Back Again {Lando Norris} [3]

1.8

26/5/2021

True to their word, Lando and Scarlett were both still in Monaco after the race instead of going back to their homes like the rest of the drivers

They had decided to meet in Scarlett's suite room at the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo because neither of them wanted fans or paparazzi seeing them together and writing stories, especially Scarlett who was more than nervous for this

She paced around the living room nervously, checking her hair and clothes every two seconds, worried she might look too suggestive or perhaps too lazy and Lando would get the wrong idea about their talk

So when he finally knocked on the door, she took a deep breath and opened it

"Hi," Lando said, avoiding look in her eyes

"Hi," Scarlett replied and they stood in an awkward silence "Um, come in,"

"Thanks" He replied and cleared his throat as he walked in, Scarlett gestured to one of the sofas in the room which Lando sat on and she sat opposite him.

She opened her mouth to talk but didn't know where to start so she turned her attention to her fingers and began to play with them

"Um-"

"Why did you want to talk?" Lando asked suddenly, snapping her eyes up at him

"Because I'm tired of you not knowing the truth," She admitted "I don't want you to think that the way I've been acting is your fault, because it isn't"

"I thought you were just uncomfortable with me because of our break up," He said

"No," Scarlett said "And I know you blame me for the break up but you need to know what really happened on New Year's" She took another deep breath and her words seemed caught in her throat, she had told Max, Christian, George and Ben about what happened but telling Lando was going to be the hardest one yet. "Um, I never slept with Mason"

"Why didn't you tell me that?" Lando asked in shock, he had stormed out that apartment on New Year's Day because he was convinced his girlfriend had slept with another boy and now he was finding out that he broke up with her over a mistake

"Because it was easier than telling you the truth!" She cried and her eyes went back down to her fingers, pulling them into another silence as Scarlett debated how to say the next words. "Esteban assaulted me" She said it so quietly that Lando wasn't even sure he had heard it right, but he could see the tears beginning to roll down her cheeks and knew he had heard her

Lando opened his mouth to say something but wasn't even sure what to say in a situation like this "Are you okay?" He asked softly and she looked up. He could see the redness of her eyes and wet tear tracks on her cheeks and knew her answer was no "Bubs, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I'm scared," She sniffed "Ever since that night I feel sick when people come near me. I didn't want you to have to deal with having a girlfriend who couldn't touch you and I just needed time to get over it but I don't think I ever will be and the thought of remembering his hands on me forever makes me want to breakdown and cry. Mason saw what happened and he took me to his because I told him to, then I told Ben and when I moved in with Christian I told him too and then I told Max and George but no matter how many people I tell, it isn't any easier. I want to be able to go back to being normal but I don't know how and I'm terrified"

"Hey," Lando interrupted and Scarlett wiped the tears from her cheeks "I'm right here okay? And I'm not leaving you again, I'm not mad about you not telling me and I don't expect this to change our relationship. But you've been so strong to even come back racing and I'm proud of you for telling me. What he did doesn't make me see you any differently, you're still the strongest, most confident and most beautiful girl I've ever seen"

"Thanks" Scarlett sniffed "I can't imagine how much easier our lives would be right now if I hadn't gone to that stupid party,"

"Don't you dare blame yourself" Lando said "Besides I don't give a shit if today we aren't celebrating our three year anniversary because you're here with me and that's the only thing I care about"

Scarlett smiled "Can you hug me?" Lando nodded and shifted closer to her on the sofa, putting his arm across her shoulders but not moving anymore, letting her make the final decision in case she panicked

But the brunette girl wrapped her arms around his torso and rested her head on his chest which told Lando she was okay so he wrapped his arms around her too and held her tightly, stroking her hair as he did "I never stopped loving you," He whispered

"I didn't either," Scarlett replied and they stayed wrapped up on her sofa for what felt like forever, because for the first time in over 5 months they finally felt like they were home