Beyond the Track - Oscar Piastri bxb

Night Drives and New Conversations

The paddock had mostly emptied out, the lights dimmed and trailers packed as teams prepared for their next destination. But Oscar and Nick lingered, drifting through the quiet paddock as they walked toward the parking lot. The low hum of occasional laughter and faint sounds from the last remaining crews surrounded them, but they felt far removed from the bustle.

They didn't speak much as they walked. It was a comfortable silence, each step unhurried, like they both wanted to savour this fleeting peace after the chaos of race day.

As they reached the lot, Nick nudged Oscar, his voice quiet. "So, where are we off too?"

Oscar shrugged, glancing at the empty lot and feeling an unexpected reluctance to call it a night. "Not sure."

Nicks leaned against a nearby railing, his expression thoughtful. "Could use a change of scenery, huh?"

Oscar looked over at him, catching a spark in Nicks eyes. "What are you thinking?"

"Well..." Nick smiled, a little mischievously. I've got a rental car, nothing fancy, but maybe we could go for a drive. I mean, you're the pro, so it might be a bit tame for you, but I thought-"

"I'd love that," Oscar interrupted, surprising himself with how quickly he answered. He realised he wanted this- a quiet moment away from the track, just him and Nick, no pressure or noise, nothing to prove.

A few minutes later, they were settled in Nicks rental car, a modest Hyundai i30, a car that was worlds away from the finely-tuned machines Oscar was used to. But there was something refreshing about the simplicity of it. No telemetry data, no constant reminders of lap times or positions- just the two of them, the quiet hum of the engine, and the open road stretching out in front of them.

They drove out of the town, the city lights fading as they headed into the countryside. The landscape shifted to wide, open fields and winding roads, and the stars began to peek out from the darkening sky. Nick had his hands relaxed on the wheel, and every now and then, he'd glance over at Oscar, as if making sure he was still there, still enjoying this quiet escape.

After a while, Nick broke the silence, his voice soft. "Do you ever miss it? Normal life, I mean."

Oscar thought about it, staring out the window at the stars blurred by motion. "Honestly? Sometimes. I mean, racing has been everything for so long. It's like... it's in my blood. But there are moments when I wonder what it would be like to just... be."

Nick nodded, understanding in his gaze. "I get it. I mean, I'm not a driver, but I know what it's like to have your life defined by something. You start to wonder if you're just a part of a machine, you know?"

Oscar looked over at him, feeling a quiet kinship in those words. He didn't often meet people who understood the sacrifices, the tunnel vision that racing demanded. Most people saw the thrill, the adrenaline, but they didn't see the loneliness that sometimes came with it.

"Yeah," he said softly. "I guess it's nice to have this, though. Just... a moment to breathe."

Nick smiled, glancing over with a warmth that made Oscar's chest tighten. "Glad I could be part of that for you."

They drove in silence for a while longer, comfortable, the tension from the day melting away. The winding road eventually led them to a small overlook, a spot where the stars stretched across the night sky, more vivid and bright without the interference of city lights.

Nick parked, cutting the engine. They sat there, the night quiet around them, the only sounds the faint rustle of trees in the distance. Oscar let out a breath, feeling a sense of calm he hadn't felt in a long time.

"It's beautiful out here," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Nick nodded, his gaze fixed on the stars. "It is. Sometimes I forget how much there is beyond the noise. Guess we're both pretty good at getting caught up in that."

Oscar glanced over, catching the thoughtful look in Nicks eyes. There was something about him that felt grounding, a steady presence that balanced the chaos of Oscar's life. It was rare for him to feel so at ease, so willing to let down the walls he'd built.

"Thank you," Oscar said suddenly, not entirely sure where the words had come from but feeling them deeply. "For tonight, I mean. For... this."

Nick looked at him, a softness in his gaze. "Hey, thank you. I mean, I'm the new guy here, remember? I figured you'd have better things to do than hang out with some PR guy."

Oscar laughed, shaking his head. "Better? No. I think this is exactly what I needed."

Nicks smile deepened, a small, quiet smile that felt more like a shared secret than anything else. They sat there in silence again, neither of them rushing to fill the quiet. Oscar could feel the unspoken connection between them, a slow, steady rhythm that felt as natural as breathing.

Finally, Nick shifted, looking down at his hands, a hint of nervousnesses breaking through his usually easy demeanour. "So... does it ever get lonely? Racing, I mean?"

Oscar hesitated. It was a question he rarely thought about, much less talked about. "Sometimes. I mean, you're surrounded by people- teams, fan, media- but it can still feel like you're alone. Like no one really sees you, just the driver."

Nick nodded, as if he'd expected that answer. "Well... I see you. The person, I mean. And he seems pretty incredible."

Oscar's heart skipped, warmth flooding his chest at Nicks words. He looked down, feeling an unfamiliar shyness. "Thanks. That... means a lot."

They sat there, the night stretching out around them, the stars a quiet witness to their conversation. Oscar felt the quiet pull of something unspoken, something deeper than the usual adrenaline-fueled excitement that racing brought. It was a connection he hadn't expected, something that felt gentle, and genuine. A reminder that there was more to life than just speed and wins.

After a long moment, Nick turned the car back on, and they began to drive back. The city lights reappeared on the horizon, but Oscar felt no rush to leave the peacefulness they'd found tonight.

By the time they returned to the paddock, the night was well underway, the world around them quiet and still. Oscar climbed out of the car, but he didn't feel the urge to say goodbye just yet. Standing under the dim lights of the lot, he looked at Nick, feeling the warmth of the night settle around them.

"Guess this is goodnight, then," he said, his voice a little quieter than he'd intended.

Nick smiled, though there was something in his expression that felt unfinished, like he was waiting for something. "Yeah. Goodnight Oscar. And... thanks for tonight. I'll see you around?"

Oscar held his gaze, the air between them thick with a feeling he couldn't ignore anymore. He took a step forward, his heart racing faster than it had even on the track.

"I'd like that," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. For a split second, he hesitated, wondering if he was reading this right, but the way Nicks eyes softened in that moment gave him the courage he needed.

Before he could second-guess himself, Oscar leaned in, gently brushing his lips against Nicks. It was soft, tentative, like the beginning of a conversation neither of them had quite ready to start until now. He felt Nicks breath hitch, and then, slowly, he felt him relax into the kiss, Nicks hand reaching up to rest gently on his shoulders.

They lingered there, wrapped in the quiet and the warmth, until finally, they pulled back, their faces just inches apart, both of them breathing a little harder.

Nicks smile was softer now, his eyes bright. "So... definitely see you around?"

Oscar chuckled, his heart still racing, feeling lighter than he had in a long time . "Yeah. Definitely."

As he turned to walk back to his hotel, Oscar couldn't help but glance back, catching one last look at Nick under the streetlight, both of them sharing a quiet smile. Whatever was between them, he didn't know where it would go- but he was ready to find out, one unhurried step at a time.