The Racing Line | M.V.

7. Exes Past

"So now that you're a big shot with Porsche why do you keep asking for rides to the races?" asked Max as they sat on his jet on their way to their first race in Australia.

"Why would I fly by myself when I can just ride with you?" asked Liv genuinely confused.

Max chuckled "Yeah, that's true".

"Besides, why aren't you asking Mr. Ferrari over there the same question?" joked Liv signaling to Charles who was sleeping on the back of the plane.

"Oh because I know the answer to that one" he said with a smirk "The only reason Charles doesn't get a jet is because there aren't any Ferrari planes in the market" he joked.

Liv laughed "and he would paint it red" she added.

"It would probably have a huge Ferrari logo on it" Max continued.

"And maybe a picture of Charles with a crown" added Liv laughing.

Now that they were all grown up and in Formula 1, they had become good friends with Charles, but that wasn't always the case. Liv remembered how back when they were kids in karting the tensions were high, specially between Charles and Max. So it truly came like a surprise during Max's second year in F1, while Liv was in F2, when she visited Max back in Monaco again.

Max had just hung up the phone when he said "Do you want to go get dinner and after that head to the club?" he asked Liv as he sat on the couch next to her.

Max kept going out all the time now that he was finally 18, for Liv it was always good fun, she was always down for a night of partying.

"Sure, is it just us?" she asked.

"No, Charles is coming too, and I think he's bringing some of his local friends" said Max.

"Who is Charles?" asked Liv confused. Surely it had to be someone new.

Max looked at her funny "Charles? Charles Leclerc? We've only been racing against him for half of our lives?" he said sarcastically.

Liv's eyes went wide in realization "Oh that Charles! I thought we hated him?" she asked confused. She had nothing against Charles at all, but she was a supportive friend. So if Max hated his guts, then Liv hated his guts too.

Max chuckled "I never hated him" said Max trying to excuse himself.

Liv seemed unconvinced "I'm pretty sure you did" she said matter of factly "But then.. so we don't hate him anymore?" she asked.

Max was smiling "No Liv, we don't hate him anymore" he tried to hold in his laughter "He's fun, you'll see".

------------------

Now they were here, years later all flying together on Max's plane and being friends. 12 year-old Liv would've never believed it.

As soon as they arrived to the hotel, Liv spotted Checo across the room. She left her bags and ran to him "Chequito!" before almost tackling him down to the ground.

Checo laughed "I missed you too Liv" he said hugging her back with his bright usual smile. Checo did have a place in Monaco, although Liv was pretty sure he only had it so he wouldn't have to pay taxes, he didn't actually live there. He would live in Spain whenever they were racing on this side of the world.

A couple of days later, after a media day was over, Max was hanging out in Liv's room while she got ready in the bathroom.

"Where are you going again?" called out Max from the couch.