VIPER || Oscar Piastri

Chapter 45

[POV: Narrator]

Over the last few days, Andi's dad, who had initially been overwhelming with his questions and comments, eventually calmed down around Oscar. The energy in the house shifted—became calmer, easier.

The three of them spent their time doing simple things: watching old movies, passing time with board games and so on.

Oscar coped better than Andi thought he would. He and her dad had become closer—heck, Oscar even learned his coffee order to make it for him in the mornings. It was sweet, to be fair. She could tell her dad enjoyed it, especially since he let someone other than him control the TV. Which is a big deal, apparently.

For once, there was no tension. No thinking, no feelings of impending doom.

Since the dinner, neither Andi nor Oscar had even so much as mentioned the plan to one another, since— and not to sound too serious— they were stuck in the same house for a definite while.

But now, it was time to leave.

Their bags were packed and already stored in the back of Andi's car (she didn't have to carry them out this time) and her dad stood with his hands on his hips, eyeing the pair as they said their goodbyes. He gave them the old 'feels like you just got here' speech, even though Andi was sure he was probably looking forward to the quiet evening.

Oscar made sure to be more than appreciative and polite.

Andi watched as he shook her dad's hand, thanking him again, and as she moved toward the car, she noticed the two of them still talking. She frowned slightly, pausing with her hand on the driver's side door. Oscar nodded at something her dad said, his expression serious for a moment before breaking into an easy smile.

The girl hesitated for a second longer, then sighed and slid into the driver's seat, closing the door behind her.

A few moments later, Oscar got in too, buckling his seatbelt.

She glanced at him, but didn't push it. Some things weren't worth digging into.

With one last glance at the house, Andi started the engine, and they pulled away, the tires crunching against the gravel driveway.

As they drove down the road, her phone buzzed against the console.

A text.

She glanced at the screen.

It was from Lando.

She sighed, unlocking her phone and giving it straight to Oscar. "What does he want?" she asked, unbothered.

He read the text aloud: "Party my place tn."

Uh, okay, vague.

"When?" Andi asked, to which Oscar typed the question and sent it.

"9pm but please please get here earlier I don't want to be by myself when it starts."

She rolled her eyes again. Yep, thought so.

"Also bring booze I ran out lol. And bring Oscar," he chuckled— before another text came through. He cleared his throat before reading it. "He'll— only come if you go."

He got shy, which Andi noticed.

"You don't have to come. Don't worry."

When he didn't respond, she reassured him some more.

"Really. Lando does this every year; He gets all amped up about being back in Monaco, impulsively decides to host a party, invites way way too many people, ends up blacking out within the first hour and then I'm left to round everything up. Which means..." she gritted her teeth, "I'll be annoyed, strict and sober. Seriously, it won't be a very fun or appealing night."