Racing Hearts : VOLUME 2

Chapter 1: The Unexpected Return

The silence of the offseason always felt heavy, but this year, it was different. Charles found himself scrolling through his phone, eyes lazily drifting across F1 headlines, yet nothing could hold his interest for long. The last season felt like a blur, and even though he was supposed to be preparing for the next, his mind was elsewhere.

It had been a month since Mark Spencer left Ferrari, and Charles could already feel the absence in ways he hadn't expected. He told himself he wouldn't miss him—not his loud jokes, not his constant teasing, and certainly not his cocky grin. But here he was, thinking about all the things he swore he'd be glad to forget.

His mind drifted to the last time they had spoken. The memory was so vivid it stung.

"Gosh, I can't wait for you to leave and get my teammate back."

Charles had laughed when he said it, but now, in the quiet of his apartment, the words echoed back at him with regret. If only he'd known how empty the garage would feel without Mark's presence, he might've said something else. Maybe he would've admitted that, despite all the bickering, he had grown to enjoy Mark's company more than he realized.

With a sigh, Charles tossed his phone onto the couch, rubbing his temples as he tried to clear his mind. There were only three months until the new season began, and he needed to focus. Carlos was back, and that should've been a relief. Ferrari was back to its usual lineup, but there was still an odd weight on Charles' chest, like something was missing.

His phone buzzed again, lighting up with notifications. He ignored it at first, assuming it was another rumor or meaningless F1 gossip. But when it buzzed a second time, something in him stirred. Reluctantly, he reached for it, unlocking the screen with a swipe.And there it was.

A tweet from Red Bull Racing.

The words seemed to blur as Charles stared at them, his heart dropping into his stomach. For a moment, he couldn't process it. Mark? Red Bull? His mind struggled to catch up as the realization hit him like a punch to the gut.

Mark was back.

And he was Max Verstappen's new teammate.

The wave of emotions that followed was too much to make sense of. Anger? No, not quite. Confusion? Definitely. But there was something else beneath it, something that gnawed at him in a way he couldn't put into words. It felt like losing something he wasn't ready to give up.Before he could fully process the news, his phone buzzed again—this time, with a call.

Mark.

Charles hesitated, his finger hovering over the screen. They hadn't spoken since the end of last season. He hadn't expected to talk to him again this soon. Hell, he hadn't expected to see him on the grid next season at all.

But curiosity won out, and with a deep breath, he answered the call.

"Leclerc! Guess you didn't expect that, huh?"

Mark's voice was annoyingly cheerful, the kind of tone that could grate on anyone's nerves if they weren't prepared for it. Charles bit back a smile, already hearing the smugness on the other end of the line.

"No, I definitely didn't," Charles replied, his voice a little sharper than intended. "Red Bull, really?"

"You sound so disappointed," Mark teased. "But hey, I couldn't resist. Max is nice, don't you think?"

Charles felt a sudden pang of jealousy at the mention of Max's name, though he quickly pushed it aside. "Yeah, sure. You two should get along great."

"You say that like you're not going to miss me." Mark's tone was playful, but there was something behind it, something Charles couldn't quite place.

Charles leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling. He didn't want to admit that Mark was right. The idea of racing against him instead of with him was... strange. It made his stomach twist in a way he didn't fully understand.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Charles said, forcing a chuckle. "I'm perfectly fine.""Oh, come on. I know you better than that," Mark replied. "Besides, it's not like you're getting rid of me. Get ready for my new jokes and annoying ass. You love it."

Charles shook his head, despite the smile tugging at his lips. It was infuriating how well Mark could get under his skin. "Love is a strong word."

"I know you do," Mark said confidently. "Anyway, see you soon. Hope you're ready for what's coming next."

With that, the call ended, and Charles was left staring at his phone, the Red Bull announcement still staring back at him. "See you soon," Mark had said, but the words felt heavier than that.

 They felt like a promise.

As Charles tried to shake off the lingering feeling of their conversation, he scrolled through social media, hoping for a distraction. Instead, he found himself sucked into another whirlwind of rumors—this time about him and Alexandra.

More theories, more headlines. People were still speculating about their relationship, despite the fact that it wasn't true. They were just friends, but it seemed no one could let it go. And honestly, he was too tired to keep explaining it.

Just as he was about to shut his phone off for good, a message from Carlos popped up on his screen.

Carlos: "Back soon, mate! Can't wait to catch up."

Charles felt a flicker of relief. Having Carlos back at Ferrari would be good. Familiar, steady.

Exactly what he needed after the chaos of last season. But even as he tried to convince himself that everything would go back to normal, there was a nagging thought in the back of his mind.Mark was back. But now, he wasn't just a rival. He was Max's teammate. And that changed everything.

Three months until the new season, and already, Charles knew it wouldn't be anything like the last.

He glanced at the Red Bull tweet one more time before locking his phone.

"This season is going to be different," he muttered to himself, unable to shake the feeling that everything was about to change.

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