ELENA sat in her old living room in her parents house, playing with her niece and nephew with the new toys they had just had for Christmas. Her brother, Sergio and his wife Carola were setting the table whilst his and Elena's parents finished up cooking their dinner.

It was a celebratory dinner, as Sergio had just been confirmed to drive for Red Bull for the 2021 season after almost retiring from the sport. He had his first race win a month before at the Sakhir Grand Prix, which had sparked Red Bull's interest in him even more.

He would be racing alongside Red Bull's golden boy, Max Verstappen. Elena hadn't really followed him much through her years of watching Formula One, but she knew he was one of the brighter stars of the future.

2021 was said to be Verstappen's year, Red Bull had promised him a car to be able to fight Lewis Hamilton to the World Drivers Championship victory, and Sergio had been briefed. Christian Horner explained how he had to play the ultimate team game, helping Max to his victory.

Sergio had graciously excepted, thankful just to still be in the sport, let along with a Grand Prix winning team.

Elena and Sergio had "brother-sister takeaway" nights whenever Sergio was allowed a cheat day from his work diet, and last week, Sergio had been raving to his sister about his new teammate. In her opinion, Elena couldn't really see anyone putting a stop to Hamilton's glory years, but after hearing everything about Verstappen from her brother, she did have some faith in the young driver.

Even though her brother was driving for the Bulls, Elena was a die hard Ferrari fan, and always had been. When she and Checo were kids, Elena wouldn't be seen without a crimson red shirt, embedded with a prancing horse.

Her love for Ferrari is what lead to her interest in a certain Monégasque driver.

Charles Leclerc came into the sport in 2018 with Sauber, (now Alfa Romeo) and made his debut for Ferrari in 2019. Elena had always liked Charles, from the moment he set foot in the paddock. He was beautiful, charming, funny, everything that El liked.

Her whole family was aware of her paddock crush, including Sergio, who would alway tease her at races if Charles ever walked past.

Elena didn't know if Charles knew that she liked him. He didn't seem to acknowledge it if they ever spoke, even if Elena practically had hearts in her eyes, but if he didn't, she would like to keep it that way.

The door of the house knocked, and Sergio Jr shot up. "Max!" he gasped. Junior had alway been a Max fan, and Carola always teased her husband about how his dad wasn't even his favourite driver.

Elena chuckled at her nephew's enthusiasm, and stood up off the floor. She ruffled his hair slightly before she shouted out to her brother, "Hermano! You're superior is here!"

She heard Sergio give a sarcastic laugh. "Get the door you mierda."

Elena pointed a finger at him and gave him an expression of mock seriousness "Hey! Language around the children." Checo rolled his eyes chuckling.

Elena walked over to the large door, stained glass in the frame showing the misshaped outline of a man stood outside. She unlocked the door and opened it.

Max Verstappen was stood before her, his hair slightly shaggy, and in need of a haircut. He was wearing a tight shirt, which showed off his muscles from training. His hand were placed in the pocket of his jeans as he looked up at the woman stood before him.

His eyes widened slightly as he admired the girl. "This must be Checo's sister." he thought as she smiled at him. He remembered Checo mentioning his younger sister a couple of months ago, but he didn't expect her to be... well, her.

She had jet black hair which fell just passed her shoulders, and dark brown eyes similar to her brother's. Her smile was soft and welcoming.

"Hi, you must be Max, I'm Elena, Checo's sister." She held her hand out for him to shake.

He took her hand and smiled back at her. "Hi, yeah I'm Max. It's nice to meet you." he said, his dutch accent strong.

She stood out of his way and gestured her head for him to come inside the house. "You're just on time, food's nearly ready I think."

"Ah, my impeccable timing skills serve me well yet again." he joked.

"Must be all the practice from racing." Elena joked back. She heard the timid footsteps of her nephew around the corner of the hallway, and smiled to herself. She turned to the dutchman beside her and whispered, "My nephew, Junior he's a big fan of you, I think he's a little nervous you're here so would you mind-"

"Yeah of course." Max said, knowing what she meant.

Elena smiled. Her first impression of Max was, so far, a good one. He had good manners, a sense of humour, and wasn't that bad looking either.

Of course, to her he had nothing on Charles.

"Hey Junior!" she called out. She heard a few footsteps, then saw the right side of her nephew's face pole out from the side of the hallway. "Max is here."

"Hey! You must be Sergio! You're Dad's told me a lot about you buddy." Max said, crouching down on the floor so that if Junior walked towards him, they would be on level height.

"Hm. Good with kids. Did not expect that one." Elena thought to herself.

Junior creeped out of his little hiding spot and tentatively walked over to Max.

Max held his hand out for Junior to shake, which he did. To make him feel less nervous, Max sighed loudly. "I'm starving. Haven't eaten in what feels like ages. You know what we're having?"

