counting sommersprossen || chestappen

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Sergio had a problem.

Well, it's not exactly a problem, more of a predicament. It was not a bad one, just something that left him wondering.

¿Porque Max se queda mirándome tanto?

He first noticed during a meeting at the factory in Milton Keynes. It was before the start of the new season, having gathered to discuss this year's livery launch.

That day, for whatever reason, Max had sat across the table from him instead of the usual spot to his left. Sergio liked sitting next to him to whisper funny remarks or just to have someone to clarify if he didn't quite understand something. But it was fine, still close enough to him.

Focused on Newey, who made a joke as he presented a powerpoint, he turned to look over at Max to share a laugh.

Instead of an equally amused face, Sergio found Max looking quite concentrated, looking directly at him. His eyebrows were pinched together, lips moving subtly as he mouthed something to himself.

Sergio tilted his head down, catching the gaze of his blue-eyed companion.

He raised his eyebrows in question, wanting to know if there was anything wrong. Max quickly shook his head and looked away. The older man could have sworn a blush had begun to spread across the blonde's face.

Estoy imaginando cosas.

Surely it was nothing. He had just caught Max zoned out. That was all.

He dropped it - until it happened again, and again, and again.

At the event for the livery launch, during their offical photo shoot, filming their helmet reveals, at Silverstone testing out the RB20 during launch week - at some point of the day, it was guaranteed Max would eventually be found staring at him with that same determined look.

And it was staring to worry him.

He had come to the conclusion that it wasn't just Max spacing out. There was something else going on, and he was willing to bet that he'd done something to cause such weird behavior from the Dutchman.

So, a couple of days before leaving for pre-season testing in Bahrain, Sergio decided to confront Max.

"Hey, I'm on my way to get something to eat. Want to join me?" he asked.

"Sure, I could grab a bite," Max replied, giving him a smile.

Sergio drove them out to a brunch spot he'd found last year. They exchanged the usual small talk, asking each other how their morning had been so far with their team of mechanics.

Both were anxious to get back out on the track to start the season.

Sergio was nervous to know the answer to his question.

(And Max? Well, he was happy just to have been invited along; his favorite thing was to spend as much time as possible with his teammate. But he couldn't just go out and say that out loud, not yet at least.)

Bueno pues, a lo que vine.

"Mate," Sergio began, "um, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what is it?" Max gave him his undivided attention, setting down his phone and coffee mug.

"You don't have to give me an answer. It's me being silly, really, but have I done something that is bothering you?"

"What?" Max frowned, "No, not at all. Why?"

"See, I knew it was stupid of me to even ask," Sergio shook his head, "I shouldn't have brought this up. Forget it."

"Checo, why would you think that? Really, it's not stupid. Especially if you feel the need to bring it up," the blonde assured him.