#now just know that we are not surviving this season

[linedbycaro]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟑𝟎𝐭𝐡 - 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐄𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 (𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞, 𝐈 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫) 𝚸𝐚𝐳𝐳𝐢 𝚸𝐭. 𝟐

𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐜, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈'𝐦 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 (𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭𝐲, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝). 𝚸𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤!! 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫…

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐢𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐲 / 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 𝟑.𝟑𝐤

Azzi stays on the phone until she hears a nurse walk in. Even then, she is hesitant to hang up. Paige is still sleeping on the other end, face out of frame, phone now dropped to her side. But Azzi can hear her breathing—inhale shallow and shaky, exhale short and even. But breathing. Alive.

The nurse gently pries the phone from Paige's hand, entering Azzi's screen. "Why don't you get some sleep, sweetheart. Visiting hours are from 10:00-2:00 tomorrow if she's awake."

"Alright, thank you so much," Azzi says gratefully. And feeling a little stupid, she asks, "What hospital is it again?" 

"Cedars Sinai. I'm not sure who you are to her, but Paige kept asking to call you over and over until we let her. Kept saying your name. Thought you should know."

"Thanks," Azzi says hoarsely. 

"Goodnight Dear. Try and get some rest."

The call ends, and Azzi is left sitting blankly on her couch, unable to move or process.

Needless to say, she doesn't get rest. She doesn't even try to sleep. 

Instead, she goes into autopilot. She researches the best recovery treatments and PTSD programs in the area, goes on Amazon, finds several books she thinks Paige will like- buys them all on next-day shipping. She cleans. Does laundry. She packs a bag full of Paige's favorite snacks (which she still regularly buys out of habit, she supposes). Then showers. Methodically, efficiently.

And it isn't until she's rinsing out her conditioner that it hits her:

The traffic. From that afternoon- yesterday now, technically. It had felt like a perfect day. How had she not recognized the car? That had been Paige's gray jeep—totaled, hanging off the side of the road. It had been Paige in the accident. And Azzi had just driven by, annoyed, thinking she'd be late. So unaware of how close Paige was to dying.

What if she hadn't survived? What if they'd been just a mile apart, and Paige had died, and Azzi never knew—just went on with her day?

What if Paige hadn't been alone? What if no one had found her in time? What if the guardrail hadn't held?

But she's alive, Azzi reminds herself. Don't spiral.

She lets the water rush over her, turning cool. The icy streams giving her clarity, pulling her back to the present.

She's alive, she's alive, she's alive, Azzi repeats like a mantra as she turns off the water.

She's alive, Azzi thinks as she pulls on one of Paige's old sweatshirts, wishing it still smelled like her. She called. She's okay. She's seeing her soon.

Not tomorrow. In a few hours.

Azzi glances at the clock. 7 a.m. Four hours since the call. Three more to go, she thinks and busies herself with the next task.

Paige POV

Paige wakes up groggy and disoriented. Her body hurts. Like- all over. Her head is pounding. Her lungs ache. Her leg is numb.

She feels like she's been hit by a truck. Which, technically, was accurate. That's what the doctors keep telling her, anyway.

She had left her apartment and headed to an off-season workout. She got in her car like any normal day, merged onto the 5. And then, nothing.

Just remembers waking up in an ambulance, groggy. In pain. An out-of-body how-am-i-not-dead type of pain.

But the rest of the night—the rest of it only comes back to her blurry clips—half-formed, foggy, and fractured.

She remembers waking up and hearing the doctor mention something about a broken leg, something about her head.

And then she remembers being panicked, scared, and tired. She remembers asking for something, needing something so desperately. She remembers feeling intense relief. And then that's it. That's the extent of her memory.

And Paige tries—really tries—to remember. She attempts to force the memories to come, figure out the missing shapes, and place the unfamiliar voices. Connect the dots.

There's a knock on the door.

"Hi, hon, good morning. I'm just checking to see if you've woken. We want to run some tests." A nurse steps into the room, followed by a doctor.

They change her IV, check her vitals, poke and prod. She's stable. They ask her questions: Have you gained any memory of the accident? No. But do you know where you were headed? Yes. A workout. Do you know what day it is? Not really, but I know it's Late November. Your birthday? October 20th, 2001.

She learns that her mother (her emergency contact) is on her way, flying in from Montana. She re-learns that she truly was, unironically, hit by an 18-wheeler. And that she's broken a leg, shattered a rib, has a mildly collapsed lung (which explains the nose tubes), and has a severe concussion. Well, isn't that just great?

"Do you remember anything else from last night?" The nurse asks, finally opening the door to leave.

"No..?" Paige responds carefully, because the nurse is asking like there is something she should be remembering.

"Okay, hon. Get some rest. Visiting hours are soon, maybe you'll remember then." With that, she closes the door, leaving Paige even more confused.

She feels this underlying sense of panic—how unsettled and shaken she is—or really, how shaken she should be—because she can't even remember the scary parts. And that's what's even more terrifying.

What if- what if she had just died like that? Left the world, like she supposes we all will one day- and that was it? Gone. Dead. Cold.

And for the first time, maybe, she questions her faith- if there really was a heaven, if there was an afterlife. That really hurts her brain to think about.

But I'm alive, she shoves the spiraling down. The rest will come later. I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive. Focus on that.

Paige gets to "enjoy" another hour of laying in a grey hospital room, staring into space, trying to put the pieces together before another knock sounds.

And when Paige turns to look at the door, her heart stops. It drops. Her whole body and soul freeze. Her head becomes clear.

Because it's Azzi. Azzi.

Azzi Fudd is in my hospital room, she thinks—and it's her first coherent, certain thought since the accident. Like her whole being just recognizes Azzi, it just knows. In the way time stills, in the way Paige could be in a completely alternate universe as a whole different person and understand who Azzi is.

But- but it couldn't be, right?

Her second thought, undoubtedly less coherent than the first, is how on Earth is it possible Azzi Fudd is in my hospital room?

Her brain hurts, and the fog returns. She's trying to think in circles, coming up with nothing. Paige looks like she's seeing a ghost, which she's pretty sure she is.

Did she die? Is she in heaven? Did Azzi die, too? No.

Is this some weird in-between realm where you interact with visions of people who haunted your life on Earth? Because it's true, Azzi haunts her.

And Azzi's just there. Standing in the doorway, uncertain, staring, like she can't move. Like her soul also feels Paige's.

Her arms are filled with goods. A stuffed tote slung over her shoulder, a blanket folded under her arm. Flowers in one hand, coffee in another.

Azzi begins to look uncertain, brows twisting into caution, eyes dropping, then looking back at Paige—her big, brown, deep stare, worried and hopeful at the same time. God, those eyes. Paige can see her thoughts simmering, her anxiety, her unease.

Instinctively, Paige wants to comfort her. Even if it's not real- even if it's some ghost-version of Azzi. She's just wired that way. Like her body (even broken) was designed for this- for Azzi.

And even though Paige doesn't have the words, doesn't know how to process Azzi being here, Paige does what she can. She smiles. Soft. Tender. Assuring.

And Azzi smiles back, small, more certain. Face filled with adoration.

"P? Hey, how are you feeling?" Azzi says, stepping forward.

All Paige can do is stare at her- curls framing her face, lips slightly parted, eyes tired. Paige studies her carefully, almost clinically, like if she blinks, Azzi will vanish- just another illusion pulled from pain and memory.

But Azzi looks… healthy. Full. Solid. Like a person, not a dream. Not at all like the shackled person Paige had pulled off the ledge, drunk and trembling and broken.

Azzi tries again, "Paige? It's me, Azzi. Are you-"

"Azzi?" Paige repeats, talking over her hoarsely, "Azzi, I know it's you. I jus- I don't understand. I-. Azzi, what are you doing here? How-"  

"You called, remember?" Azzi's face twists into concern. "Remember you called me last night? You were in an accident?"

"Oh," comes the reply, barely audible. "Oh. I don't remember." Paige's brows furrow, eyes shifting around the room. She had called Azzi? When? And she didn't remember? Azzi? Jesus, what had she even said to make Azzi come here?

"I'm sorry," Paige says—and she truly means it. "I mean- I didn't mean to worry you or anything. I didn't even-"

Paige truly has no words. Just confusion. And now, guilt. Why on Earth would she call Azzi? Why would she bother her? Drag her into this like Azzi was still in her life- still hers to call and seek comfort in.

Azzi had her own life. A better life. The last thing Paige dreams of doing is burden Azzi, especially after everything she's already carried.

The silence stretches for a beat- tight, unsure, not awkward, but loaded.

"I—" Azzi stammers softly, breaking the silence. "Last night on the phone, you asked me to stay until you fell asleep and to call in the morning. After you fell asleep, the nurse told me to come to your visiting hours and that you had repeatedly asked for me to call me, so I thought," her voice falters, "I can get her—if you want—the nurse."

"Azzi, no," Paige says quickly. "I believe you; I believe that you called. My memory has just been in and out, and I'm really sorry I bothered you at all."

"Bother me? "Azzi looks stunned—like the idea of Paige being a bother physically hurts her. She steps closer, her voice trembling but firm. "Paige, I'm glad you called. I'm so fucking glad you called. I was scared out of my mind, but knowing you're okay... I .. You'd never be a burden, not after.... everything."

She pauses for a minute, brown eyes boring into Paige's, searching. "Do you- do you regret calling me? Do you want me to leave?"

Paige blinks, startled by the question. "No—God, no."

She shakes her head, wincing slightly at the motion. Her voice is raspy but certain. "I just… I didn't expect you to come. I didn't even remember I called, and when I saw you—I thought I was hallucinating or something."

A breath. A beat.

"I don't regret it," Paige says quietly. "I just didn't think I was still allowed."

Azzi POV

Azzi's face softens, shoulders dropping like she's been holding a thousand pounds of tension. She doesn't speak—just steps closer. Setting the flowers and coffee on a table with a quiet clink, Azzi crouches beside the bed.

"Paige you can always call me- we can always call each other. I thought-" she shakes her head, swallowing hard, "No, no. You're right. I'm sorry I made it this way- for things to be so weird between us. I-"

A tear threatens to spill down her cheek now, "Paige, I'm so sorry. For everything. I never called. I'm sorry i never called and I said those awful things, I'm sorry I hurt you, I'm so sorry I messed things up between us. I'm sorry I-"

"Az, shh, it's okay," Paige says softly, weakly lifting her hand to cover Azzi's. Not holding it, just brushing her fingers carefully, letting the weight of her hand settle, comforting. The touch spreads warmth through Azzi's body, melting her soul.

"No, let me finish," Azzi says. Then, half mumbles, "You shouldn't even be the one comforting me." She sniffles.

Just say thank you, Azzi thinks.

But the words feel too big. Her throat tightens, breath catching as a sob slips through. And she tries to open her mouth, but she can't; her breath catches, making an audible cry.

