Chapter Text
It has been several weeks since my little hide away escape in Lance his bathroom in Bahrain, we just traveled to Bahrein. The car has been very good and we are 4th in the constructors, Lance has yet to win a race but has been on the podium in Baku. That morning when Lawrence came to Lance his hotel room, he was furious. He yelled so hard, he was so mad because we would have been the winners of Saturday but the car, the car thought otherwise. I could just feel Lance getting smaller in the living room just a few meters from where I was hiding.
I could hear Lawrence stomping around the room and I was scared for a second when I heard the door opening up but Lance was quick to tell him he will be ready in 20 min and if he could leave so he could get ready. His dad left shortly after. I got up from the bathroom, made sure Lance was okay and needed to get ready myself. Hugged him goodbye, told him he could always contact me if needed. We were all flying to the UK anyways.
I should have thought about that twice because he contacted me straightaway. I think I just touched down on the airport in Birmingham when I turned my phone back on and I already got a text from him.
Lance: Hey Anna, I just touched down. Do you have time tomorrow to hang out?
I put my phone back into my pocket, I will answer that later. It was pretty late and just had a long flight. Sitting in coach for the duration of 6 and half hours, turbulence and in between two people wasn't really something to write home about. I was exhausted and needed to get back to my bed soon. These past two weeks were intense, emotions have been up and down and the only thing I can think of is my bed and calling my brother. I got home, put my laundry away, otherwise it will just sit in my bag for the upcoming days home, got myself cleaned up and ready to hop into bed. I face-timed Seb, it had been a couple of days since we last talked. I told him all about my newfound friendship with Lance, my struggles keeping up with the formula 1 pace. We talked for some time, he gave me advise and we said our goodbyes. I think he was in Belgium on a camping with the kids and Hannah. He finally had the time to be a dad. He told me he feels really privileges to see his kids grow up and not having to work. He will not take that for granted at all. I hope one day I could do the same, would love a little family of my own and see them growing up, explore the world and life together.
I decided to text Lance back, it was pretty late already, and, in the morning, I wanted to go for a run before heading to the factory. We have 48 hours to fix what we wanted to fix. Miami was an important race.
Anna: Always so formal, I have time. I guess with getting my number, you could also get my address. See you tomorrow just text me what time.
Lance: I just get your address from HR, see you around 7ish.
I woke up early and put my running shoes on. It had something magical those early mornings in the UK. It was misty but you could see a beautiful day forming. On these mornings I could always find my way back to myself. With those busy days and pressure, I was having made me realize how precious this time of day is. It almost got taken away from me when I was living in The Netherlands. I got into a car accident while driving home from the factory. I was on a small badly lighted country road and all of a sudden, a tractor came from the left without any lights. I drove my car into a ditch and completely wrecked it. I was in the hospital for two days. I kind of made me a bit more cautious about all the racing going on around me. About my brother being in the fastest competition in the world. I promised myself to never ever date a F1 driver just because of the fear of losing someone in an accident.
I turned back when the sunrise was completely done. I needed to get ready for the upcoming days and weeks actually. It was all harder than I thought, with Formula 2 we would only do half of the races the formula 1 did, and being away for this much and being on high performance almost every weekend was getting to me. Made myself ready for the day and of to the factory I went.
Around 5 in the afternoon I got home, we studied the data, had a lot of meetings and made the changes we wanted. We were satisfied, the car is supposed to leave tonight to go to Miami and Lance was coming by around 7, he indeed got my address from HR, the little bastard. I guess I was looking forward to our little hang out session. Lance grew on me, and I really liked his presence. That's all it could be right? I made myself a promise not to get involve with a driver, especially a formula1 driver.
He was right on time, at 7 my doorbell rang. Lance greeted me with a big smile and a bag of take away food. ''Thanks Lance! I am so hungry, I am having a headache, and my stomach is making this weird little sound'' He looked at me, kissed me on the cheeks ''No worries, you know I always will take care of you right?'' While he said that my stomach not only made that noise, but it got some butterflies with it too. Not a good combo I must say. I put them far far far away for now. I think i was around 1 a clock Lance called an uber ( i think it was just his driver, but he didn't want to sound to posh) and went on his way home. We talked to whole night on my bed, I have a little studio with just a bed and some decorations, no coach to just hang out on. I got dressed for bed and laid my head down on my pillow which smelled like Lance, and those butterflies were right back. Am I falling for this quirky F1 driver? The son of the boss!?? I cannot be and will not be. Maybe I just need to keep my distance for the couple of races, summer break is coming up and I can be myself again. Just Anna Vettel. I am very lucky nobody found out who I am related to.