Wrong number

14) summer break

They congratulated him on his result in Spa that they saw live and told him Red bull would get better again. They advised him to stay outside of racing and really disconnect from F1. Even if they knew Max would race on his simulator. They wanted him to go out and have fun. "And maybe get a girlfriend, you know someone to stay with and love." His sister had told him with a wink. He smiled awkwardly and remembered again Charles. Argh why him again? He imagined for a second what would it be like to have a boyfriend as a boy. He had such pretty eyes though... and he- he was cut off by some fingers moving in front of his face. His cheeks had become red. "Is there someone already?" His mother had asked smiling.

Max had said no and promised himself he would be able to understand what was happening to him and to tell them at the end of the break.

He was still thinking about this on the plane on his way to the Netherlands and his thoughts shifted again to his rival. He told him self he was thinking too much about his job. But Charles isn't job related so it was ok to think about him, right? He was more on his social side so it was okay to think about him for the whole flight, right??

The plane landed after a very short flight and he took his suitcase that he had since Belgium and took a taxi to his father's place. He was a bit nervous because he wondered what his father would tell him now. He didn't call him after the last race's result and he still didn't debrief Hungary with him. So he would probably get a speech about how he lost the place to Lewis in Budapest or how he could have done better in Spa. "It's for your best." His father would tell him. Well it's what he told him after making him drive his kart in the rain and guess what? It wasn't for his best. And the fact that when Max didn't win Jos was upset and didn't question his parenting choices and that he wasn't the problem, was wild.

Max got out of the taxi and paid the driver. He walked up to the door and took a breath. He knocked and his father opened.

"- Hallo Max, he let him through. Hello

- Hallo pap, he got into the house. Hello dad

Max arrived into the hall and silently took off his shoes and put his suitcase near his room. He would put it away later, but he wasn't staying there for too long tho.

His father let him come inside the living room and wanted to talk about Max's recent racing performances. He didn't know what was happening to his son and wanted to help him.

- I don't know what's happening to you zoon, son Jos told him seriously. But I know you've been hanging out a lot with those F1 boys. I don't want you to get bad because of their influence.

Max looked surprised and shocked. He was also a bit offended that his father thought that his friends made him bad. That he was gullible enough to get influenced by whatever things they would tell him to get bad. And he wasn't bad he was a three times world champions for fuck sake! His father wasn't even a race winner so he should shut up.

- Oh and this one monegasque guy, he looks gay. It's weird and you shouldn't stay with those people. You should focus on your racing career, he was telling that frankly as if it was their fault red bull was less performing.

- Excuse me? Max didn't even know what to say after that. They are not influencing me and I'm not even close to Charles.

Max was surprised and a little hurt as he was slowly realising he might like those green eyes a little bit too much. And his father made it clear he didn't like those types of relationship. He also realised his father wouldn't approve him if Max happened to bring him a boy. At least his mother would. But he wasn't gay, well he thought so.

- Still Max, I think this is for your good. Imagine this they get closer with you, get you drunk and make you tell them your race strategies. They could try to get info out of you for their own benefits.

Max was baffled, he could never imagine any of his friends doing this. Even Charles that hated him. And who would do this anyway?

Max stopped talking and just listen to his father's weird advice on how to get red bull back to the top. He sat there realising his father wasn't as good as he thought. He offered his son again the option of being with a girl he knew and would help his reputation and would keep him company. Max refused once again to be with Nelson Piquet's daughter again. He would never be with Kelly especially since she's 9 years older. His father was asking him this since he became an adult. Which was weird because of the age gap.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max had just landed in Monaco and Daniel was picking him up from the airport. The Aussie drove to his place and got out of the car with Max and went to the Dutchman's flat. They both entered and Max greeted his cats. He fed them, pet them and played a bit with them before emptying his suitcase.

Daniel sat down in the living room and Max rapidly joined him. The number 33 proposed a movie night with Pizza and Daniel accepted. It wasn't dinner time yet so they played a bit on Max's sim. But they ordered the Pizza a while after. And they surprisingly chose to watch Cars. They would do a marathon and watch the three movies in a row.

They received the pizza and were about to put the first movie when both of their phones got a notification. They checked on Max's phone and it was Pierre.

F1 lads 🏎️

Tripod: hey you guys want to come in Italy at my place to have a party

Milk boy: Yay party! 🎉

Albono: yess

Facts: absolutely
when is it?

Tripod: in a week
Charles and Yuki are already here they'll help me organise it then

Chilli 🌶️: will be there

Max: Dan and I will come

Tripod: 👍
Can't wait!