Chapter Text
Lily was excited for the weekend.
Most of the time, she had to settle for watching the races on TV and supporting her best friend through texts and the occasional call. But Silverstone was close to her university, close enough that she could travel without missing too many classes, especially with summer break just around the corner and only one assignment left to hand in.
She’d decided to make the most of it, meeting up with Oscar as early as Thursday and committing herself to not missing a single part of the Grand Prix experience.
She had been to Formula 2 races with him before and had even joined his family in supporting him at his home race earlier in the year, so it wasn’t a completely new experience. Still, Oscar had been buzzing with excitement this time around. He’d gone on at length about the car updates and his good feeling about the weekend, but he’d also warned her that things would probably be more chaotic. Silverstone was iconic, the team’s home race, and the home race of his teammate, too.
Which was a topic entirely on its own.
His teammate.
Lando Norris.
The same Lando Norris Oscar had been fangirling (fanboying?) over since their school days, back when the Brit was still in F3 and F2. He’d shown her pictures and PR videos, talked endlessly about how funny and sweet Lando seemed, how talented he was, how he was apparently the cutest and best-looking driver on the grid. Lily, for her part, had mostly rolled her eyes.
Sure, the guy had to have some amount of talent to be in Formula 1 at nineteen. But Lily had always thought he seemed hyper and childish at best. And while he certainly wasn’t ugly, she’d never quite understood what made her normally composed friend swoon so hard.
Oscar hadn’t grown out of his silly celebrity crush. If anything, it had only gotten worse. And after signing with McLaren, it had evolved into a full-blown, not so silly, very real crush.
It wasn’t all Oscar talked about, but in almost every conversation, Lando came up. Lily didn’t even want to think about the texts she received at all hours of the day.
I can’t tell if his eyes are more blue or more green, what do you think?
I think I might faint, he’s just chilling here in his fireproofs, pls send help.
Do you think his hair is as fluffy as it looks?
How does a person make papaya orange look good??? That is physically impossible, omg.
He is so cute when he smiles I think I might die.
His hands are so big, do you think they could wrap around my waist?
He changed his shirt in the fucking garage, I’ve never seen abs like that before.
Lily had been on the verge of blocking him more than once. Still, she could never do that to the pathetic Aussie she called her best friend.
Then there were the PR videos, with Oscar giggling at everything Lando said like it was pure comedy, looking at him with so much open adoration that Lily genuinely didn’t know how the entire world hadn’t caught on yet.
At least it provided excellent meme material, which Lily and Oscar’s sisters shared enthusiastically in a WhatsApp group created for this exact purpose.
As compensation for enduring all of this, Oscar had promised to introduce her to Lando this weekend.
She’d briefly seen him at the Australian Grand Prix, but there hadn’t been an opportunity for proper introductions, especially with Oscar still being painfully shy at the beginning of the season. So on Thursday, Lily barely paid attention in her classes, her mind occupied instead with McLaren updates, the prospect of meeting Lando, and the hope of a good race that might end with Oscar, or at the very least a British driver, on the podium.
As soon as her final lecture ended, she waved goodbye to her friends and practically ran to her car, heading straight for Silverstone.
When she walked into the Hilton lobby, she sent Oscar a quick text to let him know she’d arrived, fully expecting him to still be tied up in media duties or meetings. Check-in was quick, and she took a moment to admire the hotel room—far nicer than anything she could ever afford on her own.
With Oscar unlikely to respond anytime soon, Lily decided to take advantage of the fancy shower and maybe watch some TV while she waited.
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A loud knock on the door startled Lily awake, her hair still wrapped in a towel. She hadn’t planned on falling asleep, but the shower had been too relaxing, and the drive had drained her more than she’d realized.
She stretched and yawned just as the knocking started again, louder this time, more aggressive.
Rushing to the door, she opened it to find Oscar standing there, arm still raised mid-knock.
“Finally,” he said. “I’ve been standing here for five minutes, looking like an idiot.”
“Sorry,” Lily said, rubbing at her eyes. “I fell asleep.” She did feel bad for making him wait, even if it hadn’t been intentional.
Oscar’s annoyed expression melted instantly into a grin, and he pulled her into a tight hug.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” he mumbled into her towel.
She dragged him inside, where Oscar immediately collapsed onto the couch with a tired sigh.
“That bad?” Lily asked, sitting beside him.
“At least media day is over,” he said. “And I’m really excited for the racing. I’ve got a good feeling about this weekend.”
Lily nodded, unwrapping her hair.
Oscar suddenly sat up straighter. “Oh, by the way. I asked Lando to dinner tonight.”
Lily squealed. “Ahhh, you finally asked him out?”
“No! No, of course not!” Oscar said quickly, face flushing. “Nothing like that. Dinner with you. Like, the three of us. You know. So you can meet him.” He took a few steadying breaths. “You just need to be ready by seven-thirty. So… in a bit over an hour.”
His face was still dangerously close to Ferrari red.
“And here I thought you’d finally manned up,” Lily teased. “But fine. I’ll be ready.”
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Oscar disappeared back to his room, promising to come get her when it was time.
This time, Lily opened the door only seconds after the first knock.
She froze.
Oscar stood there in black jeans and a burgundy button-up instead of his usual shorts and T-shirt. Around his neck was a thin silver chain with a tiny dragonfly pendant. Subtle—but unmistakably deliberate.
It was a very unusual look for him.
“Is there something on my face?” Oscar asked after a few seconds of silence.
“No,” Lily said carefully. “You look great. Is that a new shirt?”
“Yeah,” he said. “My old ones don’t really fit anymore and—well, never mind.” He blushed and started toward the elevators.
“What? No,” Lily said, stepping directly in front of him. “Tell me, or we’ll be late.”
Oscar looked genuinely conflicted. He took a deep breath, like it physically hurt to admit it.
“Lando told me I looked good in red,” he mumbled. “When I wore my red T-shirt.”
Lily burst out laughing, nearly doubling over. “Oh my god. You are such a pathetic loser.”
Oscar opened his mouth, closed it again, then pressed his lips together and speed-walked toward the elevators, his blush deepening.
She had to jog to catch up, but by the time the doors closed, Lily had managed to stop giggling.
Lando was already waiting in the lobby, scrolling on his phone in a Playboy hoodie—because apparently that was his version of dinner attire.
He looked up when the elevator dinged and gave Oscar a slow, appreciative once-over.
Oscar didn’t seem to notice. He walked straight toward him.
“Lando, this is Lily,” he said, gesturing between them. “Lily, you know Lando.”
Lily smiled and held out her hand. “Nice to finally meet you. Oscar talks so much about you.”
Oscar tried to elbow her discreetly.
“Does he?” Lando said, clearly delighted, taking her hand.
“Our Uber should be here any minute,” Oscar cut in quickly, already motioning toward the door.
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The ride itself was uneventful—Oscar and Lando discussing race strategy and expectations from the back seat. Dinner, however, was easier. Lily found herself properly drawn into the conversation, geeking out with Oscar over her engineering classes and speculating with both of them about the weekend’s chances.
Later, as Lily got ready for bed, she replayed the evening in her mind, turning over every look, every smile, every moment that had felt just a little more charged than it should have.
Oscar was about as pathetic as Lily had expected.
He looked at Lando with his trademark heart-eyes and soft, unguarded smiles whenever he thought no one was watching, listened to everything Lando said with rapt attention. Lily had to admit that Lando, for his part, was actually really nice. Funny, too. There were moments where she understood, reluctantly, why Oscar called him cute.
On the other hand, he also confirmed everything Lily already believed about him: annoying, entitled, and far too aware of his own charm.