She doesn't know what to say- how to convey her gratitude to the person who quite literally saved her life. Paige is looking at her like she hangs the moon, and Azzi wants to explode, so overcome with emotion for the person in front of her. For a moment, she just takes Paige's hand, clutching it with both of her own, letting herself cry, letting Paige ground her.

Paige, whose eyes are now red too, is giving her the gentlest, kindest look, her lips folded in concentration. They stare at each other for a moment, taking each other in, letting tears silently fall down their faces, hands tightly entwined.

And after a long while, Azzi finds her voice.

"Thank you. Thank you, Paige."

Paige just squeezes her hand, swallowing thickly. "You don't have to thank me, Azzi. There's nothing to thank me for. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

"You... You saved my life." Azzi whispers, voice hoarse. "You saved my life, and I came so close to never seeing you again, never being able to say thank you in person."

"But its okay. I'm alive. I'm here." Paige says earnestly, wincing just a little bit as she tries to shift up slightly. "I'll be okay. We'll be okay."

"Yeah?"

Yeah, Azzi. I know it." Paige gives her a half-lazy grin. Azzi cracks a small smile, sniffling. "But I am sorry, truly sorry for hurting you. Please forgive me."

"It's okay, I understand. I really understand. And I obviously forgive you."

Azzi smiles wider this time, head tilting to really look at her. "I missed you."

Paige's cheeks flushed, her smile soft and sheepish in the way it only does for Azzi. "I missed you. Everyday."

"If I hug you, are you gonna break?" Azzi wipes tears from her eyes.

"Prolly not, but I want you to either way." Paige tries to shift toward her but immediately winces with a dramatic, "Ow, fuck—okay, no."

"P, stop. You gotta be careful," Azzi scolds, gently helping her settle back against the pillows.

For a second, they both laugh—quiet and breathless. A kind of laughter that lives right on the edge of tears.

Azzi doesn't hesitate this time. She leans in slowly, carefully, wrapping her arms around Paige like she's memorizing the shape of her. It's not a tight hug—it can't be—but it's full. Solid. Steady. Azzi presses her forehead lightly to Paige's temple, and Paige lets her eyes fall closed.

They stay like that, breathing each other in.

Holding on.

And then Paige breaks the silence with a whisper. "Azzi?"

"Yeah?" Comes the just as quiet reply, their breaths mingling.

"Can you kiss it better?"

"You're stupid." Azzi whispers affectionately.

"Don't deny a girl in pain, come on."

Azzi giggles at that. Softly. Drunk on the moment, their quiet touch, them being them. Finally. Azzi opens her eyes to find Paige's already open, endless blue staring into her soul. She shivers. That look makes her blush deep.

And because they were never really good at being just friends- in any universe or timeline, because it was always going to be them together, inevitably, Azzi kisses her. Tenderly, gently. Lips melting together intimately, reuniting slowly, softly. And when they pull back, Paige says, "Damn, I feel better already."

And Azzi just laughs, smiling more than she had in a while. "Oh yeah? Wait till you see the other stuff I brought."

And much to Paige's dismay, Azzi untangles from their embrace (not without giving her a forehead kiss AND a kiss on the nose), and begins to smother the blonde with flowers and snacks and affection.

They spend the following hours talking, giving each other life updates, holding each other. Azzi climbs into the small space next to Paige in bed, careful not to hurt her, grateful for the close proximity.

Paige is feeling the best she's felt since the accident- and no, not just Azzi's kisses, but because of her presence, her persistence, her hope, and her ability to talk to Paige- really make her mind feel less foggy and confused. Paige literally feels her brain healing.

"You smell good," Azzi says fondly, curing into Paige's uninjured side and breathing in deeply.

"Don't lie, baby. I haven't showered in over 24 hours."

"No, you smell like you, in a good way. I swear."

"Freak."

Azzi giggles again.

"Also," Paige says, more slowly, letting her thoughts settle. "I know we probably have so much more to talk about, but I'm glad we can be us. And I'm so glad you're here. I'm so much less sad now, for real."

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be, P. I'm gonna help you get through this." Azzi assures. "And I know we have more to talk about, and we will, but right now, let's just focus on you, okay? We can unpack the other stuff later. I'm yours, I'm gonna take care you."

"You're mine?" Paige's voice is filled with pride, teasing but a little breathless.

"Yeah, P. Always. I've always been yours."

Paige groans dramatically. "God, I can't wait until I can properly move again. You can't say shit like that to me while I'm out here all lame and half-dead."

Azzi snorts, her head dropping to Paige's shoulder. "You're ridiculous."

"You're the one saying stuff like 'I'm yours' with a straight face," Paige shoots back. "Of course I'm gonna get ideas. You don't even know what you do to me." She shakes her head.

"I dunno, maybe I can get creative too," Azzi says coyly. "I can think of a few ways to get around that broken leg."

And Paige's face turns bright red- just in time for the nurse to walk in.

"Hey—oh!" the nurse exclaims, stopping in her tracks at the sight of Azzi curled up in the hospital bed.

"Sorry," she adds quickly, trying not to smile, "just here to let you know visiting hours are technically over." She pauses, glancing at the two of them.

Azzi flushes, scrambling to sit up like she's sixteen again. "Sorry—sorry. I didn't mean to—"

"You're fine," the nurse says, amused but gentle.

Azzi laughs nervously and starts sliding off the bed, mumbling something about grabbing her stuff.

But before she can fully stand, Paige speaks—quiet, a little hesitant.

"Can she stay?" Paige asks, eyes flicking to the nurse. Her voice is scratchy but steady. "Just for a little while? Please?"

The nurse hesitates for only a beat before softening.

"Well… technically, no. But I think I can be an exception." She smiles. "If you can still get some rest, then yeah. She can stay. She's... a significant other, yes?"

"Basically my wife."

Azzi's face flushes. Paige has zero chill.

"Okay, you two. Call if you need anything." The nurse turns back to the door.

"Thank you," Paige says sincerely.

Azzi slowly sits back down on the bed, quieter this time.

"You want me to stay?" she asks.

Paige nods, looking at her like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Duh."

They settle into quiet talk, laughter slipping between them like muscle memory. It's easy. Familiar. The kind of warmth that makes everything else hurt a little less.

And somehow, in the middle of a sterile hospital room, everything feels right again.

It took two phone calls. Two near-death experiences. But the world is finally spinning the way it should.

Order has been restored.

Paige and Azzi are together again.

[astraljedi]

Long Story Short (Tommy Miller)

Summary: After arriving in Jackson, you reunite with Tommy Miller—an old flame you haven't seen in over twenty years. And as you and your daughter try to settle into your new reality, old feelings, regrets and past scars resurface.

Pairing: Single Dad!Tommy Miller x Reader

Warnings: mention of trauma, scars, past abuse (implied), protective!Tommy, past miscommunication.

Word Count: 2.9K

Songs: Long Story Short by Taylor Swift

A/N: Not going to lie, I've had this idea for a while now and I'm currently planning on writing a part 2. Also, do you guys like the custom headers/posters for each fic? Let me know your thoughts and ENJOY! Taglist: @grayandthyme @darkwhisperswolf @umadirectioner -

Long story short, it was a bad time

For months, it was just Lucy and me crossing state lines all alone. Enduring different weather, escaping raiders and surviving the chaos of the end of the world. There were moments where I sat and thought if I made the right decision. FEDRA wasn’t safe, our home wasn’t safe either. But what if it’s even worse out here and I risked her safety for us to end up worse than before?  

The moment Lucy turned fourteen, I started prepping her in secret while her father was away. Sneaking out through the back walls into the woods, not too far but not too close where the guards could hear guns going off. For two years, I managed to teach her how to survive outside FEDRA’s walls with or without me. There was always a high risk of me falling behind, sacrificing myself for her or even if her dad managed to find us. He would kill me and she needed to know how to escape him, even if that meant leaving me behind. 

It took years to work up the courage, and even more guts to finally run one night while her father was out on duty. But for her? I’d do it all over again, a thousand times in a heartbeat. 

I didn’t know what was waiting for us beyond those fences. But I knew I had to take a chance of it being safer than keeping Lucy under the same roof as the man who was supposed to protect us. The man I thought was the kindest soul once, caring and loving. 

By the time we crossed Wyoming, the cold was setting in hard. The winds were picking up and we barely could see anything between the rows of trees. I hoped for the sight of an abandoned cabin, something for us to sit and stand by while the weather eased. I thought maybe we’d hit our end of the road. 

But when those tall gates creaked opened and the patrol team that found us led us inside, It was the first time in months that I could breathe a little easier. 

I keep Lucy close, my arms tucked around her shoulders, trying to share what little warmth we have between the two of us. It was only the beginning of the season, and it was already this bad. I cant imagine how its going to be when a storm comes. 

“We should get them something to eat,” One of the guys who brought us in says. 

“No, they need medical attention first. And some new warmer clothes. God knows how long they’ve been out there almost freezing to death in those thin jackets.” the young woman snaps back at him. They were whispering but I could hear every word clearly. 

My lips tremble as I look around the town. The white snow carpeted the whole town, kids were playing in the snow while other adults walked around the town, drinking whatever warm liquid they were serving out of one of the tall buildings. It was surreal, seeing a town actually living, no FEDRA, no infected in sight. Just normalcy and community. 

I turn to Lucy, her eyes glimmering as she catches sight of a group of laughing teenagers slip out of the bakery with their own drinks in hand. She doesn’t say anything, but the hope in her eyes makes my heart swell.

“Peach?” A low gasp escapes me and my body freezes on the spot. That voice, that same voice that haunted me for years during sleepless nights. For a moment, I think my mind is playing games with me.

The cold finally getting to me. 

But the moment I turn around slowly, my heart at a stop waiting for it to jump out of my chest the moment I wake up from the trance.

The moment my eyes land on his, dark eyes that had gone through hell, but those were still the same brown eyes I fell in love with over twenty years ago back in Texas. 

The memory of those same eyes scanning my exposed skin under the hot summer Texas sun, his rough fingertips trailing up my thighs until they met with the hem of my shorts, tugging them down slowly as his lips feverishly roamed every inch of my body. Leaving me breathless and aching. Hoping the neighbor didn’t pop their head over the fence. 

“Tommy,” I breathe out. 

He was still the man I ran away from, too scared to get my heart broken. Because there was no getting over Tommy Miller, there was no cure for the man who stood in front of me. He looks older, lines at the corner of his eyes, a few new scars across his cheek and forehead.

This version of him, rugged, tougher and broader. At first, he looks like a soldier right after battle, in pain and like he’s seen the worst. But then I catch a glimpse of the version I used to know, soft, caring and tender. 

He doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t waste any second more and crosses the distance between us in quick strides. His strong arms pull me into his body and I welcome his warmth, the familiar weight of him. 

