Formula 1 | One Shots (1)

Art Deco | Arthur Leclerc

Authors Note: This storyline was requested by user: yuki_wolf09

Mindless fluff for you all? Sure thingggg

Done in Arthur's POV
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I walked into the cafe around the corner from my apartment, the familiar smell of freshly baked croissants filling the air. It was my usual morning routine when I was home, nothing special. I loved just spending some alone time when I had it, the chaos of racing never giving me the chance. Just grab a coffee, maybe a pastry...or two and sit at my favorite table by the window, the one that overlooked the pier. 

I liked the peace of it, watching the boats, the water, the flags waving in the wind. It was my quiet spot before the day really started. But today, when I walked over to my table, someone was already sitting there. I stopped, feeling annoyed at first. It was my spot, you know? I always sat there. 

But as I got closer, I noticed her. She had a sketchbook open, pencil in hand, and was completely immersed in what she was doing. She was drawing the view, my view. I stood there for a second, unsure of what to do. I wasn't one to interrupt people, but something about the way she was drawing caught my attention. She was really good, like, really good. The details of the boats, the water, even the way the sunlight hit everything, it was all there on the page. 

I cleared my throat, trying not to seem weird. 

"Uh, hi," I said, my voice cracking awkwardly. "Do you mind if I sit here? It's, uh, kind of my usual spot that I like to sit at." 

She looked up at me, surprised, but then smiled softly. "Oh, sure, go ahead," she said, moving her stuff to the side. 

I hesitated for a second, still a bit shy, but sat down across from her. A few moments of awkward silence passed before I spoke up.

"You're really good at that," I blurted out, staring at her drawing. She blushed a little, glancing at her sketchbook. 

"Thanks. Um..I come here to draw sometimes. The view's beautiful." 

I nodded, feeling a bit awkward but also kind of...mesmerized. She didn't just see the marina like everyone else, she captured it in a way I hadn't really noticed before. I sipped my coffee, glancing between her and the boats outside. 

As I sat there, I tried to focus on the view, but my attention kept drifting back to her. She had these freckles scattered across her cheeks and nose, the kind you don't really notice at first but then can't stop looking at once you do. And her eyes...They were a warm, honey color, especially when the sunlight hit them just right. 

I tried not to stare, but it was impossible not to. There was something about the way the sunlight made them glow. It was mesmerizing, and for a second, I forgot all about my coffee and my untouched croissant. I caught myself staring and quickly looked away, feeling my cheeks heat up. I was usually pretty good at playing it cool, but this...this was different. 

I took a sip of my coffee, trying to act normal, but my eyes kept drifting back to her. Every time she looked up from her sketchbook, I panicked a bit, hoping she hadn't noticed me staring. Of course, she did. A couple of times, our eyes met, and we both immediately looked away, pretending to focus on something else. I could feel my face getting red, and when I glanced back, I saw her cheeks were red too, like she was just as flustered. It made me smile a little, even though I was trying not to be obvious.

I shifted in my seat, staring out at the marina, but all I could really think about was her, sitting across from me. I began fidgeting with my coffee cup, trying to work up the nerve to actually introduce myself. I'd been sitting with her for a while now, but we hadn't exchanged names or really talked beyond that first awkward moment. Every time I thought about saying something, my words seemed to get stuck in my throat. I wasn't usually this shy, but something about her just made me nervous, in a good way.