Ride or Die | Lando Norris (ENGLISH)

13

After a long and exhausting conversation with Amelie, which lasted for two hours, I literally fell asleep with the phone in my hand. I told her everything that had happened to me since I left England. Amelie was incredibly shocked and thought it was too much news at once for her blonde hair. That's why we decided that we would talk when she visited me in Monaco, which I was looking forward to.

A gentle knock on the door woke me up from my sleep.
I growled under my breath and headed for the door, straightening my sweatshirt that had ridden up. I opened the door with a grimace. Lando was standing in front of it.

– Did I wake you up? – Norris asked tiredly.

He stood in front of me with his hands in the pockets of his black Palm Angels tracksuits, which had been his favorite for some time. His face looked like he had had five nervous breakdowns in the last minutes, which worried me quite a bit.

– Uh, yes. I fell asleep while talking on the phone with Amelie – I said, trying to wake up by opening my eyes wide or rubbing them with my fists. I wasn't very good at it.

– Okay, I won't bother you then – he said, swallowing, and turned away.

I felt so sorry for him. Qualifying went so terribly for him that he had to go through it like hell. But I didn't know it was so bad that they would come to me.

– Lan, don't be silly and shove your sexy ass into my room right now – I ordered, trying to hide my smirk when I noticed a hint of relaxation on his face.

Curly rolled his eyes and meekly went inside, sitting on the very edge of the bed. I could see he felt uncomfortable. It was the first time I had seen him like this and I had no idea how to comfort him.

– Do you want to watch a movie, go for a walk or play some game? – I asked, placing my hands on my hips. Norris finally looked up from the floor and looked straight into my eyes, which almost gave me heart palpitations. His green eyes were watery, and although he clenched his jaw to keep from shedding a single tear, he failed.

– Lan... – I whispered and wrapped my arms around him. I didn't know what to do next. I sat on his lap, stroking his back as he hugged my body with all his strength and cried liters of tears into my sweatshirt, sobbing silently.

I have no idea how long we sat like that, but eventually his voice calmed down and his grip loosened. Despite this, I still didn't stop petting him. I took a deep breath, looking at his face. His dark circles under his eyes, pale skin, dry lips and messy hair made me more and more worried about his mental state.
I knew he had been dealing with a lot of private scandals, but what was happening at McLaren this season was adding fuel to the fire. Constant failures, mistakes, an incompetent car, and a new driver. It certainly wasn't easy for him, especially since his closest friend from McLaren became the reserve driver for RedBull. He was left there completely alone. He was lost. And I wanted to help him. I wanted to finally be the good friend he deserved.

– Mel? I know you're there – I heard Charles' voice, who was knocking on the door with all his strength at the same time. I didn't want Lando to wake up. He looked like he hadn't slept in a long time. I moved his hands away from my body and gently pushed him onto the bed. He only muttered something under his breath, but continued to sleep. I breathed a sigh of relief and walked to the door, which I immediately opened, revealing a broadly smiling Charles in a white shirt. I was glad you couldn't see the bed from where Charles was standing.

– Are you such a clumsy that you poured water on yourself? – he laughed, pointing at the huge stain on my sweatshirt.

I forced a smile on my face and nodded.

– Get ready. Kelly and Kika can't wait for you to come, angel – he said it again. Angel. It gave me chills again.

– I don't feel like it, Charles – I sighed, intending to close the door on him, but he stopped me, frowning.

– Did I do something wrong? – he asked, holding the door with his hand. – I really care about you, Mel. I'd like to get to know you better because I feel like something could come out of this. You're constantly on my mind, angel.

Every time he said it, my stomach did somersaults. Constipation wanted to make me realize that he was interested in me. But if he was interested in me, why did he bring a girl to his room in the middle of the night?
I decided to stop playing dumb.

– If I was constantly on your mind, you probably wouldn't have gone back to your room with another angel that night, right?

He got choked up. His mouth opened and closed every now and then. He stood there for a few seconds, looking straight into my eyes and not knowing what to say.

– I was really drunk, Mel.

Was that his excuse?

– What does it have to do with it? – I asked with a mocking smile. – You were with your ex for two years. I understand that you need to enjoy your single life and flirt with all the girls who look at you, I really do – I added, and Charles swallowed. – But I don't want to participate in this. You can contact me when you decide what you want, because I have no intention of sleeping with you and pretending to be happy, knowing that you can end up with me at any time because you will find someone better – I said bluntly.

Leclerc nodded in understanding, looking at the floor.

– Friends? – he asked after a moment of silence, with a note of uncertainty in his voice.

– Friends – I replied, which put a smile on his face.

– I won't bother you, Mel. I'm sorry – he said, taking a few steps away. – But remember you can come over at any time – he added before I closed the door.

I took a deep breath and went back inside. I felt lighter. Now at least I knew where I stood. Charles just wanted to have fun. At least that's what I thought.

I took off my wet sweatshirt, leaving only my bra on. I quietly walked over to the suitcase next to the bed to put another one on when Lando's voice echoed through the room.

– Melly? – he murmured, lifting his head slightly. His eyes could barely keep themselves open.

– Get back to sleep, muppet – I replied, about to go back to looking for a sweatshirt, when his hand pulled me onto the bed. He wrapped his arms around me and placed his head on my breasts.

– Lando, let me get dressed – I mumbled, trying to get out of his grip, but that only made him hug me tighter.

– Like I've never seen you naked before – he murmured sleepily and I rolled my eyes, playing with his hair. He didn't even open his eyes. – So stop whining and let's take a nap – he immediately added.

And that's exactly what happened.