Having to travel back home from Australia without any races was quite disappointing, even more for us who would have made our debuts in this Grand Prix. Even though we knew this had to be done, there were cases even inside the teams and health had to come first always. It still didn't feel right to fly home without anything happening actually and having to completely stop everything that was going on at the HQ or at tests. We couldn't even have our usual training in there, had to get everything together at home or find other solutions. As we knew it would be a long break we made plans to stay in the usual schedule even though we had to do everything at Mark's place, as mine was just too small for any kind of workout. Also, I didn't really want to anger my neighbours in the first year of me living there.

It was after one of the workouts that I got home to the worst smell I have ever experienced. It was all around the block and as soon as I went up to my floor and stepped out of the elevator into the hallway that had water up to ankle height I knew exactly where it was coming from. I didn't even have time to freak out as it was getting worse and worse and I rushed to get my still dry things into safety, which was mostly my car and Mark's garage as he was the first one I remembered to call. Luckily nothing important got soaked from my belongings as it was mostly only the furniture that I wanted to change anyway. I was just waiting for a little break and I had time to look around for stuff that matched my style. But still, not having a place to stay at 3 o'clock in the afternoon was quite worrisome. As my family lived in Wales and the only ones I knew here were the team members who we should have been quarantining from.

It would have been a lot easier if I could have just gone home to my family, but with my grandparents living in the same house I couldn't just drive there without knowing what I could take there with me. It just wasn't an option to choose from. In my last hope, I called Lando as I knew he had a guest bedroom and was in England, and as he was the only one I could think about at that moment. I would have called Daniel but he stayed in Australia and couldn't get home after it locked down its airports. Just as the first ring went through I started thinking and then immediately put down the call, hoping it won't show up at his end. In the end, Mark could give me a place to sleep for a night as his girlfriend stayed with her family for the weekend and so I didn't barge in on their privacy. I was just glad to have a place to stay that wasn't a hotel full of strangers and knew I had a full day to get something sorted for the remainder of the time while they're fixing our flats and the flooding.

Right after I woke up and opened up my phone it showed me a missed call from Lando, which for some odd reason made my stomach do a flip. I felt strange asking him for favours after he left me stranded for a year and I told them I need time to get back to our previous stage of friendship. Still, my finger moved on its own while I was getting off the couch and I was already calling him back while starting the coffee maker. It took like four rings before he picked it up and I heard his voice on the other side of the line. His quite sleepy voice. I almost facepalmed at realising how early it actually was. Even though it was the normal wake up time for me. At least since I started working with Renault.

" Sorry, didn't realise it was this early. I forget I'm the only one who wakes up this early. " I let out a sigh, watching the outside from the window in the kitchen. He was known for sleeping in when he didn't need to wake up to an alarm in the early hours of the morning.

" It's okay. Somehow I was already up just still in bed. " I could just see him shrug his shoulders after the sentence, still with his eyes closed. " Why did you call me yesterday? I left my phone at home and only saw it later, but you didn't pick up when I tried to call back. " He asked, already sounding a little more alive.

" I just tapped on your name accidentally. Wanted to send a message so you wouldn't worry but I forgot. Sorry. " I lied, hoping he won't hear it in my voice. Maybe I got lucky with him being still half-asleep and not realising it.

" Oh, okay. I really hoped I didn't miss it while you were in pain or anything else. " He sighed, making me smile a little that he really cared about me in this way. Even though he would have been too far away to actually help me.

" Morning! " I heard from behind me, and as I turned around I could see Mark coming down the stairs. I mouthed a good morning silently with a smile on my face.

" Where are you? " I heard Lando from my phone and froze in my place, with my eyes going wide. " Are you with someone? " He asked curiously and while his voice sounded joking I couldn't really laugh at it all.

" Mark. He let me crash at his place because my flat is flooded. " I answered with a sigh, knowing I can't keep up the lies now or it would create a situation I don't want to hear back every day. I waited for Mark to step outside before continuing. " That's why I called. I didn't really have anywhere to go. Everyone has small little flats and I really don't know anyone well enough to just stay with them in a one room apartment. I could stay at Mark's for a night but his girlfriend is back today and I don't really want to invade their privacy this much. " I told him everything and waited for his reaction while pouring out the coffee into a mug. It took him a second or two to fully get what I was talking about.

" Why wouldn't you ask me? I mean you put it down after like one ring?! " He asked back as I heard rustling from his side. I didn't really wanna go into why I feel strange about the thought of moving in with him. " Anyways, we have a fully unused room with a huge bed and wardrobe that's waiting for you. Do you need a car to get your things? " He didn't even let me say no and just decided that I'm moving in with them.

" No, I have my car. I just have to sort out what I'll actually need while I can't get back into my flat. " I shook my head, absentmindedly taking a sip from my cup, almost burning down my whole mouth with it. " I just don't want to be in anyone's way. " I added with a sigh.

" You won't be. We're home anyway as we can't go in. Even if we had to, this house would be big enough for maybe even four people. We don't even have to see each other if we don't want to. " He shut me down immediately and also made me laugh for the first time in the last couple of days. " If you don't need to be close to the headquarters then we're happy to have you here with us. " He added with a smile recognizable from his voice.

