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fangirl-dot-com · 7 months ago

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🌑Track 3 - Big Reputations

guys, I was so proud of this chapter and then the instagram post. I always try to make them look cohesive and that the pictures were taken all together - and I think I was able to do that really well this time!

TAG LIST IS CLOSED

Oscar huffed while looking at the notification from the WhatsApp. Apparently two new numbers had been added in the past hour. However, no one has said anything. He opened the app and began to type, before he pressed the delete button.

What was he supposed to say?

Liam and Theo had been added weeks ago. The atmosphere of the group chat was a bit lighter with the two new additions. Despite what he had said in an interview a couple of months ago, the group chat did have a random meme or quirky text thrown around from time to time. The two new drivers had made themselves known immediately. Yet, these two “drivers” had yet to say anything.

Oscar’s eyebrows scrunched at the two unknowns invading the safe space. His apartment was quite empty. Lily wasn’t able to join him for the last few days of break. He was technically supposed to be packing to head to Bahrain in the morning, but he couldn’t find the want or energy to actually start.

He would have called Lando, but the Briton was already busy with Quadrant things. He thought about texting Logan, but immediately shut the idea down. The American had probably gotten a new number, since Oscar’s messages weren’t even delivered. And the sight of Logan’s Instagram being deactivated also meant that he didn’t want to be found in the first place.

Oscar’s heart clenched weirdly at the thought. How had they gone from being best friends to not even talking anymore.

To Oscar, it hurt. The Aussie was trying to justify his own acts against the American. If Logan had been just a bit more extroverted, or had done a better job at driving, or had actually tried to reach out, then maybe Oscar wouldn’t have distanced himself.

But then again, he had multiple unanswered texts and missed calls from Logan that he ignored.

Another notification had him glancing back down at his phone.

This time, George had taken the initiative to welcome to two, still unknown, rookies. The “hi, welcome to the grid” text was a standard for everyone who joined. His fingers itched to also welcome them, but he stopped himself and looked closer at the two contacts.

Racer #2 and Racer #95.

Oscar sighed at the sight of the familiar number. He guessed that someone had been wanting to take that number since Logan was no longer racing.

However, he just wondered who they were and why they didn’t use their real names. The answer came from the #95.

“What?” Oscar whispered to himself as he read over the text. Lamborghini didn’t want them using their names until they showed up at testing. How ridiculous it was in Oscar’s mind. He watched as Liam tried to make conversation with #95, asking if their number was a nod to the famous Cars movie.

Liam didn’t get a reply.

The Aussie had a bad gut feeling. Maybe this was all a joke. They could try to be civil, and maybe freaking answer? Oscar did not like the vibes he was getting from the two.

He didn’t even know if they were both males.

He had heard rumors that Lamborghini was looking at a possible female candidate. But that what they were supposed to be: just rumors. He cleared the app and opened the messages icon on his iPhone. George’s contact is what he pressed and immediately opened a call.

His phone rang for a moment before the Briton picked up.

“Hello mate,” George’s voice sounded from the phone.

“Hi George. I just wanted to ask about the two new numbers.”

“Ah the new drivers for Lamborghini?”

Oscar nodded before he realized that George was not on Facetime. “Yes.”

George sighed. “From what I got, they’re legit drivers. However, I got an email directly from Michael saying that Tonino wanted his drivers’ identities to not be compromised before testing.”

“Ah, well, I just didn’t want to say anything to them before I knew they were legitimate. It’s kind of weird.”

“I understand. It’s weird to see that someone else is going to use Logan’s old number.”

Oscar could hear, what was it, a touch of sadness in George’s voice? Why would he be sad?

“I meant that it’s weird that they don’t want their names to be known. I mean, it’s just a number George, I’m not upset about that.”

The Mercedes driver made noise.

“But it’s Logan’s number.”

Oscar rolled his eyes. “Well, if Logan wanted to keep it, he should have been a better driver.”

The line went silent, and Oscar really thought that George might have hung up. A quick glance to the screen told him otherwise.

“You don’t truly believe that, do you? Logan tried to hard.”

Oscar bit out, “Well, it wasn’t enough. He should have done better, been better. Maybe then I could still stand him. Thanks for your help George.”

With that, the Aussie hung up before George could even answer. He was furious. If Logan truly wanted to stay in F1, he should have done better and that was that. No need to be butthurt over someone who wasn’t going to be in his life anymore.

On the other side of London, George was still looking at his phone screen after Oscar hung up. But, the Briton was staring at the Driver #2’s WhatsApp number. His eyebrows furrowed as he tried to memorize the digits.

“What are you staring at?” Lewis sounded as he sat on George’s couch.

Oh, George kind of forgot that he was there.

The tall Briton didn’t answer as he opened his own messaging app and went directly to Logan’s new contact. The last message had been read but went unanswered. And that was almost a month ago.

But, as he stared at the info tab and the number he had down for Logan and then at the number for Driver #2, the digits matched up.

George’s eyes widened before he looked up at Lewis and smirked.

“How do you feel about the two new drivers?”

Lewis shrugged. “A bit stand-off-ish. But I understand, they were only added today.”

The brunet took a seat across from his older teammate and faux sighed.

“I’m just worried that the rookies are going to not be included. Ya know, like what happened with Logan.”

Lewis put a hand on George’s shoulder.

The man looked at him with big brown eyes. “It wasn’t your fault George. Williams had this planned for a long time. There was nothing you could do.”

George stood up immediately and threw his hands.

“But I could have been a better friend. He was struggling Lewis and no one did anything. Oscar was too busy making eye-babies with Lando to notice that his friend was falling. Alex was being an asshole. And no one else took the time to even get to know him, and now he’s gone.”

On the inside, George was congratulating himself on the performance that he was putting on. Of course he knew that driver #2 was Logan. And, he was guessing that driver #95 was possible that best friend that Logan spoke so highly of, the female ex-driver or Arrow.

Lewis stayed seated. “I know you’re upset George, but it won’t change anything in the past. All we can focus on is the future. I know for one that I will do my best to get to know the rookies so we don’t have another issue like last year. I know you’re not focusing on the chat but it looks like Max and Charles have been able to get a few answers out of them.”

George looked back down at his phone to see multiple notifications from WhatsApp. It looks like Lewis was telling the truth.

Multiple messages had been exchanged between the two rivals and the unknown numbers, well, unknown to everyone but him. George smirked.

“Looks like the rivals can get along.”

Lewis snorted. “I guess they also want to try to be a bit more welcoming. We can all learn from our mistakes last season.”

The shorter Briton looked down, slightly getting emotional. Lewis knew first-hand how detrimental Formula 1 was to childhood best friends. His own heart still hurt to see Nico on the weekends that he was there. He felt guilty that he let Brocedes happen once again with Logan and Oscar.

For a short time, George had been irate with Lewis about the switch to Ferrari. But now, seeing what happened with Logan last season, George didn’t want to miss precious moments with his friend.

George never responded to what Lewis said. He only sat down again, across from the couch, and sent a simple text to Logan.

Back in Milan, you and Logan were cackling over messing with the other drivers. You could tell that no one knew what to do with the secrecy of identities. But now that you were in a banter with Charles over ice cream flavors and Logan was having a deep conversation about air pollution with Max, the group chat seemed a little less daunting.

A ping from Logan’s phone had the two of you looking at it. Logan hadn’t expected a text from George after leaving him on read months ago. But now, the new messaged seemed to stare back at them.

All the message said was “Glad to see you back. Let me know when you get to Bahrain for testing.”

Logan winced as he forgot he had the same number for both iMessages and WhatsApp. You could definitely tell that he was spiraling. You placed a hand on his arm.

“Hey, Michael isn’t going to be upset. He knows that you and George are friends.”

A sigh of relief escaped his lips.

“I’m just so scared of messing up again.”

You rolled your eyes. “Logan, you didn’t mess up the first time. It wasn’t your fault.”

Your body leaned back, expecting Logan to retaliate. Except, the American only smiled at you, taking in your words.

“You’re right.”

You pushed his shoulder. “Like always.”

Instagram was pulled up on your phone. You refreshed the page to show that Lamborghini had posted something about the two of you. Your fingers quickly scrolled through the comments while you smirked at all the fan theories.

You pipped up as Logan sipped on a smoothie.

“Looks like everyone is talking about us.”

The man across from you smirked back. “But they don’t even know it’s us. I kind of like it. No one knows and can’t say anything. They just know that something big is happening. Also, George wants to meet up when we get to Bahrain.”

“You texted him back?” You never looked up from your phone, now scrolling through twitter.

“Yeah. George was actually the only one that was nice to me on a regular basis. I miss him.”

“Sounds like fun. I’m glad you had George last season. Are we going to play paddle?”

The typing sounds came from Logan’s phone as he texted George. A ping signaled that he answered.

“Yeah. Looks like Lewis, Max, and Charles might join.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like peculiar bunch?”

Logan shrugged. “I mean, Lewis is going to be Charles’s teammate next year. And then anywhere Charles goes, Max isn’t too behind.”

“Makes sense. Kind of like us?”

Logan sent you a lopsided smile. “Like us, except we aren’t childhood rivals.”

“Of course. Only because we never karted together.”

A sigh left Logan’s lips. He always wished you could have karted with him, but you were off in the Italian divisions while Logan stuck in the British divisions. However, the summers the two of you spent together in Florida would always trump the times apart.

Logan got lost in thought before he spoke again.

“Do you even know how to play paddle?”

A snort left your lips. “Of course. Maybe I’ll bring the one you sent me with your face on it.”

Red flushed Logan’s face. “Please don’t.”

“What would you do about it Mr. Sargeant?”

Logan just picks up one of the decorative pillows from the couch and chucks it at your head. You do not have time to react and it ends up hitting you square in the face. Your mouth lets out a squawk before you pick the pillow back up. You rise from the plush chair and stalk toward Logan, who has put his hands up to deter you.

“Please have mercy! I didn’t mean it.”

You stopped for a bit, giving Logan some false hope and enough time for him to put his hands down before you swing the pillow, hitting the side of his head. Logan splutters before reaching out and pulling you down on top of him.

The two of you tussle for a bit before Marissa walks into the room. She chuckles as she watched the two of you roll on the floor, both tugging on the pillow.

“I don’t even want to ask.”

The sound of her voice makes the two of you freeze. Your heads slowly turn toward her, before the two of you scramble to get up. You mock dust yourself off as Logan awkwardly chuckles.

Marissa cocks an eyebrow. “If the two of you are done, it’s time for the suit and helmet promo pictures along with some circuit testing.”

You and Logan have giant grins on your face as the two of you follow her out. Logan elbows you before walking quickly to Marissa’s side. You gawk at him before shaking your head.

Logan was going to be the death of you. But you’d let him.

At the test track, you were smiling behind your helmet as you watched Logan go lap after lap. The helmet was just a standard black one with multiple different sponsor logos on it, as well as the Lambo one being the biggest. You and Logan had worn them while walking into the circuit, just in case there were any cameras or paparazzi around. The last thing you wanted was to be outed before testing.

You watched as Logan finally pulled in, the car looking fast.

Logan’s hands automatically went to take his helmet off as a force of habit, but he quickly put them down. Like you, he also didn’t want to outed.

Marissa beckoned the two of you over.

“All right, that looks good for Logan. Y/n you’ll run 15 laps and then you’re done for today. I’ve already talked to Michael and he’s fine with the two of you playing paddle. He’s rented out a building for the day, just in case, but he wants the two of you to have fun. The flight you need to catch is early at 5 am. Please be on time.”

As you and Logan were running to the gate the next morning, you should have headed Marissa’s warnings a bit more. The two of you were huffing and puffing by the time you got to the lounge, with only 15 minutes to spare. Many older, fancy-looking people gave you weird looks. You tried to smile at them, but it came out as more as a grimace.

You were able to catch a few hours of sleep while Logan went over some more data. He was always the one to go over things like that, trying to find the sweet spot of the car. Logan had done the same at Williams, but it rarely made a difference. He had just found the perfect balance of the car in Austin last year, and then they made him switch with Alex. And then he didn’t even get his car back. The rebuilt chassis was terrible.

Logan smiled to himself as he felt the familiar weight of your head on his shoulder. He barely turned and kissed the top of your head. A blush ran through his face as you leaned more into him, trying to snuggle closer.

Benny was watching with a small smile as he saw Logan place his head on top of yours. The older man had sworn that he wouldn’t be returning. But the moment Michael had reached out with an offer than he couldn’t refuse, he accepted it without hesitation. He would do anything for Logan. His wife was also very understanding and was thankful for the compensation that Lamborghini was going to provide for her family. Logan was like their eldest son, and they couldn’t, wouldn’t, let him down again.

You were still pretty tired on the way to the hotel, but were now buzzing with energy as Logan drove you to the paddle courts. He was driving one of the company’s Lamborghini Urus since your Aventador and his Huracan hadn’t been able to be shipped in time. They were done and ready to be driven when they shipped them to Jeddah.

Logan had given you the DJ privileges for this ride, but he claimed it on the way back. You were going through his phone, letting George know that the two of you would be the first to arrive. He texted back that him, Lewis, Max, and Charles would all arrive together. You thumbed up the text, after telling him to give him Logan’s last name at the counter so that they could be let in.

