HIT ON ME ! by KissLeclerc
October 28, 2023 # "I Can't Help It."

AFTER A WHILE, Thalia soon finished changing, which resulted in her and Calvin getting properly escorted out of the show venue, towards a waiting chauffeur sitting upfront as the duo pushed through paparazzi and news reporters that awaited her presence.

The drive to the after-party passed quickly, but Thalia couldn't shake off her nerves, Socializing didn't really feel like the move to her.

Arriving at a private club, the duo was assisted out of the car, soon being accompanied by an escort that led them to the party, where they spotted familiar faces from the earlier event, all rich and famous in their own way, chatting amongst themselves.

"Thalia!" Lily's excited voice cut through the crowd, waving the pair over as soon as she caught sight of them.

"Lily!" Thalia smiled, holding her hands out for the girl to take. "Good to see you!"

"Likewise!" Lily exclaimed. "You did an absolutely fantastic job on that runway."

"Thank you, thank you!" Thalia blushed at her kind words.

"Good work, Thalia!" Alex Albon soon joined the conversation, handing his girlfriend a drink as he had an identical glass in his hands. "You did awesome."

"Thank you, Alex." Thalia said graciously.

"Well, well!" Their little circle was interrupted, Thalia turning around to see Oscar and Lando, with a familiar face she couldn't label a name on.

"Thalia! You rocked it, mate!" Oscar smiled wide as he gave her a simple high five, knowing her boundaries. "Happy to know you enjoyed." She replied.

"Yeah!" Lando joined in the conversation. "Didn't know you could get anymore beautiful." He said with a smirk as Thalia eyed him. "Gross, thanks." She quickly said before tracing her eyesight to another familiar racer beside him.

"I don't believe you've met him properly." Lando quickly jumped to the chance to continue talking to her. "This is George, one of my best mates." He introduced him to her, patting the Mercedes driver's chest proudly.

"Right!" Thalia nodded, "I remember you as the one with big blue eyes." She gave him a brief handshake.

"Ah yes, thank you!" George replied happily.

"It's not a good thing." She added as his facial expression dropped, making Lando, Oscar, and Alex laugh in shock.

"Oh-" He was taken aback.

"Sorry. It scares me..." She admitted while bringing her hands together and briefly cracking her knuckles, Calvin soon coming to her side. "I apologize for her... words." He apologized as Thalia's lips formed a thin line.

"She doesn't think sometimes." He emphasized the "think" by shooting her a glance.

"It's alright." George waved it off. "It scares Lando sometimes too. I get it." He laughed.

"We have something in common!" Lando exclaimed as Thalia gave him a stank face.

"I need a drink." She admitted before grabbing Calvin's hand and excusing herself. "I'll find you in a bit, Lily." She winked at the girl as Alex just allowed the two to subtly flirt with their eyes.

"Slow down, slow down." Calvin haulted Thalia. "Deep breaths babe. Deep." He demonstrated by inhaling. "Breaths." He exhaled.

"I'm fine, I'm fine." She insisted.

"Girl, that comment was crazy." He groaned into his hands. "It's not his fault he has those crystal ocean orbs."

"Please never say orbs." She paused him.

"That's besides the point." Calvin laughed. "Just chill out. I feel that I cannot leave your side tonight so, I'm not leaving you alone. Please don't drink too much either. You get two drinks max tonight."

"Okay! Fine." Thalia held her hands in the air before leading herself and Calvin towards the bar.

After receiving their alcohol fix, Thalia took slow sips while Calvin could hold it well, drinking away casually as the night went on.

"Thalia!" She was interrupted mid drink, being greeted by Charles.

"Hi! Hi!" She gave him a brief shoulder pat, continuing to wave at the familiar face of Carlos Sainz. "Good to see you both." She smiled as Calvin was standing to her side, making clear heart eyes at Carlos.

"Beautiful show, by the way." Charles complimented. "Very much enjoyed it." Carlos gave her a handshake. "I'm glad you guys liked it, Thanks for showing up!"

"Admittedly, I didn't want to attend, but someone told me you'd be walking, and I thought ehh, why not?" His Monegasque accent ringing in her ears.

"Oh, how sweet!" She laughed. "Thank you, thank you!"

"Calvin." He introduced himself to Carlos. "Nice to meet you." He smirked as Thalia internally rolled her eyes.

"There you are!" Lily popped in, placing a hand on Thalia's shoulder. "I was just looking for you." She smiled. "Alex and George ran into Max and they joined him a couple buildings down at a Billiards bar..." She explained. "Their PR managers aren't around so they decided to ditch the party, I guess..." She confessed as Thalia laughed at the thought.

"Oh wait, really?" Charles overheard. "Was it to the left or right?" He asked.

"Left..." Lily answered before he excused himself. "I will see you guys later." He laughed before walking away.

Thalia turned around to see Carlos and Calvin have gone elsewhere, noticing the two chatting at the bar before she turned back to Lily. "Join me! Let's dance." She held her hand out for Thalia before she took it without a doubt.

For most of the night, Thalia and Lily continued to bond, dancing casually to not bring themselves too much attention but still enjoy themselves.

"Hey guys!" Calvin came joining along, dancing with the two as he held a drink in his hands. "Hi!" Thalia smiled. "Where'd you go? Where's Carlos?" She asked.

"Oh.. He went with the other drivers to play billiards, I guess." He laughed as she gave Calvin a hug.

"Um??" Cal widened his eyes at the embrace, "How much did you drink?"

"Three."

"Three what?" He furrowed his eyebrows. "Lily?"

"Martinis." She said awkwardly as Calvin covered his mouth. "Thalia, for fucks sake." He laughed.

"I'm fine! I'm fine! Im having fun." She continued to sway to the music softly even thought it was pretty upbeat. "Im gonna go get you water.. Lily watch her." He began to walk off toward the bar as Lily held Thalia and danced with her.

