Dear Lando - Book Two

𝟸𝟹 ♡ Before The Day Is Over

Before The Day Is Over By Joji

The mood was unmistakably heavy as they boarded the plane in Japan for their flight back to Monaco. Lando and Lana barely exchanged a word as they settled into their seats, the aftermath of their argument over the race lingering between them like a storm cloud refusing to dissipate.

Hour after hour passed in awkward silence, the usual banter absent, replaced with unspoken tension. Lando had slipped his headphones on, keeping his eyes glued to the screen in front of him, while Lana stared out of the window, lost in thought. 

It was strange—usually, they both tolerated the proximity forced upon them by this arrangement. But today, even the small armrest between them felt like it held a boundary neither was willing to cross. The occasional murmur of conversation from other drivers and the hum of the plane's engines provided the only distraction from the silence.

The plane touched down in Nice late in the evening. Both remained quiet, the tension unbroken as they moved through the airport and got into the waiting car. Lando drove, his knuckles tight on the wheel, the soft rumble of the car engine filling the void where their conversation would have been.

For a long while, nothing was said. The streets of Monaco blurred past the windows, the neon lights casting fleeting colors across Lana's face. She sighed, leaning back into her seat, her gaze focused on the view outside.

Finally, Lando spoke up, his voice breaking through the strained quiet. "Look... about Japan," he began, his tone hesitant, as though weighing each word before it left his lips. "I'm sorry. I was upset, and I took it out on you."

Lana remained quiet for a moment, taking in his words. She let out a slow breath, finally turning her gaze towards him. His eyes remained fixed on the road, but there was a vulnerability in the way he held himself, waiting for her response.

"I appreciate the apology, Lando," she said softly, her voice sincere but edged with exhaustion. "But maybe... we should just appreciate that we get to go to our separate houses for tonight."

Lando's jaw clenched slightly, but he nodded. "Yeah, maybe you're right," he admitted, his eyes briefly flickering to meet hers before returning to the road. "I guess... this is just harder than I thought it'd be."

Lana let out a small, humorless chuckle. "You and me both." She shifted her gaze back to the window, watching as they approached the familiar streets of Monaco.

They pulled up to Lana's house, and for the first time in hours, they exchanged a glance—one that was tired but understanding.

"See you later, Lando," she said, her hand on the door handle.

"Yeah," he replied, his voice softer now. "See you, Red."

With that, she stepped out of the car, giving him a small nod before disappearing into the building. Lando watched her until she was out of sight, then let out a deep sigh, resting his forehead briefly against the steering wheel. He wished things could be less complicated, but he knew better than anyone that in their world, nothing ever really was.

Lana woke up feeling groggy, the result of a restless sleep. It was her first night in weeks without Lando around, and she found herself oddly uncomfortable without his presence. On top of that, their recent argument had left a sour taste in her mouth. She tried to shake off the uneasy feeling as she got herself ready, deciding she needed to focus on something else—like the family lunch she had to attend with the Leclercs.

Lana was just about to head out the door when a sudden knock interrupted her. Confused, she opened it to find none other than Lando standing there, looking a little sheepish but with a playful glint in his eyes.