The next morning, Francesca found herself trying not to look like a dried rat.
Normally she didn't care what she looked like and usually was one the trying to make Lucy not care. Even though there was no point because she had to jump into the car later that morning and afternoon, it was now Lucy trying to convince Francesca she looked fine.
The blonde knew that something had happened with Pierre. Francesca had left their room early in the afternoon the day before with the guarantee of returning later on.
Francesca hadn't returned until that morning.
So Lucy was using that fact to tease her best mate.
Eventually wrangling herself out of the door with Lucy in tow, the two women were driven to the track by Niki. Francesca had given strict instruction to Lucy about not mentioning the night before because there would be absolutely no doubt in the world that someone's camera would catch it and it would add more hate to all the hate and rumours that Francesca already got about only being in F1 because she was sleeping with most of the grid and even some of the team principals.
The track was already bustling with people when the three arrived and upon climbing out of the car, Francesca was at the barriers signing things and taking pictures with the fans lining the Melbourne Strip. And when a huge cardboard cut out of Charles was thrown her way, she broke down into laughter as she signed her name right across his forehead.
"He should have that tattooed I think!" She shouts over the noise.
"Thank you!" The group shouted.
It took a good half an hour to walk down the strip because Francesca was determined to get to as many fans as possible even though it was only Saturday.
Even in the paddock, Francesca was stopping for photos and signing different things for fans.
She couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief as she finally got into the motorhome with Niki and Lucy in tow. Niki went off in her own direction whilst the driver and her best friend headed for the drivers rooms to drop off anything they didn't need.
Walking back out into the paddock, Francesca didn't really have anywhere to be going as Lucy walked beside her. The two found themselves casually chatting as they walked.
But Francesca stopped when Lucy stopped, turning to face the blonde woman whose eyebrows were furrowed at something she'd seen before her. Francesca turned her head, following Lucy's line of sight until she came across the two McLaren drivers in bright orange shirts and a blonde girl who was pretty much the same height as Oscar was. Francesca looked away from the trio and back to Lucy, she recognised the other blonde girl immediately and wanted her best friend to connect the dots, but when Lucy didn't, she turned back to the McLaren drivers and their mysterious guest to see that Lando actually had his arm around the woman's shoulders.
Foul move Lando Norris.
Francesca sighed, grabbing Lucy by the wrist and pulling the starstruck blonde through the crowd until they were within earshot of the trio Lucy had been staring at completely unable to figure out who this random blonde girl was.
"HEIDI!" Francesca calls out.
Oscar, Lando and the blonde woman's heads all snapped towards the sound of her voice echoing through the crowds at the same time.
"FRANCESCA!" The girl laughs.
Despite a few very brief meetings back in late 2022 and early 2023. The blonde found herself running towards the brunette and Francesca found herself encasing the younger woman in her arms.
"Oi!" Lando shouts. "That's my Heidi, Francesca!" Lando's voice echoes.
"What he means is that he's jealous Fran's getting all the attention!" Oscar calls out.
"I am not!" Lando gasps, turning to face his teammate.
Giggling to themselves, Francesca and Heidi pulled away from one another.
"Saved any lives recently?" Framcesca grins.
"You bet." Heidi smirks. "The best in the business what can I say."
"She saved Lando's arse from the sea on Thursday night." Oscar cuts in.
"Oscarrrrrr!" Lando whines, sounding exactly like a child who hadn't got their way.
Lucy finally seemed to click the dots after that.
"OH SHIT!" Lucy half-shouts. "Your the Heidi I have to listen to Fran ramble about!?"
"I do not ramble, Lucy!" Francesca shouts back.
"Yes you do!" Lando laughs, pointing at the brunette.
"You cried this morning because Heidi came to the track with me." Oscar deadpans.
"YOU DID WHAT!?" Heidi shouts, struggling to contain her laugh.
"He cried." Oscar smirks.
"OSCARRRRRR!" Lando whines again. "I DIDN'T!"
"You remind me of my brother." Heidi giggles. "He cries whenever I go away."
"Isn't he the one who keeps telling you to move away from Maroubra?" Francesca asks.
