The Adults are talking | Charles Leclerc

Chapter two

Charles

I wake up, sometime, in my hotel bed, with no real recollection of how I ended up here. I'm still in my clothes from last night. I sit up and realize my head is pounding. Sighing, I grit my teeth and hobble towards the shower. 

Upon getting out, I grab clothes from my suitcase and throw them on, my headache scolding me with every movement.

By some miracle, I find my phone hidden in a drawer of the kitchenette counter, and have no clue why it is there.

32 notifications. Merde. It's only 9 am. I woke up strangely early for someone with a hangover. 

I check the notifications. A few are from Carlos, who spammed me with pictures of Pierre dancing. A couple more are from Lando, asking me if I had any vodka. The remainder are random people on instagram. One stands out, however. A text from a new contact.

Persephone: Hey Charlie. It's Persephone. How's the hangover serving you? 

A smile creeps up on my face.

Charles: Hi Persephone. Not well, sadly. You? 

I set my phone down to make myself a coffee, but only made it to pouring some water in a cup before I heard a buzz.

Persephone: I wasn't drunk.         

I frown at the text. She wasn't?

Persephone: Want some coffee?

I consider my reply for a moment, then begin to type. 

Charles: Desperately. 

Persephone: Okay. Meet me at Cafe Cruz in an hour. 

I feel my face warm up.

Charles: Will do. 

✦✦✦

After deciding that I'd rather not go out in sweats and a ratty T-shirt, I change into jeans and a slightly less ratty T-shirt. I grab my phone and a pair of sunglasses on the way out. 

I decide to walk to the cafe, as I am in no condition to drive and it's not very far. Exercise won't hurt this morning either.

I decide to walk to the cafe, as I am in no condition to drive and it's not very far. Exercise won't hurt this morning either.

I open the door and a bell rings. As I slide off my sunglasses, I spot a dark-clothed, dark haired figure sitting . I smile for a moment, as I take in her presence and drink in her appearance. Her hair is done up into a long braid and it falls elegantly behind her chair.

She looks up from a menu at me. "Charlie, hey!" 

I sit down in the seat across from her. "Hello, Persephone."

"Oh please," she huffs. "Call me Percy."

I give her a quizzical look. "Percy?"

"Yes, I know. All my friends call me it. And I'm sure we'll be great friends soon."

And suddenly, I do not know why, but I feel a pit in my stomach.

I nod at her. "Definitely."

The two of us order coffee and I begin to wonder what we might even talk about - we barely know each other! It is already strange for me to be out in public with a woman I barely know. I watch her for a moment.

"So, Percy. What's your last name?" I say, trying to break the ice.  

She smirks at me. "Persephone Marie Sosa Nuñez."