⁴Makki⁸¹ @makkib0y - Tumblr Blog

In which two best friends end up finding out their feelings for eachother and try to figure their relationship out while in the public eye AKA

Oscar Piastri x Childhood Best Friends Reader pt2

Word Count- 15.5k

Author's note- thank you guys so so much for enjoying part 1, I got this out as fast as I could. I also tried to make this shorter than part 1 but I 100% got carried away. I hope you guys enjoy my second ever x reader fic!!

EARLY 2025

It was funny to think about the fact that 19 years after moving to Australia and pouting the whole drive to her new house Y/n would be driving down the same streets with a massive smile on her face. She hadn't been back in Australia since they moved away back in 2013. It felt nice to be back on the same aread she spent seven years of her childhood in. She drove past her old school, and part the old karting track she would watch Oscar in and past her old house. It looked the same from the outside but there were new car in the driveway, another family lived there now.

Y/n drove past her old house and towards what was the reason she was back in her old neighborhood. She pulled into the driveway of the large house and parked her rental car. As she walks up to the all too firmiliar doors and knock. Three quick followed by two more slower one, it was kind of her signature. Y/n smiled thinking back to the early weekend mornings where she'd ride he bike over to this house and knock in that exact same pattern to be let in. She heard muffled talking behind the door before hearing footsteps getting closer. Then it opened and they he was, Oscar.

"Hi" y/n smiled at him nit knowing what else to say apart from the small casual greeting. It was still all unreal to her.

A year ago she was just one of his fans that just so happened to have grown up being his bestfriend, and now here she was, standing in front of Oscar about to spend the next 2 weeks with him and his family. It was funny things worked out, one day she is meeting up and reconnecting with Hattie, then her Oscar are mutuals and then very last minute after months of nonstop talking Oscar is asking her to come to Australia. 'For old times sake' he had said but it sounded more like a last minute reason he threw together in the seconds it took her to agree.

"Hi" Oscar echoed looking slightly down at her. For a long while they just stood there, staring at eachother separated by a few feet of space and tension.

In those moments it was like they were trying to memorize every detail of eachother's faces, this was the first time they had seen eavhother this up close in person since those few minute back in May of 2024. Her eyes scanned over his features, one he had grown into well the soft wave of hair falling across his forehead, the sharp, thoughtful set of his brows, the quiet intensity in his dark eyes even when off the track. Then she noticed the faint scatter of barely there freckles across his face and the moles she had counted dozens of time in their childhood.

For a moment she felt the urge to count them once again but there wasn't time for that now especially the sound of footsteps getting closer from the inside of the house. Then Oscar was quickly shoved out of the way braking the two of them out of their trance of staring at eachother. The person who shoved him? None other than Hattie, his younger sister and the reason him and Y/n has started talking again.

Hattie rolled her eyes at him as she grabbed Y/n by the hand and dragged her into the house. "Sorry about that Idiot blocking your way, come in, make yourself at home" Hattie said narrowing her eyes at her brother. "Oscar bring her bag in, to the guest room"

Y/n was going to protest, to try to say she could take her own bag and that she didn't want to inconvenience Oscar but by the time she looked back he was already carrying her bag into the house. He didn't protest, he didn't argue against bringing it he had just hummed and started walking towards the stair, Y/n's carry on bag rolling behind him. She couldn't help but smile as they made eye contact for a split second after he looked behind him when they split at the stairway.

Before she knew it she was sitting in the back yard with the Piastris as they all caught up, reminiscing about the past and all the time Y/n would spent at their house, and them at hers back when they were all younger. Nicole reminisced on all the times the five of them (Nicole, Y/n, Hattie, Eddie, and Mae) would have small girls trips, those were always some of Y/n' favorite memories.

Nicole leaned forward with a fond sigh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I still have photos from that weekend where you girls convinced us to get matching anklets."

"Oh my god," Y/n groaned, laughing into her hands. "Mine broke after, like, two weeks."

"Mine’s still in a drawer somewhere," Hattie added proudly, nudging her shoulder.

Eddie came outside with a bowl of popcorn she absolutely didn’t need. “Remember when Hattie and I tried to build that ramp in the driveway and you two told Mum we were going to break our necks?”

"You were," Y/n shot back, pointing at her. “And you almost did!”

"Yeah, but it was going to be sick," Eddie shrugged, Oscar just looked down at his drink and smiled to himself, dimples deepening.

In that moment Oscar caught Y/n's gaze. She stared for a moment to long as he shook his head slightly down at his drink as he just smiled. Remembering the moment Y/n and him ran inside to tattle on the two younger girls before they hurt themselves. Y/n felt a strange warmth that wasnt there before spread through her as she watched him smile. Before she realized it her cheeks were heating up and she forced herself to look away when she realized the thought running through her head, 'when did he get so attractive?'.

Eventually the conversations softened, people stretching, yawning, and drifting into that easy end-of-night lull after dinner. Hattie stood, brushing crumbs from her lap. "Alright, you’ve had a long day. Let’s get you settled before you turn into a zombie on the patio."

As they headed inside, Oscar was already gathering the empty glasses without being asked. When he passed Y/n, he paused for just a second, long enough to give her a small, warm smile that somehow made her chest feel too full. "Your room’s all ready," he said lightly. "Fresh sheets and lavender."

It caught her off guard, the gentleness of it. The familiarity. The fact he remmeber lavender was he favorite scent after all this time.

"Thank you," she murmured, and he nodded once before heading toward the kitchen.

That night it seemed like it was impossible for Y/n to fall asleep. She tried absolute everything that would work when she was in college. The flipped her pillows, changed positions a million times, pit on her music and quickly turned it off, she tried ASMR and white noise but it just didn't seem to work. She sat up in the woth a groan and fixed her already messy hair tossing it into a bun before getting out of the bed. Maybe it was the time difference, Melbourne was 16 hours ahead of Miami, or the fact that she kept thinking about Oscar being a few rooms away but she couldn't seem to rest.

She adjusted her oversized shirt and her shorts before slipping on her slides. She quietly opened the door of the bedroom and slipped out, closing it just a silently as she opened it. She walked down the hallway towards the balcony, her phone in hand, maybe getting some fresh air would help her calm her mind so she could finally get some rest. Ask she reached the end of the hall and got out onto the balcony she checked the time on her phone, it was already half past midnight which made her groan.

Y/n closed the balcony door behind herself and settled down on one of the chaor in the balcony before opening her phone. If it was 12:30 here it was about 9:30am back at home and all her friends were probably at work. She didn't want to bother them and call or text them just incase they were busy. Maybe bringing a book out here would have been a better idea than grabbing her phone. Y/n let out a sigh and put her phone on the small table infront of her before bringing her knees up to her chest so che could rest her chin on them.

As she looked out at the dark backyard and lights of the neighborhood she ended up zoning out for a few minutes. Y/n was only snapped out of her zoned out state when she heard the sliding door behind her open and shut just a few seconds afterwards. She expected it to be Hattie, the other woman had a habit of staying up late back when they were kids and now as Y/n had come to find out over the last year.

"Can't sleep?" It was two word from a voice that was definately not hattie.

She turned her head over to look and there he was, Oscar. His hair was slightly messed up and he was wearing a plain white shirt, a black zip-up jacket and pair of pajama bottoms. She stared for a split second before she nodded. This felt different than before, this was no longer her favorite f1 driver, the man she watched in interviews and cheered for in her bedroom, this was just Oscar the boy she grew up with.

"Yeah... tried everything but just, couldnt" she sighed looking out to the backyard again.

He hummed and sat in the other chair next to hers also looking out into the darkness. They stayed like that for a bit before Oscar cleared his throat and adjusted himself in the seat. "Uhm, yeah it happens to me too when I uhm travel a lot. Time difference kills you"

Y/n huffed a small laugh "yeah, being in a different part of the world almost every weekend. I’m sure your internal clock is just absolutely cooked."

"Uhm yeah that’s one word for it,” he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sometimes I feel like I’m living in four time zones at once."

They fell into another small silence, comfortable, but charged in a way that made Y/n suddenly hyper-aware of how close his chair was to hers. How the cool air made her skin prickle. How Oscar kept glancing at her like he was making sure she was really there. She finally looked over at him, resting her cheek on her knees and their eyes met. Neither of them blinked, neither of them looked away, they just looked at eachother.

Oscar was the first to break the stare, not by looking away, but by letting out a quiet breath that sounded almost… relieved. He shifted a little, angling himself more toward her, knees turning in her direction instead of the yard. "So…" he said softly, voice lower now, "this is weird, right?"

Y/n let out a tiny, breathy laugh. "A little."

"But like… good weird?" he asked, eyes flicking down to her hands for half a second before finding her face again.

She swallowed, suddenly very aware of how her heartbeat had picked up. “Yeah. Good weird.”

He smiled small, lopsided, gentle. Not the bright grin he gave cameras or fans. Something quieter. Something just for her.

“It’s just…” Oscar hesitated, searching for the words, "we haven’t really had a moment to actually talk to you since, well, since..."

"Since I moved," she finished for him.

"Uhm Yeah." His jaw flexed, like the memory tugged at something in him. "I always thought I’d see you again sooner. Then life just... kind of took off."

"Yours especially," she teased weakly.

"Maybe." He shrugged. "But that doesn’t mean I didn’t miss this."

