𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗, oscar piastri

𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣 𝗦𝗜𝗫, acts of service

          IT HAD BEEN A harsh shift for Stella, going from the Australian heat, where Oscar had won his first ever points in F1, to the dreary London weather. It also didn't help that, seemingly immediately after stepping off the plane, Stella had gotten sick. So sick that her head pounded, her stomach churned, and her room was never the right temperature. The flu was a bitch. She really shouldn't have skipped out on getting her flu shot.

The worst part of being sick wasn't even her inability to eat or sleep, it was the fact that she was missing more rehearsal and training. She'd managed to not miss much, scheduling all her classes and rehearsals in the middle of the week, leaving her to travel with Oscar on the weekends, but now, with even the lamp next to her bed making her head pound, there was no way she could walk, much less dance.

Addie had looked after her well enough the night before, bringing her pasta and bland crackers, sitting on the edge of Stella's bed, watching her until she finished her food. But she hadn't lingered, she had a few big tests coming up, ones she didn't want to be sick for.

Stella's dad had come over as well that morning, bringing cough syrup and Brittny's homemade chicken soup. He'd sat with Stella all morning, stroking her hair while she coughed and tried not to cry over how shitty she felt. It hadn't worked, she'd been crying ten minutes into her father's visit. There was something about being around her dad that made it impossible for her to hold back any feelings. And besides, she had been overdue for a cry.

Jenson hadn't been able to stay, seeing as he had some business lunch and then had to pick her siblings up from school. He had promised to come back that night and bring her dinner and some more medicine. And her giant teddy bear Sally that she used to sleep with as a kid. Stella wasn't sure why she had ever left it at her dad's house in the first place. Probably because it was the side of a great dane.

Once again, Stella was alone in her bed, soaking in the darkness and trying to sleep. But her head just hurt too much, and she couldn't be bothered to get up and take paracetamol. She was in quite the predicament.

She barely even registered the sound of the key turning in the front door, she could barely hear it from her bedroom, especially with the way she was hiding under the covers. She just assumed Addie had stopped by in between classes to check on her, or maybe that her father had gotten back early from picking up her siblings. She heard the front door close, and after a moment, the unmistakeable sound of footsteps coming toward her bedroom.

Stella furrowed her eyebrows, forcing herself to sit up, even as her head pounded. Odie, who was curled up sleeping at the end of her bed, opened his eyes wearily closing them again a moment later.

Stella had long since memorized the sound of her father's footsteps, heavy and sure, after many nights of pretending to be asleep, even though she was fully clothed ready to sneak out. She also knew Addie's footsteps, which were erratic and sounded like she were about to trip at any second. The footsteps coming to her door were lighter than her father's, but stronger than Addie's. It took Stella a moment, but she finally recognized them. She knew Oscar had come to see her before he even pushed open her bedroom door. He did have keys after all.

"Hey Osc." Stella managed to croak, falling back onto her bed with a groan. She saw no reason in trying to be presentable for Oscar. He had seen her looking far worse than this.

Oscar offered her a pitting smile, sitting himself next to her in bed. Even with her double bed, Stella always slept on the right side, the side closest to the wall. She felt weird sleeping in the middle. There was plenty of room for Oscar to sit next to her, stretching his legs over her comforter and resting his back on the headboard.