Falling for the Leclerc's

12. Crash

                          Charles' pov

"Charles, you're going the wrong way." I can hear Evie, my manager say from behind me.

"Oh, right." I say confused and turn around and head for the ferrari garage this time. Somehow I hadn't even realised that I had been walking the wrong way this entire time.

This is how I've been all day. From the moment I saw her, I've been so distracted. It's like I'm stuck in a daze and I can't take myself out of it no matter how much I try.

Could she hear my heart beating? It was speaking. It told me I had found her.
There. She. Is. There was the girl I had been waiting my whole life for.

It still seems like I imagined the entire thing. It wouldn't be the first time. From the moment she broke up with me her image has been haunting me, not only in my sleep.

I would be doing simple everyday life things and she would appear in front of me. It was torture. But everytime Grace was never there, it was just my mind playing tricks with me.

And today isn't any different. When I saw her, my breath was taken away. She's still as beautiful as I remembered. All I wanted to do was jump into her arms and hold her but then I remembered all the pain she caused me when she left me.

How was it possible to love and hate a person so much at the same time?

It's fine. I don't care that she's here.

I walk into the garage and start getting ready for the race, going over the strategy we're following for this race over in my head.

"Hey Charles!" Carlos, my team mate greets me when he walks in. I just give him a smile. I'm not feeling like interacting with anyone today.

"Now, what's gotten you into a bad mood mate?" Carlos asks and I sigh.

More like who.

I try pulling myself together. Carlos doesn't deserve me treating him badly.

"Sorry, I'm just stressed and I guess there's something on my mind." I say.

More like someone.

"I know this race is important to you but you'll do just fine mate!" Carlos says and hits my back with his hand to show me support. It's now I suddenly realise that I had forgotten about the race at all, my mind invaded by other thoughts.

"I hope so."

We both then part ways to get into our cars and drive to the track.

                             ———————

I'm stating p2 today so I'm very confident. Knowing the Monaco grand prix by heart is an advantage of mine. I've been driving here for so long, so I know every path and every turn perfectly. Today's 1st podium is mine.

Soon is lights out and off we go.

I had a good start from the beginning, feeling confident with my car. I hit the gass pedal once we drive past a corner and I'm already almost passing Max, who is the only car that's in front of me. I can't let him win, not today, not in my home race, not while she's watching.

I maintain a good position the entire race and after lap 25, I spot Max slowing down. He almost loses control of his car, giving me the advantage to overpass him and take the lead of the race. There's truly no better feeling than this....hearing the crowd cheer for you. The adrenaline, the rush, the speed, the tifosi is all that makes me love f1 so much.

On lap 30 I get called to box. I speed to the garage and start waiting for the engineers to do their job. Just as I'm about to drive off into the track, I see Grace. I spot her into the crowd, she's standing there, watching the race with her friend.

This is just like old times, when she'd accompany me at every race, but instead of sitting in the crowd she would watch the race from my garage.

I'm suddenly mad. What we had was perfect. Why couldn't she trust me enough? Why did she leave me?

Suddenly the engineers clean out the path and I'm driving off. I speed now trying to reach the position I had but it's difficult when my mind is consumed with the thoughts of her.

What am i doing? I should focus on the race!

Trying to get her off my mind I don't realise that there is a turn I have to make. Before I can swerve the steering wheel of my car I drive into the turn and crash.

My ears are pierced with the loud noise of metal hitting the wall. The entire car goes up in flames.
It's suddenly hard for me to breathe or move. I try to get out of my car but I feel so weak, my muscles and strength abandoning me. I can hear people talking to me on the radio but they are getting no response.

Luckily, I feel some arms wrap over me pulling me out of the car.

At some point my eyelids feel heavy and begin to close. I can not keep them open anymore so I let the darkness engulf me.

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