Racing Hearts : VOLUME 2

Chapter 2: Old Friends, New Dynamics

The buzz from the Red Bull announcement still lingered in the air, and Charles couldn't stop scrolling through social media. Mark Spencer was trending again—videos of his best race moments, side-by-sides of him with Max, even memes of Mark joining Red Bull that ranged from hilarious to bittersweet.

Charles leaned back on his couch, the soft glow of the Monaco sunset painting the room in gold. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of... something. Maybe it was nostalgia? Or maybe it was the fact that Mark had been gone from Ferrari for only a month, and yet it felt like so much had changed already.

The phone buzzed next to him, snapping him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen.

Mark Spencer calling.

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, despite everything. He answered. "Well, well, if it isn't Red Bull's newest poster boy."

Mark's familiar laugh echoed through the speaker. "You miss me already, don't you?"

Charles smirked, playing along. "Maybe I just miss the silence in the paddock. It's been so peaceful without your annoying ass around."

"Ah, don't worry. I'll be back to ruin that for you soon enough," Mark teased. "Get ready for my new jokes and more of my 'annoying' presence."

Charles leaned back, staring out at the view. There was an odd comfort in the banter. "Congrats, by the way. Max's teammate, huh?"

"Yeah, big shoes to fill," Mark replied, his tone casual, but Charles knew him well enough to hear the pride underneath it.

"But I've always been up for a challenge."

The line went quiet for a moment, both of them letting the weight of their conversation settle. They hadn't spoken since the season ended, and now, suddenly, Mark was part of Red Bull—a new chapter for him, and a new challenge for Charles.

"I hope you're ready," Charles said, voice lowering slightly. "It won't be easy."

Mark chuckled. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Leclerc."

They shared a moment of silence again, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of pause that old friends took when words weren't really necessary.

"So... does this mean I'll be seeing you in Monaco before the season starts?" Mark asked, the teasing tone back in his voice.

"You better not stay in Max's shadow," Charles replied. "Wouldn't want him stealing all the attention."

"I'd never do that," Mark said sarcastically. "Anyway, see you soon."

Charles hung up, tossing his phone onto the couch. He stared at the ceiling, processing the call. Things were different now, weren't they? No longer teammates, but still friends—or rivals? The lines were blurring in ways he hadn't expected.

And the strange thing was... he didn't mind.

---

Three months until the season began, and social media had exploded over the Red Bull announcement. Fans were thrilled about the pairing of Max and Mark, calling them the "dream team," while others were still hung up on Mark's exit from Ferrari.

But what really caught Charles' attention was a new narrative brewing online—theories about his relationship with Alexandra, his childhood best friend.

Charles sighed, running a hand through his hair. As much as he tried to stay out of it, the rumors never stopped. It didn't help that he and Alexandra had been spotted together more often since the season ended. With Carlos back at Ferrari and now Mark at Red Bull, the media had latched onto every tiny detail of Charles' life.

He glanced at his phone, the flood of messages and notifications about Alexandra filling his feed. He shook his head, turning off the screen. No matter what, the media always found something to talk about.

But it wasn't Alexandra who was on his mind—it was Mark.

---

A few days later, Charles found himself scrolling through his messages when he stumbled upon an old group chat with Mark and Carlos. He tapped into it, the last message from Mark joking about Ferrari's team strategy during the season. Carlos had sent laughing emojis in response, while Charles had simply ignored it, too annoyed by the loss to reply at the time.

He started typing: 

Charles : "Carlos, you coming to Monaco soon?" 

Carlos : "Of course. Why, you planning something?"

Mark : "Is this Charles' way of saying he misses us?"

Charles rolled his eyes. Typical Mark.

Charles : "Just thinking it'd be good to catch up."
Carlos : "Let's do it. One last hurrah before the new season."
Mark : "Can't wait. Oh, and Charles, remember—I'm on a different team now. Gotta keep the secrets to myself ;)"

Charles could practically hear Mark's playful voice through the text. He shot back a simple eye-roll emoji, but deep down, he knew this season was going to be different. The dynamics had changed—old friends, yes, but with new tensions, new rivalries, and maybe... new emotions simmering just beneath the surface.