Severine got off her horse and walked towards the clubhouse with heavy steps. Her coach immediately handed her a water bottle and a clean towel. Her forearms were killing her as the training pushed the team to their limits, like always.
"You need to improve your Tail Shot swings," he said to her. Severine rolled her eyes. "Yeah, it was bad." More stick-and-ball practice it is, then.
The team captain, #3 Alina, sat down beside her and let out a groan, putting down her helmet on the table. "Your horse acted out again, huh?" Severine nudged her.
Alina let out a chuckle and turned her head to see her horse being escorted by the groom back to the stable. "Yeah, he's not feeling it today. Perhaps it's too hot," she said.
The sun was blazing like an oven heat directly hitting their skin. "So the DV case happened to your friend that you said earlier," Alina started, gaining Severine's attention again. "I have a guy that can take care of it smoothly for the police. We can start anytime and it'll be even better if you have evidence."
Severine's eyes glowed with joy as soon as she heard that. "I know I can count on you, Captain!" she joked and quickly fished her phone out of her bag. Lando's reply was already there, along with a video attachment. "It's here," she said and showed the video to Alina.
The two winced seeing the video as it was also the first time Severine saw the incident. "That guy needs to be punished." Alina said sternly and leaned back as soon the video finished playing. "That was solid evidence. You send it to me right now and we'll be good to go."
Severine couldn't thank her enough and immediately forwarded her the video. "Remember, our main objection in this case is to be silent enough for the media to notice. The other guy in the video is pretty... famous, I guess." Severine said.
Alina nodded and took a sip of her drink, "Duly noted. I know that guy."
"You mean like you've met him before?"
"No, I just know him. The Formula 1 driver."
The other two girls from their team soon joined them after that and they chatted a little while watching their juniors practicing at the hot blazing polo field. "The sun is pretty damn cruel this afternoon," one of them said.
"I doubt they're gonna last very long. Maybe they're gonna take a little break in a few minutes." An eldery man's voice could be heard from the background and the four girls immediately turned their heads.
"Mr. Marko." Alina stood up and offered her hand for him to shake. The others followed her. Severine knew this man. Dr. Helmut Marko, the Austrian former professional racing driver, now an official advisor to the Red Bull Racing F1 team. They all have good respect for him.
"I saw you four sparring with the B team earlier," he said curtly and smiled. Severine shyly chuckled. "Ah, that wasn't our best performance." They're currently the A team, or the 'main' team, some would say. And being that, they're supposed to have a brilliant performance but today just wasn't their day.
"Ah, it's just a friendly spar. Perhaps, it's okay not to push too hard for the B team. They still have much to learn." Mr. Marko said. "I thought you're in Monza, sir?" Alina then asked.
The man shook his head, "No. I've been visiting this field for a while and it's growing on me." He smiled. The old guy just wanted to spend some leisure time in this beautiful clubhouse. Pretty understandable.
"The staff here are going to watch the race on Sunday. Feel free to join if you haven't got any plans on the weekends," he invited. Three of them answered with a solid yes, meanwhile Severine declined. "Thank you for the offer, but I need to be home for the weekend. I'm helping a friend," she grinned. "Ah, such a nice gesture. But remember, feel free to join if you change your mind." He smiled.
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Darlene's face shot up as soon as she heard the white NSX's engine roared through the campus' parking lot. She immediately walked towards the car and got inside. "You reek of sweat," she said to Severine.
"Nice to meet you too, and maybe that's just my pheromone's smell," was her reply.
Darlene put her bag on top of her laps and cringed at her friend. "You're disgusting."
"I know," she said in a Han Solo expression. Severine then pulled out her phone and showed her today's update. "You see here," she pointed at the screen. "This photo was taken from your apartment windows this afternoon."
The set of images showed Devon and the new chick hanging out at her apartment and from their gesture, it could be seen clearly that they're not 'just friends'. It was obvious to anyone who sees it. "So, are you ready now?" Severine asked.
There was a lump in her throat that she's trying to swallow. It was heavy and painful. But at this point, Darlene assured herself that it's not the heartbreak that's bothering her anymore. It's more like the pressure and most importantly, she was scared.
In the midst of her thoughts, Severine took a hold of her hands to encourage her. She smiled in silence and nodded before saying, "You got this."
She handed her the phone and Devon's number was already there. She's going to call him now. 'It's now or never' repeating inside her head. With that, she dialed the number and there was the wait that's killing them. Pick it up, Devon, pick it up.
"Hello?" he answered. Severine and Darlene looked at each other when they heard a distant voice of a girl in the background, asking who's the caller.
"Devon, it's me." Darlene started. The call was on loudspeaker.
There was silence on the other side. At this point, Severine was scared that he's going to cut off the call before Darlene could say the words.
"It seems like you're in a good mood today," Darlene said with trembling lips. She clasped it shut and forced a thin smile. There was silence again.
"I'm going to say this straight," she took a deep breath. Severine's hand never leaves hers.
"I'm sure you're happy with where you are now, and I'm also happy with how I am. I'm sure the best for us both is to call it off. We're not together anymore from now on and that's it. The money that you owe me, and also my apartment rent, you don't have to pay it back to me. Just take it, consider it as a gift from me to you and that's it. We're out of each other's lives forever. I'm not gonna bother you and you're not gonna bother me too. I know you will understand."
The silence grew stronger but they knew that Devon was still there. After that they could hear Devon's loud breathing through the speakers.
"Where are you now?" he growled.
"That's none of your concern. We're done here." She disconnected the call.
For a few seconds, Darlene and Severine looked at each other and then the blonde girl cheered happily and hugged her friend. "YOU DID IT! I know you can do it!"
Darlene was caught off guard but she returned the hug. "I almost choked," she chuckled. "You sounded a bit too kind in that call to my liking. I was expecting a more ferocious angry call, though I'm not disappointed. By the way, I recorded that call now too just in case," Severine said.
"Thanks, Rine. None of this would've been possible if you're not here."
"Sure thing, silly. Don't mention it. Now let's go home and get some dinner." With that, Severine drove out of the campus and there was a huge weight leaving Darlene's shoulders after that call. She hoped that this would be the last time she's breaking up with Devon and hopefully no more Devon in her life from now on.
Fuck you Devon.
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YOU ARE READING
Glass House - Lando Norris
Fanfiction"You saved me from that glass house. That one place I once called home felt like it could shatter any second. It did break and it was painful, but through all that, I'm glad that I found you." Lando Norris next door. Warning: DV, violence, mild lang...