Like the twenty minutes he spent agonizing over what to order, only to gag dramatically after the first bite. Oscar immediately offered to swap plates, ducking his head and blushing when Lando accepted with a blinding smile.
Lando spent a suspicious amount of time on his phone too—texting, scrolling Instagram, probably checking how cute he looked in his own selfies—which Lily found mildly rude. But what really made her want to scream into a pillow was that she still had absolutely no idea if Oscar’s crush was even on the table.
Some moments, she would have sworn it was. Lando stared at Oscar with the same soft fondness, hyped him up relentlessly for the coming race, gushed about his talent, about podiums and wins that were surely in his future.
He also seemed to take any excuse to be close, leaning against Oscar in the car, walking far closer than necessary, touching his shoulder or arm or hand just to get his attention.
Then, in the next moment, Lando seemed barely interested at all. He interrupted Oscar mid-sentence, made jokes that felt a little too sharp, a little too close to backhanded. He talked about all the amazing, allegedly very cool people he hung out with, and Lily couldn’t help but bristle.
Maybe it was better if Lando didn’t feel anything romantic toward her friend.
Since entering the spotlight a few years ago, Lando’s personal life had been well documented. There were countless pictures of him with influencers, models, and anyone eager for a few minutes of fame—arms draped over him, dimly lit clubs, skimpy outfits. Lily knew the media, especially in the UK, loved to dramatize everything, but there was no denying that the McLaren driver enjoyed a good party… and sometimes, taking someone home for the night.
She didn’t judge him for it. But she also didn’t want Oscar to get his heart broken.
If something like that happened, it could even affect Oscar’s career. He’d already been through enough with the Alpine situation. He didn’t deserve more unnecessary hardship.
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Friday and Saturday were exciting enough that Lily didn’t spend much time dwelling on her friends’ potential romantic disasters. She barely spoke to Lando beyond polite greetings and only caught Oscar for a few rushed sentences at the track before he was whisked away again.
They ordered room service Friday night, Oscar apologizing for how little time he could spend with her. Lily genuinely didn’t mind. He’d gotten her a guest pass, which meant she could wander freely—explore the track, peek into the McLaren garage, soak in everything. If she was feeling brave, she might even try to get a picture with Lewis Hamilton.
Neither McLaren had placed particularly well in practice, but Lily knew that didn’t mean much. And by qualifying, all the hopes they’d talked about over dinner had materialized: Lando in P2, Oscar in P3.
Lily cheered from the garage, absurdly proud of what Oscar was doing in his rookie year.
On race day, they arrived at the track early, since Oscar still had a lot of pre-race tasks to get through—last-minute strategy meetings, discussions with his engineers about tyres, and assessing the weather conditions.
The papaya motorhome buzzed with excitement—the upgrades working, both drivers starting near the front.
“Hey, I’ll grab us some coffee,” Oscar said. “I’ll be right back.”
Lily settled into a quieter corner, watching the controlled chaos around her—engineers hunched over data, mechanics chatting, sponsors and guests milling about.
And then her world stopped.
Near the entrance to hospitality stood the most beautiful woman Lily had ever seen.
For one ridiculous moment, Lily thought she might be a mermaid who’d grown legs and wandered out of the ocean by mistake. Her blonde hair fell in soft, artful curls that caught the light, her slim figure effortless even in black jeans and a fitted grey top.
Lily realized she was staring and didn’t care.
When the woman smiled, it felt like the sky cracking open, sunlight pouring through. Lily wanted to make her smile again, wanted to see how her eyes lit up.
That image shattered instantly when the woman wrapped her arms around none other than Lando Norris.
Of course. A guest. There was no other explanation for someone that perfect being in the McLaren motorhome.
As if that weren’t enough, that was the exact moment Oscar returned with the coffee.
Lily saw it happen—the way Oscar’s small, content smile vanished the second he spotted Lando’s arm still looped around the woman’s waist. His shoulders caved inward like he’d taken a physical blow.
Lily crossed the room immediately, clearing her throat to pull him out of his daze. He looked away as Lando and his guest finally disentangled.
“I know it’s stupid,” Oscar muttered, low enough that only she could hear. “But I always get my hopes up. Like I’d ever stand a chance with him.”
Lily took one of the cups from his hands. “Hey. Don’t say that. You’re not stupid. You’re way too good for him anyway.”
Oscar gave her a tiny, pitiful smile. “Thanks.”
It disappeared the moment Lando and his guest approached.
Up close, the woman was even more stunning—glowy makeup, glossy lips, a perfectly sculpted face. Her eyes were an impossible blue-green, like sea glass washed smooth by the tide.
Lily cut the thought off sharply.
She was starting to sound just as pathetic as Oscar.
“This is Magui,” Lando said easily. “She was in London for a photoshoot and decided to come see the race. And this is Oscar—obviously—and his friend Lily.”
Of course Magui was a model. It wouldn’t have made sense for her to be anything else.
But no matter how beautiful she was, Lily couldn’t stop looking at Oscar. At the way he forced a smile onto his face, tight-lipped and brittle, like it might crack if he relaxed even a little.
“It’s really nice of you to come,” Oscar said, voice carefully polite. “Support always means a lot, especially at a home race.”
Neither Magui nor Lando seemed to notice how uncomfortable he was. They shared a look instead, leaning closer together. Lily rested a quiet, grounding hand on Oscar’s arm.
“Yes, he always puts so much pressure on himself,” Magui said fondly, still not looking at Oscar as she reached up and ruffled Lando’s hair. “As if he isn’t absolutely amazing anyway.”
Oscar flinched.
And just like that, every nice thought Lily had ever had about Magui evaporated.
Anyone who could make Oscar look like that—gentle, polite Oscar, who wouldn’t hurt a fly—couldn’t possibly be a good person.
“Hey, stop!” Lando laughed, swatting her hand away. “Do you know how hard it is to make curls look good?”
Messy hair was the least he deserved. Lily sincerely hoped that evil twink would be put through a wall.
Oscar deserved so much better.
Before Lily could act on any of those thoughts, Andrea Stella appeared, waving both drivers over. Magui pulled Lando into another tight hug, while Oscar gave Lily a small wave.
“I’ll come see you before the race,” he murmured. “Promise.”
And then he was gone.
Lily was left standing beside Lando’s girlfriend, lover, situationship? Guest. Let’s go with guest.
“You wanna go to hospitality?” Magui asked casually.
Lily felt strange having her attention, but nodded anyway. “Sure.”
They walked side by side. Lily focused on sipping her coffee, grateful for the excuse not to talk.
As soon as they reached hospitality, Lily muttered a quick “bye” and claimed a couch, setting her cup down and pulling out her laptop. She actually managed to get a decent amount of work done, only stopping during the drivers’ parade to grab lunch.
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The McLaren catering was quiet—most of the team too busy to do more than grab a sandwich on the way past. Lily scanned the options, briefly grateful she didn’t have to follow a meal plan, and felt a pang of sympathy for Oscar.
She settled on a creamy garlic butter pasta and sat down, half-watching the parade on the TV mounted on the wall.
Someone cleared their throat behind her.
Lily turned.
Of course.
“Can I sit here?” Magui asked, holding a salad. Despite the plenty of empty tables, apparently this one was necessary.
“Sure,” Lily said.
They sat in awkward silence for a moment, both pretending the parade was riveting.
“That looks really good,” Magui said, nodding at Lily’s plate.
“It is,” Lily replied—and then, without thinking, added, “You can try some, if you want.”
Magui looked genuinely surprised.
Still, she reached over, twirling a few strands of pasta around her fork before taking a bite. When she swallowed, a small smile appeared.
“Thank you.”
