The Guy Down the Hall- F1

How to drown by Charles Lechair

March
Pre-season testing, Bahrain.

Funnily enough, Ilaria remembers the exact moment Charles leaned how to swim. It's a weird memory, one she has never discussed with anyone, but she remembers the moment his father let him swim alone in the pool at the house they were staying at for the summer in the south of France. He was indeed old, and by old she means eight years old while she was seven, just an old age to learn how to swim in her opinion.

Ilaria hated those summer vacations her parents took her on every year. She was the only girl, out of like seven boys who would constantly tease and mock her for whatever reason, she hated it. Strolling behind her mother all day instead of going with Arthur or Charles or even Pierre who were the closest to her age.

Watching Charles swim peacefully in the hotel brought a giggle out, and then a chuckle, to then turn into full blown laughter to the point she was wheezing.

She remembers just as if it was yesterday how eight year old Charles screamed and desperately tried to swim to the nearest wall to not drown.

"What is it" he asked, laughing a bit as well by watching her sitting up on the sunlounge.

"You- you swim... so funny" Ilaria struggled to say, to which he only huffs.

Charles got offended, swimming/walking closer to the wall of the pool so he can lean on his arms as he watches with a grin. He always thought she looks more beautiful under the sun, with tanned skin and lighter hair she looks stunning. Even since a young age he couldn't take his eyes off of her in the summer holidays .

"You looked so stupid"

"But it brought a smile to your face"

Suddenly her playful demeanor changes and her smile disappeared. "I still haven't forgiven you"

"For what?" The body of Daniel Ricciardo, or most commonly known as the invader of personal space, sat his fat ass next to Ilaria on the sunlounge, squeezing her to the side.

Ignoring his sudden appearance she kept on speaking, which she got used to in the three days she had been officially a member of the paddock,"He basically sold me as a hooker to Ferrari"

"Now you are exaggerating"

"Just because he wanted to have a Gabriela and Troy Bolton moment" Ilaria completely ignores Charles obvious protests.

"What are you even talking about"

Daniel hums like a psychologist, leaning back on the backrest. "No no, I understand what she means"

"See, someone gets me, unlike this uncultured swine"

"Hey!"

It was a mistake to steal a look at Charles. He was just getting out of the pool by lifting his body up with his muscular arms, water dripping from his body as he walks towards the sunlounge besides hers. Her eyes couldn't leave his body, she has seen him before, naked even, it's not as if they didn't date for years, but now something changed in the way she stared at him.

"Why are you here? Didn't you have a fear cars?"

"Road cars. Trauma is the right word to describe it" thank good God for Daniel at the moment otherwise she would just stare without shame."I'm just here because I know when my father finds out where I'm 'working' he will stop saying what a waste of money my art degree was"

"He does have a point" Charles agrees, which he has no right to, but it soon became a punch line between them to make fun of the biggest regret of her life.

"Nobody asked for your opinion"

"It's really funny how you both interact" the infamous chuckle left Daniel's mouth with a hint of mischief.