love at first sight?

a night to remember

*Ivy*

I was walking down the streets in Monaco. It was already 2am in the morning and I felt a little tipsy after spending the whole night in a club dancing and drinking. My feet were hurting and I just couldn't walk any longer in these heels. I didn't want to admit it to myself but I was absolutely lost. I had no idea where I was and I just wanted to get back to the hotel and fall into the soft bedsheets. Dad and I had spent the whole day at the circuit watching the qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix tomorrow. It was great to see them racing in real life after watching formula 1 on tv since I was a little kid. I remember sitting on my Dad's lap when I was little and cheering for the red cars even though I didn't even know the drivers. I've always been a Ferrari girl.

Suddenly my phone rang and pulled me out of my thoughts. I saw my boyfriends name on the display and smiled when I pressed the green button. "Hey Liam.", I greeted him. "Ivy, I need to talk to you", he stated in a serious tone that made my heart race. Something in my head told me I was about to get hurt. "What's up?", I tried to sound as normal as possible. "I'm so sorry Ivy. It didn't mean anything, really. You have to believe me", he said. My whole body froze. "Liam, what are you talking about?", I asked while my eyes were tearing up. "I'm so sorry, Ivy. It just happened. There was this girl and I was drunk". At this point I knew where this was going. "What did you do, Liam", I could feel sadness and anger rising up in me. "I kissed her. But it meant nothing Ivy, I promise". I sank down to the floor and gasped for air. I could feel my whole world crashing inside me. "Why would you do this to me, Liam", I screamed at him. Tears were streaming down my face together with my, apparently not waterproof, mascara. "I'm so sorry, Ivy. Please forgive me". What was he thinking? "Never, Liam. We're done", I hung up and leaned against the wall behind me. "Why would he do this to me, to us", I whispered to myself while staring at my phone. He kept calling me. I just ignored it. I couldn't believe that he threw away three years of relationship for just one kiss. Well, probably more than just one kiss.

"Hey, are you okay?", I heard a male voice saying. I looked up and quickly wiped away my tears. He sat in his car with the window down and looked at me worryingly. "Yes. I just got lost", I said quickly while getting up. "Okay, well maybe I can help you", he smiled. His smile revealed his dimples. "I have to get back to my hotel. It's the Hotel de Paris", I said while questioning my pronunciation of the name. My French was really bad even after two years of learning it in school. "I know where it is. Get in, I'll take you", he smiled while looking deeply into my eyes. "Oh, that's not necessary. Just tell me the way and I'll walk", I turned off his offer but regretted it right after when I felt a cold breeze that gave me goosebumps on my naked shoulders. "It's a long walk from here and it's getting cold. Let me take you there. It's not safe at night in Monaco", he said softly. I was very thankful he said that because I really couldn't walk any longer and I was very cold. My father would kill me because I was getting into a car of a stranger but I didn't care in this moment. I just wanted to sleep. "Are you sure? You don't have to do this", I asked. He nodded. I was relieved, to be honest. I walked around the car and got into the passenger seat. His car looked expensive and had everything you could buy as extras. He smiled as he saw me glancing around. "You like it?", he grinned. "It's pretty", I just said. My head froze abruptly when I saw the number 16 on the steering wheel. Wait, could it be him? I looked at him in disbelief. It's really him. I'm sitting in Charles Leclerc's car. Why did I not notice that it's him before? "You're Charles Leclerc, aren't you", I said before thinking. His smile turned even wider. "I am", he simply answered. I felt so stupid. Well, at least he's not a stranger then.

