Glass House - Lando Norris

Chapter 13

A local restaurant on the silent corner of the road caught her eyes. "Are we stopping here?" Darlene asked Lando, finally opening her mouth for the first time in the entire silent road.

"Yep, we're meeting Severine here." Oh, so he was on call with Severine while they're in the van back then.

They picked a nice table at the corner and ordered their food. Shortly after that, Lando excused himself to the washroom and Darlene was left alone at the table. Wandering on the streets outside, her mind wandered. With her luggage, was she really going to move in with Severine after this? Or will she be free with Devon going to the police?

Is there really a guarantee that Devon's going to get arrested?

A tug on her shoulder pulled her out of her concentration once again. She startled a little as she looked back. "I'm so glad you're okay," Severine felt tears pricking her eyes when she said that.

Darlene immediately stood up and hugged her. "I'm okay," she tried to assure her friend. Severine hugged her back as tightly. After that she pulled away and inspected her face carefully.

"I saw the videos. Thank God, he didn't beat you up too badly." Severine said.

Darlene rolled her eyes and chuckled. But wait. What videos?

Just a second after that, Severine noticed Lando entering the scene. She was just about to call him but he opened his mouth first. "HEY NUMBER 4!" he shouted in the almost empty restaurant, pointing at her shirt.

Severine looked down at her shirt for a bit, realizing she was still wearing her team's polo uniform with her number on it. She immediately laughed and replied to him, "You're also number four!"

They walked to each other and threw a high five. Darlene was confused looking at the whole interaction. Since when did they get so close? But that made her heart warm again seeing the two friends get close.

"So jenius, how's Monza?" That question slipped through Severine's lips when he was giving a friendly pat on her shoulder.

Lando's eyes immediately went wide when she said that. Realizing what she just said, Severine also went into a panic mode, secretly hoping Darlene wouldn't get that. "Stupid of me," she said, "What am I saying? hAha. I mean, how's the flight?" she added.

He shook his head. This woman was bad at lying. He was just about to play along but Darlene suddenly stepped in.

"Is that where your grandparents live?"

Oh crap. He wasn't ready for that.

"Umm yeah, Monza. Near the circuit, heheh." Now his ugly fake laugh sounded as bad as Severine's. "Yeah, the circuit. Correct. Beautiful place." Severine added, pointing at him and made a click sound to look as chill as possible.

Okay, so they're both terrible liars.

Lando was thinking hard. Okay. What to add now to make it sound more convincing? "We played golf together there. Me and George." Suddenly remembering that Darlene still thought they're pro golfers.

But Darlene frowned at that.

Oh no, it can't be good. "So, George's still in Italy?" She asked.

"Yes."

Her eyebrows rose. "With your grandparents?"

Shit. "Um... yes."

Right after that the waiter came with their orders. Darlene was confused but she paid no mind and simply shrugged it off because she realized she was starving. She went back to her seat and said, "Rine, you should order something too."

"Ah, right." Severine said and glanced at Lando who looked as nervous as she was. But they're glad that Darlene easily dropped the conversation.

They both knew Darlene was different. Darlene just doesn't give a fuck.

Now the three were seated nicely and eating their dinner, they're discussing the next steps ahead. "Now that the police have Devon, perhaps you'll have to attend the trial at least once." Darlene said. "Also some interviews with the attorney," Lando added.

Her appetite died down a bit when she heard that, but Darlene swallowed it up. Perhaps this time she shoud give a fuck because it's going to affect her life from now on too. "I understand," she said. "I can't thank you guys enough," she said again sincerely.

The two looked at her smiling, as if saying it's all going to end soon so just hang tight.

It was more help that Darlene could've ever imagined. They pretty much did all the dirty work to protect her. All she had to do was just attend some interviews and trials.

She had to do it. It's so easy already, thanks to them. She can do it, she had to.

After the cozy dinner, Severine followed up the new apartment for Darlene and they will process the move in tonight. Lando was driving in silence again, but deep down he was a little saddened by the fact that he's gonna live a little far away from Darlene for now because he...

Sigh.

He got to admit that he liked being close to her. But now she's moving away, isn't she?

Meanwhile, Darlene listened to everything Severine was telling her about the new place. About how great it was and how close it was to her house. The space was nice, not too big and not too small. Due to their abrupt demand, the place was plain as paper, unfurnished.

Darlene couldn't help but feel a little excited about decorating the place. She already had an image in her head on how she'd fill the space. But the next question is money. She didn't have much and she'd still have to pay the rent.

Aside from that, something else occupied her thoughts too. Darlene felt like she had a question to ask Severine about a certain video, but at that moment her mind was heavily occupied with the moving process. The question was left on the bottom side of her mind.

After seeing the new place, they went back to Severine's place and took a rest there. Darlene's also going to spend one last night here before moving to the new place tomorrow.

Putting all the luggages on the living room, Lando found himself walking to the sofa and laid there. Releasing a heavy sigh, he realized just now how tired he was.

It all happened in a day. The race, the flight, that fight with Devon, the moving process. He groaned and turned to his side, hugging one of the pillows on the sofa and closed his eyes.

He's definitely had to attend a meeting because of all this fiasco. Charlotte would surely arrange a meeting with him. He understood that it was necessary. He just... wanted to close his eyes for a bit...

After taking a shower, Darlene walked into the living room and saw the familiar figure sleeping on the sofa. She kneeled down beside him and put a blanket over him. It wasn't entirely intentional but her hand found its way into his soft curls and gave it a soft brush.

Lando snuggled into the touch but continued to sleep soundly.

From the edge of the room, Severine saw the whole thing. Her psychology professor once said "When you fall in love with someone, you aren't interested in anyone else. If you are, then you aren't in love."

This time she was sure, the two must've meant more to each other than they realized. They just didn't know it yet. With that, she left for her room.

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