And—oh.
Lily had thought Magui’s smile earlier had been pretty. This was worse. Better. Maybe because it was directed at her.
She forced herself to look back at the TV. “Just take as much as you want.”
“So,” Magui said, as the screen showed the McLaren drivers waving to the crowd, “how do you know Oscar?”
Lily wasn’t sure why Magui was interested, but asking would have been rude—and might have sent her away, which she didn’t actually want.
“We met in boarding school,” Lily said instead. “We were the only ones into motorsport. Started watching races together in my dorm.”
“Aww,” Magui said softly. “That’s cute.”
Lily had no idea how to respond to that, so she redirected. “What about you? How do you know Lando?”
Magui shrugged. “Not as sweet. Monaco last year. Afterparty. He was there.”
Of course he was.
It did nothing to improve Lily’s opinion of him, only confirming every tabloid image she’d ever seen.
“I didn’t even watch F1 back then,” Magui continued. “I do sometimes now. I don’t really get it, though. Except that you have to be fast.”
Lily laughed. “That’s… a good start.”
Magui smiled at her, stealing another bite of pasta.
“You must be an expert,” she teased. “Cars, engines, driving—stuff.”
“I try,” Lily said. “I want to work in the industry after uni.”
Magui perked up. “You’re in uni? What are you studying?”
“Mechanical engineering. At ICL.”
Magui stared at her like she’d just solved several global crises at once. “Wow. I could never.”
Lily felt herself blush. As if she was the impressive one here.
“I’m sure you could,” Lily said. “If you wanted.”
Magui snorted. “No chance. I copied maths homework off the smart kids.”
Lily could picture it immediately—Magui smiling sweetly, twirling her hair, people falling over themselves to help.
She was so lost in the image that she didn’t notice the parade had ended.
“We should probably head back,” Magui said, nodding at the screen.
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Oscar, true to his word, showed up in hospitality not long after, making a beeline straight for Lily.
“Are you nervous?” she asked, even though she already knew the answer.
“A bit,” he admitted. “But Lando’s really excited. Keeps saying we’ll get a double podium.” He smiled faintly, eyes drifting to where Lando stood with his family and Magui.
“Let’s hope he’s right,” Lily said gently. “And remember how far you’ve already come.”
Oscar exhaled shakily, jaw tightening. “I just don’t want to disappoint anyone. The team took such a big risk on me. And after the whole Alpine thing…” He swallowed. “It feels like I haven’t done enough to prove it was worth it.”
The vulnerability in his expression made Lily want to pull him into her arms and hold him there until every cruel thought quieted down.
Instead, she said firmly, “You are worth it. You won F3 and F2 in your rookie years. If they can’t see how good you are, that’s on them—not you.”
“You’re right,” he murmured. His jaw relaxed, and he gave her a small but genuine smile.
Before she could say anything else, Lando appeared. “Hey, Osc, we need to go. We’re already late,” he said, grabbing Oscar by the wrist and tugging him away.
“Good luck!” Lily called after them, just before they disappeared through the door.
Lily settled into hospitality a few minutes before the start, choosing a seat with a clear view of the screens. Watching from the garage felt like tempting fate—and she had no desire to be labelled Oscar’s WAG by accident.
As the papaya cars rolled out, Magui appeared beside her.
“Can I watch with you?” she asked.
“Won’t the others miss you?” Lily nodded toward Lando’s family.
Magui sighed. “They don’t really like me.”
Lily couldn’t quite understand that—but then again, she didn’t love the situation either, for very different reasons. A small, petty part of her felt almost relieved.
“Well,” she said instead, “you can watch with me.”
Magui’s face brightened instantly. “You can explain everything to me. Like my own personal commentator.”
Lily blushed, her mind unhelpfully supplying images of watching races together at home, curled up close, fingers in Magui’s hair, murmuring explanations between moments of quiet.
The formation lap brought her back to reality.
The race was intense from start to finish. Lily’s heart raced as Lando launched brilliantly off the line, as Lewis carved his way through the field, as the safety car came out after the Haas failure.
Oscar held onto P3 for most of the race, until the pit stops, where Lewis got lucky and snatched it away. Lando defended P2 fiercely, the two Brits battling until the end.
Lily explained rules, drivers, and strategy while Magui listened attentively, asking questions and nodding along.
Max unsurprisingly crossed the line first, followed by Lando, then Lewis.
The McLaren garage erupted in cheers as Lando finished P2. Lily felt an immense pride as the second McLaren crossed the line, but she knew Oscar was beating himself up for losing a place
The podium ceremony was bittersweet. Two Union Jacks waved proudly, and Lily smiled despite herself. She would’ve loved to see Oscar up there, but a home podium always meant something special.
As expected, Oscar was quiet afterward. He congratulated Lando, pushed through media duties, then shuffled back into the garage with his head down.
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They went straight to the hotel once everything was done.
Lily congratulated him on P4, insisting it was a strong result—rookie season, new upgrades—but none of it really reached him. After a quick shower, he curled up in bed, hair still damp, shutting down completely.
Lily recognised the pattern.
She sat beside him and put on Ozark, giving him something familiar to sink into.
Two episodes in, Oscar finally shifted, taking her hand and squeezing gently.
“Thank you,” he whispered into the dark.
“No worries,” Lily said softly. “You hungry?”
He hummed in response, which she took as a yes.
Later, they ate room service in comfortable silence, the glow of the TV filling the room.
Her phone lit up, pulling her attention away from the show.
She was about to swipe the notification away when she actually read it.
@magui_corceiro requested to follow you
A small squeal escaped her before she could stop it. Lily froze, turning toward Oscar, afraid that she had alerted him, but he was already asleep, plate half-empty beside him, breathing slow and even.
She carefully gathered both plates and set them on the small table across the room, turned off the TV, and sat back onto the bed. Then she picked up her phone again.
Surely that notification had been a hallucination. Her brain had to be fried after the weekend.
But no—the request was still there.
Before she could overthink it, she accepted. And well… it would’ve been rude not to follow back. She tapped on Magui’s profile and—
Wow.
Magui smiled at her from every picture. Lily scrolled almost absentmindedly, careful not to like anything, fingers moving on autopilot.
Another notification popped up.
She clicked it immediately.
Their DMs opened—empty, except for one unopened photo.
Lily tapped it. A blurry selfie of Magui at what looked like a party filled the screen before disappearing again. Lily regretted not taking a screenshot almost instantly. Then decided that would’ve been deeply unhinged behavior, actually, so maybe it was for the best.
The typing bubbles appeared.
Then a message.
Magui: u not at the party?
Lily’s breath hitched. Magui was thinking of her. Probably drunk, probably surrounded by people—but still thinking of her.
She typed and deleted a few replies before settling on:
Lily: No, Oscar was tired. We went back to the hotel
The response came almost immediately.
Magui: :((
Magui: would be more fun w/ u here
Magui: and oscar of course
Another photo followed—Magui again, this time with Lando slung against her shoulder.
this muppet was looking for his favorite aussie
That made Lily’s stomach twist.
Oscar lay right beside her, curled in on himself, breathing softly, clutching the blankets like a lifeline. And here she was, smiling at messages from the woman whose mere existence hurt him.
But… ignoring Magui wouldn’t change Oscar’s unrequited crush. It wasn’t Magui hurting him—it was the fact that Lando was taken. That was all. And Magui was probably just drunk, texting whoever came to mind. This would likely be the first and last time she reached out.
So Lily might as well enjoy it.
She snapped a quick photo in reply: herself sitting cross-legged on the bed, Oscar sleeping peacefully in the background.
the club is not the right place to look for this one
The typing bubbles appeared. Disappeared. Reappeared.