George was smirking in the Mercedes that Lewis was currently driving. Charles and Max were banned to the back seat (yet they claimed they wanted to be back there because they couldn’t afford to be caught riding in a Mercedes).

Once they parked, he turned his body to face the group.

“Now, I’m going to give the front a last name so that we can get in, but do not overreact, ok?”

The lanky-Briton didn’t wait for an answer before he got out of the car. He could feel the presence of the three drivers and held the door open. The lady at the front stared at them weirdly. George watched as she opened her mouth to speak, but he interrupted her.

“We’re a part of the group that’s playing today.”

“Name please?”

The lady typed something on her computer.

George smiled. “Sargeant.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw heads whip toward him, but he decided to ignore the shocked looks as well.

Typing resumed as he tapped the desk, a bit impatient to see his friend after a while. A grin grew on her face as she finally looked up at him.

“Court 3. Extra paddles are in the small boxes if you don’t have any. Enjoy your time.”

George took the initiative and led the group around the corner. Lewis tugged on his sleeve, but he didn’t stop, not when he heard the familiar laugh.

The door squeaked as he opened it, letting the figure in the room notice the arrival of the group of four. George’s breath caught in his throat at the sight of Logan.

To him, the American had filled out a lot. He often looked too skinny during race weekends, especially after Benny left. The Briton wanted to ask him about his nutrition but had always been nervous to. He was also more tan that he had been. His hair looked fluffy and there were no more purple eyebags under his eyes. Overall, he just looked so much better than end of the 2023 season Logan. Where had the sick child gone and who was this man in front of George? The brunet thought for a moment that he had been played, until Logan started walking toward him.

“Mate, are you going to ogle or are you going to say something?” Logan asked as he stepped toward George, arm stretched out.

He clasped George’s hand and pulled him into a hug. Once the bro-moment was done, George still kept looking at Logan.

“You look good mate.”

Logan’s head leaned back as he laughed.

“Thanks.”

It was then he noticed that the other three drivers had yet to move from the door. Their eyes were still wide and looking at the duo. Logan smirked as he saw you sneak up behind them.

“Hi guys!” you semi-yelled, making them jump. Your giggle sounded in the big court. That was the icebreaker that they needed as they finally walked into the room. You immediately stood next to Logan as he introduced you.

You rolled your eyes and elbowed Logan. “I know their names. We had good conversations about how chocolate is the best ice cream flavor. Isn’t that right Charles?”

Charles had a pout on his lips. “I said no such thing. I believe we agreed that vanilla was the best non?”

You rolled your eyes. “Sure.”

Max raised his hand. “You are both wrong. The best flavor is clearly mint chocolate chip.”

You all just deadpanned at him.

“It’s true.”

“No it isn’t.”

“Logan, you don’t have an opinion when your favorite is literally the Superman flavor.”

��Shut up Y/n.”

“Are we going to play paddle now?”

“Yes Lewis, we’ll play paddle.”

It was quiet for a moment until you yelled, “I call Charles as a teammate.”

Logan and Max whipped toward you.

“That’s just unfair.”

“I’m leading, he pushed me, I pushed him back, and after, he pushed me off the track. It’s just unfair.”

Logan followed your lead. “Charles, what happened with Max?”

“Nothing just an inchident on the race.”

“That’s it. Lewis is my teammate.”

“Back off Leclerc. You have him for next year, he’s mine.”

“What if I wanted Lewis?”

“Max, you win every race. You can lose at paddle.”

“Ok, but I still get Charles right?”

georgerussell63 has posted

tagged: charles_leclerc, maxverstappen1, lewishamilton, venus2, and phoenix95

georgerussell63 going into the season strong 💪 (max lost)

liked by phoenix&venus, y/n.nation, venus2, and 3,204,184 others

russellgeorge oh we are so back (I'm delusional)

mercganggang WRITE IT DOWN WRITE IT DOWN

lambof1 hold on - GEORGE KNOWS WHO THEY ARE??

lamborghini_duo we've been known 🙃

phoenix95 glad to see verstappen on his knees - I'm taking his emotional support rival tho

maxverstappen1 uh, exCUSE me 🤨 get your own emotional support rival

venus2 do I mean nothing to you?

charles_leclerc you don't like vanilla so I refuse

maxverstappen1 Charlie I like vanilla

lewishamilton this is so pitiful to watch 🤦🏾

russell63 George really said "I'm getting the band back together"

sargeantgirlie ok - I think I have everything figured out

TAG LIST: @fionaschicken @myxticmoon @cherry-piee @blueberry64857959 @glitterquadricorn @lizzypiastri @disneyprincemuke @sam-is-lost @spilled-coffee-cup @ilove-tswizzle @the-untamed-soul @allenajade-ite @starssfall @torchbearerkyle @judespoision @halfdeadsage @juniper-july19 @severewobblerlightdragon @thatgirlmj @gods-menace @ineedafictionalman @namgification @dark-night-sky-99 @samantha-chicago @2pagenumb @treehouse-mouse @fangirl125reader @megatrilss1885 @kagatinkita @itsjustkhaos @nikfigueiredo @awekbachira @vellicora @skepvids @sunrizef1 @stan-josie @fanficweasley @hiireadstuff @barcelonaloverf1life @c-losur3 @graciewrote @bruhhhhhhhhehhhhhhh @tallrock35 @ashy-kit @kat-s2 @minkyungseokie @lozzamez3 @leslieis-crying @adventuresofrose @lighttsoutlewis

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ferrstappen · 1 year ago

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Max the wag (again)| Max Verstappen blurb

love note: I’ve loved the response to gossipy Max and (y/n) that I came up with this little piece 💘

YOU CAN FIND THE REST OF MAX THE WAG SERIES HERE

summary: a new break up hits the paddock and Max and you are the best investigators.

Canada GP, 2023

Max didn’t mean to overhear whatever was going on inside the four walls of Ferrari’s place on the track.

But if the information came his way, who was he to deny it?

He was mildly bored in between interviews and before FP1, not caring about interacting with people because you weren’t there, too many things to take care of, studying and being an intern didn’t allow you to be there with him. Still, he sent you silly pictures of him walking by himself (metaphorically since fans and workers were all over), he smiled at the WhatsApp sticker you sent him along with a picture of you, papers scattered all over your desk, iPad showing the F1 app.

While walking by Ferrari, he really really couldn’t help walking a bit slower as three engineers were enjoying a cigarette while loudly speaking to each other, motor and tool noises were ambient noise.

I heard she’d forgiven him once, after São Paulo last year.

What happened there? I keep hearing about it but i left to Abu Dhabi right after the podium.

Carlos and Norris contacted some girls and left with them or something along the way, kept it under wraps though but now? I think it was too much for her.

Shame, she was always polite and nice to everybody. She even knew our names!

And Carlos’ sister is getting married soon, he ducked it big time. I heard someone in the garage she decided to not go and his family is pissed.

It caught Max’s attention… he instantly recalled the conversation with you, trying to figure out if Carlos and Isa were still together. Clearly, they weren’t and the entire paddock was aware of it.

Maybe Christian could have more information about it.

But the first thing he did was to text you, announcing he had more information.

Info about what? Was your response, making Max’s eyes roll…

Sainz and girlfriend!

Max didn’t hear it, but you gasped at the simple text message. Max was very selective with the information he actually took seriously, and for him to tell you he heard something meant it was probably real.

Shut up! What did you hear? Who told you?!?!?

Max smiled, a smug grin knowing you were dying for the information, but he’d keep it for later, when he was laying on the hotel bed, fresh out of the shower, white t-shirt and shorts and ready to fall sleep. That’s when he was sharing the information.

He was surprised when you called him out of the blue and he chuckled, his gorgeous blue eyes getting smaller, little wrinkles forming, dimples showing.

“Hello schat, to what do I owe this pleasure?” Max teased, instantly taking in your neat hair, neutral make up and deep red lipstick… oh, what would he give to bite your lower lip and have his face and chest covered in faint red lipstick.

”don’t be coy! What did you hear? I heard the snippet of an interview and she sounded so broken it was so sad, but what did you hear?!” You rambled, making Max’s smile even bigger.

“I told you I’m sharing my discovery later, i’ll have to be in the car in thirty minutes or so,”

“I hate you so much, you can’t leave me hanging! I don’t want to ask her directly!” You complained like a toddler, noticing Max was just staring at you through the screen.

“I love you, I have to go,” Max said after he noticed part of the Red Bull PR team approach him. He was waiting for you to tell him you love him too, but your words weren’t exactly what he was expecting.

“Max babe, try to get info on Shakira and Hamilton!”

Honestly, you and Max were a match made in heaven.

#max verstappen x reader #max verstappen blurb #max verstappen fanfic #max verstappen imagine #max verstappen au #max verstappen x you #max verstappen fluff #max verstappen one shot #f1 x you #f1 fic #f1 x reader #max the wag

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fever4theflavor69 · 1 month ago

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Friends and followers Please read..

The events of this morning prompted this post.

This might help to clarify some things about me.

Lots of you ask for my other socials. My phone number. Or to chat on things like WhatsApp and telegram.

3 years ago. I was still reeling from the death of my husband. I made a friend. A male friend on here. He lived 600 miles away. He was very supportive and helpful and friendly. He eventually expressed his affection for me but I told him that I was nowhere near ready to date and the death of my husband would take a long time for me to get over. He said he was cool with that. We became really good friends and I allowed him to add me on Snapchat.

At one point, I posted a picture to my snap in front of a restaurant in the town I lived in. He found out where that restaurant was, and what town I lived in. And then did snooping to find out my home address.

He showed up at my front door. With flowers and expected to sweep me off my feet. He professed his undying love for me and asked to marry me. Mind you my husband had only been passed for like five months at this point.

I flipped out, like bad. I was so angry that he violated my trust. I was scared and feared for my daughter. I told him to leave before I called the cops.

15 minutes later my phone rings. My cell phone. I don't know how he got the number but he called and told me that he was going to do unspeakable things to myself AND my daughter.

Immediately i called the police. Gave them his info screen name etc. they tracked him down and he was arrested and in the end given two years probation. Every year I renew the restraining order on him.

I have changed my phone number. I sold my home where I was happy and wanted to live with the memories of my deceased husband and was forced to move to a new home.

But every day I fear he is going to find me. And my daughter.

So for all of you that wonder why I won't share my socials or my phone number or give certain details about where I live...

This is why.

Fever

#fever4theflavor69 #my safety comes first #my daughters too #sorry not sorry.#no socials given #private keep out

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its-all-papaya · 3 months ago

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do you have any clingy/possessive landoscar thoughts? 🤔

Yes. I do have thoughts. Thank you for asking.

tell me what you wish I'd write

I am… obsessed with clingy needy Lando. And I don’t write him suuuuper that way a lot, I usually try and rein him in, but if you want me to be self-indulgent, I can and will.

snippet at the end!

update: second bonus snippet here

Lando basically always wants Oscar. His attention, his laughter, his hands, his everything. All of it. All the time. Lando’s always been like that with the people he cares about. Max F, Carlos, everybody he’s ever dated… He knows he’s needy. He can usually keep a pretty good handle on things, though (he’s had a lot of practice). But sometimes, when his guard is down or when things are bad, his control over it slips a bit. And with Oscar, it’s like it’s ten times worse.

Even before they were properly close, Lando would get drunk and start asking after Oscar. His teammate was never out with them, but Lando would have his eighth drink in the club, or he’d do some lines with Max, or whatever, and it would be “I wish Oscar was here” and “can you call Oscar and ask if he’ll meet us?” and “I bet Oscar’s still awake, should I text him?” Extremely noticeable. And some of Lando’s more casual friends would be kind of blindsided because - again - Lando’s really good at being normal about Oscar when he’s got his whole brain to work with. But it’s Saturday night in Monaco over winter break and he says “it’s morning in Australia, I can FaceTime Oscar, right?” and his friends are like “didn’t know it was like that, mate?”

(He does FaceTime Oscar, on his walk home when there’s nobody to stop him, smile dopey as soon as Oscar picks up. The sun is shining in the background and making Oscar kind of glow around the edges, and Lando says “you look like an angel” and Oscar laughs and that’s even worse, Jesus, “you’re so pretty, Oscar, did you know?” and Oscar had been in the middle of a workout, but he sucks on his water bottle and grins and lets Lando talk nonsensically at him for 15 straight minutes until he’s safe and locked into his apartment with a glass of water on his bedside table. “Put some paracetamol out for yourself in the morning, okay? And sleep tight, Lando.” “Thanks, angel.”)

The second season is really different. They’re much looser and Lando forgets more often that he’s supposed to be holding himself back, giving Oscar space. It’s stupid, he’s been doing it with everyone all his life, but it’s like Oscar wipes his mind blank, and he’s weaseling his way under his arm every other minute at the MTC, hooking a chin over his shoulder while they review data, following him into his driver’s room after practice and talking Oscar through his entire hour, every lap. Oscar never really tells him off, though. He just nods and smiles his quiet smile and drops odd comments when Lando lets his train of thought go a little too far off track.

