【Ｆ１ ＩＭＡＧＩＮＥＳ】

[Ｍａｘ Ｖｅｒｓｔａｐｐｅｎ]

I had my bag cradled against my chest as I looked at Max.
He was angry. He had nearly crashed at today's race, which had made him lose his sure position on the podium.
I knew how Max worked. I had known him for a few years at this point, I had met him once when my brother had seen Max across one of the streets of my hometown and my brother had run across the street to meet his hero without checking for cars.
My heart nearly stopped, but Max had noticed it and had been fast to grab my brother and pull him to safety when he saw a car coming. I couldn't thank him enough if I ever tried.

I felt helpless and wanted to help Max, but I couldn't do much for him. All this trauma he carried with him wasn't my fault, nor was it his. It was all because of Jos. Max's father, I had learned that by my own experience, was harsh. Hell, if I were honest that couldn't be called harsh, that was downright abusive.
I looked helplessly at Max, wanting nothing more than make him feel okay, and see him smile, but I couldn't. 
I counted down from ten in my head before approaching Max and trying to comfort him.
I took a deep breath, shaking my head lightly. This was Max, he was my best friend in the whole world. I could do this. 
He entered his dressing room, and I took that as my shot at talking to him. 
I knocked softly on the still-open door, calling softly, "Max?"
He hummed harshly, before looking at the door, realizing it was me. "Sorry, Y/N. Come in." 
I walked in, closing the door behind me before I approached Max. 
I put my bag down in the corner of the room before I approached Max and looked at him. "Do you want a hug?"
Max shook his head, "I don't deserve it. I let you down, I let everyone down." 
I shook my head, frowning "How could you possibly have let me down? Max, I'm so proud of you, it doesn't matter what place you get. Look at how far your career has come, look at how much you accomplished! Hell, you nearly crashed today and managed to finish in 5th! That alone makes me proud." I grabbed his face gently, wiping away his tears. Max sighed as he looked at me.
"How can such a loser like me make a wonderful person like you proud?" Max asked as he paced the room. "I have never been enough, that won't change now!"
"But you have always been enough! At least for me." I said as I watched him pace. "A bad race doesn't define you, Max. You are an excellent driver and an amazing person. God, I can only hope that if I do have kids, they grow up to be just as sweet, caring, and genuinely formidable as you are." 
Max stopped, looking at me. "Do you- do you mean that?" 
"Of course I do Max!" I said as I approached him again. "You're my favorite person, in the whole universe. You're amazing. It's a shame you don't see it yourself, but I swear, you are one of the best people I have ever met." 
Max stood in front of me, slightly hovering over me due to our rather large height difference, his big Blue eyes staring into mine.
"Are you sure?" Max asked lowly, a small sigh coming from his lips, "Because, sometimes I feel like I am nothing but a failure."
"Max, c'mon," I said softly, reaching up to touch his face, "when have I ever lied to you?"
Max shook his head, "Never."
"Exactly."

For a split second, Max and I leaned closer, and it seemed like we were about to kiss, before Max piped in.
"This is a bad idea." He whispered as he leaned even closer. 
I nodded, my eyes darting to his mouth, "An awful idea really."
"We shouldn't..."
"Maybe not, but it feels so right."
Max nodded, his eyes closing ever so slightly. "I have never had something feel this right."
I could feel Max's breath on my lips, and I closed my eyes as his own closed as well. This was it! We were finally going to kiss!
"Max we need you for a press-" Sergio stopped in his tracks, looking at the two of us as we practically ran in opposite directions, he smirked "Did I interrupt something?"
"No! No! No, no, no!" Max and I rushed to explain at the same time before we both laughed nervously. 
"Okay..." Sergio said as he gave us a side eye, clearly not believing a word we said, "Max, they are asking for you. Press statements, shouldn't take more than 30 minutes." 
Max nodded as he looked at me. "I'll be there, just give me a second, alright?"
Sergio nodded, exiting the room, and closing the door again.
Max looked at me, and I saw the way he looked so determined. He took two steps until he was in front of me, and pulled me in by the waist, kissing me.
I kissed back as I held him close to me. We were kissing! We had finally kissed! Oh my God!
Max tasted exactly as I'd expected: peppermint and a hint of vanilla.
We separated from each other and Max smiled at me. "I apparently need to go, but I couldn't leave before kissing you, I've been meaning to do it for so long, I have loved you for so long, it's like the only thing I can think about when I see you, good Lord I think this is what loving someone means, which means I love you and-"
"I love you too Max." I cut him off with a slight laugh, feeling myself blush brightly. "Now, get a move on, we can talk more later. Right now they need you for a press conference."
Max leaned down, kissing me again.
"Just"
Another kiss.
"A few more"
Another kiss.
"For"
Another kiss
"The road." 
Another kiss.
I laughed as he kept kissing me. "Max, you need to go."
"Can I kiss you when I get back?"
"As much as you want and as soon as you return."
I laughed incredulously as I watched Max bolt out the door, screaming he needed to get the conference over and done with.