CHAPTER FOURTEEN, blazing


( NOT EDITED / PROOFREAD )

It had been a few weeks after the Chinese Grand Prix. Juliette had driven quite well in the Grand Prix's that followed.

She had gotten P2 in Azerbaijan. P5 in Spain. P2 in Monaco. And P3 in Canada.

It had been quite a while since she had seen Charles. He started to become her competitor, and she didn't like that.

He had gotten P4 in Azerbaijan. P2 in Spain. And in his home race, he unfortunately DNF'ed. He was disappointed but he had an absolute comeback in the Canadian grand prix, he had gotten P2.

Juliette was then invited by Pascale-Charles' Mother-to spend a few days in their beach house in Nice.

Juliette honestly didn't want to go, but she loved Pascale, she loved Arthur and Lorenzo. And didn't want to pass up the opportunity to spend time with them. But she didn't want to deal with Charles.

Charles on the other hand. Was absolutely exhilarated when he found out she was coming. Though they were arguing, it gave him a chance to apologize or at least talk it out with her.

Arthur was currently helping Juliette lug her suitcases up the stairs, and into the guest room. "Fucking hell. Your suitcases are so heavy...What do you even put in it?" Arthur cringed as he tiredly carried her suitcase to her room. Juliette giggled. "My necessities." She wiggled her brows. Arthur rose a brow. Before dragging the suitcase into the corner of her room.

His face then contorted into a brightened expression. "Ohh! I just remembered. Lorenzo asked me to ask you if you wanted to play tennis. It'll just be me, you, him and Charles."

Charles.

Juliette cringed at the name. "Um, yeah. Sure."

Arthur grinned, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "You're definitely gonna be on my team this time. You and Charles always cheat when you team up."

"I'm not planning on being with him anyway." Juliette pursed her lips. Arthur side-eyed her, but waved her words off. The two walked out of her room, and walked down the stairs and into the living room.

The aroma of Pascale's infamous chocolate chip cookies entered their noses. The two's eyes met, their eyes widened.

They raced into the kitchen, quite clumsily.

"Hi Pascale!" Juliette greeted with a toothy grin, enthusiastically.
"How are-"

Pascale knew what she was there for. "I'll give you the first cookie. Don't worry."

Arthur groaned. "She likes you more than me! And I'm her own kid."

Juliette stuck her tongue out. Pascale kissed Juliette's cheek lovingly. "She's the daughter I never had."

"Who's the daughter you never had?" A voice was heard from behind the kitchen door. Lorenzo then appeared in front of them.

Arthur went over to greet him. Juliette did as well, wrapping him in a tight hug. "Missed you Lorie."

"Missed you more Juli." He grinned, before the separated. A familiar pair of green eyes glanced at Juliette.

Charles was stood behind Lorenzo awkwardly. Arthur went over to him, greeting him as well.

Juliette avoided him, and instead went over to Pascale who was checking if the cookies were ready.

"Oui. I need help with telling if the cookies are cooked enough." Pascale spoke, her french accent thick. Juliette smiled and nodded.

The three Leclerc brothers sat in the counter area, conversing with on another.

Charles was (sort of) listening to his brothers but he was completely engrossed with the sight of Juliette and his mother.

Juliette constantly showed intimacy by acts of services. It was the little things that stuck up to him. Either it was her tying his shoelaces (which he still surprisingly didn't know how to do), or baking little pastries for a certain person, or even just remembering the little things, like how Arthur constantly munched on Pringles, so she would always grab a few cans for him whenever she went to the store.

Charles didn't know why he felt so engrossed with her little mannerisms. Some would say it was weird, others would say it was thoughtful or caring. But he didn't care, all he wondered was why he felt so strange when seeing her or being around her.

"Right, Charles?" Lorenzo questioned. Charles didn't respond. He was looking at the Brunette and his mother, a few feet away from him.

"Charles?"

Charles snapped out of the sort of trance he was in. "Huh? Um, yeah. Totally!"

"So you think that Arthur should sign to Haas?" Lorenzo rose a brow.

Charles' eyes bulged out of his head. "What?! No! Are you serious?"

Arthur chuckled at his older brother. "Calm down. We're joking."

"Thank god." Charles let out a breath. "Sorry. I was just zoned out."

Lorenzo and Arthur glanced at each other, concealing their grins.

"Hm, okay."

Juliette had an oven mitt on. She grabbed a tooth pick, and sunk it down into one of the cookies, to check if it had baked in the middle.

And in the process of doing so, she had accidentally pressed her arm against the side of the oven, resulting in her getting burnt-bad.

She hissed, loudly. "Shit."

"Oh mon Dieu! Cher, are you okay?" [Oh my god! Dear.] Pascale exclaimed, as she gently grabbed onto Juliette's burnt arm. Juliette cringed. "It hurts a little."

