Ilaria always hated Christmas.
It wasn't because of the death of her mother and brother like most people think, but rather just because.
Well, not just because, it was just a season she grew to hate since a young age. Her family never really celebrated the holiday plus Monaco being hot all year didn't help at all.
Her father wasn't around, God knows where in the world he is at the moment and her grandmother is with her uncles and aunt somewhere in Italy. Ilaria was invited though she didn't feel like going, New York is a good place to spend Christmas alone anyway.
The fire began to flicker and crackle, breaking the silence in the public library.
"What are you reading?" he called quietly to her, attempting to act calm when her eyes sparkled identically to the lights on the tree beside her.
It has been a while since he saw her, even spoken to her, Max only hopes he doesn't seem like a creep for appearing out of the blue.
"A Christmas carol" she whispered, turning her book around to proudly display the embossed title.
He smiled lightly. Shaking his head and replied. "I must admit that I am not partial to Christmas"
Me either, she was about to reply. But was swiftly interrupted by the movement outside, her expression as she pointed to the window empathetically, her eyes widening in utter shock.
Confused, he turned his head, raising his eyebrows at the flaked of snow gracefully falling from the sky.
And whilst he may not have found it particularly enthralling or joyful since he grew up with cold Christmases, her reacting was enough to make it worth watching.
"Want to walk with me?"
"I would love to"
Max was amazed by her beauty under all the Christmas lights in the city. He found it adorable how her nose turned red and her cheeks pale from the cold, she no longer looked sun-kissed and only now he realizes how pale she actually is.
"Not to sound rude but... you're here and— how did you find me?"
"I asked your grandmother." Max shows her a boyish smile, watching how she huffs. "I happen to be here for some interviews so I wanted to drop by... since you didn't even say goodbye before leaving" he murmured the last part, Ilaria actually getting what he said.
"I did say goodbye, I left you a note" she defends herself.
"Not enough" Teased Max, pushing her a little to the side in a joking manner.
She showed him a fake angry face before asking him all about his championship. Max went on and on about the last race, all the interviews he has done and how nothing feels real anymore.
"You're ignoring me"
She turned to face him, her eyes begrudgingly met his, and she couldn't help but notice his faint dimples as well as how his hair sprung up messily in different directions.
"Is everything okay?" he asked, attempting to fix his hair when he noticed her staring, his usual arrogance quickly discarded.
She was falling for him, and he was standing there, as if nothing. Her mind was elsewhere. How come he made the effort of asking her grandmother where she is and yet Charles can't text her?
She found it sweet. Any other guy would of taken the first plane back home to spend Christmas Eve with family but yet he is here, staring at her in wonder and excitement.
"So— Ice skating?" He asked, something he always wanted to try was skate in the Rockefeller center and what better company than Ilaria.
"Yes" she nodded feeling nervous about it, not having yet the heart to tell him she doesn't like ice skating anymore."That would be wonderful"
Max sucks. Terrible. Horrible. Any word to describe a bad person at something then Max is the definition of them all.
Whenever he was about to fall he would drag Ilaria with him. He spun and fell more times that she could count but at the end she was more than glad he brought her there. It's been months since she had fun, she hasn't laughed at something for a long time so she couldn't help herself but to—
"Thank you" she said with a shy tone, avoiding his eyes. "I had a lot of fun"
"So did I"
Max placed his wand on her waist, guiding her out of the renting skates room and walking slowly outside towards central park.
"So, when are you leaving"
"In the morning" he answered, his hands in his pockets since he was dying of the coldness. "Aren't you going to Monaco to your family?" Max made the mistake of taking a look at her; his heart beating faster when he saw how adorable she looks with her hair full of snowflakes.
"No. I'm staying here" she shakes her head, hiding her mouth behind her scarf.
"Alone?" he worried.
"Yep. it's not a big deal, Max"
He stops walking, turning slightly. "Come with me then"
"No, I really can't. But thank you"
"Why not?"
"I- I have to look for a job"
"During Christmas?"
"During Christmas" she affirms.
Max wasn't going home. He didn't have the heart to tell her he was going to Brazil to spend Christmas with his potential girlfriend. For a reason he couldn't bring himself to do it.
If she would have said yes, then he would change every single plan he had for the holidays, just so he could be with her.
And being with her after a month of not seeing each other, all the feelings he felt for the current girl he was speaking to disappeared.
"What have you been up to" She resumed walking, occasionally looking up to see the few snowflakes falling
"Not much." Ilaria shrugs. "Working in the art museum and sometimes helping my father with the new hotel here"
Max couldn't stop himself from reaching forward and slowly clean her hair from the snow, ignoring how she sweetly smiled at him.
"You on the other hand. Max Verstappen Formula 1 world champion" she dramatically speaks, jazz hands and all. "Can't wait to see drive to survive"
"You like that show?"
"Well of course. They made you look like an asshole and I can't be more grateful for that."
"Fuck off" They both laugh, her gaze lingering for a bit longer on him but focused instead on walking and the view upfront.
"You really think of me like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like an asshole... ruthless, careless"
Ilaria frowns before responding. "I used to. Even you have to accept you were a bitch to me. But you're all right now I guess" She chuckled, punching him slightly on the arm.
Max laughed along but not sounding truthful. He noticed how the r's in her speech sound exactly the same as Charles, actually no, she has the exact same accent as Charles.
Ilaria offered him to stay in her apartment for the night, it's not like she's with anybody else. But he doesn't wants to be a burden and wake her up early in the morning when he's leaving so he declined.
"I hope to see you again" Max said, sounding a bit shy when he spoke.
Ilaria bit the smile off her face, "I hope so too"
And now neither knew what to do. Max waved, while she hoped for at least a small awkward hug but it didn't happen.
She watched as he walked away, leaving her confused standing outside her apartment building.
YOU ARE READING
The Guy Down the Hall- F1
FanfictionShe first thought he was in the mafia. Like seriously, he leaves almost every weekend to God knows where, wears the most expensive clothes and drives cars only one could dream of, and on top of it all he's like twenty? All she knows is that his na...
