Eyes Don't Lie | Charles Leclerc

Part 22 | Real Eyes, Realize

February 15, 2023

It was my last day in Maranello, and things had finally started to settle down. After all the stress and pressure leading up to the car launch, I was relieved that everything was going smoothly. Fred, had been a breath of fresh air. He was direct, no-nonsense, but also supportive in a way I hadn't experienced in a while. He made me feel more at ease, something I hadn't felt since last season went off the rails. 

We were preparing for the official press content today..photoshoots, interviews, and endless rounds of social media updates. It was hard to shake the nerves, though. After how last season ended, I wasn't too excited on putting myself out there for the world to see again. Storming out of Abu Dhabi and skipping the gala had left a mark, one I wasn't proud of. I knew people would remember it, and facing the cameras again felt like stepping back into the spotlight after a stumble. 

Carlos, as always, was the hero to my nerves. He had this way of making everything feel lighter, reminding me that we were just a couple of guys who loved racing. During the photoshoot for our new racing suits, he kept cracking jokes, doing ridiculous poses, and getting the crew to laugh. I couldn't help but smile, even when I tried to stay serious for the cameras. His energy was contagious, and I found myself loosening up as the day went on. 

"Mate, you look like you're posing for a fashion magazine, not a racing team!" Carlos teased as I straightened my suit for another shot. 

"Just trying to keep up with you, model Sainz," I shot back, earning a fake offended look from him before he burst into laughter. 

By the time we were done, I actually felt good about the whole thing. The shoot went better than expected, and for the first time in a while, I wasn't dreading seeing the photos go live on Ferrari's accounts. I had even smiled in a few shots, something I hadn't thought would come so easily after last season.

As we were wrapping up, I found myself thinking about Aria. The sunset photo she'd sent me from Tokyo still lingered in my mind. It was such a simple gesture, but it had stuck with me, making me think about how much I enjoyed our conversations. She had this way of making me feel grounded, no matter what was going on around me. Even from miles away, it was like she knew when I needed a reminder to slow down and just appreciate the little things. 

Without overthinking it, I pulled out my phone and took a quick selfie with Carlos. He was mid-laugh, and I had this stupid grin on my face, probably the most relaxed I had felt in weeks. "Let's send this to Aria," I said, mostly to myself. 

Carlos raised an eyebrow, giving me a teasing look. "Aiii, so that's why you've been smiling all day today. Got it." 

I ignored his smirk, already sending the selfie in our messages. I added a simple message: 'Carlos and I, looking as cool as ever. Hope Tokyo's treating you well. Can't wait for you to be back in Monaco.'

I hit send before I could second-guess it. The truth was, Aria had been on my mind more than I wanted to admit. I missed her, even though we hadn't known each other for long. As I slipped my phone back into my pocket, I couldn't help but smile to myself. The nerves from the day were gone, replaced by the quiet excitement of seeing how she'd respond. 

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

After wrapping up the last of the press duties for the day, I finally headed back to my hotel room. It was late, and the adrenaline from the photoshoot was starting to wear off, leaving me exhausted but strangely content. The nerves that had plagued me earlier were nowhere to be found now. 

Carlos had done a good job of making me laugh and helping me remember why I loved this sport in the first place. As soon as I stepped into the quiet of my hotel room, I kicked off my shoes and flopped onto the bed, pulling out my phone to check if Aria had responded. Sure enough, there it was, a notification from her. 

I opened the message to see a heart emoji in response to the silly selfie of me and Carlos. Simple, but enough to make me smile. And then there was her reply to the question I had asked her a few days ago, about having dinner together before we both left Monaco. I had been a little nervous about her response, unsure if she'd have time or even be interested. But her message came through, clear and full of warmth: 

'I'm excited to see you too! Also, I owe you an answer from our last coffee hangout, dinner sounds perfect. Let's make it happen when we're both back. Tokyo is great, but there's nowhere like home.' 

Reading her words, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I hadn't realized how much I had been anticipating her answer until I saw it in front of me. The idea of seeing her again, spending more time with her, made everything else seem lighter. Aria had this effect on me, like she brought calm into the chaos. 

I set my phone down on the bedside table and leaned back against the pillows, still grinning to myself. I could picture her smile, imagine the way she might laugh when we finally met up for dinner. And the fact that she seemed just as excited to see me again...it was enough to fill me with a quiet sense of hope. I was starting to realize...

For the first time in a long while, things felt like they were falling into place. The car launch had gone well, the team was in good spirits, and now, the prospect of seeing Aria again was something to genuinely look forward to. It wasn't just about the dinner; it was about everything...the way we talked, the connection we were building, the feeling that maybe, just maybe, there was something more here. 

As I lay there in the dim light of my room, I closed my eyes, the smile still tugging at my lips. I fell asleep with the thought of Aria's message replaying in my mind, her excitement mirroring mine, and the hope that whatever this was between us, it was only just beginning.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 

Author's Note: I fear i love this book too much. Projecting 50-60 chapters? Thanks for all the comments and votes ❤️