Y/n’s breath caught. "This?"

"Uhm yeah, You," he corrected, soft but certain.

Her chest tightened in that warm, uncomfortable, fluttering way she hated pretending she didn’t understand. Here he was sitting right infront of her within her reach telling her he missed her. She wanted to reach out to take his hands into her own and tell him she missed him too. That the only reason she got into formula one at first was to see him before she got sucked in by the sport itself. She wanted to tell him she contemplated DMing him hundreds of times before they saw eachother at the Miami 2024 race but she didn't. It wasn't the right time. Maybe the right time would never come.

But instead of saying the hundred things racing through her mind, Y/n only dug her fingertips gently into the fabric of her pajama shorts, anything to keep her grounded, to stop herself from reaching out and taking his hand like her instinct begged her to. Oscar watched her carefully, like he was waiting for something, like he could see the thoughts flickering behind her eyes. The way he looked at her, soft, open, familiar, felt achingly similar to how he used to look at her when they were kids sharing secrets on her back porch.

"I missed you too,"she finally whispered, voice small but honest. Without reaching for him despite how badly she wanted to.

Oscar’s lips twitched into something that wasn’t quite a smile but wasn’t neutral either, something warm that crept all the way into his eyes. “Yeah?” he asked quietly almost hopefully.

Y/n nodded. "After I moved, everything was so hectic, it felt like my whole world had stopped when everyone else's kept spinning. Talking to you was the best part of my weeks but after you moved to the UK that was gone. When I found out about you making it it to f1 I wanted to reachout but I convinced myself that you had forgotten me" she admitted softly. Y/n mentally kicked herself for how soft and pathetic she sounded.

Oscar’s brows drew together, not in confusion but in something gentler, something that made her stomach twist. "Forgotten you?" he repeated, like the idea itself offended him. "Y/n, I...there’s no world where that would’ve happened."

Suddenly her mouth felt like it went dry at his admission. His words would have sounded romantic if it weren't for her convincing herself there was no world in which he'd feel like that towards her. Not that she was thinking about that, definately not.

"I’m glad we’re here now," he said quietly like he didn't want the conversation to dull out yet.

"Me too," she whispered.

They fell into a comfortable quiet again, but this time it bubbled with something warm, something unspoken. The night breeze picked up, brushing over her bare arms, and she shivered without meaning to. Oscar caught it immediately. He didn’t say anything, just leaned forward, pulled his zip-up hoodie off in one smooth motion, and draped it around her shoulders before she could even protest.

"Here," he murmured, fingers brushing her upper arm for half a second longer than necessary.

"Oscar, I’m fine-"

"Humor me," he said softly, giving a tiny smile. "Please"

She tugged the hoodie closer, the fabric still warm from him and smelling unmistakably, overwhelmingly like him. Clean, warm, familiar in a way that made her chest feel too tight. "…Thanks," she managed.

And the space between them felt smaller. Warmer. Different. They sat in a comfortable silence for another 15 minutes talking here and there but mostly just enjoying being in eachother's space. It was like they both wanted to reach out for the other but never quiet got the courage to so they just looked at eachother. Eventually Y/n let out a yawn and they made their way back inside the house, towards their respective room.

"Goodnight, osc" she said rubbing her eyes as she opened the door of the guest room.

"Yeah, night" he nodded not bringing up the fact she still had his jacket on before she closed the door and headed to bed for the night. "Fuck" he muttered to himself heading towards his own room.

The rest of the trip Oscar and Y/n kept finding their way back to eachother's side one way of another. Even when they split off to do different things with the rest of the Piastris, they somehow drifted back together, sitting beside each other at meals, walking in step without meaning to, sharing little glances that lingered longer than either of them admitted.It felt easy, familiar in a way that made Y/n’s chest ache, but there was something new layered underneath it too, something warm and careful and impossibly delicate.

They spent the week doing everything and nothing at all: long mornings outside with the sun warming their shoulders, little afternoon trips into town for snacks, wandering through shops, parks, and scenic lookouts with no real plan. Sometimes they’d find themselves sitting together on a bench, talking about small things, how Y/n’s internship was going, how Oscar handled constant travel, what had changed in their lives since they last saw each other. Other times it was quiet, the kind of silence that didn’t demand to be filled. Just being near each other seemed to be enough.

But beneath those familiar rhythms were moments that made Y/n’s heart trip over itself. Like the way Oscar sometimes walked close enough that their arms brushed. Or how, when she grabbed his hand to cross a busy street without thinking, he held on for a beat longer than needed before letting go. Or the way he’d lean down slightly to listen to her when she talked, eyes soft and focused in a way that made her throat tighten. Every little touch lasted a second too long. Every look lingered just a moment more.

There were times she caught him staring too, usually when she was looking somewhere else, or laughing at something Eddie said. He never looked away quickly enough. It was always this slow shift, like he knew she’d caught him but didn’t really care. Y/n tried not to overthink it, but it was impossible not to when she could practically feel the shift in the air between them. It wasn’t dramatic or loud, it was subtle, like a thread quietly pulling them closer with each passing day.

And of course, there were the stupid, sweet things: Oscar wiping a smudge off her cheek without hesitation; him stepping in front of her when a bird swooped too close; her tugging him by the sleeve when he stopped to look at something; the two of them wandering ahead of the group without meaning to, talking about the future like they weren’t scared of it. It all felt too natural, too easy, too much like slipping back into something neither of them had fully let go of.

By the end of the trip, Y/n wished she could stay in Australia forever [little five year old her would have never believed she would ever think that] but it was the truth. It wasn't just the memories of her childhood but all the moments with Oscar too. She didn't want to fly back and suddenly all of this to be a memory. She didn't want to go back to being another fan after having the best two weeks of her adult life.

At the airport parking lot Oscar helped her take her bag out of the trunk of the rental car and walked her to the entrance. They stood a bit too long like they were waiting for something, anything that meant they could stay together longer.

"I" they both started simultaneously "no you go ahead" the said in unison again before they both laughed a little.

"I'm going to miss this..." Y/n finally spoke smiling up at Oscar.

He nodded in agreement "yeah, uhm, me too"

"Maybe we could do this again, hanging out, us two?" She wanted to sound nonchalant about it but her voice was a little too hopeful.

"Yeah, yeah definately" he agreed again taking his hands out of his hoodie pocket.

For another moment then stood there, barely three feet from wachother. "I should get going... flights don't wait up" Y/n joked and Oscar nodded.

She took a step back, and he took one forward. Then in what felt like the blink of an eye Oscar had wrapped his arms around her in a hug. A hug that she quickly returned dropping her passport in the process.

"Stay safe yeah, and uhm, cal when you land" Oscar said softly and she nodded into his shoulder.

"I will" she said before he stepped back and picked up her passport for her.

Y/n watched him walk towards the car and once he was in it she finally turned around and headed into the airport to find her gate. It wasn't till she was at the gate, waiting to board the planed that she realized she was still wearing his jacket from the first night. He had never asked for it back and she had been wearing it nonstop. Suddenly all those jokes and 'knowing looks' from Hattie started to make a little bit more sense.

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urinsta_ Just spent two whole weeks in the place where I grew up, the land down unda! I had so much fun and I can't wait until I can come back again. Until next time Australia

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Just.Jess: this looks like such a good trip, glad you had fun!

user7: australia actually suits you, these are so pretty but who is the mystery man?

TheaDreams: you’re living the life fr, take me with you next time

\___ urinsta_: Uhg I wish!! Girls trip to Aus when?

user10: can’t believe you were gone for two weeks, it went so fast

user5: the baking pic is adorable

user6: this whole trip just feels so wholesome

EriKat: Girl, you better tell us everything when you’re back

\___ urinsta_: Erika I swear!

user14: girl you were GLOWING the whole time

user17: ok but the guy kinda looks like oscar piastri??? is it just me

\___ user22: No it definately looks like him! They are childhood friends soooo

\___ User17: I'm sorry they're WHAT

\___ user31: you're so late to party, catch up

user44: whoever took that pics needs a raise

MARCH 2025

It had been two and a half months since Y/n got back from Australia. Her and Oscar kept talking though this time it was a lot more phone calls than text messages. Usually between practice sessions or after flights. They kept making plans to maybe hand out between races but the plans kept falling through mainly due to scheduling issues and also both of their nerves about the media seeing them and starting rumors.

Y/n had mostly been working and spending time with family and today was the day her and her friends (the same group of girls from college) were finally able to all get together to hand out. They met up at their favorite Cafe from back in college and got to catching up, sharing news and stories from work. Everything a group of girls that haven't seen eachother in the last month would do. It felt good. Comfortable. Loud in that way only they could be.

Jess was halfway through telling a dramatic story about her coworker nearly burning the office microwave when Maddie cleared her throat softly, fidgeting with her coffee cup. The other four girls turned to look at her. Madeline had always been the quieter one of the friend group so they didn't mind pausing a conversation if she had something to share.

"Okay, um… can I hijack the conversation for a sec?" she said, cheeks already pink.

"What did you do?" Dorothea teased.

"Oh God, are you quitting your job?" Erika asked.

"Are you pregnant?" Jess added, eyes wide.

Y/n laughed and shook her head, god those three always jumped to the wildest conclusions. "Guys, let her talk" she said sipping her own latte.