The burn was red, and her skin was raw and red. It was not a good sight to see.

"What happened?" Arthur questioned. His eyes wavered in concern. Pascale responded. "Juli burnt herself. Would you please go get the first aid kit?"

Arthur stuttered a bit, before speaking up. "Uh, I don't know where it is."

A small pause wavered between them. Charles sighed. "I know where it is."

"Alright, Charlie. Take her with you." Pascale ordered her son, sternly.

Her doe, hazel eyes, met his flaky green ones. Juliette swallowed, nodding at Pascale.

Charles silently waited for her, as she walked out the door of the kitchen, and into the living room.

Charles followed her, and closed the door of the kitchen.

"Where is it?" Juliette questioned, her voice coming out softer than expected. Charles pursed his lips. "Um, in one of these cabinets."

Juliette nodded. She sat on the couch, as Charles opened the cabinet under the TV, and pulling out a red box.

Charles felt as if someone lit a match in his stomach. He felt firey inside, he wasn't uncomfortable. He was just feeling giddy.

Juliette's heart was beating as fast as Usain Bolt. Her hands were a little shaky. She wasn't scared or fearful. Her nerves spiked a little.

He took his place next to her. His eyes glanced up, meeting her face. Her eyes was looking down onto her hands, as she messed around with it.

"Um, May I?" Charles asked, pointing at her arm. Juliette nodded silently.

His hands gently grabbed onto her arm, his cold rings placed against her tanned skin, as shivers glazed over her.

Juliette shyed down under his heated gaze.

What was wrong with her?

God, it was Charles. they grew up together, they took baths together as kids, they entered their karting days together.

Why was she feeling so strange?

Juliette pulled her arm away softly. "I think we need to compress it with something cold."

Juliette stood up, walking over the the bathroom.

Charles frowned. She kept hiding away.

But like a moth to a flame. He wanted himself to get burnt. He didn't care. He was hopelessly drawn to the sparking inferno in her, the fire in her eyes, the blazing aura that encircled her.

"Juli, let me help you." Charles followed her into the bathroom.

"Please don't call me that." Juliette spoke softly, yet the aggressiveness was still evident.

Charles closed his eyes, and took a breath.

He wanted to be patient. He wanted to give her the space she needed.

But need trumps want right?

What he needed was for her to stop being so utterly cold towards him.

God it was driving him crazy.

What he needed was to let himself get burnt. Again, like a moth to flame.

Charles groaned, his eyes softening.

"Just please stop." Charles spoke up, his voice cracking. "I can't deal with this anymore...deal with you anymore."

"W-what?"

"Don't act surprised." Charles stated, huss tone more firm now. "You knew that I would eventually break. I can't fucking handle you being like this towards me."

Juliette scoffed, she attempted to retort something back.

"NO." Charles shushed her. "It's my turn to talk."

"I apologized. Twice. All I've done to you since is shown you how much I'm trying. You know how bad I fucking feel about what I called you, and how I treated you... it's eating me inside. You're not making it any better."

Juliette shook her head. "Charles-"

Charles groaned, even louder now. "PLEASE JUST HEAR ME OUT! STOP BEING SO FUCKING STUBBORN."

He was taller than her. Which Juliette didn't usually mind, but now, she was a bit intimidated.

"All I wanted to do was protect you. Fuck, even Isabelle told me that." Charles spoke, walking towards her. Juliette stepped back, and back. Until her back hit the wall.

"Are you really gonna let some silly footballer get in between our relationshi-" Charles paused, correcting himself. "Friendship?"

Friendship.

Juliette's stomach churned. "It's not just that."

Charles finally yelled. "JULIETTE PLEASE JUST GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS!"

Juliette flinched lightly. Charles sighed, putting his head in his hands.

"I'm sorry. For everything. For whatever I did. I just need you to talk to me. I just need you to be okay with me. I don't wanna lose you over stupid shit." His voice cracked.

Juliette's eyes widened in concern. She grabbed his face.

His red eyes contrasted from his green irises. He was crying.

She didn't know that she had affected him that much.

He didn't know why she had such an affect on him.

"Charles..." She mumbled, a frown etched onto her face. "I'm sorry too."

Her thumb rubbed over the stubble he had grown on his chin and jaw.

His eyes intently watched her movements, the way she stared up at him adoringly. The evident regret swirling in her eyes, as she scanned over his face throughly.

His eyes then fell down to her lips. Her plumped, glossed lips. He was dazed by it.

Juliette didn't know why. But she pulled him into her arms. He buried his head in the crook of her neck. Juliette wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry too." She repeated. Letting that sink into their brains.





ஓ๑♡๑ஓ






AUTHORS NOTE:

- FINALLY! peace!!
but will it last🫣🫣..?
( also this chap was a bit rushed, so if there's anything wrong with it let me know! )

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