Then chaos.
Magui: sp cutw
Magui: flyfvy hair do swiopy
Magui: wamna boop hia nose
Magui: snd moer pixture
Magui: cuddly littlw koala
The bubbles popped up again.
Magui: sry lando stole my phone
Magui: hes kinda out of it
Lily laughed quietly. He must’ve been celebrating hard.
She switched to video, framing only Oscar’s face. Gently, she reached over and pressed a finger to the tip of his nose.
Oscar grunted, lashes fluttering, nose scrunching in mild annoyance—but he didn’t wake, just buried his face deeper into the pillow.
She sent the video, stifling her giggle.
Magui: i think you just broke lando
Lily: m sure he’ll manage
Magui: yea sure
Magui: ill stop bothering u now
Magui: sleep well <3
Lily’s breath caught at the heart.
She felt oddly disappointed as well—but Magui was probably heading back to the party, back to a world Lily didn’t really belong to.
Lily: have fun
Lily: and get home safe
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Lily was wrong about Magui only texting because she was drunk or looking for her at a party.
It started the morning after their first messages, Magui sending a selfie with smudged makeup and messy hair. From there, the texts grew into a habit. At first, it was just a few a day—memes, small talk, commentary on the race. Lily congratulated Magui on Lando’s podium the following Sunday.
After that first week, the messages became more frequent. They talked about everything: Magui’s acting work, the brand she ran with her cousin, Lily complaining about the British summer and her study sessions. Pictures followed: family visits, pub quiz nights, trips to Normandy with friends, Magui lounging on set or poolside, nights out at clubs.
And Lily knew she was being an idiot. She was texting a girl already in a relationship—worse, in a relationship with F1 driver Lando Norris. Lando Norris, the very guy her best friend was utterly in love with. And it wasn’t just casual texting.he knew she was crushing on the Portuguese, and she was painfully aware that her feelings had grown with every conversation, slowly but surely becoming something more serious than just a passing crush.
She couldn’t stop herself. Every morning, she checked the chat first thing. Every message made her heart flutter; every photo made it skip a beat. he began to suspect that Magui was actually a siren, and that from the very first moment their eyes met, she’d been enchanted, doomed to pine for her endlessly, cursed by a spell she couldn’t hope to break.
The guilt gnawed at her. Technically, texting Magui didn’t hurt Oscar, but it still felt like betrayal. Especially since his infatuation with Lando hadn’t faded, only turned more somber since Silverstone. He still adored every detail of Lando—his looks, his smile, his laugh—but now his messages to Lily included things like:
He’s so kind to everyone. I just hope he gets that same kindness back.
He’s hot, pretty, and cute. I’d tell him every day if I could.
He slept in today and didn’t do his hair, and it’s still perfect. She has no idea how lucky she is to see him like this.
Lily didn’t know whether to wrap Oscar in a blanket and reassure him or shake some sense into him. Now she understood how he felt, crushing on someone unreachable. But she couldn’t talk to anyone about it, not really. At least she didn’t have to see Magui all the time, unlike Oscar.
She also couldn’t wrap her head around how Lando got to have the love and affection of two of the most amazing, funny, genuinely interesting people she knew.
Magui—probably the hottest person on the planet, who somehow managed to motivate Lily to study even when she was feeling down, and who spoke her mind about everything without a filter.
And then Oscar—smart, dry-witted, polite to a fault, with those soft, irresistibly cute looks.
And fucking Lando, who probably didn’t even realize how lucky he was to have the first, and almost certainly wasn’t returning a single ounce of love to the second.
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Then came the first Monday after Monza. Magui sent a photo of herself lounging by the pool, Lando draped casually next to her. Look who came to visit, she wrote beneath it.
Over the next few days, Magui’s texts became fewer, and most of the pictures she sent were with Lando. But Lily knew it was only natural—Magui was happy that the Brit had managed to visit her, and she had no right to feel anything but glad for her.
A couple of days later, Magui sent her a picture of two pizza cartoons and some type of reality tv show playing in the backround
Magui: he said he would make dinner, guess who needs a new pan?
Lily: No way it is actually that bad
Magui: he wanted to make steaks, and now they are just pieces of coal, fire alarm went off, so yes, actually that bad
Lily: oh no
Lily: ig it was nice of him to try, being a good boyfriend and all that
Magui: atleast he paid for the pizza
Magui: wait, wdym boyfriend?
Lily: i mean, I assumed you were official
Lily: I’m sorry, if that’s wrong
Magui: yea, no ew
Magui: absolutely not, just friends
Lily: Sorry, i didnt want to make you uncomfortable
Magui: ahh no worries. We’re close, just not like that, yk?
Lily: yes ofc, I get it
Magui: enjoying the single lifestyle atm
Magui: how about you?
Lily: same here, too much going on with uni and all
Magui: almost forgot, you’re a little genius
Magui: okk, Lando’s complaining I’m on my phone sm
Magui: goodnight
Lily wasn't ashamed to admit that she actually screamed into her pillow after closing the chat. Magui wasn’t in a relationship. She really wasn’t.
It wasn’t just good news for Lily, either. If Magui was single, that meant Lando probably wasn’t in a serious relationship either.
It was basically her duty as a friend to tell Oscar, even if she wasn’t entirely sure it was a good idea to get his hopes up again. Then again, who was she to judge? She was about five minutes away from picking out flowers for her entirely hypothetical, very dramatic, possibly Disney-level wedding.
That, of course, meant she had to somehow explain to Oscar how she even knew Lando was single. She hesitated, knowing he’d instantly notice her own crush, and she nearly panicked thinking about that. But she also needed to share the news before she exploded.
She dialed, hoping she could formulate her words better aloud than in text. Bless him, Oscar picked up after just a few rings.
His concerned voice came through the speaker. “Did something happen? Why are you calling?”
Lily chuckled lightly. He really did know her well. “No, everything’s fine.”
After a breath, she continued, “Well… okay, I have to tell you something. But it’s nothing bad.”
“Yes?” Oscar coaxed, his voice curious.
“Do you remember Magui? The girl who came to see Lando at Silverstone?” Lily asked carefully, knowing his face had probably fallen the moment she said her name.
“Mhm,” came his reply after a short pause.
“So… I might have… talked to her a little while you guys were busy. And, well… we’ve been messaging a tiny bit since then?” Her voice trailed at the end, almost a question even to herself.
“What? Why would you do that?” he asked, sounding taken aback. Then, after a moment of thought, he sighed. “Oh… no. Lily.”
“Well, you know… it’s—she actually messaged me first. And… you can’t judge me,” she defended herself quickly.
Oscar huffed, amused. “Yeah, whatever. This is still stupid, and you know it.”
Then he added, quieter, more serious, a note of dejection creeping in. “Besides… she’s in a relationship.”
“What if she wasn’t, though?” Lily asked cautiously.
“Well… she is,” he said, annoyed. “Lando even told me he was visiting her.”
“Yes, I know,” Lily said, practically bouncing, “but they aren’t a thing.”
There was a long pause. She could hear his heavy breath on the line. “Lily… I know this is a fucking stupid situation, but I don’t think you’re making it better. Yes, they are… it’s okay. It will get better… eventually.”
“Okay, I know how I sound,” she said quickly, “but it’s true. She told me. They’re just friends. I can even send you a screenshot.”
“Are you serious?” Oscar asked.
“Yes. 100 percent. And she wasn’t joking or anything,” Lily reassured him.
A silence followed, stretching just a beat too long, and Lily feared she’d said something wrong. Then he breathed softly. “Oh.”
She could almost see his eyes light up. A tiny smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “That’s… well, I’m happy for you.”