Maddie let out a breathy laugh. "No! No to all of that. I’m, well…" She held out her left hand, palm down. A small diamond glinted under the café lights.

"SHUT UP!" Jess practically screeched.

"YOU’RE ENGAGED?!" Erika threw her arms around her.

"Oh my god!! Maddie!" Dorothea grabbed her hand to see the ring.

Y/n covered her mouth, smiling so wide it almost hurt. "Since when?! How did it happen?!"

Maddie was glowing in a way none of them had ever seen before. "Last weekend," she said, voice trembling with excitement. “He took me back to the little park by campus, you know, the one near the old bookstore? We were walking, and he just… stopped and said he’d known since freshman year."

Jess let out another choked squeal. "This is insane, you’ve literally been together forever. Congratulations"

"Yeah, thank you" Maddie said softly, eyes going a little glassy. "I just… I wanted to tell you guys in person. And I wanted you ask if you girl would be my bridesmaids"

The four girls obviously agreed as they pulled her into a messy, overlapping group hug, the kind that made their chairs screech on the floor and made other customers look over.

"So," Dorothea said, tossing her hair over her shoulder, "I guess we’re doing love life updates today."

"Oh absolutely," Erika added. "If Maddie’s engaged, one of you better have some drama for me."

There wasn't much to share from the others apart from the fact that Thea got a girlfriend recently and that Jess and Erika were still single. Jess by choice and Erika begrudgingly not, her own words. Them they turned to look at Y/n who was replying to a text from Oscar.

Y/n blinked at them when she looked up. "What? Why are you all looking at me like that?"

Jess leaned forward, chin in hand. "So… Australia. Wanna tell us how that was?"

"It was nice," Y/n said carefully, tucking her phone closer to her. "Really nice to be back, honestly. I hadn’t seen my ... friends from there in forever, so it was just… good."

Erika raised a brow. "Uh-huh. And what about Oscar?"

The name landed like a stone dropped in the middle of the table. Y/n’s face heated immediately, pink blooming across her cheeks as she snapped her phone shut and turned the screen facedown. All four girls froze.

"Why’d you turn your phone off so fast?" Jess demanded, already reaching across the table like she could grab it.

Erika sat up straighter. "Y/n M/n L/n. What was that reaction?"

Y/n sputtered, suddenly very interested in the condensation sliding down her iced coffee.

"It wasn’t a reaction."

"It was so a reaction," Maddie chimed in, grinning for the first time since showing off her ring.

"I didn’t.. okay, he just...." Y/n shook her head, flustered. "Australia was great. That’s all."

Jess folded her arms. “Start talking.”

Y/n sank in her seat and pulled her jacket tighter around herself, suddenly finding the patterns of the wood on the table very interesting.

"He just, we... okay to I'm probably just reading into things but like, near the end of the trip ot really felt different kind of romantic in a way, you know" Y/n almost whispered tucking her hair behind her ear.

Thea shook her head "No we don't know, please enlighten us"

Y/n rubbed her palms on her jeans. “It was just little stuff. Like, there were moments where we’d hold hands a bit too long. Not accidental, but not exactly on purpose either? And he’d look at me like… like he was admiring me you know, like he needed to memorize every one of my features. And he asked me to go to more races because he said I was ‘good luck.’ Which is stupid, because I’m not, but...”

Jess gasped. “Oh my god, he totally likes you.”

“He so does,” Erika said, leaning closer like she was inspecting a rare artifact. “Who asks someone to be their good-luck charm unless they’re obsessed with them?”

"Oscar is Not obsessed with me!" Y/n said narrowing her eyes at her friend. "He just sees me as a friend, that's all."

Her friends looked at her, then looked at eachother with a face that 'is this girl be so for real right now?' Before looking back at her.

"Y/n, honey, I'm going to hold your hand when I tell you this" Jess started taking one of Y/n's hands into her own. "A guy doesn't just fly you across the world and look at you lovingly if you're just a friend to him"

Y/n shook her head fast, a nervous, embarrassed laugh escaping her. “No. No, he’s not. He was just being nice, and we were catching up, and..." she stopped herself thinking back to those late night talks.

The conversation moved on from there but Y/n was still thinking about that part of it. Maybe her friends had a point but maybe she was being a bit of a delusional fan. But thinking about it, really thinking about it, those late night talks, the look in his eyes when she laughed at one of his stupid jokes. It said a little more than she was ready to admit to herself. Maybe a part of her did want him to feel like that for her. Her cheeks flushed and she bit her straw chewing on it, a bit too in her own thoughts.

After their girls night out Y/n got home with her shoes in her hand which she quickly dropped at the entry way of the apartment. "Coco, where are you girl?" She called out with a yawn as she looked around for her dog.

She found the white dog on the couch laying on her back asleep. "You are just living the life aren't you girl?" Y/n asked softly sitting down on the couch to pet the dog's belly.

"You don't have to worry about guys and if they like you or not" she sighed scratching behind coco's ear with a smile. Y/n hummed and got off the couch to go shower and get ready to bed. She was still thinking about Oscar but that seamed to be the norm now. She wouldn't say it outloud but maybe, just maybe she did actually like him, and not in just a friendly way.

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urinsta_ me and all my favorite girls, coco included even though she didn't get go out with us

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Tagged- Just.Jess, EriKat, Theadreams, and Maddieverse

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User18: You look amazing in every single picture

EriKat: Coco completely stole the spotlight without even going out

\___ urinsta_: doesn't she always?

User5: You girls always know how to have the best nights

User6: The city pictures are so pretty

User7: I’m obsessed with all of your outfits

maddieverse: This night was so much fun. We need to do it again soon

\___ urinsta_: we 100% do!!

User9: Whoever took the street shot deserves an award

User81: Love to see Oscar in the likes all the time now

User31: Every time you post, F1 Twitter gets suspicious.

\___ urinsta_: Tell them to relax, I’m literally just existing.

LATE APRIL 2025

Y/n didn't know Oscar was serious when he texted her saying that he was outside. It was four days before the Miami grand prix but according to the news most drivers hadn't flown in yet. So she had nit reason to think he was being serious. Though when three quick knocks hit her front door and coco started barking she believed him a bit more.

"No way" she said dropping her phone and rushing to the door tripping on her sweatpants as she opened the door. "What the fuck?!" She said when she was met with him at her apartment door.

"Uhm, should I go then?" He asked pointing behind himself.

Judging by the look on his face Oscar was already regretting showing up unannounced. His weight shifted from one foot to the other, shoulders sagging ever so slightly like he was preparing for the door to slam in his face.

Y/n’s eyes widened. "No! no, don’t go," she rushed out, grabbing his wrist before he could take even half a step back. "I just… I thought you were joking."

"I wasn’t," he said with a small, almost sheepish smile. "I, uh… got in earlier than expected. And I wanted to see you." His eyes flicked over her, sweatpants, messy bun, oversized shirt, and he grinned. "Nice outfit, by the way."

"Oh shut up," she muttered, cheeks heating as she tried to subtly kick her pant leg so it would stop bunching at her ankle. "I wasn’t expecting anyone, let alone you."

Coco barked again, circling Oscar’s feet like he was returning from war and not just showing up on a random evening. Since they met last year it was like Coco was obsessed with oscar, shed bark at the phone any time Y/n and Oscar called and pounced on it any time they face timed. It was almost like she loved oscar more than she loved Y/n. Oscar crouched, scratching her behind the ears with a laugh that softened all the tension in his shoulders. "At least someone’s happy I’m here."

Y/n swallowed, suddenly too aware of the warmth pooling in her chest. "I am happy you’re here," she admitted quietly.

Oscar looked up at her from where he crouched, eyes catching hers. "Yeah?" he asked, voice more fragile than she expected.

She nodded. "Yeah."

They stood there for a moment together just looking at eachother as coco licked Oscar's hands and shook her entire body. That was one of Y/n favorite things about the small dog, the way that she shook he entire body and not just her tail when she was happy and excited.

Her face broke into a smile she couldn’t hold back. "Get in here, idiot."

Oscar stepped inside, brushing past her, and the moment he did, she felt it again. That subtle shift in the air. That spark. That familiar, terrifying, magnetic pull.

As she closed the door behind him, he glanced around the apartment, hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie. "You sure it’s okay I’m here?" he asked, quieter this time. "I didn’t mean to ambush you."

Y/n shook her head, still a little stunned he was standing in her living room like it was normal. "You didn’t ambush me. You just... showed up. That’s different."

"Is it?" he asked with a crooked, almost shy smile.

"Yeah," she said, crossing her arms only to give her hands something to do. "Ambushing would be… I don’t know, you barging in with the drive to survive crew or something. You knocking politely is fine."

Oscar huffed a laugh, rubbing the side of his neck. "I almost didn’t. I was sitting in my rental for like ten minutes wondering if I should text you again."

"You probably should’ve started with ‘I’m not joking, im here'" Y/n teased.

"Yeah, well," he muttered, eyes dropping to the floor for a moment, "I didn’t want to seem too eager."

Her heart stuttered. She tried very, very hard not to react. Coco trotted back over to them, bumping her nose against Oscar’s ankle like she was scolding him for not giving her attention fast enough. He crouched, scratching behind her ears, his entire face softening.

"She really likes you," Y/n said.

"Good," he replied simply. Then he glanced up at her. "Do you?"

