Starstruck - Max Verstappen

15

LEYLA'S POINT OF VIEW

I walked alongside Max stepping with my bare feet on the seashore. Sun was slowly setting in Cannes, but we didn't even feel the time passing right by. Everything was perfect, way too perfect. I couldn't believe myself how well I got along with Max as I kept on forgetting I only met him a couple of days ago. It felt like we've been like this since forever. For a moment, I found myself instinctively switching my focus towards him, once again analyzing him. For me, it became quite risky how easy I could get lost in my thoughts just by watching him.

I swiftly looked away the moment I felt Max's eyes meeting mine. I nervously sighed for a moment trying my best to release the feelings that we're building up inside my chest almost every time I was with him. The view was picture perfect with the waves peacefully crushing into our feet. Therefore, I took advantage of the moment to try and hide the way I was staring at him and got my phone out of my bag to quickly take a short video of the sea with the sunset and post it on Instagram.

I was still feeling Max's eyes all over me and felt the need to brake the silence that has fallen between us. For a couple of moments I wondered what I should say, but without warning I spoke the first thing that came to mind.

"Are you ready for Monaco?" I asked as we sat down on the sand watching the sea. "I really wanna see you race."

"I was born ready! After some training and with you in the paddock, it's impossible not to win! I mean... You already brought me luck one time." Max moved to sit even closer to me.

"Do you really think that?" I blushed looking down trying to hide my face, the memory of what happened at the Casino clear.

"Obviously! I got the right cards to put it all in the moment you showed up at the table! I wish you'd see how last season was in F1."

"That would really be great. I'm sure your win was spectacular."

"Lewis was very mad about it. He's such a sore loser!" Max laughed shaking his head.

"I have to see it!"

"Well... We can go to my place and watch the last race." His tone visibly changed sounding kind of shy all of a sudden, probably unsure of the proposal he's made.

"I'd love to." I replied making Max look a little bit more distressed. I tried my best, but didn't really figure out what was going on with him just yet.

I placed my head on Max's shoulder before I felt my phone buzzing. When I checked it, I opened the notification as Jasmine sent me a meme on Instagram. After I closed the conversation with her, I casually looked at the views of the story I just posted. My eyes widened noticing the username @LewisHamilton in my story views. I've read it several times having the impression I'm reading it wrong.

"How did that scumbag find you?" Max's voice filled with anger made me flinch immediately. He took a closer look at the screen just to be sure, probably not believing his eyes either.

"I... I don't know!" I panicked for a moment not understanding what was going on. "And it's only been 10 minutes since I posted this! How he'd find me that quickly?" I got scared as turning to Max I saw the exact same look on his face as the one he had at the club.

"He must've searched you in my followings and now he's stalking you." He said rubbing his eyes. "That fucker." Max punched the ground as sand scattered all over in the air making me gasp. His sight was absent as he was looking into the distance.

"M-Max?" I softly called his name slowly proceeding to touch his shoulder. His anger issues were obvious and uncontrollable when it came to Lewis and I just felt helpless every time. It was almost like they were possessing him. "He really doesn't matter at all."

"I know." He shook his head, then looked at me as his anger suddenly diffused. "Let's go home back in Monaco and I'll show you what a sore loser he is." Max got up and reached out his arm to help me up before placing it behind my neck, holding me next to him while we walked off the beach.

I couldn't help myself in order to not overthink everything around me. A part of me wanted to think Max was actually jealous of Lewis checking me out, but that was impossible. Surely the only thing going on over here is their absolute rivalry and nothing more.

Before I could even do anything, Max was sweet enough to open the car door for me before I stepped inside. He looked surprised behind suddenly hearing somebody scream.

"Max Verstappen!" "Max, one question please!" "Max!" A bunch of people who clearly looked like paparazzi and reporters with cameras were literally running towards us. Max quickly turned back and looked at me panicked before he rushed to get inside the car.

"Gotta get out of here!" He screamed accelerating away as my laughter covered the noisy engine of the car. "These creeps are everywhere I swear!" He also couldn't help but let out a laugh.

As we got out of Cannes, Max sped away driving like he was on track all over again. Without saying anything this time, he placed his hand on my thigh again controlling the car with one hand only. A faint smile appeared on his face as my hand slipped holding his in place, exactly like we did earlier. His grip tightened as he drifted the car in a abrupt turn. That moment I felt like I wanted him to drive around with me like this forever.

Arriving to Max's, as we got in the elevator a weird silence dropped between us. I was literally feeling so strange now that I found myself alone with Max here at nighttime already. Stepping inside the apartment, I shyly took a seat on the huge sofa. Only the echo of Max's steps could be heard around in the whole apartment as he turned on the TV before taking a seat right next to me...