I bury my face in his chest, my hands clinging to the back of his thick jacket. God, it’s been so long since I’ve felt this safe and at peace in someone’s arms. In the arms of a man who I know wouldn’t dare hurt me, the arms that held me close like I would vanish the second I pull away. 

“I thought you were dead,” He breathes, his face nuzzled so close. His voice trembles, but I could feel the sense of relief and his shoulders relax once he realizes I’m not running away. “Peach, you don’t know how long I looked for you.”

I close my eyes, taking in his new scent of wood, leather and a hint of smokiness. It was different, mature. 

My throat strains and hot tears sting my eyes, the weight of everything almost crumbling down all at once. The weight of every bruise, every cry and scar on my body. Heavy sleepless nights were Lucy was sick and her father was nowhere to be found, probably drunk and fucking someone else while I stayed up with a crying six month old, desperate to get her feeling better. 

“Mom?” Lucy’s voice pulls me out of the trance. Tommy tenses and I pull away from him, already missing his warmth when the harsh wind crashes to me. I quickly wipe away the tears from the corner of my eyes and try to compose myself.

“Sorry,” I mumble, pulling her close. “Tommy, this is my daughter, Lucy.” 

Tommy looks stunned, eyeing me and then at Lucy.

Lucy looks up at me confused, her brows pushed together. Then she looks at Tommy, eyeing him top to bottom. “How do you guys know each other? You never mentioned a Tommy.”

I clear my throat, feeling my cheeks heating up. “We used to be friends, before the outbreak.” 

Tommy scratches the back of his head, nervous with a tint of red on his cheeks. “Nice to meet you, Lucy.” 

Lucy shrugs. “Can we go somewhere warmer? My jacket’s too thin, and I’m starving.” I huff at her, giving her a stern look. 

“What?” She asks, genuinely confused. “You’re only wearing one layer because you gave me the second jacket we had so I wouldn’t get cold. One more second out here and your lips are going to turn blue.” 

Tommy chuckles. He lets patrol know that he's taking over and sends them over to the stables to finish their shift.

“How about we get you both something warm to eat,” He says, gently slipping his arm around my shoulders again, guiding us toward one of the buildings. “And then we can find you better jackets.” 

It’s embarrassing how fast Lucy and I devour the warm, flavorful stew Tommy got us at the dining hall. Hiking across borders doesn’t exactly guarantee hot meals everyday, it doesn’t even guarantee food at all unless you’re lucky or smart enough to make it work. 

“I’m sorry mom,” Lucy mumbles, her mouth still full, “but this is way better than wild rabbit.” 

I roll my eyes playfully, swallowing the last bite. “God forbid a mom tries to make do with what nature gives her to feed her grumpy teenager.” I tease, nudging her shoulder.

“Wait ‘til you try the chocolate cake,” Tommy says, leaning back in the wooden chair across from us, a smile tugging at his mouth.

“You’re kidding. Cake?” Lucy’s eyes light up. “I’ve never had cake before.”

“Stay here. I’ll get you both a slice.” He chuckles, standing up and shaking his head before walking off.

The moment Tommy leaves, Lucy leans in, sipping what’s left of her stew. “Does Dad know him too?”

“No,” I choke out, clearing my throat. “I met Tommy way before your dad, we lived on the same street.” 

Lucy hums, processing my answer. 

Tommy comes back with two slices of chocolate cake in each hand. I force a smile and take the plate, but my stomach twists. Just the mention of her father is enough to ruin my appetite.

“Dad!” a little voice shouts.

My head snaps toward the small voice just in time to see a boy—no more than four—running across the hall and launching himself into Tommy’s lap.

“Benji,” Tommy grunts, smiling as he catches the kid and holds him tight.

A kid. He has a kid and it didn’t even cross my mind that he could be married, let alone have a kid. 

“Where’s your mom, huh?” Tommy asks gently, brushing snow from Benji’s coat.

“Right here,” comes a gorgeous woman in braids, shaking snow off her jacket. Her braids are perfect, not a hair out of place even with the strong winds outside. “He wanted to see you before bedtime,” she says with a soft smile, reaching out to smooth Benji’s hair.

Lucy glances at me, silently asking if I knew about them. I give a small shrug and slide my untouched cake over to her. She accepts it without question, already distracted by the sugary frosting.

“This is Maria,” Tommy says, unreadable. “She basically runs the town—pretty much the reason Jackson’s still standing.” Then, he introduces us, “And this is her daughter, Lucy.”

My Lucy grins and gives a small wave, cheeks puffed out with cake.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Maria says warmly. “I hope Jackson’s been good to you so far. Kat, the girl who brought you in, told me how they found you. I’m glad you’re safe and I hope you’re considering staying.”

Maria wears confidence and kindness proudly. No wonder she’s the glue that keeps this place together.

“Thank you,” I say softly. “We didn’t really know where we were going. I just—I wanted to find somewhere safe. Somewhere Lucy could grow.”

“If you decide to stay,” Maria offers, “there’s a school and they get to help with minor easy chores. Kids get to be kids here.”

“There’s no rush,” Tommy adds, placing Benji gently on the floor. “But there’s a small house that’s been renovated. If you want it—it’s yours. For both of you.”

I glance at Lucy. Her cheeks are rosy, her eyes bright. And she looks like a kid again. Not a survivor, just a girl, full of curiosity, a little mischief and grumpiness.

“I like the sound of that,” I say, looking between Tommy and Maria. “What do I have to do?”

And for the first time in years, there’s a little hope brewing inside of what our lives could be like living here.

For the night, Lucy and I would stay at Tommy’s until he could stop by the next morning bright early to make sure everything was working fine for the both of us. 

Tommy’s house is quiet, warm and every corner smells like him.

I shut the guest bedroom door gently, careful not to wake Lucy. After her shower, she changed and crawled into bed before I could even brush her hair. She was out in seconds—exhausted from months of hiking across states, finally resting on something soft.

I shiver as I head downstairs barefoot. One of Tommy’s neighbors had dropped off clothes for us, and I’m desperate for a comfortable, oversized sweatshirt. Even with the fire crackling in the living room, the tank top and sweatpants aren’t cutting it. Not after the shower either—my skin still flushed pink from the heat, and somehow, I’m still cold.

I crouch in front of the basket and start sifting through it, hoping to find something warm enough to get me through the night. 

I glance up, hearing footsteps. And for a second I think it’s Lucy, but they’re heavier, hesitant. 

Tommy stands in the doorway between the kitchen and living room, a steaming mug in his hands. His eyes land on my shoulder first—on the long, faded scar slicing across my upper arm. Then they catch the newer one at my temple, still tender and pink.

He doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t need to. 

But I see it—the shift in his face. His jaw clenches, the storm, rage and a hint of hurt brewing behind his eyes.

I tug an oversized sweatshirt over my shoulders, my fingers trembling—not from the cold, but from the memories burned into my skin.

Tommy walks in slowly, handing the mug out to me. “Chamomile with a bit of honey.” 

“Thanks.” I take it with both hands, settling down on the couch while letting the warmth spread into my fingers. 

I expect him to sit further across the room, but he sits down right on the edge of the coffee table. Looking straight at me. 

There’s a moment of silence, just us staring at each other while I sip my tea. His eyes trail my body, not sexually, but looking at me like I might break at any moment. And if I do, there’s no doubt he wouldn’t flinch to catch me, to protect me from the darkness in my head.

He’s trying to read me, trying to guess what happened all these years we’ve been apart.

“I looked for you, you know.” He breaks the silence, hands folded between his knees. I stare at him, cowardly pushing my words and feelings down. “Every quarantine zone I passed through, every supply run... I kept hoping I’d find you. Prayed you weren’t taken from me from this world.”

“I was out of state before the outbreak hit.” My voice is low, hiding behind the mug. 

“Why did you leave me?” He asks and he flinches, like the bruise is still fresh, still aching. “What I don’t get is why you left without saying goodbye? Why not talk to me first?”

“Because if I saw you—if I looked into those pleading eyes—I wouldn’t have gone,” I whisper. “And I needed to. I needed to leave before you had the chance to break my heart.”

He kneels down in front of me, his voice rough. “Peach, I was in love with you. So fucking in love with you. How could you not see that?”

I grip the mug tighter, my hands starting to shake. “You said you just wanted sex, Tommy. You never told me differently.”

Tommy chuckles in disbelief. “I did. Peach, I did.”

My brow furrows. “What?”

“That night. I told you I loved you. You were half asleep—I thought you heard me. I was gonna say it again in the morning, but when I woke up, you were gone.”

I blink at him, the air sucked from my lungs. “No. No, I didn’t fall asleep that fast.”

He smirks. “You did. I wore you out, remember?”

I bite the inside of my cheek, fighting a small laugh. I grab the nearest pillow and smack him with it. “Still an ass after all these years?”

He grins, finally sitting beside me on the couch, shoulders loosening.

“So,” I say, looking down at my hands. “You and Maria?”

“Yeah. We were married for a while. Didn’t work out in the end.” He grabs the blanket draped over the back of the couch and tosses it over my shoulders.

“And a kid too.” 

“Benji. He’s the best thing to come out of it. Smart as hell, too.” He chuckles, pride softening his features. “And you have a daughter.”

“Yeah.” I exhale, my eyes drifting towards the stairs. “Funny how different things are now. I was twenty-five when we met. You were thirty-two.”

“Did you ever get married?” he asks, but he doesn’t look at me when he says it.

“No.” I hesitate. “Lucy’s father didn’t believe in marriage.”

“Didn’t?” Tommy glances at me. “Did he pass away?”

“No.” I stare into the fire. But I wish he had. It would mean he couldn’t hurt us anymore. “He’s not in the picture anymore.”

Tommy hand finds mine, sliding it into his calloused hand. “You’re safe here. Whatever demons you left behind, I won’t let them hurt you.” 

I bite down hard, swallowing back the lump on my throat. Instead, I lean into him, tucking my face into his chest. His arms wrap around me instantly, shielding me of my own demons and nightmares. 

I shut my eyes, the tears sting but I don’t let them fall. I don’t let myself break. 

Because for once, even if the weight is still there, I feel safer now in these walls than before. 

Long story short, it was a bad time Long story short, I survived

[charles-leclerizz]

02 . ᝰ.ᐟ i know what i’m doing (i absolutely don’t)

models: carlos sainz x journalist!reader

status: been on a few dates . ( now the fans know )

series ?: Off the record (OR25)

timeline: First race of the 2024 season ( Bahrain 24 )

mood: Chapter two. They definitely feel nothing .

warnings: swearing .

editors note: second chapter. lets go. y'all are gonna need a solid few minutes to read this through but it's my baby <333

tags : [@vroomvroomcircuit, @disneyprincemuke, @verstappen-cult, @starkwlkr, @sailing-with-100-ships, @foreveralbon, @lorarri, @scuderia-piastri], [@dallaski, @nichmeddar, @sisinever, @ksthegreat, @lemon-stvrrr] IF YOU WANT TO BE TAGGED, PLEASE SEND IN AN ASK, AND MUTUALS LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE REMOVED ON PRIV !

