[3] MARANELLO || C. LECLERC

TWELVE

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CAMILLE

"He's just gone out, he's training with Andrea," I cleared my throat as I held my hot mug of hot chocolate in my hands, keeping it close to my chest as I shuffled through the hallway and towards the bedroom. I chewed on my lips, the sound of his careful breathing on the other end of the line making the hairs on my arms stand up. "Please fly out here for New Years. I need to see you."

"But what about Charles?" I sat on the edge of the bed, placing the mug onto the cabinet and rolling under the sheets. Lando's concern was cute and it warmed my heart, but he had nothing to worry about. Charles had nothing to worry about - everything was fine.

"He won't mind. You can stay here or at Max's, whichever you'd prefer, but I just really need to see you. I need to talk to you," I pushed my face into my hands for a minute, shaking my head as I thought about everything that happened in Maranello and feeling the ache in my chest develop again. "Please, Lando."

"I'll be on the next flight out from London," his words filled me with happiness and suddenly, waves of excitement washed over me at the thought of seeing him again. "I'll have a look now and get back to you."

"I'll collect you from the airport if you let me know the flight number," I pulled the duvet further towards my face and enjoying the warmth of the sheets. "Love you, Lan. Be safe."

I placed my phone on the cabinet and took the mug of hot chocolate into my hands, blowing on the boiling liquid in the hope of cooling it down a little. I missed Charles' company now that he'd left for his run with Andrea and I wanted to be around someone to distract myself and prevent my thoughts from running wild in directions I'd prefer to be avoided. Calling Lando didn't feel like a bad idea; we were friends and Charles was able to accept that now after we talked about that everything which happened between us. It was in the past now and I knew that Lando wouldn't stay at our place and he would take my bed at Max's. I left Charles a quick message, letting him know that Lando was flying out to Nice as soon as he possibly could, before asking Max if Lando was able to stay with him - I knew it wouldn't be an issue.

Whilst chewing on my lip, I allowed my mind to wander back towards the thought of Stefan. I hated him more now than ever before because the thought of him working with Charles made me feel nauseous. I was afraid to see his face again and to be around him in the Ferrari garage, especially because I had to pretend that I didn't know him. I didn't want to lie to everybody, the people who Charles worked so closely with and the people I'd grown to form a close relationship with, because ruining the atmosphere would ruin so much more for Charles. I didn't want to be responsible for that knowing I'd feel awfully guilty and I would struggle to forgive myself.

I rolled over, totally forgetting about the hot chocolate I'd prepared for myself and buried my face into Charles' pillow, inhaling his comforting scent as I allowed the overwhelming sense of tiredness to take over. I'd barely slept during the night, tossing and turning whilst the thought of Stefan played on my mind. Charles' grip on my body and the constant feeling of his lips pressed against my neck wasn't enough to settle me. I didn't want him to know how badly it was affecting me because he would say something. The thought of Charles unnecessarily involving himself in my past business with Stefan was unnerving, particularly because I knew he would get too involved. I just wanted him to stay safe and didn't want him to put his career with Ferrari in jeopardy, especially not after his contract extension. I sniffled, chewing harshly down on my lip to prevent any tears slipping from my eyes, before falling into a deep sleep.