The atmosphere was lively and light, filled with the easy banter of drivers and their partners. Max stepped into the space, his sharp gaze softening slightly as he approached Simone, who was seated with the others. She looked up, her expression lighting up as he pressed a quick kiss to her head.

“Hey, what are you up to?” he asked casually, noting the notebook in her hands.

“Lucy here—” Simone began warmly, motioning to Alice, who sat on the other side of the table.

“—she showed us her new songs!” Charlotte interjected excitedly, practically bouncing in her seat. She looped her arm around Charles’s as she added, “And they’re so romantic! 100% about Lewis.”

Alice’s face turned a soft shade of pink at the remark, but she busied herself with tidying up her pages, keeping her eyes on her work. Max’s eyes briefly flicked to her, an unspoken tension lingering in the air between them.

“Love songs for Lewis, hate songs for me,” Max thought dryly as he reached for the notebook Simone handed him. The lyrics danced across the page, brimming with warmth, safety, and undeniable happiness.

One title stood out: “So High School.”

“Is this the one about the ‘Kiss, Marry, Kill’ interview Lewis did?” Charlotte teased, leaning forward eagerly. “Where he chose Alice, Katy Perry, and Sabrina Carpenter?”

“That’s the one,” Lando piped up, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. “But don’t forget the Grand Theft Auto reference. Absolute classic.” He shared a look with Daniel, who shook his head with a laugh.

Max scanned the lyrics to the song, barely hearing the chatter around him. Lines about playful teasing and innocent crushes were a stark contrast to the heavy, raw emotions Alice had poured into her breakup album. That record—especially songs like “Ghosted” and “That’s So Us”—had cut him to the core when they first dropped. The lyrics were rife with anger and disappointment, painting their relationship as passionate but doomed.

In contrast, these new songs spoke of peace, joy, and unconditional support. They felt like a rebuke, a reminder of what he had failed to give her. Simone’s gentle laugh broke his thoughts, and he handed the notebook back, forcing a neutral smile.

“They’re... good,” he said simply, though his chest tightened with unspoken feelings.

Daniel, ever the observer, leaned closer, his teasing tone breaking the silence. “Alice, I’m calling it now. These songs? They’re going platinum. Again. What do you say, Max? Ready for the charts to be filled with love anthems?”

Max offered a faint smirk but didn’t reply, letting Daniel’s comment hang in the air.

Meanwhile, Alice quietly slipped the notebook into her bag, her fingers brushing the charm bracelet Lewis had gifted her. It was a subtle motion, but one that didn’t go unnoticed by Max. The sight of it twisted something deep inside him, a stark reminder of how far apart they had grown.

As the group fell into lighter conversation, Max tried to shake off the lingering ache. But the lyrics continued to echo in his mind, each word a reminder of the love she had moved on to and the wounds she had left behind.

Lewis entered the scene a few minutes later, strolling in with his usual laid-back confidence. He greeted everyone warmly, his smile widening the moment his eyes landed on Alice. She looked up, meeting his gaze briefly, before focusing on the table in front of her. His eyes sparkled with curiosity when he noticed the notebook.

“What’s this?” he asked, leaning over her shoulder.

“Oh, just some drafts,” Alice replied, trying to downplay the attention. Her cheeks flushed slightly as Lewis picked up the notebook and began flipping through the pages.

The room quieted as Lewis skimmed the lyrics, his expressions shifting from amused to intrigued. When he reached the title “So High School,” he let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.

“Seriously?” he teased, glancing at her with a raised brow. “The ‘Kiss, Marry, Kill’ thing made it into a song?”

“It was just too funny not to,” Alice admitted, her voice light. “Besides, I didn’t name names.”

Lando snorted from across the room. “Everyone already knows who it’s about.”

Lewis grinned, unfazed, and continued reading. The deeper he got, the softer his expression became. As he reached the closing lines of a particular track, one laced with themes of safety and trust, he let out a quiet laugh.

“Well, I’m glad I’m treating you right,” he said, his voice warm with sincerity. “These are beautiful, Alice.”

His words made her stomach flutter, the open affection in his tone melting away any self-consciousness she might have felt. Lewis placed the notebook back on the table and leaned closer, lowering his voice just enough for her to hear. “And for the record, I’d pick ‘kiss’ every time.”

Alice rolled her eyes at his cheeky tone but couldn’t hide her smile. Across the table, Daniel exchanged a knowing look with Charles, both of them clearly enjoying the dynamic between the couple.

Max, meanwhile, had taken a seat beside Simone, feigning disinterest in the exchange but finding it impossible to block out. Lewis’s reaction stung, not because it was loud or boastful, but because it was so genuine. He wasn’t just supportive; he was proud, and Max couldn’t help but compare it to his own shortcomings.

“You okay?” Simone asked softly, her hand brushing against his. He nodded, managing a faint smile as the conversation shifted back to lighter topics.

But even as the group dissolved into laughter and jokes, Max remained quiet, his thoughts circling back to the lyrics, the memories, and the unmistakable fact that Alice had finally found what he couldn’t give her.

As the conversation continued in the Mercedes hospitality area, Alice tried to focus on the lighthearted banter, but the weight of Max’s quiet demeanor lingered in her periphery. She had long since moved on from their relationship, but his presence was a reminder of the complicated emotions they had both struggled with.

Simone leaned closer to Max, whispering something that made him nod absently, though his gaze flicked back to the table where Alice and Lewis were sharing a private laugh. The intimacy between them was undeniable, from the way Alice relaxed in Lewis’s presence to how effortlessly he seemed to understand her.

Kika broke the tension, pulling everyone’s attention back to the present. “So, when do we get the full album release party?” she asked Alice, her tone brimming with excitement.

“Oh, I don’t know about a party,” Alice said with a laugh. “I’m not really a party person.”

“You should do it,” Charlotte chimed in. “Your songs are amazing, and you deserve to celebrate them properly.”

“Seconded,” Lewis added, his hand brushing against Alice’s briefly as he reached for a drink. “We’ll make it happen.”

Max clenched his jaw at the casual we but forced a neutral expression when Simone glanced at him.

Daniel, ever the joker, leaned over to Alice with a conspiratorial grin. “You better include us on the guest list. I mean, I gave you that Roscoe inspiration for the cover art, didn’t I?”

Lando chuckled. “Yeah, right. You just wanted credit for suggesting ‘Dog Days Are Over.’”

“Wait,” Carmen interrupted, leaning in. “Wasn’t that song written ages ago? That’s not even Alice’s style.”

The group dissolved into laughter, but Max remained detached, his thoughts swirling. He couldn’t help but compare his reserved relationship with Alice to what she now shared with Lewis. Where Max had always hesitated, Lewis seemed to dive in with full-hearted confidence.

Simone noticed his distraction again and lightly squeezed his hand. “Max, you okay?” she asked softly, her voice tinged with concern.

He nodded, offering her a tight smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a long week.”

But even as he tried to convince himself, the lyrics from Alice’s breakup album echoed in his mind. The songs were raw and biting, a reflection of the resentment and sadness she had poured into her art after their relationship ended. And now, seeing her write songs that radiated joy and love for someone else... it was a bitter pill to swallow.

Max turned his attention back to the group just in time to catch Lando teasing Lewis about being the next muse for a global pop hit. “Don’t let it go to your head, mate,” Lando joked. “Next thing you know, you’ll be onstage singing backup.”

“Don’t give him ideas,” Alice quipped, earning a round of laughter.

Through it all, Max couldn’t shake the feeling of being a spectator in a scene he used to belong to, wondering if he had ever truly understood what he’d lost.