VIPER || Oscar Piastri

Chapter 59

[POV: Narrator]

The noise hit them before they even rounded the corner—fans pressed against barricades, cameras flashing, voices rising in screams of questions and cheers. Where Oscar dipped his head, pulling his cap lower, Lando walked beside him, smiling widely at everyone.

The crowd was crazy, voices overlapping as they called out both of their names. Lando got his fair share of questions and loud remarks, but nearly every comment towards Oscar had to do with Andi—whether she was with him, if she was nice to him, if the girl in the blurry video had really been her. Some were shouting compliments, but others tried to bait a reaction, hoping he'd confirm something with a look.

Oscar just gave them a tight smile and didn't engage. The most they got was a half-hearted wave.

Lando heard it all too; every mention of Andi become more apparent, but he didn't comment—just walked a little faster, keeping his gaze forward. He didn't say a word until they were clear of the noise, and back into an open and quieter space.

Now out of earshot, Lando huffed a laugh and glanced sideways. "You guys really have tricked everyone, huh." 

Oscar shrugged, barely looking at him. "Yeah, I guess. I didn't really do anything though. It's been Andi doing most of it. I just kinda follow along."

Lando shook his head, still half in disbelief from the whole ordeal. "It's still crazy to me," he said, but Oscar didn't say anything back.

Andi's Viper was parked just ahead. 

As they neared it, just a few steps away, Lando suddenly sprinted up from behind Oscar, snatching the keys clean out of his hand. Oscar turned, startled. 

"Oi—"

Lando, already unlocking the car, swung open the passenger side with an exaggerated flourish. He looked to Oscar, grinning. "In you get." 

Oscar just blinked. "...What are you doing?" 

"I'm driving this car today," Lando exclaimed brightly. "Please get in." 

Oscar laughed. "You're not driving." 

"I am." 

"No, you're n—"

"Yes." 

Oscar stared at him for a second, expecting Lando to break into laughter with him. But he didn't. At all. That grin of his was still there, but there was a serious  determination behind it now. 

Oscar's face fell into something close to fear.

"You're not serious." 

"I'm very serious." 

Oscar took a step forward.  "You can't drive." 

The boy pulled a face. "Um, I think I can, considering—"

Oscar knew what he was about to say, and decided to stop him before he did. "No, you can't drive this car. I'm not gonna just—" He looked at the car, then back at Lando. "I don't think this is a good idea."

Lando shrugged. "Look. I live in Monaco, for god's sake. I can handle a car park."

Oscar's voice fell flat. "Andi won't take this well."

"So what?" Lando snapped, still holding the passenger door open—annoyed now, something shifting in his expression. "She lied to me, so this is only fair! It can be my— let's say— 'incentive' to not tell everyone you and her aren't actually a thing. No, better yet, it's my incentive to not tell Charles you and her aren't a thing." Then, just like that, the smile was back. Bright and blameless. "Get in."