My Book of Fics

Lost in Translation - Pierre Gasly

Growing up with Charles Leclerc was never a big deal to you. It wasn't to anyone else either until he made it to Formula 1 after years in the feeder system. He was simply Charles to you and everyone else in your group of friends. Whenever there was a race, you found yourself watching whether it be at the track or on TV. At first it was just you, his family and a couple of his other friends, but then when races started to get further from home it would mostly just be you and his family. Pierre Gasly joined the group early on when Charles was still karting, he became a fixture in your everyday life after that. While the two racers travelled around the world to advance their skills you stayed back in Monaco to make something of yourself.

That something ended up being getting an education. Which would hopefully have you working in a field that involved grassroots sports and teaching kids the value of getting involved. While you advanced in your schooling the realization that people change brought on the harsh reality that not all friendships last. Charles and Pierre were the exception for you, always checking in even if they were in other countries racing their hearts out for a chance in Formula 1. You supported them through the highs and lows, and they did the same for you, making for an unbreakable bond between you three.

When Charles got his first girlfriend, you expressed your happiness for your oldest friend. You found that his time was more divided with a new relationship in the mix,waning that whenever he was busy you would go to Pierre for company. The two of you would video chat from different sides of  the world, bonding in your own separate way that didn't include Charles. That might've been when you're feelings started to change towards the French race car driver, but it didn't truly come to light until you were able to see him in person once the season ended and your school year was over. Seeing Pierre's familiar smile made your heart do things that it never has, for the first time in your long friendship you were nervous to hug him, feeling like a teenage with a crush. He didn't seem to notice when he gives you a brief hug before the three of you caught up on your lives.

One night during that break you couldn't sleep, the only plausible solution in your mind was to take a walk. Pierre ventured out of his room at the same time with the same problem so the two of you decided to take that walk together. When you started to feel the cold breeze through the sweater you had put on for the occasion Pierre brought an arm around you for warmth, the gesture made your heart flutter and gave you a kind of hope that he might've felt something more for you as well. Neither of you brought up your feelings, which could've been why everything took such a turn later on in the year, but the kiss to the cheek at the end of that walk in Italy erased any logical thoughts in the matter. What happened in Italy stayed in Italy was the mindset as you went back to Monaco with Charles and Pierre left for France to be with his family.

••••

You carried on with your late night calls and texts with Pierre, so much so that Charles started to notice the change in your mood. He could also see the change in Pierre's mood putting together the pieces as weeks went by where you couldn't be seen without your phone in your hand. Neither of you knew that the Monégasque was planning something when he started to ask about your love lives. He went to you first, asking all the right questions to get you to admit your feeling for the French driver. He went to Pierre next working his magic again to get his feelings about you out in the open. But all the hard work fell flat when Pierre found himself a girl, the pictures made you question everything you had with him, confiding in Charles with your concerns and over-analysis of the situation.

The season gets underway again, so you're back at school and your two friends get back to the track. You were grateful for the distraction that school provided at the time, it meant not feeling sorry for yourself whenever you saw Pierre with his girlfriend. While the two drivers were fighting their way to the Formula 1 grid Jules' accident happened, you put everything on hold when Charles called to tell you the tragic news. When you saw the accident hours after the call you couldn't help feeling like you lost a part of the family, having also grown up with Jules at the karting track. Pierre texted you saying how sorry he was that Jules was gone, his kind words had you sobbing, not only for Jules but also for yourself and how stupid you've been with your feelings.

••••

Charles' first F1 start has you booking plane tickets and packing up your suitcase, your excitement through the roof at the prospect of seeing your best friend on the grid for Alfa Romeo. Charles insists that you bring your boyfriend to the race, the thought makes you smile as you fold your clothes and double check that you have everything. Pierre texts you as you're zipping up the bag, are you coming to the race?, you bite your lip when you reply with a simple yes, hating that your heart still skips when it comes to the French Toro Rosso driver. Another text comes through, this one from your boyfriend asking if you're packed, you smile while replying and slide the phone back into your back pocket as you move the bag onto it's wheels putting it next to your bedroom door for the next day.

On race day your boyfriend holds your hand as the two of you walk into the venue. You're grinning having missed being at the track, "come on let's go see Char" you exclaim while pulling him towards the paddocks. He laughs but goes along with my excitement as we pass other spectators on the way to Alfa Romeo. "Y/N!" The shout makes you grin seeing Charles approaching us, you let go of your boyfriend's hand to run over throwing your arms around the Monégasque. He laughs and you pull away bounding back to the blonde you've been seeing for almost two years, "congrats on this man" he tells the Alfa driver as he winds an arm around you, "thanks for coming, I knew that Y/N would want the company while watching" he nods and I smile at the two of them. "I should go get ready but enjoy the race" you nod at your best friend before you turn to leave with your boyfriend. Your breath catching when you see Pierre already watching you...