My Book of Fics

Loved You First - Charles Leclerc

You inherited your love for Ferrari from your mom, who cheered for their Formula 1 team since forever. Every race weekend the two of you and occasionally your dad would be in front of the TV watching and hoping the beloved red team would get on the podium. Your early years consisted of always choosing the bright red backpack when it came to back-to-school shopping, followed by getting your first officially licensed Ferrari piece of merchandise in junior high, a keychain for the key to the family home.

By the time high school came around your heart belonged to the team as you imagine your mom's did at the same age. That being said, you wore your love on your sleeve, which would earn teasing from your male classmates who assumed you only liked the sport because of the drivers' appearances. The few who actually tried to understand why you loved the sport became some of your closest friends.

When you start university outside of your hometown your mom gifts you with an official team polo, because we're proud of you, was her reasoning when you said it was too much money spent. Whenever you weren't swamped with assignments you would find a feed to watch a race clad in the bright red shirt with your roommates watching along to support your love for the sport and Ferrari's team. When the end of your degree is finally in sight you start to plan the one trip you've dreamed of since you've learned about Ferrari. A trip to Italy, heading to Maranello where it all began before finally going to your first live Grand Prix, your friends included in those plans.

The year after finishing school the Formula 1 world is shocked when Ferrari signs 22 year-old Charles Leclerc to their driver lineup. Your mom doesn't fail to express her surprise before letting you know that the young man is quite the looker. Your girl friends also bring up how attractive the Monaco native is, their continued mention of it eventually rubbing off on you. This gets you to follow the driver on social media which leads to scrolling through all of his old photos on Instagram one evening at your and your friends' shared apartment. "Bro he's gorgeous, I want him for you" your one friend says while looking over your shoulder, "yeah right" you reply with a roll of your eyes. You suddenly feel your finger double tap the screen unintentionally, "oh my god" she says quietly, "did I just?" you ask with wide eyes, she nods slowly biting her lip, "shit!" you exclaim looking down at your phone screen to see that you liked a photo of his from years ago. "It's okay Y/N I'm sure he won't even notice with the amount of notifications he gets daily" you nod feeling a bit better, "you're right I'll just unlike it and he won't even know" she smiles and you undo the like before getting out of the app before anything else happens. What you don't know is that Charles did see the like and he did go to your account scrolling through your photos like you did on his.

Once you have gotten over the embarrassment of the situation you grow fond of the Monegasque driver. While you were growing up you never had a true favourite on Ferrari because of the significant age difference, but as you learn more and more about Charles, who happens to be the same age as you, you start to get way more invested in his racing career. Because of that your friends are constantly telling you how much they want you to meet the driver and are hoping that it'll be like a movie where the two main characters fall in love at first sight. To you their mindset is ridiculous because you live in a completely different country and he would never even notice you in a crowded room when he can be with anyone he desires. They ignore your excuses but thankfully don't bring it up as often.

••••

The four of you finally leave for Italy in September, going to Maranello first before getting to Monza for the Grand Prix. It took some convincing to have your mom okay the trip with your friends but she eventually lets you go knowing how important it is to travel while young. After so much excitement leading up to the trip you and your friends are surprisingly calm when you get on the plane in Vancouver sights set on the country where Ferrari was born.