maybe he's okay... - M.Verstappen (ON BREAK)

14 - Monaco Grand Prix

"shit" Max yelled, running to Elizabeth's room, "my mum is coming for the race this weekend and is going to stay here."

"okay?" Elizabeth responded confused then realised that since her and max are 'together' they'll be expected to share a room. And a bed.

"quick move your stuff to my room, she'll be here at 6!" He panicked.

Elizabeth looked at her phone a saw in was 4pm, they had two hours to move everything into max's room and make the guest room look more guest room than Elizabeth's room.

They managed to do it just in time before his mum got there. "hello! I'm Sophie." the kind woman smiled before hugging Elizabeth, then putting her bags in the guest room. The three ate and spoke about upcoming plans or just generally small talk. "i saw a clip from the stream, very sweet. I'm glad he has a good girlfriend." Sophie smiled.

Elizabeth responded with an awkward laugh then looked at max, who seemed to be in a world of his own.

"Well I've had a long day so I'm going to head to bed, good night." Sophie said before leaving the room. Elizabeth and max sat in silence before max finally spoke.

"I'm gonna play fifa and COD for a bit." He said awkwardly. Elizabeth just hummed in response. The two went there separate ways as Elizabeth went to shower.

The warm water flooded over her skin. She hated this situation. His mum was nice but Elizabeth still felt guilty for lying about the relationship. She knew they couldn't tell her but the 'I'm glad he has a good girlfriend' tugged on her heart.

After she finished, Elizabeth walked over to bed. Max's bed specifically. His cats were laying down on the pillows and she gave them a small pet before leaving for the living room to let max know she was gonna go to sleep.

Max's responded, for her to wait a second, as he switch off his pc and walked with her. He grabbed some shorts and a T-shirt before going into the bathroom and re-enters.

Elizabeth sat on the bed as he walked past and laid down pulling the blankets over him. She mirrored this subconsciously. They laid with their backs facing each other as the awkwardness filled the room. The only noise being their breathing and rustling of the blanket as they moved to get comfortable.

The next morning Elizabeth woke up to a weight on her chest. She assumed it was just one of the cats, as she moved to turn a grip tightened, that's not a cat. she looked down to see a sleeping max with his arms laid lazily around her and his head on her chest. Oh fuck, she thought. Elizabeth tried to move quickly but struggled to get free from the sleeping max's grip.

"Don't move, its too early." he muttered sleepily against her t-shirt.

Butterflies filled her stomach, as she gave in and stopped moving. It was comforting but they aren't together. Not for real, just PR. right?

Elizabeth felt awful for her brother as he couldn't do his home race due to a mechanical issue on his car. So for this weekend she stayed with her brother knowing how hard it was for him.

"are you okay?" She asked.

"no." he answered in a broken voice, "this is my home race and i cant even compete in it."

"i know." as she hugged him.

After the race, Max won with Carlos in second and the twins were so happy for them. Elizabeth went to go celebrate with max and tried to be happy for him. Once the podium was done, max went to his drivers room and dragged Elizabeth with him. "are you okay? how's he?" mas asked and held her face gently in his hands.

"I'm okay but i know Charlie is definitely beating himself up about it." she said honestly, he hugged her. Not for the cameras. For her. To comfort her.

"ive got to do press. so go home and ill see you there." Max said then kissed her cheek.

She watched him leave as he handed her the keys to his apartment, what are we?, she thoughts before quickly leaving to go. She sat in her car and sobbed. How can she keep pretending? they are only four races in. So needed a voice of reason and called Maddie.

'sup Hun.' Maddie answered.

"I cant do this. Maddie, It doesn't feel fake." she broken into tears.

'shit, right. um, you get emotional around Monaco races maybe you just having one of those days?' Elizabeth knew Maddie was right. She had dream of racing in Monaco but it never happened due to her quitting the sport.

"yeah probably. But he hugged me and kissed my cheek, There weren't any cameras." Elizabeth breathed out.

'ill see if I can get some time off for the Baku race. I have to film all call you later I promise.' Maddie said before ending the call.

Elizabeth drove to max's apartment and entered. She was welcomed by the two cats, "hello." she smiled and leaned down to pet them. Walking towards the kitchen and grabbed something to eat then turned on the tv to watch the press conference. She zoned out for most of it before hearing her name.

"elizabeth Leclerc was spotted crying in her car after the race. So max do you know why?" the interviewer asked.

"i thought this post race conference about the race?" he responded bluntly "and I don't think it any of your business." he smiled and put the mic down.

Elizabeth sat there, confused and dumbfounded, she thought she was alone in the car park, and how max handled it. She sat there in silence watching as the door opened. "Oh hello love." Sophie spoke, "how's your brother?"

"he's with our mum, so I'm sure he's okay." Elizabeth softly smiled.

"good, and you?" Sophie sat next to the girl.

"I'm okay, just an emotional race for me." she lied, she can't tell Max's mum that she cried because the fake relationship with her son is causing her to develop feeling for him.

Max entered a few minutes later and walked straight over to elizabeth and dragged her into his room. "why were you crying? and why did that interviewer know before me?" He asked clearly trying to cover his annoyed.

"this. the whole situation, max. its too much." she stated, "went your mother leaves ill move back to the guest rom and then we only act like a couple to the cameras. okay." she said trying not to cry.

"right." he sighed, he wasnt going to push her.

A/N-

Sorry for the lack of updates recently life has been a tad stressful atm but I'll get back in the swing off it and let me know if your enjoying the book and i might start adding little notes at the end of some chapter. 🖤🖤