Dear Lando - Book Two

𝟷𝟹 ♡ Snap Out of It

Snap Out of It By Arctic Monkeys

"Jacket or no jacket?" Lana asked, holding up the leather jacket in front of her full-length mirror. Nat was sprawled on the bed, legs crossed, offering her fashion advice amid a lazy evening hangout.

"Where's he taking you again?" Nat asked, eyes following Lana as she twirled between outfit options.

Lana shrugged, giving herself another once-over. "No clue. He just said he'd pick me up at 8:30."

Nat raised an eyebrow. "That's it? No hints, no plans, no nothing?"

"Nope," Lana sighed, hanging the jacket back up in her closet. "He's not exactly thrilled about this arrangement either. Probably still hung up on Azalea and Max."

"Makes sense," Nat said, pushing herself off the bed and stretching. "But he better snap out of it because you, my friend, are a catch." She punctuated the statement by playfully slapping Lana's backside.

Lana laughed, giving her friend a gentle shove. "Stop it. Come on, he'll be here any minute."

Nat smirked and winked as she followed Lana out of her room. "Just reminding you of the facts. Even if he's oblivious."

Lana slipped into a pair of boots as Nat, ever the dramatist, stood by the front door like a protective parent when the sound of Lando's car pulling up echoed from outside.

"Have her home by 11:00 pm!" Nathalie called out to Lando, her voice dripping with faux authority as she leaned against the doorframe. Lana blushed, rolling her eyes as she stepped outside, catching sight of Lando's ride.

The sight of him in the tiny, vintage Fiat Jolly was... unexpected, to say the least. The small, quirky car almost made her laugh, though she found it oddly charming. It didn't scream 'Formula 1 driver,' but maybe that was the point.

Lando raised a brow as Lana climbed into the car, his usual smug smirk in place. "Is she always like that?" he asked, gesturing toward Nat, who stood in the doorway waving like an overprotective guardian.

Lana fastened her seatbelt, finally settling into the wicker seat. "Hmm?" she mumbled, distracted by how tiny the car felt. "Oh, Nat? Yeah, she's great!" She gave a half-hearted laugh, her mind elsewhere, still wondering what exactly Lando had planned for the evening.

The engine sputtered to life, and they pulled away from the curb, leaving Nathalie and her antics behind. The night stretched out ahead of them, unknown, awkward, and strange. But something about it all—Lando, the quirky car, the unpredictable night—had Lana feeling a small flicker of excitement she hadn't anticipated. Maybe this would be a good distraction and wouldn't be so bad after all.

Arriving at Blue Bay, a restaurant Lana had visited countless times, the attention was immediate. Several people quickly recognized them, and phones were out, capturing photos of the pair.

"Uh, hang on a sec," Lando said awkwardly, glancing at Lana before walking over to some fans eager for pictures and autographs.

Lana, familiar with this routine from being around Charles, didn't mind. She casually leaned against the car, waiting.

"Excuse me?" A soft voice interrupted her thoughts.

Lana turned and saw a shy girl holding Ferrari merchandise, specifically a red hat clutched tightly in her hands. Lana smiled warmly.

"Hi there," she greeted, nodding toward the hat. "I'm guessing you're looking for Charles to sign that?"

The girl's cheeks turned pink as she nodded, clearly flustered. "Yeah... is he, uh... around?"