Gasoline - [Charles Leclerc]

0.7

"You didn't feel obliged to tell me the story about your father and Jules, right?". Edrice asked as they slowly walked on the path next to the sea, a place Charles ran for his training. The lights were reflecting in the water, the gentle waves softly hitting the rocks down below and the mild temperatures in February let the walk be a perfect end of their dinner date. "Not at all". Charles said, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans. "I just felt like sharing it with you, also because of what happened on the Nardo Ring the last time". He let out a breathy chuckle. "All of this, my place at Ferrari is something that belonged to him. I want to make him proud this season". He spoke and Edrice smiled, stopping in her tracks.

"Jules surely would get that Ferrari seat. But Ferrari didn't call you because you're such a nice and thoughtful guy during the meetings in Maranello, Charles". She smiled when she looked up at him. "You are talented. Look back at that season last year. Where Sauber was and where you took that car". Charles felt his face heat up under the stare of her dark eyes. "You've been watching me before, Edrice?". He asked with a playful tone to his voice and she let out a chuckle. "Tone it down a bit, Frenchie". She called him that on purpose and she walked further. Charles laughed at what she said. "Monegasque". "Didn't realize you were royalty". Edrice shot back in response and he smiled. "Then I'd gladly take you as my princess. Or queen, whatever you prefer". Charles replied.

Edrice didn't have anything to say for a moment and just smiled at him. "I like Monaco. Maybe I should come here more often". She changed the subject when they were walking back to Charles' car. Edrice looked out over the water and how the lights of Monte Carlo went all the way up the hills. "You can come for the race". He suggested. "As your guest?". Edrice asked and he nodded. "Of course". He hummed. "Why not?". Charles got the keys of his Ferrari out of his pocket. "I don't know. Rumors". Edrice shrugged. "About?". Charles lifted an eyebrow and she gave him a glance as he damn well knew what she meant. He bit on his lower lip not to laugh as he just played dumb at that moment. "Us being a couple". Edrice said before sitting down in the car.

"You don't want us to be a couple?". Charles asked and locked his seatbelt. "I'll walk back to my hotel, I swear". Edrice threatened in a joking manner and Charles locked all the doors with a button. She looked at him while trying to suppress her smile. "You're going to drive me back or kill me?". She asked and he grinned, revving the engine to drive away. Charles was quite amused by the fact that she still hadn't responded to his question, but he decided to let it be. Charles dropped Edrice off at her hotel again and he got out of the car with her. "Thank you for this really nice evening". She said, holding her purse in her hand while she stood there on the pavement. "It's been very nice". He said while looking down at her. "I'll see you in Barcelona". She smiled, however she didn't turn around yet. "Not before?". Charles asked and her eyes sparkled at his question. "Probably not". Edrice responded.

"But you have my number". She said then and leaned forward to kiss his cheek, dangerously close to his lips. "Merci, Charles". Edrice smiled and turned around afterwards. Charles watched how she made her way inside, brisk steps even on those heels. He shook his head at himself and felt his cheek, his fingertips showing a bit of the red her lipstick had left there. Charles got back to his car and drove away to get to his apartment. A hint of her perfume still lingered in the car and his fingers drummed absently on the steering wheel. He parked his car in the underground parking lot, taking the elevator upstairs and his mind was on the evening the whole time and how much fun they had. Edrice... She was great, funny and interesting. He had never met someone like her, interested in cars like she was, busy with cars like she was.

Charles turned the key of his apartment in the lock of the door and entered, placing his car keys back on the table and shaking his jacket off his shoulders to put it up on the coatrack. He walked his way upstairs to get to the bathroom and brush his teeth to get ready for bed. Charles couldn't help it, but feel a bit like the Greek mythologic story of Paris and Helen from Troy, the part where Paris chose Helen as his present for saying which goddess was the most beautiful, because he had fallen in love with Helen before he had ever seen her. But she was with another man and now Paris had to do his best to be able to capture Helen as his, which was quite a thing to do. Helen was quite a flirt, yet she didn't give herself away too much at the start. Edrice was like the modern day Helen, he guessed, besides she was single and she was having no reason to play hard to get like that.

