the F1 journey begins | Part 2

Chapter 14 : SQ3

(Charles' POV)

The hell am I doing to myself. Why is this torturing me? Memories of me with Alex? The fact I might ask my girl to be my girlfriend? This never happened. I was now back in the car waiting for my engineer to tell me when to drive out of the pit lane. No one could understand what was happening to me, not even myself. It had affected me as if someone had died. I knew it shouldn't affect me. I hated Alex. I loved Monique. I got the signal and drove out.

"My love, it's just a Sprint, remember. Don't do anything dangerous, what if your mama is watching or your brother?" Monique told me. "I'll be fine." I added as I gave in a deep breath. I drove past turn 2 as I got my tires more hotter. I drove normally through the track for 3 minutes. I felt myself dozing off. I didn't know why. I tried to stay awake. I felt myself loosing consciousness. As I was about to go to turn 1, I forgot to press the breaks. I couldn't remember what happened. All I remember is hitting the car into the wall. I completely blacked out from there.

(Monique's POV)

I felt myself fall to the ground as I saw the replay of Charles hitting the car into the wall near turn 1. NO. I heard myself in my head. AND CHARLES LECLERC IS IN THE WALL! RED FLAG. ITS CATCHING ON FIRE! I cried as I felt Leah near me hugging me. Some seconds went by and Faith came running from the McLaren Pit Cabin as I couldn't stop crying. I got up and grabbed my headphones. "Charles? Please. TALK TO ME." I screamed as I cried. "W-what?..." he said as I gasped. "GET OUT OF THERE THE CAR'S ON FIRE!" I screamed as I started having another panic attack. I noticed how fast the Marshalls ran as the car was crushed. All of a sudden, the fire, bursted out into more flames. God Charles get the hell out of there. Suddenly, I saw someone in the fire, Charles.

He was fully covered in black smoke as he got out and startled onto the floor. He passed out. I ran out of the pit lane, Marshall's screaming at me to stay in. I couldn't stand there and watch him pass out. I needed to help him. The Marshalls held me off. I couldn't. Leah and Faith came running and dragged me back inside. I saw the ambulance taking him into the pit lane as there was a medical centre in Miami just for occasions like these. I ran without hesitation as I saw the ambulance park. "I'm Charles' girlfriend, can I see him?" I was lying, but I would do anything right now to see the man. I saw the tv, the car was now extinguished. It was a disaster. According to some Marshall's, the crash had caused him a 78G Force on his neck, which was the result of why he had passed out. I remembered all the Engineers' faces, all shocked and confused of what was happening. No one wanted their driver to crash and pass out like that. It was something horrible to watch. Imagine your favourite driver, crashing whilst you're there in audience watching, wanting he would win the race. I got in as I saw him still in his race suit. I gasped. He was fully covered in black.

"Why." that was all I could say. I couldn't talk. I was still in shock. I hugged him and kissed his forehead. I had some of the black smoke on me. I went to the bathroom as I removed it from my arm. "He's awake!" I heard. I ran. I opened the door as I saw the doctor, amazed that he woke up just 5 minutes after he had passed out. "My love. Je suis désolé." (I'm sorry.) he said as he cried. "It's not your fault. I'm glad you're okay." I said as I kissed him. I was still in shock what had happened. Why him out of all 20 drivers? I had respect for the others, but why did it have to be my Charles. It had been Lando who was on Pole Position along with Carlos and Max behind him. But what about Charles? Would he drive the Sprint or the Race?.

The others came after the Qualifying had finished. I just sat there, near him, holding his hand, sometimes kissing it as he felt his stomach hurt.