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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14. Lie To Me
Later that day, Stephania sat in the guest room on the edge of the bed, the weight of the past few weeks' events pressing heavily on her. She hadn't answered any of Carlos' messages, she had retrieved some essential items, but the bigger decision loomed over her—whether to leave Carlos for good or not. Her friends were in the living room, giving her a moment of privacy, but she knew they were there if she needed them.
Her mind raced with conflicting thoughts. Carlos had been a significant part of her life for so long. They had shared good times, moments of happiness and love. But those moments had been overshadowed by the toxicity, the arguments, and the fear. The memory of their last fight, which had ended with her in the hospital, was still fresh in her mind.
A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. Lando stepped in, his eyes filled with concern. "Hey, how are you holding up?"
''I'm great.'' She faked a smile, ''I mean, I'm not throwing up anymore, so thats always a positive,'' She chuckled awkwardly.
Lando moved closer, careful not to intrude her space. ''Niah, I know It's not just a hangover. You can tell me what's bothering you.''
Stephania sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know, Lando. I'm so confused."
He sat down beside her, his presence a comforting anchor. "It's okay to feel that way. Leaving a relationship, even a bad one, is never easy."
Tears welled up in her eyes. "I just... I keep thinking about the good times we had. I wonder if maybe I'm overreacting, if things could get better."
Lando's expression softened. "Niah, you ended up in the hospital because of him. That's not something you can just brush aside."
"I know," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But it's hard to let go. I keep hoping he'll change, that things will go back to how they were in the beginning."
"People can change," Lando said gently, "but they have to want to. And even if he does change, it doesn't erase what he's done. You deserve to feel safe and respected."
Stephania looked down at her hands, torn between the memories of the past and the reality of the present. "I'm scared, Lando. I don't know if I'm strong enough to do this on my own."
"You're not alone," he reminded her, his voice steady. "You have me, Carla, Mariá—we're all here for you. We'll support you no matter what you decide."
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I just don't know what to do. What if I regret leaving him? What if I can't move on?"
Lando placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's normal to have doubts. But think about what's best for you, for your well-being. You deserve to be happy, Niah, and sometimes that means making tough decisions."
Stephania nodded slowly, feeling a small spark of clarity. "You're right. I need to think about what's best for me."
Lando smiled, his support unwavering. "Whatever you decide, we're here for you. You don't have to go through this alone."
With those words, a sense of resolve began to form within her. She wasn't ready to make a final decision yet, but she knew she had the strength and support to face whatever came next. For now, that was enough.
...
As evening settled in, the apartment grew quiet, the hum of the city outside providing a gentle backdrop to the calm inside. Stephania sat in the dimly lit room, her phone in hand, the weight of her decision pressing down on her. The support from Lando, Carla, and Mariá had been invaluable, but the confusion she felt about Carlos lingered.
She glanced toward the living room where her friends were chatting and laughing, trying to distract themselves from the heaviness of the situation. They had been so understanding and supportive, and the last thing she wanted was to burden them further with her internal struggle.
But the need to confront Carlos and find some closure was overpowering. She had kept the extent of her doubts and lingering feelings hidden, and the guilt of keeping this secret from her friends gnawed at her. Despite everything, she felt she needed to see Carlos one last time to discuss their relationship face-to-face.
With trembling fingers, she unlocked her phone and opened a new text message. Her heart raced as she typed out the message, her anxiety about the impending conversation mixing with a sense of urgency.
Stephania: Carlos, I need to talk to you. Can we meet up somewhere? I need to get some closure and discuss everything that's happened.
She hesitated before hitting send, her thumb hovering over the screen. What if this was a mistake? What if seeing him only made things worse? She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts, and pressed the send button.
Almost immediately, the phone buzzed with Carlos's reply.
Carlos: Fine. Where and when?
The simplicity of his response was almost unnerving. Stephania quickly suggested a nearby café where they could meet the next morning. She didn't want to prolong the encounter or give Carlos too much time to manipulate her. She needed clarity, and she needed it soon.
As she set her phone down, her guilt and anxiety surged. She knew her friends would be worried if they knew she was planning to see Carlos, especially after everything they had done to support her. They had been so generous with their time and care, and the thought of hiding this from them felt like another betrayal.
Stephania stared at the text thread, feeling a mixture of determination and fear. She had to face this, even if it meant hiding her true intentions from those who cared about her.
Minutes later, Carla knocked gently on the door, peeking her head in. "Everything okay, Steph?"
Stephania forced a smile, her heart pounding. "Yeah, just needed a moment to myself."
Carla smiled back, sensing her friend's need for space but still concerned. "Alright, just remember we're here for you if you need anything. Also, We're gonna watch "
"Thanks, Carla," Stephania said, her voice soft. "I'll be out soon."
As Carla closed the door and returned to the living room, Stephania felt a pang of sadness. She appreciated her friends' support more than they knew, but she needed to navigate this difficult path on her own, even if it meant facing Carlos one more time.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of anxious anticipation. Stephania lay awake in the dark, her mind racing with thoughts of the meeting with Carlos. What would he say? How would he react? Would this meeting give her the answers she so desperately sought?
As she drifted off to sleep, she clung to the hope that this final conversation would bring her the clarity she needed to move forward. And with that hope, she resolved to face the morning with courage, knowing that she would need to be strong for whatever lay ahead.
Authors Note:
hiiiii:)
uh oh...What do you guys think about her desicion to meet up with Carlos?