"Is that Lando?" Thalia pointed at a familiar face, dancing along with one of her fellow models from the show earlier that night, but this one specifically, she did not like. "Yeah, why?" Lily turned, answering her question.

"Oh..." She felt weird, watching him up close and personal with another girl.

"Here you go." Calvin quickly came back, handing her a glass of water. "Please drink it." He instructed as Thalia hesitantly took the glass and began to sip it.

"Ew, what is Lando doing with that freak." Calvin caught a glimpse of what Thalia saw earlier, the pair now even closer together than ever. Not a single sliver of personal space in sight. "I never liked that bop." He muttered, turning back to Thalia who couldn't stop staring.

"Who is that?" Lily asked, trying to get a good look of the girl. "Some nepo baby." Calvin shrugged. "Her dad has paid his way for her to get into every runway or show he could get his hands on within the past year." He explained. "I can't even remember her name but she's also a rumored gold digger."

"Oh... that's crazy." Lily said as she took a sip of her drink. "Good luck to him then." She shrugged.

"You alright?" Calvin nudged Thalia, who now felt as if she sobered up fast. "Yeah... just a little overstimulated." She sort of lied. "I think I need some air."

"Oh." He nodded. "Need either of us to come with?" He asked. "Uh.. no it's okay, I'll be back shortly, I just need some time for myself real quick." Thalia explained before she excused herself. "I'll be back." She waved the two off as Calvin and Lily glanced at each other.

"She's jealous..." Calvin said with a smirk as Lily covered her mouth and nodded vigorously in agreement. "SO jealous!" She laughed.

Walking towards the exit, Thalia found herself refusing to walk out when she noticed a bunch of paparazzi waiting outside on the bustling sidewalk of Milan. Nervous at the thought of handling it on her own, she took a detour and found herself in a secluded hallway that lead to the bathrooms.

Entering the ladies room, Thalia looked at her appearance, taking a deep breath. She was sweaty but nothing too major. Grabbing a paper towel, she dabbed off the bullets of liquid from her forehead and took a deep breath before wiping away any smudged makeup.

Feeling satisfied, she began to shake herself from any anxious jitters she had, ignoring one factor that made her feel more off than usual.

The pit in her stomach when she saw Lando and someone else.

Combing her fingers through her long jet black hair, she patted herself down before claiming she felt better, and walked out of the bathroom where she ran into Lando.. of all people.

"Thalia?-" He stopped in his tracks, as he exited the men's restroom, surprised to see her. "Oh..." She paused, feeling relieved. "Hi." She said awkwardly as the two were now stood in the secluded hallway.

"Erm. Hey.." He felt awkward as she didn't have a deadly glare on her face nor a sassy remark to throw at him.

"Enjoying yourself?" He asked, sparking a conversation.

"Yes! Yeah, I am." She scratched a section of skin above her eyebrow. "Getting tired..." She nodded. "You?"

"I'm having fun, yeah." He laughed. "I really did enjoy the show, by the way." Lando smiled, taking a brief pause. "You never fail to take my breath away."

"Do you always have to hit on me?" She laughed as he shrugged with a grin.

"I can't help it."

"Thank you." She softly smiled. "I appreciate it." The two began to walk together, side by side.

"Where's Oscar?" She asked with an attempt to continue a conversation. "Joined the other drivers." Lando laughed, "They asked me to come but I declined." He explained. "Been having too much fun." He said, making Thalia remember back to him dancing with another.

"Ah, right." Thalia nodded before the two ran into familiar faces, standing about.

"Oh?? Hey!" Calvin turned, a confused expression on his face as Lily had the same reaction.

"Hi." Thalia's eye twitched, remaining calm.

"Never thought I'd see you guys in each other's presence without Thalia trying to rip your head off!" He pointed.

"Hasn't given me a reason to!" Thalia said sarcastically.

"Yet." Lando shrugged, making her bestfriend knowingly smirk. "Enjoying the night?" Calvin asked.

"Yeah, I am." He nodded. "It's been fun!" Lando paused. "Which reminds me." He turned to Thalia.

"You'll be joining us in Vegas, right?" He asked.

"Erm... how do you know that?" She raised a brow, glancing at Calvin and Lily before gazing back to Lando.

"Calvin mentioned it." He replied. "When you were drunk." He laughed. "And you know. You hugged me."

"Oh!" Thalia said with a tone of sarcasm. "There it is!" She pointed. "You're about to piss me off!"

"My favorite thing to do." Lando laughed. "But anyways, as I was saying." He cleared his throat. "Since you'll be in Vegas, I was wondering if you'd like to join me and some other drivers for a little party." He invited.

"For what..." She asked hesitantly.

"My birthday." He shrugged, cringing at his words.

"What will we be doing?" Thalia crossed her arms, listening intently. "Have fun? Maybe hit up some private clubs, I might step in and DJ or something." He laughed, making Thalia glance at Calvin and Lily who were both watching the duo talk.

"Well-"

"Count us in." Calvin interrupted Thalia.

"Are you even invited-" She retorted as Calvin made a hand motion for her to zip it.

"Yeah!" Lando shrugged. "You both can come, I don't mind." He laughed. "Just trying to celebrate me."

"Sounds awful." Thalia said unimpressed.

"There it is." Lando smiled. "Always so grumpy." He bit down his grin as she was looking for words to respond with.

"I can't help it." She smiled back, mocking the sentence he had previously said to her in private.

VERA'S VOICE!
i just hit 10k reads!!! YIPPPPEEEE!!!
that's crazy! THANK UUUU :3

landalia slow burn , trying so hard!

hope u enjoyed yippee
hi belle smooches to u!
now bye bye. luv vera.