Getting closer with Oscar is probably a mistake for at least one of them, because it’s like giving Lando’s brain permission to think about him even more. Oscar’s thread is always near the top when Lando opens WhatsApp, and tapping his number to call is too near to muscle memory for Lando to talk himself out of it when he’s drunk. More often than not when he’s out, the night begins and ends with Oscar - a “coming tn?" as Lando walks in and a blurry, giggly “‘lo, Osc,” through a dark front camera on his way out.

Oscar starts out with a hint of decorum. He’ll throw a shirt on before answering Lando’s call, flick the bedside lamp on, and prop his phone up so his face is mostly in frame. That lasts a few weeks, then he starts answering in the middle of whatever he’s already doing (like brushing his teeth, one memorable time, when Lando had insisted on counting up to 120 for him to make sure he did a satisfactory job) and in whatever state he’s already in. By China, Oscar’s answering from bed half the time, face barely discernible in the dark of the hotel room, mostly just mumbling “mhm” while Lando tells him all about what he’s gotten up to at the bars.

SNIPPET (kind of? this was a bullet point and then I realized I was typing actual prose so it’s a bit of a blend… bare with me… it was like 2am for me when this was cooked up…)

Oscar doesn’t come out after Miami. But he does - and he’d deny this to anybody except Lando himself, probably, and even then only when Lando’s too fucked up to remember it - stay up waiting for Lando’s call. He’d congratulated Lando in person multiple times at the track, but it doesn’t feel the same. It’s embarrassing to admit, but as much as he used to find Lando’s drunk calls a little inconvenient (though always distantly amusing) he’s grown quite attached to them somewhere along the line - the quiet intimacy, the little jokes and admissions and compliments Lando hands out when he’s far gone and using Oscar to bring himself down. Lando doesn’t call anybody else like that (Oscar had asked him once, when he was waiting for his Uber in some city or another at half two in the morning). It’s just for them - a special them.

It gets late, though. Lando always rings late, but it gets late enough that Oscar starts worrying that Lando won’t call at all, that he’s taken someone home, or he’s passed out on someone’s couch, or he’s planning to be out so late it turns right over to early the next day instead. The sun is rising when his phone finally goes off. He’s dozed a bit on and off, the exhaustion of his own race winning out for minutes at a time, but he’s left his ringer on to make sure he doesn’t miss Lando. It’s a special occasion, yeah? He can’t be held accountable. He just doesn’t want to be the one responsible for bringing Lando down from his high inadvertently by shirking his cooldown call.

Anyway, it’s past 4 a.m. when Oscar’s jolted from his half-daze by the notification, and he sees he’s missed a few texts ahead of time, asking if he’s awake. He hadn’t answered, obviously, but Lando’s calling anyway. Oscar’s too tired, brain too soft and amorphous, to decide how to feel about that at the moment.

“Morning, angel,” he says when he picks up. It’d started as a joke, as most of their little idiosyncrasies had, a reversal, but it’s probably not totally that anymore.

“Oscar,” Lando says. Oscar had expected him to be loud, still riding out his high, but he’s practically whispering. When Oscar finally musters up the will to check the screen, Lando’s in the dim dark somewhere. All quiet.

“Yeah, babe.” They don’t talk like this normally. It’s like these calls exist in a liminal space between their day-to-day lives now and whatever Oscar’s convinced they’re headed towards.

“It’s not morning,” Lando says. A light turns on off-screen.

“Not for you, maybe. I was asleep.” Oscar rubs at his eyes for effect, even though Lando’s not really looking at the phone. His eyes snap to the camera at that, though, and Oscar watches his face fall a little.

“I woke you?”

Oscar doesn’t give it long before he’s shushing Lando gently, “It’s alright. I’m glad you did, I want to hear about your night.”

Lando brightens back up. He’s not as drunk as Oscar expected, but he’s far enough from sober to be pretty suggestible, still, pretty easy with a smile.

He launches into a story about Max and some other names Oscar instantly forgets and a band Oscar’s never heard of, and - as the camera jostles with Lando’s efforts to pry his own shoes off - Oscar realizes he’s already back to his hotel room.

When Lando hits a long enough pause in his rambling, Oscar says, “Hey, Lan, you want to get ready for bed? You should sleep a little.”

Lando’s nose wrinkles and his face takes on the petulant tilt Oscar is well-acquainted with after half a year of these late-night-early-morning calls.

“C’mon,” he encourages, “you’ll feel better tomorrow. I’ll help.”

Lando agrees, though he still looks a little sour about it, so Oscar talks him slowly through his nighttime routine between stretches of “Oh! Oscar! Max called Charles pretty five times, I think," and “Have you ever had a cherry bomb? Someone ordered me one.” Oscar helps him pick out a soft t-shirt to sleep in and reminds him to fill a glass with water for the bedside table and counts to 120 while Lando brushes his teeth, phone propped against the mirror.

When everything’s sorted and Lando is sliding into bed, Oscar yawns and says, “Good to go?”

Unexpectedly, Lando’s eyes go big and kind of watery at that, and he picks the phone up from the covers and brings it close to his face so Oscar’s screen is mostly pout.

“You’re going?” Lando asks, and he sounds so forlorn that Oscar can feel his heart ache in his chest.

“Was going to,” Oscar confirms, even though it hurts a little, “You want me to stay?”

The light’s off, but Oscar can still see Lando hide his face in his pillow. It’s no surprise, then, when Lando’s, “Yeah. Please?” comes out muffled by the bulk of it.

Oscar softens to it. It was never a question.

“Okay,” he says, “you need me to talk? Or just stay on?”

“Stay on,” Lando says. His voice is back to normal, but it’s tiny, a little fragile. So different from the hours and hours leading up to this, Oscar thinks, contextualizing.

“Might fall asleep,” Oscar warns. His lamp’s back off, too, and with Lando safe and sound, Oscar’s bed feels cozier than ever.

“S’okay,” Lando says, “me too.”

“That’s good,” Oscar sets his phone next to him on the bed. Lando’s done the same, both screens matching black and gray, matching hotel ceilings just a few doors apart. “Goodnight, race winner.”

Lando’s laugh is mostly just a hard exhale, but it warms Oscar from the inside out just the same.

“Goodnight, angel.”

(I wrote another whole scene for this ask but this got kind of long already.... so if anybody would like to see it.... all it takes is one little ask... lmk.... xoxo)

#answered #drabble #landoscar #landoscar fic #landoscar fanfic #lando x oscar #my landoscar #soph writes #these two scenes + that original facetime are basically half a fic already so like #don't be surprised if this spawns a word doc in the near future

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pookietsunoda · 2 months ago

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Saw this post abt Alonso getting accidentally electrocuted and thinking he was 14 (as well as this tag on a reblog)

what if... the whole grid accidentally got struck by some deus ex machina non fatal zap that gave them temporary amnesia and they all became convinced they were 14 for a day? Here is what I think would happen:

First off, they're all so hyped about being F1 drivers and get excited about the dumbest shit (phone games, wheel guns, tire blankets)

Max and Charles fight each other over the Inchident

George is starstruck by the fact that Alex is an F1 racer (bc Alex was his karting hero growing up) but Alex didn't become friends with George until he was 15, so he has no idea who George is, which is Humiliating to fragile teenage George.

Half of them can't speak English fluently yet. Only the younger ones (Oscar, Franco, etc) know that google translate exists and they help massively in the linguistic problems.

Unclear whether or not Pierre and Esteban are besties or enemies, or both. They are one of those things, and they're insane about it because they're teenagers. Lance and Esteban are probably like Normal friends though.

Lewis is like "where tf is Nico" and finds adult Nico. Lewis is super pumped to hear that they both made it to F1, were teammates and won WDCs, Lewis is an F1 GOAT, and that Nico married his childhood crush. (Their life trajectories literally sound like what a kid imagines their future to be like.) And Nico is like "hey we actually had a falling out" and Lewis is like "that's crazy man, how would we stop being friends? You want some frosties?"

Immediate Spanish speaker clique between Fernando, Carlos, Checo, and Franco. They are shook that THE Fernando Alonso wants to be besties with them (especially Carlos since Fernando is his hero).

KMag and Hulk are probably friends since this is pre Suck My Balls and they're friends now so, their energies align I guess.

Being 14 year olds who find out they're rich and famous, they all want to escape into the real world and take joyrides in the expensive cars they own/ drink alcohol/ see strippers/ buy crazy stuff and their team staff is like OH NO WE CAN'T LET THEM ESCAPE (Thus ensues comedy gold of the team staff chasing kids who have the bodies of professional athletes around the track and trying to contain them)

If in Singapore, Yuki and Zhou manage to escape because they are 2 East Asians wearing designer and F1 merch and they blend in with the fans. (As a disguise, they swap team shirts and put on surgical masks and people are like "Is that Zhou Guanyu?" "Nah why would Zhou be wearing a Yuki shirt?") Word gets out in the drivers whatsapp that they escaped and they immediately get bombarded with requests for what to buy for the rest of the paddock. They cannot rly understand each other but Zhou can get around Sgp pretty easily bc a lot of people there speak Mandarin. He has to stop Yuki from breaking at least five Singaporean laws. They stuff themselves at hawker stands and have a great field trip but then get recognized and have to make an emergency getaway on a stolen electric scooter. They do get Lewis his Frosties.

Lewis doesn't know he's a vegan and almost ruins his reputation by being spotted by paparazzi eating Frosties with non vegan milk. Also gives himself a nasty stomachache.

Despite being told not to tell other people about the mass amnesia, Max and Lance both call their dads. Lawrence is like "My poor son! I will get the experts to look into this right away!" Jos is like "idc if you don't remember how to drive the car, you're gonna do it or I'll disown you." Daniel and Lando grab the phone and tell Jos he's a meanie and also was a shit F1 driver, then hang up.

George finds chewing gum at the bottom of someone's bag and starts spiraling, convinced that the Singaporean police are going to arrest and execute them all for possessing illegal items.

Lord of the Flies scenario where George and Oscar are trying to organize everyone to make sure they don't accidentally hurt themselves, whereas Lando, Fernando, KMag, Daniel, and a few others are just trying to have a good time and cause chaos. Bottas and Alex and a third group are just like quietly messing around in the back.

They come to a truce in order to organize a GPDA strike because they have been banned from leaving the track until they regain their memories. They barricade themselves in someone's garage and have a sleepover on the floor with lots of candy and games. Lewis finds a guitar and plays Wonderwall.

They wake up the next day extremely confused (but remembering everything) and race as normal LOL

#i'm not going to write this but you all are welcome to #f1 au #f1 memes #brocedes #galex #f1 #mine

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probablyasocialecologist · 2 months ago

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Social media and online video companies are collecting huge troves of your personal information on and off their websites or apps and sharing it with a wide range of third-party entities, a new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff report on nine tech companies confirms. The FTC report published on Thursday looked at the data-gathering practices of Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Discord, Reddit, Amazon, Snap, TikTok and Twitter/X between January 2019 and 31 December 2020. The majority of the companies’ business models incentivized tracking how people engaged with their platforms, collecting their personal data and using it to determine what content and ads users see on their feeds, the report states. The FTC’s findings validate years of reporting on the depth and breadth of these companies’ tracking practices and call out the tech firms for “vast surveillance of users��. The agency is recommending Congress pass federal privacy regulations based on what it has documented. In particular, the agency is urging lawmakers to recognize that the business models of many of these companies do little to incentivize effective self-regulation or protection of user data. “Recognizing this basic fact is important for enforcers and policymakers alike because any efforts to limit or regulate how these firms harvest troves of people’s personal data will conflict with their primary business incentives,” FTC chair Lina Khan said in a statement. “To craft effective rules or remedies limiting this data collection, policymakers will need to ensure that violating the law is not more lucrative than abiding by it.”

19 September 2024

#surveillance #social media #WhatsApp #Facebook #google #discord #reddit #amazon #tiktok #twitter #data #privacy

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onemonitarsoftware · 4 months ago

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How Do You Track WhatsApp Last Seen Without Being Noticed?

WhatsApp is everyone's digital supporter to relieve boredom. From kids to adults, everyone uses WhatsApp to chat or call (audio and video) with their loved ones or children.

Sharing photos, videos, audio, documents, and video messages are also available. Moreover, the latest updates have allowed users to view or upload status and follow channels for news and updates based on their preferences.

However, with this abundance of features, users can get addicted to WhatsApp by using it frequently and constantly. Also, this innovation has made it easier to get your personal information in the hands of impostors or scammers.

Everyone needs a superhero to protect their children from worthless distractions and exposure to problematic situations. This blog will give parents in-depth knowledge to check their WhatsApp last seen for maintaining healthy screen time.

Why is Last Seen Checking Needed?

Last seen and activity status tell a lot about the usage of an app. WhatsApp allows us to show our activity status to others and check theirs when they are online or when WhatsApp was last used.

Think of a situation in which you opened your WhatsApp to ask your son something but saw him online, and after one hour, you checked again; he was still there. Isn't this constantly sitting online a matter of concern?

Parents worried about their children's safety will agree that checking online activities over WhatsApp and other social media apps is essential. Parents can review their children's last seen in a few ways to ensure safety and appropriate online behavior.

