Pole position // Charles Leclerc

25

Mias POV:
'If you don't stop freaking out over me I might have to ship you all the way back to Australia.' Daniel laughed, wincing a little as he lifted his arm in the air to throw me his car keys.

Despite being in agony, he still insisted on driving, but today I'd won him over, forcing him to let me drive him to his team meeting.

Luckily, he didn't have to stay in hospital overnight, but I knew that he'd not be able to race the upcoming weekend, meaning Oscar would have to drive.

I knew that it was getting to him massively, as his contract was under fire, and he'd not started the season off well at all. But as far as I was aware, the crash and the injuries could've all been avoided if Charles just stuck to the rules.

'Did you speak to Charles last night?' Lando asked, pulling me to one side, out of my brothers earshot.

'No. I got in and locked the door. He heard me come back and raced out after me but he was too slow.' I responded, a hint of mischief in my voice.

'Well, we fly out to Saudi Arabia in the morning, on Charles' jet. So you'd better make amends.' He warned.

'I've already spoken to Lewis. I'm swapping with Yuki and flying with him.' I added, sharply.

'You can't avoid him forever.' He sighed.

'But I'll avoid him until I'm no longer angry enough to murder him.' I mumbled.

Daniel walked over to us, pulling me in for a hug and leaving a kiss on the top of my forehead.

'Go and busy yourself. We'll be a few hours.' He smiled.

'Good luck with your new teammate.' I teased, looking over at the annoying woman, Charles' ex, who was standing in the doorway of the motor home.

'Funny. Go on, go film a video or something.' He rolled his eyes jokingly, leaning on the bannister for support.

Charles: can we speak?

Pierre: You busy? I got a video idea that'll help you take your mind off of things.

I chose to ignore Charles, as for once, Pierre seemed like the more approachable option. I called him, our conversation lasting 30 seconds as I saw him rounding the corner of the paddock in my direction just moments later.

'What's this master plan of yours then?' I asked, allowing him to grab a heavy bag of equipment from me.

'Me vs Carlos, who knows the other one better, but each time we get a question right, we jump out of the car.' He began.

'And the person to cross the finish line wins?' I asked, a small smile on my face as I began to catch his drift.

'Bingo.'

'But you and Carlos aren't the closest of drivers.' I frowned.

'That'll make it more fun. You set us both up in different rooms for 10 minutes, a camera in each. We spend that time frantically googling eachother, and we go from there.' He nudged me.

'Are you coming for my job?' I laughed.

'I might be.'

I saw that telltale red race suit from a mile away, and I kept my eyes anywhere but in his direction, even up until the second he reached out for me, stopping me directly infront of him.

'I've got a video to film, Charles.' I grumbled.

'Nothing I can help with?' He asked, looking Pierre up and down.

'No, actually. But Carlos will.' I added.

His jaw tensed and I saw his tongue tick against the inside of his cheek before he let go of my hand, the loss of feeling saddening me a little.

'Pierre.' Charles nodded.

Pierre saluted him, not saying a word as he watched him walk away. Both boys no matter the situation always held such a challenging gaze to eachother and it had made me wonder what had happened to the tight bond they used to have.

'You spoke to him?' Pierre asked.

'Nope.'

'You should, he's trying hard.' He added.

'For someone who constantly sings his praises you sure as hell look at him like you want to kill him.' I laughed, freezing outside of the Ferrari lounge and waiting for Carlos to get ready.

'He fucks me off, sure. But he's a brother. He's never been in a relationship before so he doesn't know what he's doing.' Pierre rambled.

'All everyone goes on about is how he has been in a relationship.' I said, warily.

'Trust me. If he had, and it had been official, idve known. They're talking shit Mia and you're letting it get to you.' He pointed out.

'Ok, well that aside, he did try to murder my brother.' I said, pointedly.

'He didn't try to murder your brother. He tried to win the race, which he did. The survival instincts are hot out there.' He argued.

'Stop being so defensive, anyone would think it's you I'm Shit talking.' I mumbled.

'I'm sure you've done that quite a lot, but I deserved it. Charles doesn't.' He said, giving my shoulder a soft but knowing squeeze, before opening the door and calling for Carlos.

'What we filming today?' Carlos smiled, wrapping his arms tight around me and lifting me high up into the air.

'Nothing if you drop me!' I squealed, grabbing his shoulders hard to try and support myself.

'We've got an hour and then we're going to the club to celebrate this first race.' He smiled devilishly.

'Who's we?' I challenged, knowing that ruled my brother out instantly due to his injuries.

'Us three, Max and Yuki, Lewis and George, and also Seb and Alex.' He rattled off names.

'No Lando?' I frowned.

'I don't think so, not unless he changes his mind last minute.' He responded, grabbing the keys to his Ferrari and walking towards the track.

Pierre sensed the look on my face and smiled.

'That means you can actually drink tonight, Mia.'

'I bloody need it.' I mumbled, turning on my camera and waiting for it to power on.

'I want you to meet someone tonight, too. She's special.' Pierre said, softly in my ear so that Carlos wouldn't hear.

'Oh. wow, I had no idea, Pierre.' I stumbled over my words at the look on his face when he mentioned this girl.

His smile dropped as he reached for my hand, giving it a soft squeeze.

'You'll like her, I know you will.'

'And she doesn't know we dated before?' I asked, nervously.

'Nobody does, apart from the boys. You knew I'd not let it get out, until you wanted it to. And you don't, so it won't.' He reassured me.

I flashed him a small smile, and his eyes dropped to my bare neck.

'Your necklace. You don't wear it?' He asked.

'It broke.'

'That was real silver, Mia. It wouldn't just break.' He said, his eyes narrowing.

'It did, and I've got the chain at the hotel.' I argued.

'Well then I'll get it fixed for you, you can't be walking around without that little rose on your neck.'

'Hurry up! I wanna get to the club!' Carlos shouted, honking his horn.

'Go, get in the car, I'll text each question through to you.' I smiled, switching on the camera.

Yet, the whole time, despite Pierre's confession of a new girlfriend, and wanting to fix my necklace, my mind was constantly on the boy in red.