Red past | Charles Leclerc

Home is where ever I'm with you

By the end of the weekend, I was discharged out of the hospital. I was told to relax and rest for the week we had free between then and Monza. Charles needed to be in Italy around 3 days before I was scheduled to arrive to do press and media for the fans.

After I was free of the hospital, both me and Charles headed straight to Monaco, all we wanted was to go back home after the eventful few days. Logan and Freya were going to catch the flight with Max to make it less crowded for me on the plane.

I had apologised to them both for the change of plans and had offered for them to go to a different race weekend further into the year to make up for the lack of track time two of her favourite drivers got.

Charles ordered for me to stay at his apartment to allow him to ensure that I was okay, I didn't bother to argue, it would have been no use anyways. When we walked through his front door, I smelt his familiar scent lingering in the air.

He sat me down on the sofa and told me that he would get me whatever I needed, the pampering was completely unnecessary, I felt the best I had since the accident.

I looked around the comfortingly familiar structure of the apartment, only slight changes had been made, some furniture was new and some moved around. the familiar photograph that I had seen many times before that had previously sat on his desk in his room in his mother's house was now on the mantle piece right next to his TV.

In the photo there was a small boy with a girl slightly younger, her blond locks falling over her face as she smiled while holing up the ice cream which she held in her hand. A cheeky grin was spread over his mouth as his gaze was set on the girl, fully fixated on the enjoyment in her face as it fuelled his happiness.

It felt like a lifetime ago, it was almost like I didn't recognise the girl in the photo anymore. She was so innocent, so pure and filled with excitement as she didn't have a care in the world. The only thing that remained the same was the way she felt about him.

"you want to know something funny," he came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and placing his head on my shoulder as his gaze landed on the photo.

"What?" I placed my hands on his, interlocking our fingers.

"That was the day that I realised that you were it for me, that at the right time in our lives, we would end up together," his words brought a smile to my face, I looked at the familiar look he gave me back then, the one that I had seen many times.

I remember having the biggest crush on him when we were younger, he was one of my brother's closest friends, someone I saw so often that he became one of the most important people in my life, but I also remember the gnawing feeling that I used to get in my stomach as I thought about the un likelihood of us ever getting together.

I took a seat on the sofa when he insisted that I rested, he disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a smoothie and some cookies. He gave me a grin when he noticed my face light up at the sight.

He gave me a gentle kiss on the lips after placing them down on the coffee table that stood in front of me. He gave me the Tv remote and left me to watch something as he went to my apartment to get me some clothes.

I was worried at the clothes he would pack for me but he claimed to be a "fashionista" which we both knew was false but I let him believe his words and go to choose out of my large selection.

Arthur's was texting me every couple of hours to make sure I was okay and had said that if I needed him, he was just one call away. I know that they were both loving and caring people but I was genuinely okay. I felt better than ever.

I did understand that there was still a risk that something could happen but I probably had the mentality that I would've been able to safety drive my F2 car.

I put some friends on and laid back on the sofa, grabbing Charles' softest blanket and snuggling up into the pillows.

I felt my eyes slowly drifting closed my mind clearing as I focused on the noise of the Tv and I soon fell into a deep slumber.

~

I woke to Charles tracing his fingers along the skin of my arm as he tried not to startle me. I gave him a grin before placing my hand on his and pulling myself up. he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to him.

"You don't mind if Max and Arthur come over tomorrow," He moved his head to look me in the eyes.

"Of course, also this is your apartment, why did you have to ask?" I couldn't help but get caught in the twinkling glimmer in the green of his eyes.

"Because.... I want you to feel at home here too," he had a goofy grin that grew across his face but his expression somehow remained serious.

I place my hands on his cheeks, stroking my thumbs up and down the soft skin below his eyes. I pulled him to me, planting a strong kiss on his lips, he moved one of his hands to the back of my head while the other fell to my waist. 

I pulled away, keeping my gaze firmly on his, "My home is where ever I'm with you."