" Thank you. I'll just get my things together and get in my car finally. I think it'll take at max two hours to drive there. " I looked at the clock on the wall and went to get the couch tidied up so I won't leave a big mess behind as my thank you to Mark.

" Just give me a call if you're close so I can help you with the small streets. It's a little tricky to get here. " He chuckled and with a smile and another thank you, we put down the call so I can finally get going.

I quickly made my temporary bed how I got it yesterday and after shuffling around the things in my car and the garage I was finally ready to start the drive. Mark let me leave things that weren't important in his place, making it a lot easier to get everything inside, without blocking my view or movements. My poor Renault looked like a packhorse, but it was still working and that's what mattered most. I needed something to get there at least.

I was already around Oxford when I realised I should probably eat something, so I stopped for a little breakfast break at one of the petrol stations, getting myself a sandwich. I took a minute to let my family know I won't be home if in any case, they would think about travelling to Enstone to visit me. It wasn't likely to happen but I just wanted to make sure they know where I am staying. As I threw out the paper bag my food was in, a little girl came up to me with her dad, asking if I was Winola Williams. The whole situation was quite adorable and I gladly crouched down next to her so her parents could take a picture of the both of us. They even wished me luck for when the season will finally start which made me smile as I got back on the road and followed the GPS's instructions.

An hour later I arrived in Woking finally and actually drove past McLaren. I called Lando so he would have them to get outside and let me in through the gate. Relief washed over me when I could finally turn off the engine and open my seatbelt. I already felt tired when I woke up so it became a fact that a nap will be needed before I can actually function as a human being. Taking my phone off the holder I closed the app that took me here and shut off the screen before getting out of my seat and closing the door behind me.

" Welcome to our Castle! " Lando stood next to me as the gate finally closed and he could slide the remote into his pocket. " Was the drive okay? They said there was quite some traffic around London. " He sighed after welcoming me with a quick hug.

" Between London and Woking it was quite slow, but otherwise, there was no crowd whatsoever. " I shook my head, stepping to the trunk to get it opened. I took my backpack and two suitcases out that contained most of my important belongings.

" Let me help. " He took the two suitcases and went first while I stepped back to the passenger side to get my laptop bag out before following him inside. I didn't know if they had any shoe rules so I went safe with kicking them down and getting them out of the way with my feet.

By the time I looked up he was already at the top of the stairs, making me get up there swiftly, following him through the hallway into the room that looked empty. It'll be until I open my suitcases and everything that's shoved in there will jump out like a bomb explosion. The only thing I don't know is how I will get everything back into it when it's gonna be time to move back.

" This feels like a big sleepover. Just more mature in a way. " I joked, sitting down on the floor, next to the bed while he went to open one of the windows as the air felt a little dusty.

" Something mature in my household? Are we seeing the same things? " He turned back while his shoulders shook from his laughter. " Can I somehow help with unpacking? Or will I just mess up your perfectly coordinated plan of how your clothes have to be packed out? " He asked with a teasing glint in his eyes. He was already halfway out the door when I threw one of my baseball caps in his way, but it sadly only hit the door that he pulled close behind himself.

It took me almost two hours to really get settled in, connecting my laptop and phone to the wifi and taking my clothes out of their confinement to sort them out into the wardrobe. I was usually someone who rather lived from her suitcases than packed out even for a day. However, knowing it won't be just two or three days of me staying here, I forced myself to make it homier and get everything out. I just sent one last email out about the situation to the company when the smell coming from the kitchen hit my nose. Closing down the screen of it just seconds later I was already downstairs, spying on the food Lando was making.

Even if it was just a ready-made meal it smelled delicious and my tummy was rumbling as I watched him heat it up in a pan and then serve it onto two plates. We had lunch outside, in the garden, which was almost full of gym equipment but still somehow looked cozy and tidy. Minutes later his housemate joined us, 'wanting to get to know the person who could tolerate Lando for years' just to quote his words. He seemed like a great guy and I actually had no problem talking to him about our mutual past, even though I didn't really like to open up to strangers in the first moments after we met. It probably helped me that he knew Lando well and the other way around, which showed me he can't be such a bad person, or Lando wouldn't be friends with him. I got to know that he was the one who encouraged Lando to start streaming while the season would be off even though he didn't cave in yet and said no one would actually watch him anyway. Somehow I just couldn't believe that his fans wouldn't want to support everything he decides to do.

" Do you wanna bet? " I asked him as I raised my glass to my lips. He answered with a lifted eyebrow, waiting for me to express my idea for him. ' If you start a channel or streaming and there will be less than five thousand people, you can post anything on my Insta story that you want. However, if there's gonna be more, I get to challenge you to a cook-off that we're gonna film and you'll have to put it up on your new channel! ' I told them my rules, with a cocky smile playing on my face. I saw him thinking, all the gears turning behind his curls at a furious pace.

" I'm in! " He extended his arm towards me for a handshake which I gladly gave to him knowing this will be an easy win for me. He always underestimated how much his fans were all over the moon for content about him.