Faded Love

11

Stepping out into the Monaco night Charles quickly stood up and turned to see his teammate. "What did she say?"

"You're in," Carlos said, slowly sitting down on the steps of the building.

"I'm in? In what?"

"You don't need my help, mate."

Sitting down next to him Charles tried to read Carlos expression. It was full of awe and shock. "She likes me?!"

"Compared to when she first realized she liked you all those years ago, I think she might like you even more this time. If that is even possible."

*Flashback*

"CARLITOS! CARLOS!!!"

"Emilie?" Standing behind his grill, Carlos looked up to find Emilie running down his backyard, sweat dripping down her face. "Nena, what's wrong? What are doing over here? Did you run all the way over here? Wait weren't you in Monaco?"

"Carlos, I think I like Charles," she finally said, hands on her knees looking up at him as she tried to catch her breath.

"Well that's sad," he shrugged, flipping the burger patties on the grill. "You want a double-double or a single?"

"Sad? Why sad?" She asked, confused by his reaction.

"He's your best friend and you didn't like him before. You're supposed to like your best friend, more than a regular friend."

"Carlos, you are not understanding what I am saying. I LIKE LIKE Charles," she emphasized.

Looking up at her, his eyebrows furred together and he tilted his head. After a few seconds his eyebrows raised and his eyes widened, "YOU LIKE LIKE CHARLES?!"

"YES!" Emilie cheered, one because Carlos finally caught on and two because she really did like Charles. "I think I might even be in love with him, Carlitos."

"Hold on, we need to eat while you explain everything. These are almost done," he said, flipping the burgers.

"Ok, make me double, I'm starving from all that running," she said as she grabbed a glass of lemonade.

Emilie and Carlos sat on the table in his backyard as they ate his infamous burger with chips and lemonade.

"When did you realize?" Carlos as he stuffed some chips in his mouth.

"I guess it was always there but last night, something hit me like a truck," she explained. "We were watching the sunset from his yacht, like we always do, and then he said something that just made my heart skip."

"What did he say?!" Carlos asked, leaning forward, sipping on his lemonade.

"He said, 'I'd choose you. In every lifetime, in every universe, in every world. I'd choose you. If I lost you, I will do everything in my power to bring you back to me.'"

"OMG!" Carlos shrieked, "What did you tell him?!"

"Nothing."

"NOTHING?!"

"Nothing, he didn't let me respond."

"What do you mean he didn't let you respond?!"

"He said, 'Don't say anything right now. Think about it over night and then tomorrow morning give me an answer.'"

"So instead of going to his house this morning and telling him how you feel. You flew all the way to Spain to tell me?"

"Yeah," she laughed nervously.

"'Yeah' I'M NOT CHARLES NENA!" he mocked, "if you do not get your ass on the next flight out to Monaco I swear to you, Emilie, I'll crash into you in the next race. I don't care if we are both disqualified."

"Right, right," she said, stuffing the last bite of her cheeseburger and downing her lemonade before running back to the airport.

"GET IN MY CAR! I'LL GIVE YOU A RIDE BEFORE YOU BARF YOUR WAY TO MONACO!" Carlos shouted as he made his way into his house to grab his keys and wallet.

*End of flashback*

"Don't forget she still has two weeks to remember who you are. If she doesn't remember after those two weeks, then it's all up to you to make her fall in love again."

"Right, yes," Charles said, his hopes reaching the heavens.

"Just be careful not to scare her off."

"No, I would never."

"Good," Carlos said, standing up as he patted my shoulder. "I am going to bed and you should too if you want to keep up with her tomorrow."

"Keep up with her?" Charles asked, tilting his head in confusion.

"She just went to bed right now, she is really excited for tomorrow and whatever you two are going to do."

Watching as Carlos left him alone in the streets of Monaco Charles sat once more and thought of how excited she was to be with him tomorrow. Was he really successfully making her fall in love with him again? And so quickly?