The Exit - Oscar Piastri FF

21. - New opportunities

It had now been months after the incident at the Dutch GP, and I had still not spoken to either of the boys. Max and I were back to being regular teammates, but I wouldn't say we were friends. Oscar and Logan both still tried to contact me here and there, but I stood my ground and I didn't want to listen. Whatever they had to say, I was sure nothing could excuse lying to me like that, let alone ignore me after such a vulnerable moment with Oscar. 

Overall, I had spent the last few months mostly alone, not speaking to anyone about my personal life at all. I had spent all my time working on my performance, and it paid off in the end. It was time today for the Vegas GP, and as far as I had heard, the World Championship could be decided today, I just had to get one more P1 in the season. It was a bit more complicated, to be honest, but If I won and Max didn't get p2, then it would be decided today. Usually, there would be a lot of pressure on the driver from the team in a situation like this, but I felt none at all. During the last few months, I had begun to notice how the whole team revolved around Max, and they weren't all that happy that I was that big of a competition. It came to a point now, that they didn't even try to hide it, and the sparring had come to a minimum. They all wanted Max to win the championship again this year, and if he didn't... Well, then I'm not sure I'd have a seat at Redbull next season...

I had arrived in the paddock, ready for the race today. The whole weekend I had easily avoided anyone I didn't want to see, as the Vegas GP was so busy with people, but today, I wasn't lucky at all. I managed to somehow arrive at the exact same time as Logan, and we both scanned our passes at the same time. None of us said a thing though. There had been a lot of speculations about the whole deal with Oscar, Logan and I, how we started as friends before F1, then enemies in the beginning, best friends, and now we were practically strangers again. Reporters asked about it a lot in the beginning, but none of us told them anything about what happened. The boys both avoided any questions about me in general, and I had made it a rule to leave whenever their names got brought up and it wasn't related to the race.

Logan and I were inevitably walking alongside each other through the crowd, when suddenly a reporter came out of nowhere, stopping the both of us. I was trying to get past, but with the large amount of people and the camera guy standing in the way, I had no way of escaping. "Yn Connor, how do you feel about possibly becoming the first-ever female world champion today?" He asked, and I put a fake face on and replied dryly. "Feels great," I said and tried to get past again with no luck, while Logan was just standing there, looking lost. "Yeah? Does the team feel the same? Or do they want your teammate, three-time world champion, Red Bull Legend, Max Verstappen to win?" I almost couldn't help but roll my eyes at the way the reporter was asking the question. Everyone knew the answer, and everyone was trying to tear me down in the process, hoping for another win for the great Max Verstappen. I was sick of it.

"Don't you have anything better to do? Maybe get an apology ready, for when she wins the title today and you'll look like a fool," Logan snickered, full of annoyance. I almost couldn't believe that he had said that, sweet sweet Logan, who never spoke back to anyone. I looked at him in shock and a bit of admiration, a small smile forming on my lips. The reporter became speechless as well, and he finally stepped aside, as Logan placed a hand on my back and we continued to walk through the crowd and further into the paddock. 

"Don't listen to him Con, and don't listen to your team either. You'll do great today, I know that" Logan said as our walk came to a halt, when we reached the Williams garage. "I almost don't want it to go that great," I let out, almost instantly. I was somehow still so used to telling this boy everything. He knitted his eyebrows together, looking at me in disbelief. "What do you mean?" He asked and I shook my head, looking away from him. He placed both of his hands on my shoulders and I hesitantly looked back at him. "What's going on?" He pressed for an answer, and I took a deep breath. "Horner has made it very clear to me that he doesn't want two world champions on his team, going forward. He doesn't want the shine taken off Max..." I let out and watch as Logan rolls his eyes. "Of course, he doesn't..." He said sarcastically and I nodded. "I have no other offers for next season yet, so if I win the title today, I don't know if I'll even be in f1 next season," I explained further, and Logan looked at me with pity. "Connor, any team would be happy to have you, I know that. Maybe try reaching out to some of them. Mercedes probably haven't filled their spot for next year," He suggested, and I shrugged a bit. I had completely forgotten ever being mad at him because I knew I needed him at that moment. I needed my best friend. I needed both of them...

