Beyond the Track - Oscar Piastri bxb

The Public Eye

It was the day after the race, and the media frenzy had already begun. Oscar sat in his team's lounge, scrolling through his phone absently as his eyes skimmed the messages and notifications pouring in. Most were congratulations from fans and teammates alike, but there was one headline that stopped him cold.

**"Oscar Piastri's Secret Relationship Revealed After Leaked Photo with Mystery Man!"**

His heart sank as he clicked on the link. The photo was grainy, a snapshot taken from a distance, but there was no denying it—it was him and Nick. The photo had been taken outside a quiet café, both of them laughing, oblivious to the camera aimed at them. Their fingers were intertwined, their closeness unmistakable. Oscar's stomach twisted at the sight. The last thing he wanted was for this part of his life to become public knowledge.

He quickly scrolled through the article, his eyes scanning for anything that might explain the leak. Of course, the paparazzi had gotten involved. A few speculations about the identity of the "mystery man" appeared, but the piece itself focused on Oscar's possible relationship with Nick. The media was quick to jump to conclusions, throwing in a mix of assumptions about the "new love interest" in Oscar's life.

"Great," Oscar muttered under his breath. The last thing he wanted was to be surrounded by rumors and distractions in the middle of a high-stakes season.

He was snapped out of his thoughts when Lando slid into the seat beside him, grinning as usual. But there was a flicker of curiosity in his expression when he saw what Oscar was reading.

"Caught the article, huh?" Lando said, peering over Oscar's shoulder. "The paparazzi never miss a thing."

Oscar let out a sigh, tossing his phone onto the table. "I didn't think it would happen like this."

Lando raised an eyebrow, looking at Oscar seriously for the first time. "You didn't think *what* was going to happen?"

Oscar paused. It wasn't like he had tried to keep his relationship with Nick a secret. But the way it had come out—so abruptly, so publicly—wasn't how he envisioned things. He'd wanted to be the one to share the news, to decide how and when to introduce Nick to the world, not have it thrust upon them through a paparazzi photo.

"I didn't think it would become... *this*." Oscar gestured vaguely, his frustration mounting. "The attention, the questions—it's all happening too fast."

Lando nodded thoughtfully, his gaze shifting to the phone. "You're right. This isn't the kind of thing you plan for, but it's out now. And you know what? You don't have to handle it alone. It's going to be hard, especially for you, but... you've got people who've got your back."

Oscar shook his head, rubbing his temples. "I don't know, Lando. This is different. It feels like everyone's watching now. And Nick... he doesn't deserve this. He didn't sign up for this."

Lando's tone softened, his usual teasing replaced with something more genuine. "Nick's a big boy, Oscar. You've got to trust he can handle it. And honestly, I think the two of you make a hell of a team. If anything, this just proves it."

Oscar looked up at him, unsure. Lando smiled, his easy confidence making Oscar feel just a little bit lighter. "Yeah, but you'll need to talk to Nick about it. Keep the lines open. If this thing's going to work, communication is key. Especially now."

Oscar nodded, appreciating Lando's straightforward advice. He knew Lando was right. He had to talk to Nick, make sure they were on the same page. The last thing he wanted was to drag Nick into something he wasn't prepared for.

Oscar found himself pacing in his hotel room, glancing down at his phone, which had gone silent after the photo broke. He hadn't heard from Nick yet. His stomach twisted, nerves gnawing at him as the reality of the situation began to sink in. The rumors were already snowballing. The media was relentless, and Oscar knew it wasn't going to stop anytime soon.