You squinted against the lights of the hotel lobby, which were too bright for someone who was surviving off the blue light of her laptop and way too expensive coffee.

The linen pants you had thrown on hurriedly rustled softly in the quiet as you stepped out of the elevator, hand help up to your mouth as you stifled a yawn, the force of which made your sunglasses fall to the bridge of your nose.  

The sunlight leaked across the creamy marble floors, seeping into the breakfast buffet that had begun to clutter from the early morning guests. You peered further into the area, clutching your phone to your chest.  

“9am, don’t be late – C xx”  

The message had burnt a hole in your brain as you brushed your teeth that morning, and it had taken everything in you to not send back a snarky reply, a regret you still held heavily in your soul.  

Apparently, your fake boyfriend, had a thing for punctuality. A fact that was made abundantly clear when your eyes caught him tucked away in one of the more private booths of the restaurant, leaning lazily against the ivory leather sofa, thumbing at his phone.  

You glanced away, not wanting to pay much more attention to his perfectly put together ensemble at 9am in the morning, but when you had given your room number to the worker at the front, he had spotted you and was already waving as you gingerly walked up to him.  

“Would you stop that ?” you smacked his hand down, rolling your eyes when he merely grinned and rested his chin on his palm, eyelashes fluttering at your exasperation, watching you with over-exaggerated fondness.  

“You’re late,” he said, flagging down a waiter to order you a coffee, decaf he mouthed before turning back to you, “You know, for a fake girlfriend, you’re not very punctual.” 

You grumbled under your breath, something unintelligible, accepting the coffee the waiter placed in front of you - decaf, you noticed. Of course, he had ordered for you.  

“Fake girlfriend, remember?” you sipped slowly, “You’re lucky I showed up at all.” you smoothened your hair as you finally took him all in: white tee, tanned forearms, black sunglasses still tucked into the collar. Suddenly, wishing you’d taken five more minutes to look human 

“Your perky PR manager wanted us here at 10; just thought you would've appreciated a 1-hour buffer window.”  

“a what?” You spluttered on your drink. 

“Buffer window” he repeated, eyes tracing your outfit with a teasing smile, “obviously, you just rolled out of bed and said, ‘This is fine’” 

Your eye twitched, “Just because you take an unhuman amount of time to get ready, doesn’t mean we all do.”  

“Maybe we should,”  

Scoffing, you placed your empty mug down with a practiced sense of calm, “maybe, you should suck my-” 

“Morning my favourite lovebirds !”  

You both looked up in sync.  

Lina stood above the two of you, blonde hair slicked back into a miraculously high ponytail with her signature pink, leather folio in the crook of her elbow. She blinked, blue eyes crinkled happily. 

Carlos blinked, “You weren’t due till...” he checked his watch, “ten.” 

She waved him off, “Ferrari PR runs on our own time, you should know this by now.”  

Lina scooted in next to you.  

“Right, briefing time,” Lina chirped, snapping open her folder and retrieving two stacks of stappled papers, placing them Infront of the two of you, “We have made an itinerary that should kick-start your relationship, it will mess up your sleep schedules, but you can bond over that. Since we don’t have the whole summer holiday to develop the storyline, you both have a social media plan that might break you out and a few journalists that have already spotted both of you together.” The words spill out of her mouth faster than you can process them, instead you focus on the Ferrari logo plastered in the top right corner of your “press-bundle” as you’ve been led to understand. 

Carlos hummed, as if this all bored him. That the thought of gaggles of hungry paparazzi already homing in on them, didn’t make him slightly more anxious. “Can’t wait.” 

Lina ignored his unhelpful quip. “You’re scheduled to travel to Bahrain tomorrow afternoon. But thankfully we’ve managed to squeeze in, two press appearances in Maranello and a photographer from AutoSprint coming to get some fake-couple content.” 

“Oh, that’s good,” you muttered to yourself, your head already pulsating from the thought of spending that much time with the man in front of you.  

She turned to you then, less intense now. “I also want to bring up your Instagram.” 

You blinked. “What about it?” 

Carlos was pretending not to eavesdrop, suddenly very interested in his espresso. 

“You’ve been private since this started,” Lina said. “Which I respect. But there’s opportunity here. Soft-launch posts, couple stories, race content. You’re becoming more and more relevant whether you like it or not.” 

You raised a brow, “So?” 

You thought back to the last few days in Maranello, you had a few “dates” with Carlos already, and each time you would come back to the hotel with an additional 1000 follow requests.  

“So - I think it’s time to go public.” She gave you a moment for it to click. “Not just for optics. You’ve got taste. The aesthetic is already there. PR-wise, it could really help.” 

You opened your mouth to reply, not too sure about placing your life on a silver platter for people to gape at, but Carlos slid a fresh pastry onto your plate and said cheerfully, “Think about it, cariño. No pressure.” 

Lina raised an interested brow. Studying how you shot Carlos a look, one with not enough fire to sell your annoyance as you bit into the croissant, “You’ve got till take-off tomorrow. Either way, let me know.” 

The clock on your bedside blinked condescendingly, “22:47 pm” and you had been scrolling through your feed for nearly the hundredth time, switching between your main and private account, trying to cosplay what a stranger would think when they looked through your posts.  

You’d already archived two photos, untagged yourself from three and wiped your highlights 300 times. It didn’t help. 

You groaned, throwing your phone at the plsuh headboard of your bed before falling back into the comforter, hiding your face from the warm lighting of the lamps around the room.  

Then a knock echoed through the silence . 

“Delivery,” came a familiar voice. Then, an electronic click of the door. 

You looked up from the mess of your open suitcase and found Carlos holding a tub of chocolate ice cream and two spoons, waiting at the door. 

“You’re a menace,” you murmured, this time without heat. You sat up, wiping off the strays' hairs from your face. 

He scrunched his nose at you, popping both spoons in his mouth as he toed the door shut and ripped open the tub, walking into the room as if he owned the place, or like he was used to being in your space. Maybe both. 

He sat next to you, hoisting up one of his knees on the bed as he handed you spoon, “ice cream helps with social media decisions,”  

You took it from him wordlessly, using his grey joggers to wipe off the utensil.  

“You know, you accepted my follow request the day we met. I remember thinking, either she’s too polite or she’s already committed to the bit.” He speculated into your silence, licking his lips. 

You smirked faintly. “Fake girlfriend duties. It comes with the job” 

You didn’t notice, but Carlos watched you dig into the dessert, studying, memorising the details of your face, “You don’t need to worry.” 

You looked up at him as you licked your spoon and shrugged. “They’ll find something.”  

“Let them try,” he said, voice warm, head tilted affectionately. “You’re already perfect for the job.” 

You glanced at him, meeting his gaze, ice cream halfway to your mouth. 

“The job?” you repeated. 

He nodded, brown eyes unblinking, “Yeah. The job” 

You looked away, cheeks flushing as you finished the bite of ice cream. 

“I’ll think about it”, you stared at the condensation racing to your duvet, wiping it off. 

Carlos leaned back on his hands; spoon tucked into his cheek. “I already know what they’ll find.” 

You tilted your head at him, hair falling down your back. 

He smirked. “That you're brilliant. And maybe too good at pretending.” 

“Carlos-” 

“I’m just saying,” he defended, his voice dipping lower, more intimate, “if this weren’t pretend, I’d be in trouble.” 

You stared at him. Then, after a minute, “Good.” 

He blinked at you. “What?” 

“That this is just a job” you said, wishing you had left it at that, “and maybe... we’re both doing our jobs a little too well.” 

Everything was everywhere and you wanted to be anywhere but here.  

It had only been a few days in Maranello, but the clearing level of block blast number of suitcases you had brought, had all been opened with their contents spread across your fully funded hotel room.  

Underwear strewn across chairs and shirts unbuttoned and left discarded on the bathroom floor.  

Chaos surrounded you and it was safe to say that you weren’t expecting the knock. 

Sane people sent a quick text. Sane people respected societal boundaries like, “locks on doors” and “1 hour before boarding”. But apparently, Carlos was busy on the day’s those manuals were handed out. The knock was an act of insincere politeness, since he had already impatiently clicked opened your door. 

“I didn’t say come in,” you hissed, scrambling to toss your underwear into one of your open suitcases. 

“I brought espresso,” he shrugged, strolling in like this was a routine. 

You gaped at him. “You can’t just walk in here.” 

Carlos ignored you and placed a large porcelain mug on the remaining free space on the desk. He scanned the room, eyes widening as he finally registered the mess. Laptop open by your used and abused pillow, the already upright bags that were bulging dangerously by the door. He moved towards the window, plucking off a lacy bra from the handle. 

“You’re a mess,” he said, amused, twirling your undergarment around his index finger. “Is this what I’ve committed to?” 

You snatched the bra back and folded it into your chest. “You didn’t commit to anything. You’re playing pretend.” 

He raised a brow. “Playing pretend doesn’t mean I want to watch you pack like a tornado.” He started folding odd items that reached his hands, “Come on, we’re flying in style. You’ve got to look the part.” 

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did my lack of Prada offend you?” You gulp down his peace offering. 

“No,” he said, grinning, watching you zip up the fourth suitcase victoriously. “But you’re dating a Ferrari driver now. Your outfit needs to say glamorous.” 

You gave him a look. “You are aware this is fake, right?” 

“Sure,” he said easily. “But everyone else thinks it’s real. So, if I show up in a tailored suit and you look like you lost a fight with a carry-on bag, the illusion falls apart.” 

You folded your arms, unimpressed “And you’re the expert on illusions?” 

He smiled, slower this time. “You’d be surprised.” 

It was dangerous, his smile, that smile. It wasn’t the one you were used to seeing during your research, that you would nitpick in your notes. It was disarming, Sharp edges, engulfed in warmth.  

You turned away, flipping through a pile of outfits with sudden urgency, “Any of these fit your fantasy ?” 

Carlos walked over and tugged a dress from your hands, fingers brushing against your palm, a linen halter you hadn’t worn in a year. 

“This one,” he said. “You wore something like it in Monaco last summer.” 

Your head snapped up. “How do you know that?” 

He shrugged, but there was something unreadable in his eyes. You watched him unfold the dress and hold it up to you, wrapping the collar around your neck, studying the fabric against your skin, “It made the rounds.” he murmured, face close to yours, too close, “‘Top 10 sports journalists with the best style’ You were first."

You stared at him. “You read that article?” 

“Lina emailed it to me. Kinda had to.” he said simply. “Even if I pretend I don’t.” 

You didn’t have a response to that. 

So instead, you snatched the dress from his hand and folded it into your carry-on. Searching through your jewellery. 

