Time To Let Go [ l.n. ]

- three

Chapter 3 -

»»-------------¤-------------««

TILLY

"This smells disgusting." I scrunched up my nose at the jar of Marmite as Lando laughed at the face I was making.

By late afternoon, we had already picked up my car and cleaned the driveway for any other nails that could be lurking around, because we're responsible like that. Now, we're in my kitchen where Lando is trying to get me to try one of England's apparent essential staple foods.

"It tastes good trust me." He took the jar from me and began to spread the marmite and butter onto a piece of toast.

"Why should I?" I countered, raising my eyebrows playfully. He keeps telling me to trust him, yet I don't know him. So how can I trust him? Should I trust him?

"Because I'm cute and my birthday is coming up soon." He gave me his boyish smile and he no longer looked twenty years old, he looked like an eight year old boy who didn't have a care in the world.

"What does that have to do with anything?" He's already invited me to his birthday party that apparently was also Charles' shared birthday even though it was months ago. His excuse was that he wanted me to be there to celebrate with him. I normally hate parties but since they're my only friends here I should probably go and celebrate another year of their lives being taken from them.

"It means I'm older and wiser so you have to trust me." He slid the plate over that held the toast on the kitchen counter. "Take a bite." He instructed.

Trust me his words were ringing through my head. This can't be that bad right? I picked up the toast and Lando watched me with wide eyes. His eyes stayed glued to me while I took a bite and slowly chewed it trying to figure out the taste in my mouth.

"So," I put down the slice of toast, ready to give my evaluation on the new food. "I don't hate it," his eyes lit up. "But I don't really love it." His face fell from the wide grin he had previously been wearing on his lips and I wished I had liked it more just so he would have kept smiling.

"Fair enough, it's an acquired taste I guess. You tried it which is more than most people would have done." Lando's phone began to ring and he fished his pocket for it. "Carlos?" He answered it. "Oh shit." Were his first words when he heard this 'Carlos' guy on the other line of the phone. "I forgot, I'm coming, I'm coming, stop yelling at me. I'll be there soon okay?" He promised and quickly hung up the phone.

"Everything okay?" I assumed, it was just something work related or something. Yet I still voiced my concern in case something might have happened to Carlos or someone else.

"Yeah, I'm just late, so very late." Lando whispered, he was moving around my kitchen at top speed, gathering his things. "I will see you tomorrow." Lando smiled softly.

"Thank you for showing me around England." There is this nagging voice in my head that is telling me that skipping school was wrong but I had a good day with Lando and I don't regret skipping with him. We had a fun day and I saw parts of Surrey that I would have never found on my own. I also got to know Lando a bit more today, which was just a nice bonus.

"Our secret though, Alex will get upset." He laughed. Alex has been talking for the past week about this 'England tour' they wanted to take me in, but by now I didn't think it would actually happen.

"Of course, our secret." I smiled. Lando followed me to the front door.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Lando called over his shoulder while he jogged to his car. He climbed into the driver's seat and I shut the garage door and headed inside to clean up our marmite mess.