REMEMBER THE NAME

2019:27

"I'm sorry that it's your first F1 win and we don't get to celebrate it properly." Sophie whispers in to Charles ear as they sit at the bar in Pierre's hotel.

It was straight after the race and Charles, Sophie, Pierre, Esteban, Lando, Alex, George and Max Fewtrell were sitting at the bar, toasting a drink to Anthoine. Despite it being Charles first ever formula one win, the group were in a somber mood after the passing of their friend the day before, and whilst they had the liberty to go out and celebrate like they had originally planned to do so with Anthoine, they collectively decided that going out now that he had passed would be immoral and quite frankly just not the same.

"No no it's fine." He looks over to her and sadly smiles. "I'm just glad I could do this for him."

Whilst the pair were moving forward in a relationship despite not yet having the awkward chat of titles, they had agreed not to tell any of their friends in fear that the media would grasp the information sooner than they would like. So far it was going swimmingly with only Pierre knowing because he was the one to instigate it, and Lando because he had put two and two together to get 4.

"He would be so proud of you." She whispers whilst looking in to his eyes. "And not just him, but Jules and your dad as well."

"I hope they would be." He sighs sadly before taking a sip of his drink. "I just really wish they were here."

"They'll always be watching. I know it's not the same for you." Sophie discreetly puts her hand under the table whilst everyone else was chatting away, to grab Charles hand and give it a reassuring squeeze, which he returned.

"I just can't believe it." Esteban breathes out, his usual happy smile vacant from his face.

Pierre silently pats his shoulder and gives a sad nod in support. Although it was clear that they two weren't exactly best friends, they were friends because of Anthoine, and both knew the pain that the other was experiencing.

"I can still remember the first day I met him." Sophie let's out a sad chuckle, wanting to break the somber mood with happy memories. "It was my first karting race in France and he was setting up next to me. He asked who I was there to watch. When I replied the kart in front of me he was shocked - he didn't know how to respond. I think it was the one and only time he didn't have anything to say."

"I remember him telling me that." Pierre laughs. "He was so embarrassed that he hadn't thought of you as a competitor, especially when you went and finished higher than him. He wanted to respond but he didn't know how to say it in English."

"You were raging after that." Lando looks to Sophie. "You came over and started saying how you were going to show him how good you were. That was your mission for the race."

"Who knew that he'd become a good friend." Sophie whispers to herself, shaking her head lightly and taking a sip of her drink.

"He was a great friend." Max speaks up, still with his solemn expression. "He was so positive and kind. He really just pushes everyone to keep going. Without him I wouldn't be here still, but he motivated me to keep going." Lando claps his best friend on the back.

"I don't know what I'm going to do without him." Pierre sighs, placing his head in his hands.

Charles leans over and brings his friend in to a side hug. "You're going to go out there and do what Anthoine would've wanted you to do - prove them wrong."

The group then fell in to a comfortable silence as they finish their drinks and mourn their friend, each falling in to their own deep thoughts.

Looking down at her watch, Sophie realises the time. "I'm really sorry guys but I've got to get back. I've got an early flight, but please all send me a text when you get back alright." She makes eye contact with each and every one of them, before picking her back off of the ground and standing up, pushing her chair in behind her.