“Fine. You win, I’ll look like your girlfriend” 

he nodded, sitting on the bed without asking, flitting through your gold necklaces, “And like the hot journalist shadowing me” 

You rolled your eyes. “God, forbid I forget my dual purpose.” 

“What is your purpose, exactly?” 

You froze. He was now staring at you, waiting for a reaction. Was he testing you? 

You smiled, all teeth. “To sell the fantasy, Carlos. Same as you.” 

He leaned back, handing you his favourite piece, before packing away the other necklaces in the box. “You’re good at this.” 

“Lying?” 

“Faking it.” 

Your stomach did a somersault. You turned away again, shoving makeup into your case too hard. 

After a pause, he asked, “What do you look for? In someone. When it’s not a PR stunt.” 

The question came so casually you thought it was rhetorical. 

You zipped the last bag slowly. 

“Someone who doesn’t make me feel small,” you said. 

Carlos didn’t reply right away. Then, “Fair enough.” He sat up, watching you prop up the luggage, lining them all up in a neat row. 

You glanced over your shoulder. “What about you?” 

He smiled faintly. “Someone who doesn’t leave when I stop smiling.” 

You looked at him for a moment too long. Then you broke the silence with a dry laugh. Picking up a pre-made pile of clothes that you don’t remember laying out. Travel clothes. 

“Well,” you said, “guess we’ll both be disappointed.” 

He stood and clapped his hands together. “Perfect. Let’s take a selfie to celebrate our doomed relationship.” 

You blinked. “You’re not serious.” 

He already had his phone up. “We need something behind-the-scenes. Otherwise, the soft launch looks too staged.” 

“This is staged.” 

“Exactly.” 

You sighed but leaned in, placing the clothes behind you on the bed. You wrapped a practiced hand behind his neck as you leaned up and caressed his face, his stubble rough yet stimulating beneath your touch. You swore he tensed against you. 

He snapped the photos, a few with your smiling, a few with you making funning faces. Only one with your mouth tilted towards his cheek, face slightly hidden as you smiled against him.  

He didn’t post it. Just saved it and turned the screen off. You pretended not to notice. 

“Close Friends,” he said casually, slipping the phone into his pocket. “At least keeps the drivers informed.” 

You nodded silently, excusing yourself to the bathroom to change.

Carlos ' s instagram stories :

privacy status - 5% , celebrity

instagram security - public . 11.5 M followers

< DESC -- story 1 : a picture two bowls of ice-cream, captioned : "pre-race weekend prep, song : " like real people do " by Hozier . story 2 : a picture of your dress on his bed, story style : close friends, captioned : " she left this in my room? think its important. ", song : " nights " by Frank Ocean. >

< DESC -- story 3 : the picture taken in the hotel room, you holding his face, him pressed against you, story style : close friends, captioned : "💚", song : " Borderline " by Tame Impala . story 4 : a digital camera mirror photo, him holding the camera, your full face hidden by the album of the song, captioned : "on our way 🇧🇭", song : " Call It Fate, Call It Karma " by The strokes. >

The drive to the runway was quiet, not stifling, just quiet. A suspended type of calm, you supposed that was familiar to Carlos, but it made you fiddle with your boarding pass in your seat.

Carlos had his elbow propped up on the arm rest by you, scrolling through his phone silently. 

You adjusted your sunglasses, “You always this zen?” you murmur, leaning into his ear. 

He smiled without looking up. “I’m not zen. I’m strategic.” 

“That’s not comforting.” You look back down at the half full, to-go cup in your hands, boarding pass unequipped, now in your purse.  

“It wasn’t meant to be.” his actions didn’t match his words as his hand ghosted over your knuckles.  

The private jet came into view, gleaming in the early morning sun, sleek, silver and oddly obscene. A Ferrari-red branded steward opened the door, allowing you to step out of the car.  

Carlos tightened his hand around yours as he followed behind. You hesitated for a second before returning his grip. Fake it till you make it. 

You repeated the mantra to yourself, even as you two climbed into the body of the plane and paused to take in this level of luxury. It distracted you from the fact you hadn’t let go, and neither had he.  

Inside, everything had a faint scent of leather and citrus, two rows of plush white seats, champagne cooling in a bucket, a copy of La Gazzetta placed neatly beside a crystal vase filled with red tulips. 

You didn’t sit across from him, instead you followed his lead and sat beside him. An unspoken rule of couples, you assumed.  

“I feel like I should say something clever,” you joked, taking out your laptop from your purse. 

He shrugged. “Silence is underrated.” 

You studied him from the corner of your eye. Relaxed, almost drowsy. Like this kind of impossible life was his baseline. You were used to watching from the outside, only getting snippets of the mystique.  

He had nodded off after take-off, head tilted toward the window, hands folded in his lap. You took a breath, opened your notes, and tried to focus on your exposé outline. 

Two paragraphs in, you gave up. 

You looked at him instead. 

He was fast asleep. Lips parted slightly, lashes dark against his cheek. No trace of the cocky grin or PR polish. Just him. 

You hated how the domestic scene made your heart race. 

You took a blurry photo, intending it for notes. Not for anything else. 

You air dropped it your mac and tucked it into a password locked folder. 

The sunset as you touched down looked edited, hues of coral and gold merging to form an explosive pink. A large SUV was waiting. So were the cameras. It took so much self-control not to press your face up against the window in anticipation. 

Carlos had already taken your hand as the door opened, the heat slamming into you like a wall.  

You froze at the sight of the camera flashes 

At your side, Carlos didn’t, he relaxed further, his hand slipping from yours to pull you against him by your waist. 

“Just breathe,” he said under his breath, brushing his mouth against your cheek. “And smile like you love this.” 

You wanted to snap something back. But then the flashes started, and all your thoughts scattered. 

All you could do was smile.  

He guided you like it was second nature, like he held your waist firmly every day. He nodded to the crew waiting at the barricade and gave small glances to the cameras.

You were aware of how close he stood, how the pair of you probably looked from afar: matching sunglasses, matching tones, how his hand had slipped from your waist, to the small of your back, fingers slipping from where your spine lay exposed from your tank top to beneath the soft cotton.  

The facade fell like icicles under the afternoon sun in winter when you had clambered into the car. 

By the time you made it into the hotel, your ears were ringing and you were thankful for the cold blast of air that stung against your sweaty skin. 

Carlos peeled off his sunglasses and glanced at you. “You okay?” 

You didn’t answer right away. And you didn’t notice but, you were still holding his hand. 

The hallway outside your hotel room was hushed, bathed in a low amber glow from the wall lights, too warm, too flattering for you to stay professional. Or maybe it was the wine.  

Lina had texted you as soon as you had touched down in Bahrain, “dinner with the sponsors after qualifying, wear something nice. Match with him.”  

You had merely pursed your lips and began looking through your formal dresses.  

Carlos was walking beside you in that stupidly tailored suit, hands tucked into his pockets, hair slightly undone from the multiple glasses of prosecco. He had laughed more than usual at dinner, dimple flashing on his cheek every time you rolled your eyes at his teasing. 

He stopped next to you when you reached the door.  

He cleared his throat, face flushed, “you clean up well,”  

You blinked, the alcohol blurring the lines in your mind, “so do you, very ‘ferrari poster boy of the year’. Lina’s probably crying from happiness.” 

He didn’t say anything right away. Instead, his eyes lingered - first at your neckline, where your necklace was still twisted from the walk, then up to your face again. 

“It’s not just Lina” he murmured. 

You gulped, slowly. “Careful. You sound like you like me.” 

His smile twitched, like he wasn’t sure if you were warning him or daring him. “What if I do?”  

The words hit you harder than you thought they would. You felt them in your stomach, in your pulse, in your bloodstream.  

You forced a laugh, looking away. “Then I’d assume you drank more wine than I thought.” 

Carlos stepped a little closer, just enough to disturb the safe distance. “I didn’t,” he said. “I just… I’ve been thinking.” 

“Dangerous,” you quipped, too fast, yet your eyes flicked down to his lips, stained a drunk burgundy.  

“Maybe. Or maybe I’m just wondering how much of this is fake now.” 

You hated the part of you that wanted to believe it wasn’t. The part of you that leaned a little toward him, that tilted your chin up like wanting something to happen. 

“Don’t do that,” you said, voice barely above a whisper. You're so stupid 

“Do what?” 

“Look at me like that. Say things like that. You’ve got a race tomorrow.” 

He studied your face like he didn’t want to look away, eyebrows tented. Then he nodded once. 

“Right,” he nodded, finally stepping back. “Got to focus. Can’t lose to Charles.” 

The moment dissolved, you let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. You swallowed the ache in your throat and fished your room key from your bag. 

“I’ll see you in the morning, then,” you whispered, wanting to lean into him, kiss his cheek. You could play that off as friendly, right ? 

Carlos paused, half-turned. “Hey,” he called out, making you pause halfway through the doorway. “Wear that necklace tomorrow. The one you're wearing right now.” 

You frowned, looking down at the thing chain. “Why?” 

“It’s lucky,” his gaze followed the jewellery down into your cleavage, before snapping back up to your face. He waved once and then walked away. 

You watched him go, the gold lamplight softening the line of his back. And when you finally slipped into your room and shut the door behind you, you didn’t bother turning on the lights. You just stood there, hand on your necklace. 

You pushed through the crowd, searching for him, past the flurry of cameras and clapping engineers. You squeezed past the PR teams buzzing around like flies, surrounding the podiums and press pens. He was still in his face suit, top tied around his waist, the red of fireproofs a dark shade of cherry from the copious amounts of champagne that was showered over him. 

P3. 

Carlos Sainz. Your fake boyfriend came third in the first race of the season. The crowd had lost its mind, in the grandstands, and especially in the hospitality wing. And according to the zoomed in broadcast of you, televised for thousands to see, so had you. 

He spotted you before you could say anything, turning away from his race engineers, who were watching you with optimistic curiosity, his grin lit up like it belonged on a billboard, “mi amuleto de la suerte” 

You blinked. “Excuse me?” 

He shook his head, cupping his hands around his mouth before he ran towards you, “my lucky charm” 

“You wore the necklace,” he chuckled, musing his hair as his hands settled on your waist, there must be cameras around  “And I got P3. It’s fate.” 

You laughed, trying to consume the sudden warmth in your chest, you spotted at least three large, overbearing recorders. “You think that was me? Not your car, or your driving, or literal years of training?” you head tilted in tandem with your arms wrapping around his neck. 

“Definitely you,” he said, with infuriating certainty. “And I want to make it official.” 

You raised a brow, wary. “I think we can't get more official” 

Carlos didn’t answer. He just pulled something from the pocket of his suit -a slim, square box. Ferrari red.  

“I had them make it for the campaign,” he shrugged and titled his head. “That’s the excuse, anyway.” 

He opened the box. 

