L is for Love ♡ Lando Norris

28 | Don't give up

♪
Andy Grammer - Don't Give Up On Me:
'I'm not giving up, giving up yet. Even when I'm down on my last breath. Even when you say there's nothing left. So don't give up on me.'

Lando didn't know what to expect from this morning's meeting with Liv. She had called him last night and said she needed to talk to him. He hadn't talked to Olivia before if it wasn't regarding Lexi so he had a feeling it had something to do with her. He hesitated for a while when she asked him to meet her at the café near his house because he was certain Lexi had moved on with this other guy now. So why would he be interested in her life and what her best friend had to say? But his curiosity and love for Lexi beat his stubbornness so now Lando was on his way to the chosen spot. When he arrived he checked the place to see if Olivia was there already, but she wasn't. So he chose a table at the back of the room so they could have some privacy and he wouldn't get recognized that easily. He was nervous, what could she possibly have to say?

About 5 minutes later, Olivia walked in and she spotted him after walking around the café for a while. "Hey". She said when she sat down in front of Lando and he greeted her back. "Have you ordered anything already?" Liv asked and Lando shook his head. "No, I just arrived a few minutes ago. How are you Liv?" He asked and they chatted until the waiter came to write down their orders. "So, you know I'm not here for small talk, as much as I like talking to you about everything, we need to talk about Lexi". Liv started and Lando looked down. He shook his head and started: "I don't know why I should talk to you about her. It's over, she moved on, she found a new guy and I'm fine with it.." He said and Olivia knew he was lying. "First of all, you're not fine with it. Second of all, she's not with another guy. At least, she doesn't want to be. And third, she's not over you at all!" Olivia said and Lando finally looked up at her again. He was surprised to hear that.

"She's not with the other guy? But I saw them kiss in the hospitality and he followed her upstairs in the hotel. She seemed fine with it". He said with a questioning look on his face. "She knew him from Autosport and we bumped into him on our shopping day a week ago and he asked her out for a drink. She said yes, just to be friendly and they had a nice evening until he kissed her in the car when he dropped her off. He was quite persuasive and she didn't like his pushy side at all. Then she saw him in the paddock in Spa again and he kept putting his arm around her while she tried to back off but he didn't let her. That's when he kissed her". Olivia told him everything Lexi had told her yesterday. "Before he kissed her, he looked around the room and looked me straight in the eyes with this evil smile on his face. As if he was doing it on purpose or something". Lando added to the story. Liv nodded and continued. "Yeah, I think that's exactly why he did it. Then when she told him she wanted to leave, he followed her to her car and persuaded her to have a drink with him at the hotel bar". She started fiddling with her hands. As if the biggest revelation was yet to come, Lando thought.

"That's when I saw them in the lobby, but they were headed to her room". Lando said, still questioning why Lexi would agree to that. "You have to remember, she doesn't like conflicts. So she didn't want to make a scene in the middle of the hotel lobby. So when he said he would walk her up to her room, she let him. But then.." Olivia waited for a second before she could continue. She swallowed and saw his eyes burn into her face. "Then what Liv? Did she sleep with him?" Lando asked her and she quickly shook her head. "No, but when they came to her hotel room, he pushed her against the door with his body, held her hands above her head and told her she was a little slut and all these awful things and he was kissing and touching her and stuff. She tried to fight him off but he was too strong". Lando felt his hands starting to shake and anger rose in his chest. He was quiet because he wanted to hear the rest but he knew this wouldn't end well. "He said she had to be quiet and open the door or he would do it right there in the middle of the hallway. He almost took her skirt off but then someone shouted from near the elevator so he ran away and Lexi hurried inside her room".

Lando couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was furious and his mind was spinning. "Why didn't she tell me? And this was Saturday? Because I saw her on Sunday and she looked okay". He regretted his actions towards her now. He hadn't been nice at all. Meanwhile, she was going through something so intense and he didn't even help her. He felt awful. "She wasn't fine. You know Lexi, always putting on a brave face. She came to my house after the race and broke down for two days straight". Lando wanted to call Lexi right now. He wanted to hold her and never let her go again. "Daniel was the one to help her by the way. Back in the hotel. He was the one shouting and he knocked on her door when she was inside to ask if she was okay. He stayed with her until she was asleep, just sitting on the floor on his phone to give her her space and then he left. She made him promise not to tell you because she didn't want you to get distracted from the race but she heard you tell Jon afterwards that you didn't want to see her anymore". His eyes went wide and he remembered the conversation he had with his trainer that day. "Was she outside my door that entire time?" "No she just heard you say that right when she wanted to knock". Liv said shaking her head.

"I'm glad you told me, Liv. Thank you". Lando said when they had gone over some details again. "I know you still love her. And she loves you. I think you two are meant to be together and need to stop being so stubborn and just admit you're still in love". Olivia said and the smile on Lando's face grew. "I have an idea. She is graduating next week. What if we surprise her by bringing you there? Then you can maybe talk again and see where things go? I want to see my girl happy again". Liv said and Lando nodded his head. "That's a great idea. Thank you again Olivia, you're a great friend to Lexi". They agreed to text about the details, finished their drinks and Lando paid before they left the café and said goodbye. On his walk home, everything he just heard was spinning through his mind. She was assaulted, minutes after he saw her leave the hotel lobby and he didn't know it. He was grateful for Daniel and had texted him to thank him right away.

When Lando got home he went straight to his gym room. He grabbed his boxing gloves and went crazy on the punching bag. 'How could he let this happen to her? Why didn't he protect her? Why did he let her go in the first place?' All these thoughts flew through his mind and after 15 minutes of letting everything out, he fell down to the floor completely out of breath. Lando had realised he wanted her back from the moment he saw her at the airport last week. She looked so happy and that hurt him but he knew he could make her even happier. He hated that he let this happen to her. Lando wanted to call her and tell her everything would be fine, but then he would ruin the surprise. He decided to text Liv and they arranged everything for her graduation day next week. He would arrive a little later, sit in the back and surprise her afterwards. Lando couldn't wait. He loved Lexi so much and he needed her back by his side.