One is the Loneliest Number

Who am I?

16th of April, 2023
Monte Carlo, Monaco

Max Verstappen stepped out of his flat wearing the same shirt he had on their New Year's lunch with Charles. Moreover, the Dutchman decided for plain black chino trousers. The classic Verstappen look – didn't bear much thought to it.

He greeted the doorman briefly before meeting Charles Leclerc's Rolls-Royce Wraith in front of the building. Windows down, and the Monégasque himself was smiling at him. Besides him sat his brother, Arthur. Both dressed, as their French demeanour demanded, like true tennis-enjoyers.

Max walked over to the window.

– Pretty crowded ride you got there. – Max laughed, leaning with his hand on the car roof in order to bend and greet Pierre Gasly and his girlfriend Kika, who were sitting together in the back seat. – Maybe I should leave you some room.

– No, no. Now you already said yes. Hop in! – Leclerc laughed, staring up at him with his sunglasses. Gasly then opened the back door for him.

Max made his way around the open door and sat right behind Charles. Soon they were on their way to Roquebrune.

– How do you do? – Pierre greeted him with his usual smile and handshake.

– Alright. – Max half-smiled.

– Never held you for a tennis fan, man.

– Yeah, I guess Charles was very convincing. – Verstappen chuckled.

– This man lives in Monaco, so he got to learn about our national sport. – Leclerc looked at them both from the rear mirror.

– I'm pretty sure that's football. – Max replied.

Truth be told: Max hated having to interrupt his gaming sessions in order to watch tennis. He also called off a Twitch stream he had planned and his tea party with Penelope. The only thing worth his time here was the Monégasque sitting behind the wheel. "I'm a fucking simp, am I not?", Max reflected, thinking about doing things he didn't like in order to spend time with Leclerc.

– Well, anyway. At least now that Max is here, Charles doesn't have to be third-wheeling us. – Gasly laughed, patting Leclerc on the shoulder from behind. – This task is now Arthur's.

– What do you mean by that? – Charles laughed, nervously even.

– Yeah, yeah. These two are having some fun since New Year's aren't they. – Pierre joked, making Arthur and Kika laugh.

Max and Charles both had similar reactions. They chuckled briefly and then proceeded to maintain an awkward silence.

Gasly was somewhat surprised when Charles decided to invite Max Verstappen to come with them to the Monte-Carlo Masters. Like mentioned, no one really held the Dutchman for a tennis person, and Leclerc would even go through the trouble of preparing dinner at his place after the match, something he most likely wouldn't do before inviting Pierre's former teammate. The Frenchman was aware of their newly found friendship, but this was something else. "Both are going out of their way in order to spend quality time together. I just can't put a finger on the nature of their friendship", Gasly pondered, even though he knew his childhood friend Charles Leclerc better than anyone else. Or so he thought.

Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France

The doubles final was set to be Croatian Ivan Dodig & American Austin Krajicek versus the Monégasque Romain Arneodo & Austrian Sam Weissborn. Obviously, Charles, Pierre and Arthur were there for the French-born Arneodo.

At the beginning of ball exchanges, Max tried to cheer up and pay attention. He would occasionally look over to Leclerc, sitting beside him, and marble at his undivided focus. "He seems to really enjoy it", the Dutchman thought.