As said earlier, WhatsApp monitoring is essential to fight against distractions and keep away all dangers, and the best technique to do so is to see children's activity status. A few ways to check the last seen include:

Manual Checking

WhatsApp allows users to show their activity status depending on their preferences from the options available, including everyone, my contacts, contacts except particular users, and nobody.

Depending on the option selected, you will be able to see the last seen of others, which means if you choose to show your last seen to "Nobody," then you won't be able to see others as well. However, you can only see other individual's last seen if you select "Everyone" from your settings.

For manual checking, parents need to open their children's chats to see their "Last Seen," but it will only be available if the last seen is selected for "My Contacts or Everybody" from the parent's WhatsApp.

Browser Extension

The last seen can be checked on WhatsApp Web through a browser extension, but it's risky. For this, parents need to search for browser extensions that are available for WhatsApp tracking.

Install the extension and use it on WhatsApp to monitor and check your children's "last seen."

A Third-Party Software

Third-party apps, such as the WhatsApp tracker app, allow users to not only check the last seen but also chats, calls, photos, videos, audio, documents, and other WhatsApp activities.

These apps claim that they work discreetly without any notification on the device and help you quickly check your child's last seen. Parents must find a suitable WhatsApp last-seen tracker app and download it to their children's devices.

Parents can smoothly track their children's WhatsApp activities by following the proper installation instructions. WhatsApp tracking with third-party software can raise ethical concerns, so it is recommended that a reliable and trustworthy app be used.

Parents can track their children's WhatsApp last seen by manually checking, downloading a browser extension for WhatsApp web, or using a third-party software. Creating a secondary account and using WhatsApp on a different device are other alternatives that can be used.

However, restrictions and limitations are associated with every method, such as the fact that the WhatsApp settings should be accurate for manual checking, browser extensions are unreliable or might slow your device, and the WhatsApp last-seen tracker app can raise ethical considerations.

Although third-party software has concerns, they can be overcome by considering the appropriate WhatsApp tracking app.

Which WhatsApp Tracking App is Suitable?

CHYLDMONITOR is the best WhatsApp last-seen tracker app that offers over 65 features apart from "Last Seen" tracking. Parents must provide their children's device credentials and physical access to install the app.

However, CHYLDMONITOR is the ideal WhatsApp tracker software that allows parents to install with one-time physical access to their children's devices. The rest of the tracking is done remotely without the distance barrier or restrictions.

It offers detailed tracking features for WhatsApp, including:

WhatsApp Last Seen

CHYLDMONITOR's WhatsApp last-seen tracker allows parents to check their children's activity status on WhatsApp to manage effective and healthy screen time. This tracking enhances focus by eliminating distracting and inappropriate online behavior.

WhatsApp Chats and Media Files

CHYLDMONITOR offers a WhatsApp chat tracker to check all the conversations made by the children along with the timestamp. Shared photos, videos, documents, audio, voice, or video notes can also be accessed from the web server.

WhatsApp Calls and Contact List

CHYLDMONITOR offers a WhatsApp call recording feature to record the calls made or received by children along with the timestamp and other information. Parents can access the contact list and restrict any person they find wrong.

WhatsApp Stickers and GIFs

WhatsApp online tracker app allows parents to review all the stickers, emojis, and GIFs sent or received by children to have extra surveillance for enhanced safety.

WhatsApp Status

CHYLDMONITOR offers parents the power to check all the statuses viewed by children to see what type of content their contacts are uploading. WhatsApp online tracker also allows one to see what the child has posted as an additional feature.

WhatsApp Business Chats

CHYLDMONITOR allows parents to see their children's chats even if they are using WhatsApp.

These are a few droplets from the sea of features CHHYLDMONITOR offers with full-proof data privacy and security. This WhatsApp tracking app has multi-level authentication to prevent unauthorized access.

Concluding Words

CHYLDMONITOR is suitable and dependable because it covers WhatsApp and other online activities on children's devices. It is the best WhatsApp last-seen tracker of all time, as it works like magic!

We conclude this blog with the hope that parents have thrown their blindfolds and can now see what suits their children's safety assurance.

Wish you luck in your future tracking with CHYLDMONITOR!

#whatsapp tracker #WhatsApp Tracking Software #WhatsApp Tracking #WhatsApp Call Tracking #WhatsApp Tracker App #WhatsApp last-seen tracker #WhatsApp call recording feature

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listentoace · 4 months ago

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This will freak you out

... or at least I hope it does. Yes, I know most of the stuff I post on here is just kinky and horny talk and that's totally fine. By now, thousands of users have found their way to my blog and I'm very grateful for the support. I know I don't share much about myself, but the following will be about a more personal matter. I work in IT, or more specifically, with data. Lots of data. Being into data science, I am hyper-aware of the constant collecting and aggregating of user data. I know it's somewhat common knowledge that you're being tracked, but I want to take this opportunity to point out how bad the situation is and why privacy matters. I'll try to keep it as easy to follow as possible, so please bare with me!

The Trackers

Right now, you're on Tumblr. As you are reading this, your app connects to over a dozen servers that are not from Tumblr itself. They are from companies like Google, Amazon, Yahoo, but also lesser known companies such as Adjust and Moat. Within a single day, the Tumblr App sends about 5.000 tracking requests to the aforementioned and more companies, sharing your personal data. That's once every 15-20 seconds, regardless of whether you have the app opened or not. While I can't say exactly what data is being shared, it is likely that this is personal information that can be utilized to assume your opinions, target ads, or predict future behavior, as these are ways how companies will ultimately make money. Depending on what permissions you have granted the Tumblr app, it might also scan your gallery, your entire file system, access your call history, or your camera and microphone. By granting this permission, you are essentially giving Tumblr the keys to your phone on a complete "just trust me, bro"-basis. To me personally, that sounds scary.

But why do you use Tumblr yourself, then?

Very good and fair question! I actually am conflicted regarding using Tumblr, but I have put several security measures into place to minimize tracking potential as much as possible. While Tumblr can still see when I go online, read all the messages I send to others, know what content I view, like, comment on, and otherwise engage with, that is about it. Tumblr cannot acces my general file system, it cannot remotely access my camera and microphone, and even all the aforementioned trackers are blocked. I'll go more into this later.

"So what, I've got nothing to hide."

It's great that you think that! That's just what the big tech companies want you to believe. But answer me this: have you ever found it uncomfortable when a person next to you was reading all your texts, looking at your gallery, and just generally kept an eye on what you do on your phone at all times? Well, if a single person doing that is bothering you, how much worse must it be to know that several companies with thousands of employees spy on you for a living? Yes, they have seen your nudes, your breakup texts, your hours of Whatsapp calls with your best friend. It's literally a Big Brother Dystopia.

"Why would they be interested in me?"

I bet you have heard about the Cambridge Analytica (CA) scandal from 2018. Just to summarize: a data analytics company CA worked closely together with Facebook to target adds specifically tailored to users to manipulate them into voting for Donald Trump as President. If you are asking how specific this could be, just look at this demonstration by Signal, where their ads are extremely specific to a point where probably only a few thousand if not only hundreds of people would fit the description and just those exact people saw their ad.

"You got this ad because you're a newlywed pilates instructor and you're cartoon crazy. This ad used your location to see you're in La Jolla. You're into parenting blogs and thinking about LGBTQ adoption."

Facebook took it down within hours. But imagine you seeing this ad of a random company knowing this much and lots more about you. Note that Instagram and WhatsApp belong to Facebook/Meta, so even if you're not using Facebook directly, you're still being watched just as closely.

Knowing exactly what you like, dislike, fear, and love, strong emotions can be triggered for political or financial gain. You're into sustainability? Buy this product and we will retrieve one pound of plastic from the ocean! You are conservative and maybe slightly racist? Immigrants are taking over more and more healthcare jobs! You are scared by a possible nuclear war? Vote us for safety and peace!

This is how Cambridge Analytica managed to pull in millions of voters in the US and manipulate the election in a way that Donald Trump wouldn't have won without their manipulation. This is literally a threat to democracy. And as you know, my allegiance is to the Republic, to Democracy!

You might be aware of how right-wing and extremist parties all around the western world use very polarizing and emotional topics in their campaigns and are doing very well on social media. Often much better than more centered, leftist, or conservative parties, who tend to polarize less. This is not a coincidence. Not only is this because of customized, targeted content, but it's also because strong emotions generate more attention

Doom Scrolling & Dopamine

Social Media has had decades to perfect their dopamine lottery. The algorithms know exactly what you are into, no matter how much of a niche it might be. A good, user-oriented algorithm would show you a few posts, the best ones of the day, and then simply say "well, that's been all the good stuff. Wanna see the rest anyways?". But that's not how it works, is it? When opening an app like Instagram, TikTok, Tumblr, etc., you usually immediately land on a recent top-post. This is to give you the instant gratification and that sweet hit of dopamine.

Have you ever noticed how you had to scroll a bit before you got a post again that you really loved? That's by design. The mix of top-posts and mediocre ones is on purpose, to keep you waiting for more. You never know when the next super funny TikTok will come by. All you know is that it might be the next one. In-between top-posts, you're met with mediocre garbage and an add or two and just before it gets too boring, you hit gold again. The constant release of much higher than normal amounts of dopamine make your brain temporarily lose touch with what levels are normal. Why is it that you feel drained and tired after scrolling through social media for a few hours, even though you've done nothing but sitting around? You didn't think hard, you didn't move much, so what is it? It is the dopamine-rollercoaster that is mentally straining you. And there are tens of thousands of highly trained software engineers and corporate executives designing their platforms to keep you scrolling for as long as possible. If that little chiming sound increases your screen time by as little as 2%, it will be added. It is designed to suck your life away, chain your eyeballs to the content they want you to see, just so they can literally sell you to anyone who has the cash. You need that new gadget, visiting this country is an absolute must, this new sports competition is amazing, definitely vote for this cool party. Trust them. They know what you want. You don't know anything about them, but they know everything about you.

"What do I do now?"

Well, it is unlikely that you'll stop using social media at all. I mean, even I am still here. But there are things you can and should do for your mental and financial health, and for your own safety and protection against manipulation. Here is a list of things you should consider

Limiting social media to only a few apps you actually use and are interested in

Spend no more than 2 hours on social media per day

Meet friends irl instead of only texting

Stop sharing personal information. It is not illegal to enter false names, birthdays, etc into random sign-up forms! Protect your children as well!

Use privacy- & user-oriented platforms, such as Signal instead of WhatsApp, or Mastodon instead of Twitter. They finance themselves through volunteers and donations instead of by selling your data and lifetime to any buyer

Use privacy-oriented frontends (the visual interface and application you interact with), such as NewPipe or FreeTube instead of YouTube. You also won't be seeing any ads there

Don't buy anything impulsively. Take a week or two to think about whether you really need and want it.

Check facts, do your own research, use multiple sources, be critical

And in case you're interested in what I use:

I'm have an Android phone running /e/OS and a total of 5 computers/servers which run Linux and a Windows laptop for work. My phone block any trackers, fakes my GPS location (not VPN/IP) to where I am in Barcelona. All devices have a 24/7 encrypted VPN connection. I don't have WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or even a Google account. For personal use I have Signal, Element (Discord alternative), and Proton Mail. That's it. Every website or platform I have an account on has it's own, unique, single-use email, a randomized password and 2FA whenever possible. I use KeePass as my password manager, encrypted with a password, key file, and hardware key. I enter false data into any random form, use hardened Firefox browsers to resist fingerprinting and tracking, and back up all my data at home on a hard drive instead of using a cloud service. (Yes, there is much more)

For my content, I use Tumblr and a semi-active Discord account, Reddit accounts are banned.

For my professional life, I am forced to use Microsoft Teams and Outlook, yet I only use those on my work computer & phone.

Privacy = Freedom

Yes, I know my measures are far beyond average, but I wanted to present an example and hopefully inspire some of you to take back your online freedom and privacy! Because that's what it is! Privacy is Freedom!

I hope this inspired you and please ask any questions in the comments! This truly is a topic that means a lot to me so thank you for reading all the way through it. Please reblog to further share this important topic and encourage others to protect themselves!

