𝘽𝙄𝙏𝙏𝙀𝙍, max verstappen

chapter eighteen.

as the elevator chimed, camila was quickly trying to wipe her endless tears with shaky hands, walking through the hallway, glancing rapidly around in search for her room number.

"mila?" a voice called from behind her, laced in concern.

it was max.

he was stood just outside his door, watching a panicked camila, searching frantically in her pockets for her room key with painful and strained breaths.

in an attempt to ignore his efforts, camila rummaged through her bag, her struggled efforts only adding to her frustration and panic. max couldn't see her like this.

but as camila tried to fit the key in the keyhole, she struggled; her shaky hands unable to do so, her watered eyes clouding her vision.

max began to walk closer to camila, watching her panicked state, watching her fall apart, right in front of him.

camila still struggled, and now, she sighed in defeat, letting out a pained sob, her tears still flowing, her breaths still shaky. she couldn't remember the last time her panic attacks had been this bad.

max quickly moved to camila's side, his warm hands delicately removing the key from her shaky hands, unlocking the door, his hand then moving to her lower back, rubbing soothing circles, anything to comfort her. she was completely broken, and max knew camila wasn't doing well, but he never expected her to be like this.

as the pair stepped in the room, camila's sobs and shakiness not going anywhere, max whispered to her comfortingly.

"shhh mila, breathe, it's alright — i'm here" he comforted, stroking his hands through her soft hair, moving camila to sit on a lone chair placed in the room, max kneeled in front of her, his knees burning into the floor.

max moved his hands to cup her cheeks, wiping her tears, but they just kept flowing.

"max... help — please" camila croaked out, max's eyes pricking with tears, the sound of her saddened voice hurting him.

"okay mila, it's okay, i'm here to help you" max comforted; his hands moving from camila's face to hold her hands, rubbing comforting circles.

"tell me three things you can see, two things you can hear and one thing you can feel" max spoke gently, camila nodding.

"i can see the bed, lamp and floor" camila sniffled

"well done, what can you hear?" max asked, camila's breaths beginning to steady.

"i can hear my voice — and yours" camila mumbled, max nodding in approval.

"what can you feel?" max asked, and now, there was a moment of silence.

"you."

although camila's answer was sort of a 'state the obvious' max still felt his heart prick at her response, his skin had felt like it had been missing hers for far too long; and now, he was finally ignited again.

max delicately stroked camila's hair for the next few minutes, as she began to take deep breaths, sighing as she finally managed to calm down. thanks to max.

taking another deep breath, camila's gaze moved from her lap to meet max's, his eyes a constant void that camila kept finding herself trapped in.

"i'm sorry max" camila frowned; embarrassed by what had just happened, yet she was also sorry for what she had done to him, and what she was going to do to him.

"you shouldn't be sorry camila, none of it's your fault" max attempted to assure, but camila knew what he was saying wasn't true. because all of it was her fault.