A necklace. Gold, delicate, minimalist — and at its centre, a tiny, tasteful ‘55’. 

Your eyes flicked to his. “This is not normal 'fake relationship’ behaviour.” 

“No,” he reasoned. “But I don’t think we are either” 

He stepped backwards, the dainty chain held in his hands, “May I?” 

You nodded, stunned silent, turning into his chest. He brushed your hair back like it was second nature, fingers grazing your neck. 

The metal was cool against your skin as the clasp fastened. His fingers lingered. When you turned back around you met his gaze, it was with something unguarded, something that made the small 55 charm sear against your collarbone. 

“Carlos-” you started, but your voice broke a little. Your hair whipping in the warm wind. 

He smiled, soft. “You’ll wear it for all my races, yeah? For luck?” 

You nodded again. 

He leaned in, just a little. Just enough for the cameras nearby to get what they needed, and for your pulse to crash against your veins. 

“Smile,” he whispered, “everyone is gonna get the shock of a lifetime.” 

You turned your head just enough to meet the camera flashes over his shoulder; lips curved into something practiced. But your fingers toyed with the 55 charm now resting against your collarbone as he brought you into his embrace, head nuzzled into your hair. The perfect moment to capture.  

You’d parted with Carlos in the hotel lobby, after the mirage of fans ambushing the two of you, a Ferrari employee had found him and enraptured him in a conversation that was just too mind-numbing for your sleepy brain to handle. So, you had slipped out of his embrace and bid the two men good night. And against your better judgement, you missed the warmth his body enveloped you in, but you let your mind over-rule your heart, the interruption was a good excuse to get to each of your separate rooms.  

In the sleek, gold-plated elevator, you leaned against the railing and opened your Instagram.  

Still private. Still safe. Still yours.  

But the necklace was warm against your chest, the echo of his smile burned into your memory. You tapped “Edit Profile.” 

Switched it public. 

Your finger hovered over the first post in your drafts. A carefully curated carousel of pictures you had sweated over choosing. 

You pair it with music. And hit post. 

You weren’t just playing pretend anymore .

📸 officially/n

washing machine heart - mitski

location : bahrain 🇧🇭

♡ 917k 💬 8103

liked by ... carlossainz55, ferrari, f1, charles_leclerc and others

officialy/n not confirmed by sources, only alleged. 🇧🇭 🍒 🫀

comments have been turned off ..

🔒 carlossainz55: lucky charm 🍒

[eastons-creations]

Live reactions to the first time watching arcane (season 1): *spoilers*

Mel is so hot tho.

I love that they spent that much time on the background of the characters. A lot of people would try to force that into just one episode. I appreciate the 3.

I know enough about the arcane fandom to know that people ship Viktor and Jayce, but don’t know if they actually get together. I hope they do cause I can totally see it ��� just started episode 4. (I forgot I was doing this)

….half way through episode 5 and I literally would have sworn they were a thing. WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?! I also totally thought Mel and Elora were together.

OH NO VIKTOR WHAT NO DONT COLLAPSE. I’m so upset about Mel and Jayce.

If Viktor actually died I will throw tables

“He’s like my brother” I almost threw up

Kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss (Jayce and Viktor talking about plants dying lol)

No Vik don’t take the shimmer nooooo

“Jayce will understand.” GAYYYYYY

Mel and Jayce is so forced like why

Okay jinx is like crazy crazy

There’s this one account I follow on insta that did art of Jayce and Viktor and I think that’s why I have hope.

Vik did the thing oh no 😭 please don’t die.

The fight scene between Ekko and jinx is SO COOL

Cait and vi together would be epic. And if they aren’t hinting towards that I will protest. (I known the show does well on representation so I think if there’s a gay couple it’s this one but…)

The girls are fighting in the rain and- Oop side track not the oil and water line 😭 - and all I can think about it how we haven’t seen Viktor in forever. OH NEVER MIND HERE HE IS

VIKTOR WHAT THE FUCK DUDE

I honestly i don’t care about them blowing up the shimmer GO BACK TO VIK. PLEASE.

Ughh the animation is just 😭✋ (everything but I’m specifically mentioning Caits shower scene)

Last ep of season 1!!!

….i love Vik but like, bud. Ugh. I understand.

I remain in my previous comment: Mel is so hot. It is a shame she is interested in men. She would do great things as a lesbian.

JAYCE BETTER COME UP BEHIND VIK RIGHT BEFORE HE JUMPS CALL BACK TO WHEN JAYCE ALMOST DID PLEASE. BAHAHA CALLED IT. the parallels ✋😭

Will destroying the hexcore actually work? I feel like she to powerful now.

Oop a knife. KILL HIM BABES. OH SHIT. WRONG ONE NO

So I took a how to make a language class in college, and now in every show I watch (or any kind of media) that has its own language I’m obsessed. And I will be watching interviews on this later.

Ekko and bat man guy for each other??? That look looked pretty gayyy

Wow not him talking to the statue of the man he killed.

Okay force field. Oop jinx.

Okay they are keeping with the Mel and Jayce thing. Why. Vik is clearly a better option. (I say this acknowledging I have mentioned many times how hot Mel is).

Oh hey I’ve seen this scene on instagram. OOHHHH SHE KIDNAPPED SILCO….

IS HE DEAD. IS. HE. DEAD?!?!?! No way. I don’t believe this. Oooh does she take over his whole thing. Hell yeah. I’d be down for that.

Who survives: my guesses. If Jayce and Vik don’t I will protest. If Mel does…I will scream. Mel’s mom will tho, and that’ll be like a good I regret what’s I’ve done kinda thing.

We don’t know the other counselors enough for them to survive, but I hope the lady with the clock for a necklace does she’s cool. Don’t think caits mom will live, that forces cait and vi to argue cause cait would then hate jinx.

Idk this are my predictions.

Thanks for coming to my ted talk. Come back probably tomorrow for season two reactions lol.

(It’s already done- and spoiler, I’m so done with life after that fucking ending)

[lastofthewardens]

okay fuck it i wasn’t going to post this but i'm having a moment.

i know we kind of know nothing at this point. a lot of filming has been away from the public eye since there are actors who haven’t been seen on set that we know for sure are in the show. plus anything we have seen is out of context. so really any assumptions would be jumping the gun a little bit, which means this is my disclaimer that i hope i'm completely wrong about what i'm saying and look very stupid later but.

it’s looking more and more like this show completely fumbled foggy nelson and kirsten mcduffie and just gave their roles to karen? which is crazy because as much as i love the OG show they already did that to ben urich (which they were criticized for by comic fans) and then of course there are the many debates about elektra among various sections of fandom. but repeating the ben mistake with foggy while also doing it 20x worse to a character that's even worse to do it to and then just giving kirsten NOTHING to work with is fucking crazy.

and as someone who also ships k*redevil, thought they had a real chance at something after s3, always imagined they would've been together in canon by the end of the OG 5 seasons they originally wanted, and wanted them to be endgame (because sadly and unfortunately, neither show was ever going to make foggy and matt happen lol), this is so insanely off-putting to me, to the point that it may start putting me off things i previously liked if that’s what they did come next year when s2 comes out.

the way karen was originally ignored by this new show is wild and stupid, but i really don’t think the reverse should be happening like this or that karen should be getting literally everything now, all at the expense of the entire rest of the comic book cast, particularly dd’s most important longest running supporting character foggy and arguably matt’s best comic book love interest kirsten (she's SO much more than that too obviously, but like.. the new show isn't letting her be those things either?)

karen has been dead in the comics for a long time. i've always thought her show version should survive and that they shouldn’t kill her, and i stand by that, and i was impressed and glad when they subverted it in s3. but they could’ve kept karen alive and kept her a main character and gave her all the importance she deserves and even had a k*redevil endgame without it being done like this.

there's absolutely a world where they respect foggy's place and importance in matt's life and keep him included and alive, kirsten is treated as the badass she is and gets to do all kinds of law stuff with matt and foggy (and be a supportive friend, if they didn't want to do love interest, because they could still honor the spirit of their relationship), and karen still gets to be everything that was already awesome about her in the OG show.

the writing for this show (yes, even in the new episodes by the new team) is not good enough to justify the decisions being made or the disrespect to almost literally every character.

if you want to diverge from the comics, you don’t solve the issue of karen not being alive anymore by just deleting everyone else's relevancy and replacing every other character that exists with her so you can prop her up. she doesn't even need that, the character the OG show created in her was already awesome. you create new stories and show what having her around would’ve added. you bring back older stories she was in and recontextualize them. you respect the other characters that matter instead of taking things away.

you definitely DON'T antagonize and dismiss and disappoint fans of the source material who care about this stuff just to push your agenda. and this will just turn some fans even more against the ship and the character when they already had a hill to climb with some parts of this fandom. which sucks because i originally hoped that in a world where this show was good that people would change their minds about it, but now i just can't blame them anymore. in the words of matt (apparently), 'fuck it'.

this new show is literally like a dark twisted mirror version of the series i love, like the ultimate be careful what you wish for, and i’m so sad about it today. wish it just stayed cancelled at this point.

[trashscrounger]

my best friend (who has no idea what malevolent is) is so supportive of the creature I became when I saw my first John Doe tiktok edit 🙏

[nicorobinphd]

stg, being an enjoyer of jane twdg is like being forced into an expert-level course on the way misogyny manifests in video game spaces.

god forbid a woman be complex or difficult or provably mischaracterized (see tags) at the end of her arc to service the culmination of a man’s storyline.

[prismbearer]

Idk why there's disbelief over Mark S/Helly in terms of motivation. Helly is just as capable of cruelty and selfishness as Helena. They are at the core of it, the same person with different memories/experiences. They can be two perspectives worthy of indulging their own dreams and desires and also be the same person. Narratively here especially, this isn't about morality, it's about human nature.

Helly was never cruel, sure, of course. Helly felt like she was the same as the other people in MDR. But Helly has something right now that she never even achieved as Helena. Someone who loves her. Someone who is choosing her. Helly is Winning over Helena here.

Jame Eagen wanders down just to be a freak and reinforces the reality of it. Helly is "More" than Helena, hasn't been worn down by the weight of experience and the world (and their cult and corporate bullshit). She still has, in some way, the innocence of youth and lack of experience with the world. She doesn't have the same fears and burdens or triggers as Helena in her conscious experience. She still has the ability to express her passions and outrage and defend herself. And to love and not feel sorry for it.

Severance gave Helena a chance to exist without the learned perspectives and burdens of the Eagens and she is able to be free with herself and her passions and desires-- whereas Helena was likely drained of any dreams for potential beyond a strictly guided future decades ago.

