"How you feeling about today?" Lando asks leaning on the doorway. We're sat in the Mercedes motorhome. We've still got a few hours before the race so Zak urged us to go and chat for a bit. "I don't know really. The car felt weird yesterday" I say taking a sip of my coffee. "Hm" Lando replies nodding. This just feels weird that we're sat talking. We both know we're not enjoying this atmosphere.
"I'm gonna head out." I say standing up. Lando looks to me, "Oh yeah of course." He says. I force a weak smile and then walk out. Somehow it felt easier to hate him than to like him. We don't really have much in common. Maybe the only friendship we had was hating each other? My head is a mess as I'm getting prepared for the race. All I can think about is Lando's arms round mine. Which is stupid. Was it even a friendship. Have I always felt some way towards him. I really don't know anymore.
I get in the car trying to prepare myself but honestly I don't even know what's wrong with me. I just feel weak under the car. The red lights turn green and we go. The feeling of 19 other cars around you speeding to get a good position, is a feeling no one else can compare to. My pace is quick but something really feels wrong with the car.
"Fucking hell that was a big crash" I call over the radio. A car flips over and goes into the tires, "Copy. We're finding out who it was" my engineers calls over the radio. My hearts racing, it won't be Mabel, of course it won't. She's too careful in races. "WHO IS IT" I shout over the radio. There's silence. "I SAID WHOSE FUCKING CRASHED" I shout again getting frustrated.
"We've got news it was a Mercedes car" my engineer says slowly. My heart stops. I keep over passing it and there's fire. It's a really bad crash. What if it's Mabel. What am I gonna do. "IS IT MABEL" I cry out. There's silence again. "IS IT MY GIRLFRIEND TELL ME NOW" I shout. There's a pause and then, "We can confirm it is Mabel." On the other line. My heart sinks. No. No. I can't lose her. I start slowing down my car and loosing pace drastically. "I don't want to carry on" I shout. "Lando. Pace is good we have a good shot at this race-" my engineer starts but I cut him off, "NO I WANT TO STOP" I shout. I hear a sigh and then he says, "Ok Lando. Box box.". I drive the car down the pit lane and jump out as quick as possible, racing to the ambulance as they're carrying Mabel away.
She looks lifeless. Is she even breathing? I race to the ambulance and jump inside. "Woah you can't be in here" the nurse says. "IM HER BOYFRIEND. IM STAYING" I shout. The nurse nods and I sit down beside Mabel. She's burnt from the fire. I grab her hand and squeeze it gently. "It's ok Mabel's. I'm here." I say softly kissing it.
I'm aching for her to wake up as we're on the way to the hospital. Every inch of me just wants her to be ok. Why do I feel this way? It's Mabel. I used to hate Mabel. But now all I want to do is protect her. As soon as she told me her car felt funny I should've said something and stopped her from racing.
We get into the hospital and I sit in the waiting room while they run tests on her. I feel even worse sat here. It's awful. I just want to know she's ok. I continue pacing for the next hour while I wait to be allowed into the room. "Mr Norris" a nurse calls at the door. I run down and nod, wiping my hands on my overalls. "She's awake." The nurse says smiling softly. I gently move inside past the nurse and sit down beside Mabel. She looks to me, "Lando?" She says confused. "Hey" I say taking her hand in mine. "How did you get here so quickly. The race only finished 10 minutes ago" she says raising her eyebrows. "I DNF'd." I say. She scans my eyes confused, "They told me you crashed and I couldn't continue without making sure you were ok" I say nervously jigging my leg. Mabel reaches over and puts her hand on my thigh. "Thank you" she says softly.
"This is bloody good for the media hey?" She says smiling. Of course. The media. I didn't even think about that. "Yeah." I say not meeting her eye. "What's wrong?" She asks me sitting up slowly. "I was really worried about you." I say staring to her. "Lando I'm fine" she says letting a little laugh out. I lean over and wrap my arms around her waist pulling her closer to me. "Lands" she says softly. I like that new nickname. It's better than asshole and dickhead. She leans her head on my shoulder. I hear a ping on my phone so reach down to grab it. Me and Mabel see the news flash.
-BREAKING NEWS-
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NORRIS, DNF'd AND SEEN RACING OUT OF PADDOCK AFTER MABEL GREEN IN AN AMBULANCE. CAN ANYTHING STOP THEIR LOVE?
Mabel smiles, "See! what good press you've got for us" she says giggling. I smile, "Zak will be happy" I say softly. "I'm uncomfortable" Mabel says wriggling about. I slide into the hospital bed beside her and pull her close to me, she rests her head on my chest. "Oh thank you." Mabel says softly. "Mhm" I reply stroking her back. We sit practically cuddling for the next couple of hours, till I feel Mabel drifting off to sleep. I'd honestly much more prefer to be in my bed right now. Way more comfortable.
My phones pinging, so I grab it to see messages from Zak.
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Sounds kind of serious. I wonder what it is. I walk outside of the hospital room gently not to wake her up and slide my phone to call Zak. "Hello?" I say. "Lando. We're not sure that you and Mabel fake dating is a good idea anymore." He says. Is he serious right now. "Why. Would you rather I was screaming and shouting at her!?" I ask. "Well Lando you stopped the race to be with her. You can't do that" Zak says. "Zak she could have died. I just wanted to make sure she was ok. And it's put out a marvel for the press" I say getting angry. "Ok fine Lando. I believe you. But no more sacrificing race weekends. I can't deny press has been good since you two started this. So I take it back. Just be wary of your races. Don't sacrifice it. Please." He says. I sigh, "Fine. I'm going to be with her tonight. But I'll meet with you tomorrow for a coffee." I say. "Sounds like a plan" Zak says before ending the call.
I stroll back into the hospital room. Mabel's still asleep. I speak with a couple of the doctors and they say I'm ok to take her home. So I decide to not wake her and carry her from the hospital in my arms to the car. I slide in with her on my lap and hold her close to me. It takes us about 20 minutes to get back to the hotel. By which time she slurs awake. "Where are we?" She says softly. "The hotel." I reply kissing the side of her head. I carry her back inside and to the apartment. "You didn't need to carry me" she says yawning. I plop her down onto the bed, "Ow" she groans. "Oh fuck are you ok?" I say staring to her. "Yeah fine my backs just sore" Mabel says. I nod and slide in next to her, she leans in closer to me and puts her hand on my chest. "Night" I say softly.