The question caught her completely off guard. It wasn’t flirty. It wasn’t teasing. It was just… honest. “I,yeah," she said, barely above a whisper. "Of course I do."

Oscar’s shoulders lowered, just slightly, like he’d been holding tension since the moment she opened the door. "Good," he said again, quieter this time. "I wasn’t sure you’d want to see me."

"Are you kidding?" She asked with a laugh as she tugged Oscar towards her couch so the two of them could sit down. "In don't care how cheesy it sounds getting to see you is always a treat. Like genuinely, it still feels unreal to talk to you like this"

"I came early because I wanted to see you," he said softly. "You know that, right?"

Her heart clenched and her cheeks heated a bit. "Oscar…"

"I’m not trying to make anything weird," he added quickly as coco climbed into his lap. "I just, wanted to be here. With you. For a bit."

Y/n swallowed, suddenly unsure what to do with her hands, her breath, her entire existence. "Well," she murmured, finally meeting his eyes, "I’m glad you’re here."

Oscar didn't look up, he just nodded while petting Coco "me too"

"Oh my god," Jess whispered harshly. “He’s actually here. You weren’t lying.”

Erika leaned forward, eyes narrowing in awe. “He looks different in person. Taller. And hotter. What the hell.”

Dorothea immediately waved them over with the enthusiasm of someone who’d been waiting for this moment for weeks. Maddie smiled wide, already gearing up to interrogate Y/n the second Oscar was out of earshot. Y/n felt her stomach flip as she led Oscar through the crowd, still not fully believing he wanted to be there, here,with her and her friends. But Oscar walked just slightly behind her, one hand hovering near her back, never quiet touching, like he couldn’t help himself.

When they reached the table, the girls greeted him with an almost alarming amount of warmth.

“So you’re the famous Oscar,” Thea said, giving him a polite but amused smile. “We’ve heard… things.”

Oscar looked briefly alarmed but managed a soft laugh. “Hopefully good things?”

“Oh yeah, totally,” Jess deadpanned. “Y/n never shuts up about-”

“Okay!” Y/n clapped loudly, cutting her off. “Who wants drinks?”

The whole table burst into laughter, and Oscar shot her a soft, fond grin she tried very hard not to melt under. The girls kept him talking, about racing, about traveling, about Australia, but every time Y/n looked over, he was already watching her. And every time his knee brushed hers under the table, neither of them moved away. Then the music shifted, the lights dimmed, and the dance floor filled as the time passed inside the dark club.

Jess leaned across the table, eyes bright with mischief. “You two should dance.”

“Nah,” Y/n said too quickly, her voice breaking. “We’re fine.”

Oscar just nodded politely as the two of them watched Y/n's friends get up to dance. Neither of them were the clubbing type and they had barely been here for an hour at this point.

After two songs, Oscar leaned toward her ear, voice nearly drowned by the music. “You want to get out of here?”

Y/n’s pulse skipped. She nodded. “Yeah.”

And just like that, they slipped out, leaving the flashing lights, the pounding music, and Y/n’s friends staring after them with wide eyes and matching oh my god expressions.

They slipped out the side door of the club, the cool night air rushing over their skin like a relief neither of them admitted they needed. The street was quiet, damp pavement, soft yellow streetlights, the distant hum of traffic. Oscar’s fingers brushed Y/n’s as they walked, close enough to touch but not quite. Until she stumbled slightly on the curb. His hand caught hers instantly. Neither of them let go.

They kept walking that way. hands gently laced, shoulders bumping occasionally, both pretending it was just… practical. Just friendly. Just convenient.

It wasn't.

Not even close.

The moment they stepped inside Y/n's apartment, Coco came bouncing over, wriggling her entire body in excitement and immediately going to Oscar like she’d been waiting hours for him specifically. Oscar crouched to greet her, smiling with that soft, quiet fondness he didn’t show many people.

Y/n put on a movie. Something random, something comforting, then curled up on the couch beside him. At first, they kept a careful inch of distance between them. But then her head tipped slowly onto his shoulder.

Oscar froze.

Not in discomfort, more like he was trying not to startle a small, delicate animal who had chosen him. His breath caught, his spine straightened, then he relaxed into it. Completely. One of his hands found the blanket draped over them, the other settled lightly on her forearm, thumb brushing back and forth without him seeming to notice.

Y/n felt warm. Safe. Sleepy.

Within twenty minutes, her breathing evened out, her head fully resting against his chest now, her hand tucked near his. She didn’t see it, but Oscar did nothing to hide the smile that pulled at his lips. The kind of smile he hadn’t realized he’d forgotten how to make. He shifted only enough to make sure she was comfortable, tucking the blanket closer around her and carefully leaning his cheek against the top of her head.

The movie kept playing.

Neither of them saw the ending.

Y/n slept soundly against him, and Oscar stayed perfectly still, perfectly content, like he’d been waiting a very long time to fall asleep with her there.

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F1gossip shared a post

F1gossip Oscar Piastri seen out in Miami ahead of the GP, and he wasn’t alone. Fans caught him leaving a club hand-in-hand with a mystery girl. New romance or just friends?

Liked by User4, EriKat, user 81 and 84,638 others

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user12: That definitely looks like Oscar but who’s the girl?

User4: Mystery girl era incoming

EriKat: my girl is getting famous

User87: The way they’re holding hands… that’s not just friends.

User22: Didn’t know Oscar even went out clubbing

\___ F1gossip: allegedly the two were there for barely an hour before leaving

User55: She looks familiar but I can’t figure out why.

User33: If this is a new girlfriend I fear the grid might combust

user81: That is 100% y/n.

user81: Her account is @/urinsta_ her and oscar were childhood bestfriends and met again at the Miami gp last year

\___ User96: wait she's actually so cute!

User11: Lowkey cute if it's true though

User42: Ohhhh this is connecting so many dots

User38: Guys I checked out her account, they follow eachother, he likes he posts, and she's posted him before, I SENSE A NEW WAG!!

Y/n woke up to sunlight slicing through her curtains and the faint smell of Oscar still clinging to her hoodie. Her phone buzzed nonstop on the nightstand, and she reached for it with one eye open, only to nearly drop it when she saw the notifications.

+40,238 new followers

Tags. Mentions. DM requests exploding.

Twitter screenshots. TikTok edits.

All of it centered around one blurry photo of her and Oscar leaving the club.

"Ughhhh," she mumbled, dragging the blanket over her head. She didn’t have the energy to deal with speculations, fan accounts, or whatever chaos was currently brewing online. All she really wanted was for Oscar to still be here, warm beside her, mumbling good morning in that soft voice he used when he was still half-asleep.

Instead, her phone buzzed again. She silenxed it and stuffed it under her pillow and closed her eyes. Five more minutes. Maybe ten. Maybe until Oscar came back. If he ever came back after this shit storm. For now she just closed her eyes and went back to sleep, unaware of the paddock pass sitting on her kitchen counter along with a note from Oscar, she would see it soon enough, when she was actually ready to wake up.

She wasn't ready to wake up from another four hours. When she finally did she grabbed her phone to see a message from Oscar saying he had to leave early for media duties and that he was hoping to see her soon. She smiled at the text, a smile that was too fond but she was alone at home, Noone around to judge her for smiling and blushing like an idiot over a text from him. She messaged him back saying she would cheer him on from the Grandstands so he'd better look for her.

She got out of bed slowly, still wrapped in the blanket, Coco trotting happily at her heel. Her steps were heavy, brain foggy, body still craving another three hours of sleep she wasn’t going to get. All she wanted was water and maybe cereal if she didn’t fall asleep on the counter first. She reached the kitchen and froze. Sitting right in the center of the counter, exactly where she never left anything, was an piece of paper. Her name written on it in handwriting she recognized instantly. Next to it, a bright, unmistakable paddock passes.

"What…" she whispered, stepping closer. She picked up the note, already feeling her pulse stutter.

Thought you might want a better view than the grandstands. I want you in the garage. With me. I already fed and walked Coco, so no excuses. — Oscar

Of course he had walked and fed Coco. Of course he had done it quietly, early, without waking her. Of course he had left her the one thing he knew she’d never ask for herself. Of course he knew, Oscar always knew when it came to her.

"Oscar… what are you doing to me?" she murmured, reading the words again, slower this time, her heart softening with every loop of his handwriting. Cheer him on from the grandstands? Yeah, right. He had other plans for her. And she wasn’t about to say no.

When Y/n stepped foot into the paddock, she immediately understood why Oscar had left her that pass with a note written in his barely-legible, just-woke-up handwriting. Because the moment she walked in, before she even found him, heads turned. Not one or two. Dozens. People whispering. People nudging their friends. Cameras rising just a little too quickly to be subtle. A couple of fans pretending to take photos of the garage but very obviously aiming at her instead.

Y/n’s stomach flipped. She wrapped her fingers tightly around the lanyard hanging from her neck, the one with Paddock Access printed in bold letters, as if it could anchor her. She had never been the center of attention before. Not like this. And then Oscar appeared from around the corner, race suit hung low on hus hips, smile already forming the second he spotted her. He walked straight over, completely unfazed by the eyes following him. Or the cameras. Or the whispers. He was used to all this unlike her.

"Hey," he said, soft in that way that was just for her as he pulled her into a quick hug. And suddenly every camera in a 20-foot radius went off.

She felt her cheeks burn. "Osc… everyone’s staring."