Of course Helly is feeling a rush of joy and satisfaction over Mark loving her. Mark choosing her. She tried to do the "right thing" by being logical with Mark. "I'm her." Even outside of Lumon, if they bring it all down, there's no hope for an Eagen and an ex-severed employee in reality. In the Real World they will never be together. Mark couldn't love Helena, how could anyone love an Eagen? (Poor Helly really with like, the enemy is within etc, but that's kinda the situation framed by Lumon for everyone by setting the stage with your Innie isn't human kinda rhetoric.) (This was also reinforced by Helena trying to get close to Mark to see if he still had feelings or chemistry with her and finding out they were not going to work outside Lumon.)

What if the equator is a building that could be a continent? Can be their whole world? They're choosing to live Now. Together in the present despite knowing that with their half lives, they could be brought to an end at any moment. It's very willful young love of them. And why wouldn't it be? This is their First Love. They haven't even been "alive" that long or have any memory of romance beyond their current infatuation. They don't know the world or it's places, and maybe that's okay, maybe they can exist in this space so long as they have love and the others.

It's completely human for Helly to accept Mark choosing her. To run to him just to see him for maybe the last time. It's human for Mark S to run to Helly. It's human for poor Gemma, who doesn't even know her fucking husband is severed, to be pounding on the door.

But this is their Final Day to Mark and Helly. Maybe the very end of their world. It's Judgement Day. Of course they'd have them holding hands and running back to the unknown to face the end together. To die together.

There is also zero fucking chance Mark Scout would risk his life and brain continuing reintegration once his wife is back. Mark Scout is going to choose his wife. Mark is choosing Love on both sides here.

All of it is reasonable.

[seokmattchuus]

I completely understand where Callie's coming from but she's honestly getting on my nerves 😭

If my mom and her friends went through something that traumatic and came out a little fucked up, I don't think I'd dig into it. Like. She has to know that surviving that wasn't a walk in the park, nor could anyone be "normal" after that? Like. I'd assume they'd have to kill some things to get by. Human or not

I can see where the "killing scientists" would be a new line to cross, but she doesn't even think of why it could have happened that way? She just assumes it all happened for funsies? How low of your mom do you have to think for you to come to that conclusion??

Like. This is why your mother doesn't tell you anything????

[saltpepperbeard]

me realizing i’m going to have to endure the “i’m seeing how this character is going to look and it’s almost sending me into cardiac arrest” thing for almost everyone in s2

[biblicalhorror]

For the record I truly don't think the season is above criticism lmao I just think a lot of the criticism I've seen is way more serious than it needs to be

[marypsue]

I'd love to hear your thoughts on S1 of ST being a tragedy! No main character dies, so I never thought of it that way before

I mean, nobody has to die for a story to be a tragedy (at least, in the modern definition. I'm pretty sure '(almost) everybody dies' is a requirement of Greek tragedies and Renaissance revenge tragedies). But also, no main character dies in season one...if you take season one as part of a series. Which it wasn't originally conceived as.

I am not going looking for copies of the original pitch bible, because I am lazy, and also I only saw them floating around this webbed site. But the show changed a lot from the initial pitch (Joyce had a Long Island accent! Lucas' parents were divorcing! Murray was there and named Terry Ives! Most of what ended up in Hopper's character originally belonged to Mr. Clarke! The original pitch bible is fascinating). And part of the original pitch was a proposal for possible sequels.

The Duffers' proposal for a possible sequel was "It's ten years later, and Eleven is dead".

So that's the setup. Everything that came after season one was made up wholecloth after season one was a hit and people wanted more, but also people loved the adorable little psychic murder child (cue the Duffers shockedpikachu.jpg) and Netflix obviously recognised it would be a bad call to make a new season without her in it. So it makes sense to take season one as a unit, as a self-contained story on its own. You can also take it as part of a whole, but it makes sense to read it first as a complete story. Especially given the thematic drift of later seasons and the way they are...I'm just going to say it, each new season is very much added-on to what came before rather than being built on foundation that the earlier season(s) laid. It is very clear there was never a planned five-season story arc from the beginning. (This isn't necessarily always a bad thing, when it comes to sequels, but it does mean it makes sense to 'read' each season as its own thing.)

Okay, now that we've established all of that. Season one has one very clear goal, one very clear stake for the characters: save Will Byers from the Upside Down. (I like this. It makes the stakes both extremely high and extremely personal, it makes it very easy to understand each character's motivation, it also keeps the stakes grounded in reality. I like this a lot.) And by the end of the season, that goal is accomplished. So at first blush, you're right, season one doesn't look like a tragedy.

But when you start to unpack it a little, you start to see just how many important things were lost along the way. It's most glaringly obvious with Mike and El, with Nancy and Barb. The whole Wheeler family is fractured down the middle, with Mike and Nancy on one side and Ted, Karen, and Holly on the other, and Karen, who's been trying so hard the whole time to be part of her children's lives and understand what's going on with them, is aware of the ever-expanding gulf between them but will never be able to cross it, and will never fully know why. Hopper's finally managed to snatch a kid out of the jaws of death, save a woman he obviously cares about from the pain of losing a child, and Joyce has finally had someone believe her, support her, trust her. But it became blindingly obvious to me on my fourth rewatch that Hopper's plan, from the moment he went to leave the middle school gym, was always to trade El for Will. And that decision (and the fact that Joyce obviously understands that he did something to get the lab to let them go after Will, but she obviously doesn't dare press him on what) has broken her trust in him, and left him with what looks like an equally heavy burden of guilt as what he was carrying before. The lab stays open. The government gets away with everything. No one will ever know the true extent of the hurt they've caused.

And in the end, none of it even saved Will. He's back. He's alive. But he's spitting slugs in the sink. He's permanently marked by the Upside Down, and by trying to hide it from his family, he's putting a crack down the centre of them, as well. They're losing Will, just as surely as they had when they thought he was dead, just without him going anywhere.

And there's still a hole in the world.

The fragile bonds of community, the things that people share in common, the way catastrophe can bring people together and bring out the very best in them, are the major thematic threads woven through season one. Human connection is the only thing that can change what seems inevitable, the only thing that can bring back what's seemingly lost forever.

And it's still not enough to protect anyone from the random tragedy of the world.

The love was there. The love mattered. The love bent the entire course of the world around itself.

And it still wasn't quite enough.

If that's not a tragedy, then I don't know what is.

[inkandapex]

through the lens — drive to survive moments

Lando Norris x Y/N

Summary : The cameras may be there for Formula 1, but somehow, they keep capturing them. From playful bickering in the paddock to wholesome moments in McLaren’s garage, from Y/N’s growing fan club to Lando’s exaggerated jealousy, Drive to Survive unknowingly turns their love story into a viral sensation—one chaotic moment at a time.

Words : 3.6k

Warnings : swearing

Friends turned Rivals Lovers

The camera focuses on Lando, settled in the driver’s seat, before shifting to the seat behind him. Just beside the cameraman, Max F is seen scrolling through his phone.

“Max is pouty because he usually sits in the passenger seat,” Lando quips, drawing the camera’s attention back to him. A glimpse of his cheeky grin is visible from his side profile.

Reaching over the passenger seat, Lando rests a hand on her thigh. Max chuckles softly. “Bit more legroom up front.”

The scene cuts to Lando, now sat in a studio. From behind the camera, a voice cuts in. “You’ve been a hot topic this off-season. Any updates you want to share?”

Lando leans back in his chair, fixing his hair as he readies himself for the interview segment of Drive to Survive.

"What makes you say that?" A shy smile creeps onto his face just before the screen transitions to a montage of headlines and social media posts.

"Lando Norris seen kissing mystery girl in his Ferrari" "Lando Norris and mystery girl spotted driving around Monaco" "Mystery girl identified—longtime friend Y/N L/N" "Friends to Lovers? The true identity of McLaren driver Lando Norris'new girlfriend"

Lando nods with a smile. “Y/N and I have been friends for a long time. Finally found the guts to ask her to be mine.”

“Are you the romantic type?”

He chuckles, shrugging. “You’d have to ask her.”

The scene transitions to the paddock, where Lando walks hand-in-hand with Y/N, her bag slung over his arm. Max trails beside them, hands in his pockets. The trio makes their way into McLaren’s hospitality, settling at a free table tucked away in the corner, away from the crowd.

Y/N takes a sip of her smoothie before glancing at Lando. “Excited for today? First practice of the season.”

Lando looks up from his phone, nodding. “Yeah, feeling pretty good. Car felt good during testing—hope it translates well throughout the season.”

“Think he’s more nervous about the fact that you’ll be here watching,” Max teases, a smirk playing on his lips.

Y/N laughs softly. “I’ve been to races before, you know.”

“Yeah, but not as his girlfriend. Now he’s got to win for the team and to show off for you.”

“You dick,” Lando chuckles, grabbing a straw wrapper and tossing it at Max, who dodges it with a grin.

Lando glances at his watch, letting out a soft sigh before pushing his chair back. “Alright, I gotta go get ready.”

Max leans back in his chair, nodding. “We’ll be in the garage before you head out.”

Lando grabs Y/N’s bag from the table, slinging it over his shoulder. “Let’s go, baby.”

Y/N blinks up at him, confused. “Am I not staying with Max?”

Lando shrugs, a small smirk on his lips. “You could… but I want you with me while I get ready. Your choice.”

Y/N smiles and stands up, slipping her hand into Lando’s. Max groans dramatically. “I can’t believe it. I’ve been benched. I’ve lost my WAG status.”

--------------------------------------------------------

Air Max

Lando holds up his phone, the camera capturing the view outside Max Verstappen’s private plane. His team had arranged with Drive to Survive to give Netflix a small peek into his life outside the paddock. Now, he’s tasked with filming parts of his day—something he’s getting used to but still isn’t entirely comfortable with.

The camera shifts, panning around the cabin before zooming in on Max and his girlfriend, who sit across from each other, faces buried in their phones.

“Look at these two… they’ve been like this since we took off,” Lando murmurs, walking closer while keeping the camera focused on them. He tilts the screen toward their hands, revealing the game they’re both locked into—a racing simulator. Neither of them spares him a glance.

“We asked you to join, mate,” Max chuckles without looking up.

Lando plops down beside Y/N, setting the camera down at an angle that captures all three of them. He starts poking her cheek, then her side, trying to get her attention.

“Lan. I swear, if I lose—”

“—Of course you will. You’re racing against Max.”

“She’s actually pretty good, you know,” Max chimes in, eyes still glued to his phone.

Before Lando can tease again, Y/N suddenly shrieks, making him flinch. She drops her phone onto the table, leaning back in her seat with a dramatic groan of defeat.

“What did I say, baby?” Lando laughs, nudging her shoulder.

But Y/N is already sitting back up, snatching her phone with urgency. “One more, Max. Come on, let’s go. This is the one—I can feel it.”

Lando groans, throwing his head back. “Y/N, baby, please. Let’s watch a movie, take a nap, something.”

“In a bit, Lan, I need to beat Max.”

Max smirks, finally looking up at Lando with a teasing glint in his eye. “Sorry, mate. I win.”

