LOVER -
act one chapter twenty-five.

FRIDAY 22nd APRIL.

liked by: irisblanche, charles_leclerc, hollyhumberstone, arthur_leclerc and 3,892,672 others.

oliviarodrigo: REVISED TOUR GUESTS.
unfortunately lexi had to drop out of the european leg and unluckily for us, iris will be joining us. 💞💞💞 @irisblanche

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irisblanche: unluckily?!?!?!!
oliviarodrigo: yeah 💞💞💗💗💗

irisblanche: can't wait to outperform olivia guys 💞💞💗💗💗

scottystopsecretaccount: @friend, wanna go to one night?
friend: 👍🏻

userone: wake up babe, charles is being a supportive bf

mickschumacher: and you didn't tell me?!!??
irisblanche: and who are you...
mickschumacher: we aren't doing this today.

augustmblanche: free tickets please @oliviarodrigo
oliviarodrigo: happily granted, what show?

arthur_leclerc: so you're telling me. i'm not going to be able to watch iris and olivia live?!?!?
charles_leclerc: how do you think i feel?!?!?!!;&392929
lorenzo_leclerc: at least i get to go and enjoy the show in peace

SATURDAY 23rd APRIL.

liked by: irisblanche, prema_team, pierregasly, augustmblanche and 2,793,092 others.

charles_leclerc: p2 for todays sprint! a bit disappointed but let's make up the place today 💪🏻

thank you so much for all the fans support and coming to the track even if the weather wasn't great ❤️

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irisblanche: can i borrow ur coat, please and thanks xx
charles_leclerc: but what happens if i get rained on?
irisblanche: you win some, you lose some x

augustmblanche: love it mate!
irisblanche: get off instagram
charles_leclerc: hey august!!👋
irisblanche: i hate this already

carlossainz55: let's get them tomorrow 😁
charles_leclerc: yes!
augustisthebestmonth: as long as you don't end up in the gravel carlos!!
bedroomsinger: august 😭

carlosnowins: a random child just insulted me
landonowins: good
augustisthebestmonth: i'm at least a teenager carlos. please get it right before you try to attack me

geor63: can we add him to the groupchat
bedroomsinger: if he gets added before me, i will literally beat you up russell
augustisthebestmonth: do it george. your my favorite driver!
bedroomsinger: he's lying to you

charles likes bum:

'pr lord' added 'private number'
'private number' added 'unknown number'

MICK:
i'm leaving
this group chat was
already unbearable with
you guys in
and now you add august
and iris

LANDO:
IRIS!?!?!?!?

RED BULL REJECT #1:
can finally take my chance

RED BULL REJECT #2:
pierre, babe, you have no chance

AUGUST:
does charles like bum or up the bum?

CHARLES:
august
i thought we were friends

LANDO:
who is august
and who names their child
after a month?

AUGUST:

literally gonna take your seat
and get a win in my first race
and only dead people
name their child august
😜😜😜

IRIS:
i told you
it would end badly
but no one ever listens to me

AUGUST:
just made a good
dead parent joke
and you're just gonna ignore it?

TRAITOR:
are you the one who insulted me
in the comments

IRIS:
@pr lord
next time
listen to me

AUGUST:
hey carlos!
after the race
can we go out for dinner
i'd love to get some advice
from such a great driver

CHARLES:
august
i'm right here!?!

AUGUST:
sorry
carlos would just
make me a better driver

LEWIS:
oh my
IRIS!?!?

SEB:
I'm sure this is against the rules
of a driver chat?

AUGUST:
i am literally a driver
iris is a cheap singer

IRIS:
HOW?!,!,
i am telling grandma
and she is going to put you
on the naughty step
and you will get your act together
august marc blanche.

