CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT | Charles Leclerc

Chapter 5

Luci's pov

"Now please, welcome to the stage Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz!" I exclaim, feeling my hands shake when I realise this is actually happening to me.

As the boys step onto the stage we greet one another with a formal handshake, Carlos' shake was definitely strong and powerful but his beaming smile showed off his more kind and sweet personality.

Charles' felt comforting and familiar - almost as if I had held those hands before. His smile was mesmerising and I caught myself staring into his eyes for just a little long until I was disrupted by the crowds cheers.

******

Throughout the interview I constantly feel like Charles eyes are on me. Now, I may just be fuelling myself with delusion, but it really does feel as if I already know him, like we'd already bonded. Every time we spoke it felt so easy and simple.

Although - as we got closer to the end, my lack of preparation was really showing. I was running out of questions to ask and the quality of the ones I was asking were diminishing. I looked to Olive for help or reassurance but she couldn't help.

As I worried more and more I stumbled over more of my words making me blank out in complete humiliation. I felt so embarrassed and unprofessional in front of the crowd, Carlos, Charles, even Olive. She struggled, but at least you didn't notice.

As soon as it ended I ran off stage to the nearest seat and sat straight down with my head in between my knees - as if I was trying to hide from everyone and the embarrassment I had caused myself.

"Are you alright?" I heard from above me. Suddenly, I realised why Charles felt so familiar. Was he the guy who caught me in the club? No, it couldn't be. That would be insane, I thought. But he sounded so familiar, from what I can remember, before my memories completely disappeared of that night.

I looked up through the tears brimming along my waterline to him standing above me. Something about him was so enticing. Staring into his caring eyes almost made me forget about my embarrassment- for just a second until I clicked back to reality.

"I'm so sorry, I completely ruined that. Im such a fuck up." I said in an overly defeatist way as if I was trying to convince everyone I was the biggest problem ever.

"I really don't think you are. Luciena...right?" He asked me, as if he was trying to portray that he actually cared.

I nodded as he continued. "You seemed so comfortable up there, Luciena. As if you had done it a million times before. But everyone's messed up in their life. It's normal and no one will remember it anyway. I, for one, really enjoyed your questions. They were interesting and made me think but not a single one was invasive like most peoples are." He sighed as if this was a problem he faced often. Nevertheless, he did assist in bringing my spirits up a bit. At least to the point where I could actually see wi5out it being blurred by tears.

"On another note." He sidetracks, "me and some of the boys are going to the club tonight as a pre race celebration you and your friend are free to join, if you want, of course." He said it with such a welcoming smile I really felt as if I couldn't decline it - even though last time this happened got me into this state I'm in now but maybe I'll have taught myself a lesson.

"That would be great!" I respond calmly as if it wasn't the Charles Leclerc inviting me.

"Okay perfect! If I could just get your number to send you the details that would be great." He replied.

Whoa whoa, am I about to give Charles my number, to put in his phone so he can send me a message about the details of an outing I've been invited to? This cannot be real.

I tell him my number as calmly as possible attempting to hide my inner fan girl shock as he types in the exact numbers and repeats them back to me to ensure he got it right.

"Yep that's it!" I confirm.

"Amazing." He replies. "I really hope you feel better soon and I'll see you around." He grins as he walks away with Carlos who has met with him after talking to Olive and a member of the tech crew.

I run over to Olive, grinning widely.

"Out of your slump already Ramirez?" She jokes.

"No, I'm still horribly humiliated." I admit. "But, guess what girl got CHARLES LECLERCS number and guess what two girls are going to the club with just a bunch of the f1 drivers?" I exclaim as my best friends jaw almost drops straight to the ground p and stares at me as if she was too stunned to even mutter a word.

"No. fucking. way." She whispers

I nod in excitement.

-AUTHORS NOTE-
Guysssss!?!? How are we feeling about his chapter? I'm getting excited that they're FINALLY interacting properly! And I hope you liked the little parallel to chapter 2 🤭. I'm really enjoying writing this and I hope you're enjoying reading it! And thank you for all the love on here and tiktok (follow me if you don't at f1belsfics) !
I'm going to try and get the next chapter out tomorrow or the day after but I have no idea if I actually will so pls don't hold me to that ;)
Love you lots
Bels xo