He glanced around like he genuinely hadn’t noticed, then shrugged, staying close as if his back would block the camera pointed at her. "Let them."

Easy for him to say, he did this for a living. But when they started walking together, side by side, Oscar greeting engineers and crew members like normal while she tried very hard not to trip over her own feet, Y/n felt something warm bloom in her chest. Because every time someone tried to stop her, ask who she was, ask for a photo, whisper too loudly, Oscar would instinctively place his hand on the small of her back, guiding her gently forward. Protective. Casual. Natural. Like he’d done it a hundred times.

And when he left her for a moment to go get weighed, she stood by the McLaren pit wall, suddenly very aware of the fact that multiple fans were taking pictures of her. Not of the car. Not of the garage. Her. She exhaled slowly, grounding herself. She wasn’t a celebrity. She wasn’t supposed to be important. She was just… Y/n. She was just a girl that just so happened to have grown up with someone that got famous.

But when Oscar came jogging back, suit still half-zipped and still damp from the heat and humidity, his eyes went straight to her like she was the only person who mattered. And in that moment, despite the cameras, and the whispers, and her own nerves, she felt brave enough to smile back.

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urinsta_ shared a post

urinsta_ 2nd year at the Miami GP, maybe this will become a tradition. Still getting used to being stared at but THE Sir Lewis Hamilton pointing me out to Osc felt unreal! Great race Great result!

Tagged- mclaren, lewishamilton, Oscarpiastri

Liked by Oscarpiastri, EriKat, user 81 and 34,827 others

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User92: the Miami GP becoming your tradition is such a flex

User11: we’re witnessing the softest slow burn ever

User55: I’m just saying he doesn’t look at anyone else like that

User37: THE way he liked this post so fast

User85: you in the garage was iconic

Oscarpiastri: great race

\___ urinsta_: Great result

\___ User83: Ariana what are you doing here??

User12 – you looked unreal this weekend

User44: girl I saw you in the paddock you’re actually so pretty it’s unfair

User33: she’s literally the mystery girl from the club I told y’all

Theadreams – queen of accidentally becoming an f1 influencer

\___ urinsta_: Thea please! I didn't ask for this

User66 – wait so are the rumors true or not because this looks REAL

User24- I sense a new wag coming to the paddock

EARLY JUNE 2025

Things between Y/N and Oscar had settled into this… impossible-in-between. They were closer than ever now, close in a way that made everyone around them raise their eyebrows and exchange knowing looks, close in a way that made her heart do something deeply inconvenient every time he smiled at her. And after weeks of pretending she didn’t feel that way, she finally admitted it to herself. Quietly. Privately. In the safety of her own mind where no one could judge her except Coco, who already looked at her like she was an idiot.

She liked him.

She more than liked him.

And because she had absolutely no self-preservation, she chose to ignore it and pretend nothing had changed.

Oscar, meanwhile, spent every spare second talking to her. FaceTime in hotels. Late-night voice notes. Sending her pictures of his food with captions like this is disgusting, help or would eat this and regret it immediately. She assumed it was just Oscar being Oscar. She didn’t know he felt the same. She didn’t know he was trying, desperately, to show her because Oscar was never the best with his words.

Then he won in Spain.

She watched the last lap from her couch, screaming at her TV, Coco barking like a maniac beside her. She was definately going to get a noise complain after this, or maybe not, her neighbors were always bipolar about what bothered them on weekends. She grabbed her phone which she had tossed earlier and she texted him the second he crossed the line:

Y/N: You absolute legend. I’m so proud of you. I hope someone is hugging you because if I were there I’d be tackling you right now.

She knew he wouldn't see it for a while since he was in the cooldown room then off to the podium and media but it was the thought that counted. The thought and that it was tradition, she would text him after every race to congratulate him and usually he got back to her with at least one text within the hour.

She flipped on the post-race show, half listening, half scrolling through the flood of notifications already piling in. Race edits, win graphics, interviews, which she gladly posted onto her story. She watched the post-race show all the way through. The replay of the overtake. The shots of him grinning with champagne dripping down his face. The cooldown room banter. The little smile he gave the camera when he thought no one was paying attention. She felt that stupid warmth spread through her chest again, the one she kept pretending meant absolutely nothing.

Whatever. Denial was a perfectly valid coping mechanism. She had just reached for the remote to turn the TV off when her phone lit up.

Incoming call from Osc <3 🐨

Her heart stuttered. He never called her this early. He never called her right after a race. Texts? Yes. Voice notes? Sure. Random photos of him holding the trophy like it was his baby? Absolutely. But calling? Right after winning? That was new.

She picked up, breath caught in her throat.

"Hello?"

There was a burst of noise,people cheering nearby, laughter, the sound of someone slapping someone else on the back. Then his voice. Warm. Breathless. Probably smiling from the sound of it.

"Hi. Sorry, I, uh, should I wait? I just came out of the pen."

She blinked, sitting up straighter. "Osc, you just won a race. Why are you calling me?"

He laughed, the kind of laugh he only let out when he was genuinely happy. "You texted me," he said like it explained everything. "I didn’t want to wait an hour to talk to you."

Her stomach dropped, twisted, fluttered, all of the above. "Oh," she managed. "Well… hi."

"Hi," he echoed, quieter this time.

They talked about the race first, well, she rambled and he laughed. She told him how she’d screamed at the TV, how Coco was still occasionally barking like she expected a trophy of her own. He told her about nearly losing his voice in parc fermé because his engineer hugged him too hard, and about Lando splashing him with champagne before the podium for no reason other than 'you looked like you needed it.' It felt easy. Too easy.

Then there was a pause, not awkward, just soft. Quiet. The kind they fell into sometimes when neither wanted to hang up.

When Oscar spoke again, his voice had dropped, almost swallowed by whatever room he was in. "…I miss you."

Her breath caught. If she had been even 15% more awake, she might’ve overthought it. Might’ve replayed the tone. Might’ve panicked. But she was tired, warm, and still wrapped in the glow of the win as if she was the one to cross the finish line. So she laughed softly and spoke without thinking.

"Then just fly to Miami. Problem solved." it was followed by a small giggle. One that made Oscar's ears heat up and his smile grow a little more.

"That’s… honestly not a bad idea." He murmured, so quiet that she almost didn't hear it over the background noise of the post race chaos.

Someone in the background called his name, sharp, rushed, PR voice. He sighed. "I’ve gotta go. More media."

"Right. Go be famous."

He laughed lightly. "Talk to you soon?"

"Yeah. Text me when you’re free."

"I will"

And like that the line went dead. The call ended at exactly three minutes and forty-two seconds. Y/n's phone turned off in her hand and her reflection filled the black screen. A smile that reached her eyes, cheeks a little too flushed with pink. Then she realized she was definately too down bad for him and she needed to reel herself in.

INSTAGRAM

F1gossip shared a post

F1gossip Thanks to an anonymous fan we now know that Oscar flew into Miami this morning days before the Canadian Grand Prix. Why is he here? We suspect he may be visiting his mystery girl who is rumored to be an old friend. What are your thought on it?

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User7: he really flew across the world for “a friend”??? come on now

User81: guys pls that’s 100% y/n 💀💀 he’s literally visiting her again

User19: WAIT the miami girl?? THE miami girl???

User305: ngl if my situationship flew continents for me i’d simply pass out

User55: y/n is so pretty tho i wouldn’t blame him tbh

User92: ok but why do i feel like they’ve known each other for YEARS??? something about this feels childhood-friends-to-lovers coded

User73: imagine being the girl Oscar Piastri secretly flies to see??? y/n is living my dream

User16: if they’re “just friends” then i’m the reigning world champion

Y/n wasn't expecting him to actually fly to miami the next morning. So when she was woken up by a knock on her door she immediately assumed it was one of her friends. Some of the girls had the habit of making spontaneous plans and showing up at her apartment around midafternoon or sunset, like it was now, to pull her out of her comfy bed to get Y/n to go out. She got off her couch where she had been working on working on working emails and walked over to the door already saying as she opened it.

"Erika I don't want to go out toda-" she cut herself off when she fully registered who was in front of her.

It was Oscar. Standing in her apartment building's hallway with his backpack, his carryon and a bottle of wine in his hand. He smiled at her. For a full three seconds, Y/N just stared at him, mouth slightly open, brain very much buffering. Oscar’s smile wavered, just a bit, like maybe he’d miscalculated and this was weird and she was about to slam the door in his face.

Then she finally blinked. "You’re… actually here."

He laughed under his breath, shifting the bottle of wine in his hand. "Yeah. You told me to fly to Miami. So…" He lifted the bottle slightly. "I brought reinforcements."

“You weren’t supposed to listen,” she said, stepping back to let him in, still in mild shock. “It was a joke.”

"Terrible joke," he said, walking inside like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"Did you seriously fly here right after winning a race?" she asked.

He dropped his backpack by the couch and shrugged casually. "Well, technically I showered then slept a bit first. And then flew." He glanced at her laptop still open on the couch. "Were you working?"

"just finishing up," she said. "But now you’re here, so im done a little early." She paused for a bit before adding "You want food? You must be starving."