"You're probably right, I'll think about that..." I said, but I wasn't convinced at all. "Connor, you need to give it all you've got. The best driver should be the winner, we all know that. You deserve to win. There's no way you won't have an offer, ending your rookie season as a world champion," He tried to argue, showing me a supportive smile, and I couldn't come up with anything else to say. "Who's this Logan, you brought a girlfrie-...nd..." A familiar voice rang in my ear, coming from behind. I wasn't wearing any of the Red Bull gear today, so he obviously didn't recognise me from behind, especially talking to Logan. Oscar looked at me with a surprised and longing expression, his mouth was opening and closing as if he was going to say something but decided against it. "Hey..." I said, being just as obviously baffled as him. 

The range of emotions I was going through, I couldn't even begin to describe them. "Hi... Are you alright?" He asked, as his face immediately became worried. "Not really..." I admitted. I never learned how to lie to him or fake it in front of him... Even after all this time...

"Let's go somewhere and talk," He insisted, but I wasn't sure. "Please, Con, we miss you..." Logan followed up, squeezing my shoulder, but before I could accept their proposal, someone else caught my attention. "Yn Connor! Just who I was looking for!" A man spoke up, approaching the three of us, beside him was Natalie Robyn, the Fia CEO. The man reached out his hand and I shook it firmly, with a polite smile. "Hi, my name is Michael Dreiser, I'm the director of motorsports at Porsche!" He introduced himself and I was almost blown away. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Dreiser! What brings you here?" I tried to keep my cool, but I was taken aback by the interaction. "The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Connor. I'm here because I was hoping to have a word with you about your upcoming season in Formula 1! I heard that you have yet to sign a contract, and I would love it if you had us in mind as a preferred team next season!" He got straight to the point and did so right in front of the boys, who were both standing in full McLaren and Williams merch. I glanced at both of them, and they both looked beyond excited for me, but I couldn't help to be confused, as Porsche wasn't in the original line-up for the next season.

"But wait, how come Porsche is suddenly in the line-up?" I asked bluntly, and Michael let out a small laugh and looked at Natalie. "Well, because of unforeseen circumstances, Haas will no longer be in the line-up next year, so Porsche stepped in and will take their place," She explained, and I almost didn't know how to react. "So, Yn, would you be willing to have a meeting with me?" Michael asked once more, and I couldn't hide my excitement as well anymore. "I would love to. When?" I asked and he looked at the watch on his wrist. "How about right now?" He suggested, but I couldn't help but look at both Oscar and Logan with worry. I was going to talk to them for the first time in months, I couldn't just blow them off. They, however, were both looking at me with supportive smiles while nodding their heads. "Go on, Con!" Logan said and gave me a slight push, so I looked at Oscar, who nodded once more. "Go go, we'll talk later, right?" He asked, a bit unsure, but I smiled at him warmly and nodded my head, before joining Michael to go and have a chat.

Getting back from the meeting, I couldn't help but feel super excited. Things were finally coming together, and I finally knew I could give it my all at the race today without it having the biggest of consequences. I was walking back to my garage when I spotted Logan and Oscar standing in front of it already. They spotted me immediately, and I could tell they were trying to read my expression before they both instantly smiled just as widely as I did. The second after my eyes had met with both of theirs, I let my heart take over my body, and I ran the last few meters and directly into their arms. My arms swung around both of their necks as we shared a long, tight hug. I then pulled away, looking at them full of excitement. "They offered me their first driver's seat!" I exclaimed. "No way! Congrats!" Logan almost yelled. "I'm so proud of you, Con," Oscar followed up, and suddenly something inside me clicked and I came back to reality. My excitement wore off, and I remembered that we were not really on speaking terms. My expression must have fallen, cause I noticed how both of theirs did as well, and sadness filled the air around us. 

"Con, we should talk..." Oscar sighed, and I nodded my head slightly. "C'mon, we can go to my room," I replied, and we all went inside. I sat down on the couch in the room, Logan leaned against the wall, and Oscar against the desk. There was silence for a moment, until Logan decided to break it. "I'm sorry I lied to you that day..." He started, and the memories came flashing back. "You already said sorry a million times... It doesn't fix anything..." I said, looking up at him as tears filled my eyes. "I need to know why..."