My Best Friend's Neighbour - A Lando Norris Story

007 - "that was smooth I give you that..."

Lando chills at my apartment all morning, and we spend the majority of it laid on the sofa watching trash TV.

I've grown fond of the curly haired racing driver, I find his company very easy to keep. There's not very many people in my life that I feel comfortable sitting in silence with, but it just feels normal with him.

At around midday Reine and Kingsley awaken from their slumber, looking a little worse for wear.

"How much did we drink last night?" Kingsley groans, making his way into the kitchen and skulling a pint of water.

"Too much." Reine responds, dry heaving. "Our flight is going to suck."

The pair slump down on the sofa looking defeated.

"What time do you need to be at the airport?" I ask, handing the pair of them some paracetamol.

"Like 4. You doing mind driving us do you Mills?" Kingsley asks.

"Course not." I smile, "you coming along for the ride Lando? You can judge my driving skills."

Reine and Kingsley exchange humoured looks amongst themselves, whilst Lando grins upon my request. "Yeah of course."

A few hours later and I'm loading my friend's luggage into the car and setting off for the airport.

I have missed them dearly, and it does upset me that we can't spend as much time together as we used to, but that's life I guess.

Lando joins me in the passenger seat, with Reine and Kingsley dragging themselves into the back of the car still half asleep.

It's less than an hour drive to Nice airport, however by the time I pull into the car park I have to shake the pair of them awake, chuckling to myself slightly. "Come on sleepyheads, we're here."

We bid our goodbyes and I head back to my car, feeling upset about how long it will be until we see each other next.

"You ok?" Lando asks, observing my change in expression.

"Yeah, it's just a bit shit you know?" I mutter, pulling out of the airport. "They're like family to me."

"I get it." He replies, "it never gets any easier."

I sigh and try and shake my hand slightly, attempting to pull myself out of my slump. "It just gets lonely you know? I don't really have many friends in Monaco."

"Well you've got me." Lando grins, "how about we have a little movie night? I'll invite Max and Pietra."

"Yeah that'd be nice. Thank you Lando." I smile weakly.

We get back to my apartment and I make some food for Lando and I, he attempts to help but I shoo him off into the living room in fear he'll mess everything up.

We finish eating and he helps me wash up, "I've been meaning to ask, you don't have a boyfriend or anything do you?"

Lando's question takes me by surprise. "Why are you asking?"

"Just curious." He replies, furrowing his eyebrows at me.

I exhale slightly and make my way into the living room and plop myself on the sofa, "nope no boyfriend."

Lando grins instantly, taking a seat next to me. "Good."

"Is this your idea of flirting Norris?" I chuckle slightly.

"No not at all." He defends, "just wanted to know if I had to feel guilty about checking you out at any given chance."

I shake my head in fake annoyance. "That was smooth I give you that."

"Can I take you out on a date sometime?" He asks, looking expectantly at me. "Because I really like you Millie."

I think about it for a moment, "I don't think that's a very good idea."

"Oh ok. Can I ask why?" Lando asks, his voice aching with disappointment.

"I sort of make it a rule to not date my friends.  Even if I really like them." I reply nonchalantly.

"Oh so you admit you fancy me?" He grins mischievously.

"I never said that." I retort, rolling my eyes at him. "I don't even know you."

"That's what dates are for you muppet." He chuckles, "I know you feel it. That little niggling feeling in the pit of your stomach whenever you're with me."

Jesus Christ. This man can read me like a book. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Lando smirks, his eyes burning into me. "You're a shit liar you know that?"

I exhale and chuckle slightly, averting my eyes from him and looking to the ground, feel my cheeks start to burn red. "Yeah, you've told me."

He chuckles slightly, places one hand on my chin and tilts it upwards so I'm looking at him, "you know... some rules are meant to be broken." He whispers as he leans into me.

And I let him.

Our lips almost touch when there's a knock at my door.

Max and Pietra. Of course.

Lando sighs, and slumps back in defeat. "Saved by the bell I guess."

I chuckle awkwardly, jump up and open the door, letting them inside.

Pietra looks at us in confusion. "Why do I feel like we've just interrupted something?" She asks, slumping herself on the sofa.

"No not at all." Lando responds, giving me a sad smile.

She glances at me, unconvinced. "Riiiighhhttt. What film are we all thinking anyway?"

"The Hunger Games!" Max announces, grabbing the TV remote.

"I swear you watch every film Jennifer Lawrence is in. You're obsessed." Lando chuckles, turning off the lights and grabbing a blanket for all of us.

"She's a very beautiful woman." He defends, causing Pietra to give him a swift slap at the back of the head.

"You sort of deserved that." I chuckle, clicking play on the movie.

I don't know if it's the hangover catching up with me or the coziness of this blanket but I can feel myself dropping to sleep around half way through the film.

Lando seems to notice and slips his arm under me, causing me to lay my head on his chest.

If I wasn't so sleepy I'd be enjoying this.