He chuckled at himself for his thoughts, making himself out for nerd in the mirror before walking out of the bathroom to get into bed. Tomorrow was another day of training as a karma for the cheat day with the nice dinner of his evening. Charles couldn't wait to get back in the car again. They had done the simple pre testing on the circuit of Fiorano, but of course that was nothing compared to a real test run in Barcelona. And then it was just a couple weeks till the season really started. He was so excited, especially because of the privilege he had know, driving a Ferrari. He could win races now, the podium was in sight and within reach, he was sure they developed a great car, great enough to take on Mercedes. Charles plugged his Phone into the charger and got into bed, drifting off to sleep soon enough.

Edrice had her weeks planned full till she could leave for Barcelona and join the testing days with Ferrari, but at least the video of them with Charles was out on the internet and it was trending on YouTube at the moment, so that was great. Charles had texted her about it and she had smiled when he said the guys had done a great job to put it all together. It became a fun episode to watch and he gladly shared it on his page with a joke that he might switch to being an actor now. The week before Barcelona, she had some conferences here and there with Audi, also plans made that she would fly out with the Audi team to present their newest models at the Geneva car show in March. Long story short, that week was one of the most tiring weeks ever. Luckily, she had managed to arrange something to not make Jomana feel as if she had to do everything alone when she was in Barcelona.

Lando Norris was about to move into his new home in Monaco, so his management had called him to combine the Lando Logs with the ECG video's to make something together. Edrice thought it was a great idea and she'd like to get to know Lando as he was relatively new to her and of course the Formula 1. She suggested they could take his McLaren for a drive from Monte Carlo to Barcelona, which was about 650 kilometers and a great trip to get to know his new McLaren company car as well. Lando had been very enthusiastic in his messages and he seemed like quite a cool guy. When they announced they'd work on a video together on their ECG instagram, they immediately got funny comments from WTF1 about stealing Lando away from them. "You get to do all the good fun with the hot guys". Jomana complained as they were both on their way to the airport, a very familiar place by now.

Edrice laughed and rolled her eyes. "I only did conferences last week and you were in here in Cairo. It's not like the hospitality of BBC would be such a bad thing. All those free dinners and an insight in the Top Gear life. Oh you're having only the dirty tasks". She teased and Jomana laughed. "You're the worst friend I've ever had". Jomana said while she stepped out of the taxi they had taken to Cairo's airport. "You love me". Edrice replied in Arabic while blowing her a kiss. "But I'm happy for you that you're going to see Charles again". Edrice couldn't see her face when she grabbed her suitcase from the trunk, but there was something about her tone that made her look up. Nevertheless there was a big smile on Jomana's face, so she assumed it was just a misunderstanding from her side. "You're only looking forward to the Phone calls I'll be giving you to update if we had sex yet or not". Edrice said and Jomana chuckled with a grin.

"I can't help it, I mean I've seen the way he looks at you". She nudged Edrice her side when they made their way through the airport to get to the security. "And you know I wouldn't do him before we're at least in some sort of a relationship". Edrice said and Jomana just shrugged. "So stop asking me about the sex". She added with a slight smile to indicate that she was still amused by her friend. Edrice and Jomana parted their ways after the security to get to their gates. One of the flights going to Nice and the other to London. Charles had offered to fly with her to Barcelona, but she had explained him that she would be filming with Lando. And he had responded in a very cute way, slightly jealous.

"Lando Norris from McLaren?". Charles asked while she made her way through her bedroom to pack some more clothes for the couples days in Barcelona. "Yeah, it's not like you've never heard of him before, Charles". Edrice laughed while pressing her Phone between her ear and her shoulder as she folded some shirts. "I don't know him very well. As in, how he is towards girls". He had muttered softly and it made Edrice smile while he couldn't see it. "Don't worry, you know I can take everything myself". She replied. "Well, the offer is still open if you want to join the private flight". Charles said, sounding slightly defeated and she giggled. "I'll see you in Barcelona". She ended the call and shook her head.

Edrice sat down in one of the chairs in the waiting area, her earphones plugged in as she listened to some music. She thought about the conversation with Charles and the dinner date they had a while ago. It made her feel more attracted towards him and she felt her heart swell at the thought that he'd want her to be there with him during his first few meters in the Ferrari. Maybe she shouldn't be so hard on him. Maybe she should give in to his flirtatious behaviour and his feelings as well. Maybe.