𝓕ate | Charles Leclerc (CL16)

Chapter 9 - Ring

*Charles view*

I sat next to her, patiently waiting for the elevator to start up again. Suddenly, I heard a light thump to my left. I glanced next to me only to see ElleCee's body motionless. Her head was leaning against the cool metal of the elevator. Her legs spread out, falling to her side.
What the fuck?

I moved quickly, positioning myself next to her moving her head upright. I tilted her legs up to keep some blood circulation running. I pressed two of my fingers to her neck to make sure she was breathing. Thank god she was.

She was out for a good 30 seconds, before I watched her slowly open her eyes. She had started to mumble incoherent things as I caressed her cheek. Those thirty seconds felt like an eternity. The panic was rushing through me.

Eventually, she was back to her usual self. She was a bit shaken up though. I think at the time that we were stuck in the elevator I didn't hate her at all. Her smile was always so contagious even when we were little.

I remember when we were small, she came to one of my first tournaments with Seb. She had wandered over to me to introduce herself, and I was so rude to her because I was nervous for the race. Ever since then, she's always hated me

I held her close to me as we waited. My back was pressed against the cool wall of the elevator, while hers was against my chest. My arms found themselves around her waist, I wanted to hold her like this forever knowing that she was safe in my arms.

When I overheard her conversation with Carlos, I had tried to keep my cool, but my blood was boiling. After that I heard Oscar talking to her. The rage bubbling up inside me was like a bottle of Pepsi shaken up. That's when I exploded. I had no regrets for crashing into Oscar, I would even do it again. It was all worth it, it was even better when I got to punch him for hurting my ElleCee. I got a bonus as well after I had hurt him! ElleCee stitched up my cuts and god how I wanted to kiss her right there.

Then Fred had to come and ruin it like he ruins everything else.

An hour had passed and we were still in the elevator. ElleCee was sleeping against my chest. I needed to sleep too, but I couldn't in case the elevator started working again. It must have been 1am by now. I knew my mechanics were still working hard to have my car ready for the race. I wasn't even sure I would be racing and even if I am I would be starting back of the grid.

Abruptly, the lights flickered on as the elevator started up again. I tried to nudge ElleCee, but she wouldn't wake. This time I knew she was sleeping from her rhythmic breathing. Thankfully, we were staying on the same floor. I searched her pockets for her room pass. I soon found it, as I carried her bridal style towards her room. I opened her door walking towards her bed, laying her down on it gently.

I tucked her in the best I could. I kissed her forehead carefully. I didn't want to leave, but I knew I had to. I slipped off the small ring she had on her finger that she always wore and put in my pocket. It might look like I was stealing, but I did take care of her for the whole evening. It's a fair trade right?

I left her keycard to get into her room on her bedside table, before taking one last look at her. Then I left.

As I laid down in my own bed I couldn't fall asleep. I kept thinking about how close she was to me. Her breathing, her scents it was driving me crazy.

I pulled her ring out of my pocket, smugly grinning to myself. I examined it carefully. It was a pretty ring I must admit. I gently took my chain off, opening the hook and slipping the ring through. Then I put my chain back on. I looked in my mirror and her ring was on my chain. I liked it the way it was looped through. I tucked it back inside my shirt before changing for the day.