Lando Norris has known Stephania Anderson almost his whole life, but the childhood friends had a rough falling out when she started dating his then teammate. Now four years later, he finds himself back in her life and he has to deal with the feelin...
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3. Waiting Room
Lando stood just outside the hospital room, his heart racing in his chest. The hallway was cold and clinical, the air felt eerie and the quiet. Whispers of prayers from other patients' loved ones echoed on the bare walls. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air, and the distant beeping of monitors created a steady, unnerving rhythm. He wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans, taking a deep breath as he tried to calm the storm inside him.
It had been only been a few hours since he last saw Stephania, but she hadn't seen him. They had not talked for years, only stealed glances as they would pass by each other on the paddock. He never had the opportunity to talk to her at the party, never got the chance to thank her for the invite. Even though he knew deep down that he wasn't ready - that he didn't have the guts to talk to her again. Still he really hoped they could've had a fun night of celebrations. He wished they would have been laughing like the friends they once were. He wanted her to have a nice evening, to see her happy and smiling again, even if it wasn't because of him. And now she lay just beyond that door, separated by a few feet and a chasm of unresolved emotions.
Their falling out had been messy, a whirlwind of misunderstandings and hurt feelings. Lando had thrown himself into work, trying to forget her, but she was always there, not only because of her job at the media pin - but she haunted every step he took, she was a persistent thought at the back of his mind.
He never thought he'd see her like this, lying in a hospital bed, pale and fragile. When he finally saw her again, lying unresponsive on the cold pavement, his heart had dropped. All the anger and resentment had melted away, replaced by a gnawing worry.
...
Suddenly, a doctor opened the door, announcing that visitors was allowed to enter the room. Tension filled the air and horrified looks flew across the trio. Though they felt relief in knowing she was stable and they could see her and talk to her, what they didn't know was if they were ready.
''Niah's mum texted me saying their flight is landing in 2 hours.'' Mariá broke the echoing silence.
''Oh, okay, uhm...'' Carla swallowed before continuing her sentence; ''Should we wait for them to arrive?'' The two girls' stared at each other, before turning their gaze over to Lando who had been staring silently at the floor.
''What no? That's too long to wait'' Lando interrupted - speaking his first words in hours.
The girls' turned to face him, as he got up from the chair he had been sitting in and walked over to the group. However, he quickly turned his eyes back down at the floor. Having been slightly shocked by his own statement, he now contemplated his impulsive decision.
He took another deep breath, trying to steady himself. What if she didn't want to see him? What if his presence brought her more pain? But he had to see her. He had to know she was okay. His mind raced with a thousand questions and fears. He clenched and unclenched his fists, feeling the anxiety clawing at him, making it hard to breathe.
''I promised her mother that I would stay with her and make sure she was okay¨ He spoke.
This was true, he had made a promise to her parents. He kept trying to convince himself that he was allowed to be here right now.
''Okay, well who goes first? or do we go together or?'' Carla stumbleded over her words. The otherwise confident girl now sounding more nervous and uncertain than usual.
''I- I don't think I can see her alone'' Mariá admitted grabbing Carla's hand. Lando agreeing silently with her statement.
''Well, then we go together, okay?'' Carla said, grabbing landos arm and pulling him closer to the them.
''Okay.'' They all agreed in unison, taking deep breaths trying to prepare themselves.
...
Finally, Lando reached for the door handle, his hand trembling. The two girls' observing his hesitating movements. He paused, closing his eyes for a moment, gathering the courage he needed. He remembered her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she laughed, the countless memories they shared. He tried to remember that version of her - not the past four years of avoiding each other, not the way she looked when they had found her a few hours ago.
He pushed the door open slowly, stepping into the cold and sterile room. The sharp white light buzzed and the constant noise from the equipment only increased the panic growing inside him.
The sight of her took his breath away. Stephania was lying in the bed, her face pale, a few bruises marring her otherwise perfect skin. Her left arm was in a cast and a bandage was wrapped around her head - not entirely covering her beautifully messy bolde hair. Her eyes were closed, and she looked so vulnerable, so unlike the strong, independent woman he knew. A nurse was adjusting her IV, giving the trio a brief, polite smile before leaving them alone.
Lando moved closer, his footsteps soft against the tile floor. He hesitated stepping any closer to the bed, his heart aching at the sight of her like this. He wanted to reach out, to touch her hand, but he wasn't sure if he had the right. Instead, he just stood there by the door, watching her, hoping she would open her eyes.
After what felt like an eternity, Stephania stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. Carla and Mariá had rushed to opposite sides of the bed, mimicking the scenario from when they had first found her.
''Oh my god, I'm so happy you're okay'' Mariá cried while trying to contain herself.
''Your parents are on their way, they'll be here soon enough.'' Carla chimed in, looking down at her best friend with a heartfelt smile.
Stephania didn't speak, but her lips cracked a smile. She looked disoriented at first, then her gaze focused on him. Her eyes widened in surprise, a mixture of emotions flashing across her face—confusion, recognition, and something else he couldn't quite place.
"Lando?" Her voice was soft, weak, but it was her voice.
"Hey, Niah," he replied, his own voice shaking slightly. "How are you feeling?"
She looked at him for a long moment, then sighed. "I've been better."
Carla and Mariá chuckled at the sight of the slightly cringy interaction. They knew all about their story, Steph would've told them everything. But they were still supportive of the decision for him to be here.
There was an awkward silence, filled with all the things they wanted to say but couldn't find the words for. Lando finally gathered his courage to step foreward and take her hand gently in his. "I'm sorry, Niah. For everything. When we found you, I-'' He stuttered while fighting back the tears in his eyes, ''I just had to come."
She looked down at their joined hands, a small, sad smile tugging at her lips. "I'm very glad you did."
In that moment, Lando realized that no matter what happened between them, he still cared about her deeply. And she seemed to care about him too.
And maybe, just maybe, this could be a chance to start healing—for both of them.
Authors Note:
hiiiii:)
A bit short chapter, but I still hope you enjoyed it.
