Cropped out - an Oscar Piastri x OC fic

Chapter 28- Hey

Oscar:
To see her tattoos online is one thing, but to be close to her, the details as clear as if she were an art canvas, is another thing altogether. When I saw her there, curled in on herself, tiger glistening with the falling water droplets, I had to catch my breath. And it wasn't from the running. The pure sight of her, of her art and her body, ignited a fire deep inside of me that I didn't know could burn. But all thoughts flew out when I saw the goosebumps along her skin, saw the heavy rise and fall of her chest.

I knew she went out there because of me, because she is just as confused as I am. And that's why I went after her. Some intrinsic part of my body pulled me to her, to answer her questions I have no right of answering, to hold her, to say I'm sorry. To wipe away the tears that I caused.

I still see her thigh, see it sometimes wrapped around my waist, see it in my hands, red from my tight grip, see her tanned skin flush against mine. And I- I think I hate it. Because in no world should I want her. Crave her. I should be focusing on racing. Should be thinking about how proud I make my family. Not how loud I want to make her scream. It's wrong. In so many ways it is wrong. But i'm obsessed with it just the same. The wrongness of it all. All my life I've been the best at things, shown everyone that I am the best. But what if, for this one thing, I'm not. What if she makes me feel human?

Once she came to her senses and warmed up we talked for hours, the already dark sky seemingly getting darker. Did I know what I was doing? No. Not at all. Maybe I shouldn't have invited myself in, but she didn't let me leave, so that has to mean something. Every time I look at her, I remember how we met, how, for one small second, she took my mind off of the looming rookie season. Saved me, I guess, in her own way. And I want to thank her, but she wouldn't understand.

—
I've thought of that moment I left her in her bed this whole week between races. I haven't reached out. She hasn't reached out. It's like it didn't even happen. It hurts, but...I'm doing it to myself just as much as she's doing it to me. So the thought of seeing her today, after no contact, has my palms sweating a tad. Don't ask me why, I'm just as lost. Are we different now? Did Spain change things? I'm anxious to find out. That is, if I can bear to see her again.

—
"Hey." a light voice sounds as I snap my head up. I'm sat in the McLaren hospitality eating some yoghurt waiting for Cody to show up. He was supposed to be here 5 minutes ago but is always late, so I know to wait.

"Oh, hey." I respond as Eliana eases herself into the seat opposite me. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to properly thank you. I- I was a mess and everything just overwhelmed me a little. I've never been away from Liv and my family this much, so it just...you know." she smiles a little, looking down as she fiddles with her fingers.

"It's no problem, Eliana. I didn't want you feeling upset, especially after what I said. I didn't mean to be so harsh." She looks up at me then. "I'm always here...if you want to talk." she nods. "About anything. It's no bother." God, shut your mouth before anything else comes out.

"Thank you. Again." She giggles, and I feel my cheeks warming a little. She's so pretty when she laughs. Oh I am so not okay. "And I'll return the favour. I know I work with Lando, but anything you need Oscar, and I'm here. Just a message away." She taps her phone on the table as she says it.

"Okay."

She just smiles at me, a little blush washing over her cheeks. "I'll let you finish then. Good luck." She says as she leaves, and it takes me a minute to realise she's wishing me good luck for the weekend.

"You look smitten." Cody says as he approaches the table, sitting where Eliana just was.

"I am not. Fuck off. It was great when you weren't here."