Ice and asphalt [Charles Leclerc]

32

Charles and I have been at this whole "we're figuring things out" stage for three months now. Even though it's still new and a bit scary, I'm feeling more secure in this relationship every day. However, a new struggle has emerged: Charles being away so much. Australia went well for him, and now he's in Bahrain. He just finished qualifying, which also went well, putting him in a good position for the race tomorrow. Meanwhile, I'm just sitting in my living room, missing him and realizing that this is how it's going to be in a relationship with him. I can't travel with him to every race like I did with Pierre last season because I now have a job coaching Celine and Leon. Just as I grab my phone to send Charles a text wishing him good luck on tomorrow's race, the door bursts open, and Victoria, who has a key to my house, comes rushing in. "Vic, what are you doing here?" I exclaim, surprised as I get up from the couch to hug her. "Grab a suitcase. We're going to Bahrain," she says with a serious look on her face. "I don't have a flight ticket," I say, looking at her confused. "My dad bought you a business class one. He wants me to come to the race, and I said I wouldn't go without you," she says with a smirk on her face, and I can't help but smile. "Okay then," I say, starting to walk towards my bedroom. I open my closet, thinking about what to wear tomorrow. I can't just wear anything. Going to the paddock, especially on race day, is like fashion week. You can't just walk in with a t-shirt and jeans; you'll be shredded to pieces by the media and fans for being basic. "And Louise, you can also surprise your boyfriend this way," she says as she squeezes me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and looking at the dresses hanging in my closet. "Can't call him my boyfriend yet; Arthur doesn't even know," I say, feeling a twinge of guilt for lying to him. "What about this one?" Vic says, holding up a short black dress with rhinestones on it. "No way, I'm going to the race, not to the club. That's way too sexy," I say, taking the dress from her and hanging it back in the closet. "It will definitely get you sex in a driver's room if you wear that," she says with a smirk. "Vic!" I squeal, standing there with my mouth open. She laughs and hands me a more suitable outfit—a stylish but modest sundress that will look perfect in the paddock. I pack quickly, throwing in a few other essentials, and within an hour, we're on our way to the airport.

We arrive in Bahrain after midnight, and despite the two-hour time difference compared to Nice, the jet lag isn't too bad. Still, we head straight to our hotel room, knowing we need to be up early to get ready and look our best. Victoria has miraculously arranged a VIP and paddock pass for me, likely through someone at Red Bull, given that Alpha Tauri, formerly Toro Rosso, is their sister team. I'm thankful for her getting me a pass for Alpha Tauri as she knows I would rather not step into the Red Bull area, especially with Max there. Charles would also appreciate this, as it prevents a lot of potential drama. Sleep takes over quickly, and my alarm goes off seemingly in the next moment. Victoria and I linger in bed for a few moments, scrolling through our phones before finally getting up to prepare. I curl my brown hair and set it in rollers, hoping this will help the curls last longer. My makeup is light, with a small wing to accentuate my hazel eyes. Victoria slips into a long, tight dark blue dress that complements her skater's body perfectly. I choose a long sundress paired with small YSL heels and remove the rollers from my hair before we head out the door. Unfortunately, something goes wrong with parking, and we have to walk through the path where the drivers also walk. It's not a problem per se, but fans are allowed in this area, separated by barricades, and I can already anticipate the questions they'll ask. I can't just ignore them, so I stop to take a photo with one girl when another asks, "Louise, why did you and Max break up?" I try to brush it off, smiling and pretending not to hear, but soon enough, I'm swarmed with more questions about Max and even about Charles. Panic starts to set in, and I feel frozen, unsure of how to navigate the situation. Suddenly, I hear someone call out, "Who wants a photo or their hat signed?" The fans quickly turn their attention towards Lewis, who has just arrived. He gives me a reassuring smile over the crowd, and I mouth a thank you before continuing on my path. Once inside the paddock, the atmosphere shifts, and I feel a sense of relief. The hustle and bustle are familiar and comforting.