So she ordered takeout,because cooking around Oscar suddenly sounded too domestic like a recipe for disaster, and they ate on her couch, legs bumping occasionally, each little touch sending tiny sparks up her (and his) spine. They talked for hours. About the race. His podium. Her stupid work drama. Coco hopping onto his lap like he’d been gone for months. It was easy, dangerously easy, like it all was around him recently. The kind of easy that made her understand exactly why she’d been trying to ignore her own feelings.

By the time the sun set, the apartment was dim except for the warm light of her floor lamp. Oscar leaned back into the couch, stretching his legs out, his hair slightly messy from travel, the wine bottle empty on the coffee table.

"You look tired," she said softly.

"Only a little." He looked at her, that quiet-lingering way he always did when he was thinking more than he said. "Worth it, though."

She swallowed. "For what?"

"For you"

For a moment, neither of them moved. His words hung between them, soft but heavy, the kind that made the air feel too warm, too still. Oscar didn't look away. If anything, he held her eyes more tightly, like he was waiting for her to flinch or lean in or say something... anything.

Y/n’s breath caught. Her chest felt tight, her pulse loud in her ears. His face was only a few inches from hers, close enough that she could see the faint smudges of tiredness under his eyes, the way his mouth twitched, just a little, as if he realized what he’d admitted. It was too much. Too close. Too real.

"I-" she croaked, voice embarrassingly thin.

She cleared her throat. "I should… um. I should go to bed. It’s late."

Oscar blinked, the spell breaking instantly. He sat up straighter, rubbing the back of his neck as if suddenly aware of himself. "Right. Yeah. Of course. You’re tired. You should sleep."

She nodded too fast. "Yeah. Sleep. Good idea."

He looked around her living room as though remembering where he was. "I didn’t book a hotel," he admitted with a small, sheepish shrug. "I kind of came straight here. But I can go or maybe sleep on your couch, only if that’s okay."

"Oh yeah. Totally. The couch is fine. More than fine. Really comfortable. Super comfortable couch.” Shut up, shut up, shut up, she screamed internally as she backed away.

Oscar tried not to smile at her flustered rambling, but he failed, dimples flickering. "Then I’ll see you in the morning," he said gently.

"Morning," she echoed, before fleeing, actually fleeing, down the hallway to her bedroom. She shut the door behind her, leaned back against it, and covered her burning face with both hands.

For you.

He’d said it so simply. So… sincerely. She buried her face in her pillow and let out a strangled groan. Across the apartment, Oscar lay down on her couch, staring up at the ceiling, face flushed in the dim light. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling shakily. He had traveled across an ocean just to see her. She had looked at him like she felt something she wasn’t ready to say. And he had absolutely, completely given himself away.

"I’m such an idiot," he whispered to the empty room—though the soft smile on his face said he didn’t regret a second of it.

Y/N, in her room, was thinking the same thing. Two rooms. Two blushing idiots. Both wide awake, replaying the same moment. Neither knowing that the other felt exactly the same.

At one point not long after Y/n left her room with a blanket and an extra pillow for Oscar. He was nowhere to be seen but judging by the bathroom light being on he'd be coming back soon. Y/n set the pillow and blanket on the couch and looked down at Coco who was in her own bed.

"Don't judge me okay" she whispered and the white dog just tilted her hear to the side before Y/n retreated back to her own bedroom. Whatever happened tonight, they'd hopefully never talk about it again, and if they did, it wouldn't be tonight. At least she hoped.

The next morning

Y/N woke up to the smell of something warm and buttery drifting under her door. For a second, she forgot everything, Oscar’s arrival, the almost-moment on the couch, her own mortifying escape to bed. Then she heard the faint clatter of pans and a very Oscar-like mutter of frustration, and it all came back at once. Her heart did an inconvenient little flip. She tugged on a hoodie that was Oscar's a few months ago and padded barefoot down the hall. The sight waiting for her in the kitchen nearly made her laugh.

Oscar Piastri, Formula One race-winner, was standing over her stove with the most serious expression in the world, flipping French toast like he was defusing a bomb. He turned at the sound of her steps, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Morning."

"Morning," she murmured back, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "You’re… cooking."

"I am." He brandished the spatula proudly. "And nothing’s burnt. Yet."

She leaned on the counter, watching him move around her kitchen with an oddly natural ease. "You didn’t have to do this."

"I wanted to.” He said it simply, the same quiet straightforwardness that undid her every time.

They sat at her tiny table, plates steaming between them. Coco curled at Oscar’s feet like she’d switched allegiance in the night. Halfway through breakfast, the silence shifted, soft, expectant. Y/N poked her fork into her toast.

Y/n hesitated for a long moment, her fork dragging through the eggs she’d barely touched. Oscar was focused on the pan in the sink, rinsing it out like it was the most complicated task in the world. Maybe he was giving her space. Maybe he was avoiding the same thing she was.

Either way, if she didn’t say it now, she’d lose her nerve. "So…" she began, her voice soft but uncomfortably loud in the quiet of the apartment, "about last night."

Oscar stilled. Completely stilled. Then he shut off the tap, placed the pan on the drying rack, and turned around slowly. He didn’t sit right away, just leaned against the counter, arms loosely crossed, expression careful. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I was hoping we’d talk about that."

Her heartbeat picked up. She stared at her plate like it had answers. "I didn’t… I didn’t walk away because I was uncomfortable or anything. Or because I didn’t want whatever that almost was."

His brows lifted a little, something hopeful flickering in his eyes. "You didn’t?"

"No," she breathed out, shaking her head. "I just… panicked. You looked at me like…" She trailed off, cheeks warming.

He pushed gently, voice low, not joking, not pushing her away, just inviting her to finish. “Like what?”

"I don't know" she started crossing her arms as she looked anywhere but his eyes. "I might just be reading into things because of my own feelings or something but I just.... I don't know." She huffed trying to gather herself. "Ever since we spent that time together in Australia I've felt this .... this thing. Any time we talk or you smile at me I get all warm inside and I trip up on my words" she continued.

Oscar didn’t interrupt, didn’t move, didn’t even blink too hard. He just listened, really listened, the same way he always had, the same way that made her feel like he saw straight through her defenses without ever trying to.

Y/N exhaled shakily. "And I keep telling myself it’s just because things have been… different between us this year. We’ve been closer. And it’s easy to misread closeness when you care about someone." She rubbed her arms, shrinking into herself slightly. "So I kept pushing it down. I didn’t want to ruin anything, especially since we're back to normal now after so long. I didn’t want to make things weird."

"But last night," she went on, voice barely steady, "the way you looked at me… I don’t know. It messed with me. It felt like you were… seeing me. Or waiting." She shook her head, laughing in disbelief at herself. "God, maybe I’m totally wrong. Maybe I’m projecting. Maybe my brain was fried from staying up too late and you flying across the world like a maniac for no reason."

Oscar let out a tiny breath of a laugh, just enough to say he heard her, not enough to make fun of her. She finally looked at him then, just for a second. And cursed herself, because the way he looked back only made everything worse. Or better. Or both.

"Y/n," he said softly, leaning forward, forearms braced on his knees. "You’re not imagining anything."

Her heart slammed into her ribs.

He continued, voice steady in a way that made her chest tighten. "I wasn’t looking at you like that by accident. I wasn’t hoping for something because I misunderstood you. And you’re not projecting.: His eyes held hers like a tether. "You were right."

She swallowed hard. "About what?" she whispered.

He gave a small, almost tired smile, like holding it in any longer would physically hurt him. "About how I feel."

Her breath caught.

He kept going, gentler now. "I’ve felt it too. Since Australia. Probably before that, if I’m being honest with myself." He dragged a hand through his hair. "Every time we talked, every time you laughed, every time you’d look at me like you were trying not to say something… I felt it. All of it."

Her eyes widened slightly.

"And I didn’t say anything," he said, voice low,

"because I didn’t want to push you or confuse you or make your life harder. You’ve already had people speculating about this mysterious Miami girl and whatever else. I didn’t want to add to that." He paused. "But last night… I couldn’t pretend anymore."

That confession settled between them like a warm, terrifying truth.

She blinked, stunned. "You really like me… romantically?"

He nodded once. Firm. "Yeah. A lot. More than I should, probably."

They just stared at each other for a moment, really stared, like they were both realizing at the same time that there was no going back from this conversation. And yet… neither of them wanted to.

She finally let out a tiny, helpless laugh. "This was not how I thought today would go."

"Me neither," Oscar admitted, smiling faintly. "But I’m glad it did."

"Osc…" she murmured. "What do we do now?"

He inhaled deeply, steadying himself. "Whatever you’re comfortable with," he said. "We can take it slow. We can talk more after Montreal. We can figure out how this fits with the season and your life and all the chaos that comes with it." Then, softer, "I’m not going anywhere. Not unless you tell me to."

Her whole body warmed at that. "I don’t want you to go anywhere."

The smallest smile tugged at his lips, relieved and sweet and a little stunned. "Good. Because I don’t want to go anywhere either."

The rest of the day passed in that strange, quiet bubble the two of them always seemed to fall into, where nothing monumental needed to be said, but everything felt a little heavier, a little more meaningful than usual. After breakfast, they lingered around her apartment, talking about nothing and everything, laughing at the burnt corner of the toast he’d insisted was 'intentional,' teasing each other about how awkward they were the night before, and then, every now and again, slipping into softer conversations. The kind that left both of them staring at each other just a second too long.