“It doesn’t mean anything’s going to happen,” she said quickly.
“So she just started talking to you… and is still writing for no reason?” he huffed. “I don’t know this girl, but anyone would be lucky to have you.”
They talked for over an hour after that, Lily catching Oscar up on everything she and Magui had shared. By the end, he was back to gushing about Lando without the sad undertone.
Lily had worried it might be awkward between her and Magui after telling Oscar, but the opposite happened. Knowing Magui wasn’t in a relationship brought them closer.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
The day after Lando left, Magui video-called her. Lily nearly dropped her phone at the notification, quickly tossing her hair into a bun before answering. She was immediately struck by how ethereal Magui looked on her balcony, bathed in the soft glow of sunset.
Somewhere during the conversation, Lily had curled up on her bed. The sun behind Magui disappeared completely as she went inside, settling on the couch.
At first, the conversation was a little stilted. But soon, they found their rhythm, just like they did over text.
As always, Magui was fascinated by anything Lily told her about her classes. Lily forced herself to focus, trying not to get lost in the way Magui’s slight accent curled around every word.
The topics shifted naturally: work, friends, the upcoming Singapore race. Magui giggled as Lily speculated about podium chances.
“I still can’t believe you thought me and Lando were a thing.”
“I’m sorry, really, I just—”
“No, not like that,” Magui interrupted. “Just because Lando… is, well… interested in someone else. Let’s go with that.”
“Really? I can’t imagine that,” Lily admitted.
“Oh, you’re so wrong. The entire time he was here it was all, ‘Do I have a chance?’ ‘They’re so perfect’… blabla.”
“I know how you feel,” Lily said. “One of my friends is just like that. So pathetic, I almost feel bad for him.”
“One of your friends?” Magui asked.
Lily hesitated, then nodded. “Yes… but you can’t tell anyone. He would never talk to me again.”
Magui squealed. “Don’t worry, you won’t tell anyone what I said either, right? Seriously, I can’t imagine Oscar like that. He always seems… distant. Like he doesn’t really care.”
Lily barked a laugh. “You couldn’t be more wrong. He just… doesn’t show his feelings much, especially in public. And he’s terrible at talking about his emotions.”
“Aww… so he doesn’t know how to ask this person out, or what?” Magui asked.
“Yes, kind of. But it’s complicated. What about Lando? He seems like he wouldn’t have a problem asking anyone out. He’s literally an F1 driver—surely he has options.”
“Yeah… he’s confident, until he actually cares,” Magui said. “And the F1 thing? Not so impressive when your crush works in the same industry.”
“Oh… that kind of sucks. But it could also make it easier, they’d understand each other’s schedules.”
“Yes. That’s what I’ve been telling him. But he thinks it’s too risky, because he has to spend a lot of time with this person.”
“Okay… this is weird. It’s like a very similar situation.”
Magui set her jaw, determined. “Okay, if I’m wrong, you have to pretend I never said this. But… are those two idiots in love with each other?”
Lily couldn’t suppress a relieved giggle. “Yes. I think so too. This is so stupid.”
Magui collapsed into laughter. “Oh god, I was so afraid I misinterpreted what you said. We have to get them together!”
“No,” Lily groaned. “That’s a terrible idea. What if we mess it up?”
“Yes, but what if they never figure it out? And we have to pretend we don’t know?” Magui argued.
Lily admitted to herself that her first instinct had been to text Oscar immediately. But hearing him simp over Lando without being able to say, “He likes you too,” would be torturous.
“Isn’t there a chance they’ll just get together on their own?” Lily asked, desperate.
Magui shot her a sharp look. “Really? Oscar and Lando?”
“You’re right,” Lily sighed. “Oscar’s way too awkward to do anything besides sending heart eyes. And Lando’s panicking so hard he’ll probably do something stupid.”
Lily yawned, pulling her blanket tighter around herself.
Magui smiled softly, letting out a tiny coo. “Well, it’s late. Let’s sleep. I’ll text you tomorrow.”
Lily didn’t want to end the call—she would have loved to fall asleep to Magui’s voice—but she said, “Yes. Sure. Goodnight.”
“Sleep well,” Magui replied.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
Magui and Lily had started scheming immediately. Their plans ranged from serious to completely ridiculous. From encouraging the drivers to go out to dinner, to locking them in a room together, or even sending them on an epic quest to destroy the One Ring.
Magui had even suggested spiking their drinks with some kind of aphrodisiac, because apparently she’d seen it work on a TV show.
Eventually, they settled on a slightly more realistic idea: get all four of them in one place, maybe loosen them up with a little alcohol, and hope one of them confessed. Okay, so the plan was a little shaky. But honestly, it hardly mattered, they spent more time laughing at the absurdity of their schemes than actually worrying about the logistics.
One thing was decided for sure: the easiest way to get everyone together without arousing suspicion was during a race.
So Lily asked Oscar if she could accompany him to Suzuka. He immediately agreed, booking her a flight and a room before she even finished asking. Less than an hour later, Magui sent her a picture with a thumbs-up emoji, confirming her travel plans. “See you in Japan, yayyy!”
If Lily had been excited before Silverstone, she was downright euphoric now. The fact that the new term had just started—and that she’d probably miss almost a week of classes due to flight times—didn’t even register. She would see Magui again. And, of course, experience another Grand Prix live.
She packed and unpacked her suitcase five times before she was happy with her choices, spending the rest of the time bouncing between texts with Magui and Oscar.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
Suzuka greeted Lily with jet lag, humid air, and the low, constant hum of race weekend already in full swing.
The flight to Suzuka was the longest she’d ever been on, made worse by a brutal layover in Shanghai and the gnawing anxiety of seeing Magui again while being trapped in an airplane. By the time she climbed into the Uber at the circuit hotel, she felt like she could collapse into her bed and sleep for a week.
The lobby was chaotic, a mass of people weaving through excited fans in team merchandise, journalists, and team members rushing past. Lily sighed at the thought of navigating the crowd, just as someone tapped her on the shoulder.
She turned, ready with an excuse, only to see who it was. Oscar. His cap was pulled low, the hood of his hoodie draped over his head, making him look like he was trying to disappear entirely.
“Already got your keycard,” he muttered, glancing around suspiciously before striding toward the elevators.
They stayed quiet on the ride up, but the tension melted the moment they stepped into the room. Oscar immediately pulled her into a tight hug.
“Missed you too,” she laughed into his shoulder.
“It’s good to see you.”
He stepped back slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s like everyone wants to talk to me about some nonsense. It’s… weird.”
“Yeah,” she murmured softly. “You look exhausted.”
He shrugged. “I am.”
She glanced toward the bed, then at the menu by the door. “Room service?”
His face lit up instantly. “You know it.”
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
The next morning, Lily woke up feeling unusually refreshed—ten solid hours of sleep had done wonders. She rolled out of bed and headed straight for the shower, still thinking about how she’d collapsed into it the night before after dinner and room service.
While choosing her outfit—a flowy blue cardigan that matched her jeans perfectly—her phone pinged.
“Are you up, sleepyhead?”
Magui, of course.
“No, still asleep.”
“So you think you’re funny now?”
Just as Lily pulled the cardigan over her shoulders, someone knocked on her door.
“Good morning, you awake, liar,” Magui greeted, grinning from ear to ear, looking effortlessly stunning.
“Hey,” Lily breathed, taking a moment to appreciate the model. Truly, no one else should ever wear a halter top again, because Magui had set a standard no one could possibly live up to.
“Are you ready to go?” Magui asked.
“Yes, definitely. Something you want to do today?” Lily checked her bag, making sure she had everything she needed.
