Art to fall in love with /// Lando Norris

Chapter 19: Shadows of Doubt

Lando and Cassy drove to the race track together, the excitement of the upcoming race filling the car with an electric buzz. Lando's fingers drummed on the steering wheel, his eyes bright with anticipation. Cassy sat beside him, her heart swelling with pride for the man she loved.

"Ready for another big day?" she asked, glancing over at him with a smile.

"Always," he replied, reaching over to give her hand a reassuring squeeze. "And having you here makes it even better."

They arrived at the bustling circuit, the sounds of engines roaring and the buzz of the crowd filling the air. Lando parked the car and turned to Cassy, his expression softening.

"I'll need to head off to training now," he said. "But I'll see you after the session?"

Cassy nodded. "Of course. I'll be with the girls. Good luck out there."

Lando leaned in and kissed her gently. "Thanks, love. See you soon."

As they parted ways, Cassy headed towards the paddock to meet up with Alexandra, Kika, and Lily. The atmosphere was lively, fans and team members bustling about, and the excitement of race day palpable in the air. Cassy felt a sense of belonging amidst the chaos, grateful for the friends she had made in this world.

After a while, Cassy excused herself to take a restroom break. She found a relatively quiet restroom away from the main hustle and bustle of the paddock. As she washed her hands, she heard the door swing open and the sound of giggles and whispers filled the room.

Turning, she saw a group of girls entering, their eyes narrowing as they spotted her. Cassy felt a prickle of unease but tried to ignore it, focusing on drying her hands. However, the girls approached her, their expressions turning hostile.

"You're Cassy, right?" one of them sneered, her tone dripping with disdain. "Lando's girlfriend?"

Cassy nodded hesitantly, her stomach tightening with anxiety. "Yes, I am."

Another girl stepped forward, her arms crossed over her chest. "You think you're something special, don't you? Just because you're with him?"

Cassy shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. "No, I don't think that at all."

"Well, we do," a third girl chimed in, her eyes flashing with anger. "And we don't think you're right for him. He deserves better."

Before Cassy could respond, one of the girls shoved her hard, causing her to stumble back against the sink. Her heart pounded in her chest, fear gripping her. She tried to stay calm, hoping they would just leave her alone.

But the girls weren't done. One of them stepped forward, holding a milkshake. With a malicious grin, she poured the contents over Cassy's head, the cold liquid seeping into her clothes and hair. Cassy gasped, her body trembling with shock and humiliation.

"You're nothing," the girl spat. "Stay away from Lando."

The girls laughed and left the restroom, their cruel words echoing in Cassy's ears. She stood there, drenched and humiliated, tears stinging her eyes. She felt utterly alone and ashamed, the joy of the morning now a distant memory.

Cassy quickly gathered herself, not wanting anyone to see her like this. She couldn't bear the thought of Lando or the girls finding out what had happened. She slipped out of the restroom, avoiding eye contact with anyone, and made her way to the exit.

Once outside the track, she hailed a cab and gave the driver the address of their hotel. She sat in the back seat, her mind racing and her heart heavy. She couldn't shake the words of the girls, their anger and disdain cutting deep.

Back at the hotel, Cassy rushed to their room, desperate to change out of her soaked clothes. She stood under the shower, letting the hot water wash away the milkshake and her tears. She scrubbed her skin, trying to cleanse herself of the humiliation and fear.

As she dressed in fresh clothes, her phone buzzed with messages from Alexandra, Kika, and Lily. They were worried, wondering where she had gone. Cassy didn't have the heart to tell them the truth, so she sent a quick message saying she needed some air and would be back soon.

---

Meanwhile, at the track, Alexandra, Kika, and Lily were growing increasingly concerned. They had been trying to contact Cassy, but her responses were brief and uncharacteristic. Alexandra frowned as she read Cassy's message, a sense of unease settling over her.

"I don't like this," Alexandra said, looking at the others. "Something's not right."

"She said she needed some air," Kika pointed out. "Maybe she's just overwhelmed."

"Maybe," Lily agreed, but her expression remained worried. "But we should find her, just to be sure."

Back at the hotel, Cassy felt a renewed sense of strength after her shower. She knew she had to return to the track and face the day. As she stepped out of the room, her phone buzzed again. It was Lando, his concern evident in his messages. But Cassy wasn't ready to talk to him yet, so she ignored the call and headed back to the circuit.

When she arrived back at the paddock, Alexandra, Kika, and Lily rushed to her, their faces etched with concern.

"Cassy, are you okay?" Alexandra asked, her eyes scanning Cassy's face.

"I'm fine now," Cassy replied, her voice steady. "I just needed a moment. Thank you for worrying about me."

The girls hugged her tightly, their support a balm to her wounded spirit. Cassy felt a surge of gratitude for their friendship, knowing she wasn't alone in this.

As they stood talking, Cassy's phone buzzed again, this time with notifications from social media. Curious, she opened one of the messages and froze. It was a video of her running out of the restroom, milkshake dripping from her hair and clothes. Her heart sank as she realized the incident had been recorded and shared online.

"Oh no," Cassy whispered, her hands trembling as she scrolled through the comments. The cruel words of strangers echoed the taunts of the girls in the restroom, making her feel small and exposed.

Alexandra, noticing Cassy's distress, peered over her shoulder. "What is it?"

Cassy handed her the phone, her voice shaking. "Someone recorded what happened in the restroom. It's all over social media."

Kika and Lily leaned in, their expressions turning from concern to anger as they watched the video. "Those girls are horrible," Kika said, her voice fierce. "How could they do that to you?"

Lily nodded, her eyes flashing with determination. "We need to find out who they are and report this. This is unacceptable."

Cassy felt a wave of gratitude for her friends, their support giving her the strength she needed. "Thank you," she said softly. "But right now, I just want to focus on Lando's race."

Alexandra squeezed her hand. "We're here for you, Cassy. Don't let those girls get to you. You're stronger than they are."

Cassy nodded, feeling a sense of resolve. She knew she couldn't let the cruelty of a few strangers ruin her day. She had people who cared about her, and that was what mattered.

As the day went on, Cassy stood in the paddock, watching Lando prepare for the race. She felt a renewed sense of purpose and determination, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. With Lando by her side and the support of her friends, she knew they could overcome anything.

And as the cars roared to life on the track, Cassy felt a sense of hope and strength, knowing that love and friendship would always be her guiding light.