legends || formula one

coffee.

THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS A COFFEE BREAK- it was more of a coffee sprint.

maybe that's why josie didn't notice charles leclerc moseying down the paddock right in the middle of her coffee dazed dash.

it wasn't a big impact, but josie felt the lukewarm coffee that she brewed hours ago spill onto her and splash onto the pavement.

"ah, shit, sorry!" charles exclaimed, reaching down to pick up the now empty coffee cup. "i wasn't looking where i was going." he frantically apologized.

josie wiped away at her team polo, not noticing the man with the bright red shirt in front of her until she wondered where her paper cup went. her eyes trailed up to meet his and immediately widened.

"o-oh my god, i should be apologizing! i didn't spill any on you, did i?" josie said in a panic.

"you really shouldn't be apologizing when you're the one who has coffee all over your shirt! for all i know, the coffee could have burned you." he continued, a look of guilt washing over his face.

she stared at her shirt, grateful that the coffee didn't stick out too much against the little bit of red on her polo. "fortunately for you, it was room temperature. honestly it was probably a good thing that you ran into me..." she trailed off.

charles raised an eyebrow. "in what world is coffee all over your shirt a... good thing?"

josie giggled into her hand. "it's not, but it was like, my seventh cup today. perhaps a sign to cut off the caffeine for the day?"

"oh my, that's quite a lot. that explains why you ran into me!" he laughed.

josie's eyes glowed with amusement. "oh, but i thought you ran into me?"

"we ran into each other," charles compromised. the two locked eyes and burst into laughter. "no, but really, i apologize again."

she couldn't help but smile at his sincerity. "charles, it's fine. you're just lucky that my team polo is dark," she teased.

charles didn't know why, but hearing her say his name was music to his ears. her accent was clearly british but part of him could feel a little italian in her words. he wanted to know if he was right or not. "well, i will try not to spill coffee on you again, miss..." he paused, angling his head a little and hoping she would take the signal.

josie held out her hand. "josie ricci."

"charles leclerc," he responded, shaking her hand with a chuckle.

the two stopped shaking hands but kept them together as they locked eyes. it was charles who took the leap of continuing the introduction. "well, miss ricci, perhaps i can repay you with a coffee... sometime before this circus leaves bahrain?" charles asked quietly, biting on his lower lip as he anxiously awaited an answer.

"that's quite the proposal, mister leclerc," josie responded playfully. she used her other hand to point at the alfa romeo logo on her polo. "you know where to find me." she whispered, the smile still sitting on her face.

charles couldn't contain his smile either. "ciao for now, josie."

"ciao, charles."

JOSIE GOT BACK INTO HER SENSES AND RUSHED BACK TO THE GARAGE. One of the mechanics, jonathan, noted her slightly longer than normal absence. "that was your slowest coffee run of the day, josie! maybe it's not working like it should anymore."

she leaned her head back from the stool she was sitting on. "thought the same thing, jon!" she yelled over the various noises in the garage. "no more coffee in these hands for the rest of the day."