Game On || C.L.16

4.1

Charles' POV

"I've really got to go now." I whisper softly, holding Amelie close to my body. We'd been laying cuddled up on her couch for almost an hour now. My flight to Australia looming over our heads. I wish I would've been able to bring her with me, but we both know very well that that is not possible.

"I know." Amelie whispers softly, tears softly coming up in her eyes. "I just wish you didn't have to."

"Me too. But I'll call you whenever I can. Go show them what you're made of tomorrow." I tell her, wishing her all the best for the CL return.

"You too. Show them that even when the car isn't the best, you can still extract a great performance." She encourages me, before turning her head towards me and placing her lips on mine. Our lips move in sync, every single time feels like the first all over again. Discovering a new piece every single time.

We haven't really gone any further than just making out, wether it was me or her or both of us I'm not sure. But I can tell I want to give her as much space as possible, and act on her initiative. And while it's a very sensitive topic we have spoken about it a lot. She even told me that she'd want to speak up about it sometime, but definitely isn't ready to do so now. I completely respect that, but it does pain me that she hasn't told Pierre about any of this. The two of them are so close, that I couldn't help but think he'd know. It does align slightly with her depressive thoughts, and I just can't shake the feeling that Pierre does know something.

Slowly we make our way to the door, a taxi waiting outside the apartment building for me. I wrap my arms around her once more, hugging her tightly before pressing my lips on hers softly. "I love you." I whisper before leaving the apartment and walking to the taxi outside. My heart pounding in my chest at the words that just left my lips.

***

The Australian GP is always a great one, the atmosphere is amazing and the fans really seem to care about the sport. But the travel towards there is horrendous. You're traveling for a full day, while your body gets whacked by all the time zones you pass. It's pretty impossible to avoid the jet lag.

Which is why I end up in bed watching older races here at Melbourne park trying to stay up until an acceptable time. Amelie hadn't been really talkative on WhatsApp when I landed. Clearly upset by just missing out on the next round of the Champions League. I just let her be, but I couldn't help but wonder if it was a good moment for her to be alone. She's seemed pretty out of it a lot of the days I was with her. I had noticed her leaving rather early, pretty sure she was getting extra work out sessions in. At first I thought it was to cope with the nightmares, to clear her head. But in all honesty, I have started to wonder if this is the start for her to go overboard again. Aside from that she seemed to keep her portion sizes to a minimum once again, something both Pierre and Arthur had pressed me about very often. Telling me that I had to make sure she was getting enough nutrients.

The worry in my mind drags me out of bed and to Pierre's room, who is coincidentally staying in the same hotel. I softly knock on his door, hoping he's not asleep yet as I'm uncertain of his sleep schedule.

It takes a moment but than I hear shuffling on the other side of the door. Slowly the door opens, revealing the older Gasly sibling to me. "Do you need to stay up as well?" I ask Pierre trying to get conversation rolling.

"Get in here Leclerc." He opens the door for me, signaling for me to enter is room. I notice Pierre having the same idea I had, an old race playing on his tv as well. "What brings you to my room?" He wonders as we sit down on the not so comfortable looking hotel couch.

"I'm worried." I say softly, the little things I noticed in Amelie that were bothering me going through my mind. "About Amelie." A deep breath leaves my lips, surprised I'm actually here to talk about it. Maybe I'm seeing ghosts, but I need to talk to someone about this.