𝐒 𝐏 𝐑 𝐈 𝐍 𝐓 𝐄 𝐑 [max verstappen x oc]

twenty-five

max verstappen

Today, 11:41 am

max
Conference room. Horner is waiting. 

Lena cursed to herself and picked up the pace, weaving between engineers and pit workers as she sprinted to the RedBull paddock room. Running late on race day was not good, and she internally prepared herself for the lecture she might get when she arrived. 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Lena closed her eyes and apologized immediately as she entered the room, clutching her camera like it was going to be ripped from her. 

Peter looked awkward. "It's okay...Just a heads up next time, alright?"

Lena nodded vigorously and plopped down on the bench next to Emilia, who had returned from her illness. Sitting on the couches to her left were Checo and Max, looking bothered and frustrated, while Horner and RB engineers stood to her right and pointed to the screen. 

Horner eyed Lena curiously as she sat before continuing his speech--something about racing strategy and pit stops, Lena zoned out and took a few pictures here and there to look like she was doing something. 

Moreover, she kept her eyes glued to Horner and the execs so that her view wouldn't drift over to the man staring at her from the couch. Max's gaze burned holes into her, she could feel him watching as she ran a hand through her disheveled hair and tried to act casual. It wasn't working, as her cheeks began to redden and her breathing quickened. She prayed Max didn't notice. 

Lena flicked her eyes over to him, eyeing up and down in his jeans and RB gear before they locked eye contact and she quickly shifted back to Horner. Though she swore she saw a shit-eating grin on his lips out of the corner of her eyes. 

When the meeting was over, she tried to rush out o the room, ditching Emilia in the back, but a hand caught her arm. 

"Ow." Lena groaned, and twisted around. "Oh."

Max quickly let go of her arm and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Where have you been?"

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Uhm, I don't know what you mean?"

"You weren't working yesterday or the day before. You've been gone since we got to Spain." Max's gaze shifted uncomfortably. "Where have you been?"

Did Max think she was avoiding him? I mean, she partially was...but visiting her family for a few days was not an attempt to stay away from Max, it was so that Lena could spend time at home. 

She decided that honesty might console him the best. "Visiting family. They live an hour south of here and I hadn't seen them in a while. Peter let me off a few days of work." Lena explained. "I wasn't, like, avoi--skipping work...you know."

Whatever awkward tension between them became borderline uncomfortable as she tried to explain herself, though Max had good reason to believe she would stay away from him after that moment in Monaco. The moment where she basically rejected him, which Lena was sure didn't happen very often. Max was ridiculously talented, quite attractive, and rich as hell. He could have anything he wanted, so it must've been a bit of an ego-crush when she'd left him on the curb. When it was said like that, it sounded so much worse. 

"I forgot you have family here." Max nodded and swallowed. "Well. Good, then. You're good, then."

Lena assumed that was Max code for: We aren't going to be weird around each other because you weren't avoiding me after I tried to kiss you in Monaco, and you haven't told anyone about it."

"Yep. I'm good."

Lena code for: I'm pretending like it didn't happen because if I think about it then I won't get away from it. 

"Good."

"Great."

"I have to go, uh....take some pictures of the, uh, cars. I'll see you, Max." She gave him a tight-lipped smile and didn't wait for a response before bolting off and disappearing into the crowd of F1 workers. 

It was impossible to navigate him. One second he was ignoring her and criticizing her, the other second he was trying to kiss her, and then the third second he was consoling her. Max Verstappen was playing with her feelings like it was the buttons of his wheel--Lena couldn't take it anymore. 

_____________________________

Max won the race. No surprise there. Checo DNF'd but the team was taking responsibility for it as the car was basically fucked going in. He wasn't too beat up about it, Checo had been a good sport about photo op's and interviews after the race. 

It was nearly dusk, and the trees blew in the sharp summer wind around her as Lena waited for a car to pick her up. She had planned on staying at home but it was far, and it was doubtful that her family would wait around for her. 

"Lena."

She turned around and smiled at Checo as he walked over to her. "Hi, Sergio. What's up?"

"I was wondering if you could send me the photo from today--the one I mentioned earlier?" He asked politely, backpack slung around his shoulders. Max lagged behind him but was very clearly making his way over as well. 

Lena nodded and pulled her phone out. "Yeah, I'll send it now."

She forwarded the photo and once Checo confirmed he got it, slipped her phone back into her pocket. 

Max was standing behind Checo, avoiding her gaze and scrolling on his phone. 

"Where are you off to? Going out?" Checo asked. "What do they call it--365 party girl?"

She laughed at that. "No, I'm deciding whether to go to the hotel or stay the night with my family."

"You're family?" Checo's face lit up. "Oh yes, I remember you saying they lived here. Wow, are they fans?"

Lena inhaled. "Well my brother is--I got him a paddock pass for today but he....he couldn't make it. My parents watch sometimes, mostly after I told them I was hired."

Checo grinned like he had the best idea in the world. "Well, we should meet them."

She laughed, thinking he was joking. His face didn't change and Lena stopped laughing. "No. I mean, you don't want to come meet my parents and my brother. It'll be boring and out of everyone's way--"

"I'd like to."

Lena looked at Max, who was now looking back at her. His blue eyes had a hint of something in them--not sadness or fear, more melancholy and curious. She swallowed. 

"Are you sure?" Lena glanced at Checo. "I mean, my brother would be so happy, but if it's too much trouble--"

"It's not." Checo assured her, his grin now spreading even wider. "It would be an honor to meet the family of our best photographer. Besides, I could go for a nice home-cooked meal."

She glanced between them for a few seconds longer, trying to ignore the look on Max's face or the way his eyes trailed along her figure, before giving in and setting course for her home. 

a/n MIA for a lil while sorry guys!

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