"Tell me your name. It looks like you already know mine", he said while starting the car. "It's Ivy", I answered while looking at him, still in disbelief. "So Ivy, what were you doing in Monaco alone at this time?", he turned his head to me a little but still focused on the street. There was still much traffic even though it was already past 2. "I was at a club and was about to get back to the hotel but I didn't remember the way", I leant back into the seat. It was comfortable and soft which made me even more tired. "And who were you talking to on the phone?", he caught me off guard. I immediately had to remember the talk between Liam and me. That he cheated on me. Charles noticed my struggles and said: "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to". "No, it's okay. It was my boyfriend, well ex-boyfriend now. He told me that he cheated on me", I said calmly, trying to avoid tearing up. There was a worried look on his face again. It looked like he didn't know what to say. I felt sadness rising up in me but gave everything to not show it towards Charles. "I'm very sorry for you", he looked at me properly now. "Don't be. It's not your fault he's an asshole", I smiled at him. Why did I trust him already? "Was it something serious between you two?" I didn't know what to answer because I really thought it was something serious. "I thought so, yes" "Then he's just stupid for leaving a girl like you" It made me smile. Why did he make me smile? "Congratulations on pole, by the way", I said to change the topic. "You saw the qualifying?" Now he was the one in disbelief. "Sure. I'm really into formula 1 actually. I watched the qualifying with my Dad today. We'll stay until after the race tomorrow", I explained while watching his facial expressions. It turned into something I couldn't figure out. "What's your favourite team then?", he smiled. "Come on, I can only say Ferrari now. Otherwise you would just kick me out in the middle of the street, right?", I laughed at his question. "Hmm, maybe you're right", he laughed too, "No, I'm serious. What's your favourite team? You can answer honestly. I won't kick you out" "No really, it's Ferrari", I said. He just smiled while looking at the street. Then there was silence between us. "We're here", he said stopping the car. I didn't realise that we were already at the hotel. I unbuckled the seatbelt and was about to open the door when Charles said: "Wait, Ivy". I closed the door again and looked at him questioningly. "I'll get you Paddock Passes for the race tomorrow", he said while searching for his phone in his pockets. "Really?", I asked excitedly but quickly added "You don't have to do this. I'm sure there are other people you'd like to have there by your side tomorrow. Especially at your home race" "No, I want you to be there" I got butterflies in my stomach when he said that and it worried me a bit. "Type in your phone number", he gave me his phone and I typed my number into it, "I'll get you and your Dad passes for tomorrow" I couldn't believe it. Everything I was able to say was: "Thank you Charles, you're a really kind person" and I meant it. He really is the kindest person I've ever met. "I'll text you where you can get the passes" He smiled at me and it made my heart jump. There was a short silence between us. "I should probably get going", I said to avoid any weirdness. "Sure", he said while taking his sweatshirt off. I was wondering what he was going to do now. "Take it, it's cold outside" He handed me his sweatshirt and smiled at me. I wasn't sure whether I should take it. "Are you sure? The way to the entrance of the hotel isn't long" "I know but you're already freezing" he had definitely noticed the goosebumps on my body. I took the sweatshirt and put it on. It was way to big for me but it was warm and smelt amazing. "It looks better on you than on me", Charles said and smiled. I returned the smile before I opened the door. "Thank you Charles, for everything" I got out of the car. "You're welcome. I see you tomorrow then" He sounded like he was actually looking forward to it and I did too. "Good night, Mr. Leclerc", I said teasingly before closing the door carefully. "Good night, Ivy" I could hear him say. Then I turned around and walked towards the entrance of the hotel. I felt his gaze on me as I was walking up the stairs. Charles waited until I reached the entrance and then drove away after waving at me. I had to smile. What the hell did just happen?

When I got into the room, my dad was already sleeping. I quickly removed my makeup and then changed into my pyjamas. It was cold so I just put on Charles sweatshirt again. I knew this sweatshirt from one of his Instagram posts. After getting under the soft bedsheets I took my phone and saw a message from an unknown number.

Unknown
Be there at 10 tomorrow. An assistant will give you and your dad the passes to the paddock. Looking forward to seeing you.
Charles

I smiled when I read the message.

Ivy
You have an assistant? I didn't know you were that famous :)
See you Leclerc

I texted back, knowing very well that he hated to be called famous. Even though it was true. There probably are hundreds of girls that would kill to sit next to him in his car.

Before turning off my phone I changed the contact name into "Leclerc 🏎️". As I laid in bed I couldn't stop thinking about tonight. It was the worst night ever because Liam and I basically broke up, yet it also was one of the best nights I ever had. So many thoughts were running through my head. Tomorrow I have to explain everything to my dad and I think he will be very excited to hear about the paddock
passes. Even though he probably won't be excited to hear about the break up and how I got back to the hotel. Suddenly the thought of Liam came back to my mind. He texted me a few times since the call but I didn't answer him. I still can't believe he threw away our relationship like this. Hopefully everything will be good again.

I inhaled the smell of Charles as my nose happened to get closer to the sweatshirt and I immediately had to think about his amazing eyes. I could get lost in them. With this thought I fell asleep.