Fragments of Us ⏩ Max Verstappen

1. How they Met

2019, New York

The bar was dimly lit, a cozy refuge from the chaos of New York City. It was one of those places where the music played just loud enough to drown out the clatter of the outside world, but soft enough to invite conversations that mattered. The walls were lined with vintage posters and faded photographs, a testament to a bygone era that gave the place an air of forgotten glamour. It was the perfect spot for someone to disappear, to become just another shadow among the patrons nursing their drinks.

Aria Starling sat alone at the bar, her head bowed over an old fashioned. The glass was cool in her hands, the amber liquid inside offering a fleeting solace from the turmoil that raged in her mind. Her once radiant smile had been replaced by a mask of contemplation, her thoughts a whirlwind of regrets and self-recriminations. Just a few years ago, she had been on top of the world—a pop star with legions of adoring fans, chart-topping hits, and a future as bright as the city lights outside. But now, her reputation lay in tatters, shredded by relentless scrutiny and the cruel whispers of the tabloids.

Tonight, she wanted to forget. To be invisible. To hide from the glare of the spotlight that had turned her life into a spectacle for others to judge and dissect.Unbeknownst to her, she wasn't the only one seeking refuge in the anonymity of the dive bar. Just a few seats away, another figure sat hunched over the bar, his eyes hidden under the brim of a worn baseball cap. Max Verstappen, the young Formula One driver whose name was synonymous with speed and controversy, was trying to blend into the background, to be just another face in the crowd.

Max had come to New York on a whim, hoping that the city's vastness would offer a shield from the relentless pressure of his life. His aggressive driving style had earned him as many enemies as admirers, and the weight of expectation and criticism had grown too heavy to bear. He needed a break, a moment to breathe without the constant roar of engines and the prying eyes of the media.Aria sighed, the sound barely audible over the hum of the bar. She raised her glass, the ice clinking softly, and took a sip, savoring the bitterness that mirrored her mood. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the man sitting beside her. He seemed familiar, though she couldn't place him. Not that it mattered—she had come here to be alone, to lose herself in the bottom of a glass.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

Max glanced sideways at the woman next to him, her presence a quiet, melancholic shadow that intrigued him. Her long, blonde hair fell in soft waves, partially hiding her face as she stared into her drink. He could sense a kindred spirit in her solitude, a shared need to escape from the world outside.
"Rough night?" he asked, his voice low and carrying a hint of an accent she couldn't quite place.Aria looked up, surprised to find someone addressing her. For a moment, she considered brushing him off, but something in his eyes—blue and weary, yet kind—gave her pause. She nodded, a wry smile tugging at her lips.

"You could say that," she replied, her voice tinged with a faint edge of bitterness. "And you?"Max chuckled softly, the sound warm and genuine. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."She raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself. "Try me."Max took a sip of his drink, savoring the burn of the whiskey. "Let's just say I'm hiding from the world for a bit. Trying to remember what it feels like to be... normal."Aria laughed, a soft, musical sound that seemed to lighten the air around them. "Funny, I'm doing the same thing. Maybe this is the right place for people like us."

He tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "And what kind of people are we?"She took a moment to consider, her gaze drifting back to her drink. "People who need to get away from their lives for a while. Who need to find a little piece of themselves in a place where no one knows their name."

Max smiled, recognizing the truth in her words. "Then I guess we're in the right place."As if on cue, the background music shifted, and the familiar chords of a song began to play. Aria's eyes lit up, a genuine smile breaking through the melancholy that had clouded her features all evening."Oh my God, I love this song," she said, her voice filled with a sudden enthusiasm that caught Max's attention.

He listened, a spark of recognition and excitement igniting in his eyes as he realized what was playing. "Is this 'Island' by The Starting Line?"Aria turned to him, her surprise mirrored in her wide eyes. "You know The Starting Line? I love this band! I didn't think anyone else listened to them anymore."Max's smile widened, a rare moment of shared joy lighting up his face. "Are you kidding? I've been a fan for years. They're one of my favorites!"Without thinking, he stood up and held out his hand to her, a playful glint in his eyes. "Come on, let's dance."

Aria hesitated for a moment, glancing around the bar, but the infectious grin on Max's face and the upbeat tempo of the music was too hard to resist. She placed her hand in his, allowing him to pull her to her feet and guide her to an open space near the jukebox.Max exaggeratedly spun her around, her laughter echoing through the bar as she twirled in his arms. The weight of the world seemed to lift, if only for a moment, as they danced to the rhythm of the music. Max's moves were playful and dramatic, his antics coaxing peals of laughter from Aria, her heart feeling lighter than it had in months.They danced through the song, losing themselves in the music and each other's company, forgetting about the worries and reputations that had driven them into hiding. When the song finally ended, they stood there, slightly breathless, the glow of shared happiness still lingering in their smiles."Thank you for that," Aria said, her voice soft and sincere. "I haven't laughed like that in a long time."Max squeezed her hand, his eyes warm and understanding. "Neither have I. Sometimes it's good to forget everything and just be... us."

For the next few hours, they talked, their conversation a dance of words that flowed easily, naturally. They spoke of dreams and disappointments, of lives lived in the fast lane and under the glaring lights of fame. Max told her about the thrill of racing, the adrenaline that surged through his veins as he pushed his car to the limit. Aria shared stories of her tours, the euphoria of performing for thousands, and the crushing loneliness that followed when the lights went out.

They laughed, they teased, they found solace in each other's company. For the first time in what felt like forever, Aria felt a sense of normalcy, of connection that went beyond the superficial interactions she had grown so accustomed to. Max, too, found a rare comfort in her presence, a quiet understanding that eased the weight on his shoulders.

As the night wore on, they decided to leave the bar, the cool night air a refreshing change from the warmth inside. Aria led the way to her apartment on Cornelia Street, a small but cozy refuge that had become her sanctuary in the city. They spent the rest of the night talking, the hours slipping away unnoticed as they lost themselves in each other's stories.

It was only when the first light of dawn began to filter through the windows that they realized how much time had passed. Max glanced at his phone, surprised to find it untouched, and smiled."Do you know this is the longest I've gone without checking my phone?" he said, a hint of amazement in his voice.Aria nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Me too. I guess we were too busy living to worry about what everyone else thinks."They shared a look, a moment of silent understanding that spoke volumes. For tonight, they had found a respite from their troubled lives, a fleeting connection that had reminded them of what it meant to be truly seen and understood.As they sat there, bathed in the gentle light of a new day, both Aria and Max realized that something had shifted, a subtle change that promised new possibilities.

They didn't know what the future held, but for now, they were content to be in each other's company, two souls who had found a moment of peace in the midst of the storm.