LIGHTS OUT •F1•

•chapter eleven•

Oi, Princess," Max shouted as Indie walked through the garage.

The brunette didn't stop. Indie continued walking with a smirk plastered over her face to presumably go and find either Marty or escape the garage completely to congratulate Lewis on his win. It would prove to be the latter.

Max sighed as he leaned back against the garage wall. You could tell the race had taken everything out of him, from the beads of sweat dripping onto his fireproofs. Yet, Darcy couldn't help but wonder if he was sighing for another reason, especially when she watched him look over to the brunette chatting to the driver dressed in black.

"She doesn't like me much, does she?" Max noted when Indie screwed her face towards the Dutchman staring at her.

Darcy shrugged and placed a hand on his shoulder. A laugh escaped her lips. "Don't take it personally; I've been her best friend for 20 years, and sometimes I'm not sure she likes me."

Max chuckled as he knew how close they were, although he was unaware that Darcy had also felt on the back foot with the brunette this weekend. Indie still hadn't told her that she had been on a date with George, even if it had been all over the F1 gossip pages.

Even on the flight out that had been arranged by Anonymous Travel, Indie had ducked any mention of the British driver.

Although, in her defence, Darcy also hadn't told her of the stern words her boss had with her regarding the F1 debacle. The Anonymous Travel Director decided it would be better to play it to her advantage and make the most of Darcy's connections.

"Indie is one of a kind, in the best and worst possible ways...." Darcy winked.

Max nodded, but he wanted to be close to Indie. She lit up the garage when she was having one of her many witty back-and-forths with her father or creating chaos with Darcy on the nights Max had come to love.

"And she still wishes her dad was back at Mercedes with Lewis." He frowned. "And now George,"

Darcy pouted her lips. "Well, there is that, but I don't think anything is going on with George," She lied. "Lewis maybe, but he'd never go there with her, much to her disappointment,"

Now that put a genuine smile on the Dutchman's face. He was very aware that Indie could get anything she wanted, having proved it many times in his presence but knowing there was just one thing, or one person, that she couldn't get - that was priceless.

"Maybe after tequila, she will lighten up; after all, that is your drink of choice." Max smirked. "We are still on for tonight?"

Darcy nodded. "Damn straight, Verstappen, I've already picked out my outfit," There was a seductive tone to her words which gave Max a cocky look in his eyes. "You know they say blondes are more fun,"

Max bit his lip, but he couldn't help but look once again at Indie, who Lewis was embracing, and from the look of it, he was letting her hold the trophy he had just won. No doubt she would be in all of his stories.

"Come on, you just got P2 and nearly knocked George out with a champagne cork," Darcy remarked with rolling eyes.

There was something about Darcy that Max found comfort in, perhaps they both had a knack for getting themselves into trouble for a harmless bit of fun, but Max liked her.

They agreed to meet in the Red Bull teams hotel lobby before going to the bar together. Indie, however, seemed to have made plans on her own and met them at the bar with George and Lando quick on her tail.

"Darcy!" Indie exclaimed as she came bounding across the bar with a flute of champagne in her hand. "And Maxy!" She added when she saw Verstappen resting against the bar.