Pretending | Max Verstappen

- 24 -

Zoe

"Here, maybe you should put this on." Lando said and gave me his sweater as we were sitting on the backseat of the cab.

It was way past midnight but I needed to go and see him, it couldn't wait. Gladly Lando and also Carlos didn't hesitate to come with me or better to bring me to the hospital because I wouldn't have made it alone probably.

After I had put the pullover over my RedBull sleeping shirt Lando laid an arm around me and I put my head on his shoulder, the tears still running down my face. I felt so bad, I really blamed me for not reading his message directly.

Instead I had gone out with Charles and wanted to forget about him because I thought he didn't cared, how wrong I was. 

"It's my fault." I whispered and the two boys next to me immediately looked at me.

"What are you talking about?" Lando calmly asked and stroked a hair out of my face while his boyfriend was just nodding his head and looking at me, worried.

"The accident, it's my fault. He could have been dead because of me."

"Don't be stupid Zoe, we all know who's fault it is, I don't even need to say his name." the Spaniard now said.

Of course I knew how he was talking about but it was my fault too. Scared I looked down at the small paper in my hands, it had wet drops on it from my tears but the text was clearly readable. In the corner of my eye I saw how Carlos took Landos hand and squeezed it.

The Brit was also pretty messed up with all his feelings towards the situation with his best friend on the grid. He tried to be strong for me but I knew how much he was also shocked and confused about everything, but Carlos was there for him.

I loved seeing them together, their love was really beautiful, how they cared for each other and loved each other unconditionally even in such situations. The longer I thought about them the more I thought about my own feelings, for him, for Max.

"He would never give me a chance after that. He would never start falling in love with me after this." I mumbled while playing with the paper in my hands.

Next to me I could feel how Lando sat up straight and party turned towards me, as good it was possible in the backseat of a cab.

"He already loves you more than anything else." Lando said and my eyes widened while I shook my head.

"He does not."

"He does. After the race today I doubted it for a moment because all I saw and all he told me was different from that behavior. He really cares about you and you are really important to him. Now that we know what really went on it only confirms my thoughts even more. He loves you Zoe."

"But why did he..." I stared but tears were falling out of my eyes so quickly that I couldn't finish it.

"He wanted to protect you, because he loves you more than his own life."

After Lando had said these words it was silent in the car because we all had to process it. Before someone could say anything again we reached the hospital and quickly paid the driver. It was really dark outside and only a small light was shining on the entrance.

Luckily nobody was here due to the time but luckily the gates were open and so we went in. Inside we were met with bright light and a very clean environment. 

"No visitors, the visiting window opens tomorrow at 11am."

We all jumped in horror and only then saw a small lady behind the desk next to the entrance. Carlos was the first one to relax again so he went over to her.