APPETENCE | c. leclerc & m. verstappen [+18]

01. first sight

"I never craved attention, until I tasted yours."
♪ people you know by selena gomez

Walking into the Paddock for the first time as a Formula One Driver was a strange and new feeling for Charles. He was proud of himself. He really did it. It was his childhood dream come true. The journey to Formula One was never an easy one for him, losing important people on the way made this way more difficult for him. But in the end all these bad moments made him only fight more for what he wanted since he was little child. He knew that they were watching over him and they would be very proud of him.

The first time seeing the red car in the streets of Monaco, was the moment Charles knew what his life goal was. He wanted to be the driver of the red Ferrari Car. And now his dream of Formula One became a reality. Charles felt like he was dreaming. He couldn't believe that this was his life now. Every hour of hard work now paid of and got him to this point in his life.

"Charles, are you listening to me?", Andrea asked beside him as they walked through the paddock in Melbourne. Everything was overwhelming at this moment, Charles glanced at his friend and coach to his right. "I would lie if I say yes.", he said jokingly and saw Andrea laughing. "I know it's a lot at the moment but this your first Grand Prix in F1 so we need to discuss some things...", Charles tried his best to listen to everything but he couldn't. He felt like his world was moving way faster since he signed his contract with Alfa Romeo. This was the day he knew that he is only one step away from the Ferrari Cockpit. That was all he ever dreamed of. "I give up. You're not listening to me.", Andrea complained as he saw that Charles mind drifted away again to god knows where. "I'm sorry.", was all Charles replied and gave him an apologetic smile. "It's okay, we can talk about it later.", he said with a smile.

"It's crazy, isn't it?", Andrea added a few seconds later as they walked in the direction of the Alfa Romeo Motorhome. "It is. I can't believe it actually.", Charles looked around and saw a few other Drivers walking around the Paddock. He was one of them now. "You deserve this, Charles. I'm so proud of you, we all are.", he knew that Andrea meant it serious and that he never would say something like that just because he works for him or because they are good friends. He was always loyal and honest with him. "Thank you.", Charles smiled at him and noticed that they were already at the motorhome. "Lets go inside. We really need to discuss some things and also the team needs you in 20 minutes.", being an Formula One Driver was not always fun, it also came with a lot of responsibilities and tasks. The Parts no one ever showed to young drivers. Charles already noticed at the Formula One Testing Days that this was so much different to every racing series he was ever competing in.

Charles nodded and stepped towards the motorhome, he was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice that his shoe lace are not tied anymore. He was snapped out of his thoughts a few seconds later because he tripped over his own feet as he stepped on his own shoe lace. "Please, try not to break your neck before Sunday.", Andrea joked as he grabbed Charles at his arm before he could fall down. "I'll try my best, I can't promise it.", he replied and thanked Andrea with a smile. "I'll tie my shoes very quickly. Can you grab us something to drink? It's very hot here.", Andrea nodded with a smile on his lips and walked away from Charles inside the motorhome of Alfa Romeo.

Charles sighed as he looked down on his right shoe. He needs to concentrate and focus on the Grand Prix, he knew that but everything was so new and exciting. It felt overwhelming. He was stressed and felt so much pressure on him, mostly from himself. He always wanted to be the best, giving his best and be a good racing driver. He got into Formula One. It was in his goals in life, he got it now, he had other dreams and goals to achieve. Wining a Grand Prix, wining a world championship and join the Ferrari Team, he needed to focus on that. Nothing in this world could stop him from reaching his goals, he wouldn't allow anything to distract him from getting where he wanted to be.

He knelt down to tie his shoe lace, he didn't want to trip over his own feet again. As he tied his shoe lace he heard a lot of noises in the distance. He heard people running and asking questions in a very hurried tone. Charles furrowed his eyebrows as the steps came closer, he didn't want to get run over so he rushed to tie his shoe. After he finished he glanced up at the people rushing by. He saw all the news reporter and photographer running towards someone. From his position he didn't saw the person at first. He looked around the paddock and saw the people walking past him again but this time they were all focused on one person in the middle.

Charles looked up again and felt his world stop moving around him. The last months he knew that this moment would come. He had to face it someday but he thought that he could avoid it for as long as possible. He was over it, wasn't he? Was there anything to be over? He didn't know actually. Still he didn't know how to react to the scene in front of him. He froze in his place and just looked up at the person walking by a few meters away from him. Nothing prepared him for this moment. It has been a few years since they last saw each other, it's the first time that they compete against each other again. So many different feelings rushed through Charles mind and body, he was confused. For a second he didn't know what to feel or think, he never could describe this feelings he felt. He stared at Max for a few seconds, which for him felt like a couple of minutes actually.

His eyes laid way too long on the dutch driver, he knew that. But somehow seeing Max gave him kind of a comfortable feeling, finally someone he knew. Max didn't notice Charles at all in this moment. Charles didn't notice any major changes on the young Red Bull Driver, he got older and taller but beside that he seemed to be still the same person as a few years ago.

In all these years both didn't know what they were. Friends? Rivals? Enemies? It was complicated, it was always complicated with Max. Charles was never sure if Max even liked him at all, sometimes he did but he wasn't sure about it.

Would this ever change? Charles furrowed his eyebrows as he saw the Red Bull Driver walking away in the distance. Max always made him doubt so many things in his life.