Anti-hero ~ Max Verstappen

16

That morning when I woke up he was already gone. I'm not surprised, we said it was just for tonight after all.

I looked at my phone and saw that there were a couple of minutes left for my alarm to go off. I hate when that happens, my body betraying me, taking away those minutes of rest that I feel I would have needed.

I dressed in my team gear and put my sunglasses on my shirt collar, wearing them for breakfast is too much but who knows.

In the hotel buffet several teams met, each with their respective uniforms, without mixing with eachother.

I was taking what my coach said I could have for breakfast when someone surprised me from behind.

-Stroll, what a pleasant surprise!- I hear a voice say behind me.

-We are staying at the same hotel.- I remind him. This weekend we had to share a hotel with Red Bull, of course we could cross paths.

-You have a horrible face.- he noted. Just what I needed to hear this morning.

-So nice to talk to you in the mornings Christian.- I say sarcastically.

I continue walking through the buffet, grabbing a yogurt from the counter and continuing with my tray.

-It's weird, Max had the same face too, maybe the two of you had a bad night.- a small chuckle escape my lips but I soon I regain my composure.

-Can't you no longer have a bad night's sleep without being questioned about it?

I turn to face him and the he just shrugs. He didn't even have a tray for the food, he had come just to have this conversation.

-Let's say I hear things, I share a wall with his room after all. What I didn't know is that he was going to dare to go. But that face...- he said pointing to my face. - I've never seen you with that face before.

-Tired?- I spend half my life tired, this shouldn't surprise him.

-Afraid.- I clear my throat and turn around again, this time picking up a couple of pieces of fruit and placing them on the tray.

-Whatever you're thinking, drop it, I don't feel like your mind games this early in the morning.

-I actually wanted to talk to you. I was surprised when you refused the seat, Max said there was no way you wouldn't take it.

That confuses me, what does Max have to do with the offer they gave me?

-What do you mean by Max said?- A small smile escapes him when he sees that he has gotten my attention but he immediately hides it again.

-Yes. That. I always pass my ideas through Max, when the possibility of perhaps not renewing Checo arose, your name was the first to appear in the conversation.

I don't know what his intentions were when he told me this. Maybe he wants to make me think that I don't deserve my seat, but I've been in this sport for many years to know that I deserve every single things that I've achieved.

-That doesn't make any sense

-He has always told me that you are the most talented driver he has ever met. And I don't think he's wrong, you have got something.

I shake my head. He used to tell me that all the time but it's a lie, he stopped thinking that years ago.

-Do you really think it would have been a good idea to have both of us on the same team after how it ended last time? It would be a time bomb, destined to explode.

-Talent recognizes talent, and I haven't seen anyone with as much as Max, so I listen to him.

Before I had time to answer I felt a hand on my back, I turned to see who it was and I sighed when I saw it was Marie. Just in time.