Lock Up ⏐Charles Leclerc

Chapter 11

Charles and I were set to meet up after lunch before going to Leo's vineyard. I woke up early today to get in a morning workout since my afternoon would be too occupied. Last night, Charles walked me back to my house after playing a few more songs on the piano, giving me a hug before he turned around to go home.

I needed a few hours to myself so I drove to a nearby farm that was the first one to appear on my internet search. It was a weekday so they were able to accommodate me for a horse riding session. I wasn't a professional but it was one of the few things my father taught me whenever we'd be in France. Usually when I needed some time to think by myself, I'd paint or head to the flower fields, but ever since I brought Charles there, the place didn't seem like it was my own anymore. It felt ours and it terrifies me to think that I was perfectly fine with that.

The farm's owner greeted me as I walked into the small restaurant they had in the area. It had an open view of the fields behind it, showing the mountains in the background. The brief was short since I already informed them that I've been riding since I was ten. I was only wearing a pair of dark blue jeans, a sweater, and black riding boots that went up until my knees.

The horse I was given, Midnight, was a jet black Maremmano that grew up in the farm. Treading carefully, I gently slid my hands over her mane. She didn't react violently which I took as a good sign as I gently pulled on her reigns to head out to the fields. Midnight didn't give me that much of a hard time, letting me get used to her for a few minutes as we took a slow trip in the fields. It was fifteen minutes later when our speed increased and I leaned my body forward as the wind breezed through me.

It felt exhilarating to have nothing but the mountains around me. When I no longer had the view of the farm behind us, I pulled on Midnight's reigns to slow her down. Relishing in the peaceful ambiance, I pulled out my phone and took a picture, sending it to the small group chat I had with my parents. Not even five minutes later, my phone began to vibrate and papa's name flashed on the screen.

"Bonjour, papa." [Hello, dad.] I greeted, holding my phone with one hand while the other held the reigns.

"Valentine, comment va ma petite fille?" [Valentine, how's my little girl doing?]

I took a deep breath before answering him, knowing that whatever coverup I give he'd see right through it. "Juste faire de l'équitation." [Just doing some riding.]

"Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas?" [What's wrong?] My father knew that riding was a hobby that I only participated in whenever I needed some time to myself. He's found me on plenty occasions in the past riding on a horse with a frown on my face. "C'est à propos de ce garçon dont ta mère a parlé?" [Is this about that boy your mom talked about?]

"Papa." [Dad.] I groaned, running a hand through my hair in frustration as he chuckled on the other end of the line.

"Ah, ça l'est." [Ah, it is.]

"Je ne veux pas en parler." [I don't want to talk about it.]

"Alors pourquoi as-tu pris le téléphone?" [Then why'd you pick up the phone?]

He had a point. After a few more minutes of silence wherein he patiently waited, I began talking. I told him about how Charles and I met to the days we've spent together. He didn't interrupt me, letting me get out all the thoughts that have been running through my mind endlessly. I told him about what Charles did for a living and he admitted that he knew of him from the few races he's watched. We didn't dwell on that topic though, because I wanted him to see Charles from my eyes and not as an F1 driver.

I shared my fears and the reasons I told Aurora, comparing my past relationships to the potential of having more than a friendship with Charles.

"Je ne sais pas, papa. Suis-je simplement naïf ? Je ne le connais que depuis dix jours." [I don't know, dad. Am I being naive? I've only known him for ten days.] I asked after sharing everything I thought of with him.