garden. | lando norris

[9] alyssum.

"her heart was a secret garden and the walls were very high."

ADESSA

"I need to go," I spat getting up from my seat and running away like if my life depends on that. Even though some screams tried to stop me, I was so ashamed of myself to stop.

As soon as I enter the garden, I hide between the blooming flowers. Everything is strange and silent and I seem to be hundreds of miles away from anyone, but somehow I do not feel lonely at all.

"Have you ever wonder which kind of flower you are?" His voice echoes through the empty garden along with the birds singing. I jump in my place as I feel my cheeks red because of the shame. He stares deeply at me. "Have you?" He insists as I slowly deny with my head. "Today is your lucky day," He smiles.

"Why?" I hesitate to wonder.

"You are a rose," He declares as he hands me the one he has been holding this whole time.

I frown at his statement. "How do you know?"

"You carefully take care of your blossoms, you require regular care and attention to grow," He stops to stare at me. "You are the type of girl who will laugh with you until your side hurts, pink in cheeks and tears in eyes. The type of girl who will never let go of your hand no matter what. The girl who blushes easily and loves strongly. The type of girl to write you loves songs that she has no intention of you ever finding out about." He takes a seat beside me at the bench.

"And what about the thorns?" I manage to ask.

"Your thorns are the best part of you," He flashes a smile and I raise a brow.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Means that you are just growing, beautiful. You are very independent but still needs someone you just always act so strong but I know when you find someone who loves you you'll fully rely on them which is scary but true," He places his hand on top of mine. "Des, I'm so scared of losing you. I like you a lot; the late-night talks, the inside jokes, the way I'm so confident around you; I don't ever want to lose anything of that," His hazel eyes stare at me worriedly.

"I never knew what it was like to fall in love with my best friend until I fell in love with you." I smile sadly. "It was sudden, but a long time coming. I could feel myself falling deeper but it wasn't till I hit the ground that I knew I had been falling." I take my hand under his to play with my fingers. "I'm sorry," I manage to let out in a shaky voice.

"Sorry for what?" He asks.

My eyes ache with the weight of unshed tears. "You are my home, do you not understand?"

"I do," He softly murmurs. "Talking to you is like coming home and I haven't been home in a long time... I hope you'll bring me back home one day soon."

I look up at him confused. "Do you have feelings for me?" I question in a whisper and he nods.

"I wanted to tell you how special you are to me but I couldn't because I was risking the only way i can be with you for a life time, being friends." He explains.

"What?" I gasp.

"Des, I love being friends with you. I love how easy everything is between us. I love being able to expose my secrets to you. I love hearing your stupid stories. I love mocking you and watching you stumble closer into my orbit. I love feeling your breath on my neck, feeling your soft gaze on mine, feeling your laughter against my chest. Feeling, feeling, feeling everything – even what I'm not supposed to feel. Sharing, sharing, sharing everything – except what I feel for you, except how I fell for 'just a friend'."

"You deserve better," I spat burying my face in my hands as he frowns.

"What are you saying, love?" He speaks as he slowly and softly takes my hands off my face. "I'm with you. No matter what else you have in your head, I'm with you and I love you," He shows a soft smile.

"Lando," I gasp. "How did you find me?" I ask and he curves his lips a bit.

"Once you told me that somewhere beyond right and wrong, there is a garden and you will meet me there," He smirks at the memory.

I lean over him and hold his head in my hands and kiss him.