SO AMERICAN charles leclerc

★. . . ten

CHARLES HADN'T REALIZED HOW CLOSE he would be sitting to Stevie once the two of them arrived at the set for the interview, and he didn't quite know how he was going to get out of this. Stevie was chatting away with Mia and a producer, a script in her hand, her smile bright and cheerful.

Charles could feel his stomach dropping each second he looked at her, but was brought out of his stupor by his teammate appearing on his side, reaching out for a fist bump. Charles tapped Carlos's fist with his before turning back round watch Stevie again, this time her back turned to him. He sighed in seeming defeat, something Carlos picked up on.

"What is up with you, mate?" The Spaniard raised an eyebrow, Charles waving away the question.

"It is nothing. I just do not get why we have media duties so close to a practice session. It's silly." He huffed, crossing his arms while his teammate laughed out loud. Stevie looked at the two with a curious look before walking over.

"Laughing about me already?" She joked, but quickly regretted it seeing Charles was not amused in the slightest. Stevie shut her mouth, tucking her hair behind her ear, then looking down at her question cards again.

"There really aren't a lot of questions. A lot are just fun ones with a few about racing. Hannah and Julio have screened any other ones they didn't like, like dating ones and stuff like that. Do you want a look?" Stevie held the cards out but Carlos quickly shook his head and pushed her hand back to her.

"It's more fun when we don't know. Then our answers will have to be real." With a somewhat embarrassed smile, Stevie nodded, then glanced over at Charles who was avoiding her gaze again.

Stevie couldn't understand him at all. One minute he's laughing and having a full blown conversation with her. the next he's silent and acting like she's personally insulted him and his whole family. It was getting exhausting.

"Alright!" Hannah clapped her hands, tying her dark hair back into a low ponytail before continuing. "We've got some final touches on make up and lighting and then we'll be rolling! Stevie, you've got the script?"

The girl held the cards up, waving them in the air, and Hannah gave her a quick thumbs up before turning to Charles and Carlos.

"And you two, on your best behavior." Waving her finger in front of the two, Hannah didn't look all that intimidating. In fact, she looked rather silly, but the Ferrari boys seemed to be pretty fearful of her. Maybe she's a lot scarier when they've done something wrong.

Stevie watched a woman brush a bit of powder on Charles and Carlo's faces, but she couldn't tell what it was. Either way, it was entertaining, the way they both scrunched their noses and squeezed their eyes closed, like it would hurt them or something.

"Okay! Both of you will be sitting on either side of Stevie on this bench right here. Charles, your camera is on the right, Carlos you're left, and Stevie, you've got full range. Look wherever, one of the crew will catch it on film." Hannah fixed Stevie's hair one last time, Charles and Carlos sitting down next to her. Carlos was chatting with Mia, who handed him one of the small handheld fans, making Stevie giggle.

"What? It is hot, and sweat will ruin the hair." He gestured to the luscious brown curls on his head and Stevie couldn't help but agree. Carlos's hair was precious cargo, probably more so than Carlos himself.

She turned to look at Charles, straightening the cards in her hands. He was shielding his eyes from the bright Texas sun, since they couldn't wear sunglasses in the video. Apparently there'd be a glare on camera, but Stevie was convinced they just wanted to see her and the two drivers suffer.

"How do you live with this shining right in your face everyday?" Charles complained, squinting his eyes at the bright sunlight. Stevie chuckled, teasing him about being a drama queen.