[2] ONE || C. LECLERC

SEVENTY THREE

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CAMILLE

"Pizza's here!" Victoria's voice rang through Max's apartment in unison with the loud growl which came from my stomach. I pushed the blanket away from my legs and hurried into the kitchen to collect three cans of Coke whilst Max and Victoria paid for our dinner. I brought them back into the front room and placed them onto the wooden coffee table. "Here's yours, Plain Jane."

I rolled my eyes as Victoria placed the pizza box into my lap, retaking her seat beside me on Max's comfortable couch. Max sat on the other side of me and opened his pizza, his eyes widening because it was rare for him to ever have a cheat night like this. It was a special occasion, the three of us having a cosy night in, still on a total buzz after my surprise party last night. I couldn't believe that Charles managed to pull the whole thing together, despite knowing that Max and Lando were in on it too. I was relieved to hear that Charles and Lando could have a normal relationship with no tension. I didn't think it would ever be possible, but it was like music to my ears and it made my heart swell.

"I'm so proud of you, you know?" Max lifted his first slice of pizza to his mouth, my eyes watering as I took the initial bite of mine, which caused my stomach to growl even louder. I was so hungry, and I'd been waiting for this all day. "Your modelling is going so well, you and Charles seem pretty perfect, you seem much calmer and relaxed all of the time. I am so glad that you've managed to overcome everything."

I felt my cheeks turn hotter as I threw my news backwards with a giggle. I glanced at Max and studied the expression on his face; the smile he wore on his lips was gentle and I could tell how sincere his words were. I loved him so much and I had no idea what I would do without him. Both Max and Victoria were so important to me, and so significant in my development after Stefan damaged me. I was lucky to have two supportive best friends in the form of Max and Victoria. We were like family, and maybe that's why everything slipped perfectly into place, but I would never take this unbreakable bond for granted.

"I wouldn't be able to do any of this without you," I glanced at Victoria first, then Max, before eyeing up my pizza again. At a time like this, when my most heartfelt and soppy words were falling erratically out of my mouth, all I really wanted was my pizza. I was starving. "You two are the best best friends I could ever ask for."

"I love you so much." Max nuzzled his face into my shoulder, leaving a small kiss against my neck. I giggled with a smile, sighing at the importance of having such supportive best friends. He let go of my body and began to devour his pizza again. I smiled, glancing at the television which was currently showing Drive to Survive, per Victoria's request, but it was at a low volume. Victoria and I watched it together when it came out, with Max refusing to sit with us whilst we did so. I cried into a blanket when we watched episode eight, my heart breaking as I listened to Charles talk about Jules. It left me wishing I'd been lucky enough to meet him. I'd noticed the few cameos made by Victoria and I, which made us giggle every single time we saw ourselves on the television.

"This pizza is just delicious," I licked my lips, feeling pretty full after three large slices. I closed the lid of my box, shaking my head as I placed it onto the coffee table and lifted my can of Coke into my hands. "I think I'm done. For now."

Victoria let a muffled giggle out of her mouth, as my phone began to vibrate in the pocket of my hoodie. I glanced at Max, who nodded his head in encouragement and I excused myself from the front room. I hurried to my bedroom and closed the door behind me, reaching for my phone and smiling to myself when I noticed my boyfriend's name on the screen. I felt my stomach turn with excitement as I sat on the edge of my bed, holding the phone to my ear.

"Charles? Is everything okay?" My first instinct was to worry, but that was simply my anxious side flashing up within me. A muffled noise came from the other end or the line, resembling a gentle smirk, yet it reassured me and I knew he was alright.

"Hey, mon amour," his voice was soft, his accent so sweet yet thick, but mostly angelic as it rang through my ears. "I miss you. I just had to call to hear the sweet sound of your voice."

"Baby..." I lifted my brow, because the suspicious tone lingering on his tongue made me think for a few seconds too long. There was another reason behind his call, ana he knew I knew. I sucked on my lower lip and waited for him to speak up again.

"We're going to Amsterdam tomorrow," his words made me pause as I thought about the upcoming race weekend in Japan. I was under the impression that we were flying out tomorrow, but instead, according to Charles, we were headed to Amsterdam. "Don't ask me about Japan. Let me do this for you, okay baby? I'll be at Max's to collect you at five tomorrow morning."

"Does Max know about this?" I felt my heart begin to pound against my rib cage because I didn't understand where this was coming from, or why Charles made the irrational decision to fly us out to Amsterdam in the morning.

"Max is setting the alarm for you, mon amour," a giggle left Charles' mouth, and my whole body seemed to relax. "I love you, and I want you to enjoy the rest of your night, but I can't with to see you in the morning. I've sorted your things, so you don't need to worry about that. I miss your beautiful little face."

"I can't wait to see you," I chewed on my freshly styled acrylic nails, which were a beautiful baby pink colour, complimenting my natural tan. "I love you."

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"Why am I in the middle?" I groaned, huffing and throwing my hands down by my side as I cuddled into my best friend's chest whilst Victoria slipped into bed on the other side of her brother. Even at our old ages, sharing a bed on our sleepover nights was not unusual - it was perfect, just like old times, and we were lucky that Max's king size bed could accommodate the three of us. I smiled as Max wrapped his arm across my shoulder, before his hand ran through Victoria's hair, ruffling it as she smiled.

"I love being here with you two," tears started to appear in Max's eyes as his hand slipped into my lap. My God, he was the best friend I could ever dream of having and nobody would ever replace him in my life. "You know, I may travel all over the world and meet all of these people who ask me questions because I'm 'famous', but absolutely none of that would ever compare to the feeling I get when spending time with you."

"Max never gets soppy with me anymore," Victoria huffed as she folded her arms across her chest. "I bet he's always soppy with you."

"Always soppy with his girlfriend, or so she tells me," I chuckled softly, rolling my eyes before Max pulled me closer towards his warmth, my ear resting over the shirt he wore on his chest. Victoria placed her face beside my neck and I smiled at the feeling of her breath hitting my skin. "This makes me so happy. The three of us, just like old times."

"Before you two got into soppy relationships." Victoria giggled and she earned a soft push on the shoulder from her brother. I let their interaction play out with no interference from me, settling further beneath the warm sheets as my eyes grew heavy.

"Someone's jealous." I smiled, wrapping my arm across Max's stomach and settling into a careful rest, the room falling silent for a few moments, the sound of my breathing overpowering everyone else's.

Max pressed his lips to my temple as I was just about to fall into a deep sleep, a hazy state of consciousness developing in my head; I was almost certain that Max believed I was already sleeping, "something so exciting is about to happen in your life and I cannot wait for it."

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