⌞ the chain ⌝

⌞ thirty-nine : ...ready for it? ⌝

"I expect you to do nothing else."

_ 

The track. I didn't dread it as I usually did. I was back and it was technically the first race of the season. I knew the media storm was going to be a pain in my ass but I didn't mind too much. Arty was in the car with me and Damon was there as well. I knew I would get to see the others as well and my plan was just to completely avoid Charlie, if it was possible. 

I had a feeling it wasn't going to work that way. Two Leclerc's racing each other? It was some kind of headline and the media had made it clear that they didn't care about me.  That was fine, I could play nice for the camera. Didn't mean I had to do anything of the sort once the suit and helmet was on. 

"Is it okay if I see Charlie too?" 

I blinked out of my thoughts as I looked back at Arty in the backseat. "Yeah, I don't care. He's still family." 

"I didn't want you to think I was picking sides." 

"There's no sides, do what you want. You're not going to anger me about it." 

He nodded and relaxed a bit. I knew he wanted me and Charlie to be fine again, at some point, we probably would be. But right now, that wasn't the case. That didn't mean I was going to stop him from supporting his brother. I wasn't a monster or some jealous kid. I had him back in my life and that was all that mattered. 

_

The track came into view and I took a deep breath. Damon just patted my knee before getting out of the car and coming around to help me out. The white skirt and the navy tank top I was wearing, a slight show of team colors, it was good for the warm weather. I pushed my sunglasses down as I walked into the track. 

I stopped to sign a few things here and there, taking pictures with the fans. It was strange but not new. I was spotted so much during the break that by now, I was used to people calling out my name and wanting something from me. It didn't bother me anymore, it was part of the job and I kinda liked interacting with the people who supported me, knowing that number was low due to my gender and the ever-continuing thing that I didn't deserve to be in this sport because of such. 

"Miss. Bianchi-Leclerc." 

I made a playful groan as I saw Will standing there with his microphone. I shook my head as I pushed my sunglasses up, walking over to him with a polite smile. "Hello, Will. How was your break?" 

"Filled with lots of news. Most of it being about you." 

"Well, you know what they say. They talk because they know they can't actually get to you." 

He snorted, shaking his head at me as he held out a microphone for me. "The move to Redbull was one many people didn't see coming. Explain your reasoning for me." 

"Don't start with that, Will. Come on." I teased as I took the mic from him. "I loved McLaren, still do. They're my family and I will continue to support them at every turn. But the decision was made for my career. I needed to do what was best for me to reach my dreams. That just happened to be Redbull." 

"And are you confident in that decision?" 

"Let's see how this first race goes and then ask me again." 

He hummed, not pleased with the answer but knowing it was probably coming. We had found a groove with each other and while I refused to get media trained, I knew what to say. I was a woman, after all, picking our words was not a gift, it was a survival tactic. 

"And what about racing with your brother, Charles? How are you feeling about that?" 

I sighed. The question was going to come. I knew that. They weren't going to skip that opportunity, no matter how much Will and I had come to respect each other. That didn't mean it didn't stun me. I looked over my shoulder to where Arty was chatting with Charlie, not even noticing that he had come to be in the same frame as me, snorting as I realized why the question was asked when it was. 

But there was part of me that knew I couldn't answer truthfully. I was scared he was going to treat me differently because of our relation; either taking it too easy on me or singling me out. But I also knew that Charlie was a racer just as much as I was. He was here to win, not take me out because of some old grudge and sibling rivalry. 

I took a breath and looked back at Will. "Excited would be the only word I can think of." 

"That's all? No worries about sibling rivalry?" 

"I'm here to race and win. If it means having to step on some people's toes, especially my brother's, then I will do it. I am not here to make friends or play nice just because it's a boys club."

"I see our energy has carried into this season." 

I shrugged. "You know me, Will." 

"Are we coming up with a new celebration this time around?" 

"Not at all, I like where I stand." 

He shook his head and I could tell he was trying to keep himself from laughing. But I was right. I was going to stay right here, being me. People were going to hate it or they were going to love it. It didn't matter. I was a winner and everyone hated it when you did well. You couldn't win without being a villain in someone's book. Let them hate me, at least they're thinking about me. 

"New type of question for you. If you had to pick a song or album for this season, to kinda show everyone what your energy for the season is going to be, what would you pick?" 

I thought for a second. I knew there was going to be so much coming from this season and there were so many songs I could pick. Anything about being a woman in a man's world would do the trick but as the song came to mind, I shook my head, knowing it was practically perfect. Because, if anything, it was me. And it was my mentality. 

"I Did Something Bad by Taylor Swift." 

"A choice." 

I shrugged again. "We'll see." 

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a/n: i know that the second this dropped, you all were so worried about charlie and lu drama, hehe. but not yet, not just yet. don't you worry. i gotta build that tension, loves. but here you are. as always, love it or don't :p