HIT ON ME ! by KissLeclerc
May 5, 2024 # "I Love You."

AFTER DNFING YESTERDAY, Thalia couldn't find it in her to talk with Lando after she saw how frustrated he was. The timing just wasn't right once again. When she walked towards the garage after the Sprint, he was in a little heated talk with his engineers and mechanics.

So she thought it was best to just let him cool off for the night and maybe talk to him the next day... Even if it was race day.

Now standing in the bustling McLaren garage, Thalia felt a knot of nervousness tighten in her stomach as she tried to catch Lando's eye. Surrounded by the hum of machinery and the focused energy of the pit crew, she couldn't shake the feeling of feeling out of place even if her Paddock Pass said otherwise.

Each passing moment only heightened her embarrassment, her cheeks flushed with self-consciousness as she stood awkwardly to the side, unsure of how to approach him amidst the chaos.

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her gaze darting nervously between Lando and the mechanics, hoping for a moment of his attention amidst the flurry of activity but it just wasn't working.

"Bad timing." She thought to herself as he was immersed in his own deep conversations with the pit crew.

Lingering a little while longer, she gave up. Realizing how soon the drivers had to get on the track. She told herself to just shoot him a text later... maybe even catch up to him somehow, but she wasn't even sure anymore.

Turning on her heel, Thalia just headed towards the hallway with an intention to exit, deciding to just leave it.

But little to her knowledge, Lando had caught her figure walking off. He knew she was standing there. He just didn't know how to get Andrea to stop talking.

"Can you give me one moment." He cleared his throat, holding a finger up to shush the engineer. "I'll be right back."

"Lando? You need to get in your car soon!" Andrea said in confusion. "I need to pee!" The driver lied through a complaint before running after the girl.

"Thalia-" He called out, the girl freezing in her tracks before she turned around. "Shit." She muttered to herself.

She didn't expect him to chase after her.

"Thalia.." Lando inched closer as she slowly crept up to him. Soon meeting each other at a reasonable distance as she shoved her hands in the pockets of her McLaren leather jacket. The tension rising so harshly.

"Hi..." Was all she let out as he looked to the side in slight annoyance. "What were you doing in there?" He asked, motioning back to the garage as she huffed a breath.

"Was gonna talk to Oscar before the race but, he was busy." Thalia was quick to lie as he caught on. Rolling his eyes at the fact she thought she could easily lie to his face.

"Are we even gonna talk about it?" He quickly asked as she felt her heart sink. God damnit. "I-" She took a breath.

"Are you even capable of having this talk right now?" Thalia was quick to deflect as she referred to the time crunch he was on since the countdown to the race was going down by the second.

"I don't know I just-" Lando paused to gather his words. "We haven't talked all weekend." He stated the obvious.

"I know." Thalia frowned with a nod. "I'm sorry." She was quick to apologize as he shook his head.

"Don't be.." He said through a breathy smirk. "I just.. I miss you." His smile faltered.

"I'm-" She sighed. "I understand. I've just been .. There's been a lot of things going on." She anxiously rambled, something Thalia nearly a year ago would never do.

"Are you okay?" Lando asked. "Fine." Thalia tried to stray away from the question immediately.

"Are you sure?" He wasn't buying it.

"Yes, Lando. I'm okay." She said through a faint smile.

"Okay, so why have you been avoiding me?" He stepped closer as she quirked a brow.

"No, you're avoiding me."

"I'm avoiding you only because you've been avoiding me." Lando replied. "Thought you would've needed some space, but I've been wanting to talk you."

"I see that." She huffed under her breath.

"So, why are you avoiding me." Lando asked once again. "Do you just not want to do this anymore?" His gaze softened as it finally made her look in his eyes. "You could at least tell me...?"

"Lando, of course I do-" Thalia's breath hitched through a quick panic.

"Okay then why?, I've been ready to talk to you about us." His unstoppable and contagious grin faltered as he frowned.

"Are you sure we should be having this conversation right now?" Thalia found herself panicking deep down. She didn't know how to acknowledge these feelings one bit.

"I don't care. I just want some answers at least." Lando said through a small laugh that was quick to go away as soon as it started.

"There's just things in my mind I'm trying to handle." She sighed. "You know.."

"Okay." He straightened his posture. "Such as??"

"Oh god." Thalia huffed under her breath, only for herself to hear. "Look." She inhaled as she fought every doubt within her so she can just say it.

"I don't expect you to say it back."

"Mhm?"

"And I've been avoiding you for one reason, and one reason only." She glanced away before looking him in the eyes.

"I love you, Lando." Thalia confessed through a small grin. "I really do. And our time apart has really showed me how much I do."

"Thalia-"

"Lan, wrap it up!" An engineer soon interrupted. Thalia's mind immediately cursing herself as she knew this timing was bad. "You need to get in the car soon." They insisted. Their town very demanding as it left Lando stuck. "Come on!" They shouted.

"Look, Thalia I-"

"It's fine." She tried to brush it off. "Just go." She shook her head in a panic. "Have a good race."

"We can talk later.... so good luck, alright?" Thalia began to back away as Lando just stood there frozen.

