𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗, oscar piastri

𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣 𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘, one on one time

          WITH THE AUSTRALIAN SUN beating down on her skin, Stella had nearly fallen asleep.

Maybe Oscar had been on to something when he said she was always sleeping.

In this situation though, Stella thought she was pretty valid for drifting off. She'd arrived in Melbourne that morning, dropping her bags at Oscar's grandmother's home, barely having time to change and shower before Oscar was dragging her off to the beach.

They'd spent the entire late morning out in the water, Oscar trying desperately to get Stella to understand how to surf. No matter what he did, it was hopeless. But it hadn't been until Stella wiped out because she had been "staring at the flowers on the surfboard" that he gave up and let her leave the water. She wasn't made for surfing.

It was about half an hour later that Oscar decided to call it quits on surfing himself. Stella had found a place laying in the sand, her eyes closed as she basked in the sunlight. She had changed out of the wetsuit she'd borrowed from Oscar's sister, and into a white bikini top paired with jean shorts. She looked half asleep, her head resting on Oscar's backpack, her hands folded over her bare stomach. Her surfboard (which was really his mother's old surfboard) was laying next to her, free of sand wherever flowers were painted onto the board, something his mother had done in her teenage years. Stella really had liked those flowers.

Oscar propped his board in the sand by Stella's head, taking a seat on the picnic blanket she had laid out. She opened her eyes drowsily, offering Oscar a dazed smile. Her cheeks had gone slightly pink from the sunlight, a bronzed hue slowly covering her skin.

"How was the surfing?" Stella asked, pushing herself up to her elbows, letting out a yawn as she spoke.

Oscar laughed, biting back a remark at Stella's constant state of sleepiness. "Easier without having to worry about you wiping out."

"I tried, okay?" Stella shoved Oscar's shoulder, adjusting herself so she was sitting criss cross on the blanket. She reached over Oscar's leg trying to grab the picnic basket Oscar's grandma had equipped them with. "It's not my fault this board is so distracting!"

"How on Earth is it distracting?" Oscar laughed, somewhat amused by Stella's failed attempts at reaching the food. She scooted closer to him, her hair brushing against his arm as she reached across him. Still, she couldn't reach it. Oscar grinned, leaning back, letting Stella struggle for a moment longer, before grabbing the food and handing it to her.

"It's gorgeous!" Stella smiled, digging through the picnic basket. Oscar's grandma (who had insisted Stella call her grandma as well) had packed them cheese sandwiches, sliced apples, and homemade chocolate chip cookies. "Can't take my eyes off of it. The flowers, the design, whoever made this was praying on my downfall. You know I like pretty things."

"My mum painted it." Oscar said, raising his eyebrows. It was unsurprising to him that Stella was so enamored with something his mother had painted, she always had been. Stella used to go to Oscar's house just to hang with his mum, watching her paint and cook while she talked endlessly. Stella had always been pretty much obsessed with everything to do with Nicole Piastri. "It's her old board from when she was a teenager."

Stella sighed wistfully, pulling out her sandwich. It had been far too long since she'd seen Nicole. She'd have to get lunch with her when she got back to London. "Your mum's painting skills are insane."

"Yeah, she's really great." Oscar agreed, smiling at the admiration he could see on Stella's face. Some things never changed. "I suppose it is quite pretty."