OVERDRIVE| CHARLES LECLERC

Chapter Three

Never in her life had Alessandra experienced a feeling like this. It felt so suffocating, so intense, as if she were actually dying and no one was coming to save her. It wasn't real, it couldn't be real. Lando had not once spoken to her about Margarida in the entire time they'd known eachother. He hadn't even met her until Alessandra introduced them just 5 months prior when Magui was visiting for her sisters nineteenth birthday. God, she felt so stupid. How could she not see the growing relationship between her sister and her best friend? It made no sense, her body, heart and soul couldn't comprehend it.

Earlier that day she was sure that Lando was in love with her too, pressing his soft lips to her freckled cheek, picking out her gala dress and most importantly asking her to be his date. And yet, he turns up with her sister of all the possible people he could of came with. She wished it would of been someone else, anyone else, just not her sister.

Alessandra loved her sister, her closest confidant, the only person that she had explicitly told about her 'crush' on Lando. It felt like a knife had been stabbed directly into her heart through her back. In a world where she had spent her whole life feeling second best, Alessandra had once again lost what she had thought was finally her pole position. The sound of heels hitting the floor roughly filled the empty corridors. She couldn't get out of the Gala quick enough, ignoring the calls of Alex and Charles. She was certain that she could see a few other drivers stick their heads up, wondering what was possibly going on.

Zak Brown was one of those that watched her walk away. It was for the best though it was a shame. He really did like the young girl. Having her around made his top driver much happier, he smiled more, crashed out less. McLarens results were the highest last season that they'd been in a while but Alessandra wasn't a famous model like Magui was. It only made sense that the older of the two sisters had to be Lando's girlfriend, especially for all of the PR that they would soon be receiving; especially when the planned paparazzi who had just seen Lando entering with Magui Corceiro, were about to catch a glimpse of her distressed sister running out. There was no plan for the Ferrari driver to be right beside her though.

"Alessia, Come back inside." Charles had ran after her. Of course he would. He couldn't just stay there after seeing her so upset, not because he liked or cared for her anymore than he would a friend, but because that's who he was as a person; compassionate beyond words. Every time he heard her cries echoing down the corridor, he felt his anger got the McLaren driver grow in ten folds. The entire grid knew that Lando loved Alessandra, so for him to take a very obvious PR deal that he could of easily refused made no sense to any one.

Charles barged his way out of the doors, cameras already flashing in the direction of Alessandra who had ignored all of his previous calls. Without saying a word, Charles sped up down the stairs towards the girl. The paparazzi caught sight of what was going on, screaming and shouting for his attention, flashes much more intense than they were just moments ago.

"Alessandra." Charles finally reached her, placing his hand on the small of her back, guiding her in the direction of his car. "Let's get you home." He opened the passenger door of his Ferrari, slowly guiding her into the seat before he let himself run back to the driver side.

Alessandra wasn't crying anymore, just staring blankly. She heard Charles start the engine and begin to drive off, his eyes drifting from the road to her again and again. They let the silence consume them as Charles drove in the direction of her apartment; he didn't know exactly where she lived but he'd heard Lando mention once that they were neighbours. The silence was suddenly interrupted my the intense rumbling of the girls stomach.

Charles chuckled at the sound. "Hungry?"

"Uh- yeah." Alessandra sniffled, her voice raspy from the crying. With a wipe of her tears, she felt herself laugh In embarrassment. "I was so stressed about being perfect for him that I forgot to eat anything. I knew I was going to be eating at the Gala but then we were late so." She paused for a minute, looking out the window as a few drops of rain began to hit the glass.