LOVER -
act one chapter five.

HAVE YOU EVER CAME FACE TO FACE WITH AN EX? Cause Charles never had, not until today of course. And for some reason he was anxious. He hadn't seen CHARLOTTE SINE since the night they had decided to end their short lived relationship.

It was a mutual decision but it still wouldn't make the meeting any less awkward.

Charles couldn't really pin point the moment he realized this relationship wasn't going to work, but ever since January the couple had been making excuses to not see each other.

Some people just aren't meant to be. Charlotte and Charles were lucky to acknowledge this early on or else who knows how unhappy they'd be by now.

Charles could only ever sing praises of Charlotte, she had done nothing wrong. In other terms she was essentially perfect, just not the fit perfect for Charles.

Their schedules often clashed, constantly being in the same country but never finding the time to be there for the other.

Charles couldn't help but feel guilty, almost as if his schedule had been the problem. His mother, PASCALE, had always told him he was married off to the sport. That in his mind it was always formula one first, and then training and then Charlotte.

This seed being planted in his mind meant he thought about all the times he had blown off Charlotte to train, or help his brother - Arthur. And after all his thinking he decided relationships weren't for him, he was better off alone.

His older brother Lorenzo strongly disagreed. Seeing his younger brother all mopey and focusing on the sport was draining Charles, slowly but surely. It didn't have to be a girlfriend but Charles needed someone at his side, to show him what life had to offer outside of formula 1.

Unfortunately, his meeting was Charlotte made him want to retreat back into a little hole and never come out of it again. It was so awkward. Every so often they'd catch the other staring at them, responding with a small smile.

It also made Charles realized just how much Charlotte had in his house. That's when he decided to help her pack, and considering he travels the world for at least half of the year Charles Leclerc was horrific at packing.

Charlotte had to hide her laughter as he attempted to slot a pair of jeans down the side of the box instead of simply folding them and placing them on the top. "Here, let me help." She told him, concealing her laughter with a smile.

But Charles could see straight through her, after having been together for just under a year. "You can laugh you know." He encouraged the humor in an attempt to clear the awkwardness in the air. Granted, it seemed to be decreasing second by second as they learnt to laugh about their situation.

"Laugh at what?" She innocently asked, "The fact you still haven't learnt to pack?"

Charles smiled. He was grateful the pair of them could enjoy something like this again, that although the relationship hadn't worked out between them, a friendship could. It was nice to know he had her in his corner.

On the other side of town, Iris was doing her weekly food shop. (On a Wednesday). Tonight she had planned to cook for Mick, meaning she had searched Heaven and Earth just for a simple recipe.

Iris Blanche could not cook to save her life. Baking, was the easiest thing on the planet for her. But cooking, good god no.

Toast often came out of the toaster burnt. And when people heard Iris would be cooking them dinner, they would often make up excuses to not eat that night.

Of course, the best part about this was that Mick knew nothing of it. Supposing they'd get one last take away before he flew to Bahrain for testing, and for Iris to fly to France to visit her brother and grandmother.

Mick Schumacher was going to receive the shock of his life. And possibly end up with food poisoning.

Iris got the shock of her life, when her trolley bashed into another's. Due to previous experiences, she was ready to get screamed at. When she was a child, having frequently been put in control of the shopping trolley and accidentally running it into the heels of her mother or grandma.

She looked up from the recipe on her phone, and cringed. SCOTTY SHERWOOD. Maybe her cooking wouldn't be the worst experience of the day.

Iris Blanche was coming face to face with her ex. And in contrast to Charles, her and Scotty had not been left on good terms. The ex couple didn't hate each other, they just had a minor hatred for each other.

Scotty and Iris had met in high school, he was the student who had flown over from America and she was the one with a small friend group.

Upon seeing Scotty, they had all began mumbling in French. Making him frown, at the time he hadn't understood one word of it. Well, he knew the basics.

The classic: ca va? Or Bonjour.

Scotty had instantly pined over Iris, asking her to be his French tutor. Most the lessons he spent admiring her facial features, adoring the blemish that rested right on her cheek bone.

Many around them, couldn't wait for the day Scotty would ask Iris out. Waiting in anticipation.

Iris however, did not replicate this adoration. Scotty was an asshole, especially to those around him. Of course, he was nice to Iris. But the way he treated other girls and the way he talked about them put Iris off immediately.

Iris' high school friends had ultimately pushed her into a date with Scotty, telling her he was the 'dream man'. One date, turned into two, and then into three.

The Blanche girl quickly found herself afraid to voice her own opinion to Scotty how she couldn't see this working for her, and that they were just not compatible.

