VIPER | M. Verstappen

XXII

Chapter Twenty Two | Orange Juice
2013

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"You know, if Mama sees you drinking that after a race, she would smack you in the head."

Max was downing a can of Redbull as both Azalea and him hide in a room, away from everyone. The Dutchman paused for a second, before slowly turning his eyes to his best friend. "Don't tell her and I'll give you 20 pounds,"

"You make it seem like my mother is scary!" Azalea smacked him as they both laughed.

"No! Cause like. Listen, I love your mom and she's just scared we're not eating right. But remember that one time she found out we've been eating Lays when we go race and made us eat different kinds of vegetables for a week."

"Oh, yeah. Pretty sure I didn't look at tomatoes the same for week."

"Tomatoes are fruits tho,"

"Do you know how much I hate you?" Azalea replied with an unexpressed look.

"No you don't," Max grinned cheekily, leaning his face closer to her.

Azalea could only smile back as she jokingly moves his face away from her. Those blue eyes are going to be the death of her.

"Pretty sure your Orange juice is ready for you when you visit home," she joked.

"Probably safer than drinking energy drinks, huh?"

"Which is why mom always gives it to us,"

Max leaned his back into the wall as he let out a small sigh, "As much as I want some orange juice, I need all the energy I can have this day. Good old father is taking me home."

"He's coming here? To get you? All of a sudden?" Azalea questioned as she remembers that Jos Verstappen only comes to races if he has something important to discuss with Max. The boy could only nod his head in reply as he patted the space beside him. "God, what does he want now?" She muttered as she leaned her head into Max's shoulder once she was seated.

Ever since Max's father stop coming with him to races, the boy has used every excuse to go race just to avoid being at his home. Azalea never really knew about the things Max experience from his father, not until a year into their friendship. Which is why, despite not having a race, they would both make excuses that Max does and he would stay for weeks on end at her place. Azalea and her mom has become Max's second home.

"Let's forget him for a second,"

Azalea smiled as she made herself more comfortable against Max's shoulder. "Yeah, let's just focus on the here and now. How was your day so far? I didn't see you, being in front of everyone and all."

"Haha, very funny."

Max sighed contentedly, "Honestly, it's been a whirlwind. But this, this is nice."

"Aw, look at you being all sentimental." Azalea teased.

"Maybe. Or maybe I'm just softening up because you've got that smile on your face."

"Stop flirting with me Verstappen or I might fall," she said, giving him a playful nudge. "Have I told you about my latest attempt at baking? Let's just say the kitchen is still recovering."

"Let me guess, burnt cookies again?"

"Worse. I managed to create something that resembled charcoal more than actual baked goods."

Max laughed, "You and your culinary experiments. I remember that time you tried to make pasta from scratch and we ended up ordering pizza."

"Hey! I thought it was a noble effort."