𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 ★ 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓇𝓁ℯ𝓈 ℒℯ𝒸𝓁ℯ𝓇𝒸

XII.

𝑱𝒂𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆 ❀

★★★

I walk through the paddock, it's race day in Saudi and I'm happy to be starting 12th today.

"Eyy, Jasmine!" A familiar voice calls out.

I turn around and smile at Max. "Heyy, hoe gaat ie?" I ask. "Blij met P2?"

("Heyy, how's it goin'?" "Happy with P2?")

He shrugs as he catches up to me with a few strides. "Kan altijd beter, hè?" He jokes, but there's a darker glint in his eyes. For a moment I just think it's his competitiveness, but then I realise it's something else.

("Always room for improvement, right?")

"Is er iets?" I ask while we walk, my expression changing to one of concern.

("Is something up/wrong?")

He shrugs again. "M'n vader is mee, maar verder niks aan de hand." He says.

("My father came along, but besides that nothing's up/wrong.")

I feel my face soften with understanding. His father, Jos Verstappen came along. Just at that moment, when I look around the paddock, I see Jos eyeing us with an icy expression. "Bah, wat kijkt hij nou?" I say before I can hold the words back.

("Yuck, what's he looking at?")

Max is slightly surprised, I can see that, but his smile quickly returns and he has to hold back a laugh. "Je spreekt je gedachten, zie ik."

("You speak your mind, I see.")

"Ja, niet altijd even slim van me, maar ik doe ook geen moeite om het te stoppen." I laugh.

("Yeah, not always that smart of me, but I don't make an effort to stop it either.")

"Boeie, zie je mij m'n gedachten terughouden dan?" He jokes.

("Whatever, do you see me holding back my thoughts then?")

"Nee, ik heb vaker gehoord dat je gewoon je gedachten spreekt." I say.

("No, I've often heard that you just speak your mind.")

I look up again as we walk, to see that Jos is still staring at us. "Volgens mij wilt hij met je praten." I mumble, eyeing Max.

("I think he wants to talk with you.")

Max looks up and I see something darker flash in his eyes again before it's gone. He nods and shoots me a grin. "See you on track." He says, switching to English.

"See ya." I smile, but I feel my brow furrow slightly in concern as I see him walk towards his father. I sigh and turn away, walking through the paddock and further towards the pitlane. It's none of my business, but everyone has heard about the tales of how Jos treated Max while he grew up, and I can't help but feel concerned even if Max is a grown man who should be able to take care of himself.

I arrive at the Williams garage and my face lights up when I see Lily. "Lily!" I squeal, running towards her and hugging her. She hugs me back. "Jasmine!"

"I thought you guys had lunch together yesterday?" Alex asks with a frown as he walks over to his girlfriend and best friend.

"So?" Me and Lily ask in chorus.
Alex just rolls his eyes with a smile before his personal trainer calls him over.

(AFTER THE RACE)

"Good racing, Jasmine." Charles smiles at me, with his sweaty hair all messed up, and we clap hands.