lando while thanking Kym for the fun time we just had.
"Right.. Dinner.." The Brit sheepishly scratches his head when we make our way back to the main hospitality of Silverstone. "You forgot didn't you?" I grin at the knowledge. Did I know beforehand Lando would forget? Yes. Did I clear his whole agenda for this exact reason? Also yes.
"And that's why you are my best friend."