bucket list || l. norris

thirteen

* this chapter is probably one of the longest i've ever written. enjoy, and don't forget to vote and comment throughout!! i feel like a lot of you will like this chapter *

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

I dragged my suitcase along the concrete, chewing on my bottom lip as the cold breeze hit me in the face. For a Sunday morning, I was quite tired, but I planned on sleeping for the entire duration of the flight. I didn't really know how to act around Lando, since I'd not spoken directly to him since that morning.

Mum dropped me off at Heathrow and left me only a matter of minutes ago. She could read me like a book and saw how nervous I was feeling about reuniting with Lando. I couldn't put it off any longer. She told me things would be okay and that we would be able to work through it; she knew us, and she'd watched us grow up together, so she knew better than anyone about our relationship. The palms of my hands were sweating as I clung onto my bags, heading inside the terminal and looking around to spot someone from the team. Henrik was the first person I noticed, his height making it easy to find him in a group of people. I smiled, feeling rather at ease at the thought of seeing everyone again.

Then, Lando came into view. I remembered how nervous I was to see him again. He didn't notice me initially, and I was pleased, but Jon seemed to nudge him when he noticed me. I'd spoken to Jon every other day since Lando and I had that argument, mostly about my diet and what I was eating, but also about my best friend. Jon told me he was doing alright and that he was sorry, but, like me, he wanted to wait until we saw one another in person to talk it out. We both needed the time and space to think things through, but from what Jon and Sacha told me, he was sorry for overreacting.

In my nineteen years on this planet, I'd never gone this long without speaking to my best friend. Even if I didn't see him in person, I still heard his voice. It was strange to know that we managed to go so long without speaking. I just hoped he realised that I wasn't interested in Callum like that, especially not enough to provoke us to have sex. My fingertips were trembling at the memory of our argument and knowing hthat Lando was so close, that there was no turning back now.

I noticed that he was moving closer towards me, but I wasn't going anywhere. In fact, I'd stopped in the centre of the terminal building and Lando was heading to me, with a shy smile on his face. Just seeing him made my heart swell. He seemed enthusiastic to see me. I could see the happiness in his eyes, but I could tell by looking at his body language that he was just as nervous as me.

"Hi," shyly, Lando waved at me, chewing on his bottom lip before clasping his hands together. He was dressed comfortably in his matching striped t-shirt and joggers. He looks so cute. "How are you doing?"

It didn't feel awkward or tense, just slightly unusual. The fact that we'd not spoken in a week, even though it felt much longer than that, was clearly at the forefront of both our minds. I chewed on my lip, my fingers clasping even tighter around the handle of my suitcase. I didn't know what to say to him without sounding like a fool. He's your best friend, Mila, he knows you better than anyone. You've got nothing to be scared of.

"I'm alright," it was true. My happiness was growing ever so slightly as I spent longer in Lando's presence. In a few minutes, I would be good, then in another few minutes, I would be great. "How about you?"

"Better now you're here." Lando shoved his hands into the pockets of his joggers, his lips curling upwards into a smile. I didn't understand how we went so long without talking. We had a stupid argument, but it was nothing to fall out over. Life was precious and very short - tomorrow is never promised - so I regretted not speaking to Lando sooner.