The Fight • Max Verstappen•

•onehundred-ten•

MAX

An infectious smile grew on her face, the smile I had been in love with since I was thirteen years old. "You're late." Scarlet winked as she walked towards my car that I had parked in the forecourt of the apartment complex that she resided in with George.

Scarlet thought it would be better if I didn't come to the door as she hadn't quite told George that we were going out. I knew that he still wasn't my biggest fan and whilst I had hoped that by now he would have come around, I also knew that if someone had taken out Daniel then I probably would act the same.

I chuckled, "Would you believe me if I said I changed three times." I looked down to the short and tee combo I decided on.

Scarlet stood front of me and looked me up and down, "And this is the outfit you decided on?" She smirked. "I'm kidding, you look lovely."

I leant back against the grey car, "I think that's what I'm meant to say about you." I remarked.

She wore a black tank top tucked into light wash denim shorts and a red plaid shirt was tied around her waist. "You mean, minus the boot cast?" Scarlet retorted. She still had a cast from her calf to the foot, and a massive scar across her knee that was covered in gauze.

I pulled her towards me, "Well I think you look beautiful. I pressed my lips against her forehead and the perfume she was wearing filled my nostrils. It was a heavy floral but with a sweet note. I remember ages ago in a press conference the comment came up that there was a rumour that she always filled her helmet with perfume. Scarlet confirmed that it was true and told the press that she had a specific scent for all actions in her life. For races it was an energetic scent.

I opened the door and helped her into the car and I rushed around to the other side. "So to the beach?"

The drive was quiet, but luckily it wasn't too far to the beach. I thought back to my morning, I had gotten up four hours before I was due to meet Scarlet. I wanted everything to be perfect. I picked out an outfit, and then changed it a number of times. I packed the picnic basket with all of her favourite things, at least they were her favourite things. Last but not least I picked up the most perfect bouquet of flowers from the florist.

She looked to me as I parked the car in the beach carpark, "Are we really doing this?" Scarlet energetically smiled, "I mean you don't think we are moving too quick?"

I held my hands on the steering wheel and turned the car off. "Well, I suppose eleven years is quite soon to be going on a first date." I cheekily said, "You're not having second thoughts?" I nervously added.

I had been waiting for this moment and although it wasn't exactly the circumstance I had hoped our first date would be, I was excited non the less.

Scarlet shook her head, "Definitely not." And there was that smile I loved so much creeping back to her face.

I wondered if she was as nervous as I was. The first time I left this morning I got into the car without my shoes, and then I left the picnic basket behind. I shook the nerves out of my head and got out of the car to open her door.

Even though I already knew she was the strongest person in the world, watching her shuffle out of the car made me wish I could bubble wrap and protect her from the world. I wanted nothing more than for her to be in my arms.

I brought out the flowers from back seat, "These are for you." I said passing them to Scarlet who gazed at me. "And then in here I have wine, strawberries, grapes and those tiny little pastries you ate by the kilo at camp."

Her green eyes looked up at me, "Wow." She gasped as she took the bouquet from me and raised it to her face. She took in the of the flowers and let out a soft reminiscent sigh as if the scent transported her somewhere else. "This are gorgeous, Max." Scarlet expressed.