L O C K -U P | c. leclerc

6| During Bahrain pt. 1

C. Sainz Jr.

I can't focus. I can't focus when I am about to do qualifying, and she's in a Ferrari car.

Is that why she was out with Charles, to drum up the media, or has he taken an interest in her as well. I can't ask him because we don't talk anymore, not since I dropped the news on him about me leaving.

Perhaps this was his way of throwing it back at me by throwing me off with even bigger news. I'm conflicted, I can't stand the idea of going head to head with her because if I mess up, I'd cause a crash with her.

I didn't realise I was deep in my thoughts again when suddenly I felt a hand clasp my shoulder. It was Christian. He looked at me with a determined look and said, "You have this first half of the season to prove to me that you deserve this seat. You left Toro Rosso back then because you were afraid of being booted off, show me why you deserve to be here. I don't want to see many mishaps, I want nearly perfect, and even better if you can be perfect."

I nodded. He gave me one last grasp on the shoulder then left to talk to the mechanics. Max quickly approached me and said, "I told you mate. Christian is nice but performance really matters, you can't let her get to your head. Is she really worth it?"

"I know, I know," I said dejectedly, "But it's hard to get her out of my head, it's just. She's so hard to reach and it makes me want to find out about her more."

"Well you can think about her later, we have to make sure we start at the front of the race and not at the back so no crashing in qualifying," he warned and I laughed and said, "Yes, yes, you act like you're my senior."

"With how I'm out driving you, I might as well be," he teased and I just laughed and approached my car. I let out a big sigh realising that I would be in the most competitive car on the grid. This was my chance to win, and at what cost? I'm not getting any younger but I can't let her slip away either and become one of my biggest what ifs.

I looked to my right and watched Artemis as she got into her car. God she's so beautiful, but, I watched as Charles looked at her as well with a look I can't decipher. What is she to him?

____

C. Leclerc

Artemis Devereaux is the biggest pain in my ass.

Moments before she gets in her car, she tells me that my hair looks like a bird nest. Now, here I am trying to fix my hair like an idiot, only for me to realise that it didn't matter cause I was going to have that fire retardant suit anyways.

I sighed and approached my car. Fred was giving both of us worried looks and I know what that meant, no strategy would work in both of our favours. He would have to choose one over the other. Knowing how Artemis is, she'd rather die than stop fighting.

It was strange that Fred hadn't let her do the practice sessions and somehow convinced the FIA to let her do hers separately and under supervision.

Bahrain is gonna be a difficult circuit today, not because I haven't done it before but because of her. Before I even knew it, the qualifying race had already begun and Artemis flew like she'd raced this track before. Fuck, she was going to give me a run for my money.

Double fuck actually.

She would never let me hear the end of it if she got pole position.

____

A. Devereaux

Artemis: Hey, how's my pace?