The encounter of a lifetime - Charles Lerclerc

Chapter 13

For tonight Charles has offered me to come to a dinner that the drivers all have together before the Grands Prix. There will be all the drivers I like and I'm so happy to meet them even if I'm super stressed. I decided to dress rather simply even if it remains classy. Black suit-style pants with a white top with a V-neck. To contrast the outfit, I wear sneakers so as not to overdo it. Charles put on some jeans with a really basic t-shirt. We join the others in the restaurant of the hotel where the Mclaren pilots are staying. When we arrive, the others are already seated, so we join them. At the table are Daniel Ricciardo, Lando Norris, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz, George Russell and Alex Albon. In other words, pilots that I LOVE. I find myself sitting between Charles and Daniel Ricciardo. I really think that Daniel is my second favorite pilot and he's also the funniest in my opinion. I am so glad to be next to him. The pilots speak to each other in English, but fortunately, I am very comfortable with this language. My studies are bilingual French-English so I'm used to it. Even if I admit that when they go into technical-type conversations saying the name of all the parts of the car it's hard to understand.

The evening passes quite quickly. All the pilots are very funny and kind. They are all happy to see me and bother Charles a bit by constantly telling him that they are convinced that he is a "duck" with me. Even if I don't see how the fact that a man is romantic and attentive with his girlfriend is negative, I admit that it really makes me laugh. Especially since I see that Charles is upset at their joke.

We finish eating and head towards the exit of the hotel. Charles is talking with his teammate Carlos, so Pierre decides to come to talk to me.

Pierre: So tell me, isn't he too boring? I have known him for a long time and I know that he is complicated to live with.
Emma: No really, everything is fine. Why do you say he is to live with?
Pierre: Because he has a "strong head". When he gets angry it's complicated.
Emma: He never got mad at me so no.
Pierre: Good then. Anyway, I hope it will work out between you two because you seem really nice.
Emma: Thanks, you too. You already looked nice when I saw you on TV or like that, and now it only confirms what I thought about you.
Peter: Haha thank you. If you're ever interested, on Sunday my friend Katerina is coming to see the grand prize. If you ever want to go eat with her first or whatever I think she would be happy. She doesn't have a lot of girl friends in Formula One world, and I think you could get along really well.
Emma: Yes it would be nice to see her.

I am in love with Pierre's girlfriend. This girl is gorgeous and looks so sweet. I would really like to get to know her and why not become friends with her.

On the way back to the hotel I thought about what Pierre said to me. I can't imagine Charles getting meanly mad at anyone. Although it's true that he seemed rather protective given the two times he had fought for me when he didn't even know me that well yet. I decide to forget that and bury it in a corner of my head. I don't want to ask myself 45,000 questions about all this. So far so good and that's what matters.

***

The day of the Grand Prix has finally arrived!! After two days of practice and qualifying, it's time for the race. Charles left early this morning, leaving me alone in the room. I have an appointment with Katerina for lunch to eat with her. I decide to get ready with a rather simple outfit but take in my bag all my Ferrari stuff that I took from home. I decided to put them on for the Grand Prix to fully support Charles, but I prefer to put them on once I get to the circuit. For now, I want to be well-dressed to meet this bomb.

The restaurant where we meet is very nice. It is small but there is everything you need. Katerina takes a dish that looks super healthy, and for my part, I take meat with fries, because I can't come to Belgium without tasting their fries. We talk a lot during the meal and we hang on really well. This girl is very sweet and kind. She really is the perfect girl in every way. Always beautiful and primed, and additionally with a gold interior. We spoke a mix of three languages: English because we both speak it very well, a little French because she is learning it as she is in a relationship with Pierre, and also a little Spanish because I had learned this language at school. To hear each other is a disaster but between us, we understand each other. At the end of the meal we exchange our numbers and we promise to eat again together at the next grand prix where we will both go.

We then go to the circuit and we separate, she goes to Alpha Tauri and I to Ferrari. The lady at the front desk tells me that Charles is in his room getting ready for the race. I decide to go up to him, say hello, take my bag and go to the bathroom. I change into my Scuderia t-shirt with his number on it, and rush back to his room. Charles is back and does not see me right away.

Charles: During the race you can go and sit in the gar... *he turns and sees me with my little embarrassed smile not yet too sure how he's going to react*. Oh Emma is too cute you took a sweater to support me.
Emma: I was afraid that you would find it bad to wear it as the other people who accompany are almost never dressed like that. Especially the girls who are always well dressed, but if I had come to see a grand prix I would have worn that, so there you go.
Charles: I love the idea. So everyone can know that you support me and only me.

He approaches me and kisses me.

Emma: Yes even though I also support Daniel and Pierre a little but...

He cuts me off by kissing me again.

Charles: Yes but you have my t-shirt and not theirs.

He then takes my hand to head near the garages. He shows me where I can stand to watch the race. A helmet awaits me so that I can hear everything that is said. There are many screens with statistics that I don't understand, as well as the images that are shown on TV and the onboard camera of Charles' single-seater.

Although the race lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes, I have the impression that it only lasted 10 minutes. Charles' engineers were really nice to me, and some who weren't working even came over to explain the graphics and code words to me a bit so I could understand what they were saying. There are only two laps left and for now Charles is first. Just behind him, 1.4 seconds apart, is Max Verstappen. All season they have only fought to win the big prizes. Their battle is impressive and scares me because they are always very close to each other. I'm afraid they'll touch each other and there'll be an accident. Charles arrives at the end of his last lap and he is still in front. All the engineers start running towards the finish line. One of them grabs my arm and pulls me with them. Charles won Spa. We move to see the podium. The engineers are careful that I can go in front to see well. When Charles lifts his trophy he looks at me and gives me a wink and a big smile. I applaud him with all my strength, smiling back at him. I'm so proud of him.

This grand prix couldn't go any better than this.
*****