#presentspirits

This wasn't a coincidence, right?

I mean, yeah you'd done karting a bit when you were younger with Lando but it isn't like you two were that close. You were kids and were just having fun.

At least, to you it was for fun.

For Lando it was life. He wanted to go pro. To be number one. And, yeah, he did that.

But you took a totally different approach. You were more calm and content with your lifestyle. You liked being out in nature and looking at all the different kinds of flowers.

Yeah. That's it. Flowers.

So you became a florist.

Your little shop in the heart of Monaco, ‘Flowers For The Soul,’ was well-known for making the streets smell absolutely wonderful.

After childhood, you decided that trying to go any further than karting wasn't really living, so, you quit. It was definitely a change, way different from your exciting childhood.

But, it wasn't all that bad. You liked it.

You never left Monaco though, your parents lived here so what was the point of leaving in your adult years?

You opened up your shop when you turned twenty, as a new start. Great beginning because of course, everyone loved it. Who doesn't love flowers? (Besides the people allergic, of course.)

Anyway, you'd heard.

Who didn't?

Not like you've been keeping tabs on him or anything...but—just a little. Maybe. Okay, yeah. You watched every race since he started Formula 1.

Lando Norris. From LN4, to now, LN1.

You cheered him on silently.

You could just ask your parents to ask his parents to catch up, but you weren't kids anymore.

But, oh, you wished. Just for a second to talk to that face you'd challenged so hard during karting.

Just to see how he's doing now.

You totally weren't gonna DM him on Instagram and see if he responded.

He wouldn't respond.

Not to someone he knew over a decade ago. Probably didn't even remember you.

So you waited.

Hours. Hours became days, days became weeks, weeks became months. And you hadn't dared to touch his icon to DM him again. You were so damn embarrassed.

Until fate just so happened to cross your path.

You were out organizing flowers that could last all year-round, when you heard a name call out from a couple of blocks down.

"Lando Norris! Lando, how are you feeling before season?"

The voice of a very obvious reporter said. Then, the sounds got louder.

Camera flashing, people shouting his name.

Surely he wasn't—right down the road was he...?

You whipped your head around, standing up from your kneeling position, a flower pot still in your head.

Holy shit. He was right there.

You turned your head back around, cheeks flushing.

Then, the sounds came closer, and closer, and closer.

Until eventually they were right behind you.

"Uhm, is this the shop that DMed me about catching up?"

The voice said.

But, there was just one thing that wasn't mentioned.

You were so scared out of your mind, you got drunk and texted Lando-fucking-Norris off of the account that promoted your shop instead of your personal one.

You turned, putting on your best smile.

"Oh, yeah...! Yeah, that was—must've been a hacker or something y'know?"

Damn. Lando looked really good.

You'd never seen him up close since you two had become adults. And he was definitely living up to the things said about him.

Totally understand the fans.

"Are you sure? I've heard about this place from some of my mates and they say an old friend owns this—"

Lando looked a little bit closer.

"Oh. It is you!" Lando said, sighing. "Could we—maybe go inside?" He said in an exasperated tone.

You immediately nodded, of course. No way in hell you were missing your chance at talking to him again.

Which leads you to now.

Lando sat in the back of your shop, your office, and the silence was so damn loud. You didn't know where to start, damn it.

"First off, sorry about the DM. To be honest? I've been wanting to try to get your attention for a while but...I've been scared out of my mind you'd think I was an obsessive creep or something."

It just gushed out, the words just couldn't stop coming. Idiot.

Lando nodded slowly. He was so understanding. Was he? Or was he finding himself feeling like he was in a hostage situation??

"A lot of my old childhood friends do this, it's fine. But I noticed you owned the shop and I was just a little intrigued, I can't lie."

Lando Norris??? Intrigued with who??? You?? No way.

"Really...? I uhm—I'm a bit glad, I guess. I've been a fan and... considering my career path we differ nowadays."

You nodded your head a bit, the embarrassment subsiding.

"Honestly? I think about you sometimes. You were one of the best karters I'd ever seen as a kid." Lando said, a smile forming on his face.

"Must be my wasted potential then, huh?" You tried to lighten the mood, but it came out sad.

"Huh? No way! You just...wanted to choose something different."

This guy was so understanding it almost killed you.

"I guess. Anyway, what about you? How're you?" You blurted out nervously.

Lando sensed it, immediately chuckling and doing that stupidly cute thing where he covered his mouth while laughing. "This is awkward, isn't it? I...we should not be awkward with each other or something. But since you want to know...okay!"