Lock Up ⏐Charles Leclerc

Chapter 23

Late post because I was out with friends so please expect a few typos 😅

Enjoy!

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The last thing I remember before falling asleep was Milo almost falling off the bed. Now, I was awakened by the bits of sunlight peeking through the curtains. I was about to turn over but a heavy weight didn't allow me and I looked down to see an arm lying over my waist. I whipped my head to the left only to come face to face with Charles' sleeping face.

He was lying down on his chest, right cheek pressed against the pillow as he took slow and steady breaths. He looked peaceful, eyebrows not scrunched up in frustration. His facial hair had grown since the last time I saw him but I know he'd trim it before the race, complaining how it felt uncomfortable under his balaclava. I lifted my hand to brush against the small mark he had on his left cheek but withdrew it when I realized what I was doing.

Slowly lifting his arm off of me, I sat up and headed straight to my closet to get some clothes before I showered. I don't know what we were going to do today but I was thinking of just doing a little bit of shopping for my friends and family. There's still a month left of filming but I know my schedule is going to be hectic and I wouldn't have the time anymore.

I wore a thick white shirt and high waist jeans, saving the leather jacket for later. When I walked out of the bathroom, Charles was already awake and leaned over the bed as he went through his phone. "Morning." I greeted, running the towel over my hair to let it dry.

"Good morning." He smiled, voice lower than it usually is.

"Is there any place you want to visit today?"

Charles thought about it for a moment, "There's this shop I want to stop by near the basilica. Apart from that, it's up to you."

I walked over to where he was and pulled on his arm, causing him to stand up, hair still ruffled from sleep. "Great. Now, get ready because we're leaving in twenty minutes."

While Charles was in the bathroom, I answered some messages and a few emails that Olivia had forwarded to me. She sent me the sketches from the designer that I was partnering with for the Met Gala. After the wrap party in April, I'd be attending a lot of events including the Cannes Film Festival and the premiere of a movie that I filmed a year and a half ago. The Met was a big thing and I made sure to be heavily involved in the design of the dress, not wanting to veer off of the theme. I wanted to take Navi, but it'd be conflicting with uni. Thankfully, Milo and Elliana would be there though so I'd still have a few people to keep me company.

Charles and I had to grab something to eat first, so we walked towards a cafe near the Danube Bank. He thought we were going to stay inside the cafe, but I brought him outside where we could sit next to the Shoes on Danube Bank. The memorial was far smaller compared to that of Ground Zero in New York, but it held the same amount of importance in the air.

"So," I said, crumpling the wrapper of my sandwich and placing it in my purse for later when I find a trash bin. We were both wearing caps because unlike last night, it'd be easy to recognize us in a place like this. I let my hair down as well while Charles wore some sunglasses. "Why are you really in Budapest?"

"What do you mean?" Charles asked, still in the middle of eating.

"Charles, we both know you should be preparing for the season right now yet here you are. There's something else." He gave me a look that said how'd you know? I shrugged my shoulders in return. "I know you."

A smile formed on his face before he took the last bite of his sandwich and kept the wrapper as well. "I'm scared."

"Of getting on the track?"