My Best Friend's Neighbour - A Lando Norris Story

001 - "I'm not a burglar..."

Lando POV

It's half way through the winter break and I'm on my way to visit Max. A large unit in the heart of Monte Carlo became available during late September, and as soon as he saw the advert, he fell in love.

He wasn't planning on moving so soon, however once he saw the property in person, he knew this would be his forever home and he moved in a couple of weeks ago.

It's going to be weird living in the same city as him.

I double check the address he sent me before putting it into my satnav and setting off. It's not a long drive, nothing ever is in Monte Carlo.

I arrive at Max's apartment complex and give him a quick ring, "hey man I'm outside."

"I'll buzz you up, just let yourself in." Max replies down the other end of the phone before he hangs up.

I walk up the flight of stairs and reach his apartment, opening his front door and taking a second to admire his new home. "I was still expecting you to be living out of boxes." I shout, chuckling to myself.

I turn around and to my horror I don't see Max, I see a young woman in front of me. She's about my age, with mid length brunette hair and piercing eyes.

She looks at me in confusion, probably fearing I've just broken into her house. "Erm, hi."

I can feel my cheeks burn hot in sheer embarrassment. "I'm not a burglar! I think I've walked into the wrong apartment."

She doesn't say anything, just carries on staring at me, and I turn on my feet and leg it out of her home, spying Max opening his front door.

"What took you so long?" He asks confused, furrowing his brow at me.

"I may or may not have just let myself in to your next door neighbours flat..." I grumble, my face still burning red.

"You what?!" Max erupts into laughter, "you fucking muppet, I hope you've apologised!"

I stare at him like a deer in headlights, I didn't even say I was sorry. Why am I such an idiot?

"You have apologised haven't you?" Max asks, the tone of his voice changing to one of concern.

"I panicked and ran out." I let out a big groan, "I told her I wasn't a burglar..."

"Well that makes everything better, you better go and apologise. I'll come with you to make sure you knock this time!" Max squeals out through fits of laughter.

He meets me in the hallway and shakes his head at me before knocking on his neighbours door.

I wait in anticipation, secretly hoping she won't answer. But a couple of seconds later the door cracks open.

"Hey Max, and random guy that was just in my house." The young woman greets, giving me a scathing look.

"Hi again, woman who's house I was in. Sorry about... got the units mixed up... thought max lived here which he obviously doesn't so... I didn't mean to walk into your home." I mutter awkwardly, avoiding eye contact.

"Does he often barge in to your home unannounced?" She asks coldly, causing max to explode into another fit of laughter.

"Yep" Max groans dramatically, whilst I stare at my feet like I'm a school boy getting told off by his teacher.

"I'm not a burglar!" She mocks, trying to stifle her laughter. "You certainly know how to pick them!"

"What can I say? He's a fucking muppet." Max chuckles, slapping me around the back of the head.

"Please don't ring the police." I mutter, finally raising my head to look at the young girl.

"And say what? Help a man ran into my house, screamed he wasn't a burglar and ran out again?" She smirks, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Yeah... you should lock your door. I mean anyone could come in." I chuckle, not realising the irony of my statement.

"Clearly." Millie responds coldly. "Have we met before? You look vaguely familiar."

"No?" I mutter, hoping she doesn't put two and two together. I can't deal with another press scandal right now. "I don't think so."

"It's probably because he looks like a budget Tom Holland!" Max chuckles slightly, raising his eyebrows in humour.

"I don't know if that's an insult or a compliment..." I mutter in confusion.

"What's your name?" She asks, furrowing her brow trying to place where she knows me from.

"Lando..." I feel a small smack on my arm from Max, who gives me a concerned look. "I mean Bob. My name is Bob."

"Are you on drugs? Is he on drugs?" Millie asks, looking at me and then toward Max.

"No, he's just a bit weird." Max replies, trying to conceal his widening grin.

"I don't do drugs." I mutter, "I'm going to go, sorry for..."

"You better keep that one a lead, he might escape again!" She smirks as she closes the door.

We turn and head into Max's apartment, where he's sat on the sofa with a look of amusement on his face.

"I mean, that could have gone way worse." I blurt out.

"How could that have gone any worse?" Max grins, a small laugh escaping his mouth.

"At least she was English. God knows what I would have done if she was French." I groan, me and Google translate aren't exactly the best of friends currently.

"Mate I don't even think you were speaking English." Max grins cheekily at me. "I barely understood a word you said. I have never seen you fumble that hard before!"

"What did you expect me to say?" I groan, resting my face in my hands. "Hi, sorry I broke into your house and then proceeded to make an even bigger tit of myself. But I suddenly forgot how to speak when I realised you are genuinely the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

My cheeks burn hot as the words fall out of my mouth. "I said all of that out loud didn't I?"

"Yes you muppet!" Max squeaks out through fits of hysterical laughter. "Lando is in loooove!"