Just don't give up on me

unexpected

*Elodie*

The weekend in Zandvoort had been great and Max had crowned it with a brilliant race.  The photo with him and the helmet had gone around the world, social media had exploded. Aurelia's gallery had experienced a run-up like never before and she had asked me to paint the lion for the gallery.

Of course, I was only too happy to oblige. But at the same time to organize a move, set up the new apartment and get everything ready before the weekend, because then it went to Monza, put me increasingly under stress.

I sat in front of the screen and was just adding the last golden details to the lion when my cell phone rang. It took me a moment to find it, then I answered the video call from Max.

"Hey." he said, sounding kind of worried.

"Hey.", I replied, putting the cell phone in front of the canva and then immediately continued painting.

"Are you okay Eli? You've barely been in touch the last two days, and Pierre said you're hardly answering either. I'm worried."

I lifted my eyes from the canvas and looked over at Max "Yes. Everything is fine. I'm just pretty stressed.", I replied and looked right back at the screen.

"You're sure that's all it is? Just stress? You can talk to me if you..."

"No, just stress. I promise.".

Even if that wasn't quite the truth. Because the more I had moved into the public eye, the more people had started talking about my brother again. I was linked to videos of him almost every minute and if it was only in the comments. It was hard for me to tune that out.

"Eli, why are you lying to me?", I looked back to Max.

"I'm fine Max, really. I'm just overworked. I'm just finishing painting the lion for the gallery, I have to move my stuff from the old apartment to the new one. I have to coordinate furniture deliveries. I have to make sure that Pierre's stuff gets to where it needs to go, and in a few hours I have to have my suitcase packed to fly to Monza. I just have a lot on my plate and...", I took a deep breath "this is the most life I've had in the last three years", I mumbled and then sat down on the floor.

"Have you eaten anything today Eli?" asked Max quietly, I shook my head.

"Then I'll have food brought to you now. I know a good Italian, he'll bring the pizza right to your apartment. And you take a breath now. Do you hear me? Because you honestly look like shit and I don't want you to fold, okay?", I nodded and just gave into the moment.

"All of this can wait. It doesn't have to be done until tomorrow. And if the furniture isn't set up for a few more days, that won't kill anyone either. Eli, you have to take care of yourself. I can't always be there to do this.", he smiled "Even though I promise to try.".

"Thanks Max.", I flopped down on my back and took a few deep breaths.

"Tell me what you did today.", I asked. "I like to hear you talk.".

"Seriously? No one's ever said that either.", he laughed and then started talking.

I could feel everything inside me relax immediately and all the pressure that had been building up inside me fell away. Just his voice relaxed me so much that I forgot everything else.

At some point my doorbell rang. The pizza Max had sent me smelled way too good. I took Max into the kitchen and set my cell phone on the kitchen counter while I grabbed silverware from the drawer.

"I texted him to make you my favorite pizza. I hope you like pineapple on pizza." the Dutchman laughed as I sat down in front of the box.

"I love pineapple on pizza.", I smirked and opened the pizza box.

Max grinned with satisfaction as I took the first bite of the pizza and slumped in my chair.
„This is by far the best pizza I've ever had," I muttered, Max laughing.

He was sitting on the other end of the video call and seemed to be doing something on the computer while I ate. I was just grateful for his company.

And I couldn't help but realize, once again, how deep into this I already was. I wanted to see him, wanted to be with him. I wanted to hear his voice. It had never happened to me like this before. In the past it had taken me ages to get involved with someone, but with Max it happened even though I resisted it, even though I didn't want it at all. And it felt so right, even though the fear inside me was still screaming at me to stay away from him. I knew I couldn't.

After dinner, I took Max back to my room and started painting again while Max did whatever he was doing. He was just there and I couldn't stop smiling.

Neither of us ended the call. Not even when he went back to the hotel or when I got ready for bed. I packed my suitcase while we talked and eventually crawled into bed while he was still on the other end of the phone.

He was already in his bed and seemed to still be playing FIFA while I just listened to him get excited. My eyes were getting heavier and heavier. My breathing became calmer and calmer and I slowly but surely slipped into a peaceful sleep.

The last thing I noticed was Max whispering, "Sleep well Eli.".

I had completed the lion and brought it to the gallery. From there, Aurelia and I had left directly for Monza. Charles had promised to pick us up at the airport and give us a personal tour. When we finally got off the plane and I could see my best friend, I ran to meet him.

He was beaming all over his face and caught me, only to pull me tightly against him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and slumped against him as he immediately buried his face in my hair.

"Hey." he whispered, pressing a warm kiss to the top of my head before slowly letting go of me and greeting Aurelia as well.

"I missed you." he said, taking my hand as we left the airport towards a limo.

"We just saw each other last week in Zandvoort, didn't we?", I laughed and squeezed his hand.

"Still. Besides, you were only with Max there.", he held my hand a little tighter.

"I was his guest, after all, and..."

"You like him, don't you?"

"Of course! He's totally nice and we get along really well."

"No, I don't mean it like that. I mean you really like him, don't you?", I looked to the side and recognized something in Charles' gaze that made me falter.

He didn't seem to like the idea of me liking Max in anything more than a friendly way.

"Why do you ask?", I probed.

He lowered his gaze immediately "Charly?", I asked and stopped, making my best friend stop as well.

"It's not that important, ok?" he whispered and I could see tears welling up in his eyes.

"No, stop. What's wrong?"

"I just want you to be happy, okay? And if you like Max, then that's great. He's a nice guy and I'm happy if he makes you feel good."

"Charly, I can't understand a thing. What's wrong?".

He lowered his eyes again as everything tightened inside me.

"He loves you." gasped Aurelia, who I had completely tuned out until now.

"Charly?", I asked, completely breathless.

He didn't answer, but just kept his gaze lowered. I began to cry quite inevitably.

"Charly, is this true?", I whispered, he nodded barely noticeable.

"It's been forever. But I always knew you didn't see me that way, and that's okay. I just want you to be happy.".

I took his face and pushed it up. I wanted him to look at me.

"I love you Eli. I have forever. But it's really okay. I just want you to be happy again and I haven't seen you laugh like you do with Max in forever. So please just let it happen. I want you to live again."

And I didn't know what to say. I just let my forehead fall against His and wrapped my arms around him tightly.

Shit. I really hadn't expected this.