Hidden. To Follow one's own path with the heart

8.

I could tell from his eyes that something was rattling. But who knew what? "This is... good to know" he just smiled and then the food came. "And how do you know Lando? Or do they know your family?"

To. many. Questions Prince of Monaco

I immediately took a bite of my pizza in my mouth and looked at him reproachfully: "I know you give a lot of interviews every day and are happy to ask yourself a few questions; But how about you tell us something about yourself? I mean, yes I saw you during Formula 1, but who is the real Charles Leclerc?"

Smiling, he looked at me, thought about it, and then told me all sorts of things. Of stories about how he once missed his flight because he had lost his headphones: Mind you, in a crack in the floor at the airport. Or the streaming time, where he had gambled with many other drivers.

It was interesting to listen to him and also to listen to his part of the story in some situations that you had heard in interviews. I also did my part by telling him about my studies.

It was a beautiful evening until I got a message from Lando: "Where are you?" I was just in the bathroom and the message was already an hour and a half old. Damn, I also saw that he had tried to call me, immediately I called back:

"Lando?" He was audibly upset: "Elisabeth! Where are you?! Are you okay?!" Ohoh, he only used my whole name when he was really angry. "yes Lando, it's all ok, Charles and I are still on the road" There was a short silence "You're traveling with Charles?" I nodded and squeezed out an "mhm".

"Well, first of all, I was most worried when you didn't arrive at the hotel before me and especially when Jesley said you were still gone as her" I took a deep breath "And secondly: Why the hell with Charles?" I waited to see if there would be a third point, but it remained silent: "He had intercepted me at the exit together with Sebastian and since my Uber would only have been there in over an hour, he took me with him"

A sigh came on the other end, "And why are you still on the road with him now?" I looked briefly in the mirror in the bathroom "well, we were both hungry..." "But this isn't a date or anything? Right?" Frustrated, I uttered, "Man, Lando! No, it's not! But I have to go back to him now, I'll get back to you when I'm at the hotel" Without waiting for his answer, I hung up the phone and went back to Charles.

I decided not to tell Charles about the phone call, even though it was on the tip of my tongue, only if he thought we were together, the whole thing would look very strange.

So went to him with a smile and sat me down "The food was really delicious" he nodded knowingly "I didn't expect anything else either" I looked at him with a shy smile. When it came to paying, I turned pale. I definitely didn't have enough money with me to be able to pay in this store "I'll invite you if that's ok?" I looked at Charles and nodded, "Yes, thank you. But only when it's my turn next time," he nodded amused, "I'd be happy"

We were walking to the car when suddenly a race and murmuring were heard. "Is that Charles?"

How could you think that Charles parked car in a backyard? I mean, yes, he just did, but what kind of coincidence is that?

I looked panicked at Charles, who caught my gaze and nodded "Let's get to the car and get away"

We arrived at the car literally running, I didn't wait for Charles to open the door for me, but did it myself in the most cumbersome way. My God, opening wing doors will never be the easiest thing for me. I quickly sat down and closed the door. Charles was also seated and the engine roared. "Don't forget to fasten your seatbelts"

He quickly turned the car around and drove past as fast as he could, without endangering the girls standing in the yard. I tried to hide my head that they didn't have a photo of me and Charles, not knowing if it had worked or not.

"Oh man, sorry" Charles sighed as we got into normal traffic and moved away from the place. "You can't help it, fans are fans."

We drove leisurely to the hotel, where at this late hour there was no fangirl left waiting for Charles. so we got out together in peace and Charles gave his key to a porter.

"There's something about a bit of adrenaline in the evening, isn't it?" he laughed slightly as we walked into the hotel, towards the elevator, up to the rooms. "Yes, but I can do without it," I laughed to myself.

When we arrived at my door we were facing each other "But it was still really fun" We smiled at each other and for a brief moment I thought there had been a moment, until suddenly a door opened and we both looked there in a flash.

It was Lando's room door.

Of course.

"Hey guys, have you been close yet?" He grinned at us, but I could see in his eyes that he was only doing this to tease me. "You can say so," Charles replies frankly, "All right, we'll see you tomorrow" he winked at me again and then disappeared into his room.

"Now or tomorrow morning?" Lando had come up to me in the meantime and looked at me strangely. I opened my door with an annoyed sigh and went inside "do what you can't help doing"

Almost stubbornly, I sat cross-legged on my bed and waited for Lando to close the door and he could hold his timpani for me.

"So..." he started and I had even less desire to talk to him "wait before you start now: Why are you mad at me? Because I didn't get in touch or because Charles was with me?" Lando needed a moment, "Both, Ellie." Sighing, he sat down next to me and ran his hand through his hair, which he always did when he was nervous. "As I said, I was really scared for you" muttering softly, I interjected, "I had already apologized for that, it won't happen again..." "Yes, but on the other hand, I thought you were trying to stay away from him. I don't want you to be scared off if the whole thing blows up or worse; if it hurts you" I frowned. Why would Charles hurt me? We were just. Oh "Lando, let's be honest: He thought the two of us were a couple. And I think that's 100% worse than anything else! And besides, it was just a dinner among friends. No date, nothing there. I mean, come on, we even had our work clothes on!"

Lando processed it all within a few moments, "Okay, but be careful not to get into anything that will keep you away from your dream in the end, Ellie." I nodded conscientiously, "All good." Lando stood up, "Don't forget to set your alarm," he grinned at me and I just shook my head, before he walked out the door, he turned around again, "And he really thought that we...?" he pretended to throw up and I threw him off laughing with a pillow, "Yes, I thought the same thing! Men are so stupid sometimes" Lando threw the pillow back on me "yes, yes, but you women are just as bad sometimes. he slowly closed the door "good night" I sh to him briefly and waved "See you tomorrow"

Shaking my head, I walked around the hotel room to prepare my things for tomorrow, as well as to retrieve my charging cable from my bag. "Oh no. Shit" I had left my bag in Charles' car. With my head tilted back, I thought about what I was going to do now.

I guess I have no choice but to take the alarm clock off my bedside tables and hope that my battery will last until tomorrow morning.