Oscar mentioned the race a few times, apologizing that he had to leave so soon. Each time she told him it was fine, but the way her voice tightened around the word said otherwise. And every time, his eyes softened like he wanted to say he’d stay if he could, but he couldn't, and they both knew it.

By mid-afternoon, they were still drifting around each other, sitting close on the couch but not quite touching, sharing snacks, half-watching a show, half-watching each other. It felt like they were trying to memorize this little pocket of time before reality came crashing back in. Around five, Oscar checked the time and winced.

"You don’t have to take me," he said, even though he wanted her to.

"I know," she replied, already grabbing her keys. "I want to."

The drive to the airport was warm and quiet, the sky that soft gold that always makes goodbyes feel worse. Oscar kept glancing over at her, like he was trying to take a mental photograph of her profile. She caught him once. He didn’t deny it.

When they finally pulled up to the drop-off area around 6 p.m., neither of them moved to unbuckle their seatbelts. Instead, they just sat there, staring straight ahead, pretending time wasn’t ticking toward his flight. Eventually, they got out and stood by her car, the cool evening air settling around them. Their conversation came in slow waves, little jokes, small comments about his upcoming race, anything to delay the inevitable.

"Feels familiar, doesn’t it?" she murmured.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "Like Australia all over again."

Except this time, the goodbye hurt in a different way, because now they both knew exactly what it meant. Now there wasn’t any pretending, no brushing off the tension or the feelings beneath it. Oscar shoved his hands into his pockets, rocking on his heels like he was debating something.

"I meant what I said this morning," he told her. "I like you. I just… want to do this right."

"Me too," she said softly. "We’ll talk more when you’re back. When things aren’t so… rushed."

He nodded, eyes dropping to the ground before flicking up to meet hers again. "I don’t really want to leave yet."

"I know."

They stayed there, close enough for their arms to brush when the breeze pushed them together, stretching every last second until his phone buzzed with the final boarding reminder.

He sighed, long and reluctant. "I should go."

"Yeah," she whispered, even though she didn’t move.

They stared at each other for one more beat, one long, almost-moment where either of them could have closed the distance but didn’t. Then he stepped back. And stepped forward again before he spoke. Almost like he was throwing the statement out before talking himself out of it.

"Can I kiss you?"

She blinked up at him, surprised only for a heartbeat before everything in her chest seemed to settle into place. "Yeah," she breathed, the word coming out barely above a whisper. "Yeah… you can."

Oscar let out a shaky exhale, one that sounded almost like relief, and took that final half-step closer until the space between them disappeared. His hand lifted first, hesitating in the air before resting lightly along her jaw, thumb brushing her cheek like he was making sure she was real.

Her eyes fluttered shut at the touch, and he leaned in, slowly, so slowly it was almost painful, giving her every chance to pull back.

She didn’t.

Their foreheads touched for a moment, both of them breathless, both of them trying to commit this second to memory. Then he tilted his head and pressed his lips to hers.

It wasn’t rushed or desperate. It was soft, careful like he was kissing her the way he’d wanted to for a very long time. She melted into it almost immediately, her hand coming up to lightly grip the fabric of his jacket, grounding herself in him as the world around them seemed to fade out.

Oscar deepened the kiss just slightly, enough to draw a quiet inhale from her, but still gentle, still holding back like he didn’t want to overwhelm the moment. When he finally pulled away, he stayed close, his nose brushing hers, their breaths mingling in the small space between them.

"God," he whispered, almost smiling, "I really didn’t want to leave before doing that."

She let out a soft laugh, her thumb grazing over the back of his hand. "Good," she said. "Because I didn’t want you to leave without doing that either."

He rested his forehead against hers again, eyes drifting closed like he wanted to stay in this tiny pocket of time forever. But then another boarding alert chimed from his phone, loud, cruel, and impossible to ignore.

Oscar opened his eyes, and this time there was no pretending. No delaying. Only the quiet promise of what this kiss meant. "I’ll text you when I land," he said softly, brushing a final, fleeting kiss to her cheek.

"Okay," she whispered, trying to smile even though everything inside her ached at the thought of him walking away.

He stepped back, but slower this time, like the kiss had made it that much harder to go. And before he turned toward the doors, he gave her one last look, one that held every unspoken feeling they’d finally stopped pretending didn’t exist.

Then he walked inside, disappearing into the glow of the terminal. And she stood there a moment longer, fingers brushing her lips, already missing him.

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F1gossip Safe to say that Miami Mystery Girl might be a little more than just a friend for McLaren driver Oscar Piastri as the two were seen kissing outside the Miami International Airport

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User5: that is NOT “just an old friend” omg

User47: they look kinda cute tho…

User52: something about this doesn’t sit right with me lol

\___ user81: why? If it's who i think it is they have known eachother their whole lives pretty much. Let the man have a life

User3: why is oscar piastri getting exposed in an airports

User14: MIAMI MYSTERY GIRL STRIKES AGAIN

User31: paparazzi need to chill but also… I need answers

User11: he’s holding her face?? oh he’s GONE gone

User18: he should focus on driving instead of whatever THIS is

User72: Lando’s gonna tease him for MONTHS

User77: meanwhile McLaren PR waking up in a cold sweat

User122: she won. whatever competition there was, she WON

User4: not him flying across the world for a 24hr trip just to kiss her

LATE AUGUST 2025

It felt almost surreal how much had changed in just a couple of months, quietly, privately, softly unfolding between the two of them like something they’d both been tiptoeing around for years without realizing it.

Y/n and Oscar were, officially, dating now. To the public, they were just 'close friends,' a phrase they used whenever someone got nosy or when a journalist asked Oscar a question with too much of a knowing smile. They didn’t hide from the people who mattered. Their friends knew. His family knew. Hers, too. But the rest of the world? For now, it was theirs and theirs alone. And somehow, keeping it private made it sweeter.

They had spent almost all of summer break together, her splitting time between her Miami apartment and wherever Oscar happened to be. There were long stretches of doing nothing on the couch with Coco between them, mornings spent making pancakes while Oscar insisted on flipping every single one, and afternoons wandering around little beach towns with their hats pulled low. It had been normal and soft and so painfully easy. They weren't just cooped up at her apartment they traveled because she mentioned wanting to see the world more before moving jobs. So naturally that mean Oscar surprised her with a trip to Greece. The trip was beautiful and Y/n told her friends and family all about each day.

And then Oscar posted the picture.

Just one. Hidden in a post of his “Summer Break Dump”, sunset photos, a blurry picture of Hattie making a stupid face, a shot of a half-eaten empanada, his sunglasses left in the sand. And then, fourth swipe in, a photo of Y/N. Sitting on the shore, hair pulled up, sunglasses crooked on her head, sun hitting her shoulders. She wasn’t even looking at the camera. He’d taken it when she wasn’t paying attention, eyes on the water, face relaxed in that way that only came out when she felt completely safe.

The caption was simple: 'good summer. ready to get back to work :) '

That was it, simple. But it didn’t matter. People online weren’t stupid, especially not F1 fans. Even though he didn’t tag her, even though she wasn’t facing the camera, it took them eight hours, eight, to find her Instagram and send her follower count skyrocketing. Overnight, she gained 120,000 followers. The next day, another 40,000. And now? She was sitting at nearly 300k, and she still wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

Oscar kept apologizing. "I didn’t think they’d find you that fast," he had said, genuinely sheepish.

She’d just rolled her eyes and shoved him lightly. "You literally posted a picture of me, Osc. They treat you like a golden retriever with a driver’s license, they’re obsessed with everything and everyone you do." She joked.

He laughed, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "Still. I didn’t mean to make your notifications explode."

She secretly liked the picture. Liked that he’d chosen it. Liked that he’d wanted to share even a tiny corner of their summer.

Now she was in Amsterdam, because Oscar had insisted. He’d called her one night after a sim session, voice tired but warm, and said, "You’ve never been to the Netherlands. That’s a problem. Let me fix it." And before she could remind him that she did, in fact, have a job and responsibilities, he sent her a flight confirmation and a hotel reservation with her name already on it. She had never been more happy about all her built up PTO.

So now she was here, jet-lagged in the softest way, standing in the lobby of their hotel with her carry-on at her feet when Oscar walked in from a team meeting. He spotted her immediately. His entire face lit up, and she felt something in her chest lift and soften like it always did. "You made it," he said, pulling her into a hug that lasted just a second too long for 'just friends.' His hoodie was still cool from the outside air, and he smelled like shampoo and travel. "How was the flight?"

"Good,” she said, smiling into his shoulder. "Can’t believe you actually flew me here."

He shrugged with a little grin. "You flew to see me earlier this season. Fair’s fair."

She rolled her eyes. "I drove twenty minutes to the airport, Oscar. This is… another Country."

"Exactly." His eyes sparkled a little. "Which is why I’m taking you out today."

"Out?"

"You’ve never been here. So we’re having a proper date."

Her heart did that annoying warm flip she was trying very hard to ignore. "A date?"

"Unless you don’t want it to be?" he asked, a little too quickly.

She nudged him with her shoulder. "I didn’t say that." God, the way he smiled at that.

An hour later they were out in the city, walking side-by-side over narrow bridges and cobblestone streets. Oscar had been here several times for the race; he knew the little alleyways, the quiet cafés with mismatched chairs, the bakeries that smelled so good she almost cried. Everything was new to her. The canals glittered under the afternoon sun, bicycles zipped past them in chaotic waves, and the old narrow houses leaned into each other like gossiping friends. She kept looking around, absorbing everything, tugging lightly at his sleeve whenever she saw something cute or interesting.

