Max Verstappen | Lestappen

Charles and Max have known each other for a long time. Not best friends, not the kind of people who text each other every night, but not strangers either.
Their relationship had always been strange: constant arguments, teasing, competing in literally everything — who could reply faster, who could make better coffee, who would pick the movie, who would be right in the most pointless discussion.

From the outside, many had long been convinced that there was something between them.

Because normal people don't look at each other for that long during arguments.

Normal people don't remember the little things about each other.

And normal people certainly don't spend that much time together while continuing to pretend they can't stand each other.

But both of you constantly denied it.

And everything would have been fine if Max hadn't called late one evening.

At first, the conversation was normal. Then it got strange.
Then came the phrase:

"Listen... I need help."

That alone was enough to put Charles on edge.

It turned out that Max urgently needed someone to play his partner at an event.

The reasons could have been anything: a family evening, a desire to avoid awkward questions — it didn't matter.
The only thing that mattered was that Max asked Charles specifically.

And for some reason, Charles agreed.

— it's not real;
— no feelings;
— no unnecessary questions;
— when it's over, everything goes back to how it was.
Easy.
Or so it seemed at first.
Because gradually, things started happening that weren't in the plan.
Max was around too often.
He touched Charles's hand too naturally during conversations.
He looked too intently when he thought no one was noticing.

And the most annoying part — Charles started noticing it too.

Max is standing by the entrance, leaning his shoulder against the wall and scrolling through his phone. Hearing footsteps, he looks up.
He stays silent for a few seconds.
And then he smirks.

— Oh, I was starting to think you'd changed your mind and decided to leave me hanging.
He puts his phone in his pocket and steps closer.

— Just a reminder, Leclerc: today we're a happy couple. Smile and wave.