Pretending | Max Verstappen

- 19 -

Zoe

It was already Saturday and therefore qualifying day here in Hungary and Max still hadn't spoken to me. Since he came back from the Netherlands with his father, who was also here this weekend, he seemed different.

Every time I had seen him the last two days he was looking tired or completely exhausted. I hadn't had a chance to speak to him as Jos was always by his sons side. Therefore we hadn't came together in the morning or leave in the evening together.

"Max, Zoe please wait for a moment." Christian said after our daily meeting.

Jos has already left the room and the RedBull boss closed the door behind the other people that had taken part in this meeting and already left.

"What happened or what is up with you? The whole weekend the media got none picture of you together. After Austria, where you weren't Max, I hoped that you would show the media something this weekend."

While Max was looking down I glanced at Christian who gave me a knowing look. I know that he was just being nice and trying to help us or mainly me and I was more than thankful for that.

"The media isn't interested in me anyways so we can stop doing all this."

With that he didn't even look at me, he just stood up and left while i could feel my tears coming up. Too many times I had tried to convince myself that nothing between us were real feelings but the last days and weeks turned that around, at least for me.

Christian was about to say somethings but a mechanic walked in and the two of them left together. I stayed behind and tried to breath normal. I had known that it was al just with an expire date, I had known that that nothing would ever be real between us but my feelings tricked me anyway.

Quickly I shook my head and tried to focus again. Luckily the qualifying was about to start so I had better things to do that to sit here and cry. Max was already in the car when I walked through the garage towards my place with my monitors.

During the session was a lot of chaos as it started raining and and some cars crashed. Because of all this and a not so good run plan max ended on P5 for tomorrows race. His father wasn't happy with it, which was why he left even before the RedBull with the number 1 ended Q3.

Something in my mind told me that this was my chance. I didn't even knew what chance but when the Dutch returned towards the garage I took one last breath. He quickly exchanged some words with his race engineer before he walked pass me.

My mind was non existing as I followed him up to his drivers room.

"Max." I said but to quiet, which was why he didn't hear me.

He was only a couple of steps away from his door when I raised my voice.

"Max!"

The Dutch sighed and slowly turned around.

"What do you want?"

My jaw dropped, was he for real? We kissed, he kissed me and then he ignored me again and so on. I was lost for words and didn't really know how to reply to that question. When I found some words and wanted to start talking I heard some heavy steps behind me. Without turning I knew who it was.

"What is she doing here? Is she apologizing?"

"Apologizing?" Max and I asked in sync.

"Without her you would be on pole now." the older Verstappen said and I looked between him and his son in horror.

Max was also more than surprised over the statement. As I didn't move or said something Jos came closer and I saw how his anger was building up.

"You sent him out at the wrong time, when this is the reason that causes him the win tomorrow I will come after you."