Starting Again (A Charles Leclerc Fic)

twenty three

"You know you haven't really answered what happened to you" 

"Nothing big happened mon amour. It was a minor racing incident" He explained

"Everyone is having a field day with your crash. It honestly scared the shit out of me, luckily your brother found me before I went on complete breakdown." 

"I'm sorry trina... I wanted to let you know I was okay but I was blocked remember? I called my brothers and even Max so that they can reach you. I wanted you to know I was okay." 

"So what really happened?" I asked him again

"Like I said, it was just just a racing incident. I locked up and break a little late so I ended up on the wall. I had to get myself checked as part of the safety  guidelines of Ferrari. The picture that was circulating was not me, it happened years back when I was still in GP3 or F2, I really don't recall it anymore. Ferrari hasn't release anything yet so I guess people started to create stories of their own. After the crash, the team focused on the car while I was arranging my return to Monaco. Fred and the others were huge help in making my return as soon as possible happen."  

"Until when would you be here?" I asked Charles who was playing with my fingers. 

"I need to go back to Italy next week" he replied sadly

"When will I see you again?" 

"I don't know mon amour. After Italy, we had to shoot for Formula 1 related contents and then we need to go to Sakhir for the official pre-season testing. From then on, we would all be busy again" 

"I don't know if I am ready for you to go back to racing" I whispered not really wanting him to hear

"But I have to trina... this is my dream."

"I know... it's just that when I was watching your previous races and when someone crashes or you ended up not finishing, my heart always drop. When I thought you were in that wreck, It felt like my heart was being ripped open with fear of losing you... I know this is your life and dream and trust me, I would never ever ask you to stop or get in the way of  that but it doesn't mean I am not scared. Will you at least promise me you will make sure you are safe all the time? What I mean by that is I don't want you crashing out on me Charles..." 

"Please don't make me promise something that I am not sure I can keep" 

"Charles... you're not helping..." 

"Fine... I can't promise you that I would not crash because that is always a possibility in our sport but what I can promise you is that I will always make my way back home to you, safely... unharmed." 

"I don't care if you win or lose, all I want for you is to always be safe. I don't want to ever feel like that again charles..." 

"I promise I'll be safe mon amour" He reassured before kissing the side of my temple. 

"By the way you should really thank Max, he was the best in pleading your case" I told him breaking the seriousness of our previous conversation. 

"Why? What did Max say?" he asked curiously

"Nothing really he just scolded me in text and during a phone call. He explained to me that although he understood why I am reacting the way I am, it's really unfair for you. He told me that I was messing with your head and lowkey forcing you to do something I want that you're not yet comfortable with. He told me that it is important for people in your profession to be 100% focused especially when you're driving really fast. I realized he was right that's why I texted you."

"I really do owe max a meal"

"You have really great friends charles, thank you for sharing them with me" 

"They really like you more than me sometimes. It would mean a lot to me and even the guys if you could watch us race in person" 

"I work freelance so I think I can squeeze in a few races or two. I'll let you know if I was able to buy tickets" 

"Nonsense. You are not paying for your ticket Katrina" 

"I am capable of paying my own paddock pass my love." 

"I wouldn't allow you to. You are watching my friends and I race, I would never allow my girlfriend to pay for her pass" 

"Charles, we talked about this already..." 

"Fine, I would never allow you, my love, to pay for your pass" he said emphasizing my love which was his replacement for the word "girlfriend". 

"The passes are really expensive, I can't take your offer. We are not yet officially together and even if we are, I don't want you spending so much money on me" 

"I insist... please, for me and the guys, just accept it" 

"Fine... but let me at least pay for some of the races" 

"I would let you pay if you manage to convince the others too"

"Charles..." I warned him 

"Katrina..." he argued back

"Okay okay... I'll watch whatever race I can watch. I won't argue with the paddock passes anymore but that's the only thing you'll pay for me. Nothing else, understood Charles Leclerc?" 

"But-" 

"No buts. I'm a big girl with a big girl job, I can pay for my own expenses." 

"Fine..." 

"Good. When will the others be here?" I asked. It's been a while since the other drivers were in Monaco. Most of them went home during the holidays and then went straight to their factories after their vacations. 

"I think about two weeks before the pre-season test, why?" 

"Well, I've been thinking about it for a while now. I kinda miss having people over my house. Do you think they would fancy coming over for some barbeque before the season starts? and oh can you please bring Yuki and your reserved drivers from F2?"  I asked him

"Yuki, I understand. You are also japanese so I know it would be nice for the both of you to talk in your native language but what about Ollie and the others?" 

"While you guys are away, I was watching some clips in the internet and I saw him and Arthur in prema videos. I'm just fascinated by him that's all. He seems like a good kid and I saw clips of their baku race... he's really good" 

"Hey trina, I don't like that look. You're not allowed to like any other guy and besides, you are a lot older than Ollie" he said suddenly being possessive but at the same time protective of the young driver. 

"Oh my god charles" I laughed hitting him playfully. "I don't mean it that way. I like him as a driver, I am looking forward to see him race with you in ferrari. Besides, why would I even look at any other guy, if the one I want is already here with me?"

He grinned with his face as red as his ferrari, before giving my forehead a light peck. 

"Okay, I'll ask Arthur to invite them over"