Way to the Glory [Max Verstappen]

Chapter 24 - Always a Red Bull Girl

TW: Feeling insecure 

Flashback (8 years ago [age 15] 18.05.2014)
"Morning petite fleur (=little flower), have you already heard, Jules is coming over today!" Charles told me and I brightly smiled at him "Really? Yes I haven't seen him in ages, I think the last time was two months ago." I exclaimed and clapped my hands "I think of what Maman said he will be here after lunch." he told me again, before he left the living room.

"Morning Maman, morning Papa." I chirped with a smile "Is it true Jules is coming today? When is he going to be here?" "Yes, he is coming today and I think after lunch." mom answered also with a soft smile "That's great, I really miss him, he was so busy and so we couldn't see each other in such a long time." he takes really much time for family, but the new Formula 1 season had begun and so that made things complicated. But we two had a little ritual, that I am always calling him before races. Additionally he would always write some messages and check up on how I am doing, when he had time.

So after breakfast, I did a few workouts and went to the climbing gym near me. It takes about 15 minutes if I jog there and so when I arrived, I greeted all the people I know there. I'm really popular and known there, since it is one of my habits to be there about 4-5 times a week. Yes, if you are wondering now, my training plan is really long.

Anyways I was bouldering for about 2-3 hours, before I jogged back home and jumped into the shower. Beneath the warm water, I felt the tense muscles in my arms relax and it was definitely one of the best feelings. After I had washed my body, shampooed my hair and put in some conditioner, I left the cabin and wrapped the fluffy towel around my slim body. 

I looked at myself in the mirror, in the reflection of my brown eyes. They were shining on the first glance, but after sometime starring at them, I felt how the sparkle faded. Something dark overshadowed the glimmer. I felt the facade crumble and the mask I was wearing the whole time falling. 

My confidence attitude, got insecure, the shining eyes looked sad now. My beautiful smile, I am so hardly trying to wear all the time, got replaced by a serious look. Right now, the masquerade dropped, the insecure and tired girl shimmered through the perfect athlete. 

'Now isn't the right time for self-pity, come on get you ass up and make them proud, be like your brothers.'

That is what I told myself and so I slipped into my comfortable clothes and looked at my phone. 13:17, so I closed my eyes for a brief second, opened it again and thought about something positive. Jules is coming today, this popped up in my mind and that's how the smile was again in its place. So with a smile on my face, I wandered down again and saw mom finishing the rest of our lunch. 

"Hey Maman, can I help you with something?" I smiled at her and she turned around slightly "Sure, could you please set the table and get your brothers, I think they are in there rooms or outside in the garden. I nodded, got some cutlery and glasses filled with water. After I had placed everything on the big table, I called out for my brothers. It took about 10 more minutes, before we all sat together eating the tasty food mom prepared. 

Everyone of us helped to clean up, when we heard the doorbell ring. I stormed to our front door and opened it wide with a tug. "JULES" I exclaimed when I saw my godfather in front of it, I jumped into his arms. "Ane, so good to see you." he smiled at me "I missed you sooo much, you can't imagine how happy I'm to see you again. And now when I can tell you in person, you were great at your last race." "Thanks, could have been better, but I think getting P8 is okay." "More than okay, Ju that is fantastic, you just joined Formula 1 last season and made so much process. I'm really proud of you!"