sparks fly | m.verstappen

twenty-seven

XXVII. Barrier

AUSTIN: October 2023

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Race Day: After escaping Rafael multiple times, Angel was not successful this time. Marcus was off to see Fernando and Lance leaving the father to seek out his daughter.

Lucky for him, she had just finished fan stage with the McLaren boys. She was walking with Lando and Oscar when she heard her father calling out for her. The younger driver sent her a look but she waved him off.

She turned to see Rafael smiling at her, "You have been avoiding me anak." he said knowingly. She hummed and shrugged, "We're both busy dad." she said nonchalantly.

He raised an eyebrow at him, "Really? It doesn't have to do with what I said about Marcus-" "Dad can we not talk about this here?" she cut him off.

Rafael frowned and crossed him arms, "Then when is a better time? There's not time with you Evangeline." he said. She furrowed her eyebrows, "I am working dad. Do you expect me to just drop everything to live out your dreams?" she asked.

That hit a nerve. Angel knew that, because he clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes at her, "Busy with work? Or busy with that Verstappen kid?" he asked.

She shook her head, "That doesn't concern you." she said. Rafael scoffed, "It does. You are my daughter." he said.

"I know I am, and you have always been dictating how I should be and I give it don't I?" she asked. Her voice was raising and she knew there were people coming in and walking pass them but she couldn't care less really.

"But I draw the line here. I don't care what past you and Jos Verstappen has-" "Stop." "But that shouldn't affect me and Max-"

"Evangeline." he cut her off. She huffed and shook her head, "I have work." she said and was about to walk away when he spoke again, "He's no good for you." he said.

She stopped and turned her head to the side. "I saw the articles. Him and his father aren't good."

She snickered and looked at him, "That's ironic. You were friends once with his father. If Jos was so bad then why were you partners?"

Unbeknownst to her, Max was experiencing the same thing as her. He stared at his father in disbelief. He could not believe that he could talk ill about someone so sweet and precious.

Clearly, Jos was blinded with what happened in the past and Max was not having it. He was walking away when his father grabbed his helmet.

"Give it back Dad." Max said with a sigh. He didn't want to fight. "You will distance yourself away from that girl-"

"No."

"She is a Mendoza-" "She is not her father!" he yelled at Jos. Everyone at the garage looked at them. The father clenched his jaw and walked to him, "Lower your voice Max." he grunted.

But the Dutch driver shook his head, "I don't care about your past with Rafael. You can forever be bitter that he didn't sponsor you but Angel is not her father. So stop comparing her to him."

This talk clearly got to Max's head. He was struggling to keep focus on the race. He was cursing himself, his dad, and George Russell who seemed to be having a good season.

He didn't want it to affect him. He knew that Jos' opinions didn't matter, it shouldn't but then he didn't expect to see Valterri coming from his right and he didn't get a good group.

He pushed to the side, spinning around until he hit the barrier. His team could hear him cursing himself.

Angel who was watching with Lissie felt her heart drop. Despite him getting out of the car and sitting on the ground as the medics crowded him, she was feeling uneasy.

So, she sneaked away from the team and rushed to the Redbull garage. Just in time, Max was brought in, his helmet off, his jaw clenched and his was taking his gloves off.

He was about to hide in his driver's room when he caught sight of her. His shoulders sagged as the tears started to form in his eyes out of frustration. Angel frowned and opened her arms.

Max was quick to walk to her, allowing her to wrap her arms around him. He huffed, "I fucked up." he grumbled as he pulled her closer. "It's okay. It's about time you let someone else win." she joked trying to ease his emotions as she rubbed his back.

He huffed but nodded, hiding his face on the crook of her neck. They stayed there until they heard Jos. Max huffed, "I'm going to change." he whispered and walked away.

Angel watched with a frown. She knew the older Verstappen was there, so she took the time to say something.

"There are things that aren't cleared up between you and my dad, aren't there?" she asked turning to him. Jos was shocked, the girl had balls to talk to him.

He crossed his arms, "I don't believe I asked your opinion-" "Really? Then why am I and Max being affected by unresolved problems you and my dad have?" she asked.

She didn't let him answer, "I don't know the whole story but the both of you do. But please, leave me and Max out of the lack of communication you two have. It's not something we're going to fix for you."

With that she walked away, leaving Jos to his thoughts.