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OSCAR PIASTRI WAS one second away from getting his first podium. One second too far, tantalisingly close. He was buzzing all throughout the interviews following the race, his energy fueled by the annoyance seeping through his veins. He should've been happy. The closest he'd ever been was eighth position, so fourth was worth the celebration. Still, the weight of his mind was weighing him down, dragging him through the media pen as he repeated pre-established statements with flattened lips. Sophie, his Communications Director, tried to nudge a flicker of excitement out of him. He only brushed her attempts away.
Only once did he show a flicker of emotion. He was walking down the pit lane beside Sophie, partially listening to her conveying the importance of smiling, when he noticed her. Vienna. She was talking to Lando, a smile on her face as she patted his shoulder. He knew it was congratulatory, but a flicker of irritation sparked within him. He could feel it burning his stomach, the flames licking his skin as he averted his gaze. He didn't say anything as he walked past them.
Vienna only caught a glimpse of his figure as he strode down the pitlane, his jaw tensing as his stony expression remained locked in front of him. Lando followed her gaze, his eyes flickering between them.
"You remembered, didn't you?" Lando asked her, watching her earlier smile fall into a distracted frown. She forced her gaze back to him, her movements sharp and unnatural.
She furrowed her brows. "How do you . . ."
Lando wanted to swallow his words but his throat only forced them back out. "He told me earlier, but I don't think he meant to," he snickered softly but quickly covered it with a cough, clearing his throat upon recognising the slightly dejected expression remaining on Vienna's face. "What happened between the two of you, anyway?"
Vienna pursed her lips as she looked away, her eyes latching onto the back of Oscar's shirt as he walked further and further away. Something unnerving settled in the depths of her thumping heart. "It's a long story," she managed quietly.
