AGAIN || MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE /Charles Leclerc/

Chapter 23

Celine

Before

The race has been going for twenty six laps, and it has never been this nerve wracking. Charles is leading his home grand-prix, and everything seems to be going great. The weather is beautiful, not even a cloud covers Monaco today and it couldn't be more perfect.
Max is second, and even if the Red Bull garage is trying so hard to put him on the highest step of the podium, today I'm rooting for the red car number sixteen, because I know how much it would mean to him to win here.

The tension in me rises every lap, I try to hide it, exchanging every now and then a little smile with Christian, who opened for me Charles' cam on one of their monitors.

The pit window is opened, and when Charles is called in I hold my breath. He's been called earlier than expected: the first to enter the pit, followed by Max, Lewis and Pierre.

I fix my eyes on his cam, the car stops.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Something is wrong.

Six.

Seven.

I bring my hands up to my mouth in pure shock.

Eight.

The car is finally put back down, and a few seconds after is on track again, taking P17.

"What the fuck was that? No! Putain! No, No!" Charles' voice breaks through my headphones, and never in my life have I heard him that mad, it nearly scares me, and I know tonight it's gonna be one hell of a night.

Max is now leading, and the people around me are cheering, but this doesn't feel right today. If it was every other race I would be celebrating with them, being the biggest Red Bull fan since I was a toddler, but maybe today I shouldn't even be here.

There's no way he's gonna even finish in the points, more than half of the grid has pitted already.

Another radio comes in. "Why do you always have to fuck up the only race I really care to win? What the fuck did I do to you?" Charles' voice is broken, maybe not everyone will realize it but I do, Charles is crying, and I can only hope this won't be transmitted on the television.

Eventually the race ends, and by the time it does I'm already standing in the Ferrari garage. I'm not sure he will want to talk to me, or anyone else, so I just stand there, leaning on the red wall, waiting for the drivers to slowly re-enter their garages.

When I see Carlos' figure coming my way I straighten up, ready to see Charles following, but he never comes. I've waited for a good fifteen minutes before seeing his PR walking past me, but even now, Charles is not with her as he should, for his post-race interviews.

"Helen." I call, waving slightly to catch her attention. "Sorry but, where's Chalres?" She smiles softly at me, a displeased look on her face.

"He left. To be honest I don't even think he changed." That was not what I was expecting at all, he left the track without even telling me, leaving me on foot here waiting for him.

I take a deep breath, thanking Helen, before making my way out of the paddock and rapidly walking home. I pass by the bowling that two years ago brought us together, a little smile creeping on my lips at the thought. It's been the most beautiful two years of my life, with some ups and downs, but every moment was worth the troubles.

Tonight is gonna be a down moment, and honestly this time I don't know what that could make him feel better.

When I arrive I take out of my purse the keys Charles gave me when he bought this house some months ago, I open the door finding myself surrounded by the silence. The living room is in the dark, not a single light is on, as if the owner was not at home. But he has to be, his car was parked down here.