pretty flower | lando norris

lviii

INCOMING CALL ..

Lan x

accept               decline

Aurora brought the phone to her ear as she bit down on her lip to hide her grin, "Hey." She could hear shuffling through the phone before he answered, "Hey, Rory." His tone was quieter than usual, and softer.

"You okay?" She asked, concerned about the boy she had grown to care a lot for. Silence. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just tired." He finally breathed out. Aurora could tell he wasn't just tired but she knew that sometimes it was better for both parts to not pry, "You been at the track today?" A hum came through the phone in response, "Was it okay?"

Another sigh, "Not bad. The car was quite good actually, only a few things that need altering so -" Lando sighed once more before Aurora decided enough was enough. "Lan? You sure you're okay?"

The silence that followed was deafening - so much that Aurora sat up from being laid down, "Lan?"

"Why didn't you come this weekend?" Her eyes brows furrowed, "What?" And he repeated himself this time slower.

See. She had two choices here - she could lie and come up with something easier to hear, or she could tell him the real reason. But as she was deciding, he continued, "I could of really done with you here. I mean, was it something I did? You seemed so happy I invited you and then suddenly you couldn't. No explanation. Nothing."

With a final breath, she picked her choice, "Okay. The reason I didn't come this weekend is because.." Hesitation. "Lan, being a women in the public eye is torture, you get that?" Now he was confused - his face matching hers only moment prior, "What do you mean?"

"If I went this weekend, can you imagine the comments? The tabloids? 'Aurora just another side piece' 'Lando Norris brings fling Aurora to the paddock only a week after Luisa' 'Embarrassment for Aurora as she is another arm candy for driver Lando Norris' 'Stupid girl allows Lando to -"

"No." He interrupts.

But she doesn't let him, "Don't. Look, I forgave you Lando. I've chosen to trust you. But I won't be the girl in the media that is in battle with another women. Especially for a man. I will come to your races, Lan. But not a week after you waltzed another girl - no, you're ex girlfriend - around the same place. You don't understand that I have a reputation to protect. I'm sorry if I sound harsh but that's the reality."

And no one said anything. Seconds passed and the call remained frozen. She closed her eyes as she waited for him to speak, her teeth grabbing at her bottom lip to find safety, "Okay." Was all he said.

Now she felt bad, but he did ask. She breathed out a shaky breath whilst she changed hands, "I hope you can understand what I mean." Lando chuckled slightly, but one filled with no humour, "Not really but, what else am I supposed to say?"

Aurora couldn't quite believe he didn't get it. How could he not understand the fool that would make her look? And then it clicked.

Lando Norris was a man.

~~~~~