BEND THE RULES, 015.

REAL LIFE

AFTER A SUCCESSFUL ROUND IN miami, where diana scored six points for haas, and a weird weekend in imola with a solid p12, the drivers were off to monaco. 

diana took this as a chance to finally complete her move. she'd been living in switzerland since she was fourteen years old, but once she was signed into formula 1, she decnoided to make the shift to the wealthy microstate that was home to nearly half the grid.

and of course, the one other person also moving to monaco at this time was oscar piastri. 

"you have got to be kidding me." diana heard from behind her as she unlocked the door to her brand her apartment. she gasped when she recognized the voice because why is he in her apartment building?

"no fucking way." diana whipped her head around and gasped when she saw him. "oscar?"

"i didn't know you were moving to monaco." oscar said with a smile as he approached her. "how are you?"

"i'm okay. are you living...here?" diana motioned to the hallway around her. oscar gave her another sly smile. 

"i happen to have just moved in two doors down from you." he pointed to his open door. "glad to know you, neighbor!"

"that's insane." diana shook her head. she remembered that this is a fairly new apartment building, so it wasn't totally odd that they happened to move into the same one. but the same floor?

"you excited for this weekend?" oscar asked her. "monaco is always one of the most hyped up race of the year, aside from silverstone and abu dhabi."

"i'm very excited." diana nodded. "i saw the reveal of your new livery this weekend; i like the tribute to senna."

"of course." oscar nodded. "do you want to come into my apartment? i just got some snacks, so my pantry isn't empty for once."

"sure." diana shrugged. she would never turn down an opportunity for food. even if it was from her former worst rival. "i didn't get to go shopping yet. i only just moved in yesterday."

"i'm planning to go hiking with a friend of mine later." oscar said as he led diana down the hall. "we stocked up this morning on snacks and drinks."

"how crazy is this?" diana asked as oscar unlocked his door. "three months ago we despised each other and now you're inviting me into your home."

"we just stopped being childish, i guess." oscar replied, opening the door and holding it open for her. "plus, i think it's natural to get closer to each other when we're forced to talk every day by our public relations managers. like those fake dating stories, you know? they always end up falling for each other."

"right." diana nodded. "except we actually become friendly rather than falling in love."

"precisely." oscar grinned at her. diana smiled back, but her mind flashed to a comment oscar made a few months ago.

"in saudi,  when we did that youtube video with logan.you said that we'll never really be friends," diana started. "did you mean that?"

"oh," oscar shook his head. "i mean, that was the first weekend where we were forced to talk. i'm sure we both hated each other then. but now, and i'm not sure about you, but i really am enjoying our conversations. i'd say you're a friend of mine, dj."

"really?" diana wasn't sure why, but she felt a sudden rush of emotions. "well, that's..." 

"perfect?" oscar finished. the two looked at each other for a moment before oscar rolled his eyes and opened his arms for a hug. "i suppose we can give each other a hug without being weird. i know you like hugs."

"shut up," diana rolled her eyes, but she found herself walking forward into oscar's embrace. 

and that's when she felt it. the butterflies in her stomach began to flutter like crazy and the rush of emotions that she'd felt moment before had just come back when she felt oscar's arms around her waist. and honestly? diana didn't hate it. she wanted to stay like this.

"so," oscar cleared his throat and turned away from diana before walking toward his kitchen, but not fast enough for diana to not notice the tinge of redness in his cheeks. "we have a bunch of obscure flavors of lays chips. are you feeling roasted chicken or bolognese?" he holds out two different bags to her. 

"i'll take the chicken, i guess." diana shrugs, taking one of them. "are they good?"

"they aren't bad." oscar tells her. he checks the time on his phone. "hey, i have to meet my friend for the hike. you can come with us if you want?"

"oh." diana said, trying not to feel disheartened that oscar had to leave. she also didn't want to intrude on his hiking trip with his friend. "no, it's okay. i have some unpacking to do. i'll see you tomorrow, though. we have media day conferences together."

"right." oscar nodded, feeling slightly disappointed that diana turned down the offer. "okay, then, let me walk you out." he says, leading her to his front door again and opening it for her. "see you tomorrow, dj."

"see you, jack." diana smiled at him and waved before turning on her heel and walking toward her own apartment. oscar watched as she unlocked the door and entered her home. he let out a sigh before shaking his head and cursing to himself.

"god, pull yourself together, oscar."

maha speaks :)

happiness never lasts i fear