Eyes Don't Lie | Charles Leclerc

Part 23 | Do You Feel It?

February 23rd, 2023

I was pacing back and forth in my apartment, glancing at the clock more times than I cared to admit. Dinner with Aria was in little bit, and I couldn't shake the nerves. It was ridiculous...I'd been to hundreds of events, faced the media, even survived the end of last season, but the idea of having dinner with her tonight had me on edge. I made sure all the proper precautions of being seen were handled. I picked a low-key restaurant and called ahead to ensure privacy and no media.

It wasn't just dinner. It felt like...more. I didn't know why, but the thought of spending time with her away from all the noise, felt different. It wasn't a casual hangout, at least, it didn't feel that way to me. I kept thinking back to our texts, to the way she responded to my question with excitement. 

'I'm excited to see you too!' 

Those words had been playing on a loop in my mind for days now. I stopped pacing and looked at the pile of clothes I'd thrown on the bed. What was I even doing? It wasn't like this was a red-carpet event. But I still couldn't decide what to wear. Every outfit I picked felt wrong, like it either tried too hard or not hard enough. 

I pulled out a simple button-up and jeans, then tossed them aside. I tried a different shirt, then frowned at myself in the mirror. Why was I making such a big deal out of this? I ran my hands through my hair, taking a deep breath and trying to convince myself to calm down. It's just Aria, I reminded myself. But that was the problem. It was just Aria...someone I genuinely liked spending time with, someone who I didn't want to mess things up with. 

The few times we'd gotten together had been easy, comfortable even. But tonight felt like a step forward, and I wasn't sure what to expect. It didn't help that I only had a few days left before flying out to Bahrain for the first race of the season. We had limited time together in Monaco. Time was running short, and part of me wondered if this was our last chance to see each other before the craziness of the season kicked in. Maybe that's why I was feeling so much pressure. 

I caught my reflection in the mirror again and stopped myself. "Alright, Charles, breathe. You've faced worse things than dinner," I muttered under my breath. 

Still, it wasn't doing much to calm me down. My thoughts kept drifting back to Aria, how she'd been so understanding, always checking in on me, how I'd found myself opening up to her in ways I hadn't with anyone else in a long time. 

I finally settled on a plain navy button-up and black jeans, nothing too flashy but still decent enough. I looked at myself in the mirror and nodded. "Good enough." 

Grabbing my jacket, I checked my phone for any messages, half hoping Aria would text me and delay the nerves a little longer. But there was nothing, and I knew I couldn't stall anymore. It was time to head out. As I walked toward the door, I caught myself smiling. Despite the nerves, I was looking forward to tonight, maybe more than I should be. 

This wasn't just about dinner anymore. It was about seeing where this thing between us was heading, even if I still didn't fully understand it myself. Whatever it was, I knew I didn't want to lose it. 

Before heading out the door, I stopped and reached for the small gift bag I had set on the table earlier. Inside was a mini #16 Ferrari racecar, something I had picked up while I was in Maranello from the team. It wasn't much, but I thought Aria might like it. She always asked about my career with genuine interest, and I wanted to bring her something personal, something that connected us beyond just conversations. I smiled to myself, hoping she'd appreciate the small gesture as I tucked the bag under my arm.

As I reached for the door handle, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw "Maman" flashing on the screen. Of course, she'd call right now, right when I was about to leave. I sighed, knowing better than to ignore her call. I answered and brought the phone to my ear. 

"Salut, Maman." 

"Charles, mon chéri," she said in that soft, reassuring tone she always used when she knew something was up. "I wanted to check in on you. How are you feeling?" 

I hesitated for a second, glancing back at the clock. She didn't know about the dinner with Aria, but she always had this way of sensing when something was on my mind. 

"I'm good...just, uh, heading out." 

There was a pause on the other end, long enough for me to know she wasn't buying it. "You're nervous, aren't you?" she said, almost laughing. "I can hear it in your voice." 

I ran a hand through my hair, smiling despite myself. "Yeah, a little. I'm just going to have dinner with...a friend." 

I didn't mention it was Aria, but I had a feeling she already knew. "I don't know, Maman. I feel like I'm overthinking everything." 

"Ah, Charles," she said gently, "you're overthinking because you care. But listen to me, whoever this friend is, they're spending time with you because they enjoy your company, not because of what you wear or say. Just be yourself. That's all you need to do." 

I leaned back against the door, letting her words sink in. My mom always had this way of cutting through the noise in my head. But I still couldn't shake the uncertainty. "What if I don't know what I want?" I said quietly. 

"I mean, I like her, I like being around her, but what if I'm not ready for something more? What if she deserves better than me? After everything that happened last year..I'm not sure if I'm in the right place." 

There was another pause on her end, but this time it felt more thoughtful, like she was choosing her words carefully. "Charles," she began softly, "sometimes, it's not about being ready or having all the answers. Life doesn't wait for you to feel fully prepared. What matters is that you're open to whatever comes your way. If you like this girl, if you enjoy being with her, then that's enough for now." 

I swallowed, feeling a strange mix of comfort and unease. "But what if it's too soon?" I asked. "What if I mess things up?" 

She giggled lightly. "Charles, everything that is meant to be will happen in its own time. If this is something real, it will find a way, whether you're ready or not. Don't force yourself to figure it all out tonight. Just enjoy the moment. Let the rest fall into place when it's meant to." 

I closed my eyes, letting her words settle in my mind. She always had this way of making things seem simpler, even when they weren't. Maybe she was right. Maybe tonight didn't have to be about figuring everything out. Maybe it was just about being with Aria, enjoying her company, and seeing where things went. 

"Merci, Maman," I said quietly. "You always know what to say." 

"Of course, mon chéri," she replied, her voice warm and full of love. "Now go, have fun...with Aria. And remember, just be yourself. That's more than enough." 

How did she know?? I hung up, feeling a little more at ease, though the nerves still lingered. My mom had a point. I didn't need to have all the answers right now. I just needed to show up, be myself, and let whatever happens, happen. With one last deep breath, I pocketed my phone and opened the door, stepping out into the cool evening air, feeling a little more grounded and ready for whatever the night with Aria might bring.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Author's Note: Okay but Pascale is a slayyyy. The long awaited dinner date is up next, what's gonna happen 👀😈 ?? hehehehe