The Intern || A Lando Norris Fanfiction

14. Lando

"What time is she landing again?" I ask Daniel as we're roaming around the city of Sao Paolo.

"At 4 tonight, you know when you're asleep." He says. "Why are you so worried, I thought you had decided you could not be falling for her."

"Because there's something bothering me, and I need to talk to her about it." I tell him, the fact that she broke down over a car crash can be a deal breaker in F1.

"And you couldn't discuss it over the phone?'

"Not really, it's more something that should be discussed in private." I tell him.

"Oh shit, you two kissed." Daniel laughs.

"No, we did not." I snap back, not really wanting to get into any more details.

"Mate, I'm sorry. I'll stop it now. But if it is bothering you this much, you should talk to her soon. I overheard Charlotte saying that she'd be having breakfast with Jona at 9."

So I need to be at her room before 9.

***

I'm about to knock on Jona's hotelroom door, when it swings open. Jona's standing in the doorway. The dark green blouse, with dark washed jeans and white sneakers really look good on her.

"We need to talk, can I come in?" I say, a little shock on her face. Probably because she did not expect me to be here, at her room.

She moves to the side, making room for me to enter the room.

"So what do you want to talk about?" She asks as we take a seat in the two same chairs I've got in my room, overlooking the city of Sao Paolo.

I take a big breathe. Here goes nothing.

"I've been thinking about your breakdown. I was wondering if you ever talk to people about it, maybe see a therapist." I ask her. If she's seeing someone, she's working on it and she might be able to cope with it.

I am relieved when she tells me she actually is seeing a therapist. It means she is aware there's a problem that she might be able to fix. She's even able to pinpoint that the GP closest to their accident might be a bit more difficult.

I am surprised with the fact that she's considering talking to Charlotte about this. We both know this might ruin her chances. Even though I think Charlotte is some one who willing to give chances even in these circumstances.

"Do you want me to come with you when you talk to Charlotte?" I ask her.

"It would be nice to have someone within McLaren in my corner. But I want to get through this weekend first. You know there's a lot depending on this." She says, and I nod. "I've got to go now though, so could you please leave?" She asks, picking up her fanny pack and showing me to the door.

I walk out of her hotel room, entering my own across the hallway. I'm not very hungry yet.

I think about the conversation, how it was kind of vulnerable, but superficial as well. The glistening Jona had in her eyes the first day we met, was not really there. I can tell she's really suffering.

I should've asked how she was really doing.

***

I arrive on the track together with Daniel, who forced me to have breakfast, even though I was not feeling that hungry.

We are greeted by lots of fans asking for pictures and autographs, we both generously take our time. There's not that many things to do on Wednesdays. We don't get to drive, so it's just helping out the engineers and doing some camera stuff.

Looking around the garage I immediately spot Jona's strawberry blonde hair. The green blouse exchanged for a white and orange McLaren one.

"Lando, Daniel!" Charlotte says, waving the both of us over. "As you know Jona's here to join us this weekend." I make eye contact with Jona who nods at me slightly. Did she tell Charlotte anyway?

"She has given me permission to tell you that she once was in a car accident. She has been dealing with it using a therapist, but she said she would like to know more about safety measures in the F1 cars. Would one of you be willing to tell her a bit more about it? I've got a call I got to take." Charlotte explains.

So she did.

"Lando's very good at it." Daniel says pushing me forward a bit, I did not tell him I spoke to Jona already this morning.

"I can," I tell Charlotte and she seems content with the answer, leaving the three of us in the garage.

"I've got to go do something as well." Daniel says, turning around.

"So you told her?" I ask Jona.

"Yeah, I did. I thought about what you said and also called my therapist. She suggested that it was better to share the truth if it was something I was worried about. And I agreed with that. So I told Charlotte. She was shocked at first, but said that as long as I was feeling fine with it, she'd very much would like me to continue the application process." Jona answers relieve very evident, and I feel relieved as well.

"So..." I say motioning toward my car where some of the mechanics and engineers are working on getting it together for FP1 this Friday. "You want to know what makes these cars a bit safer?"

And that's how I tell her about all the little things that are integrated into the car to make it as safe as possible for drivers. As safe as it can be driving 300 kilometer an hour. As we're talking, I can see Jona relax a bit more and even her small jokes make a return.

"Hi Daniel," Jona says as we walk out of the garage, Charlottes call is running late and I decided to give Jona a small walkthrough of the pit wall.

"Hi Jando," Daniel says.

"Jando?" I ask.

"Yeah, you know. It's my name for the two of you. Jona plus Lando makes Jando." Daniel explains causing the both of us to laugh.

"You're crazy." I chuckle.

"What are you guys doing?" Daniel asks deciding to change the subject a bit.

"I was gonna show her the pit wall." I tell Daniel.

"Great, I was gonna ask if you guys want to come to this mocktail bar tonight. It's like a cocktail bar but only with non alcoholic cocktails. Even better; it's across the street from our hotel" Daniel explains.

"Sure." I answer, I'd love some fun tonight.

"Maybe I shouldn't." Jona hesitates. "But who's going?"

"All kinds of people from different teams." Daniel answers her.

"This could be a good chance to get to know some other drivers and team members as well." I explain to Jona, hoping this might push her over the edge. Realising she's thinking if this is a good idea with her internship in mind.

"Okay, I'll come then. But I won't make it late." Jona eventually agrees.

***

"So, you're picking Jona up from her hotel room?" Daniel laughs as we're getting ready for the evening in his hotel room. "You turned this fun get together into a date?"

"Shut up." I hiss. "She just didn't want to show up all on her own, not knowing anyone."

I finish styling my hair, as Daniel finishes shaving his beard. "I'm ready." I say putting the comb down next to the sink.

"I'm ready too." Daniel says as he finishes buttoning up his shirt.

I knock on Jona's door, which is opened quickly. She must've been waiting for us. Jona's wearing a tight dark purple velvet dress, that hugs her curves in all the right places. She looks really good.

"Wow." I breath, immediately met by a slap on the back of my head by Daniel. "Uhm. I mean, are you ready to go?"