L O C K -U P | c. leclerc

12| Number 16

C. Leclerc

I've passed out before but only for a brief moment. This time, it felt the same but I hadn't realised I wasn't responding for so long until I felt familiar hands grab my shoulder and yell, "CHARLES! Wake up!"

I opened my eyes and I could see through my dirt stained visor, a familiar face. I would know that face anywhere and it's Artemis. She pulled me out of the car with all her strength and onto the searing ground of the Saudi track. She removed my helmet and l saw her face, filled with sweat and her eyes filled with worry.

I lazily smiled. She wasn't looking at me with dead eyes again. For a moment I regained my strength and pulled myself up to sit and look at Artemis. She looked at me like I was crazy and I just couldn't help but smile.

Immediately, she shoved two fingers in front of my face and asked, "How many fingers are you seeing Charles?"

I still kept on staring. Who knew that someone could still look so good even after sweating so much under that racing suit. I'm not too surprised, Artemis had been blessed with a transformative look. She could look determined, angry, confused, and she still looked beautiful. Fuck, I am so pathetic and stupid, I'm probably just staring at her right now.

"Charles, Jesus, just answer me dammit!," she yelled and my body moved on it's own to hug her. I hugged her so tightly. I couldn't help but bury my face in her neck. A wave of gratefulness was the best way to describe it. She crashed and yet she still came for me.

She came to see how I was doing.

She still cared. But I was starting to doubt that. She just sat there next to me, stuff and unmoving. Hug me back. Please, hug me back. I know she couldn't hear my thoughts but she must feel the way my heart was pounding against her chest.

Then it was bliss.

She hugged me back, just as tightly as I was, her chin resting on my shoulder. "You still haven't given me an answer," she muttered into my neck and I just laughed and let go of the hug to look in her eyes. They were still filled with worry so I said, "I saw two fingers, don't worry."

Before I could hug her again, one of the medical doctors on the track took a look at me and ruled out I was fine but then Artemis demanded, "But he was passed out there for nearly 10 minutes." To which the doctor quickly explained that it was normal for the body to pass out after taking in so much force.

Artemis sighed and just helped me up to which I immediately said, "You owe me a date now."

"I never agreed to any kinds of terms with you so you can just go back to your hotel room and rest," she said as she put my arm over her shoulder and helped me walk back to the paddock.

"Can you at least talk to me like a normal person when we're around each other, considering that you tried to save me...I think a little part of your fake cold heart actually cares about me," I teased and she went tomato red. She's blushing?! Oh my god, she's blushing.

I made Artemis Devereaux blush.

"Oh for fuck's sake, one hangout, not a date, just two friends hanging out," she said to hide her red face, but how could she hide it when I'm right next to her.

"So we're friends now?," I teased again and she stomped on my foot making me wince in pain and say, "Hey! What was that for?"

"For being an ass and to stop teasing me, you either stop teasing me or I won't go with you to wherever you're going to take me," she warned and I gave up and just said, "Fine, your wish is my command princess."

"I am not your princess," she said, discreetly elbowing me and I groaned, "I nearly died and you're still trying to kill me?"

"I'd rather be the one to put you in your grave than other people," she teased and my eyes widened, it felt a little too sincere. She laughed and said, "Relax, I'm not a psychopath."