Behind walls

chapter thirteen

Julie POV

Today morning my doctor said I can walk around without the crutches again. Best day ever they were so annoying.
I'm sitting at alpha tauris waiting for my brother. He's now out of the race.
I see him walking our way with sad steps. I go over to him and give him a hug.
"Are you okay?", I ask him.
"Sure", he says.
"Don't be disappointed okay? Next time will be better"
"I hope so", he says and walks away. I let him go. I feel like he needs some time now.
I continue watching the race sitting on my chair very tense.
It doesn't get better as Charles takes the lead. I think I'm not even breathing properly. I really hope he wins today but god has other plans. Sainz overtakes Charles and after Perez does too.
Today's not really a good race for some of them. The race ends and Carlos wins. Charles places fourth.
I walk over to the ferrari garage and see Charles sitting there alone again.
"Hey". He gives me no response.
"Can I sit next to you". He nods.
I sit down and take him into my arms.
"Next race you'll win I feel it"
"Julie don't lie please. We both know I won't"
"Charles Marc Hervé Perceval Leclerc, I don't like that attitute and negativity of yours. You're made to be a winner so don't drown in self-pitty. Your Charles fucking Leclerc so act like it alright?", I say and he looks at me shocked.
"What? I can talk with that attitude too. Do you like it?"
"No not really", he says cracking a smile.
"You see? But for real now. You are Charles Leclerc and you have the things to win this so don't be down after one race. Next race you'll win alright. I'm gonna wear a ferrari shirt again and the hat for double luck"
"Sounds like a good plan", he's now smiling at me like an idiot.
"I know. All of my plans are awesome. And now let's go see the podium Carlos won."
He gets up and helps me too after. We walk over to the podium and cheer for Carlos. He takes his trophy and smiles from ear to ear while Charles and I are shouting frantically. The three start spraying eachother with champaign like little kids with water guns. It's a really beautiful moment to witness. Their pure happyness and proudness. 
Afterwards Carlos comes running at us and hugs us both tight.
"I won. Haha I won", he says starting to jump around like a little child again.
"Yeah you did. Congratulations", I say.
"Congratulations mate", Charles says too with a forced smile. I can see the way it bothers him.
"Okay if you excuse me I have to talk to my family now and call Isa", Carlos says starting to walk away. We say bye and make our way back. On the way we see a lot of fans and Charles gives them all autographs and takes a photo with them. 
He's taking a picture with a little boy as the boy says: "It's not bad that you didn't win. You're still my hero Charles".
Charles turns around to the boy and says: "Thank you young man. What's your name?"
"My name's William"
"Can I take a picture with you William?", he asks and also looks over to the parents that nare nodding.
I take out my phone to take the picture.
"Okay. 1, 2, 3, say cheese"
"Cheeeeese", they both say and I take the picture.
"Thank you mate", Charles says and gives him a fist bump before walking back over to me.
I show him the picture and say: "God that was the sweetest boy I've ever seen"
"Right?", he says and we both start laughing.
We walk back to the garage and get Charles things before heading back to the hotel. 
Next stop is Austria.

Charles POV

I just finished packing my things and sit down on my phone. I see that Julie sent me a photo so I click on it. It's the picture of me and the little boy William. 
I post it on my instagram account with the caption: Love my fans.
I smile a little and take a look at the time. In five minutes Julie, Carlos, Lando, Pierre and me agreed to meet at the reception to go to the jet afterwards.
I quickly grab my bags and start walking down the hallway and get inside the elevator. I'm already five minutes late when I arrive downstairs but only the boys are sitting there.
"Where's Julie?", I ask.
"Don't know man", Lando says.
"I already texted her. She sayd she's coming", Pierre says.
I take a seat next to them and wait for Julie to arrive. She arrives about ten minutes later.
"Where were you?", Pierre asks.
"In my room?", she snaps back.
"Very funny. Let's leave", Pierre says and walks away.
Julie looks a little bit pale.
"Is everything okay?", I ask her in the car.
"Yes sure I just don't feel very well right now. I have a really bad headache and I feel like I could vomit all over the place."
"Oh no. Do you need something?", I say.
"No thanks I just want to sleep"
"Come on. Lay down", I say and point to my lap.
She lays her head in my lap and closes her eyes.
"Is everything okay back there?", Lando asks.
"Yes. She just doesn't feel very good. She's sleeping now", I say and gently stroke her head.
"Do you need anything?", Carlos asks.
"No we're good", I say and continue looking at her.
When we arrive at the airport she's already sleeping. I gently wake her up and help her to get out of the car. I take her inside the jet and sit her down. I want to sit on the seat across of her but she says: "Can you please sit next to me?"
I nod and sit on the seat next to her. She immediately lays her head in my lap again and tries to fall asleep again.
"Charles I'm cold"
"On it", I gently lift her head up and get up from my seat to ask one of the flight attendants for a blanket.
"Here"
I sit down again and she makes herself comfortable. Gently I put the blanket on her and stroke her head a little again. After a few minutes she falls asleep and so do I

Julie POV

I wake up in the jet. I lift my head up and sit normally again. Charles is deeply sleeping. I take out my phone and see the time. We've been flying for about an hour now. I see that Lando tagged me in a photodump. It's a picture of me and Charles sleeping in the jet. I look up o see him already smiling at me.
"The picture's cute isn't it?", he asks.
"It is", I say and look down at my phone again. I can't help myself but smile a little.
Suddenly a feeling of pure sickness overcomes me.
I run to the bathroom and start to vomit.

Charles POV

I get woken up by Julie rushing towards the toilet. I look at Lando questioningly and he shrugs his shoulders. Quickly I get up and knock on the door.
"Julie are you okay?"
The door gets unlocked and I open it only to find her sitting on the ground her head leaning over the toilet.
"Wait I'll hold your hair", I say and rush to sit down next to her. I take her hair in one hand and with the other I rub her back. After about ten minutes Lando comes too.
"Is everything okay?", Lando asks.
"No she's vomiting since ten minutes straight and it doesn't look like it's stopping anytime soon", I say.
"Okay I'll get some water", Lando says and rushes away. He comes back about half a minute later with water bottles. One of the flight attendants asks if we need anything but we say no.
We can't do much now can we?
"I'm okay re-", Julie starts to say but has to lean her head over the toilet again.
This goes on for about another thirty minutes until it finally stops.
"I think I'm okay now", she says and I help her get up. I take her to our seats and we sit down again. She lays her head on me again and starts to rest.
"Is everything okay?", Pierre asks me again. He also came to the toilet but Julie sent him away. Understandable. If I would be vomiting all over the place I also wouldn't want too many people standing there.
"She's alright now", I say and give him a slight smile.
The rest of the flight I stay awake in case she needs something. Julie although finally falls asleep and stays sleeping until we land in Austria.