everything has changed ➺ charles leclerc

fourteen - angeli

– angeli

THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE CAR GROWS LIGHTER the closer we get to Milan. Charles and I scream the remaining songs on the playlist together as we make our way into the city. He parks his car near Quadrilatero della Moda and I take my large suitcase out of the boot. He raises an eyebrow in confusion as I begin rolling my suitcase towards the long alleyway of shops.

"Why are you bringing your suitcase?" He asks, jogging beside me.

"It's so I don't have to carry my shopping bags everywhere." He still looks confused at my explanation. "I'm putting the clothes into my suitcase Charles, at least all the ones that'll fit." I explain further and he nods in understanding. We make our way through Via Montenapoleone as I marvel at the different designer boutiques adorning the surrounding buildings

"Where are we off to first?" He asks as we stand stationary, looking around at the variety of boutiques around us.

"Let's go in here!" I exclaim, dragging my suitcase in one hand and Charles' hand in another, towards a shop called Francesca's.

The entrance bell rings, signaling our entry. Charles takes my suitcase from me as I walk over to the shop's racks on a mission. I spot a gorgeous red dress made with wool-like fabric and hold it up to Charles. He smiles at me and nods for me to try it on, knowing my love for vibrant colors.

I rush into the fitting room, slipping out of my current outfit and eagerly donning the red dress. As I step out, Charles's eyes widen, and he lets out a low whistle. "Angeli, you look absolutely stunning! That dress is made for you."

I twirl around, feeling the fabric swirl around me. "Do you think I'll make heads turn on the streets of Milan?" I ask with a mischievous grin.

Charles chuckles and steps closer, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Angeli, heads will not only turn, but jaws will drop, and people will wonder if you're a famous celebrity in disguise."

I strike a dramatic pose, pretending to be a celebrity on a red carpet. "And the award for the most fabulous shopper goes to... me!" We both burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the store.

The shop assistant, a stylish woman with a bob haircut, can't help but join in our laughter. "You two are a breath of fresh air. It's not every day we have customers bringing their suitcases and creating their own fashion show!"

We exchange smiles with the shop assistant, grateful for her cheerful demeanor. I continue exploring the racks, picking out more outfits and excitedly showing them to Charles. With each piece, we create imaginative scenarios, pretending to be characters from a fashion magazine, or even starting an impromptu fashion runway in the middle of the store.

As the day progresses, our shopping bags grow heavier, and our laughter becomes more infectious. We venture into different boutiques, trying on extravagant hats, quirky accessories, and even indulging in a spontaneous dance-off between aisles, much to the amusement of fellow shoppers.

In one boutique, we stumble upon a rack of outrageous hats, each one more eccentric than the last.

I reach for a neon pink fedora with a massive feather sticking out of it, holding it up to my head with a wide grin. "Charles, do you think I could pull this off? I'll be the trendsetter of the paddock!"

He chuckles, playing along. "Angeli, you'll start a hat revolution! People will be lining up to get their own oversized feathered fedoras and teams are going to start making them as Merch!"

With that encouragement, I place the hat on my head, striking a pose and pretending to be a famous fashionista. Charles joins in, grabbing a top hat with polka dots and tipping it to the side, his expression filled with exaggerated sophistication.