Fifty Shades Of Red | Charles Leclerc

4. Not Your Friend

Hailey's pov

I arrive late to Silverstone. Unlike the other drivers who flew here days ago, I decided to fly here on Thursday alone instead, taking my time relaxing and getting my emotions fixed.

I look out of my hotel room, watching the city light up with lights through the big floor to ceiling windows. Unable to sleep because of all the things running through my head, I decide to take a walk. The hotel where we're staying it's not too far from the paddock, which is where I'm headed. I often do this, taking a walk on the paddock at night. For some reason I find it very relaxing and peaceful.

After sneaking in through the back door, avoiding the places I know are supervised by cameras, I tug at the bottom of the shirt I'm wearing, suddenly feeling the cold night air hitting my skin. I walk past the garages, thinking about how tomorrow they will be full with people running around and giving orders to each other during practice. If anything the hustle and bustle that comes with Formula One as a sport makes me appreciate moments like these even more, when everything around me is quiet.

Taking a turn, I walk towards the podiums, trying to imagine myself climbing up there this Sunday. When I look up I realise that I'm not alone. A figure is sitting on the edge of the podium, looking ahead. I try to see who it is, but it's too dark to be able to make out anything, the shadows hiding them from my vision. Has a fan managed to sneak his way through the security gates?

I start heading towards the back of the podiums, quietly climbing up the stairs and ignoring the part of me that it's screaming for me to run away.

What is it that they say? Curiosity kills?

But surprise instead of curiosity it's all that's left when I make it to the top and see Charles sitting in front of me.

What are the chances?

He hasn't noticed me yet but he's playing with the bracelets on his wrist, lost in his own word. A frown is worn on his face and I realise I've never seen Charles this...miserable? I almost feel bad for him.

No. The feeling inside of my chest can't be sympathy towards this man. It's probably just pity...

Now that I indulged in my curiosity and found out who was sitting on the podium, I turn around to leave, not wanting to stay and chit chat with him or even making my presence known.

I'm almost at the stairs when...

"You know, it's rude to sneak up on people."

I freeze in my steps when I hear Charles' voice behind me. Maybe I wasn't being so sneaky after all.

I turn around and see Charles' back facing me. Knowing that I definitely got caught, I give up on running away and slowly walk towards him, only realising what I'm doing when I'm halfway there.

"What are you doing here Leclerc?" I ask him while taking a seat next to him but making sure that there's a considerable distance between us, not understanding when I decided to join his company.

If Christian or someone else saw me right now...

"I could ask you the same thing." He says, his face looking straight forward, not giving me as much as a glance. Unlike the last time we saw each other, his voice isn't filled with sarcasm nor attitude. It's almost as if he's tired of bantering back and forth with me.

"I felt like taking a walk." I answer genuinely.

"Do you always do this?" He asks and I turn to look at him, confused.

"Do what?"

"Sneak up on people at night?" Charles asks, a small grin appearing on his face.

"Only when it's someone I don't like." I say and surprise myself when I realise I'm telling Charles Leclerc, the person who hates me and who I hate, a joke.