Art to fall in love with /// Lando Norris

Chapter 21: Standing Up

Cassy stood with Alexandra, Kika, and Lily, trying to enjoy the remainder of the day despite the turmoil that had plagued her. They chatted casually, watching the fans and teams mingle, but Cassy's eyes were constantly scanning the crowd. The memory of the restroom incident still lingered heavily in her mind.

Just then, Cassy's eyes widened as she spotted the very girls who had bullied her earlier. They were laughing and chatting, seemingly without a care in the world. A surge of anger and determination welled up inside her. She turned to Alexandra, Kika, and Lily.

"I see them," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "The girls from the bathroom."

The three friends exchanged glances, their expressions hardening with resolve. "Do you want to confront them?" Alexandra asked, her tone supportive yet firm.

Cassy took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes. I need to do this."

With her friends by her side, Cassy followed the girls, keeping a safe distance. The girls seemed oblivious to their pursuers as they made their way to another restroom. Cassy clenched her fists, mustering all her courage. She wasn't going to let them get away with what they did.

The girls entered the restroom, and Cassy hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open and stepping inside. The sound of running water greeted her, and she saw the girls filling their water bottles with ice-cold water from the dispenser.

"Hey," Cassy called out, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

The girls turned to face her, their expressions shifting from surprise to annoyance. "What do you want?" one of them sneered.

Cassy squared her shoulders, refusing to back down. "I want to know why you thought it was okay to treat me the way you did earlier. What did I ever do to you?"

The leader of the group rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. You're just a nobody trying to ride on Lando's fame. You don't belong here."

Cassy felt a surge of anger and sadness, but she stood her ground. "I don't care what you think of me. No one deserves to be treated like that. You have no right to bully anyone."

The girls scoffed, dismissing her words. "Whatever. Get lost."

But Cassy wasn't going to be silenced. "No," she said firmly. "You need to understand that what you did was wrong."

One of the girls stepped forward, her face twisted in anger. "And what are you going to do about it?"

Before Cassy could respond, the girl grabbed her arm, her grip tight and painful. Cassy winced but seized the moment, grabbing the girl's bottle of ice water and pouring it over her head. The girl screamed, a shrill sound that echoed in the small space.

The other girls watched in shock as their leader stood there, dripping wet and furious. "You'll pay for that," she snarled, raising a hand as if to strike Cassy.

Just then, Alexandra, Kika, and Lily stormed in, each holding milkshakes and cups of ice. They quickly assessed the situation and moved into action.

"Is there a problem here?" Alexandra asked, her voice cold and commanding.

The girl who had been doused with water turned to them, her eyes blazing with anger. "Stay out of this!"

But Alexandra and the others weren't backing down. In a synchronized motion, they threw their milkshakes and cups of ice at the girls, drenching them in sticky, cold liquid. The bathroom erupted in chaos as the girls screamed and tried to shield themselves.

"Consider this a lesson," Kika said, her voice fierce. "Don't ever think you can bully someone and get away with it."

Lily stepped forward, her expression fierce. "If we ever see you doing something like this again, it won't just be milkshakes next time."

The girls, now soaked and humiliated, glared at Cassy and her friends before storming out of the restroom. Cassy felt a mixture of relief and exhaustion wash over her. She turned to her friends, gratitude shining in her eyes.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Alexandra placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You did great, Cassy. But let's get you to the medical staff. You look like you took a few hits."

Cassy nodded, wincing as she felt the bruises on her arms. The adrenaline was wearing off, and the pain was setting in. The four of them left the restroom and headed towards the medical tent, ignoring the curious stares from onlookers.

When they reached the medical tent, the staff quickly assessed Cassy's injuries and began treating her bruises. Alexandra, Kika, and Lily stayed by her side, offering support and reassurance.

Meanwhile, Lando had just finished his interviews, where he addressed the video of Cassy and the incident in the bathroom. He was still visibly shaken by the situation, and his concern for Cassy was evident. As he walked back to the McLaren garage for the post-race meeting, he couldn't shake off the feeling of worry.

The meeting was a blur for Lando. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Cassy. As soon as the meeting ended, he pulled out his phone and tried calling her, but it went straight to voicemail. Desperate to find her, he decided to call Kika.

"Kika, where's Cassy? Is she okay?" Lando asked, his concern evident.

Kika glanced at Cassy, who subtly shook her head, signaling that she didn't want Lando to know she was in the medical tent. "We're out for a walk, trying to calm her down. She'll be back in a while."

Lando sighed, relief and frustration mingling in his voice. "Okay, just... take care of her, please. I need to see her as soon as possible."

"We will," Kika assured him. "Don't worry, Lando."

After hanging up, Lando paced the garage, his mind racing with thoughts of Cassy and what she must be going through. He wished he could be there with her, to comfort her and make sure she knew she wasn't alone.

Back at the medical tent, the staff finished treating Cassy's bruises. She felt a bit better physically, but the emotional toll was still heavy. She looked at her phone, seeing numerous messages and videos of the incident. Not wanting to deal with it, she turned her phone off again.

"We should head back," Alexandra suggested gently. "Lando's probably worried sick about you."

Cassy nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, let's go."

The four of them made their way back to the paddock. Cassy tried to keep her composure, but every step felt heavy. She couldn't shake off the feeling of humiliation and pain. She needed to see Lando, but for now, she was grateful to have her friends by her side.