AUGUST:
grandma is at bingo
she also doesn't like you
plus i'm too old for the
naughty step

LANDO:
can we get a translation please
@charles
@red bull reject #1

RED BULL REJECT #1:
something about a naughty step
and getting an act together
and bingo
and apparently
iris' grandmother doesn't like her

PR LORD:
i have a lot of regrets guys

MICK:
good
this chat now makes me
want to jump off a cliff

AUGUST:
hey mick
wanna have a sleepover
after the french gp
i already asked grand-mére
she said yes

MICK:
YES
can we cook lasagne

IRIS:
sleepover ???
and i'm not invited??

MICK:
don't be jealous
but i prefer august to you

AUGUST:
and you can meet my pet snake

MICK:
what.

AUGUST:
yeah
i'm looking after someone's snake
and it's called ned
and sometimes i put a hat on it

IRIS:
i am so glad
i don't live at home

MICK:
yeah i think
i might be busy after the french gp
now

AUGUST:
fine
lewis?

LEWIS:
sure mate
i'd love to put a bucket hat on ned

AUGUST:
okay! a date is set!

SUNDAY 24th APRIL.

IMOLA. IMOLA. IMOLA. One of the homes of the Tifosi, the people Charles had to please the most.

Charles had qualified second and had finished the sprint race in the exact same place. With a two second gap to Max by the end of it.

To say he was nervous, was an understatement. After the drivers parade and before the race had begun, he took a moment to himself. No Iris, or his trainer. Just a few deep breaths to focus.

This season is only on round four, and yet he felt the need for a long holiday. There was so much more added pressure to preform. Of course, anyone who joins Ferrari knows the expectations placed on their shoulders. But Charles underestimated the pressure of leading a championship. Maybe it was his own fault, he probably should've known it was demanding and would take a lot out of him.

The second he shut his visor he had to shut it all out. Cancel all the noise, any critique or praise. In that moment it didn't matter what people said, he just needed to preform there and then. Charles needed to get the job done, or else the crowd that supports Ferrari like a religion wouldn't have his back.

It hadn't even been before turn one before an incident was sparked. Carlos and Daniel had ended up in the gravel, Carlos drawing the shorter end of the stick as he ended up beached in the gravel (the time this has occurred)

Charles hadn't had the best of first corners either, Perez had already picked him off and a safety car was on track, meaning he was unable to get the place back.

By lap five, the safety car was pulling in and Charles was facing pressure from Lando. In a McLaren. A fucking McLaren. He tried to keep his bewilderment to himself, and succeeded in doing so.

Rain was soon to come, hopefully. Charles knew if rain came Lando probably wouldn't put for inters and that would help him build a gap.

But he really needed to focus on chasing down Perez, Max currently had a two second gap to his teammate. Charles wasn't a pessimist, but he knew if he didn't get Checo soon then Max would be riding off into the sunset with his first place trophy.

Perez pitted and Charles saw the light. Truthfully, he was wishing to see the rear of Max's red-bull but we can't all get what we wish for.

The light, however, didn't last long. The lap later he was called into the pits, alongside Max. Mediums all round. Max still first, Charles following behind.

Not for long though, Perez on much warmer tires was quick to squeeze down the inside of the red Ferrari and retake second place.

All he had to do was warm up his tires to be back in the battle. And that's exactly what he did! Within two laps of the previous overtake by Perez, he was all over the rear of said driver. Ready for a second battle (one in which he could actually attack and defend)

Charles continued fighting for a whole lap. But every time, Perez was lucky to retain his place. If Charles had DRS the move would've been done and stuck minutes ago, yet due to resilience from the FIA he was stuck chasing the tail of Perez and the dirty air that followed. Doing no good for his tires, or engine.

Due to no DRS Perez lost Leclerc, after having been given the instruction to hurry up.

Charles obviously wasn't giving up, but had also resorted to praying. If those Red Bulls engines ever wanted to set on fire....

Just his luck that the day he needed them too, they wouldn't.

Charles wanted to swear and loudly on his radio when he found out DRS had been enabled right when he was out of Perez's reach. Would've been a bit helpful earlier.

