The calm before the storm - Max Verstappen x Charles Leclerc

23

When we arrived at Charles' private jet, Max was already waiting for us. "how late you are" said Max annoyed. I just gave him an angry look and entered the plane. Couldn't stop thinking that if someone told me a year ago that I would spend my days with lots of Formula 1 drivers, I would have laughed in the person's face.

As the plane took off, I got scared again and grabbed Charles' arm. This time he didn't say anything but gave me a kiss on the forehead. "Can you stop when I'm around, it's disgusting" said Max, which made us react. "when you stop being rude" I said under my breath. Charles saw that Max was about to say something but Charles managed to stop Max before.

It was lucky that the journey was only 2 hours long, because I couldn't bear Max and his comments. As soon as I said something, he would make a snide comment. We continued to argue throughout the trip and I noticed how angrier Max became after every comeback I made against Max.

In the end, it spilled over for Max. he looked me in the eyes and said "no wonder your father threw you out" with a nonchalant tone in his voice. my whole world stopped when he said those words. It was like everything went much slower and I felt my eyes watering and how I was having trouble breathing. "mate, what's your problem" I heard Charles half shout.

Max POV:

I was so tired of Francesca being rude, even though I was the one who started it, but wasn't used to someone contradicting me. "no wonder your father threw you out" I heard myself say. before I could say sorry I saw her start to cry and Charles yelled at me.

I had crossed the line. I saw how she got up to go to the toilet, I tried to get up to say sorry but Charles stopped me. "are you stupid in the head" he asked. I couldn't get any words out because I felt like I was going to suffocate. "do you even know why her father is throw her out" he said angrily and glared at me.

I shook my head and let Charles explain. "she was thrown out because she is with us and because she argues back" when those words flew out of his mouth I realized that she must be going through more than what she had told me on the balcony. I took a few steps back and couldn't get any words out.

Charles knocked on the door and went in to comfort her. I was ashamed to have crossed the line. They were in the toilet for a few minutes but I could hear her screaming crying. I understood that she was having a panic attack and I wanted to disappear from the plane. How could I be so stupid and lose control?

I heard the door open and it was Charles who came out first. He gave me an angry look when I saw that Francesca was also coming out. Hers were red and swollen. I noticed she was trying to avoid eye contact with me which hurt me, I wanted to say sorry but it was clear she didn't want to hear a word from me.

The rest of the trip was awkward Neither of us said anything. Francesca was wearing headphones watching a movie and Charles was sleeping. I was listening to music but couldn't stop glancing over at her. Her body language was different. It was as if she was afraid to look at me. I understood why, but it still hurt me.

Once we landed I was very quick to get going. I was waiting for my taxi and I saw out of the corner of my eye that Daniel was walking. "hey mate all good" I jumped but gave him a nervous smile. "I've screwed up everything" I answer and look up at Daniel. I could see that he was having a hard time deciding what I meant. "I crossed the line and made Frankie cry"

There was a long silence between us before Daniel gave in with a smile. "it can certainly be solved". Daniel had involuntarily become my psychologist. He started coming up with lots of solutions and I listened to what he said without interrupting. The taxi came and I went to the hotel.

There was a long silence between us before Daniel gave in with a smile. "it can certainly be solved". Daniel had involuntarily become my psychologist. He started coming up with lots of solutions and I listened to what he said without interrupting. The taxi came and I went to the hotel.

Outside it was chaos. There were fans everywhere wanting to take a picture with all the drivers. I tried to avoid everyone because I was very tired mentally after the trip. I heard people start screaming behind me and when I turned around I saw why everyone was screaming, it was Charles and Francesca. They had been good at avoiding all media and paparazzi, but now it was inevitable.

We all rush to the lobby and check in. the three of us were apparently on the same floor. In the elevator it was very stiff and quiet. It was like no one dared to start talking. When the doors opened I wanted to go to my room as quickly as possible, it turns out that Charles and Francesca had the same plan. We went back and forth but in the end I went out first.

My key didn't work so I had to go down to the lobby and get a new one. It took a little while before I got into my room. I looked around and saw modern furniture with a beige theme. I was satisfied with the room and unpacked my clothes to jump into the shower. It was nice and refreshing when the water met my body.

I realized that I had been very tense because I noticed how, for the first time today, I relaxed. I couldn't care less about the race because all I could think about was Francesca and how to get her to forgive me.