Junior nodded, and smiled slightly. "Yeah. Abuela is making Machaca!" he said.

Max's face lit up. "Ah I love Machaca!"

Junior's face was shocked that his idol liked his favourite food. "Really?"

"Yeah! Wanna' show me where we're eating?" Max said standing up off the floor.

Junior nodded smiling wildly, and nodded his head for Max to follow him down the corridor. Max looked to Elena with a worried look on his face, "What are 'Machacas?' ". he asked her.

Elena laughed quietly before she started to walk down the corridor to the dinning room. Max hurried after her, "No seriously what are they?" he asked desperately.

"You'll see now. Come on, Checo's in here."

They eneteded the dinning room, just as Marilú and Antonio walked in, holding plates of Machacas. Marilú was the first to spot Max walking through the entrance, "Ah Max! Welcome! So glad you could make it."

She placed the food on the table and walked round it to get to the two youngsters. She gave Max a friendly hug and kiss on the cheek and Elena scoffed sarcastically. "You get more love than I do."

Her mother gave her a glare, and Elena grinned proudly. "Love you Ma. She said giving her mother a kiss on cheek before sitting down in between her niece and nephew, and opposite Max.

Max gave her a smile across the table and she gave him a small one back.

THE usual dinner conversation was thrown around as they ate, but they were too engrossed in the food to speak all that much. It wasn't until Marilú turned to Max that the conversation began again.

"Max, we thought you thought you'd be bringing a plus one, Sergio told us this morning though to set the table for eight."

Max nodded, "Yeah, no it was just a miscommunication. I'm sorry if it coursed any trouble-"

"Oh no trouble at all, I was just curious." Marilú waved a dismissive hand.

Antonio chuckled. "Maybe we should have invited Elena's plus one eh?" he said, giving his daughter a teasing look.

"Papa! Really? We have a guest." she scolded him slightly, not wanting Charles to be brought up in front of Max, knowing the two had some history back in their karting days.

But Max, who didn't know who their topic of conversation had turned too, perked up slightly at the mention of a possible plus one for Elena. He didn't know why, but he found himself wondering about who she could be with, if it was anyone he knew. "You with someone?" he asked.

Before Elena could put an end to the conversation, her mother answered, "No, she's too scared to ask him. I'm sure you know him. You raced against him years ago if I remember right. That Ferrari boy."

Max's eyebrows lifted. He turned to Elena with a surprised look. "What you like Sainz?"

Antonio shook his head, "No no, the other one. French boy-"

"Monégasque boy." Marilú corrected her husband.

"Leclerc." Antonio finished.

Max's eyes went wide. "Oh." he said, his tone almost concerned.

Elena frowned at this. "Oh? What's oh?" She said, easing an eyebrow at him.

Max turned to her with a slightly shocked expression. "Uh, nothing. I just, y'know I never had you down as a Ferrari girl." he played off.

She gave him a calculating look, "Yeah, I'm just full of surprises."

Carola, who sensed the new found the tension, turned to Elena. "El have you gotten any gigs lately?"

Elena turned to her sister in law. "No, I haven't had any calls. I did call my agent yesterday, but he said nothing had come in yet so, just waiting on work." she sighed.

Max knew that Elena modelled. After he started to hang around Checo more, he found Elena's socials, and did a bit of digging. He probably should have made the connection about Charles earlier, since she was partners with Giorgio Armani.

Checo's face lit up in recognition. "Ah, I was meant to ask you earlier," he said turning to his sister. "I'm working Sunday and so is Carola, we were wondering if you could take the kids for the day." he said, a sheepish look on his face, having forgotten to mention it earlier.

Elena cringed. "I was gonna' go to the hardware store, I need them to fix my car. I don't really want to take the kids there and leave them whilst I get someone to fix it."

"I can fix it." Max piped up.

The Perez siblings turned to the Dutchman, a look of surprise on their face. Max coughed slightly, "I'm in Mexico for a few days, I know how to fix cars, been doing it since I was a kid. You don't have to pay me either. I could also help with the kids if you need to get stuff from the store." he offered.

Elena looked towards Checo and Carola, "Your kids. Your decision."

Carola turned to her husband. "I don't mind Max being there." She said. "We know him."

Checo nodded. He turned to his new teammate, "Only if you want to put up with her-" he jabbed a finger at his sister, "for a whole day."

Elena glared at her brother. "Haha." she said sarcastically.

Max let out a small chuckle. "Don't mind at all."

Checo smiled. "Well-" he turned back to Elena, "look's like you've got a baby sitting buddy."

Elena let out a nervous chuckle. The whole day with Max?

"Be thankful it's not Charles" she thought to herself.

AYO FIRST CHAPTER HOW WE FEELING
already elena>