Chaos on the F1 Grid

When Kika left his room, Charles looked through the messages between him and Eleanore. He debated sending her something, but couldn't find the right words.

Sorry you have been accused of having an affair with Christian Horner

Somehow just didn't seem... enough? He paced around his room for a while before finally deciding to get ready and focused for Qualifying. He was ahead in the championship, and was determined to finish the first half of the season ahead, which meant doing well over the next few races. He would message Eleanore later. He convinced himself she was probably dealing with so much that she wouldn't want the disruption – in truth his mind wouldn't let him forget how he had felt last night seeing them together. He thought Kika was wrong that his mind saw what it wanted – he knew he never wanted to see her close with another man, like she had been with him.

As he waited for the elevator he stared at his phone, his trainer, Andrea, had messaged that he would meet him in the lobby to go to the track and to focus. When the doors of the elevator opened he looked up to see Eleanore. Kika was right, she looked terrible.

Charles: Hey...

Eleanore: hi.

She was looking at the floor. He wanted to know if Kika had told her about their conversation. He wanted a lot of things. He looked at Eleanore a few times, but she didn't take her eyes off the floor.

Charles: so... heard any good rumours lately?

This didn't make her laugh like he hoped it would, instead he saw her wiping tears from her face. He was about to try to comfort her when the elevator arrived at the lobby.

Eleanore: I am sorry... for everything.

Was all he heard before she ran out, he was going to run after her, but his trainer called after him. Instead, he watched as she ran outside, wishing he had just spoken to her in the elevator, or gone to her room or messaged. Really anything other than how he had behaved.

Some friend you are.

He thought to himself.

Andrea: ok, you need to focus Charles, what is going on with you?

Charles: nothing, let's go to the track.

They got into his car, and he drove to the track, not listening to music – which was unlike him. When he arrived at the track, he went straight for the F1 Motorhome, ignoring his trainer shouting after him. When he got to her office he knocked on the door and waited for her to answer. He heard her quiet voice, and could tell she had been crying.

Eleanore: come in.

as he opened the door, he saw her wiping the tears from her face, she looked up he could tell she was not expecting to see him there.

Eleanore: is everything ok? Please tell me you haven't got an emergency that needs dealing with.

Charles: no... I wanted to check on you.

Eleanore: I'm not sleeping with Horner. I wouldn't do that.

Charles: I know.

Eleanore: not what you told Pierre...

Charles: yeah, that was... a knee jerk reaction.

Eleanore: oh. Ok. Whatever you think you saw at the pool... it wasn't what you think. Geri had been there, and Christian and I were just talking, as friends.

Charles: so it was like us in Bahrain – just friends.

He didn't know why he said that he knew that wasn't how he had felt. He saw it in her face that it hurt her. He was doing everything wrong with her. Their chat – so much as it was, was interrupted when her phone rang, he watched as she looked at the screen and then declined the call.

Charles: reporter?

Eleanore: no, just someone I don't want to talk to right now. Or ever.

Charles: I should get going anyway. I just wanted to see how you are.

Eleanore: thanks for stopping by.

He went to walk out of her office, but stopped himself.

Charles: you really believe I will get pole today?

Eleanore: yes, I always believe in you.

Charles: I'm glad. If you need to talk about anything... just text ok?

Eleanore: thanks.

He left her office, and wasn't sure if he had helped or hurt their situation. Hearing her say she believed in him had made him incredibly happy, seeing her so hurt and broken had made him feel sick inside. When he got to the Ferrari garage Andrea was pissed at him.

Andrea: you need to focus!

He agreed, and spent the next few hours training and getting his head in the game. When he got back to his drivers room after qualifying he checked his phone.

Eleanore: told you you would get Pole! Way to go! Xx

Charles: thanks for believing in me x

Eleanore: always xx