Under the helmet | Charles Leclerc

~Chapter 39~

Friday finally arrived, the garage atmosphere is tense, stressful and somewhat not like it normally is. Its normally stressful sure, but its not normally full of angry and grumpy people, and certainly not a grumpy Charles who's angry at Fred. The reason why cannot be because of the interview, right? It's not his fault how imperative the interviewers are about finding out about our personal lives. As I walk out into the paddock for some fresher air and a less tense atmosphere I accidentally bump into someone.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" I say as a repulsive response to my mistake.

"Hey it's ok. " She reassures. She's a face I recognise, maybe I've only seen her briefly a couple of times but I know that I haven't met her properly, considering her McLaren gear. "Maeve? Right?" She asks, her accent a strong Italian, but her English is impeccable.

"Yes, that's me, and you are? Sorry I don't think I recognise you." I apologise once again, to which she slaps the air unbothered at my apology and rests a hand on my shoulder for reassurance.

"No, you wouldn't know me. I'm Madelyn, Lando's race engineer for McLaren, most people call me Maddy." She states, looking at me expectantly.

"Well, it's nice to meet you Maddy." I nod at her, implying I have somewhere to be, before I make any enemies in my own garage.

"Well, I suppose the both of us must get off." She nods at me, understanding my look from before and we wave each other off.

I walk back into the garage, Charles and Fred on completely opposite sides of the garage, they'd clearly just had an argument about something. Probably of which neither of them want to talk about. I glance over at my race engineer who just looks at me desperately and shaking his head.

"What's up?" I ask him, slightly informal but he looks bothered, which is unlike Albert.

"Charles and Fred have been arguing all day. God knows what about they seem to be disagreeing on something that happened yesterday. It's making me a bit angry." Albert points out putting his palm to his forehead and lowering his head down.

"I will have a word with Charles later, I need both of us to be focused, even if it's just practice today. Do you know where I could find him?" I ask Albert.

"Well, after the two of them had it out, Fred stormed off out of the garage and Charles went to his room I think." Albert guesstimated, while I nod at him and head towards Charles' room.

I knock on the door and wait out the silence for a couple of seconds to then be greeted by Charles, who's face brightens up when he sees me.

"Maeve, hi." He greets me, forcefully smiling.

"Can we talk?" I get straight to the point, he invites me in and we sit down.

"What's up." He asks.

"Something's happened between you and Fred, I need you focusing today and for the rest of the weekend, I don't want this petty argument getting to you." I point out to him, to which he only looks down to his knees and nods slowly.

"I'm not letting it get to me." Is all he says, bluntly.

"Charles." I hold his chin up to look at me.

"I appreciate the fact you've come over and decided to check on me, but I don't need it right now." He moves my hand off of him and continues to look down at the floor.

"Well then what can I do to help?" I ask.

"Nothing. It's Fred's problem." As soon as he finishes his sentence I get up and leave, as calmly as I can, trying not to let his attitude get to me.

As soon as I get out of the room I quietly shut the door and sigh, my legs feeling a little weak and exhausted. I lean on my knees and look at the floor which is a little blurry.

"Maeve?" I hear my name being called, I look up, the face is a little blurred but I can see that it's Viola.

"Viola. Hey." I murmur, standing up properly and leaning off the door.

"Hey- woah, are you okay?" I slip while I stand up and she picks me up, getting a little shocked.

"Yes, I'm fine, don't worry. Just need some water." I brush off walking swiftly over to my room and she gives me a concerned look.

The blurriness only gets worse from walking quickly but I manage to make it and shut and lock my door sitting on the chair. I notice that my palms are sweaty and my head starts to pound like its being hit by a hammer, I could only think that it could be one thing. I quickly get up and go to the toilet, to which it wasn't what I expected it would be. Then returning back to my room, the sweaty palms, the headache, the blurriness and now dizzy spells only get worse. I shouldn't race today. I need to race today for Carlos. I hear a knock at my door and I fear the worst, who could it be.

"Come in." I say, trying to sound like I'm not about to pass out.

"Viola said you seemed off earlier, just checking your alright?" It is Fred, who had been upset at Charles earlier, I don't want to make his day worse by being ill.

"Yep, all good. Just needed some water, I had a little headache, tell her I feel better now." I reassure Fred as best I can, to which he nods quickly and walks out, shutting the door.

I look up at the TV screen which is an interview going, thankfully I'm not involved in. I then get Albert knocking on my door telling me to start getting ready for the practice laps, unfortunately I'm not feeling any better than I did earlier. Albert notices that I'm not myself and questions it, I only brush it off and be stubborn and get into the car.

"Right, Maeve, please focus and we want this car and yourself back in one piece and do the best you can. We'll let you know if you need to box. Have fun." Albert says over the radio to which I just drive out of the box into the pitlane.

Why did I decide to drive today?