The Secret of Us // Oscar Piastri

18

Casey skipped third practice to sneak into town and try and find Oscar a birthday present. She'd been walking around a few stores for an hour and hadn't been able to find anything that she thought he'd like. She was close to giving up until a leather bracelet caught her eyes. It was subtle and a dark navy blue. It was something she could see Oscar wearing, so she brought the piece of jewellery into her hands and took it up to the counter. While she was checking out, she opted for it to be gift wrapped. She was relieved to have found something for him because it was time for her to get an Uber to the track. Hopefully he'll like it, she thought.

-

"If you're just going to complain about being in the Mercedes garage, why don't you just ask Lando to get you into the Mclaren one?" Casey asked her friend as they watched Q1 of qualifying. "And leave you all alone?"

"Because I'm what, non-existent?" Rowan asked from behind them, clearly offended. "We wish." Audrey quipped, throwing her arm over a laughing Casey. "Such favouritism." The Irishman mumbled under his breath.

"Lando's pretty fast actually." Audrey said. "Maybe he'll get pole."

"I don't know, Oscar says that's always Max." Casey replied, not thinking.

"When were you talking to Oscar?" Audrey asked, turning to look down at her friend.

Casey's eyes widened slightly. "Uh, I bumped into him in the hotel lobby." Good save, Casey. "Oh, right." Audrey shrugged, her eyes going back to the screen in front of them.

Rowan sighed as Logan went out in Q1. The two of them had become quite good friends over the last few weeks. They'd even went out to dinner last night. "Well, at least he's not starting last." Casey said in aim to rise Rowan's spirits. "He'll probably finish it though." Audrey added, receiving an elbow in the ribs from Casey.

"Sorry, that's if he even finishes the race." Audrey smirked and Rowan kicked her ankle, making her turn and glare at him. "Not funny." Was all Rowan said. "It was a little actually." Casey added and Rowan just looked at her. "What?" Casey shrugged. "I'm all for supporting Logan, but got to give credit where it's due."

"Okay, well then I'll give you credit for wearing an ugly T-shirt." Rowan sulked. Casey couldn't believe that he was older than her sometimes. "I did does look a bit like you got dressed in the dark, Case." Audrey added. Casey looked down at the T-Shirt Oscar had picked out and all of a sudden felt very out of place in all the glitz and glamour that surrounded her.

                                                -

Oscar had qualified P6 which she was happy about and she messaged him to say as much. However, George only qualified P9 so the atmosphere in the Mercedes hospitality as she waited on him for a ride back to the hotel was not very uplifting.

Audrey was getting a ride back to the hotel from Lando so she was waiting in his drivers room. Rowan was taking a walk around the paddock and Casey had to admit that it made her nervous, she was sure that he was going to come running through the doors with a bunch of security guards behind him any moment now.

So she was alone and Casey did what she always did when she was bored, write. On the top of her page was scribbled 'Let It Happen.' It was not even near being finished, but she did like what she had so far.

I've never craved someone's attention
As much as yours, thought I should mention that
I'd bet all my money that I will lose to you and hand you my life
Here's to hoping you're worth all my time
I might barely know you, but still don't love you yet, but probably will
Turn me into something tragic,
just for you,
I let it happen