“Actually, yeah. I thought we could explore a bit. The track will probably be packed, so I looked up a few things we could do—only if you’re interested, though. I get it if you’d rather watch practice.”
“No! I’d love to spend the day with you,” Lily responded quickly, heart leaping.
Magui let out a small breath of relief. “Okay, cool. Then let’s go grab some breakfast first.”
After a simple breakfast at the hotel, they called an Uber to a nearby mall, due to the rain forcing them indoors. The mall was large, surprisingly quiet, and full of little wonders that seemed foreign compared to the UK or Portugal.
Lily wandered the tea aisles, picking out a few for her family and maybe a couple for herself. They marveled at kimonos displayed in a traditional shop, inspected dangerously sharp cooking knives, and watched Magui carefully select shimmery lip and eye products before moving on to the luxurious skincare section. Lily got swept up in beautiful ceramic bowls, custom chopsticks, and impossibly cute stationery.
To cap off their shopping spree, Magui made Lily smell nearly a hundred different incense sticks before settling on her top three: lotus flower, cherry blossom, and green tea.
For lunch, they decided on a 7/11. Both had seen too many TikToks about it not to try it themselves.
Lily quickly realized vegetarian options were scarce and, with ingredients she couldn’t read, settled on a ready-made bento and iced tea. While Magui hunted down a vegetarian ramen pack for them to share, Lily had to clamp down on the urge to press her against the shelf and kiss her senseless. But, well, that would’ve been weird, and also wildly inappropriate for the setting.
They eventually figured out how to prepare the ramen with the designated machine, earning a triumphant high-five. Sitting at one of the tiny tables, the afternoon felt almost domestic. They fed each other with chopsticks, giggling every time a noodle slipped and had to be retrieved from the table.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
By the afternoon, the rain had let up. Magui ordered another Uber, refusing to tell Lily where they were going, insisting it was a surprise with a mischievous glint in her eye.
Lily’s jaw dropped when they arrived at their destination: a traditional, idyllic park. A simple stone gate arched over a path, seemingly grown from the middle of the trees, with small statues scattered about. From the parking lot, Lily couldn’t make out the details of what lay beyond, but the elaborate wooden sign suggested it was a cultural sight of some significance.
“Wow, this is really nice,” Lily breathed.
“It’s nothing special,” Magui said, a little bashfully. “Just one of the first things that pops up on Google when you look for things to do.”
“Still more than I planned. And it must be on the list for a reason, right?”
Magui smiled. “Then let’s see if the Google ranking is deserved.”
They walked toward the visitor center, a modern building just past the parking lot. Inside, the space was dominated by a souvenir shop selling everything from fridge magnets to a one-meter-tall mystical creature figurine. Magui ignored it entirely, heading straight to the visitor desk to grab an English guide and two tickets.
As they stepped outside again, Lily fished in her wallet. “How much do I owe you?”
“Nothing. I mean, I basically kidnapped you here, so it’s on me,” Magui said with a grin. “Don’t argue, I won’t take your money.”
“If you insist,” Lily relented, tucking her wallet away.
They showed the attendant their tickets, then stepped through the simple stone gate. As they walked along the path, their shoulders brushed lightly. Lily’s stomach fluttered at the contact, and for a moment she imagined linking her pinky with Magui’s, but instead, she contented herself with feeling the warmth radiating from the model’s skin.
"Look at that! I don’t know if they’re majestic or scary," Magui pointed at the statues lining the path, her voice full of awe.
"Why not both? There’s probably something about them in the guide," Lily suggested, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Magui stopped next to one of the statues and handed the guide to Lily. The brit flipped through the pages, her eyes catching on a photograph. "Yes, there they are. It says they’re guarding the temple from evil… so maybe they look scary on purpose."
Magui nodded, satisfied, before letting her gaze wander over the stone creature again. Lily couldn’t help sneaking glances at her; the sunlight caught the angles of Magui’s face, making her look impossibly ethereal.
They continued down the main path, Lily following while studying the map included in the guide. Every so often, their arms brushed, and each touch sent a small jolt of warmth up Lily’s spine.
At the end of the path, they stopped before the shrine. The beautifully crafted roof, ornate decorations, and elegant pillars left Lily momentarily breathless.
"Are you ready? Or do you want to stare some more?" Magui asked, already at the small set of stairs.
Lily hurried to join her. "Ready," she said, though she secretly wanted to linger just a little longer, memorizing every detail of the shrine… and every glance at Magui.
Inside, Lily pointed out features of the worship hall from the pamphlet while Magui listened, giving a running commentary on her thoughts. Lily felt a thrill whenever Magui’s hand brushed against hers as she turned a page, their fingers lingering just a heartbeat longer than necessary.
Once they’d finished, Lily led them down a smaller path to explore the rest of the site. Magui squealed in delight at the little stream and waterfall, and practically squeaked when they came across the frog statues of various sizes.
Later, as they tried to take a selfie, a sweet elderly woman offered to take the picture for them. Magui slung her arm around Lily tightly, smiling at the camera, and Lily’s face turned an impossible shade of red.
"Such a sweet couple," the woman said in broken English. Lily’s heart raced—she wasn’t sure if it was the compliment, the closeness, or both. Magui only smiled teasingly before taking the phone back.
They settled on a bench in a shady spot near some stalls selling food, drinks, and trinkets. Lily went to buy drinks but couldn’t resist a sweet hanami dango. She shyly handed it to Magui along with the requested bottle of diet coke.
"As payback for the ticket," Lily said, her voice soft but teasing.
Magui’s aquamarine eyes widened. "You didn’t have to… but thanks," she said, taking the skewer delicately, her fingers brushing Lily’s. The simple contact sent a thrill through Lily’s chest.
"I know, but I wanted to," Lily replied, trying to sound casual. Magui gave her a dazzling, appreciative smile that made Lily’s heart stutter.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
"So, we need to talk about how we get our idiot friends to get together," Magui said, finally bringing up the reason for their scheming.
"Mhm," Lily nodded, biting into her dango.
"Okay, maybe we need some background info first," Magui pondered. "How long has this been going on?"
"Like forever," Lily sighed dramatically. "Oscar has been a fan of Lando since… probably even before I knew him. He had a poster of him in his dorm back in karting. When he joined F1, he was so nervous about being his teammate—but instead of being disappointed, he… actually fell for him. Like, for real. His celebrity crush turned into a proper crush."
"Oh wow," Magui gasped. "That’s actually so sweet."
"Yeah," Lily said softly, smiling at the thought. "He really deserves to be happy. So tell me about Lando."
Magui leaned back slightly, chewing slowly. "Ah, Lando… can be a bit… well, he started talking about Oscar like that as soon as he met him. Always ‘Oscar this, Oscar that’—I don’t think he even realized he was doing it. And at Silverstone… when Oscar wasn’t at the club, Lando was so sad. He told me he thinks he has feelings for him. Ever since, he’s been moping around all the time."
"Okay, very different situation," Lily noted, glancing at the scenery around them.
Magui leaned closer conspiratorially. "There are two things you need to know about Lando. First: he gets very talkative when drunk. Second: he cannot keep a secret to save his life."
"Okay, so we’re definitely counting on Lando to make the first move," Lily nodded, smirking a little.
"Exactly," Magui said, grinning. "We just need to get them talking. Better if they’re a little tipsy."
They finished their snack but lingered a moment at a stand selling small amulets, omamori, as Lily recalled from the pamphlet.
"I’ll buy you one, as a souvenir!" Magui exclaimed.
Lily’s eyes scanned the variety of small fabric pouches. "Let’s pick one for each other," she suggested, and Magui’s eyes lit up.
