Faded Love - Charles Leclerc

Chapter 14: 2x Champ

🎶 Back To You — Lost Frequencies, Elley Duhé, X Ambassadors 🎶

"It's three more corners for the number 16, left into 14, up to 15, there he comes, just turning right in 16! There he is! Ferrari - his childhood and academy team, what used to be his great love - has thrown everything at him all season. Charles Leclerc has coped brilliantly - he won with the Scuderia, he wins now with the Bulls. Ladies and Gentlemen: Charles Leclerc is Champion of the World!"

Charles POV

"OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! YEEEEES YEEEES!" I screamed into my radio, the whole pit wall was going to be deaf now probably.
"Charles Leclerc! You are the world champion, the world champion!" I heard Christian say.
"You absolutely deserved it, incredible drive today!" GP also weighed in now.
"Thank you guys so much! The car is such a pleasure to drive! Congratulations to everyone, also back at the factory for the Constructor's Championship. Let's repeat this next year!" I said in absolute delight.

Lando pulled up next to me and seeing him in that red car - I must admit, the nostalgia hit me a bit. But my move to Red Bull came at absolutely the right time and I was over the moon to have won a championship with them now. I parked in front of the "1" and quickly got out of the car to throw my hands in the air in triumph. The fireworks were going off here in Abu Dhabi and I looked to my right to see Lando coming in second and my teammate Liam on my left in front of the "3". A camera was following my every move and I stood up from my seat, threw my hands in the air before jumping out and running towards my team. I felt the deadly glares of the guys in red on my back, they still felt I had betrayed them after I announced quitting the team just two days after winning my title with them two years ago.

Before the interviewer could get to me I kneeled down next to my car and showed the camera man my #RacingForBobby sticker I had since Monaco. I had gotten quite a lot of hateful comments online and from journalists - about why I was doing these gestures for my ex' new man. I wanted to hate him, really, since the day I found out they were dating, but I just couldn't. He treated her well and made her happy, something I hadn't managed to do. And since I loved her, I was happy that she found a guy who had given her everything she wanted until his very last breath.

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"A cappuccino to go" I told the barista at my favourite coffee shop in Monaco.
"Name?" she asked.
"Really?" I asked and raised an eyebrow. Even if she didn't follow F1, I was from here and a huge poster of me was hanging just across from the shop.
"Name!" she said annoyedly.
"Max Verstappen" I replied.
"Thanks, here's your receipt." she said.
I walked over to the counter and waited for my order.

"Charles?" I heard a female voice say and I couldn't believe my ears. When I turned around to check with my eyes I saw that it was her indeed.
"Mary! What are you doing here?" I said and grinned widely.
"Well - I live here now" she replied and blushed.
"What? Really?" I said surprisedly, I definitely hadn't expected that answer. "Thought you were an American girl by now." I added and chuckled.
Her face fell a bit, shoot, maybe I shouldn't have said that. I am stupid.
"I closed that chapter. Hence the social media break" she said and smiled weakly.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. But what are you doing here now?" I asked, still wrapping my head around it all.
"Max Verstappen!" another barista shouted and I went to pick up my coffee.
"Max Verstappen? Really?" Mary laughed when I turned back to her.
"Yeah, don't you see the resemblance?" I joked.
"Nah, he has double the championships you have" she replied.
"Ouch!" I said and held my hand to my heart, faking to be heavily offended.
"Congratulations by the way" she said and smiled. "And thanks for the sticker on the car, I appreciate you having it on all season despite the hate online" she added.
"Sure" I said and smiled.
"Hey, I'm having a little housewarming party next week, you should totally come, you can bring your girlfriend too obviously!" Mary said.
"Oh! We're not together anymore... But yeah, I'll come, just send me the details" I replied.
"Oh, I'm sorry about that, but I'll do that! I have to go now, but I'll see you soon" she said and sent me a smile and a wave.