IRL

•

nova cohan never disobeyed her parents, she listened and did everything they told her too. she went to the collage they wanted even though she didn't want too. that's where she met, justin. she fell in love and moved away with him to france. her parents were so surprised and angry they cut her off and lost all contact, she was free to do what she wanted. in france, is where life with justin really took a turn for the worst, he showed her his true colors, what he was capable of. eventually she got pregnant and she knew she was stuck. nova would always be attached to justin and there was no escape. until one night he punched her so hard, the stress forced into early labor. nova knew after that she was done. she moved back to monaco with her best friend lisa.

two years later her and justin had some to an agreement for shared custody with faith. when faith could speak up, she would tell her mother she didn't want to stay with dad and nova couldn't force her to go with him. when she would faith would sceam and cry and nova always had to go pick her daughter up from his parents who didn't give two fucks about faith or, whoever was with justin that week.

at a drop off justin asked nova if they could get back together and she let him know it would never happen and he needed to move on. that made him angry, so he filled to get full custody, just out of spite. nova thought there was no way he could win. oh man was she wrong

nova was in shock as she made her way to her and lisa's shared car. she couldn't believe they gave him full custody. she just lost her daughter to an asshole who doesn't know one thing about her. she was mad and scared, mainly sad and she couldn't stop crying. how could this happen? she repeated in her head over and over. she didn't even know how she ended up at her and lisa's job. but she knew lisa was working and she needed her best friend.

the girl walked in setting off the bell. landon a co-worker and friend greeted her. "hey—are you okay V?" he asked softly seeing her tear stained face. "i need lisa." nova sniffled. "she's will a customer, i'll be right back." landon looked at her with sorry before walking from around the counter over to lisa who was taking an order. landon whispered something in her ear, lisa looking towards a crying nova. "can you finish up here?" lisa asked and landon nodded. "v?" she got closer. "what happened?" lisa questioned pulling her friends into her arms. "he won les. he fucking won." nova started crying again. "how did this happen?" nova sobbed.

"lisa what am i gonna go?" nova had calmed down and they were sitting in the waiting area of the restaurant. "get her back." Lisa shook her head. "obviously. my lawyer said i can request another review in three months but if i can't prove i could provide a stable home and job, the results would be the same." nova told her friend. "she gave me a list of things i need to do before i can do anything." nova gave lisa the paper. "this is bullshit!" lisa exclaimed drawing attention to them, she apologized turned back to nova. "i can't complete with him lisa." nova put her head in her hands. "his money isn't even his, it's his parents." lisa rolled her eyes. "i know, but he's still able to provide for her." nova sighed. "he doesn't even watch her, he leaves her with whatever bimbo he's seeing each week." lisa was referring to the two year old. she hated being with justin, the ex. even if she couldn't say it, it was obvious.

landon came over and lisa filled him in out what was happening. "i'm so sorry." he gave nova a big hug. lisa had to get back to work so landon sat with her. "is there anything i can do?" he rubbed her back to give her comfort. "any bottles of wine behind the bar ni one will miss?" nova scoffed and landon chuckled getting. "i wasn't being serious." she gave him a small smile as he handed the bottle to her. "i have to get back, it'll all work out V." landon said before going back to work. two questions were going through nova's head as she sat in the lobby drinking the bottle.

how am i going to complete with all that money? would faith be better off with justin?

she couldn't turn her mind off and the wine was making it worse. nova works as a waitress. barely bringing home enough money to make her half of the rent with lisa. her and faith shared a room, and they all shared a bathroom. there was never money left over for anything but groceries and basic necessities. nova never expected this is happen. she looked into the restaurant seeing the rich people of monaco sitting and eating no worries in the world and she sighed walking out, drinking her wine walking the random streets of monaco.

nova eventually made her way to the docks, she didn't know how because the wine was getting to her but she sat at the edge of a dock and stared at the water. her mind finally quiet but now she was just sad and her emotions took over and she let herself cry, tears nonstop pooled down her face and she couldn't stop them. nova took another sip of the wine laying back now looking at the sky. "goodnight my star." she said talking to faith.

"are you okay?" a voice made nova sit up. "i'm fine." she turned seeing a man walking up to her. "your crying." he spoke, it was dark so she couldn't see his face. "you have eyes." nova said sarcastically, the man chuckled. "sorry for bothering you." he began to walk away and she sighed. "i'm sorry, that was rude." nova said and he stopped. "it's okay." he shrugged. "wine?" she held up the bottle, he smiled walking over now in the light and nova was shocked at his beautiful face. "why not." he said sitting next to her. he took the wine taking a long sip. "tough night?" she chuckled. "i could ask you the same." he retorted, nova debated on telling him it not but she was a little tipsy and she would never see him again plus she wanted the vent. "my ex took me to court for full custody of our daughter. he won because his family is super rich and i'm like super not." nova chuckled taking another long sip of the wine. "when we were together he would hit me, he wanted me to get back with him and when I said no, he took my daughter from me, i'm crying because this happened a few hours ago and I miss my little girl. faith, my daughter doesn't like being with him and i'm so worried for her." nova took a deep breath wiping her tears. "i'm so sorry." the man out his hand on her shoulder rubbing it. "me too." nova sighed. "my names nova cohan by the way." she introduced herself, he smiled. "max verstappen." he said. "nice to meet you max." nova said and max was surprised she didn't know who he was. it was a first and he kinda likes it.

they sat in silence for a minute before max spoke up. "what do you have to do to get her back?" he asked making his accent more known to nova, she could tell he wasn't from monaco. "get a better job, my own flat, have more money then justins parents, which won't happen in three months unless i call my parents but they wouldn't pick up the phone or meet someone rich." nova sighed taking another sip giving it back to max. "which will never happen so i'm just screwed." she rolled her eyes. "i'm sorry about your situation nova." max said and she gave him a smile. "enough about me, what about you handsome stranger? what brings you to these docks at midnight?" nova asked as max drank more wine. "handsome?" he chuckled. "don't act so surprised you know you look good. now spill." she changed the subject.