"Yep." Heidi nods. "He tells me those exact words and I tell him that he'd be the first to drag me back and then takes back his words and tells me I'm never allowed to leave."
"Hang on," Lucy cuts in. "Maroubra? Your not talking about the place that one lifeguard was from in Bondi Rescue - AND I'M SORRY I DON'T REMEMBER HIS NAME FRAN! BUT UNLIKE YOU, I'M NOT OBSESSED WITH GUYS WHO RUN AROUND SHIRTLESS AND DRIPPING WET!"
"Uncalled for." Francesca mutters. "His name is Jesse thank you very much - and I'm not obsessed."
"Mhm." Oscar hums, a smirk on his lips.
"I'm not obsessed." Francesca says quickly to Heidi.
"It's okay if you are." Heidi whispers back through her laughter. "Jesse's not got much going on in his life, maybe you should both get fake married."
"You'd have to teach me to surf first - there's no way that I'm getting in your brothers league without that."
"If I handed you to Jesse on a plate with barely any personality he would date you because I was the one who introduced you to him."
Francesca and Heidi couldn't help but laugh, the two had spoken through text messages quite a bit since their meet-ups and many of those conversations had resulted in Jesse Polock stealing Heidi's phone to text Francesca instead. It had gotten so bad that Heidi had to make a group chat and give Jesse Francesca's number - after asking her of course - just so he wouldn't steal her phone and could feel involved in something.
As they stopped their conversation and their laughter died down, they fell back into the conversation happening between Lucy, Lando and Oscar - with Lando and Oscar finally telling Lucy that this Heidi was the same Heidi she always spoke to in their little groupchat and still completely on the topic of shirtless men for good knows what reason.
"Lucy's just obsessed with shirtless Lando instead." Oscar coughs into his hand.
"Yeah we're talking about that Maroubra." Heidi laughs, trailing the conversation back to where it had originally been.
"Did you know that Jesse guy is Francesca's favourite lifeguard?" Lucy asks.
"I think I should be your favourite Fran." Heidi looks at the older woman. "But I don't understand why Jesse is your favourite - he is a big fat pile of shit. I've been dealing with him for sixteen years and it does not get any easier."
"And tell me why you just suggested I fake marry him." Francesca says with a laugh.
"Pierre wouldn't be happy about that." Lando smirks.
"He always smiles at his phone when you text him." Heidi shrugs. "And I suggested fake marriage because you and Pierre are endgame."
"WAIT A DAMN MINUTE! THE JESSE YOU MESSAGE ALL THE TIME IS LIFEGUARD JESSE?" Lucy screams.
"Lifeguard Jesse, Jesse, Jess, my annoying brother, Bra Boy, Maroubra Boy as Fran's nicknamed him." Heidi sighs.
"Yes it's that Jesse, Luce." Francesca laughs.
"THE JESSE ON THE GROUPCHAT!?" Lucy shouts
"He even has a nickname - Oscar, we have to tell Pierre." Lando mutters to his teammate.
"I still can't believe that's your brother." Lucy sighs.
"Unfortunately for me." Heidi laughs.
Francesca could only turn to Lucy who looked just about ready to pass out with all the information she was getting which came as a result for her never answering her goddamn phone when she was supposed to.
"YOU ARE THE COOLEST PERSON I HAVE EVER MET!" She screams turning towards Heidi who was now laughing loudly. "COME WITH ME!"
And just like that, Heidi was dragged away by Lucy who was asking all sorts of questions about Bondi Beach even though 'she wasn't obsessed with guys who run around shirtless all day'.
"I'm actually offended by that comment." Francesca sighs, turning to Lando and Oscar.
"Not obsessed my arse." Lando mutters.
"You are the densest person I think I have ever had the pleasure of meeting." Oscar sighs.
"I don't know what that means so thank you." Lando smiles.
"He calling you thick you big imbecile." Francesca deadpans.
"Thick as in with two c's or thick as in c-k?"
"Thick is in c-k Lando."
"OSCARRRRRRRR!"
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Heidi is hereeeee!!!!
When I tell you I'm actually in love with Heidi I'm not even lying to you.