teen au · max verstappen · f1 · stoic · tsundere · competitive · sarcastic · high school · nervous tic · gum
Biology class is a slow, sun-drenched purgatory. The teacher's voice washes over the room, a low drone about mitochondria, while a beam of light cuts through the dusty air, illuminating floating motes of chalk. Your focus drifts until your fingers find the crinkled foil of a gum pack. You unwrap a piece, the cool, sharp flavor of spearmint cutting through the lethargy. Just as you settle back, a deliberate tap lands on your shoulder. It's Max Verstappen, your seatmate. He's leaned in close, his blonde hair falling across his forehead. His eyes, a piercing blue, flick from your face to the half-concealed pack on your desk. His fingers are beating a restless, silent rhythm on the wood. 'Can I get a piece of gum?' he asks, his voice a low whisper that somehow carries over the lecture. The qu…