- Ace

#venting #data privacy #online surveillance

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moonshynecybin · 5 months ago

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omg… rosquez body swap with pecco TELL US

NEUROTICISM 500000x YAYYYYYY

for real just like. lowkey a fun hijinks situation that i enjoy thinking about… probably a bit too hard for me to write and do justice because when i seriously for realsies write a fic with dialogue and everythang i need the INSANE happenings to get a lot of processing time from the characters… like space to breath… and i don’t think this fic would be about that. i think it it would be FUNNY ! a little sad ! but it makes me laugh… like they get freaky fridayed for ducati teammate reasons and marc gets plopped into the 100km race maybe, and pecco gets rocketed into a sponsorship meet and greet perhaps… somewhere they both really don’ttttt have a lot of time to PROCESS and instead have to play act as the other very hard… what does pecco think MARC would say to the crowd at this corporate party (has anybody in this bar seen bridget jone’s diary??) and what would marc do when bezz confidently tries to TOUCH TIPS WITH HIM ?

and like in MOST bodyswap aus i think it’s fun and horny and between our main romantic leads (which. say that.) but i think that can get rid of how funny the IDENTITY HIJINKS can be… pecco and marc both have enough internalized anxiety about image (and marc. greedily. has always wondered what it would be like to be vale’s heir apparent and still have him LIKE you….) that i think they tell like one person that this is happening besides each other. marc immediately calls alex and pecco tells luca bc i don’t think bezz could keep the secret ansjshhd. furious whatsapp facetime from them both like do NOTTTTT mess this up for me. three mouth. marc as pecco trying to threemouth but he can’t because pecco is genetically incapable.

so marc looks like pecco. turns up at the race. and well it’s a different body so idk, but winning is SERIOUS 2 him especially at the divorce symbology track with i think he has. conservatively 8000x more dog in him than pecco would in this situation and maybe he at least podiums… gets a little champagne bottle and a sausage wreath and vale (him and luca won pls.) is next to him on the top step smiling and shaking him around by his shoulders all giddy and affectionate and spraying him with champagne and marc can’t stop SMILING even as he wants2 DIE…. meanwhile hard cut to pecco at the grocery store having to walk the marquez party line about the sepang conflict because he accidentally ran into a guy wearing a vr46 hat that he didn’t have the good sense to AVOID

#bezz like. pecco is being weird he won’t let me tenderly spoon his ass as i try and climb him like a tree ? meanwhile marc is liek #this is the most people outside of my family and crew have touched me in ever. werk #motogp #callie speaks #asks

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yourlocaldilemma · 1 year ago

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Golden thoughts {part 3} (ln4)

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lando norris x fem!sprinter!reader word count: 2.5k

part 3/? Part one, Part two, part three, part four

warnings: horribly translated french, jealous Charles

You turn your favourite playlist on shuffle in the background as you dance around the kitchen. You’re in a good mood. The last month had been scattered with very successful track meets and good progress in training.

Nights like these make you feel all the more content to not be looking for a relationship. Spinning around in nothing but an oversized shirt and panties, singing along to your favourite songs, cooking what you want, how you want.

You’d been independent and stubborn since the day you took your first breath, and sprinting had never changed that. Your training schedule made it difficult for you to spend time with people not that you had many people to spend time with so growing up you were on your own most of the time. Lots of people found it odd and many overstepped their bounds to tell you you should have a better social life, but you took the advice with a grain of salt. Maybe you should feel lonely, but you never did.

You’re in the middle of slicing lettuce and singing to Sabrina Carpenter when your phone vibrates. Reflexively you swipe left to clear it but pause and pull the notification back once you see who it’s from.

Charles never messages you on race weekends. You’ll text him good luck out of courtesy, completely aware that 9 out of 10 times he won’t respond until the race is well over with and he’s either drank, partied or cried the results to rest.

The Face ID lock spins before the message pops up.

The music reduces to dull thumping of a baseline as the three simple words glow on your screen.

“Hey, it’s Lando”

Even though he had left you his number that night in Australia, you hadn’t texted him or made any effort to connect with him. You had typed out a hundred different messages a hundred different times since then but couldn’t bring yourself to send them as you fought yourself mentally over why, why in gods name you even wanted to send them in the first place.

You could see that Charles, or Lando, or whoever it was, was still active on the account. If this was Charles idea of some late night joke you were going to let him have it.

“Prove it.”

Not even seconds after the message delivers your phone is vibrating, showing you your face as it prompts you to accept the video call.

Your hair is still in a high ponytail from earlier and your face makeup still looks half decent but you’re not wearing a bra, and the thin T-shirt you’ve donned does little to hide it.

You position the camera so nothing below your collarbone is visible and accept the call. Lando’s face fills the screen, looking pleased with himself like a 5 year old who just made a crayon masterpiece. You can distinguish the trademark red of a Ferrari T-shirt in the corner above him.

“Hello Y/N.” He grins like your name is the most interesting thing in the world.

“Hello Lando.”

“You never texted me. Now I’ve got a crazy Monegasque breathing down my neck like I’m trying to kill you instead of just talk to you.”

The words slip out of his mouth like it’s the most obvious and common occurrence for him to want to “just talk” with you.

“your only way of contacting me was calling me on Charles’ phone?”

“He and Arthur alike wouldn’t give me your number, instagram, or WhatsApp, because apparently they don’t trust me. Or they just doesn’t trust me with you, because for a reason conveniently explained only in French, they’re acting like they have a claim over your life right now.

He narrows his eyes and looks up at the shirt which you can now assume belong to Charles. You see his ring clad hand reach down into the frame and pinch Landos neck until the skins stripped of its colour and is left white long after he pulls his hand away.

Rubbing his neck, Lando shifts before meeting your eyes through the phone. “So this is me asking why you had a month and a half to text me, but didn’t. I thought we were best friends now.”

You can’t tell if he’s joking or not as he stares at you through the camera waiting for a response.

“Don’t you have a race to be preparing for?”

“Don’t even try that,” he hisses, “You know damn well that tomorrow is only free practice.”

“Lando I’m cooking dinner right now can I call you back later?”

“Call me back later on my phone, or Charles’ phone, who is now going to try to push me off the track this weekend?”

“I guess you’ll find out, won’t you sweetie.” The pet name you use sarcastically with friends slips out of habit but Landos eyes glint like diamonds and his grin widens until it looks like it hurts. He nods repeatedly like scolded child.

Charles reaches forward again, this time to take his phone.

“Jesus garde-le dans ton pantalon Y/N” *Jesus keep it in your pants

“Bon Dieu, calme-toi Charles.” *Good god calm down Charles.

“Il m'a raconté ce qui s'est passé en Australie!” *He told me what happened in Australia!

You switch to English again for Lando’s (who’s looking quite confused) convenience. “The last time I checked, it’s not a criminal offence to have dinner with someone. You’re the one who’s made it clear I should try to make more friends.”

“I didn’t mean F1 drivers.”

“Why does it bother you so much? You’re reacting like an immature toddler Charles.” He stares blankly at you, his eyes darkening into a deep amber and his neck tensing. “I have to go. Have a great night,” you deadpan before hanging up.

You fire Charles a short but supportive text after FP2 before pulling up Landos number hesitantly. Whether or not Charles is acting like he has a stick up his ass, he’s still one of your closest friends and you’d always watch race weekends.

Typing and deleting more texts then you count, you decide that, “amazing job today” seems about sufficient. It was true, Lando had done an amazing job today, setting the second fastest time across both practices.

Lando: Why hello there

Lando: would have set purple if I had my braid

Your mind runs to the interview you watched in Australia where he still had the small braid tucked into his curls. You had assumed for your own good it was an accident.

Sent: The braid huh?

Lando: I know you watched the race that weekend. I got pole, driver of the day and second place

Lando: which is basically first place because my little Maxy is in a fucking rocketship

Lando: it was cause of my braid

You can’t help but admire his innocent take on the properties of luck.

Sent: I’ve seen how hard you work. I don’t think it was the braid Lando

Lando: it was the braid. I haven’t gotten within the front 2 rows or on the podium since. Coincidence?

You’re not completely sure how to respond to his theory. Telling him it’s because dragging his car onto the podium is like trying to climb Mount Everest in stilettos, probably isn’t the best idea before FP3 and qualifying tomorrow.

Your phone vibrates again

Lando: You could come over right now and give me another one. Could use the luck tomorrow.

You smile at the message, feeling intoxicated by the determination and childlike happiness that radiates off Lando thick as honey.

Sent: I’m not coming over to your house at midnight to braid your hair Lando

Lando: tomorrow? 🥺🥺🥺

Sent: yeah we’ll see. Goodnight.

Lando: goodnight!

You fall asleep with your lips curved up into a small smile and thoughts overflowing with images of a blue eyed boy.

You’d be lying if you said FP3 went well. Charles and Carlos both went into the gravel and Landos best lap time was a full 3 seconds slower than he made in FP2.

Lando: I told you the braid was lucky

Lando: believe me now? 😛

Sent: You’ll be incredible in qualifying

Lando: location sent

Sent: what?

Lando: drivers parking lot. I’ll meet you there with a paddock pass. Then you can give me my braid

Sent: Charles will kill both of us, never mind all the press.

Lando: fuck

Lando: right

Lando: meet me here in 20 minutes then

His account then goes inactive, not giving you the chance to decline his offer. The address he sends you immediately recognize as a very expensive part of Monaco. Google maps shows it’s only a 5 minute drive but instead of trying to hail a cab in the thin streets you decide to run there.

The amount of bodies on the sidewalks makes it almost impossible to keep a solid pace as you follow the directions on your phone. The masses of bodies swirling around all seem to be going in the direction of the racetrack and it’s suffocating as the tide of people almost pulls you with them. Once you break from the crowds, the street you’re on is completely void of any human life.

A ping sounds through your headphones.

“You’ve arrived at your destination”

A large metal gate stands 100 metres down the road from you, well kept greenery and perfectly spherical bushes bordering the newly laid road. Behind the gate are multiple large flats and hints of the ocean glitter behind the white houses.

You glance around, feeling severely out of place surrounded by luxuries you don’t dare imagine for yourself. You scroll through your instagram feed leaning against a tree, liking your friends posts when you come across an old post of McLarens. It’s a picture of Lando on the podium in Australia, his tongue out and eyes squinted into the sun. Champagne covers his body and his face is printed by his balaclava. You once again see the braid you absently left in his hair. They had captioned the picture

“New tradition?”

For a fleeting moment you let yourself wonder if they’re talking about the braid or the podium before being yanked back to the present by car coming up the drive. You can only imagine it’s Lando as the car gets colder and you see it’s a McLaren. A gorgeous McLaren. You watch him reach across the car to open the passenger door. It slides upwards with a mechanical efficiency you can’t help but admire. You make eye contact with him through the windshield. He waves one of his hands toward the seat, motioning for you to get in.

The door clicks shut beside you and Lando drives a short few meters before stopping to unlock the gates.

“And you were impressed by my hotel room,” You mutter.

He laughs, eyes glittering. “Nice to see you too Y/N.” he pulls up to one of the flats. The exterior is almost completely white, excluding the huge oak door and black trimmed windows.

“Remind me what I’m doing here?”

He smiles at you with a tilt of his head, “Braiding my hair of course. Though I don’t have very long I told my team I was going to grab a hoodie.”

You can’t help but laugh, a real laugh, until small tears are forming at the corners of your eyes. Lando is smiling a small smile, watching you like there’s nothing else in the world worth watching. His eyes run over your face until you feel a blush bloom on your cheeks.

He clears his throat and unclips his seatbelt before shifting to lay his head across the low centre console, to the point where it’s almost on your lap. His curls brush your bare knees making lightning tingle on the surface of your skin. His hair is much softer than you remember it being and the curls untangle easily as you run your fingers through them before you begin to braid. Landos eyes close gently and a peaceful smile slips across his lips.

As you twist the strands around each other, it feels like the thousandth day you’ve spent time with Lando, rather than the second. It doesn’t take long to finish the braid and as you loop the elastic around the end he opens his eyes to look up at you.

“Is it weird that it feels nice when you’re braiding it?”

You smile down at him with question.

“No. You’ve never had someone play with your hair before?”

He shrugs as best he can with the awkward position he’s lying in, making no effort to sit up.

You’re barely breathing as you begin to play with his hair, terrified of overstepping, but Lando smiles contentedly and closes his eyes once more, nestling his head off the console more and further into your lap. The intamimte tension has millions of butterflies in your stomach and heat growing between your legs. When Lando lets out a soft involuntary whimper you draw the line and untangle your fingers from his curls.

“You should probably get back to the track.” You whisper. He groans, pulls himself back up into his seat, starts the car and pulls out of the driveway, one hand on the wheel and the other running over his new braid.

“Promise when the good luck works you’ll give me another one next time?” He calls after you as you climb out of the car.

“Sure.” You roll your eyes. “Pinky promise.” You stick out your little finger and he reaches across the car to meet it. His huge hand dwarfs yours as he intertwines your fingers.

He smiles at you, “It’ll work. Just you watch.”

You just grin back at him as you watch the car accelerate, the lights eventually fading away. The whole run home You’re in your head, replaying the otherworldly events that were the last 10 minutes.

When you get back to the hotel there’s still 3 long hours until Qualifying. Surveying the mess of track clothes and suitcases scattered across the room, you make the executive decision to spend the time packing for your early flight tomorrow as the sun shines bright honey light through the windows.

Lando puts it on pole.

By a whole fourth of a second. You watch the post-quali interviews with a haze of pleasant, but extreme surprise, and Landos head seems no less in the clouds than yours as he repeats the same approved script of answers to the different reporters.

Your phone vibrates less than 3 minutes after the drivers leave the media pen.

Lando: I told you

Lando: want to come over?

You can’t believe your eyes. You’d never made such fast, whatever you two were, with anyone in your life.

You know Lando can see you’re still active, and his typing bubble keeps popping up and down like he’s deciding whether or not his offer was too much.

Lando: to re-do the braid of course

Sent: You’re ridiculous.

Lando: thank you. I’ll pick you up in an hour.

#lando norris x you #lando norris x y/n #lando norris x reader #lando norris imagine #lando norris blurb #f1 x reader

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jessicaloons · 1 year ago

Text

Chapter 15:

You can see it with the lights out: You are in love…

Masterlist - Previous - Next

Note: I changed the racing calendar, I switched Miami with Imola

As I walked down the stairs the door opened and Mum and Dad, together with Sissy and Liam walked through the door, apparently coming straight from the airport, they looked at me confused. Sissy grabbed Liam by the hand and they disappeared in the living room, with Liam asking confused what’s going on. But Sissy just shushed him and they were gone.

