𝐒 𝐏 𝐑 𝐈 𝐍 𝐓 𝐄 𝐑 [max verstappen x oc]

twenty-eight

Lena decided to stay in Monaco for the break. Much to her family's disappointment. 

After her conversation with Max, they'd said an awkward goodbye and parted ways, but she couldn't ignore the look in his eyes, the vague understanding in that bright blue that told her she hadn't seen the last of him. 

What a rotten, horrible thing it was to think about the way Max Verstappen looked at her. What an awful thing to wish he had kissed her that night. Despite wishing these things, Lena still felt an unknown hatred towards him, solely because of his antics. The incessant staring and gestures out of nowhere. One second he didn't want anything to do with her, the other second he was inches from her lips on the streets of Monaco. It was confusing, and Lena didn't do confusing. 

She strolled through the aisles, contemplating her dilemma as she stared at apples. They had a few weeks off during the break, so Lena thought it would be best to come home for a while a relax again. 

Relaxation, however, was not in the books for her. 

Lena stopped in her tracks at a familiar head of dirty blonde hair. "Max?"

The driver swiveled around at his name, his eyes searching for the speaker when finally landing on her and his face settled. "Lena. Hello. What are you doing here?"

He was wearing something other than RedBull merch--for once in his life. Black trousers and a hoodie that seemed to be some kind of merch, but definitely not F1. No hat or sunglasses--he was unafraid and completely out in the open. 

"You don't have to speak like a robot, we're all alone here." She laughed, placing the bag of apples into her cart. "I'm picking out groceries. Apparently so are you." Lena eyed the shopping cart in his hands. "I thought you would probably ask someone else to pick out your food for you."

His jaw twitched in amusement. "Not all rich people have everyone do things for them. I do a lot of stuff on my own."

"And you should be very proud of yourself, you big baby." Lena joked in a baby voice, mocking him, much to Max's annoyance. She walked next to him as they scanned the aisles, glancing at each other out of the corners of their eyes every so often. 

"Are you staying here for the break?" Max mumbled, analyzing a piece of celery in the vegetable department. 

Lena shrugged. "Probably. I might visit my parents again, but most likely not."

"Why not?"

She took the piece of celery from him and ignored his agitated grunt. "If I stay too long, they'll never let me leave."

That made him laugh. Max grabbed the celery stick back and put it into a plastic baggie, along with a few other pieces. "They're good people. Your father had good liquor."

Lena snorted. "My dad loves his alcohol, that much is true." 

Their conversation continued through the market as they both picked out groceries they needed for their time off. She'd heckled him for grabbing a bag of candy, but he repayed her by insulting Lena's choice of cheeses. Apparently the Dutch know their cheese. 

They exited the store, Max trailing behind her as he let her check out first, and pulled out his car keys. "Are you going home?"

Lena nodded and adjusted her grip on the grocery bags. Max's car was very nice. Like, ridiculously nice. It was a black Aston Martin that Lena didn't know the model of, but it was sleek and small. 

Max paused in front of his car. "Do you need a ride?"

"Oh." She glanced at her bags before looking back to the car, weighing her options. "No, it's okay. I don't mind the walk."

"You can barely hold onto your bags. Either I give you a ride, or I walk you home and carry them."

Lena had come to realize that, although his tone and demeanor were annoyed, his words were meant to be endearing. 

She sighed. "Okay. But...just don't kill me."

"I'm a professional driver and you're scared I'm going to crash?" Max raised an eyebrow, walking to the other side of the car to open to passenger door for her. She chuckled and shoved the groceries into the space in front of her. 

"Besides, I owe you for the bike ride you gave me." He shut the door after she got in and sped walk over to the driver's seat. 

Lena sat awkwardly with her legs crossed, hands pressed between her knees, while Max started the car and got settled. She took the chance to look around--the interior was pretty boring with no personal knick-knacks, except for a Red Bull keychain hanging from the mirror. There was a small mark where a sticker had most likely been, but it was ripped off and left only a small scratch. She assumed it was of his girlfriend, so decided not to ask questions. 

"I guess you do owe me." Lena said, smiling at him. "I know you had fun, though, even if you won't admit it."

Max put the car into drive and started down the road. "It was terrifying, I can admit that much."

"Oh, do you need my address? I can put it into your phone--"

"I remember it." Max said quickly, proving his point by turning onto a familiar road. 

It dawned on Lena that Max must've kept track while they were in Monaco for the race, and he hadn't forgotten that night. Things were still weird between them, yes, but somehow after their conversation at her parents' house, things were a little more managable. Sure, there was tension that neither wanted to break, but at least they could be more cordial and relaxed now that things were out in the open. 

"Oh, never mind then." She sat back in the seat. Lena realized why Max smelled like expensive leather all the time, she smelled the same scent in the car. If he couldn't afford to buy half of Monaco, Lena would've assumed he slept in the car, too. 

Max seemed to be trying to drive safely, but he took the turns too fast for Lena's liking. She could tell he was holding back, and she made a mental note to ask him not to next time. If there ever was a next time....

"Do you have plans for the rest of the break?" Lena asked, trying to make polite conversation in the quiet. 

He scrunched his nose. "Not really. Just relaxing--I don't want to be around other people right now."

"Is that a subtle way of saying you want me to get out of the car?" She raised an eyebrow, toying with him. 

Max grinned. "On the contrary..."

"Woah there, Verstappen. We've got a whole break, pace yourself."