Lily immediately spotted a blue pouch with a wave and a tiny frog—it felt perfect for Magui. She paid quickly, anticipation knotting in her stomach.
The model walked over to her, and Lily felt her stomach flutter in anticipation.
"You first," Magui said, hiding the amulet she’d picked in one hand. Lily held out the blue omamori, silently hoping she’d chosen the right one.
Magui grabbed it excitedly, and as soon as she held it, squealed in delight. "I love it! The little frog is just perfect."
She studied it a little longer, a soft look lingering in her eyes, before remembering she needed to give Lily hers.
With a playful flourish, she opened her palm to reveal the delicate charm. Lily picked it up carefully.
It was pink with sakura blossoms in white and various shades of pink, golden thread catching the light.
"It’s lovely," she said, running her fingers over the embroidery.
Magui tilted her head, a teasing grin tugging at her lips. "I knew you’d like it."
Lily laughed softly, tucking the little piece of fabric into her pocket, feeling like she’d just been handed a tiny, magical piece of Magui herself.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
After they returned to the hotel and said goodbye to each other to join their respective dinners with Lando and Oscar, their hug lingered a little longer than usual. Lily told herself it was just the exhaustion of the day, the warmth of shared excitement, but when Magui finally pulled away, the absence of her felt noticeable, like a hand withdrawn too soon.
They didn’t talk much that night, just a few exchanged messages before sleep, but Lily still went to bed smiling.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
The next morning, Lily found Magui in the hospitality suite, already seated in front of the TV with a coffee balanced on her knee. She looked up as Lily approached, her face lighting up in a way that made Lily’s chest flutter.
They claimed a quiet corner together as qualifying began. Outside, the circuit buzzed with movement, engineers hustling through paddock corridors, mechanics rolling equipment, fans streaming into the grandstands, but inside, the noise faded into background hum. For a while, it was just the two of them, leaning close, reacting in sync.
They groaned at mistakes, cheered at clean laps, and whispered commentary back and forth like it was a shared secret.
“P2!” Lily exclaimed, clapping her hands as Oscar’s name flashed on the screen. “Front row!”
“P3 for Lando,” Magui added a moment later, smiling at the replay of him climbing out of the car. “Double top three. That’s huge.”
When the session ended, Lily leaned back in her chair, finally letting out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
“I really hope Oscar can turn this into a podium tomorrow.”
“He will,” Magui said without hesitation. “He’s got the pace. And he’s stubborn. He just needs a little bit of luck.”
Their eyes met, and Lily felt that same warmth from the night before settle in again—easy, familiar, and quietly thrilling.
They stayed together longer than necessary after qualifying, talking about nothing and everything until the crowd thinned and the adrenaline wore off.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
Later, back at the hotel, Magui knocked on her door.
“Do you want to get dinner together?”
“Sure,” Lily answered.
As they stepped out of the elevator, Lily instinctively walked toward the hotel restaurants, but Magui gently tugged her back toward the exit.
“I planned something else. Trust me.”
And Lily, of course, did.
“Are you actually trying to kidnap me?” Lily laughed, trying to sound skeptical.
“Maybe. But seriously, have I ever done you wrong?” Magui asked, flashing that effortlessly charming smile.
Lily hummed, her heart warm. Somehow, she really trusted Magui to never hurt her. She would have followed her across an eight-lane highway blindfolded, even though she’d only known her for a few weeks, mostly over texts.
Magui refused to reveal their destination during the entire Uber ride. Lily would later admit that the trip to the temple had been one of the best surprises anyone had planned for her, but this was just as magical.
The park glowed under charming streetlights, the last rays of the sun painting everything in shades of pink and gold.
They walked through the park, their hands brushing until Magui finally took Lily’s hand in hers. The pink blossoms overhead seemed to glow under the soft streetlights, petals drifting lazily down around them like confetti. The air was cool, scented faintly with flowers and the lingering sweetness of the evening.
“Wow… this is unreal,” Lily murmured, gazing up at the petals silhouetted against the twilight sky.
“Good,” Magui said softly. “I’m glad you like it.”
When they sat on a bench beneath the trees, Magui pulled a small bag from her purse, setting it between them. Inside were a few onigiri, an egg salad sandwich, and two bottles of iced tea.
“I picked these up earlier,” Magui said. “You can choose whatever you want.”
Lily felt herself flush, warmth blooming in her chest at the thoughtfulness of it. “We could share again,” she offered, a little shy. “If that’s okay?”
“Of course,” Magui replied without hesitation.
The sandwich was good, but the onigiri was filled with teriyaki tofu, sweet and savory, and Lily knew immediately it was her favorite. She tried not to look too pleased about it.
When they were done, they stayed where they were, sitting shoulder to shoulder as the sun sank lower, painting the sky in the same soft pinks and golds as the blossoms around them. Magui absentmindedly played with Lily’s hair, braiding a small strand between her fingers. Lily felt her gaze linger, warm and intent, and it made her chest tighten.
She turned her head, meeting Magui’s eyes. “Hey,” she said, smiling.
“Hey,” Magui answered, gently tucking the braid behind Lily’s ear.
“Tell me if I’m reading this wrong,” Magui said after a moment, her voice quieter now, more careful. “But I feel like we get along really well.”
“I do too,” Lily admitted, barely above a whisper.
Magui leaned closer, so close Lily could feel her breath against her skin. “Tell me to stop,” she murmured.
Lily didn’t.
Magui closed the distance, their lips meeting in a soft, tentative kiss. Lily sighed into it, instinctively leaning closer, and for a moment the world felt very small and very right. She let out a soft sigh, tilting her head slightly to deepen the kiss, and Magui responded with a quiet, happy laugh that vibrated against her lips. They broke apart just enough to meet each other’s gaze, foreheads resting together, breaths mingling.
“Good?” Magui asked softly, her eyes sparkling with uncertainty and hope.
“Perfect,” Lily whispered back, a small, blissful smile curving her lips.
Magui let out a relieved laugh, tucking a loose strand of hair behind Lily’s ear with a gentle, lingering touch. “Thank God. I was so scared you’d think I was crazy.”
Lily laughed quietly, her heart still fluttering. “No way. I’ve wanted this since the first moment I saw you.”
Magui’s lips curved into a teasing grin. “Really? I almost didn’t text you, I thought I annoyed you.”
“Well, I’m really glad you did,” Lily said, her thumb brushing over the back of Magui’s hand. Then, with a playful tilt, she added, “And I’m even happier you’re not with Lando.”
Magui laughed again, leaning her forehead against Lily’s. “Me too.”
They walked slowly, side by side, letting their fingers remain intertwined as the blossoms drifted around them, the park’s soft glow making the world feel impossibly small, and just for them.
“I don’t want to let you go,” Lily whispered, a note of desperation in her voice.
“Me neither,” Magui admitted softly.
“But we will see each other again soon,” Magui added, giving Lily’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Portugal and England are only a few hours apart. That’s nothing.”
Lily smiled, her eyes twinkling. “A few hours, huh? I think we can manage that.”
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
During the entire race, Lily clutched Magui’s arm so tightly it must have left marks, though neither of them seemed to notice. The tension barely eased for a second.
It was an eventful race—five drivers retired, yellow flags flashing often enough to keep Lily’s heart lodged firmly in her throat. Lando overtook Oscar right at the start, and for most of the race it looked like the papaya cars would finish exactly where they had started.
That didn’t stop Lily from imagining catastrophe at every corner. She could practically see a Ferrari lunging forward, or, even worse, Oscar’s car snapping loose and spinning into the wall.