"Lando!" The engineers and mechanics called out for him once again. "I'm so sorry." He said with a soft gaze before huffing in irritation and running off to the garage.

After his quick and sudden departure, Thalia stood there for a moment, watching him disappear into the flurry of activity in the garage. The air felt heavy with unresolved emotions as she wrestled with her thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, she shook her head, trying to push aside the whirlwind of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She knew she couldn't dwell on their interrupted conversation now, not with the race approaching its start.

Finally turning on her heel, Thalia made her way back to where she and the others planned to watch, which was the usual Paddock Suite. The adrenaline of the upcoming race pulsed through her veins, momentarily eclipsing the turmoil in her heart as she doesn't know how her words could've affected Lando.

With a resigned sigh, she straightened up, smoothing down the fabric of her designer dress as she entered the suite. The sound of clinking glasses and murmured conversations greeting her as she reentered the lavish interior, the contrast between the opulent surroundings and the turmoil in her heart stark and jarring.

She plastered on a smile, flashing it at the guests mingling around her, engaging in polite small talk and feigning interest in the festivities. But beneath the facade, her thoughts were still consumed by Lando - by the unfinished conversation, by the unspoken truths hanging between them.

Standing at the overlook balcony with Calvin and the others, Thalia's drop in emotions didn't go unnoticed. Sensing her emotional distance, they silently agreed it might be best to approach the topic with her later if they knew what was best.

But they couldn't help but assume the conversation with Lando went bad, but little to their knowledge, it was just left with unspoken thoughts.

Proceeding with the afternoon, the race eventually began to unfold out on the circuit. Thalia found herself stealing glances at the track below, her mind drifting back to the man who had captured her heart amidst the whirlwind of fame and fortune.

And though the noise of the race threatened to drown out her thoughts, one thing remained clear - she couldn't ignore the feelings stirring within her, no matter how inconvenient the timing.

But with the race approaching lap 33, she couldn't help but move her moping attitude aside and feel excitement rush within her, watching the screens surrounding the suite with a rapidly beating heart.

Because right now, Lando was leading.

With a quickening of her pulse, her gaze remained fixated on a nearby screen, tracking down Lando's every move on the track. Her heart swelled with pride as she watched him expertly maneuver through the twists and turns of the circuit. Each sleek pass, each daring turn, only served to reinforce her admiration for the man she had grown to love.

Tension hung thick in the air, the crowd's cheers echoing through the stadium as Max fought for first place. But amidst the chaos, Thalia's focus remained unwavering - her eyes locked on Lando's car, willing him onward with every fiber of her being.

Calvin eagerly feeling a rush of excitement as well, Sol and Lily insisted that he and Thalia both make their way down to the McLaren garage before it got hectic.

And she was down for it.

Leading by seconds, he was set to win this race, and there was no doubt about it now.

As the duo made their way down to the McLaren garage, the model's heart pounded with anticipation, her steps quickening with each passing moment. The air was electric with excitement, the anticipation of victory palpable as they joined the plethora of crew members gathering around the team's pit area.

With each passing second, the tension mounted, the roar of the engines growing louder as the final laps of the race unfolded. Thalia's eyes remained glued to a new screen now in the garage as her breath was caught in her throat.

And just like that...

In a flurry of speed and skill, Lando crossed the finish line. The checkered flag waving triumphantly overhead with the stands out on the tracks erupting into cheers. The sound of celebration echoing through the garage as Thalia's heart swelled with pride, turning to Calvin with a hug as she was excited for Lando's first win, jumping up and down with pure joy.

Joining most of the team with Calvin as the engineers and McLaren members made it out in front of the the garage where they were now barricaded, Thalia found herself pushing her way to the front in anticipation to greet the winner, himself.

She didn't care if his feelings were left unsaid, she just knew she loved Lando, and she had to see him.

Suddenly, with the glimpse of a familiar driver running down the pit lane with pure excitement coursing through his veins, her heart warmed at how happy he looked.

She wanted nothing but to make him feel like that for the rest of his life... Only if he let her, of course.

The cheers growing louder as he ran, Lando jumped over the barricade, the mechanics and crew giving him space as his eyes were quick to land on Thalia, and only her.

A wide grin painted across his face as he looked down at her. The team surround the two as they hyped him up ever so loudly as she mirrored the same smiley expression.

His smile was just contagious.

With camera everywhere, he couldn't help but laugh before pulling her in closely by her lower back, and dipping down.

"I love you way more than you know." Lando said with a whisper that took her by surprise before bringing her into a long and deep kiss that spoke more than a thousand words of his profound love.

The herd of Papaya's now screaming and cheering him on as the couple kissed on a live F1 broadcast.

Pulling away for air, the two couldn't help but laugh in awe as he yelled for himself rin victory. Keeping his arm around her with the McLaren crew applauding his first win. Lando's secure hold not leaving her side for one second because he wanted to celebrate this win with Thalia. He didn't want it any other way.

And she couldn't help but feel that she was too, a winner.

VERA'S VOICE!
4/6...... oh my god oh my god
guys guys guys guys guys hi.

hello. erm. GUYS.

belle. elena. ameer 😭😭
vera says i love you so.