Dopamine | Adrenaline Book Two

38- As Long As You're There

2013,

France,

European Kart Championship.

"I'm going to go change, Dad. I'll be right back." Max waved to his father, who didn't bother to reply properly as he was too busy talking with important sponsors interested in investing in Max's promising talent after witnessing his astonishing performance in the race.

Walking into the boys' changing room, Max looked at himself in the mirror. His face was completely red and flushed, as it tended to be whenever he put himself through physical strain. After all, it was hotter than usual in France that day.

Looking at himself in the mirror, he let out a smile of relief. He was careful not to smile too much in front of others; he was going through a "nothing impresses me" phase. Not only that, but there were rude rumors going around from other boys who called his smile ugly. He had taken that to heart as a young boy, avoiding showing too much of his teeth in front of others. But in the quietness of the bathroom, he was finally able to let out all the emotions he had contained inside himself.

Letting out a breath of relief, he grabbed some water and spread it across his forehead. Suddenly, he began to hear soft sobs coming from one of the bathroom stalls.

Curiously, Max stepped through the lineup of stalls, following the sound until he saw a pair of shoes in one of them—the source of the cries. Noticing the stall door was half open, Max slowly pushed it to reveal a boy sitting on the floor in one corner—Charles Leclerc.

Charles had finished behind him in the championship. In second place.

Watching the boy who refused to lift his face, burying it on his knees, Max didn't know what to say. After all, he knew why his rival was crying, and it was the very reason for his own smile seconds before. Charles most certainly noticed his presence, but neither of them spoke a word. There was a choked silence between them for over a minute before Max closed the door again, leaving the Monégasque to himself.

When Charles finally began to feel calmer, rubbing his hands over his reddened face as he hiccuped, he was surprised by sudden movement outside his stall. Quickly getting up, trying to desperately ready himself to face someone again, he was surprised to see that someone had indeed approached his stall but made no move to push the door open. Instead, he saw a small note being passed through the bottom crack.

Clueless, Charles bent down to grab the small piece of paper. Slowly unwrapping it, he found a short note written in messy handwriting.

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One of my sponsors mentioned that his favorite races are the ones where it's just you and me competing. He says those are the races where I perform the fastest. He says you are very talented, and if it weren't for me, he would have chosen to sponsor you instead.