So when the second McLaren crossed the finish line, she and Magui spun each other around, laughing so hard their voices cracked, and Lily couldn’t help burying her face in Magui’s shoulder, feeling every bit of happiness radiate through them both.
As Oscar stepped onto the podium, Lily cheered so loudly she was fairly certain she wouldn’t have a voice left the next day.
With the drivers still tied up in post-race duties, they wandered through the circuit and the adjoining amusement park, talking about nothing at all, just enjoying being together.
The moment shattered when Magui’s phone buzzed.
Lily watched her expression twist into something displeased.
“Lando says he already went back to the hotel,” Magui sighed. “We should probably head back too.”
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
Back at the hotel, Lily detoured straight to Oscar’s room. The second he opened the door, she wrapped him in a tight hug.
“You did so well,” she said fervently.
She pulled back quickly, mindful of how Oscar felt about physical touch. “Really. Great work.”
“Thanks,” he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. “You can’t imagine how relieved I feel.”
“And happy?” Lily asked gently.
“Yeah. Happy too,” Oscar admitted. “But mostly relieved. I feel like I had to prove something—to the team. That signing me was the right choice. And today… I think I did. At least a little.”
“Of course they made the right choice,” Lily said firmly. “You’re a rookie. Getting a podium in your first year just proves how talented you are.”
Oscar looked away, awkward. “It’s just… a harsh industry.”
“I know,” she said softly. Then, more lightly, “So—any plans tonight?”
Oscar sat down on the bed. “I was going to call my family. Then order room service. Maybe watch a movie.”
Lily bit back a fond smile. Of course that was his idea of celebrating.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
She sat beside him as he called his mum, propping the phone against a pillow so everyone could see him properly. The moment Nicole and Oscar’s sisters appeared on screen, praise came flooding in—overlapping voices, laughter, excitement.
While they talked, Lily glanced at her own phone. Magui had sent several messages in quick succession.
Magui: lando is being so whiny right now
Magui: omg im going to come over and hit oscar
Magui: no seriously hes doubting himself sm
Magui: are you going out too?
Magui: pls pls pls come out with us
Magui: and get oscar to come
Magui: i think landos actually going to cry if he cant celebrate w him
Magui: also they need to talk
Lily: yes, ill try. promise.
Her attention snapped back just in time to hear Oscar’s sisters steering the conversation in a very specific direction.
“He gave me a gift,” Oscar finally admitted.
Instantly, the girls on screen squealed, and even their mother gasped dramatically, clutching her chest like she’d just watched the climax of a rom-com. Lily had to hide her own smile behind her hand.
Lily watched as Oscar’s family bombarded him with questions, eager for details about Lando’s gift. Mae and his mom spoke over each other, and Eddie nearly spoiled it before their mom shushed her sharply.
Lily stifled a laugh, watching Oscar’s mortified expression. She knew he felt every bit the fool in that moment.
"Shut up," he muttered, the color in his face deepening.
"He gave me this," he said, lifting his wrist toward the camera.
Lily couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed the bracelet before, since he rarely wore any jewelry.
All the women squealed and beamed, and Lily felt a little spark of joy in her chest. It was such a simple, thoughtful thing, yet it made her heart skip.
"That’s very sweet of him," his mom cooed. She went on, gushing about how anyone who got to know Oscar would be fond of him, leaving him visibly flustered.
"Stop moving your hand so much, I can’t really see it," Hattie complained.
Oscar adjusted his wrist, and Lily noticed how careful he was, almost shy.
Oscar stilled, holding his hand into the camera. "Is that a koala? He even got you something personal. Maybe he does like you." Lily knew that this would be discussed at length later in their dedicated group chat.
"He's just trying to be a good teammate," Oscar brushed it off. Lily wanted to shake him. What teammate does something like that?
When Eddie asked what Lando had said, Lily watched Oscar’s expression soften as he answered.
“He said I was talented. And that he hoped we’d get more double podiums together.” Oscar smiled then, small and unguarded. “And he said he’s happy we’re teammates.” How could he be so oblivious?
“I thanked him,” he said. “And told him he didn’t need to get me something.”
The collective groan was deserved. Lily winced along with the rest of them.
His family explained rather vividly why his answer was maybe not perfect, or how Lando could have interpreted it. Lily watched Oscar’s shoulders sink as it finally dawned on him. She could see his regret in the way his eyes darted, replaying the moment over and over.
“He did ask me if I didn’t like it,” Oscar said quickly. “But I told him I did.”
It helped, a little. Not enough.
They urged him to talk to Lando again, say something real this time. Oscar hesitated, doubt written all over his face.
“He probably doesn’t want to talk to me,” he said. “He just wants to celebrate his podium with his friends.”
That was when Lily leaned forward.
“He will want to talk to you,” she said, certain. “I promise you, he is gonna love to celebrate your podium together.”
Oscar looked at her like he almost believed her. Like he wanted to.
“Yes, listen to her!” Mae yelled from the screen.
Oscar sighed. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”
Eddie ruined the moment immediately with another joke, and Nicole wrapped things up before it got worse, reminding Oscar how proud she was one more time.
When the screen went dark, Lily looked down at Oscar’s wrist.
The bracelet stayed there, perfectly at home.
She smiled softly.
Some people needed a little more time to say what they meant.
And Lando, she suspected, wouldn’t mind waiting.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
Over their room service dinner, Lily badgered Oscar relentlessly until he finally caved and promised to go out and celebrate.
She immediately retreated to her own room to get changed, putting on a sparkly little black dress. If there was ever an appropriate occasion for something like that, a Grand Prix after-party was definitely it.
There was a knock at her door, and she knew it was Oscar, here to pick her up.
She opened it—and froze.
“What?” he asked, frowning. “Do you not wanna go?”
“Oscar,” she said slowly, gesturing at him from head to toe, “you absolutely cannot go like this.”
He glanced down at his ugly shorts and clearly slept-in T-shirt. “Why not?”
“It’s a party. On a race weekend,” she said flatly. “And you’re actively trying to get Lando’s attention.”
Which, honestly, he already had—but if this got Oscar to change, she’d take it.
She dragged him back to his room and rummaged through the chaos until she assembled something presentable. Oscar obediently changed, and finally, they headed out.
The moment they reached the club, Lily dragged him straight to the bar. Left to his own devices, Oscar would just stand there awkwardly, so alcohol felt like a necessary intervention.
She took her first sip, glancing sideways at him. He stood a few feet away, nodding his head to the beat, or at least trying to. Endearingly so.
She was just considering how to get him to loosen up when arms suddenly wrapped around her from behind.
She was fully prepared to elbow whoever thought this was appropriate, until a familiar, slurred voice murmured, “You look so hot. All sparkly.”
Lily turned, face breaking into a grin. “You’re stupid,” she laughed, before leaning in to press a quick kiss to Magui’s lips.
“Wanna dance?” Magui asked, swaying her hips experimentally.
Lily hesitated for half a second—she probably shouldn’t abandon Oscar—but then again, she was only human, and Magui looked incredible in a tight red dress.
She turned to Oscar. “Hey, I’ll be over there. You’ll be alright, yeah?” She flashed him an encouraging smile and a thumbs-up before disappearing into the crowd with Magui.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
Later that night, Lily stood at the bar ordering another round when Magui nudged her shoulder.
“I think they figured it out,” she giggled, pointing toward the exit.
Lily followed her gaze—and there they were. Lando and Oscar, hand in hand, disheveled and unmistakably happy, stumbling towards the exit together.
“Oh my god,” Lily whooped. “Fucking finally.”
Magui lifted her drink. “What a weekend, huh?”
“What a weekend,” Lily agreed, clinking her glass against hers.