Lights Out - Charles Leclerc

Chapter Twelve

Sienna

The elevator stops and the doors open. I step out, making my way to the apartment door and knocking on it, my heart beating fast not knowing what I'll find inside.

"Hi Sie," Arthur greets me when he opens his brother's door.

"Hey Arth, how are you?" I say, stepping inside and hugging him.

"I'm good, I've missed you," He says and smiles.

"Yeah I know, we haven't been together in so long," I say and see him putting his shoes back on. "Is Charles in his bedroom?"

"Yes, I just helped him get in bed. I told him you were coming, so he kicked me out," He says and I laugh. "We have to arrange a family dinner, now that you guys are on summer break."

"Yeah, we definitely should," I say and we talk for a little longer, until he says goodnight and leaves.

I walk through the hallway that leads to Charles's bedroom and stop. His door is cracked open and I hear him speaking with someone on the phone, which I then understand it's his mom.

"Don't worry, Arthur was just here and I think Sienna is here already. Yeah, I think she'll take care of me better than Arthur, too. Ok mom, I love you. Goodnight," He stops talking and I knock lightly on the door, opening it.

"Hey," He says and I walk in. I inspect him from head to toe. I don't see any burn marks, no signs of anything. He just looks incredibly tired. "Don't just stand there, come here."

I reluctantly walk over to his bed and sit on the side he's not occupying. "Are you ok?"

"I'm alright. I have a mild concussion from the impact and I'm just really sore and tired," He says and I can see the tiredness in his eyes.

"You scared the shit out of me, Charles," I say and bite the inside of my cheek when I feel my eyes burning.

"You weren't coming out of the car on your own and then an ambulance came rushing in because you were unresponsive and I thought that was it. We were all just waiting for them to say you were dead. We just all gathered around outside your garage waiting for Fred or someone to say you didn't make it. Pierre was freaking out. Max was in shock and kept repeating that you were going to be fine. Carlos was so pale, I thought he might pass out. The race stopped for an hour. After they took you to the hospital and cleared your car, we had to finish the race. I don't think any of us was focused, but we finished. Max, Lewis and I refused to celebrate on the podium, we just accepted our trophies and left. And when I went back to my hotel I did not sleep a minute the whole night waiting for someone to tell me something. Finally, this morning, it was Carlos who called me and told me you were fine and were flying home."

I don't even try to stop my tears as I say all that. Charles reaches out his hand and grab it, letting them rest on the bed.

"I'm fine, Sienna. I'm right here," He says and that doesn't help my tears from keep falling.

"I realized something so stupid while I was waiting for someone to give me any news. Our jobs are incredibly dangerous. A wrong move and any of us could get really injured or die. And I just kept thinking how much I would hate myself and how much I would regret not telling you this if anything happened. I love you, Charles. I've loved you my entire life, I think I just got distracted and forgot how much I loved you and decided to hate you instead. And I'm sorry it took you having an accident for me to say it to you."