Perez can try all he likes but Charles wanted that second place. Second was better than third any day of the week and the 'Minister Of Defense' saw it all coming. Well, not really he couldn't even see Charles in his rear views yet. (Just try to understand Charles was getting closer)

As close as he possibly could without his tires graining. After this first round of trying to get Perez it was safe to say his tires had taken a beating and now he had to make them last till the end. All he needed to do was close the gap and attack close to the end.

He desperately wanted a 'Plan B' or something. Anything to get him closer to the Bulls, but the employees at Ferrari didn't have one. They were happy to accept a third place in-front of the Tifosi.

Charles did eventually get his way. A second pit stop for soft tires. With a comfortable lead over Norris, he came out in-front of the McLaren driver.

Not for long as within a couple seconds the papaya car is in-front of the Ferrari. Maybe some risks aren't worth the drive.

But that's quickly proven wrong, Charles quickly retakes his position within a lap and is back in third. Perez had been brought in for softs, meaning the gap had essentially been closed.

It was now or never really.

The cheers from the overtake from Lando were brilliant. The Tifosi never fail to be the loudest in the stands, with their flags, singing or cheering.

They were however, silenced on lap 53. Groans soon flying out of their mouths, and regret seeped immediately within Charles.

Perez had been right in-front of him after a last minute pit stop. It would've been such an easy grab for Charles, if he'd of just stayed focused. He'd been pushing too hard to get Checo and ended up in the barriers.

He had managed to keep everything going and running. But had to limp back to the pits for a new front wing. And came out in ninth.

Maybe third would've been better than the misery of ninth.

Iris had no previous experience with Charles and bad races. Marc Blanche had never really taken to them well. He would spend an hour cooped up in his drivers room before coming out to his family and apologizing for taking the time to himself.

Marc made a promise to himself that no matter the circumstance would he let his children see him in a state of rage, and they never did. And never did he unleash his anger upon his wife.

In his previous experiences of bad races (and considering recent year of Ferrari, had been a lot) Charles never took his anger out on Charlotte or the employees at Ferrari. Instead, he would go straight to the garage, apologizing to every member of the team.

Today he checked on Carlos, apologized to his engineers and everyone else. And then headed to media. But before he could even step foot in the press ring, he gave Iris one smile.

It wasn't one that reassured her with happiness, but one that let her know he wasn't going to be angry towards her.

Maybe she was just far too used to a specific someone taking his anger out on her way then didn't get their way.

Iris waited patiently in Charles' driver room, comfortably wrapped up in his red Ferrari coat. While waiting for him, she estimated just how much the coat could possibly cost for fans who wanted to represent the scuderia in public. £152.

Lord, she didn't know what she was expecting but for some reason it wasn't that.

Charles just wanted to go home, frankly. The media made him want to cry. A reminder that he screwed up and had no one to blame but himself.

The only problem he couldn't sit around and feel bad for himself. Or else he would never pick himself up, and the rest of his racing results would never pick up.

Charles had to turn up to the next race and prove his was better than one lapse of judgment.

But for now, he could lie in Iris' lap and stare at the ceiling. And tell her step by step in what had happened, where he'd gone wrong. What he would've done instead. Only by the end of his ramble did he realize how boring that would've been for her. "I'm sorry," he instantly followed up with, making her furrow her eyebrows and look directly at him. "That must've bored you to death. I bet you don't even want to be seen with me." He sat up, running his hand down his face.

"What are you talking about?" Iris almost laughed, taking his hand in hers. "What you do on track doesn't change my opinion of you. Whether you win or lose I support you. Whether it's first place or sixth place. I'm not with you because of your race results, Charles. I'm with you because you're you at the end of the day. You tell me everything about what goes on in the cockpit, and I love it. You support me, and I support you. You couldn't bore me even if you tried, Leclerc."

"I'm lucky to have found you, Blanche." Charles smiled, pressing a delicate kiss to the skin of her hand. "Lucky to have found you drunk on the streets of Monaco."

"Why do you have to keep bringing it up!"

AUTHORS NOTE:
charles pov because we all have good memories of imola 💞💞😜😜😜

you'll be lucky to know! you do get a rare martin brundle pov in miami 😁