But, within five dates Scotty was already bringing her round to meet his parents. And how could she say no? She didn't want to look rude to his parents, not that she had to please them.

A year passed between them and Iris was trying to throw all the signs at Scotty, that was not interested. She hated the way he loved her, but she cared too much to make him feel bad.

He did all these romantic things to keep her interested in him. Hiding all the things he was doing to make sure no other boy would try and get with her. A few punches had been thrown and many threats.

Iris wasn't really sure the day they became boyfriend and girlfriend because it was all a blur. They were on a football field, he was smoking and she staring at the stars. He called her silly for being interested in the stars and then moments later was trying to confess his love.

It was a confusing relationship. Léana Blanche never understood it, even if Scotty's parents claimed it was 'young love'. It was not love, it was forced and unreciprocated.

The pair seemed to be on a break most months of the year, Iris trying desperately trying to get out of the relationship and Scotty trying to keep her by his side.

But Iris was guaranteed to never stay forever.

At the age of 19, Iris decided this wasn't working. So, she wrote a letter. It was the only plausible way she could think of to break up with Scotty and not have to face him.

There was feelings towards Scotty, that Iris never really understood. The day she took down all the pictures of him, felt freeing. But the constant delivery of flowers filled her with guilt, that he was still clearly caught up in the things they had planned.

After a year of being separate, Iris and Scotty had (coincidentally) bumped into each other in Monaco. Scotty was jealous.

Iris was walking with Mick along the docks, Scotty was simply getting ready for a boozy night on a boat. And never had he wanted to punch someone so quickly.

In Scotty's eyes he was the only one suited for Iris. But the relationship the pair had previously shared had never been right, they'd held on for too long. There had been too many nights spent sleeping angry, or annoyed.

Iris had pretended for too long to be in love with Scotty.

The beginning of 2020 was a shit storm for Scotty. He'd been enjoying a vacation in Monaco until he'd eventually got trapped in the country.

Iris had been relaxing on her balcony when she'd got the messages from Scotty. Claiming she was the only person he knew in the country, and that he needed somewhere to stay for the next few months.

For once the pair were good for each other. Until they gave it till summer. Scotty broke dishes when he was disappointed. When the world started to return to normal, when the restrictions lifted and he could go back home.

It was the worst day for them. Iris' apartment became haunted with the memories of shouting, him shouting this was where he was destined to be.

That night, a switch flipped in Iris' mind. That no one should be treated this way, that plates being thrown in her direction was not right. Iris could not bring herself to love Scotty Sherwood no matter how many sweet words he whispered in her ear.

It had been a long time coming, that night Iris packed her things. And booked a flight to Switzerland. Wearing long sleeves. On the kitchen counter she'd left a plane ticket for Scotty, to fly back home to France to visit his parents.

Coming back three months later, Iris' apartment was shambolic. Broken glass, broken plates.

Selling that apartment had been the best thing for her, taking herself out of the narrative that she had been the problem.

A year later, she had made herself the problem. Publishing her first album, Minor. All the songs being written about Scotty, written within the five year period in which they had been together.

Scotty was not happy. The album painted him out to be the villain, when in his mind she was the villain. Never loving him back, not putting herself out there to be with him.

That's why when the pair came together in the middle of a local supermarket, Iris didn't know if they were going to bang heads or have a nice reunion. No doubt in her mind, that her drunken messages from the night previous would be used against her.

"Sorry." She mumbled, head down as she attempted to move her shopping trolley past his. Trying to make the interaction as short as possible.

His hand grabbed onto the side of her trolley, restricting her from moving her. "Hey, where you goin'? It's been so long since I last saw you." He gushed, trying to make the conversation light-hearted and appear as if they had no bad blood. "We should meet up or something. I didn't even realize you were in town."

Iris instantly shook her head. "We do not need to meet up Scotty. We don't need to do anything."

"Come on Iris, can't we just have some fun together." He pleaded, almost about to list the good times they had together. (Granted it was a small list).

"No Scotty. We can't have fun together, because it will like it always does. One of us in tears."

Scotty shrugged, "Most likely you."

Iris scoffed, putting the items in her trolley back on the side. If he wasn't going to move she would just leave. Even if it had been just for a few seconds, he'd already pissed her off.

Coming face to face with your ex can be delightful depending on the terms you end your relationship on. Charles wouldn't mind staying friends with Charlotte. While, Iris would rather drown than be friends with Scotty.

AUTHORS NOTE:
have a long one 😁
because i've just realized i have to pre-write about seven chapters for when i go on holiday 😭
plus the chapters for tuesday and wednesday

trying to keep you guys entertained while i am relaxing on my holiday 💃