WHEN WE WERE YOUNG, lando norris

prologue

august 24th, 2002.

IT WAS THE START OF PRE-SCHOOL, and that's all arabella remembered: the date and what happened. the day she became friends with lando norris.

how, you might ask? well, it's a long story.

---

it all began when she stepped into the fully decorated pre-school classroom, her eyes scanning her new classmates. some were eager to befriend her, while others seemed indifferent. but lando norris, on the other hand, was completely smitten.

the moment he saw her long brown hair in a braid and her big blue eyes, he knew he was a goner. even as a child, he recognized what he liked.

and he liked arabella.

that was until she yanked the crayon right out of his hand while he was colouring a race car. "hey! i was using that—" he stuttered, watching arabella walk back to her table. fueled by determination, he called after her, "come back! i—"

"what do you want?" arabella shot back, her sass evident. "this was the last crayon in this colour, and it's my favorite! find another!"

"but i wanted this one!" lando protested, stomping his feet in frustration. arabella looked back, scoffing, neither child willing to back down.

"too bad!" arabella placed her hands on her hips and continued toward her table. lando chased her down and tapped her shoulder again. "arabella, give it back, please! i also like that colour." he tried to sound polite, remembering his mother's advice: "ask nicely if you want something." he thought it would work this time.

"muốn thi tự lấy đi." (if you want it, go get it yourself.) arabella replied in vietnamese, her secret weapon. if she wanted to talk about someone without them knowing, vietnamese was her go-to.

"arabella, i don't know that language! but i want my crayon back!" lando insisted, his irritation clear as he crossed his arms and glared at her.

"boohoo!" arabella stuck her tongue out, mirroring his crossed arms. "cái thằng này." she muttered under her breath; it was just a crayon!

"arabella and lando! outside, you two go!" the teacher's voice cut through the air, startling both children. while lando stomped his way out, arabella strutted, her mother having taught her better than to stomp in public.

"what on earth just happened in there?" the teacher asked, but lando, ever stubborn, interrupted.

"arabella stole my crayon!" he exclaimed. "i've been asking her for it back, but she just said 'no,' miss!" he glared at arabella, still pouting with crossed arms.

"it was my favorite colour, miss!" arabella shot back. "he kept stomping his feet like a little baby! what was i supposed to do, give in?"

"enough! both of you, you'll stay out here until you learn your lesson!" the teacher declared, leaving them outside to "talk" it out.

as they stood in silence, refusing to speak, lando grew bored and pulled out his snack box from his dinosaur backpack. munching on his crackers, he noticed arabella stealing glances at his food. despite his irritation, he offered her one, he still fancied the girl for god sakes.

after they finished, arabella handed back the papaya-colored crayon. much to her surprise, lando broke it in half, giving her the better half. from that day on, it became their routine: whenever arabella wanted a color lando was using, he'd break it in half and hand her the larger piece—before she could yank it away.

and that was how they met.

thank goodness for that silly orange crayon.

isa's note:
i'm writing so much for this story yet my writers block for intertwined lovers is still VERY bad

how to unblock writers block tutorial please thanks

hope you lot enjoyyyyyyy<33

bisous bisous,
isabui