LOVER -
act one chapter fourteen

actual charles:

ACTUAL CHARLES:
where are you
hurry up
qualifying is in three hours
i don't have time for this

IRIS:
can you calm down
jesus

ACTUAL CHARLES:
no
it's a stressful day
hurry up

IRIS:
i'm having lunch with seb
just wait

ACTUAL CHARLES:
i'll come to you
where are you

IRIS:
aston martin hospitality
sat outside
sharing a salad

ACTUAL CHARLES:
on my way

IRIS HUFFED, setting Charles' phone down on the table. Wondering what put him in such a bad mood.

Sebastian, who sat opposite her, furrowed his eyebrows. "What was all that about?" The Aston Martin driver asked, putting a selection of the tomatoes on his fork that Iris claimed to hate.

Iris shrugged, "I don't know. Charles seems very stressed." She told Seb, playing with the piece of feta cheese in front of her.

"Well, speaking from experience," He pointed to himself, with a smile. "Ferrari can be a stressful environment. You don't just join Ferrari for fun, you join for wins, podiums and poles. You set that expectation for yourself, but the team does as well."

"It's only the second round though." Iris attempted to justify, but soon came to realize no matter what the round was Charles now has a lot to live up to - and it would only get more stressful as the season went on.

"And people will expect similar results to last week." Seb told her, reminiscing on his times at Ferrari. He had the good moments, and he also had the lows. Sebastian's lows at Ferrari were ultimately the lowest one could get. "Charles is strong, all he has to do is surround himself with the people who make him the most happy."

Before the pair could continue talking about him more, Iris spotted a man kitted out in red clothing running towards her.

He leant against the fencing that surrounded the Aston Martin decking, giving himself some time to breathe before speaking. Charles held his hand out, muttering a thank you when the device had been placed into his hand. His hand ran down his face, and then smiled at the pair.

Charles handed over Iris' phone back over and left. Having to prepare himself for the qualifier that was three hours away.

Iris checked through the phone to see what damage had been left behind, chuckling to herself when she saw her new - and what Charles would class as improved - home and lock screens.

Her mouth did hang open when she saw the messages that had gone back and forth between August and Charles. Furrowing her eyebrows when she realized the pair actually had a good bond, Charles was giving the youngest Blanche advice and August was happily taking it on board.

Seb could only smile from where he sat. He was not idiot, and he was also the one that had to listen to Micks ranting. How Iris will not listen to him and only end up hurt. Of course, Seb did not agree and could only wish for the happiest outcome for Iris.

"What has he done?" Sebastian asked, knowing he may not understand the answer as he was not the best with technology - specifically phones.

Iris tried to hide the smile on her face as she turned the phone round to show Seb.

Taking a sip of his drink was a large mistake, he almost spat it out when he saw the pictures of Charles posing in a fedora with a pink boa around his neck.

"That's horrifying."

Charles was happy to be back in the possession of his own phone, a part of him missing the fun he did have on Iris' phone. The silly selfies, messaging her brother and grandma. Posting on her Snapchat stories, he had truly had the time of his life.

Although, he had regretted opening the drivers chat. Finding it with a new name of Charles loves bum, and then began to wonder what had been going on in said chat.

charles loves bum:

CHARLES:
what has iris done

PR LORD:
iris?
why are you talking
in third person again

CRAZY CAT LADY:
we already told you iris
it's weird
stop it

PIERRE:
why are you talking to her
as if she's one of your cats

CRAZY CAT LADY:
this is why you aren't uncle
pierre, pierre

TRAITOR:
i wish it was iris
but it's charles
i can see him typing
across the garage

CHARLES:
why am i not getting a warm welcome

OSCAR:
because we prefer
iris

LEWIS:
it's true
she used to send us good morning
and good night messages

MAX:
you never did that for us

YUKI:
you're shit

SEB:
Yuki?

YUKI:
sorry

CHARLES:
wow
maybe i'll just give her my phone back

CRAZY CAT LADY:
OH MY HID
SERIOUSLY?!!??
PLEASE DI

PR LORD:
YES?!!
OH MY HID
GIVE HER THE PHONE BACK

CHARLES:
she's not even funny

DANIEL:
how can you say that

TRAITOR:
you're a man in denial

ESTEBAN:
she even made oscar laugh

MICK:
and believe me
that man never laughs

OSCAR:
i miss her 🙁

CHARLES:
i can't believe this

Everyone loved Iris. That was clear to Charles, and the reaction she was getting just from being in the garage proved it even further.

Mattia was smiling, when did he ever smile unless Ferrari had just won? Many of the older pit crew members stood up and embraced her in a hug.

ISA HERNÁEZ was excited to have another girl in the garage, again. Someone she could talk fashion with, and sit on the edge of her seat watching the Ferrai boys race. Because, watching them two race was never an easy task.

Every race they found new ways to inspire a heart attack in the garage.

From where he stood, he could hear her bubbly laughter. Bringing a smile to his own face, as he leant his head down so no one could see it. To him, Iris' laughter was something of a rare beauty. He couldn't tell you why to be exact, but just knowing she was happy made his stomach bubble with excitement.

Although it was nice to know the people he surrounded himself with made himself feel this way, he was confused as to why he actually felt this way. Charlotte laughed, and not once had he felt this way.

Charles had already swapped their phones once but suddenly found himself wanting to do it again.

AUTHORS NOTE:
i have lost my motivation idk why so i don't really like this chapter but i keep deleting it and starting again and this was the best one i could come up with

just realized i'm going to have to write mick and iris' reactions to sebs retirement. 😀