"You’re like a tourist," he teased.

"I am a tourist."

"A very adorable one," he murmured under his breath quiet, but not quiet enough.

She pretended not to hear him, mostly because if she acknowledged it she’d melt into a puddle on the sidewalk. He took her to a tiny café overlooking a canal, the kind of place with three tables and a cat sleeping in the window. They shared apple pie because Oscar refused to let her leave the city without trying it.

"You’re staring," she said when she caught him looking at her instead of the view.

"You’re cuter than the canal," he replied easily. She nearly choked on her bite.

They walked some more after that, wandering aimlessly, arms brushing every now and then. Oscar kept glancing at her like he was memorizing the moment, her smile, the wind playing with her hair, the way she lit up at every new corner of the city.

"Thank you for bringing me," she said quietly as they stood on a bridge overlooking boats drifting lazily below.

"Thank you for coming," he said back. "It’s… nicer with you here."

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urinsta_ I can officially check the netherlands off of my list of places to visit thanks to my favorite guy! I had so much fun and ate so much good food

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User2: girl weren’t you literally home like two days ago

User3: 'my favorite guy' WHO??

User5: why are you there right before the zandvoort weekend

User31: i’m telling you i SAW her at a café with a guy

User31: i’m telling you i SAW her at a café with a guy \___User81: was a guy or was it Oscar \___User31: totally Oscar

User8: this is giving “soft launch” idc

User11: no way a guy flies you out if y’all are 'just friends'

User14: i’m connecting dots and forming theories rn

User16: the food pics, the canals, the angles… yup she’s in love

User22: the way you said 'thanks to my favorite guy' like we wouldn’t notice

User20: hard launch WHEN??

User24: the fact that she didn’t tag anyone is louder than tagging someone

User40: okay but why is he always liking her posts INSTANTLY ___User44: because he has her notifs on be serious

User27: pretty sure i saw her holding hands with oscar by the canals

User29: y’all she’s not denying ANY of the comments

The energy inside the McLaren garage was electric, louder and more alive than anything she had ever experienced. Mechanics darted across the floor with headsets pressed tight, tyres rolled past her in quick, practiced motions, and the air smelled faintly of hot brakes and petrol. Y/N stood tucked between two engineers, wearing the required fireproof headphones and an oversized McLaren shirt Oscar had lent her that morning "because it looks better on you," he’d joked, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek before heading to briefing.

Her credentials hung from her neck, badge swinging lightly every time someone brushed past her. It felt surreal to be here, seeing everything Oscar had described to her over late-night calls and voice notes. Screens lit up with telemetry, radio messages crackled in and out, and everyone around her moved with purpose. She kept catching herself smiling because as chaotic as it was, she felt unbelievably proud of him. She could definately see herself working in this field but that was a thought for another time.

The race had just gone green when she noticed one of the broadcast cameras drift her way. It was the big shoulder-mounted one, the kind that zoomed right up into your soul. She wasn’t thinking much of it; the cameras always panned over team personnel during pit stops. She offered a polite smile and a small wave, assuming she’d end up in a montage that no one would think twice about.

But then the world shifted. Because when the broadcast cut to her, clear as day in the middle of the McLaren garage, the name card that appeared at the bottom of the screen didn’t say 'team guest,' or 'friend of the team,' or anything even close to neutral. Instead, in clean white lettering under her face, the graphic read:

Y/N L/N — Engineer & Oscar Piastri’s Partner

She didn’t see the mistake. She didn’t see anything at all, really not with her attention locked on the chaos of the garage, the thunder of cars leaving the pit lane, the engineers shouting numbers and deltas into headsets. She was too focused, too anxious, too wrapped up in Oscar’s race to realize that the broadcast had just dropped the world’s biggest secret in front of millions.

But the fans did. Oh, the fans noticed instantly. Someone watching from home grabbed their remote so fast they nearly snapped it, rewinding and pausing the exact frame. Another person recorded the moment on their phone and uploaded it before the race had even hit lap three. Within two minutes, screenshots were everywhere, Twitter, TikTok, fan pages, Discords, Instagram stories.

Comment sections erupted:

“WHY DID IT JUST SAY ‘PARTNER’ BEFORE THEY CHANGED VIEWS???” “GUYS THIS IS NOT A DRILL” “THEY TRIED TO COVER IT UP BUT WE SAW IT” “SOMEONE AT F1 BROADCAST IS GETTING FIRED LMFAOOO”

Inside the McLaren garage, though, Y/n remained blissfully unaware. Her phone buzzed and buzzed and buzzed in her pocket, constant and violent, but she brushed it off as friends teasing her for being on TV again. She didn’t see the glances thrown her way by mechanics or the way the PR intern on the pit wall looked like he might pass out at any moment. The panic outside her bubble built quickly.

Fans started connecting dots the Amsterdam trip, the photos in similar locations, the timing of her flight, the way Oscar had been smiling a little too widely lately.

Theories confirmed at light speed: “THEY’RE A COUPLE” “THIS IS CONFIRMATION” “THIS ISN’T EVEN A SOFT LAUNCH ANYMORE” “WE’VE BEEN BLINDSIDED”

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F1gossip Introducing the newest WAG to the Paddock, Oscar Piastri's Miami mystery girl, Y/n L/n (instagram @urinsta_). She is an Engineer and was childhood friends with him. The two reportedly reconnected at the 2024 Miami grand prix and have been inseparable ever since. After many rumors and sitings of the two the F1 Broadcast has officially labeled her as his partner. We will be waiting for some more official news

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User1: She’s actually so pretty omg what

User72: Someone send this to Drive to Survive producers

User2: An engineer AND a WAG?? power move

User6: WAIT this is the girl from his summer dump right??

User67: She looks so sweet I feel bad she’s gonna deal with F1 fans now

User4: Childhood friends to lovers is CRAZY??

User25: Y’all hype every girl a driver dates lol

User18: Pretty AND smart?? girl save

User64: If Oscar likes her, I already like her

User15: Everyone act normal (we won’t)

User5: I stalked her insta she seems so sweet

User44: Oscar Piastri has a Super pretty girlfriend so I blocked Gracie Abrams

User3: Oscar winning on and off track

User78: Why is she perfect?? Criminal

Two days after the chaos of Zandvoort, the world had fully caught up.

The soft–launch was over. The internet had clips, screenshots, slowed-down videos, zoomed-in photos of them walking through the paddock together, laughing on the bridge, him holding her hand when he thought no one was watching. Several fan accounts had practically built a timeline already. Oscar sat at the tiny kitchen table in their Amsterdam Airbnb, scrolling through his phone with the expression of a man watching his life burn down in real time.

Y/n came out of the bathroom, towel-drying her hair. "You’re still doomscrolling, aren’t you?"

He didn’t even deny it. He just looked up at her, eyebrows pulled together in that soft, troubled way she knew too well. "I’m sorry," he said quietly.

She blinked. "For what?"

"For… this." He held up his phone helplessly. "Us getting outed like that. You didn’t ask for it. I should’ve been more careful. I should’ve-" He exhaled hard, shaking his head. "You shouldn’t have to deal with all this."

Y/N crossed the room and plucked the phone from his hands before he could hide it. She set it face-down on the table. "Oscar," she said, sliding into the seat next to him. "I don’t care."

He gave a short, humorless huff. "You should. People online are-"

"I know," she cut in gently. "I’ve seen the comments. The edits. The twelve million ‘who is she’ tweets. The girl on TikTok who literally analyzed my fingernails to figure out if it was me in your soft-launch post."

Oscar actually winced. "Oh my god."

"But,” she continued, leaning her shoulder into his, "none of it bothers me like you think it does."

He turned to her slowly, confused. "It doesn't?"

"Nope." She offered a small smile. "I knew what I was getting into the second I said yes to this. I knew people would find out eventually. And honestly?" She shrugged. "It’s kind of funny."

"Funny?" He stared like she’d just said the sky was green.

"Yes, funny," she insisted, grinning now. "The internet thinks they’re Sherlock Holmes because they saw us holding hands for, like, two seconds on a blurry fan cam."

He didn’t laugh. He still looked worried. So she reached for his hand. "Oscar. I’m okay. Really. The only thing that would’ve made me upset is if you were embarrassed of me. But you’re not. And I’m not embarrassed of you." She squeezed his fingers. "So let them talk. We’re fine."

He finally let out a breath, a real one, not the tight, stressed ones he’d been stuck in. His shoulders dropped, tension bleeding out. "I just wanted you to have… time," he admitted. "To choose when you wanted to be public."

She tilted her head, touched. “I still chose. Just not in the way we expected.”

Oscar cracked the smallest smile, eyes soft. “You’re handling this better than I am.”

"Oh, I’m thriving," she teased, leaning closer. "I only panicked once, and that was when I saw a girl on Twitter claim she recognized me from your following list and I realized, oh god, I need to archive half my old selfies." Thankfully her joke worked in lightening the mood.She nudged his shoulder. "We’re okay, Osc. Promise."

He looked at her for a long, slow moment, relief settling into something warmer, something like gratitude, and love he wasn’t brave enough to say out loud yet. "Yeah," he murmured. "We’re okay."

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