I CAN SEE YOU

nine

"Oh my god! We just walked past Serena freaking Williams." Ellie begins to freak out as we make our way through the paddock in Monaco.

For todays race the weather was lovely, not too warm but not too cold, and most importantly not a drop of rain in sight which is likely to be beneficial for me.

Yesterday in qualifying I had managed to achieve P2 which is a great result for the team, however I'm sure I could've gotten pole had Charles not decided the the wall was so good looking that he had to touch it, which coincidentally aborted my fast lap and kept himself comfortable in the P1 spot. It just means that as soon as the lights are out I need to get a good pick away and quickly get in front of him because everyone knows it's extremely difficult to overtake on this circuit.

"It's the Monaco Grand Prix Ellie. Anyone who's anyone fights for a ticket to here, meaning that everyone you pass today will either be insanely famous or incredibly rich." I explain, using the time to fix my team t-shirt so that it's tucked in at the waistband of my white skirt.

"I need to find my husband here then." She mumbles, lifting her sunglasses lightly to scan the crowd.

"Watch out!" A voice shouts out in the crowd, making me instinctively turn to look, only to be whacked in the face by a football. The impact was sore, instantly having a stinging sensation, with the force behind it causing me to stumble back slightly in to the chest of whoever was behind me. Their hand wrapping itself protectively around my waist.

After removing my cradling hand from my face, I see Charles and Carlos running forward. "Madeline were so so sorry." Carlos begins to apologise.

"We were only passing it to each other but then it got a bit competitive." Charles tries to explain, his face dripping in guilt.

"There's a reason you're not a footballer Charles. I thought you would've known that by now." I can't help but bite back considering that I'm now in a bad mood.

"We're really really sorry." Charles continues to apologies, his eyes flicking between me, the hand on my waist, and whoever is behind me, leaving me curious.

"So you've said to her." His voice sends a shiver down my spine as he speaks from behind me. "Now why don't you pick up your little football and try not to hit anyone else in the face."

Charles face falls whilst Ellie, Carlos and I stand there shocked, unable to acknowledge what the hell was going on. "Don't be like that Max, it was only an accident."

I feel a cold chuckle rumble through him from my back, but I still don't have the guts to turn around and acknowledge his presence.

Max leans down, placing his chin on my shoulder with his lips next to my ear. "Let's go get you an ice pack. Don't need your face bruised for your podium later."

My heart almost stops at his words, but I have no idea why. I hate Max Verstappen, I always have, but recently his moods have been swinging more than a child in a playground, leaving me completely dumbfounded.

"I - erm - I'm not leaving Ellie." I stutter out, grasping for any excuse not to go with him.

"I'm sure Charles and Carlos could introduce her to their girlfriends, it would mean that for the party tonight she'll know some people before she goes." Max looks pointedly at the two Ferrari boys, the both of them looking as clueless as usual.

"That's actually not a bad idea." Ellie chimes in, sending me a shit stirring smirk. "Come on boys, take me to your pretty girlfriends." She walks forward, grabbing the two boys by their arms and dragging them away, not caring about the predicament she had just left me in. I could fucking kill her.