𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 charles leclerc

𝟬𝟬𝟴

VEDA'S POV

Hours later we'd had a quiet drive to the large garden, greeted by a sea of fans moments into stepping out of the car. With the upcoming race weekend, it was no news to everyone that formula one drivers would be wandering around Suzuka.

Charles took some time to sign caps and posters. At one point the crowd had gotten so dense, fans circling around Charles, that I had completely lost sight of him. It had all happened within seconds one second he was right beside me and the next I'd lost him in the ocean of bodies.

Moments later I saw him push through to where I stood still as a rock waiting for it all to pass. He grabbed me by the arm sucking me into the heart of the crowd and pulling me with him as he walked away from it.

At one point, guards had been able to stop them from following us as we entered.

"You okay?," he asked as his grip left my arm.

"Yeah." I gave him a tight smile.

The moment I'd been able to draw my attention away from the crowd and towards the actual garden it had brought a smile to my face. Cherry blossom trees, gorgeous greenery, a variety of flowers from deeply blues to vibrant yellows, pebbled stone walkways surrounded my perfectly well kept shrubbery. The sight was one for sore eyes.

"This is beautiful," I beamed, turning on my camera out of instinct.

I was the only one with a camera though. As we walked around it was hard to miss the cameras pointed at Charles and I, it had been the whole point. To paint his as someone interested in more than just winning a formula one race but in nature and culture as well.

I took photos and he only stood next tensely, hands in the pockets of his baggy jeans.

"Excited are we?," I teased, taking notice to it.

He rolled his eyes. "Just enjoying the view." I hadn't seen him look at a single plant since our arrival, only at me as I took photos and dragged him along like a puppy on the leash. I was the excited one of the two when it was him who was meant to look good.

I un-looped the camera from around my neck, handing it to him. "Here."

He took it from me hesitantly with a look of confusion. "What are you doing?"

I looped the strap attached to it around his neck instead. Then I stood behind him, guiding his hands up and adjusting the lens of the camera so it focused better on the scenery. "You're the one whose reputation needs fixing, not me." I guided his index finger to the button, helping snap a photo.

I could feel him stiffen underneath my touch. "I-i know how a camera works."

"Then from now on, you take the photos."

As we walked around I'd point at pretty things and he'd snap a photo of them. Ancient trees, blooming flowers, anything that stood out or caught my eye.

By the end of it we walked the entire garden and were sure we'd find photos of us on the internet from several angles to prove it, people hadn't been very discrete as they filmed us and took pictures.

"See that wasn't so bad was it?"

He shrugged at me, handing back my camera. "Sure." His hands returned to his pockets as walked back to the car.

Noticing he didn't feel like talking much I stayed quiet the rest of the way, praying this public image thing would work so I wouldn't have to deal with this much longer.

I'd been able to finally publish my article. It had gotten a decent amount of attention, but nowhere near the last one. The next time Charles got himself in trouble I wasn't so sure I wanted to miss out on writing about it, it was part of my job.