impermissible (Charles Leclerc)

t w e n t y e i g h t

October 16th 2023

I asked him, just double checking "I mean are you sure? I can just go to Leonora's or grab lunch with Rosa or something..I mean I need to talk to my dad soon so I could head there."

He hummed, "No, please stay I want them to finally meet you."

"Finally?" I chuckled, as if we still weren't even boyfriend and girlfriend just two people who like each-other.

He turned to face me, "Well I've been talking about you since March so yeah, finally."

"It's your birthday, what you say goes but I need to start making lunch. What does Pascale like? I mean I made you a cake but what if she doesn't like cake? Do your brothers like vanilla? Chocolate or what about red velvet I personally think it's underrated but-

He chuckled a little, holding eye contact strongly "You're stressing."

I wasn't even going to lie "Fuck yeah I am. I've never met anyone's family before that are of this much importance I really want them to like me."

Charles sat up right "They do like you."

I rolled my eyes "Well you aren't exactly  going to say oh no they hate your guts."

He laughed again as I climbed out of bed, throwing on random pieces of clothing sprawled on the floor "And where do you think you're going?" He asked me confused.

I rushed "Shops, we have like no food here and your family aren't going to want any of the stupid nutritionally balanced meals Matthew gives us."

Charles thought for a moment "We could order in?"

"That little faith in my cooking abilities?" I asked as I threw off my pyjama top and replaced it with the nearest hoody I could find.

"No your spaghetti bolognaise was the best I have ever had, my brothers just love ordering pizza." He explained, "Okay we will order in then." I agreed, annoyed I'd gotten dressed so early.

"So birthday boy, I think you need to come downstairs." I told him as I grabbed at his hand ready to pull him out of bed.

He asked "You think?"

"Yeah, I do." I told him as he finally got out of bed, it was funny the first two weeks in the apartment I refused to take the bed and slept on the couch until it got to the point he also refused to take the bed unless I did.

We compromised and both share it now.

His apartment wasn't really much like an apartment at all, the rooms were open plan but he did have stairs, "So slow and old.. come on." I teased him as he followed me down the stairs to the living room.

He huffed "I'm twenty six, give me some credit."

"Older than I thought." I pretended to think, but I did know how old he was, I mean if I wasn't sure it wasn't like I couldn't have googled it anyway.

Last night when he fell asleep I blew up around fifty balloons, his apartment ceiling was covered in them. I'd also wrapped a pile of presents and placed them all on his coffee table, and of course I got him a banner that said 'little princesses birthday!'

"Evs you didn't have to do all of this stuff, I mean god all I did on your birthday was have you thrown out of your house." He scratched the back of his head as he took in the sight of the apartment.

I snorted, "Don't feel bad, I really enjoyed setting this up last night, you haven't even entered the kitchen yet."

He raised a brow and walked through to the kitchen where a red Ferrari cake was placed on the table, surrounded by pastries, fruit, toast and cereal all ready to go for breakfast.

I'd also made a cute little snack section, today was officially cheat day according to Matthew so I was taking full advantage of that and had made a treat section, popcorn and all of his favourite chocolate/ sweets were all in dispensers.

"You like?" I asked him turning to watch what his reaction would be, "You are unreal, I don't think I've ever had someone care this much over my birthday."

"I was always told to celebrate the elderly." I quipped at him, he rolled his eyes "Ruined the moment Ev." He whispered walking closer to me his gaze locked in mine.

"We need to get dressed, when are your family getting here?" I asked him, he looked down to the watch he never takes off "In half an hour."

My eyes widened, "I don't have time to clean up!"

"I think we're pretty clean." He replied.

I began heading back upstairs "Tell that to your bedroom floor."

A short while after, I'd gotten ready and cleaned up the apartment in places they would definitely see as the door bell rang obnoxiously, I shook my hands as the nerves left my body.

"Mum." Charles greeted her sweetly, engulfing her in a hug as his brothers just came right through not too bothered for the whole arrival hug moment.

"Oh Charles happy birthday." She told him as she pulled away, catching my eyes instantly she smiled "Hi I'm Pascale."

"Of course, hi I'm Evelyn." I smiled back to her and shut the door behind her, following as they all made their way to the kitchen table.

The pizza had already arrived and was placed ready to be eaten, we all sat down around the table as Pascale asked "Evelyn, if you could just get me a water that would be great."

I got up instantly "Yeah of course." I walked over to the cupboard and grabbed a glass and filled it with water, turning around she ordered again "With ice dear."

I nodded, "Oh yeah sorry about that." I proceeded to the freezer and grabbed three ice cubes, as I turned back to the table and placed it down I noticed Charles giving her a look but decided to ignore it.

The table was awkwardly silent, uncomfortably silent so I decided to pipe up "So Charles told me you like to bake Pascale? I made a cake you're definitely going to need to give me some advice on it, I'm a horrible baker."

Charles smiled, holding my knee reassuringly as I made conversation "You made him a cake?" Arthur asked, the first words he'd spoken since entering the house.

I nodded "Yeah, not a great one though, you're all welcome to try it."

Pascale put her pizza down on the plate "So Evelyn how long have you been staying with Charles?"

I thought back as I spoke "Since August."

"So are you staying here for free?" She quizzed leaning forward on her elbows as she interrogated the situation.

"Charles keeps protesting that I pay rent, so yeah I have been staying here for free but not to my liking." I admitted which was true.

She nodded a little, then continued to eat "Charles can you make me a water?" She asked him, yet she hadn't touched the one I'd made her.

Charles shrugged "Ev made you one."

Pascale simply replied "I didn't see her as she made it, her back was turned to me."

What..?

"I can make you another one if that's what you'd like?" I asked, inside I was absolutely fuming but I wouldn't let her see that.

"Why's it a problem she had her back to you whilst she made it?" Charles asked his mum slightly confused, the boys also looked confused.

Pascale shrugged "I mean she's a stranger, who knows what she's capable of."

Oh help me god.