𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐠; oscar piastri ✔

PART SIXTEEN

Word count; 1,859

Mirabella

— July 14th, 2023. Silverstone, England.

"Have you thought any more about it?" Kelly asked me, leaning on the fence of the playground.

I watched Penelope run around the climbing frame, stuffing my hands into my pockets; the three of us had met up for lunch - though it was more dinner, if anything, the sun well on its way to the horizon - and had escaped to the nearby park, with the reason that P needed to be tired out before they went back home.

"Not really." I said simply.

It was the truth; I hadn't thought once about an after. Ever since the night at the lounge, Oscar and I had remained in an awkward strain, and yet I never once wondered about leaving. Or what I would do if he asked me to.

"What about modelling?"

"I do miss it, I will admit." I smiled, expecting her to ask why I no longer worked for Miansai.

"I have an upcoming thing in Belgium." She said, a bore. "So I can travel with Max for the GP and we can catch a flight straight afterwards."

"Where are you going?" I inquired genuinely.

"Rio de Janeiro." She answered, pronouncing the words with a Portuguese accent. "For the summer break. Ten days of it, at least."

She chuckled at my quizzical expression, explaining there were only two more races before the end of the season - not the full season, but until the Dutch GP at the end of August. Was that why Oscar had turned so cold? To make it easier for when the time came?

"Nevertheless," Kelly continued. "This shoot in Belgium, it's for the WSG. Revived glamour, et cetera."

The WSG was an international retailer of every expensive watch brands, many of which Kelly had modelled for as a freelancer. She'd mentioned it a few times before; reasons why she couldn't attend various GPs, other than Penelope.

"You can always come." She proposed, hair blowing with the light breeze. "Just for a change. It wouldn't mean anything."

No commitments, she meant.

"Plus, it would make up for Vogue LatinAmerica." She beamed. "I'd be happy to talk to my manager."

P had begun to beckon her mother, asking to be pushed on the swings.

"Think about it?" The sun reflected in her almond eyes.

I nodded, watching her head for the gate to the park. I hadn't really taken into account her offer, still stuck on the idea that all of this would end soon. That the routine Oscar and I had formulated would drift into the past. At least the shoot in Belgium would give me a chance - a sense of direction after everything collapses.

Kelly returned ten or so minutes later, holding P's hand.

"I've thought about it." I bit my bottom lip. "I'd like to."

She grinned, warming my heart. "I'll talk to my manager."

Penelope extended her free palm, indicating for mine. The three of us walked together, just like that, back home.

Kelly jingled her keys, unable to find the right one to the apartment. Meanwhile, I poked P's shoulders, keeping her attention away from her mother; I'd tap the left, only to appear on her right, and she'd giggle.

"Finally," Kelly sighed, pushing open the threshold.

Penelope pivoted at the sound of the hindges, sprinting inside, Kelly darting after her, looking back once to ensure I shut the door. I dropped my purse on the kitchen counter, descending a hallway, following Kelly's voice; P had ran into a room - Max's room - and Kelly was trying her very best to yank her back.