DNF - A Formula 1 Story (Lando Norris)

Chapter 9

"Try to untie from an old life, but it always drags me down." - Michael Schulte

Bianca

I've just walked out of my final for my public relations class when I'm checking my phone in hopes I'll have a message from Lando waiting for me. I've been in such a good mood today. I haven't been this happy in a long time and I'm relishing in it. When I glance down at my phone I notice I have a crazy amount of Twitter notifications. I furrow my brows in confusion as to why that could be and click on the most recent notification which is someone tagging me in a comment thread. Tears form behind my eyes when I see the gossip post and I want to scream because how could I have been so fucking stupid...

Lando Norris spotted out and about in Monaco with French model, Sophie Laurent. There had been speculation from some fans that Norris might be back with ex girlfriend, Bianca Rhodes, but was that just wishful thinking on their part? Head to the comments and tell us what you think!

Attached are two photos of Lando with Sophie. One where he is driving and she's in the back seat, and one of them at a restaurant. Even before reading her name I knew it was Sophie in the photos. After I found out about her in January I went down a rabbit hole to find her on social media, to which I did and now I'm able to recognize her easily. As I'm blinking back my tears, my phone starts ringing in my hand. Lando is calling me and it takes everything I have to not cry. Ignoring his call, I put my phone back in my bag and focus on getting back to my apartment as fast as possible before I break down.

Once I make it to my apartment, the tears come. How could this have happened again? Was everything he told me a complete lie? Have they been seeing each other this whole time? I want to believe that he was telling me the truth because why would he go through all the trouble in coming to see me and explain then days later be seen with her. It doesn't quite make sense but doubt creeps in anyways. My phone is ringing once again and I pull it out of my bag to see that its Lando once more. I know I should answer but I can't. If I hear his voice right now, I know I'll fold and forgive him for doing this. A couple of minutes after the call stops he texts me.

DNF: Babe, I can explain. Please just answer the phone.
Me: I thought you said you haven't seen or talked to her since New Years.
Me: Why did you lie to me?

My anger comes out in full force when I read the words 'I can explain'. It makes me irrationally pissed off because stuff like this shouldn't be happening, then there wouldn't have to be an explanation that may or may not be bullshit.

DNF: I didn't lie to you! I hadn't talked to her.
Me: So the second we make progress you do?!
DNF: I didn't reach out to her. It was a business meeting and I didn't know she was going to be there.
Me: You expect me to believe that?

Is he telling the truth? My heart clenches in my chest as I think about losing him again. I want more than anything for him to be telling the truth, but I just don't know if he is.

DNF: I have no reason to lie to you babe.
DNF: Do you want my manager to call you and tell you herself?
Me: No...I believe you.

As much as I know I'm probably being stupid, I do believe him. Why else would he offer to have his manager call me and explain if he wasn't telling me the truth. I need to trust him even if it's one of the hardest things for me to do, especially when it comes to Sophie. But we are starting new, and I told him I trust him so I'm going to trust him. That still doesn't mean I'm not upset and angry about this situation. One of the rules I set in place was open communication and he failed to do that. If he had only texted or called me when he first knew about the lunch, I wouldn't be as upset right now.

Me: What I don't get is why you didn't try to call or text me when you found out about the meeting? Or even after. I had to find out from some gossip post, Lan!
DNF: You had your final exam this afternoon and I didn't want to stress you out. I thought I would be able to tell you before someone posted about it.
DNF: It was stupid and I made a mistake by not just telling you.
DNF: I'm so sorry babe.

Yes, it was a mistake. I can't find the words to respond to him because I'm angry and upset and I'm not ready for forgive him. I stare at the messages for what feels like hours before responding.

Me: Okay.
DNF: So are we good?
Me: I don't know Lando. Seeing those photos...
Me: It just makes me think of all the times you went behind my back before. Who's to say you won't do it again?
DNF: It won't, I swear. I don't want Sophie, I only want you.

I confess my real worry with all of this beyond the fact that he didn't communicate with me. Whose to say he won't go back to her if they're going to be spending time together. Seeing him say he only wants me makes my stomach dip and heart happy and I truly want to believe that, but it's hard to.

Me: Just give me some time to figure out how I feel. Please?
DNF: Okay babe, take as much time as you need.
DNF: Just please don't give up on me.

Tears fall from my eyes as I read his latest message. Just please don't give up on me. I don't want to, but I'm having a hard time working through my current feelings. I stare blankly at my phone for I don't know how long, my mind is racing and I'm trying to figure out what my plan is moving forward. My phone goes off a couple of times but I ignore it, thinking they're messages from Lando and I don't think I can keep seeing him apologize. Eventually I check them though, my curiosity getting the better of me. The messages aren't from Lando though, they're from James and Morgan.

London Boy: Darling, are you okay?
Me: No,not really.
London Boy: I'm leaving the rehab center early. I'll see you in a few hours.

My heart clenches in my chest as I read his response. I don't know how I got so lucky to have met him, but I'm thankful that I did. He's been such an amazing friend to me and my support system for months now. Really he's the only one who knows the ins and outs of mine and Lando's relationship, so he knows how devastated I am right now. I'm filled with relief knowing that he'll be here in a couple of hours.

Mommy Morgan: Bianca, I just saw.
Mommy Morgan: Are you okay?
Me: No.
Me: And there's so much more you don't know.

I realize that no one other than James, Lydia and maybe Max knew that Lando came to London after his Imola win. We were in a major bubble while he was here that I didn't even think to tell my dad and Morgan that he was here and that we were trying things again. Even without that knowledge Morgan was worried about me and that just shows the power Lando has over me and my emotions.

Mommy Morgan: Like what?
Me: Like how he showed up at my doorstep after Imola and we finally talked about everything that happened back in January.
Me: Decided to slowly work our way up to being together again.
Me: Then this literally a day after he leaves my apartment.

Tears fall from my eyes again as I text Morgan the vague version of what happened. Her response would typically make me laugh because she knows when she calls Lando a twink it makes me giggle but this time it's not affective, I'm still extremely upset. Another text comes in from Morgan but this one is just a screenshot. It's of a twitter post that Lando made, saying 'Good evening! I just want to go on record and say that I am not dating Sophie Laurent. We are both going to be brand ambassadors for a local business in Monaco and were having a working lunch this afternoon, not a date. Just because I was seen with someone, does not mean that I am dating them. Please stop the rumors.'

My stomach dips and I sigh deeply as I read the tweet two...three times. Lando doesn't normally post anything about his dating life so I'm surprised that he willingly made a post in regards to the rumors he and Sophie are together. I know he did it for me, to prove to me what he's telling me the truth and that he doesn't want her. A part of me is happy that he did that and ready to move on from this but another part of me is angry that he put us in this situation yet again even if it's not his fault this time.

I don't know what to do...