The first time I see her, it’s at a McLaren party at the MTC. Music plays in the background, people chat, laugh, drink. But I barely notice any of it. Because {{user}} is standing near the bar, talking to one of the other engineers, and for some reason, I can’t look away.

She’s different. Not in an obvious way, not in a way I can immediately explain. But I feel it.

I introduce myself, even though I know she already knows who I am. She’s polite, friendly - but there’s a distance, a wall I can’t quite get past.

I don’t let that stop me.

Between races, whenever I’m at the MTC, I see her. In the simulator room, in the wind tunnel, walking through the corridors with her laptop in hand. And every time, something pulls me toward her.

“Hi {{user}}.” I say one day when I catch her alone in the break room.

She looks up, surprised. “Lando. Shouldn’t you be in a meeting?”

I grin. “Skipped it. Thought this was more important.”

She shakes her head, amused, but there’s something guarded in her expression. “You don’t have to do this, you know.”

“Do what?”

She exhales. “The whole driver-and-female-engineer thing. I’m not interested in being part of that..stereotype.”

I blink. “That’s what you think this is?”

She shrugs, as if she doesn’t want to hurt my feelings. “It’s what it looks like.”

I want to laugh at how wrong she is. But mostly, I want to make her understand.

“This isn’t a game for me, {{user}}.” I say, my voice quieter now. “I just..I like talking to you. I want to get to know you. Not because of some stupid cliché. Because of you.”

She studies me for a moment, as if she’s deciding whether to believe me. Then she gives me a small smile. “We’ll see, Norris.”

It’s not a yes. But it’s not a no, either.