The unknown driver

chapter fourty-five

Amelia POV

I wake up to Charles' annoying alarm. God I didn't miss that part.
"Amelia get up. We have to be at the paddock in half an hour", Charles says but I close my eyes again and turn around.
"Amelia get up. Now.", he says and pulls my cover away.
"You're so annoying"
I get up and get my clothes from the bathroom. I'm just about to walk out of the door when I hear him say: "Amelia wait"
I turn around and wait for his answer.
"Do you want to come with me? I mean to the paddock."
He looks at me with hopefull eyes.
"Yeah sure. I'll be here in twenty minutes", I say with a smile on my face as I walk out of the door and close it behind me.

Charles POV

I hear a knock on the door.
"Hey Amelia I-.", I say as I open the door but stop as I see who it is.
"Hey Charles. Good Morning to you too. I wanted to ask you if you want to come with me but I guess you asked the same question someone else already?", he asks.
I take a look at the hallway to make sure nobody's there and heard what he just said before I pull him inside.
"So you two talked?", he asks me.
"Yes we did"
"How did it go?"
"Actually pretty good. We talked about everything and I think I still have a chance with her."
"You think? Why?"
"Because she told me she still loves me and just said she didn't so I'd find someone better."
"Wow okay. Don't you think it's a little fast?"
"No. I want to be with her."
"Yes but Charles she hurt you. You hurt eachother. You two should go slow if you ask me but if you don't think so then I won't bother you with my opinion."
"Carlos I can't wait anymore okay? I've been waiting for four months now and I don't have any patience left."
"Okay but promise me to think a little before you take decisions. It's not because I don't want you two together. Belive me I'm the biggest Chamelia fan but I don't want you to get hurt again like that okay?"
"Sure don't worry", I say and we smile a little.
A knock at the door.
"Are you ready to leave?", she asks me as I open the door for her.
"Yes sure. Uhm Carlos is here too", I say and step to the side a little so Carlos can walk through.
"He could drive with us or not?"
We both look at him and he says: "Yes. If you don't mind"
"We don't mind mate. Let's leave", I say and take my things before I close the door.

We arrive at the paddock and she gets out of the car on the passenger side. The paparazzi immediately notice us and take pictures and shout their questions at us. We just keep walking until we're in a less crowded area. Amelia waves to a few people with a camera before she says goodbye to us and walks into the redbull garage. 
We walk into the garage and the whole crew looks at me.
"What?", I ask but they all say: "Nothing" and shake their heads before they go back to work.
I give Carlos a questioning look and he starts laughing.
"Why were they all looking like that?", I ask him.
"Because we came here with Amelia", he says and smiles.
"Oh"
I brush it off and we go straight to work. We start with reaction exercices and everything before we have some media appointments again. Soon the race is about to start.

Amelia POV

"Fuck", I say as redbulls second driver falls to the back of the grid. It feels shitty to not be able to drive your car yourself. My wrist still hurts a lot but I'll start driving again next week. It hurts but I need to if I want to win a championship.
I concentrate on the race again. My body is tense. 
Half of the race goes by well until Charles tries to overtake Max and take the lead. Max obviously doesn't let him trough. We all now Max he would never let someone just do that. They fight. Maxs car leaves the track at a corner and Charles' in the next. 
Suddenly they both drive off the track and into the barriers. Max didn't leave Charles enough space. 
"What the fuck", Horner next to me shouts and throws off his headphones.
The red flag goes out and all the cars come into the pit lane. 
"Max are you okay?", one of the startegists asks.
"Yes. Yes I am", he says and we see him get out of the car. Charles is still sitting inside though.
"Is Charles okay?", I ask Christian.
"I don't know. Let's hope so", he says and looks at the screen again.
Max is standing next to his car already but Charles isn't coming out. Max walks over to him and starts talking but Charles isn't responding. Soon the medical people arrive and take Charles out of the car. They take his helmet off and lay him down on the grass. 
His head starts moving.
Thank god. I let out a breath of relief.
"Is it okay if I-?", I say and take of my headphones.
"Sure. Go see if he's okay", Chirstian says and I take off running towards the ferrari garage.
"Is Charles okay?", I ask Isa as I see her. 
She gives me a quick hug and says: "Yes he was just unconciouse for a second but he's fine now. He should be here any second"
"Why here? He has to go to the hospital or at least to the medical station"
"He said he doesn't want to. I don't know"
"Where is he?", Carlos asks as he gets out of his car.
"He should be here any second", Isa says and gives him a hug.
We wait there until Charles walks inside.
"I'm fine really", he says annoyed to the medical people that walk next to him. They back off and walk away.
"Charles you're okay", I say and walk up to him. He hugs me tight.
"I'm okay don't worry", he says and smiles.
"What happend mate?", Carlos asks.
"He didn't leave me enough space and caused us both to crash. I must've hit my head or something.", he says.
"You should get yourself checked Charles", Isa says.
"No I'm fine", he says and walks away towards the strategists. 
"What's wrong with him?", Isa asks.
Carlos shruggs his shoulders and I say: "He's probably just mad at himself because he didn't get the result he wanted. He thought the first race of the season would be better"
"Why do you know that?", Carlos asks.
"Because I know Charles", I say and Isa smiles at Carlos.
I get a call from Christian asking if everything's okay. I tell him yes before he tells me to come back again because they need me.
"I have to leave again. Good luck Carlos for the rest of the race and Isa please tell Charles that I had to leave. I'll come after the race again"
She nods and I walk back again.
They all look at me.
"He's okay. Nothing serious" and they all sigh in relief before going back to work.
"Where's Max?"
"He's at the garage but he should be coming over any second.", Christian says.
"He's probably mad at himself", I say.
"Hell yes he is.", he says and looks at the screen again watching as the race continues.
I notice Max walking over to us.
"Are you okay?", I ask him and give him a quick hug.
"Yes. Yes I'm okay. Nothing happend", he says.
"What the fuck happend Max?", Christian asks him with a sudden tone of anger.
"He just-"
"Not he. Max you didn't leave him enough space causing you both to crash. Pull yourself together alright?"
"Yes Christian", Max says and starts watching the race too.
I can feel the tension between the two. I mean I totally get why. Max could've died and also the car's probably trash now. I would be mad too if I was Christian.
We all watch the race together and Max and I leave to watch the podium.
Lewis won, Carlos got second and George third. 
On our way there we meet Charles. Max apologizes but if looks could kill they would both be dead now. Sometimes I don't get their fights. They can fight over literally everything. Especially on the track. They are like an elderly couple. One of them does something and the other gets mad. That's how it works between them. But their still good friends. They only battle on the track but off the track their for real good friends. 
Carlos, George and Lewis walk up to us.
"Congratulations"
We all congratulate them.
"How's your arm?", Lewis asks.
"Better. It doesn't hurt anymore. I'll be racing again next week", I say.
"Great. Finally some competition", he says and laughs.
We say goodbye to eachother again and walk away. I go to the garage and tell everyone goodbye before I go to ferraris again.
"Charles is still changing", Carlos says and smiles at me.
"Thank you", I say and smile back and watch him leave with Isa. They're such a sweet couple. She comes to a lot of races and everything. She's always there for him and aways supports him no matter what.
"Are you ready to leave?", I ask Charles as he walks over to me.
"Sure", he says and we walk to his car. 
In the hotel we say goodbye to eachother before we go to our rooms. I don't know if I'll see him the next few days because I have to fly to England for some training for the next race.
We will see I guess.