♡𝓛𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓪♡

୨⎯ "𝔽𝕚𝕧𝕖" ⎯୧

ℂ𝕒𝕥𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕒

To say I'm fuming would be an understatement.

I let Carlos soak in the glory of a sixth place finish while we're at the track, but as soon as we get home, I go off on him.

"So you just invite Charles to watch the race with me and don't ask ME in advance?!?!" I yell at him.

He's not paying too much attention to me as he's lounged on the couch texting with Lando.  "Yeah, sorry Lína." Is all he says.

I find that yelling at him will have no effect and what's done is done, so I storm up to my room.

Now, I'm not saying I didn't enjoy talking to Charles. I mean he is still painfully unbearable, but he's a good listener and a good storyteller. We had talked for about an hour locked in that room, conversation flowed so naturally between us, until finally a staff member noticed our absence and knew what had happened. They promised Charles they'd get the door fixed as soon as they could.

I will have to mentally prepare myself for the next race though. My family won't be able to come so it'll just be me and him.

But I get an idea.

Gato😽🇪🇸
Guys help me

Little Lando Norris🏳️‍🌈🏎️
What is it this time

St Valentine🩷🎀
?

Gato😽🇪🇸
So Charles watches the races with me and my family since
his wrist is sprained but my family isn't gonna be there next
weekend and it's just gonna be the two of us and I think I'll
go crazy

Little Lando Norris🏳️‍🌈🏎️
Unless you'd like to drive my car there ain't much I can do for
you there girl

Gato😽🇪🇸
Val pls save me🙏🙏🙏

St Valentine🩷🎀
I told Daniel I'd stay at his garage

Gato😽🇪🇸
PLEASEEEEEE

St Valentine🩷🎀
FINE
I'll be there

Gato😽🇪🇸
thx babe🤞

Well that problem is solved. At least I won't have to talk to him now.

~

Val and I get to the garage on Sunday and he's already talking to someone else anyways. I think that I'm safe, but he sees me and excuses himself from his conversation, almost like he's happy to see me.

I let out a loud groan as he walks towards us, earning an elbow to the ribs from Val.

He laughs at me. "What? Are you not absolutely thrilled to see me? Because I know I'm thrilled to see you." He jokes.

I roll my eyes."Whatever Charles."

He put a look of fake hurt on his face. "I'm offended!" He says.

"Oh she missed you, I promise." Val pipes up. I glare at her.

Val and Charles start talking with each other and I turn to watch the race. As long as he's not bothering me, I don't care if they get along.

The race is about half way over on lap 26, when Daniel spins out and crashes into the barrier. He says over the radio that he's ok.

"Shoot, I should probably go check up on him." Val tells us. I look at her with pleading eyes, but she says a quick 'sorry' and heads off to see him.

Charles and I look at each other. We stand there in awkward silence for a few minutes.

"So," He starts. "How's it going?"

"Um good, I guess. How about you?"

"I'm fine." Then there's a silence again.

"Got a new girlfriend of the week?" I ask.

"Got a boyfriend yet?" He shoots back. We're quiet for a minute.

"Sorry." I say softly after a minute. He nods in response.

"Have they fixed your door yet?" I ask him, trying to start a real conversation.

"I dunno." He replies. A sly grin crosses his face. "Should we go check?"

"Oh my god, absolutely not. I can't do that again." I groan. He laughs in response and goes back to watching the race for a while.

We both curse when Fernando Alonso overtakes Carlos. "I wouldn't have let that happen." Charles complains.

"Honestly, I believe you." I tell him. "He's always been like this. When we did karting together when we were really little, he always used to let everyone pass him, until our dad explained that that's not how you're supposed to race."

"You did karting?" Charles sounds surprised.

"Yeah, but I quit when I was 15."

"Why?'

"Well, I mean, no one wanted to sponsor a girl. It was a bit disappointing, but I've gotten over it. And now I do part time modeling stuff which I enjoy, so it's not that bad." I say. Upon seeing his disappointed face, I give him a reassuring smile.

He continues frowning though and doesn't seem comforted. "Maybe I could take you karting again sometime." He seems almost surprised by his own words. "I mean, if you wanted to."

I smile at him. "I appreciate the offer, but why are you being so nice today?"

He shrugs and quickly turns his face away from me, but I can see the blush on his cheeks. I decide not to torment him about it though. I'm feeling nice today too.

"I mean if you'd rather, I can talk about your lack of a boyfriend." He suggests. I laugh at his joke and his face goes even redder. Ferrari red if you will.

"Aw, does my laugh make you blush?" I tease him. I'm not feeling as nice anymore.

"Shut up, Catí." He puts emphasis on the nickname just to make me upset.

"Oh. My. God. That stupid name. When will you get tired of it?" I'd never admit it, but I'd secretly become almost a tiny bit fond of it. It was almost comforting hearing Charles call me 'Catí'.

Charles sighs. "Fine if you really hate it that much, I'll stop. But I think 'Catí' is better than that other name people call you. What was it again?" He thinks for a second. "Oh right, Linda."

My breath catches in my throat. "Um-" I'm about to correct his mistake when a mechanic comes over and says that Mattia needs to talk to him.

Charles stands up to walk away. "See you later, Linda." My face goes red at the name he uses and he smirks at me. "Now who's blushing?" He whispers, so only the two of us hear.

I was left there sitting in absolute shock at everything that had just unfolded. I try to watch the race, but I can't help thinking about Charles.

Eventually the race concludes, and after some interviews and pictures with the team, Carlos and I head back home.

"So," He asks in the car. "How was Charles today?"

I shrug. "Not too bad, plus I had Val with me for like, half of the race. It was bearable." I tell him.

He smiles. "Good. He should be heading back pretty soon, so you won't have to deal with this for much longer."

I let out an overdramatized sigh. "Thank god!" I would never tell Carlos, or anyone for that matter, that I might miss watching the races with Charles. I do enjoy talking to him just a tiny bit.