twenty-four

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XXIV. Tabloids

QATAR: October 2023

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Angel woke up to Clara knocking on her hotel room

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Angel woke up to Clara knocking on her hotel room. When she opened the door she did not expect the mess that her friend was in.

Apparently, she went to wake up Max for their flight but he was missing. After spending the night at his room, Clara thought they just moved to her room but he wasn't there.

"Stay here Clara, I'll call Daniel. Calm down, I'll go look for him." Angel said as she grabbed her keys. Before she could leave the room, Clara grabbed her hand.

"I don't know what happened, but Jos talked to him yesterday and then I thought everything was good because he was with you but then that damn article-"

"What article?"

Clara showed her the tweet and a few articles written about Max. It all made sense now, this just pushed her to look harder for him. So, when Mia arrived to keep Clara company she was off.

Angel didn't know Qatar that much but she knew Max. She thinks. She believes that she knew Max enough to be able to find him.

She was walking through the streets, not really knowing where she was going. Daniel and the others were also looking for him. As she was looking for him, one thing was on her mind; Max acted like that because the tabloids ruined him.

When she passed a random ice cream shop, she stopped. Walking backwards, she looked inside. There sitting in one of the chairs was Max Verstappen.

His hood up as he ate ice cream. Her heart felt relief and walked inside. Slowly nearing him, but even before she could come close, Max looked up.

Their eyes met and Max looked like he wanted to run away. Hide away from the world and from her. But she couldn't have that.

She grabbed a nearby chair and sat next to him. "Max..." He looked away, as if a way to hide from her, but she didn't want that.

"Clara's worried about you." she started but he didn't budge. "Daniel and the others are still looking for you..." she trailed.

Max didn't make a move. She sighed, "Okay. I'll leave you alone." she muttered defeated. She moved to stand but then he wrapped his arms around her.

She froze as he nuzzled his face on her shoulder. She suddenly felt his tears falling and wetting her shirt. She turned to him and wrapped his arms around him.

"I don't want you to leave Evie. Please don't leave me. Don't give up on me too." he cried. Angel's heart broke, this was not the same Max she knew.

She first knew the cold and closed off Max, and then the flirty and happy one. But this, this was a whole different side of him.

"I promised myself I wouldn't be that anymore. I'm not. I didn't drink that much. You were there Evie. I wasn't drunk right?" he asked desperately as he finally pulled away and looked at her.

If her heart could break more, it would. Tear stained cheeks, quivering lips and a tight grip on her waist.

She pulled herself together. She placed her hands on his cheeks, wiping the tears away. She sent him a small smile, "You weren't drunk Max." she said.

A sob escaped his lips and he shook his head. "They don't believe that though." he muttered, he started to mutter to himself and was about to pull away from her but he gripped his arms.

"Stay." she said sternly. Max looked at her sadly, "I-" "You don't have to prove them. We, your friends, know who you are. You are not who they say you are. To us, you are Maxie." she said.

Trying to make her believe. But from the way Max was looking at her, that wasn't enough. She huffed and moved closer to him.

"You don't believe me?" she asked. Max frowned, "I don't even know if I can believe myself..." he trailed.

Angel smiled, "Then let me make you believe. I'm not going away. You want me to stay right?" she asked. Hope filled her eyes, Max nodded, "Please..." he whispered as he closed his eyes.

"Then hold on Emi. I've got you."

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