"When did you arrive?" Mum asked.

"Where were you?" Dad asked.

"Yesterday. And where was I supposed to be?" I answered and Mum and Dad exchanged some glances.

"Where were you supposed to be? Maybe still in Australia like you said? Or maybe in the plane with us? Or no wai…" Dad begun but I shrugged my shoulders, walking past them into the kitchen "Lizzie?"

"I had to leave earlier…" I said and opened up the fridge.

"Oh? Is that it? You had to leave earlier?" Dad sounded mad.

"Yup." I wanted to squeeze past him but he didn’t let me through.

"What happened? Why did Charles look like he went through the worst night ever, telling us that you left with the first plane in the morning because you had to go to the factory, doing some simulator work?" Dad asked, knowing that he caught us lying.

"Umm I… I mixed up the dates, I’m supposed to be there tomorrow, but Pete already texted me that it’s not necessary before Friday…" I lied and Dad scoffed.

"You said you would stay with Charles in Australia for some days?" Mum asked and I shrugged my shoulders again.

"I know, but Debbie’s nursery school dance is this week and I promised her to come" I lied again and made a mental note to call Andrea right away when I got back to my room.

"Oh, that’s sweet." Mum said although she looked still a little unconvinced.

"Yep, it’s on Thursday. So yeah, I should better check in with Andrea what to wear!" and with that I grabbed my orange juice from the fridge and went back to my room. I could hear how they discussed whether or not I’m telling the truth, but Dad was convinced I was lying.

As I checked my phone I saw 13 more missed calls, 21 iMessages, 15 WhatsApp messages and 9 Instagram DMs from Charles. My stomach clenched and I unlocked my phone right as Pierre called, but I ignored it. He was probably still with Charles. But I needed space. What happened was clearly the alcohol taking over. And with the next race coming up being a new track where no real simulator data or whatsoever existed, I had to focus on Miami. Not on the mistake Charles and I made. Both drunk. Both not knowing what we were doing. End of the story. But whenever I closed my eyes I saw Charles face. Charles how he smiled at me on the podium. Charles how he hugged me after the race. Charles how he swallowed hard when I showed him my outfit for our celebration in some Melbourne club. Charles how he danced with me. Charles body grinding against mine. Charles intense gaze. Charles pulling me with him in a dark corner. Charles pushing me against the wall. Charles smile after our first kiss. Charles face when I pushed him off of me. Charles heartbroken face when I left him at the airport standing. Charles. Only Charles. Always in my mind. I let myself fall into my pillows, face first and screamed.

Charles POV:

"Charles? Hey? Charles, are you o…?" Pierre began but when he looked at my face he immediately fell silent.

"She’s really gone, Pierre. I begged her to stay… but she left anyway…" I whispered and walked past him. Sitting down on the bed.

"Give her some time… she’s scared, like you said…" Pierre sat down next to me.

"No. It feels different. It feels like I’m losing her…" I whispered and I felt a peng in my chest, my breathing ragged. Tears prickling my eyes. It was over. I lost her. There’s no coming back from this.

"Don’t say that! You and Lizzie belo-…" Pierre began as I interrupted him.

"There’s no Lizzie and I. Not anymore. I destroyed it." my voice sounded void just as how I felt "You can go back to your room now. It’s okay. I’m okay…" I got up and walked towards the bathroom "Thanks Pierre, for being here for me…" with that I disappeared and locked the door. After a couple of moments I heard the room door closing and I sat on the floor, pulled my knees up to my chest. I destroyed everything. Our friendship. Our families. Everything. I tried to call her again, I just needed to tell her that I’m sorry, but the call got straight to her voicemail. I leaned my head back into the called tiles and let the anxiety and pain of the last hours fully consume me.

I packed my suitcase, threw everything in that Lizzie forgot to pack and left the hotel room. Lied to her parents. Hugged them goodbye. Tried to call her again and again, texted her. Nothing. I flew back to Maranello earlier than planned, speaking to no one. Joris and Andrea exchanged worried glances but I ignored them.

I focused on Miami. Racing was the only thing I had left now.

"Charles? Can we talk?" Joris asked as he sat down on the sofa and I looked up from my notebook.

"Yeah? What’s up?" I said and closed the book, laying it down next to me.

"I wanted to ask you the same… what happened in Australia?" he looked worried.

"Have you talked to Pierre?" I asked and he looked at me confused.

"No? Why?"

"It’s nothing. I’m okay. Don’t worry!" I replied and took my book back from the sofa.

"But we are worried? You have said maybe 5 sentences in total in the last 3 days, you look horrible, what’s going on?" he asked.

"I’m fine, okay? I need to focus on racing. That’s it." I sighed and opened my notebook again, signalling that the conversation was over for me. He looked at me for a minute before he got up and left. I took my phone out, looked at her contact info, thumb hovering over the screen. Should I call her again? Maybe try it again? Maybe there was still some hope left? I swallowed hard. No.

My flat felt cold and empty as I walked past the pictures on the wall. Flashbacks of how Lizzie said that if I wanted to hang up some pictures I should make them all the same size, the same clean frame, photographs in black and white to keep it quiet and not busy on the eye. I stood in front of the picture Joris took of us, at the lookout, one of my favourite spots in Monaco. Lizzie’s as well. I didn’t know how long I stood there, staring at the picture. But as my phone rang I was startled. I accepted the call, but my throat was tight and I almost couldn’t speak.

"Yeah?" I croaked out.

"Charles? Are you okay?" Lorenzo. I swallowed hard.

"Umm… yeah, fine." I said and walked into my living room, sitting down on the sofa.

"Can I come over? There are some things we need to decide for All Time." he asked and I leaned back.

"Sure." I closed my eyes "I’m here."

"Alright, I’ll be there in 20 minutes?" he said.

"Yup."

"Woah! Are you sure you’re okay?" Lorenzos first words when I opened the door.

"Wow… thanks, good to see you too." I mumbled and walked back into kitchen, grabbing some water and glasses.

"Sorry, but you look horrible? Are you getting sick?" he asked as he sat down on the sofa, looking intently at me.

"Don’t think so, no." I said and poured us our water "So, what needs to be done?"

He looked at me for another moment before he shook his head slightly and dived right into talking business. I didn’t listen, not really. My mind occupied by Lizzie. How beautiful she looked in her dress. Her pink cheeks when we were dancing. Her surprised look when I pulled her with me into this dark corner. That little sigh I took right off of her lips. Her lips. Soft and sweet. Her body melting into mine. Her smell. Always the same for years. Something tropical, like coconut, mango and pineapple, mixed with the smell of fresh laundry and a tinge of lime, that little spritz of excitement. I never felt this good in my entire life. Winning the championship wouldn’t even compare to it. My heart rate going through the wall because for one moment I thought I was on top of the world, having everything I ever wanted. But the look in her eyes as she pushed me off of her. That fear. It sent shivers done my spine. Because that was the moment I probably lost her forever.

"Charles? Hey?" Lorenzo snapped his fingers in front of my face and I blinked in confusion "Okay what’s going on? What happened in Australia? Don’t give me that look. Speak up!"

"Nothing happened!" I insisted, going for my glass of water but spilling it in the process "Fuck!" I jumped up to get a towel but I tripped, ending up knocking over the little trophy I got from Liam for my birthday last year. Best uncle in the world. How proud Liam was as he handed it to me, telling me it took him almost 2 days to make it, even tho Lizzie helped him a little, just to reveal later that Lizzie did the most work and it actually only took almost 2 days because the clay had to dry over night. I watched as the trophy tumbled down the little side table and ended up on the floor. Shattering into pieces. I choked.

"No. No. No. No." I whispered as I knelt down looking at the pieces "No. God. Please. No. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry."

I didn’t felt the tears that were streaming down my face or Lorenzo kneeling down next to me. I just looked at the broken pieces that resembled what I’ve done to Lizzie and our families and felt crestfallen.

"Come here…" Lorenzo whispered, pulling me into a hug and I let out a heartfelt sob. I let it all out. I cried the tears that I tried to hold in for dear life over the past few days. Sobbing and whimpering. Lorenzo only held me close, gently rubbing my back, telling me that everything was going to be okay. But it wasn’t going to be okay. I made sure of that.

I opened my eyes and looked around, I was curled up on the floor, head on a pillow, blanket covering me, Lorenzo sitting next to me, rubbing my back every now and then. He scrolled through his phone as I slowly sat up, he looked up from his screen. Silently he handed me a glass of water and I downed it in one big gulp. My throat was sore, my head pounding. He poured me another glass which I also gulped down in one go. I rubbed my eyes and groaned when I saw how late it was. I slept for almost 2 hours. I looked around frantically, the pieces of the trophy. Where were they.

"I put everything I could find in a bowl, on the table." Lorenzo said and I looked for said bowl.

"Thanks." I whispered, voice hoarse and I cleared my throat.

"Can we talk about what happened? And I’m not talking about the broken trophy. No, I mean in general? Why was Sissy asking me if you’re alright? She didn’t hear from you since Australia and Lizzie is acting strange as well? Joris said you were awfully quiet these past days in Maranello? Your sim work has seen better results? And now I come here and you look like you haven’t slept in days, your not focused and you break down over a broken trophy? I know Liam made it for you. I know it’s sad, but you cried for almost 30 minutes straight before you fell asleep on the floor… what happened in Australia between you and Lizzie?" Lorenzo looked at me insistently. I leaned back against the sofa, ruffling my hair before I took a deep breath.

"I messed up, Enzo. Big time. I don’t know if she will ever forgive me…" I whispered and he chuckled a little.

"I think you underestimate how much Lizzie loves you… so, what did you do?" he asked and I sighed and then I told him everything. The club, the kiss, the devastation, the showdown at the airport, the alone time back in our hotel room, the family the next morning, the hundreds of unanswered calls and texts. Everything.

"And what are you going to do now?" Lorenzo asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

"Ask her for forgiveness? Ask her to forget what happened? Try to mo…" I began but he slapped the back of my head "Ouch! What the fuck?"

"Wrong answer! You’re not that stupid, come on! Try again!" his voice was firm.

"I don’t know, okay? What am I supposed to do? Maybe I misjudged everything and she never reciprocated my feelings and she’s…" I began again. SMACK. "Seriously if you slap me one more time I’m going to…"

"You’re going to what? Fight me? Good! At least then I know that there is still some fighter mentality left in you! Charles, she loves you! You know it. I know it. Everyone knows it. She was scared! You know what it will mean if you guys officially start dating? The media will come for her! Not you! Her! Of course she’s freaking out a little! But that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t love you! You are one of the smartest people I know, for gods sake, she’s one of the smartest people I know… and still you guys are so unbelievably stupid! And blind! Get your shit together! Fight for her!" Lorenzo said and I looked at him for a while, thinking about his words.

"But what if loving her isn’t enough? What if I can’t give her what she deserves? What she needs? What if I can’t protect her from all the shit that will happen?" I almost whispered and he grabbed my arm, making me look at him.

"Isn’t she worth the fight?" he held my gaze.

"She’s worth everything." I choked out.

"Did she ever gave up on you before?" Lorenzo asked and I swallowed hard.

"No. Never…" I whispered, blinking tears away.

"Then you shouldn’t give up on her now." he said and got up "You have a girl and a race to win this weekend."

He was right. I had to fight.

"So you’re telling me that you and Charles kissed. Finally, after what? 10 years of crushing hard on him? And your reaction was to flee the freaking country?" Shima’s look was almost comical, Andrea just shook her head.

"I know you since you’re 5 Lizzie and I remember how you told me the first time about Charles when you were like 7? 8? And even back then I thought that you had a huge crush on him! Why did you run away?" Andrea asked and handed Debbie another apple slice.

"Because if he’s not feeling the same, our friendship is over when he knows that I’m in love with him!" I say and they both groan.

"How can you be so, Debbie cover your ears sweetie, thanks. How can you be so fucking blind? Charles is as much in love with you as you’re with him! He always was in love with you! Since I know him! God even during his stupid relationship with the devils spawn he was so madly in love with you! Why do you think Camille hated you so much?" Shima whisper shouted and Andrea nodded in agreement.

"Are you telling me that you never felt the chemistry between you? The sparks flying like crazy? Do you really think it’s normal for best friends being this close? This touchy? Almost intimate? Haven’t you seen how Charles always looked at you?" Andrea said and I swallowed hard "God, sometimes I’m even jealous of you guys! Simon and I work out perfectly, we’re in sync and happily in love. But next to you guys? Your chemistry? Pffff. We’re not anywhere close to that level of intimacy!"

"Let’s say he feels the same? What if it’s not working out between us? What if we both feel after a month or two that we’re not working out together? Our friendship would be ruined!" I whispered and Andrea sighed.

"Lizzie, you and Charles basically were kinda dating since forever! You just didn’t realise it. You spent most of your free time with him, he was always the first one you called whenever something was happening in your life, he was always the first one you thought about in the morning, the last one you thought about at night, if you’re being honest with yourself! And for him it was most definitely the same!" Andrea said and I looked conflicted.

