Behind the façade - MV

6.5

Maya's POV:

I sat in the car next to Max, the awkward tension still lingering in the air. I couldn't help but notice that Max was trying to make conversation, but my responses remained short and somewhat distant. Nods, shrugs, and one-word answers seemed to be my way of keeping things as uneventful as possible.

As we continued the drive, Max broke the silence with a question that caught me off guard. "Why were you taking pictures of us today?" he asked, his curiosity evident in his tone.

I hesitated for a moment, not expecting Max to have noticed my discreet photography during the interviews. I wasn't sure if I should be honest, but to avoid the awkwardness that had settled between us, I decided to tell the truth. "I got a chance to take pictures for the F1 Instagram page," I admitted, a faint blush rising to my cheeks. "I was trying to get the perfect shots."

To my surprise, Max's response was not what I expected. "Oh, wow, that's really nice," he said, offering a genuine smile. "I remember you loving to take pictures of everything back in the day when you were visiting Seb."

I chuckled, somewhat choked up that Max remembered me from those days, or even noticed me at all. "Yeah, I really do love it," I admitted, feeling a bit more at ease.

There was a brief silence, but then Max's curiosity got the better of him again. "Can I maybe see a few of the pictures?" he asked, and my smile grew wider. It felt good to have someone show interest in something I was passionate about, even if it was Max.

I reached into my bag and pulled out my camera, ready to share my shots. But then, a moment of caution crossed my mind. "I'll show you later," I said, glancing at Max. "Don't want you crashing on me."

Max grinned at my response. "You know, 'crash' is not in my vocabulary."

I couldn't help but laugh at his confident remark. "Oh yeah, I forgot you're the Max Verstappen, two-time world champion."

Max chuckled in return. "I mean, you said it, not me."

As the conversation continued, it seemed that the initial awkwardness between us was gradually dissipating, replaced by laughter. Perhaps this unexpected car ride would be the beginning of a less hateful relationship between Max and me.

As the car came to a stop at my destination, I couldn't help but feel a wave of conflicting emotions. Max might not remember what he said or even know that I had heard him, but I clearly remembered that moment from 2019, and it had left a deep hatred for him.

Max and I had been on good terms before that incident. I even knew Max before Charles, I had liked Max, not just for his racing style but because he had always been somewhat of a friend and nice with me. But what I overheard that day had shattered my perception of him.

The memory played vividly in my mind. It was a practice day in the paddock, and I had been with Charles, my uncle's new teammate. Charles had invited me to join him for lunch at the drivers' cafeteria, and I had accepted his offer, excited to spend time with him and meet the other drivers. On our way there, he was stopped by a few people, and I told him I'd go ahead and meet him at the cafeteria.

As I made my way through the streets, I spotted Max talking with another guy, who I assumed was his friend. Their conversation hit me like a punch to the gut. It went something like this: "Yeah, she's just using Charles for fame, and innocent Charles is falling for it," his friend had said , max was agreeing and adding his own sentence, "She just doesn't get the hint that nobody likes her. I don't know why she keeps coming to the paddock as if anyone wants her here. And have you seen her disgusting attitude?"

I couldn't bear to listen to it anymore, and I just kept walking, my heart aching and tears welling up in my eyes. I left the paddock in a hurry, not even saying goodbye to Seb or anyone else.

Charles had tried to reach me that day, calling and texting me, but I couldn't bring myself to answer him without sounding normal. I sent him a message, saying that I wasn't feeling well and couldn't stay any longer. He responded with a kind message, wishing me well and offering his support.

I had spent that day sulking in my bed, hurt by Max's words and the betrayal I felt. From that day on, Max had become my biggest enemy, and the wounds from that incident had never fully healed.

When we finally arrived at our destination and Max asked to see the pictures, I felt a wave of awkwardness wash over me once again. I couldn't bring myself to fully open up to him. My voice was distant as I replied, "I don't have time right now," and practically bolted out of the car.

I could feel Max's eyes on me as I hurried away, and I knew that my behavior probably confused him. But I couldn't bear to let my guard down, not after what had happened in 2019. The pain and betrayal I had felt was like no other, and it would take more than a casual conversation in a car to bridge the gap between us.

As I stepped out of Max's car, I couldn't help but The past remained an insurmountable barrier between us, and despite our brief conversation, the hurt from 2019 still lingered, making it difficult for me to let my guard down completely.

Max POV:
What the fuck?

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I haven't posted in a while I've been so busy but here is a continuation on the last par but from Maya's pov. I'm currently working in 2 new chapters so maybe sometime this week :)