Picture Perfect

Chapter 5

Elle

"Angel, listen" he started, his eyes wide open looking straight at me. "It's quite hazy for me too, but I'll tell you only if you'll stop looking at me like you want my head on a stick" His hands were still on my shoulders as he shook me lightly.

With a deep sigh, I lifted my right hand at shoulder height. "I swear I'm not going to kill you" I whispered "Yet." 

He narrowed his eyes and slowly released the pressure on my shoulders, leaning back slowly as he observed my every move.

"Okay, now that we're all calm, what is the last thing you remember?" He smiled warmly as I relaxed and looked around the room, trying to relive last night. 

"I remember sitting with Pierre and then forcing you to dance with me" I murmured, hoping the silence of my voice would encourage my mind to think harder. "I also remember going to the bathroom... Or well, attempting to until I stumbled into Max."

"That's all you remember?" He asked, his eyes narrow, his mouth ajar. I tilted my head and nodded. "Well. It seems that you and Max had a little too much fun and unlimited access to alcohol. Pierre and I had an eye on you but completely lost you after you walked towards the bathroom. We went out on your search, and we did so for a couple of minutes before I spotted you sitting down at a bar with Lando; I wanted to interfere, but Pierre encouraged me not to." He shook his head at this last line before he continued. "We jumped out to catch you when we saw you walk out holding hands with Lando, but you were adamant of having him drive you home."

"I what?" I asked hurriedly, my voice louder.

He nodded, "Yes, Angel. You blew me off for a stranger" his voice mockingly sad. 

My eyes were wide open as I gritted my teeth. "No way."

"Yes way" he added.

With a deep sigh, I lowered my head into my hands, placing two fingers over my nose bridge as I slowly shook my head. "This is so embarrassing, what am I supposed to tell him now?"

He raised his shoulders at me "I'm clueless Elle, apologize, maybe?" 

My eyes wandered around the room, before I focused back on my phone. I let out a soft chuckle at myself and pushed Charles by the shoulder. "Never let me do that again" 

"Never again." He swore. 

We spent the next couple hours in my hotel room, eating and binging movies before we had to drive out to catch our flight back home to Monaco. 

Charlie, Carlos and I sat together in the back seat as someone drove us to the airport, when the vibration from my phone distracted me from the conversation I was having with the boys. 

"I must admit, I hoped you wouldn't associate me with the absolute mess of a hangover you're dealing with today, but I assume being left on read is one sign you now see a bottle of tequila instead of my face." 

That was the second consecutive text I got from him; I couldn't help but laugh before responding. 

"I'm so sorry Lando, I didn't mean to cause you any troubles. But I guess it was nice meeting you...? Honestly, I wouldn't quite remember you if it weren't for the couple pictures I've taken of you at the track"