STAY THE NIGHT || Charles Leclerc

FIFTY ONE

"Okay," I said "Is that everything?"

I was standing on the driveway of Lottie and Jack's house, watching as Lottie brought yet another bag out to the car. Today was Wednesday, and we were packing up our belongings to drive down to Silverstone for the weekend. We didn't normally stay at the track, usually driving to and from each day, but since Ellie would be coming with us this year it made things a lot easier to stay in a hotel. Charles had managed to organise it for us way in advance, and we'd be staying in the hotel at the track, right along the start/finish straight.

Charles and I had barely spoken since the concert, him having had to fly straight out to Canada early the next morning. He'd then had to spend some time in the United States for a promotional campaign, travelling to Maranello straight after to prepare for this weekend. We'd called and texted each other here and there, but it had almost been two weeks since we'd had a proper conversation, and the kiss we'd shared hadn't even been mentioned at all. I'd kept replaying the moment over and over in my head, engraving it into my mind. As soon as his lips had met with mine it felt like fireworks had gone off. The moment just felt so right. But the fact that Charles hadn't mentioned anything since... did he regret it? I know that I didn't, but what if he did? What if he realized it wasn't what he wanted? Charles was my best friend, one of my longest friends. I couldn't lose him.

"This is it," Lottie said, holding up the bag that she'd brought out with her

"Right then, let's get this show on the road," Jackson said, holding Ellie against his side "Hopefully we should be there by about half one, maybe two o'clock."

*

The journey down to Silverstone went smoothly. Jack drove, with me playing DJ in the passenger seat whilst Lottie sat in the back with Ellie. We'd done this same journey countless times before, as a family when Jack was racing, then as teenagers when Jack had passed his driving test. The Thomas siblings taking on Silverstone would forever be a highlight of the year for all of us - it had become a bit of a tradition.

When we were about fifteen minutes away from the track, my phone pinged with a message from Charles.

Charlie:

My plane's been delayed so I'm still in Italy, meet you guys later for dinner? I'll let you know when I've landed.

"Charles' plane's been delayed" I announced to my siblings "He said he'll meet us later for dinner if we want though? He's gonna let me know when he's landed."

"Yeah sure, let him know that's fine," Jack said

Lottie agreed with him, and I sent him a text back.

Olly:

Dinner sounds good, see you tonight :)

"Okay ladies, welcome to the final stretch of the journey," Jackson announced, as he turned onto the road that led to the track.

Driving up to Silverstone was one which would never get old. I remember the first grand prix we came to, when I was eight. We'd been planning to go for a few years, but this was the first time where it didn't clash with Jack's racing. I remember the long queues that seemed to go on forever, stretching all the way down the road. Cars were almost pressed bumper to bumper, everybody desperate to get to the track as soon as they possibly could. Jack and I had a competition between the two of us in the back of the car, seeing how many different team's merch we could spot. The trail of cars seemed to go on forever, then... suddenly the track seemed to appear out of nowhere, signs with 'Silverstone' hanging above the road. If you arrived late on a day when there was track action, the sound of the cars speeding around the track was there to greet you too, welcoming you to the British home of motorsport.

"Hey Ells," I said, turning around to my niece in the back of the car who had a wide smile on her face. This was the first year we'd brought her along with us - mum had stayed at home last year to look after her last year, dad joining us for the weekend. "Welcome to your second home."