Whispers in the rain | charles leclerc *ੈ✩

Part 1 🩷 : Chapter 9 : Delicate

I couldn't believe what the officer had just said. My worries vanished in an instant. Charles Logan and I see Max and dad emerged from the little office, both soaking wet, but wrapped in towels.

"Max!" I cried out sprinting towards him.

Max's face up as he saw me, and he opened his arms wide. I hugged him as slightly as I could, tears streaming down my face.

"Max," I repeated my voice choked with emotion.

He hugged me back, just slightly whispering , "I'm okay, Jules, I'm here."

Relief disappeared now giving in to theweight of frustration, and I started hitting him slightly on the chest . "Do you have any idea how worried we were?" I explained, my hits more reflection of my pain, fear, and relief than actual anger.

Max winced slightly, but didn't stop me . "I know I'm sorry.," he said softly, letting me vent.

Charles and Logan stood nearby, their expressions of relief and gratitude. Charles stepped forward, his usual kind exterior, cracking as he smiled at Max. " good to see you, man," he said clapping Max on the back.

Logan too approached with a grin, "Yeah really gave us a scare there," he said.

Max uttered, looking between the two of them, and then back at me  "I know I know it was a close call, but I'm here now."

I looked up at dad. He seemed fine too, not that I really cared.

"Aren't you going to ask me if I'm alright?" he said, raising an eyebrow at me.

I said, trying to keep my emotions in check, "I can see you're alright. I have eyes you know."

"Well, it was just a lot," he continued, not that anyone asked him to, rubbing his hands together, as if the stress of the situation situation was only now catching up to him. "The driver of the yacht is definitely going to hear a handful from me."

I couldn't believe it. That's what he cared about? Yelling at the poor driver who almost lost his life too?

Max must've sensed my frustration. He squeezed my shoulder, drawing my attention back to him. "Let's just go back, please."

I forced a smile, turning back to max, "Yeah, let's get you dried off and warmed up."

The next day.

I was a mess. I hadn't slept all night, my mind racing with the thoughts of what almost happened with Charles. Did he feel it too? Or did he just lean in because I was about to lose my brother and I was vulnerable?

I tossed and turned replaying the moment in my head. His eyes had been so intense, so full of something.  But was it real, or was it just a fleeting reaction to the chaos around us?

Mia had stayed with me the whole night, refusing to let me sleep alone. What would I do without her?

Max and dad were at the station for an enquiry, leaving me and Mia alone in the hotel room.

As I woke up, I walked myself to the small kitchen of the suite to get some coffee. Coffee was the one thing I knew was going to help. The events of the day played in my mind, making sleep seem like a distant memory. I rubbed my eyes and reached for the coffee pot when I noticed the newspaper on the counter. The headline immediately got my attention.

" Max Verstappen, drowning saved by sister and her boyfriend, rival of Max"

I didn't even bother to read the rest of it. I knew it would be a load of crap, sensationalising the events, and probably twisting the truth.