GREENE | CS55

04 - Eyes on the Prize

cw: mention of drug/substance use

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The beauty of Austin nightlife was the sure ability one had of getting lost in it.

With the main streets of downtown Austin alight with activity, it was near impossible to run into anyone you know.

Unless you were looking to be found.

For some, particularly a bouncy-haired blonde, that meant a little bit of careful selection when it came to going out. Especially if they didn't, per say, want to be lost in the crowd. They wanted to stand out in the crowd. If it was up to them, they'd want to cause the crowd, but beggars can't be choosers.

Pierce Greene was happy to be lost. She tipped the brim of her cow-print cowboy hat over the crest of her brow just enough and ducked her head downward as she traversed the space between the blacked-out Cadillac and the opened venue door. It was futile to try and hide from the looming paparazzi. But, Pierce couldn't very well make it seem like she knew what she was doing, going out with Sydney White and her friends. Their friends.

She knew that she had to at least play the part. No photos, please. My dad will see. The sponsors will see. What will the fans think? Going out and partying with her no-good friends right after a crash? She doesn't deserve that seat!

Sydney flashed Pierce a dangerously devious smile from the front of the group, one Pierce returned with the same ferocity. A glint shimmered from her smoothed blonde locks as the atmosphere of the bar took over. As the night grew alive, taking the reigns. Buzzing with a mind of its own.

The anger ripped through her harder than the bass from the live band currently playing on stage. Though, you would never know it just by looking at the relaxed smile spread across her cheeks. Her confident demeanor that screamed Yeah, I'm meant to be here. Pierce took Ale's hand, letting the petite woman dance her through the crowd of people until they reached their final destination for the night.

This event had nothing to do with Formula One, a rarity for this weekend in Austin. That much, at least, Pierce was grateful for. This could be a night away from the racing world, with not even a peep about her incident with Sainz, or any questioning about her surprising apology statement.

Though, she didn't know why Holden had been so surprised she said what she did to Buxton. Gunther asked her to apologize. So she did. She did it for the team. For Gunther.

The relief she felt was almost enough to give her the energy she needed to pretend that she was excited for Luc De Vont and his most recently released flavor of his mushroom-infused fizzy drink.

"Like, magic mushrooms?" Tatianna Scott whispered into Pierces ear.

"Why don't you chug one and let me know in, like, 45 minutes?"

Tatianna tutted, pursing her shimmery glossed lips as she made a face at Pierce. The look was a familiar one, and it was enough to make Pierce crack a genuine laugh.

Scott and Greene had known each other since they were children, meeting for the first time when Pierce walked into her first grade classroom at the prestigious and private Barlow House School for Girls in Calabasas, nestled high above the Malibu coastline. Scott's dad worked in investment, or maybe stock brokerage. Pierce was never quite sure what he did. All she knew was he made enough money to be invited on Jim and his business partners' annual summer vacations.

If Pierce had to pick any one of her friends to pull her out from a burning house, it would be Tatianna.

Tatianna Scott wouldn't think twice before offering Pierce Greene a helping hand.