"I don’t know, okay? I can’t think about this right now! There are other things that come first! The race! Dads birthday! The media and practically half of Social Media still hating on me even after I finished 2 out of 3 races on the podium! As a rookie!" I said and Shima just shook her head, but said nothing. Why won’t they understand why I was scared?

Miami was different, to say the least. It was hot, humid. A lot was going on off track. I arrived on Tuesday with Dad, Sissy and Liam. I had to attend some events from sponsors, do another Audi Challenge with Valtteri and then of course the press conference on Thursday, where I was unfortunately in the same group as Charles. I had successfully managed to avoid him over the past 2 days, we only saw each other at breakfast where I pretended that everything was fine, so that no one got suspicious, but all streaks of luck must end and as I walked into the conference room he looked at me and gestured to the empty seat next to him. I pretended I hadn’t seen it and sat down between Lewis and Seb. In the corner of my eye I could see Charles looking defeated.

"Trouble in paradise?" Seb whispered and I looked at him confused. "Usually you two are like thick as thieves? And today you walk in, separately, not even looking at him and then sitting next to me instead of him?"

"It’s nothing, Seb, really! It’s just that the media is a bit annoying, constantly painting us as the new F1 It-couple. Questioning if he used his connections to get his 'girlfriend' into F1. I just want to race. So yeah we’ll lay low now for a bit." I answered but Seb didn’t look convinced but said nothing. Lewis next to me just chuckled.

"But you’re cute together and his Insta post? Come on! Let the media talk and be happy! Because let’s be honest? Neither of you looks happy right now…" he said and I looked at Charles who sat in his chair, slumped, staring at his hands with blank eyes. I swallowed down the lump in my throat, while checking discreetly Charles‘ Instagram. I recognised the picture immediately, the memories of it playing in the back of my mind. Never let you go. I had to blink away the tears and took a deep breath while putting my phone back in my pocket. Why can’t this press conference be over just now. I had to go. Be alone. Calm down. Think.

"Lizzie! Lizzie! DAMN IT, LIZZIE!" Charles yelled and I flinched "Would you please stop running away from me?"

I slowly turned around and the look on his face nearly broke my heart, pain, inflicted by me.

"Charles, please not here. Not now. I’m already late…" I began but he only shook his head.

"I tried to call you like a thousand times! Texts, What’sApp, I even wrote you in fucking Instagram! But you just ignored it all, so we will talk, now!" he said and his voice was more pleading then demanding.

"There is nothing to talk about, we were both drunk, it happened! It meant nothing. End of the story! And now I go…" I began but Charles just scoffed.

"It happened? Just like that? Ok, let’s blame the alcohol after the race in the club. Fine. But if it really meant nothing, why did you flee the country? In the middle of the night? So headless you forgot almost half of your stuff at the hotel? Including your fucking passport that I had to bring you? And instead of talking to me you boarded a plane, leaving me standing at the airport! With no explanation?" although he had every right to be mad, his words weren’t said in spite, he sounded genuinely hurt.

"You’re right, okay? It was a dick move! I was just… I was confused, scared, because I didn’t wanted it to be awkward between us, you know? I wanted it to be like nothing ever happened. You and I. Our friendship. Back to normal. Back to us." I answered and he only shook his head.

"Back to normal? What normal? To the normal of all the almost kisses over the last years? When one of us pulled away in the last second? Back to all those moments, basically our entire life, when we could feel that this connection between us is so much more than just a normal friendship, that it’s simply lo…" he began as Julie shouted my name from across the paddock.

"I have to go." I whispered and turned to leave as Charles grabbed my wrist.

"If you would only allow yourself to feel it too and not be scared for once…" he said, then he let go of my hand and walked away.

With a pounding heart I walked towards Julie, because we would do our second Audi Challenge, this time "Finish the Lyrics".

I sat with Valtteri in our hospitality, Julie explaining us the rules, Walt set up the camera. I wasn’t really listening but I knew I had to smile through the video and tried my best to not think about what Charles had said, I had to play my part and be the bubbly and energetic Lizzie that they knew, otherwise I wouldn’t hear the end of it.

“Ok, I’ll play a song and at a random part I will stop and the first of you who hit their buzzer has to finish the lyrics, if you’re correct you’ll get a point, if you’re wrong your opponent gets the point… understood?”Julie explained and I nodded, Valtteri gave a thumbs up. Julie started the first song.

Union's been on strike, he's down on his luck

It's tough, so tough

Gina works the diner all day

Working for her man, she brings home her pay for love. Mmm, for love

She says…

I hit the buzzer just a millisecond before Valtteri.

"We've gotta hold on to what we've got. It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not. We got each other, and that's a lot for love. We'll give it a shot" I looked at Julie and she nods.

"Correct, that’s one point for Lizzie! Just one sentence is enough, you don’t have to sing the half song!" Julie laughed and I looked at her shocked.

"It’s Bon Jovi! YOU HAVE TO SING THE ENTIRE SONG!" I exclaimed and Valtteri laughed and nodded agreeing.

"One sentence is enough! Next song…” Julie said and I sighed.

My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim

I had to stop for the night

There she stood in the doorway

I heard the mission bell

And I was thinking to myself…

I was thinking hard for the the lyrics but before I could react, Valtteri already hit his buzzer.

"This could be Heaven or this could be Hell" he finished the lyrics and Julie clapped her hand.

"And that’s a point for Valtteri!" she said and I laughed.

"I was just thinking of if when you hit the buzzer!"

We played for 6 more rounds and in the end I won with 5:3.

"So guys, that’s it from us! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed it crushing the Finisher!" I said into the camera and Valtteri only laughed and bumped me with his shoulder. Walt stopped the recording and Julie was happy.

"Yup that was good! Thanks you two, you’re done for today!" she said as we both got up and walked out.

"See you tomorrow, Lizzie!" Valtteri said and I nodded and smiled as he walked away. I took out my phone, opened Uber and wanted to order a car, as someone pinched my side and I flinched and turned around to see who it was.

"Fuck! Seb! You can’t do that! I almost had a heart attack!" I said in German and he laughed.

"Sorry! You ok?" Seb asked and I laughed "All good between you and Charles? I saw you after the press conference…"

"It’s nothing, really. We’re having a different opinion on something but nothing serious!" I lied and Seb nodded slowly.

"You want my opinion? What you and Charles have, that’s unique, that’s something not many people find in their life’s… don’t throw it away because of a disagreement!" he said and I looked up at him "Anyways, how do you like Miami so far?"

"Hot? Humid? Too many people? Too many events?" I answered honestly and he nodded.

"So true! But the track itself looks like a lot of fun!" he replied "Come on, I’ll drive you to your hotel." I nodded thankfully and together we left.

"What’s wrong with you and Charles?" Dad asked as I prepared for qualifying "We’re here since Tuesday, you’re having separate rooms and use them both, I only saw him at breakfast! And I haven’t seen you two talk at all?"

"Dad, I think you forget that we’re not teammates anymore? I can’t hang out with him all the time?" I said and rolled my eyes.

"Yeah sure! Try that again. What’s wrong with you and Charles? Did you guys had have a fight?" he asked again and I just groaned.

Right on cue Pete appeared to talk something through with me and I looked at Dad apologetic.

"So, what’s wrong with our two lovebirds?" Sissy asked Dad, but he only shook his head.

"She said nothing, but we both know that’s a lie…" he answered and they watched me as I got in the car.

P9. What a shit result. I just couldn’t get a lap done. I climbed out of the car and Mick stood next to me.

"Tough track…" he said and I only shook my head.

"Not much grip and the downforce? Didn’t expect that." I answered and we walked together to our weighing. I could see Charles getting out of his car and how Carlos and Max congratulated him. I took my receipt from the weighing and followed Mick to Charles. I hugged Max first, nudged Carlos shoulder and then I stood in front of Charles. He looked at me with a smile but I knew it wasn’t a real one, his eyes stayed cold and I saw the hurt in them, but most importantly, he didn’t look me in the eyes, something behind me was his focal point.

"Congrats Charles." I said and hugged him, he only patted my back twice and then let go of me, it felt cold.

"Thanks Lizzie" he said and turned away to get his towel, I left with Mick.

"Are you guys okay?" he asked and I sighed.

"We had a little disagreement, but nothing serious." I replied and Mick nodded.

After the team briefing I gathered my belongings and left the paddock as fast as possible.

I walked straight into Pierre who looked annoyed.

"Lizzie." he said tight lipped, turning to walk away and I scoffed.

"What?" I asked and Pierre only shook his head "Oh come on! You shouldn’t pick a side here!"

"I’m not picking a side Lizzie, but would I do it, it would be his side for sure and you know why! I don’t care what happened before, but you left him at the airport, after he basically saved your ass! You have no idea how he was when he came back to the hotel. You left him! HIM! You did the one thing he’s the most afraid of, being left alone… and then you ignored him! Grow the fuck up, Lizzie and admit what we all already know!" he just said and then walked away.

"That’s unfair!" I almost yelled but he just shrugged his shoulders and kept walking.

I almost sprinted to my car and drove back to the hotel.

Back in my room I took a shower and sat down on the bed. We kissed, in the club, both drunk. But what did it mean? It felt good, it felt right. It felt like our bodies just belonged together. It felt like home. But what about our friendship? Could we risk losing it for what exactly? The thought alone, losing him, his family, even his friends, was scaring me enough to tell myself we shouldn’t be doing it. But if it’s so wrong, then why did it felt so right? I laid down, my head spinning. I had to think of Pierre’s words, he was right. I did the one thing Charles was most afraid of. I left him. After I promised him in the past again and again that I would never leave him. And then I left him standing at the airport. Him out of all people. How could I do that? What was wrong with me! I felt tears prickling in my eyes and closed them. Taking a deep breath. Do I love Charles? Yes. Am I in love with Charles? Yes. Do I want him as my boyfriend? Yes. Do I picture a future with him by my side? Yes. Do I want to grow old with him? Have children? A house? A dog? Basically everything just with him? YES. Am I afraid about the consequences if this is nothing more than just a stupid crush? Yes. Is it more than just a stupid crush? Yes. But would the media bash me for dating a fellow driver? Yes. Would they call me all kinds of names? A paddock bunny? Yes. Would they keep up the narrative of me being only here because of Charles? Yes. Would everything I ever fought for be diminished? Yes. Not for the first time in the last weeks I screamed into my pillow. After a while I had exhausted myself and fell asleep.

I woke up. Cold sweat on my face. Breathing shallow. Body all tensed up. Paralysed. It happened again. The first time in months. I tried to calm myself down. But the thoughts all returned and I felt the tears streaming down the sides of my face. Why must it happen before a race? On an unknown track? When my mind was already in shambles over the situation with Charles. How I hurt him and how he must hate me now? Why now? Panic began to rise.

"Lizzie? You’re still in bed? Get up! You overslept!" Dad woke me up, Liam jumping on my bed.

I stirred and sat up slowly, my muscles aching, head pounding. Whole body tense. I felt exhausted and like throwing up as Dad opened the curtains.

"Come on! You need to get ready!" Dad said and I scrambled out of bed. Then I hugged him and kissed his cheek.

"Happy Birthday, Pops! Give me 15 minutes." I said and grabbed an Audi hoodie, some jeans and went straight for the bathroom. I took a deep breath and jumped under the shower, got out and gave my best to look at least decent. I felt like a tank rolled over me. Twice. But I couldn’t show it. Just smile and get it over with.

"Alright, let’s go!" I said, storming out of the bathroom, grabbing my phone, access pass and sunglasses.

"Where’s your Audi kit?" Dad asked and scoffed as he saw my jeans "And why do you young people need to wear jeans that cost a fortune but are destroyed? Make it make sense? It’s less fabric so it should cost less!"

"Dad! I’m not having a discussion about style whatsoever with you now! Not on your birthday where I have to be nice to you! And at the hospitality I will change into a proper team shirt! But for now, let’s go!" and we left my hotel room. As we stepped into the elevator it drove up two floors and as it opened Charles, Joris and Andrea stood in front of us.

"Charlie!" Liam screeched and bolted straight into his arms.

"Hey Bubba! Excited for today?" Charles asked him and Liam nodded and they got into the elevator.

"Happy Birthday, Pops!" Charles said and patted his shoulder and Dad just smiled. I hugged Joris and Andrea who then preceded to congratulate Dad as well. I pressed a smile at Charles, who gave me an awkward side hug and I was more than happy that he had Liam in his arms.

"I see, you’re Lizzie’s supporter number 1 today!" Charles laughed and pointed at my team merch Liam was wearing, cap, shirt and shoes.

"But look, I’m wearing your Ferrari bracelet!" Liam showed Charles the bracelet and Charles’ smile got bigger.

"How lucky we are, to have you as our supporter!" he laughed and the rest laughed with him, all but me. I focused on the floor, feeling dizzy and slightly overwhelmed.

"Alright, let’s cut to the point… what is going on here?" Dad asked bluntly and looked between me and Charles. I sighed and Charles just shook his head.

"What do you mean?" he asked and Andrea just groaned while Joris sighed.

