Call you mine - Charles Leclerc

Chapter 9

"Where are you going?" Ellie was startled by the voice behind her. She turned around with a hand on her chest, catching her breath.

"God, you scared me half to death." She slapped Alex's chest playfully.

"That's what you get when you try sneaking out in the middle of the night." He answered, smirking. "And where are you off to?"

"Just getting some water"

"Fully clothed?" He questioned with a raised brow.

She just rolled her eyes, and walked past him. "Mind your business Albon" she said with a chuckle.

"Can I just say one thing, and then I'll retreat to my room and say nothing of this ever again?"

She was taken aback, she couldn't even understand if he knew where she was going, so she just gave him a curious look and nodded. "If you like him, tell him about George. He's your best friend, and I know that no matter who it was between your choice would always fall on George. But it doesn't have to if your upfront about it. Charles is a good guy, he'll understand" his eyes softly looking at her with every word.

"What makes you think something is going on with either of them?" She questioned, trying to understand how he knew.

"You and George are not subtle as you think, at least not for those of us that know you very well." He laughed, "And Charles, well everyone of us have seen that play out. And to be honest, I see the way you two look at each other"

"We barely know each other." She mumbled, not wanting to show how embarrassed she was he had caught on to her.

"It's not a bad thing El" He said squeezing her shoulder.

"Well, like you said, George will always come first. And indulging in something with another driver would just be a disaster waiting to happen."

"You don't believe that for a second, because you and I both know George doesn't give a shit as long as your happy." He said caressing her back, trying to soothe her. "The only thing that would be a disaster is if he hurt you, because George would for sure not have any problem ruining any race for him because of it, he would even have Totos approval." He said, earning a laugh from the girl in front of him. "Go, indulge. But, think about what I said." He said walking away, leaving the girl standing a little shocked in the hallway.

Before she could wrap her head around what just happened, she felt her hand buzz in her back pocket. "Did you get lost on your way?" She chuckled and continued her way down too the lobby. Walking up she could see Charles standing there, a big smile as soon as he saw her, one she was struggling to not match.

"I'm glad you agreed to meet me" he said, taking her hand and leading her outside.

"Where are you dragging me?" She questioned, she didn't want to seem to eager, especially since she's actually angry about last weekend.

"Well you promised me a tour if I remember correctly." He said with a confident smile, his accent thick, which only once again made her forget she was upset.

"Well, I never agreed to doing it in the middle of the night." She said teasingly, while biting her lip a little.

"I slept on the plane, so no better time than the present. And there is the fact that I wanted some time with you alone." Ellie could feel her anger rising again. Of course he would try and charm his way out if this, pretending nothing had happened.

"And of course you have to do that before your little friend arrives tomorrow right?" She said laced with venom, stopping in her tracks.

Charles felt his heart drop, of course she was pissed. They both stood there looking at each other in silence for a minute. "Eh, what do you mean?" He said turning around to face her, trying to figure out exactly how mad she was.

"I'm all for some fun Charles, but what I'm not down for is being treated the way you treated me last weekend" she said looking him directly in the eyes, she never had any problem calling people out on their bullshit, even though she was a little shy.

"How exactly did I treat you?" He questioned, trying not to sound irritated, even though he could feel a little annoyed she was so harsh when he felt she didn't act any better.

"Your joking right?" She said with a sarcastic chuckle.

"Belle, please tell me how exactly did I treat you? Or at least how did I treat you any differently to how you treated me?" He questioned, walking towards her, before gesturing to the bench beside them.

"Charles, we slept together, and as soon as we walked into that club you were on to the next one, and then inviting that same girl to a trip where you're going to visit me?" She said taking a seat on the bench.

"No matter what happened between me and Juliette. Didn't we agree to causal?" He asked sitting beside her.

"There's a difference between being causal, and being an asshole"

"Then what about you throwing yourself over George, your best friend, just to get a rise out of me?" He challenged her.

Suddenly she could feel nerves creeping up on her. Between how he was somewhat right, and Alex's words from before she could feel unsure on how to respond. After a minute of silence she finally found the words.

"I see your point, but the thing is i didn't initiate anything, that was all Lewis. And me and George didn't do anything that night." She said, praying he wouldn't catch on to the fact that she narrowed it to that night.

"And who said me and Juliette did?"

"I saw you kissing Charles." She chuckled.

"And I saw you licking Georges neck, yet you don't hear me accusing you of being a what did you call me? An asshole?" He said a little loud

"Again, I can assure you, me and George did nothing more than have fun, as FRIENDS that night." She said, now taking her head in her hands.

"I kissed Juliette, and walked her home, nothing more. Because that's not something I would do" he took his hand to her jaw, making her face him, "Either of you"

"Well, it doesn't matter, I'm not really interested in these type of games, seeing as she's coming tomorrow." She said now facing the other way, and standing up.

"I didn't invite her." He got up and followed her.

"Yeah, she just invited herself then?" She scoffed.

"No, as a matter a fact Pierre invited Marie, and said she could bring a friend, before Saturday." He answered as he catched up to her.

"I don't really care Charles, I just realized that this kind of thing isn't for me. I'm not one for these mind games." She said as she pushed the elevator button.

"Don't do that" he said, turning her to face him carefully by her arm.

"Don't do what?" She questioned with a sigh.

"Your seriously making me out to be the bad guy even though I'm trying here?" He tried reasoning with her.

"No, I'm just stopping this because it isn't for me." She said with a straight face, trying her hardest not to break from the close proximity.

"Your sure thats what you want?" He questioned, tired of trying to get through to her.

"Yeah Charles, I'm sure." She said as she heard the elevator arrive, so she walked past him, not bothering giving him a second look.

Charles was upset that he hadn't pushed harder, but he wasn't in a position to offer her something more, so he let her be. And figured that now he could at least enjoy his time in New York with Juliette, but deep down he knew that it wasn't what he wanted.