Moth To A Flame // Lando Norris\Charles Leclerc

nine

Race week came, and went, quicker than expected. And again, came and went. Life had been so hectic with the double header of Hungary and Belgium that I hadn't really had time to think about Charles and everything that happened when I returned to Monaco a few weeks prior. I'd seen a significant rise in my workload before summer break, and had found that I was doing a much larger amount of solo interviews at the last 2 race weekends.

Finally though, Summer break was here. Me and Lando were headed straight to a Yacht we rented for the next 2 weeks. It was originally just supposed to be me and him, as we really hadn't spent much time just the pair of us since the season began, but word about the yacht got out and we now had Daniel joining us (who had quote on quote "absolutely nothing else to do and no one else to see, so if we didn't take him we'd be leaving him to die alone"), and Charles (who's summer plans were to once again go to Italy with Charlotte, which had been cancelled due to their breakup. Though it was much to my dismay, as we'd barely spoken since that day at his apartment) as well as Max, Kelly and P - as they thought it made more sense for them to tag along instead of renting one themselves as they were originally going to do.

It was a little frustrating that everyone, especially Charles, was tagging along - but as Lando put it, the more the merrier. And I was actually looking forwards to being able to relax and spend some time with some of my closest friends, and spending a significant amount of time with P would be beneficial to cure the baby fever I'd been experiencing.

We all met on the marina and the charter staff took our luggage so we could relax from the get go. It felt nice to finally be able to relax, i grinned to Lando who was grasping onto my hand tightly as we boarded the Yacht.

"You excited for this holiday?" he asked, smiling back. I nodded eagerly back

"I can't wait to just, put a bikini on and lay down on a sun bed" I smiled

"I can't wait to join you" Kelly, who was stood beside us, added happily "nothing a glass of champagne and the sun to keep us company"

"It's going to be so nice to have no one trying to take photos, or just harassing us in the street" I admitted, the two of them both nodded in agreement.

A member of staff handed us each a glass of champagne, and showed us around the boat. It was impressive how large it was.

A few hours passed which allowed us to unpack and settle in to the bedrooms which were definitely larger than some of the hotel rooms Sky had put me up in for races. Myself and Lando had taken the master bedroom, as it was technically our names on the boat, with Max and Kelly taking the second largest room. The third room, a twin room, was taken by Daniel and Charles and the final twin room had both beds pushed together so P could have a 'double' bed to herself (Max had explained how she had to share the bed with her teddy like a real couple).

*

"this is nice" Charles smiled, sitting next to me on a lounger "it's nice to have some down time"

"Definitely" I agreed "I know this years been rough for you. How are you, like genuinely?"

"I'm okay, I'm getting there" he sighed heavily "I think finally accepting she's gone, for good this time. It's getting easier"

"That's good then, i'm glad you're not spending this break sat in your messy apartment" I laughed, rubbing his arm affectionately

He smiled
"I do miss having you around"

"I'm always around, you know that" I smiled back, and lowered my voice "I'm just a text away"

"It's not the same" he sighed once more "you're always in the UK now, I know it's work... And Lando, i get that. But you promised me that things wouldn't change. We've barely spoken since that day when we cleaned the apartment"