Starstruck - Max Verstappen

14

LEYLA'S POINT OF VIEW

"Max, don't!" His attention shifted to me as he heard my worried voice. "Please..." I added feeling helpless realizing that if something was going to happen between Max and Lewis I couldn't really do much about it.

"Don't worry." He reassured me as I had already placed my hands on his fist making him untie it. Still, his eyes quickly moved towards Lewis for a fraction of a second, but then back at me.

"Look at me, don't even acknowledge he's here." I advised him as his eyes were now locked on me and a smile slowly formed on his face.

"It'd be hard not to look at you anyway." Max sweetly spoke cupping my face with his hand making me feel my cheeks blushing. My heart literally melted.

The waiter interrupted our moment as he came back to our table with everything we ordered. We ate and small talked without giving any slight attention to Lewis that was staying a couple of tables away with a man. How is life so ironic that we could intersect with Lewis the following day after the fight in a whole other city?

As we were ready to leave the restaurant, we stood up as I walked in front of Max. Lewis noticed me immediately and scanned me with his eyes from head to toe in a very obvious manner. Max was quick to observe what just happened and surprised me by grabbing my hand as he continued to walk away with me. I continued to hold his hand until we arrived at the car. Did he just do that only for Lewis to see? This was something I had to figure out by myself.

I looked at the way Max got inside the car and sped away instantly. His frowned face showed an angry look not much different from last night as he was trying to focus on the road. I can't let this chaotic animosity for Lewis ruin Max's mood like that. I really don't want this day to be about Lewis.

"So, what are we doing next?" I playfully asked making Max snap out of his grumpy mood for a moment.

"Umm..." He indecisively spoke not really knowing what to say right away as his mind has been busy for the last couple of minutes with Lewis only. "Have you ever gone karting?" He suddenly asked smiling.

"Not really." I laughed. "But I'd love to try!"

"I'll make a short call and take you to one of the places I used to go when I was little." Max said dialing a number. "Hello? Yes... It's Max Verstappen." And from then it seemed there wasn't much more needed to be said to make the place completely his.

"Aren't karts only for kids?"

"No, there are karts for adults also!" Max laughed side eyeing me.

This was good. I figured out that he finally has taken Lewis off his mind as we arrived to the karting circuit. Max was very involved in showing me everything around and I followed him carefully. Everyone working there looked fascinated by him, of course.

"This is it." Max said as I got inside a kart realizing the circuit was huge.

"Well it looks like we're racing all over again!" I giggled making Max turn and look at me while he got inside his kart. "I don't stand a chance! It's not fair!" I exclaimed fixing the helmet on my head.

"Don't be so pessimistic!" Max replied visibly amused. "3... 2... 1... IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO!" He screamed following the lights that were similar to those in F1.

I accelerated trying not to laugh as I could hear Max screaming from the other kart from the top of his lungs trying to imitate a tv commentator. Still, I managed to take the first turn quite well as I was wheel to wheel with Max.

"HERE IT IS THE FIRST TURN, WHEEL TO WHEEL, BUT VERSTAPPEN GETS AWAY WELL!" Max shouted as he overtook me. "STILL, LEYLA IS RIGHT BEHIND KEEPING THE PACE!"

"Stop!" I screamed, my eyes filling with tears from laughing continuously. I shook my head trying to concentrate and managed to overtake Max pushing him wide inside into a turn. It wasn't long for him to try to get his position back, but I wouldn't let him by not giving him enough space to do so.

"AND LEYLA PUSHES VERSTAPPEN OFF TRACK!" Max's voice loudly screamed right behind me. "RIGHT BEFORE PASSING THE CHECKERED FLAG!" He continued as I slowed down and jumped out of the kart.

"I won!" I happily cheered as Max was quick to come and wrap his arms around my waist and lift me up high while spinning around with me. "Consider yourself officially defeated, mister Verstappen!" I playfully teased Max as he placed me back down, but not letting go of me yet.

"You pushed me off track, I'll ask for an investigation from the FIA." He laughed pulling me closer to him. "You might as well be great with a Formula 1 car soon enough!"

"I'm waiting for you to teach me how to drive that!" I looked up at him. "Promise me you will."

"I promise." Max carefully fixed a strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes analyzing every inch of my face making my heart skip another beat.

Standing in the middle of the circuit in silence, neither of us let go. I watched him closely admiring internally every feature of him. Everything's got me thinking maybe Jasmine was right.

Is this really love at first sight?