Eyes Don't Lie | Charles Leclerc

Part 30 | Romantic Homicide

March 6th, 2023

As I blinked, the image in front of me didn't disappear. Aria was standing there, in Bahrain, talking to Carlos like it was the most natural thing in the world. My heart raced, a mix of emotions flooding my mind. Part of me was stunned, completely surprised that she had flown out here, but another part was worried. This wasn't how I had imagined seeing her again. I felt like my world was split in two. 

On one hand, I was happy she was here. On the other hand, I wasn't sure if I was ready to bring her into this part of my life...this world of racing, media, and chaos. I wanted to keep her in that bubble we had back in Monaco, where everything was simple and private. This...this felt too soon, too exposed. 

Without thinking, I made my way over to her, my feet moving faster than my thoughts. I didn't know what I was going to say, but I could feel the weight of my anxiety building. When I reached them, my voice came out sharper than I intended. 

"What are you doing here?" I asked, the words slipping out harsher than I meant. "How did you know where to find me?" 

Aria turned to face me, her beautiful smile fading instantly as my tone hit her. I saw her eyes widen, and then turn glossy, like they were holding back tears. Her lips parted as if she was about to say something, but no words came out. 

It hit me immediately, regret, guilt. What the hell was I doing? I hadn't meant to sound so accusing, but the worry, the confusion, and the pressure of everything had bubbled over. Carlos, sensing the shift in the air, shot me a quick glance and quietly excused himself, leaving us standing there in awkward silence. 

Aria blinked, looking down at the ground as she tried to compose herself, and my chest tightened. I wanted to say something, to fix this, but I was frozen for a moment, realizing just how badly I had messed up. 

"I-" I started, but my voice cracked. 

She looked up at me then, her expression a mix of confusion and hurt, and I could see the question in her eyes. Why are you talking to me like this? 

"I'm sorry," I said, softer this time, taking a step closer. "That came out wrong. I just...I didn't expect you to be here, and I...I'm overwhelmed." 

Her shoulders relaxed slightly, but the hurt was still there, lingering in her eyes. "I came because I saw the photo," she said quietly. "I didn't even think, I just thought you might need someone to talk to, and I quickly booked my tick-"

"-I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm so glad you're here, Aria. I just wasn't prepared. This part of my life...it's complicated, and I wasn't ready for you to see it like this." 

She nodded, but the distance between us felt heavier than ever. I reached out, gently caressing her arm, hoping to close the gap I had just created. 

"Please don't go," I said, my voice almost a whisper. "I need you here." 

Her eyes searched mine, and I saw the glimmer of hope return, but I knew it was going to take more than words to fix what I had just broken.

I led Aria through the lobby, pushing between people until we reached the elevators. The weight of my words still hung heavy between us, and I wasn't sure how to fix it. As we stepped inside, the doors slid shut, and silence was all around us. It wasn't the comfortable kind of silence we usually shared, this one felt thick, awkward, and suffocating. 

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, hoping for a glimpse of the smile I had grown to adore, but it was gone. She stood there, clutching her bag, her expression neutral but distant. I had never seen her like this, without that warmth, that spark and the realization that I had caused it twisted my gut. 

I wanted to reach out, to say something that would make everything right again, but I didn't know how. Instead, I stood there, my heart aching, as the floors ticked by. By the time we reached my floor, I felt more distant from her than ever, and it was killing me inside.

As we stepped into my hotel room, the door clicked shut softly behind us. Aria set her bag down near the wall, and I could feel her eyes on me, like she had something she wanted to say. I turned to face her just as she opened her mouth, but before the words could come out, I moved without thinking. 

I closed the distance between us in one step and pressed my lips to hers. It wasn't like our first kiss, gentle and tentative...this was something deeper, more urgent. My hands cupped her face as I kissed her, my thumb brushing over her cheek. 

All the tension, the awkwardness, the distance I had created vanished in that moment. She melted into my touch, her arms slipping around my neck as she kissed me back with the same intensity. Every emotion I had bottled up came pouring out, my frustration, my worry, my fear of losing her. 

This kiss was full of all the words I didn't know how to say. The room around us blurred, and all I could feel was her, grounded in this moment with me. It was as if the world had slowed down, and for the first time since I'd seen her at the paddock, I felt...at peace with her in my arms.

I pulled back from the kiss, resting my forehead against hers, catching my breath. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "For how I reacted earlier....I just...yesterday, I saw Max and Emma in the paddock, and it brought up everything I've been trying to push away. It messed with my head, and then seeing you here...it all hit me at once. My emotions were already all over the place." 

Aria looked at me, her expression soft but concerned. "I get it, Charles. I shouldn't have just shown up without talking to you first. I just...I knew how you'd feel, and I wanted to be there for you. I couldn't stand the thought of you going through it all alone. I wanted to be that person you could lean on." 

Her words hit me hard, and I felt something stirring inside, something bigger than the confusion or fear I'd been carrying. Aria cared about me more than I'd let myself believe. It scared me, the depth of her feelings, how much I knew I needed her. 

But as I looked into her eyes, I realized I couldn't keep running from it. I took her hands in mine, squeezing them gently, the weight of everything I wanted to say pressing down on me. My heart raced, and I swallowed, feeling the words on the tip of my tongue. This was it, I needed to tell her. I couldn't keep hiding how I felt. 

"Aria...there's something I need to tell you...something I've been wanting to tell you..." I started. Her eyes softened as she smiled slightly towards me. The room was quiet with anticipation, our heartbeats the only thing that could be heard.

But just as the words were about to spill out, my phone buzzed loudly from the table across the room, shattering the moment, leaving my confession hanging in the air, unsaid.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Author's Note: 30 chapter mark!!! Thank you so so much to the amazing people who are reading, commenting and voting. Love you guys so much ❤️ 🎀