unspoken words

Chapter 9: the brake

(Author's POV)

After back-to-back race weekends, they finally had a two-week break. Most drivers took the chance to unwind, to disconnect from the intensity of the circuit. But for Carlos and Charles, the time off only intensified the unresolved tension.

Carlos decided to spend a few days in Monaco, hoping the change of scenery would clear his mind. But as he strolled along the harbor, watching the yachts drift lazily in the afternoon sun, he found himself restless, his thoughts always circling back to Charles.

Out of the blue, he received a message.

Charles: "Coffee at that spot near the port? I need to clear my head."

Carlos's heart skipped a beat. It was one of those rare times they'd get to meet away from the eyes of the media, away from the demands of Ferrari.

When he arrived, Charles was already there, sitting at an outdoor table overlooking the water. His face lit up when he saw Carlos, but there was a tension in his smile.

They ordered their drinks, exchanging small talk that felt painfully artificial. The words felt empty, like they were avoiding the real topic on both their minds.

Finally, Charles set his coffee down, his gaze meeting Carlos's. "Carlos... this isn't working, is it?"

Carlos tensed, his heart pounding. "What do you mean?"

"This... us. We keep avoiding what's between us, and it's... I don't know how to handle it," Charles admitted, his voice laced with frustration.

Carlos felt his resolve crumble, the carefully built walls he'd maintained cracking under the weight of his emotions. "Do you think it's any easier for me?" he said, his tone sharper than intended. "Every time I try to push it away, it just comes back. Stronger."

They sat in silence, the tension between them palpable, each struggling to find the right words.

"Maybe we just... need time," Carlos murmured, though even as he said it, he doubted his own suggestion.

Charles's gaze softened, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Or maybe we need to stop running from it."

They both fell silent, letting the weight of the moment sink in. There was no easy answer, no simple solution to the storm brewing between them. But as they sat there, lost in each other's presence, it was clear that whatever they were feeling was real—messy, complicated, and impossible to ignore.

(Drivers Group Chat)

Lando: "So, what's everyone up to during the break?"

Max: "Trying to get some rest. These last races have been brutal."

Carlos: "Monaco for now. Needed a change of scenery."

Charles: "Same here."

Pierre: "Wow, you two even vacation together now? Cute."

Carlos: "Keep dreaming, Gasly."

The chat devolved into playful teasing, but behind the jokes, Carlos couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the edge of something. Something that, once crossed, could change everything.

my fav part is to add the drivers gc
( no one asked, i know i know)

475 words ✨