Authors Note: This storyline was requested by reader: clouds4love
Done in Charles POV ❤️
-----------------------------------I stepped into the paddock, holding Celine's hand like a lifeline, my nerves a mess. The familiar sound of the Monza crowd filled the air, their passion electrifying, yet somehow today it felt overwhelming. The tifosi knew how to welcome us to Italy.
Ferrari's home race, our home race, always carried a weight, but this time, it felt heavier than ever. Maybe because I was starting from pole. Maybe because Carlos was right behind me in P2. Or maybe because the small, velvet box in my pocket had been burning a hole in my pocket for nearly eight months now.
Celine walked beside me, calm and radiant as ever, her presence grounding me. She looked every bit as confident as she always did. Today, though, I felt like an open book, every thought and worry written across my face.
"Cha," she said softly, her voice breaking through the anxiety of my mind. "Are you okay? You seem...I don't know, distracted."
I stopped walking and turned to her, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek, trying to mask the storm inside me. "I'm fine, mon coeur. Just...race day worries, you know?"
Her eyes searched mine, deep brown pools that always seemed to see right through me. She raised an eyebrow, unconvinced, but chose not to push. "Alright," she said quietly, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "But you know you can tell me anything, right?"
I nodded, guilty. Of course, I could tell her anything. Celine had been my rock for four years, through highs and lows, wins and heartbreaks. But this...this was different. It wasn't something I could just blurt out in the middle of the paddock. It had to be perfect. She deserved nothing less than perfect.
We continued toward Ferrari hospitality, hand in hand. I smiled and waved to some fans in the paddock, but my focus remained split...half on the race, half on the tiny box in my pocket. I'd carried it with me everywhere for months, waiting for the right moment. Every time I thought I'd found it, I'd hesitated. Was it too much? Too cliche? Too...everything?
"Charles?" Celine tugged on my hand as we reached the hospitality entrance. "Seriously, what's going on? You're fidgeting like crazy."
"Nothing, mon coeur," I said, trying to give her a reassuring smile. "Just thinking about strategy for the race. P1, remember?"
"You? Nervous about strategy? I don't blame you, but you'll be amazing, as always."
The way she said it, so casual yet so confident, made my heart swell. She believed in me more than I sometimes believed in myself.
Inside the suite, the team buzzed with energy, but my focus was entirely on her. She greeted the engineers and staff with her usual warmth, chatting easily, her laughter ringing out like music. I watched her from the corner of my eye, my mind racing.
What if I just did it? Right here, right now? No, that wasn't right. She deserved something more private, more special. But when? Tonight? After the race? What if-
"Charles," she said again, pulling me back. She stood in front of me, hands on her hips, her expression halfway between amused and unconvinced. "If you don't stop zoning out, I'm going to start thinking you're hiding something."
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. "I...uh...just trying to stay focused."
She stepped closer, resting a hand on my chest. "Well, focus on this," she teased. "You're starting from pole. In Monza. For Ferrari. You've got this, okay?"

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Formula 1 | One Shots (1)
FanfictionBOOK 1 of 2. Angst, fluff, spicy & sad stories for my fave drivers 🏎 All stories are between 1,800-6,000 words or more. I do not do y/n stories. Mature themes, warning provided ⚡