"You two? Since Australia you don’t speak, no Lizzie don’t look at me like that, when you’re on the phone together literally half Ludwigsburg can hear you… since we arrived we only saw you at breakfast… so? What’s going on here?" Dad said and I only shook my head.

"We had a little disagreement. We both are stubborn. End of the story." I said and as the elevator door opened I was the first one to exit, almost sprinting away.

"Little disagreement my ass!" I could hear Dad saying but I stormed through the door.

"You’re late!" JK greeted me as I stepped out the hotel, I looked up at him and he hugged me "Where’s the rest?"

"They’re coming, where’s the car?" I asked as a bright green Audi RS8 parked in front of us "I hate him! I said I don‘t want that car! Everyone will stare at us!" Felix thought it was hilarious to always send me a car in the brightest colours, just to annoy me.

"Ooouuhhh! Nice ride!" Joris said behind me and I groaned.

"You wanna drive it?" I joked and shook my head. "Come on, JK. We gotta go. Dad, your car is coming in… oh there it is."

"I wanna go with Charlie!" Liam whined as Charles sat him down.

"That’s not possible, Liam! Charles will only have space for one person!" Sissy explained as Liam pouted.

"That’s unfair! We haven’t seen Charlie for so long!" he mumbled and my heart broke. Charles took the key from the attendant and threw it to Andrea.

"You guys take the F40, I’ll drive with Liam and Co." he said and Liams eyes began to sparkle "Come on, Bubba!" he took his hand and he got into the van, followed by Sissy and Dad.

"Damn, I understand why everyone always says he’s made out of boyfriend material… he’s the jackpot when it comes to boyfriends… just saying." JK chuckled and got into the car. I watched how the van drove off and Liam waved, I waved back, locking eyes with Charles for a moment, he only smiled sadly and then focused on something Liam said.

"I hate Miami!" I grumbled and got into the car. Headache getting worse by the second, the tension in my body growing. f1 has posted a new story

During the whole drivers parade, the build-up, starting procedure, everything I could feel Charles eyes on me and as I made my way to the back where my car was he walked up to me.

"Lizzie! Lizzie! Listen! What happened happened and we need to talk about it, please stay, I just… Fuck Lizzie! We said we never race when we’re mad at each other! So come on! Please!" he pleaded and walked next to me. I slowly turned and looked at him, his pleading eyes making my knees go wobbly. I nodded slowly.

"Drive safe. Drive fast. Drive to win!" we both said, our mantra for years, we usually said it somewhere more private, but still. We said it before every race in the past.

"Thank you!" he whispered as he pulled me into a tight hug "I’m sorry, ma belle!" he looked at me for a second but my throat felt tight. He just nodded, a tinge of sadness in his eyes, then he walked back to the front of the grid, to his car, waiting on pole for him.

"I’m sorry, too…" I whispered and turned around, preparing myself.

"Radio check." Pete said but I didn’t listen, I thought about what Charles said, what happened happened and we needed to talk about it. Do we? And why do I feel so hot out of the blue?

"Lizzie? Radio check?" Pete again, no reaction from me, but what if we talk about it but both want a different solution or outcome? What outcome do I want? Starting to date Charles would be the end of my career. No one would take me serious anymore? I would be a paddock bunny. I would confirm all their theories, that I only got into F1 because I slept with someone important. But shouldn’t that be someone from F1 then? And why does my headache got even worse although I took a painkiller.

"Lizzie!" Matt waved his hands in front of my visor and I looked up "Something wrong with the radio?" I blinked, feeling sweaty and dizzy.

"I don’t know." I pressed the radio button "Radio check."

"Loud and clear. Thanks." Pete answered.

"Copy." I took a deep breath, feeling slightly nauseous. Focus, Lizzie! Damn it! Come on!

Formation Lap. Okay. It’s manageable.

One last deep breath. Light’s out. I accelerated, overtaking Norris and Russell right at the start, who touched wheels, creating a gap for me. I felt a little bump as I excited turn 3 and pushed the throttle as much as possible.

"Damage?" I asked.

"Negative. P7. Good start."

The next 3 laps I battled almost in every corner with Seb, I felt the exhaustion seeping through my bones, making it harder to pass him. Then he finally left enough space for me to slip through, but in the next corner he almost caught me again but I hit the apex perfectly and could manage to put a bigger gap between us.

"Hamilton in front. 1.4 seconds ahead."

"Who’s faster?"

"Currently you, but only slightly."

5 more laps and I closed the gap to Hamilton, but at this point I straight up felt like I would faint any moment. I tried my best to focus and somehow managed to pass Hamilton. But the tension in my muscles made it harder and harder to grip the steering wheel and to held my head up through the g-forces.

"Perez ahead. You have DRS. Go."

Pete. Somethings wrong. I said, but nothing happened. Pete! I think I have to stop. No words were leaving my mouth.

Perez didn’t leave much space and as I wanted to brake and leave him the space he wasn’t leaving me, I was unfocused for a second. Right at the entrance of the corner our front tires touched and I spun out. I didn’t even tried to brake or save the car by counter steering. I just closed my eyes and waited for the impact. Right at this moment I felt remorse, not having talked with Charles about us. Now it was too late anyways.

I stirred around, opening my eyes.

"Charles? What are you doing here? Dad’s outside…" I began but Charles only shook his head and sat down on the edge of the bed, still in his racing suit.

"I can’t do this anymore, Lizzie. I’m tired of it… tired of pretending that we’re just friends when I’ve loved you all my life!" his voice falters for a moment "God, I’m so in love with you, Lizzie! It’s like from the moment I’ve met you, you nestled yourself inside of my brain, attached yourself to my heart, my soul… and I can never ever let go of you and I don’t want to! Because my whole being, my thoughts, my everything, is consumed by you!" he scoots closer, cradling my face between his hands, his voice sounds almost broken as he continued "And I can’t sleep, I can’t breath, I can’t eat… I can’t function properly anymore because all I can think about is you! Lizzie, I love you!" he’s so close now that I can feel his hot breath on the tip of my nose, I could see the tiny freckles on his nose, the little speckles of gold in his eyes "And after today, after I almost lost you. Again. Please! Mon amour, please say yes…"

"Say yes to what?" I whispered and he came even closer, our lips almost touching.

"To me. To us." he whispered back, his gaze wandered down to my lips "To our life together. Say yes and I’ll be yours, even though I always was." I felt my insides flutter, the butterflies going crazy, the heat rising to my cheeks.

"But what if…" I began but he pressed his lips onto mine and I melted. Every resolve I had crumbled. The kiss was tender, sweet, promising. I felt like a weight lifted off of my shoulders. My whole body was tingling, heating up. My heart was beating out of my chest. It felt like this was where I belonged. Where Charles belonged. This was home. After what felt like an eternity I opened my eyes again, Charles still as close as before, smiling his most beautiful smile, dimples dimpling.

"I love you, cara mia!" he said it with so much love and conviction that I blushed even harder.

I took a deep breath. All my emotions boiling over, but it was now or never.

"I love you too, Charles, like really… but I’m so scared!" I said with a shaky voice and closed my eyes. He only pressed his forehead against mine and paused for a minute.

"Don’t be, nothing will change!" he answered and I just nodded slowly "What’s going on inside of your pretty head?”

"Can we keep this, for now, between us?" I asked quietly and looked down at my hands in my lap.

"Hey, look at me, Lizzie." he whispered and gently grabbed my chin, lifting my face up to look at him "We do this the way you want it to! It’s just you and me! Well and Pops…" he says softly and I looked at him confused.

"Dad?" I asked nervously.

"How do you think I got in here? As soon as the podium ceremony was done, I left and got here. He spoke with the nurse and then he told me to finally make my move…" Charles said and I laughed.

"A move you made." I smiled as he leaned in and kissed me again, then he hugged me and inhaled deeply.

"This is what I always wanted… just you and me…" he whispered.

"Against the world." I continued and Charles chuckled and sat up, then he took my hands in his.

"Forever and always!" he said and I smiled.

The door opened quietly and Dad looked inside.

"The Doctors want to see you, Lizzie." he said and I nodded, Charles stood up but I grabbed his hand.

"I’m not leaving. I’m just making space." he chuckled and sat down in the chair next to my bed as the doctors walked in.

"How are you, Lizzie?" the brunette one said.

"I’m okay, just a bit tired." I answered honestly.

"Any pain?" he asked.

"A little headache and my body in general feels a bit tense." I answered and he nodded.

"You have a slight whiplash, nothing to bad. And your body will feel tense for a couple of days and then it should be fine, as well as the whiplash. No work-outs, lots of water and rest and you should be good to go in a couple of days." he said and I looked at him with wide eyes "Oh! No you can leave tomorrow I meant in a week you’re good to go back to racing."

"Thanks, Doc." I said relieved and he nods.

"I’ll prescribe you some pain killers and something that helps you sleeping. Pain killers whenever the pain get’s too much but three are the maximum a day. Sleeping pill around 30 min before you go to bed, if needed." he explained and I nodded "I’ll leave you to rest. Mr. Leclerc, visiting hours ended 30 minutes ago. Only family members are allowed to stay."

"I’m not leaving her side." Charles said immediately and Dad chuckled.

"It’s alright Doc, he stays and I’m leaving." he said and the doctors nodded.

"Alright. If you need anything, push the call button." a nurse replied and with that they left.

"Andrea will be here any minute, bringing you new clothes. Get some rest. Both of you!" Dad said and kissed my forehead and squeezed Charles shoulder as it knocked on the door and Andrea walked in with Charles’ backpack.

"Oh Lizzie! My pretty girl, how are you?" he asked in Italian and handed Charles his backpack.

"I’m okay, thanks Andrea!" I answered in Italian as well and Andrea kissed both my cheeks, then he hugged Charles and whispered something to him, Charles only nodded.

"Rest up. Both of you!" he said and with that he left the room together with Dad.

"You can take a shower in there, if you want." I said and nodded my head in the direction of the attached bathroom, Charles looked hesitant for a moment "I’ll still be here when you come back!” I reassured him and he nodded and left with the backpack.

I scrolled through my phone as I came upon a post from Sky about the post race press conference, which Charles wasn’t attending, he left almost straight after the podium procedure. Apparently the FIA was considering to fine him. Why didn’t he just wait for after the press conference before he came in here? I didn’t want him in any kind of trouble because of me. Reading the comments was, as always, not a good idea. Where most people agreed that it was sweet from Charles to immediately leave and check on me, some people called him a love sick puppy and he should be fined for leaving. Others asking how I made it even into F1, spinning out like that. If I would be honest, the people would think differently. But I won’t tell anyone besides JK and Dr. Lindner what happened today. And how we can prevent it from happening again.

"About what are you thinking that hard?" Charles soft voice made me flinch. He stood in the doorframe, wearing grey sweatpants and a t-shirt.

"The FIA thinks about fining you… you should’ve stayed for the press conference, Charles! I don’t want you to have any trouble because of me!" I said quietly but he only shook his head, switched the light in the bathroom off and walked over to me.

"If it was for me, I would’ve left straight after I got out of my car. I wasn’t even celebrating. I just wanted to see you. That was my priority!" he whispered and took my hand in his and kissed it. He then pulled the armchair close to the bed and I looked at him curiously.

"And what are you doing?" I asked and he looked up.

"I’m making myself a little comfortable." he answered and grabbed the stool but I chuckled.

"Oh no, you’re not sleeping in an armchair and a stool! You have two options! You’re sleeping on that sofa, or you’re sleeping with me in the bed, there’s enough space. So, what will it be Leclerc?" I said and Charles looked over at the sofa that was at the other side of the room, then he looked at the bed and I scooted over to make him space.

"Okay, but you’re telling me when it gets uncomfortable!" he said and climbed in next to me. Then he laid on his side and I leaned into him a little, his arm under my head, legs intertwined. "I could get used to this!" he kissed my temple and I giggled.

"It’s not the first time that we’re sharing a bed!" I said and Charles nodded.

"But it’s the first time after we both… umm… confessed our feelings!" he answered and I yawned a little "And now sleep! You need rest!" He kissed my temple again and switched the light off.

"Yeah I need to be fit for DisneyWorld. We’re meeting Mum, Marcus, Lisa and Benji there tomorrow. For dads birthday, but also for the kids… you want to come with us? I know it’s a bit last minute but…" I began but Charles laughed only.

"Liam invited me already, I’m coming with you!" he said and I smiled.

"He did? Sneaky little lad!" I laughed "Oh and before I forget it, Daniel and Isaac are also tagging along."

"Daniel and Isaac? As in Daniel Ricciardo and his nephew Isaac?" he asked and I nodded "How did that happen?"

"They bumped into Sissy and Liam on Friday, started talking and Liam invited them earlier today as well… and Daniel was more than happy to agree…" I chuckled.

"What am I missing?" he asked.

"Oh… you’ll see…" I yawned and cuddled closer into him.

————————————————————————

Little Note:

Aaaand chapter 15 is out - Lizzie and Charles made it! THEY FINALLY MADE IT… from now on it will be fluffier than fluffy, right?! 👀👀👀

Please leave a comment/ like/ reblog/ message and tell me how you liked it! I'm dying to hear your thoughts!

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Last but not least, English is not my first language and although I tried my best: please excuse any mistakes I made!

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