Beyond the Track - Oscar Piastri bxb

Rumblings in the Paddock

The morning sun filtered through the hotel room curtains, casting a warm glow over the tangled sheets and stirring Oscar awake. As he blinked into the light, he felt the weight of Nick's arm still around him, grounding him in a way he hadn't known he'd needed. For a moment, everything felt perfect—a quiet intimacy unbroken by the world outside.

But that world crept in sooner than he'd hoped. As he dressed and headed down to the paddock for final race preparations, Oscar's phone buzzed repeatedly, lighting up with notifications. He glanced down, eyes widening as he read through a string of messages from Lando.

Lando: Hey, man. Just a heads up—you're the talk of the paddock this morning. Someone said they saw you sneaking out with someone last night. People are talking.

Oscar's stomach tightened. He knew there were always eyes on drivers, especially on race weekends, but he hadn't expected his private life to become the day's gossip. He glanced up, spotting Lando across the paddock and made his way over, hoping to get a clearer picture of what was being said.

"Hey," Lando greeted, eyebrows raised as he glanced around to make sure they were out of earshot. "People are wondering about you, mate. Someone saw you coming back to the hotel late, and now there are rumors floating around. They think you're... well, distracted."

Oscar forced a laugh, trying to brush it off. "Let them talk. I'm here to race. That's all that matters."

But as he moved through his routine that day, he felt the eyes on him—team members, media, fans—and sensed the shift in whispers around him. It wasn't lost on him that in the world of professional racing, image was everything. A driver's focus and dedication were scrutinized down to every detail, and his bond with Nick, meaningful as it was, might not be easy for everyone in this world to understand.

Later that afternoon, Oscar finally got a chance to slip away and check his messages. One from Nick stood out.

Nick: Let's meet tonight? We can keep things low-key.

He read the message twice, wanting nothing more than to see Nick and shake off the day's tension, but uncertainty lingered. If things continued to escalate, would they be able to keep their connection away from the public eye? And how far was he willing to go to protect it?

He took a deep breath and replied, 'Meet me after the race. We'll figure things out.'

As he slipped his phone back into his pocket, a quiet determination settled in him. Whatever complications came their way, he wasn't ready to let go of something that already felt too important. And as he walked back into the paddock, he felt more focused than ever, ready to face whatever the weekend might bring—on the track and off it.