"my ex-girlfriend cheated on me, so some mates wanted to cheer me up, they thought bringing me out to a club down the road would help. but she was there and i couldn't stand seeing her and i didn't want her to see me which she probably did." max shrugged. "i just needed to clear my head and wait for her to leave, my mate said he'd text me when she left but nothing yet." he took his phone out. "i just wish i could show her that i've moved on even if i haven't, you know." max groaned seeing a text from his friend that she was still there, nova saw it. "come on." she stood up putting her hand out to max, he took it standing up. "what are you doing?" he chuckled as she wiped her dried tears away and fixed her hair in the shiny part of a boat. "i need a distraction and another drink, you need to show you ex, you've moved on." nova grabbed his hand as they walked back up the dock. "lead us to this club." she told him and he nodded. "you think it'll work?" max asked and she nodded. "of course. i'm super hot, she's either her really mad or really jealous and think, 'how can i complete with that'" nova smirked and max laughed. "you are super hot." max told her making her turn red. "see perfect, keep the flirting up." nova said as they reached the club.

max and nova walked in, hand in hand. "she's sitting with my friends." he whispered in her ear as nova moves them to the bar, she looked for the girl he showed her on the walk and immediately spotted her with three guys and two other girls. "text one of your mates to get her attention to us." nova told him as she took the last open seat at the bar. she looked at what max was texting as she ordered two drinks. "don't be shy wrap your arms around me." nova told him and he shook his head, his hands finding her waist. they go their drinks. "were gonna go sit with them now." nova whispered in his ear. "kiss my cheek before you pull away." she added as he pulled away kissing her cheek as told. "she's looking." max added helping nova off the chair. "lead the way." max told nova his hands still gripping her waist.

seeing them walk over kelly immediately shifted uncomfortably looking at her friends. "hey!" max greeted his friends again. "i hope it's okay i brought my girl." max held onto nova completely ignoring kelly. "charlotte, isa, its good to see you, this is nova." max introduced and the girls happily shook her hand as kelly gave them both glares. "come sit." the guys moved over for the two. "nova this is charles, carlos and daniel." max introduced and nova waved. "nice to meet you all, max talks about you all the time." nova said so they could hear her. "how long have you two been going out?" charlotte asked nova, she felt max out two fingers on her leg. "two months." nova smiled. "best two months of my life." max smiled at his girlfriend. "your so sweet mon amor." nova smiled back pressing her lips to max's softly, he kissed back before they pulled away nonchalantly. "are you serious right now?!" kelly stood up with an angry expression. "what are you even doing here kelly?" max rolled his eyes. "i was invited!" kelly exclaimed, max looked at his friends and their girlfriends. "we didn't know you were seeing someone mate." charles told him. "i did, i had no clue they were inviting her." daniel said going along with the act nova and max were putting on. "kelly move on, i have." that was all max said before kelly stormed off and the girls went after her. "this was a plan to get me and kelly back together?" max turned to charles and carlos. "it was the girls, we told them we were bringing you out and you know the way kelly is." nova got up from the booth. "you didn't tell them about me. am i just a rebound to you?" she acted hurt. "nova it's not like that." max shook his head. "that's what it looks like max." she quickly walked away, max followed her to the restrooms, nova turned around. "that was very intense." she said as max hugged her. "thank you so much for that." he kissed her cheek pulling away. "your welcome." she shrugged. "thank you for getting my mind of my situation." max nodded. "do you wanna come back and hang out?" he asked. "why not." she smiled. "i want them to feel bad so can we keep up this act?" he asked, she nodded pulling him into a kiss, he kissed back before she pulled away. "they were looking, they now know we've made up." max smirked kissing her again. "that was for fun."

•

after a very fun night, max drove a very drunk nova back to his flat. she could barely keep her eyes open but she knew what was happening and it was weird but she trusted Max. he laid her on his bed grabbing her ringing phone answering "lisa <3". "nova are you okay?" was the first question. "uh sorry, this is max. i met nova tonight and she is very drunk and very asleep in my flat. i'm not a creep or anything i just didn't know her address and i couldn't just leave her at the bar." max spoke to the best friend. "oh my god. i'm so sorry, she's been dealing with a lot today— yeah she told me." max said and lisa sighed. "thank you for taking care of her, you can text me your address and i can go get her." lisa told him. "it's okay, it's too late for you to be out. i can take her home in the morning, just thought i should let you know where she is and that she's safe." max told her and lisa agreed seeing it was 4 in the morning. "okay, thank you for that." lisa sighed and they hung up. max sat on the bed moving hair out of her face. she looked so beautiful even when she was crying and he don't get a chance to tell her. he didn't know why but as soon as he laid his eyes on her he felt the need to protect her. He decided in that moment he was gonna help her get her daughter back, she helped him now it was his turn.

•

thanks for reading!!