"We're flying commercial next time"

--------------------------------------------------------

I'm just here for the coffee

The Drive to Survive camera crew catches up with Lando as he wraps up media duties alongside Oscar in McLaren hospitality. He’s distracted—eyes constantly scanning the room, phone in hand, thumb hovering over the screen as he checks it every few seconds. His expression shifts between mild frustration and confusion.

Just as he exhales sharply, about to shove his phone into his pocket, a familiar voice calls out.

"Lando!"

Max F calls out, relief on his face as he finally spots his friend sitting by the doors. Lando strides towards him, but before he can even greet them, Max speaks again.

"Oh, I thought Y/N would be with you. I've been trying to reach her for hours now."

Lando’s brows furrow, holding up his phone.

"I’ve been trying to call her too. I thought she was with you."

The realization hits him like a switch flipping. His expression drops into something between disbelief and sheer irritation. He exhales, shakes his head, and lets out a knowing scoff.

"I might know where she is."

Cue the most dramatic yet comedic smash cut imaginable.

Ferrari Hospitality – Where Y/N Has Been the Entire Time.

The camera immediately cuts to Y/N, relaxed and unbothered, seated at a table inside Ferrari hospitality. The atmosphere is lively, filled with laughter as they sip espresso, surrounded by Carlos, Charles, and their girlfriends. The Ferrari logo gleams proudly in the background, almost mocking.

Y/N leans forward, grinning at something Carlos just said, stirring their coffee absentmindedly. Charles adds a comment that earns another round of laughter. It’s the picture of comfort—warm, inviting, and clearly where Y/N has been all along.

Then, in the background, the doors swing open.

The camera follows Lando as he steps inside, expression unreadable—until the dramatic zoom-in captures the very moment.

"Unbelievable."

Lando’s voice cuts through the laughter, making the entire table turn their heads toward him. The easygoing chatter dies down as he strides over, hands on his hips, phone still clutched in one hand. His brows are furrowed—confused, mildly exasperated, and very much not amused.

"Baby, Max and I have been calling you."

Y/N blinks before reaching into their bag, finally checking their phone. The screen lights up with multiple missed calls. A sheepish smile tugs at their lips as they glance back up at Lando.

"Oops? Sorry, Lan. I had my ringer off."

Charles smirks, leaning back in his chair. "She’s been having a great time with us, mate."

Lando squints at him before turning back to Y/N. "How long have you been here?"

Before Y/N can even open their mouth, Carlos chimes in.

"Actually, quite late today. She came an hour later than usual."

Lando blinks. Processes. "Later than usual?" His gaze snaps back to Y/N, his confusion shifting into shock. "How often are you here?!"

Y/N, fully caught now, shrugs, setting their coffee down.

"I mean… almost every media day? You’re busy filming, and their coffee is really good here so I just—"

Lando groans, rubbing his face. "Oh baby…"

Before he can spiral further, Rebecca—clearly enjoying the moment—leans in with a grin. "Show Lando what Carlos and Charles gave you!"

Y/N shoots her a betrayed side-eye, but it’s too late. Lando’s eyes widen slightly as he looks between them. He nods at Y/N, expectantly.

Y/N sighs, reaching back into their bag. With hesitant hands, they pull out a very red Ferrari cap and place it on the table.

Silence.

Lando stares.

Alex, grinning, decides to throw more fuel into the fire. "You could’ve at least signed it for her."

"Oh shit—yeah." Charles grabs the cap, immediately patting down his pockets for a pen. He looks around helplessly before turning to Lando.

"Do you have a Sharpie?"

Lando blinks. His eye twitches.

"Do I—" He stops himself, inhales deeply, then exhales, running a hand down his face.

"Okay. We’re leaving. Come on."

Y/N barely has time to protest before Lando takes their hand and starts walking. "But— baby no my coffee..."

"I'll get you your own coffee machine"

--------------------------------------------------------

A victory in full bloom

It’s the moment Lando’s been dreaming of his entire career: his first-ever Formula 1 race win. The podium ceremony is over, and he’s just wrapped up celebrating with his team, taking photos and soaking in the victory. The Netflix crew trails him closely, hoping to catch a quick statement from the new race winner. But Lando’s not focused on the cameras or interviews—his mind is set on finding someone. He’s been eager to celebrate with Y/N.

As he walks towards the trailers, his eyes scan the area until they land on her. There she is, standing by his trailer with a small bouquet of flowers in hand. Lando stops dead in his tracks, his breath catching in his chest for a moment. A wide smile spreads across his face as he takes in the sight of her, the bouquet a simple yet perfect gesture for this milestone moment.

Y/N looks up and meets his gaze, a soft smile tugging at her lips. It’s clear she’s been waiting for him. "Hey champ"

Lando’s eyes light up when he sees them, his smile growing even wider. He’s still buzzing from the excitement of the win, but this moment feels different—more personal.

Lando is grinning from ear to ear "What’s this? For me?"

Y/N shyly holds the bouquet out towards him, a soft smile on her face. "Yeah... It's not the best, but it's the only one I could get my hands on at such short notice."

Lando doesn’t hesitate for a second. He sets his trophy down on the ground, his attention entirely on the flowers in her hands. He takes the bouquet from her gently, inspecting it with a look of pure joy on his face. The smile never leaves as he admires the thoughtful gesture.

Y/N flinches slightly when she hears the clink of the trophy being set down. “Oh, Lan, don’t just leave it on the floor—”

Before she can even move to pick it up, Lando pulls her into a tight, elated hug, careful not to crush the flowers between them.

“These are beautiful, my love. Thank you,” he whispers against her ear, his voice full of affection. “God, I love you. You’re the best, you know that, right?”

Y/N, caught in the warmth of the moment, smiles softly, her heart racing. Lando’s arms around her feel like the perfect celebration of everything they’ve worked for together.

"I'm so proud of you, Lan, my race winner," Y/N says softly, planting a gentle kiss on his cheek.

Lando lets out a quiet laugh, glancing over her shoulder and catching sight of one of the camera crew members standing off to the side, clearly eager to capture the intimate moment. His smile widens, but then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he pulls away from her and takes her hand firmly in his.

"Alright, you vultures," he calls out playfully to the crew, his tone teasing as he begins to walk away with Y/N in tow. "Go film someone else now."

Lando walks off, his stride confident and relaxed, one hand holding the bouquet Y/N gave him, the other wrapped around her hand. His focus is entirely on her as they move down the paddock together, the world around them momentarily fading away.

"Lando the trophy!"

--------------------------------------------------------

Fan Favourite

The cameras follow Lando and Y/N as they stroll hand in hand through the paddock, stopping every few meters to greet excited fans. It’s a typical moment for them, with Lando taking his time to chat and take photos with the crowd, but today, there’s a certain energy in the air that the fans—especially the ones around them—seem to feed off of.

Y/N stands to the side, watching with a smile as Lando interacts with a group of young fans. One fan, in particular, catches his attention. She’s holding a small, handmade friendship bracelet, her hands slightly trembling with excitement.

Lando’s smile widens as he notices the bracelet. He looks at the fan and gestures toward it with a raised eyebrow, "That’s really pretty. Is that for me?"

The fan's eyes go wide, her mouth opening and closing as she tries to form words. Finally, she manages a shy reply, "Oh, uh... actually, it’s for Y/N. If you could give it to her, please?"

Lando lets out a lighthearted laugh, realizing his mistake, a blush creeping up his neck. He turns over his shoulder, calling out to Y/N with a playful tone, "Love, c’mere. They wanna say hi."

Y/N steps forward, smiling warmly as she walks towards them. But before she even gets close, a few of the girls in the group let out high-pitched squeals, and Lando, hearing the reaction, pauses mid-step. He turns around to face the group, his jaw dropping in mock surprise. “Right, calm down,” he teases, raising an eyebrow. "It's almost like you're more excited to meet her than me!"

The fans giggle, some blushing, while Y/N smiles with a soft laugh, taking the bracelet from the fan’s outstretched hand. Lando, now with a playful smirk, shakes his head, clearly enjoying the teasing moment.

Y/N immediately slips the bracelet onto her wrist, admiring it with a bright smile. “This is so pretty! Thank you so much, you guys are the sweetest.”

Before she can say anything else, another fan eagerly steps forward, holding out a small crocheted cat dressed in what looks suspiciously like Lando’s helmet.

“I got you this as well!” the fan beams.

Y/N gasps, carefully taking the little plushie into her hands. “Oh my gosh! Is this supposed to be Lando?” She turns it over, inspecting the tiny details, from the pattern of the helmet to the little number on its side. “This is adorable—you guys…” Her voice softens, and she clutches the cat close to her chest, looking at the group with a touched expression, lips forming a small pout.

Lando, standing off to the side, watches with a fond smile, his heart swelling as he sees how naturally she interacts with his fans. He doesn’t even realize how long he’s been staring until Y/N turns to him, stretching out her arm with her phone in hand.

“Lan, baby, take a photo of us, please?”

Lando blinks, snapping out of his daze. He lets out a chuckle before taking the phone from her hand. “Yeah, yeah—sorry, got a bit distracted there.”

After snapping a few more photos and sharing a couple more laughs, Y/N and Lando exchanged their final goodbyes with the fans before continuing their stroll toward the McLaren garage.

Y/N glanced down at the bracelet on her wrist, still admiring the thoughtful gift, while Lando walked beside her, hands in his pockets, a playful pout forming on his lips.

"Can't believe I gotta share my girlfriend with my fans now," he muttered dramatically, shaking his head.

Y/N let out a soft laugh, bumping her shoulder against his. "Oh, come on, don’t act like you don’t love it," she teased.

Lando sighed, pretending to be exasperated. "I mean, I was the main attraction. Now they’re out here squealing over you and giving you gifts." He shot her a look, but the corners of his lips twitched, betraying his amusement.

Y/N smirked, holding up the tiny crocheted cat. "Jealous?"

Lando scoffed, but his eyes flickered down to the plushie, and he hummed in fake thought. “Depends... do I get one in return?”

Y/N grinned. "Maybe if you win the race this weekend."

Lando groaned, tilting his head back. “So now I have to earn your love? This is outrageous.”

Y/N just giggled, slipping her hand into his, swinging it slightly as they walked. “You love the challenge, Norris.”

He sighed, squeezing her hand. “Yeah... yeah, I do.”

--------------------------------------------------------

P's new favourite

Lando’s relationship with Max Verstappen’s stepdaughter, Penelope, had always been a good one. Between race weekends and off-season meetups in Monaco, he saw her often, and they had their own little bond.

But ever since he started dating Y/N, it seemed like P had a new favorite.

Just before heading to the garage, Lando stood outside McLaren hospitality, casually chatting with his mom, a few friends, Kelly, and P—who, instead of paying attention to the conversation, was entirely focused on showing Lando her collection of stickers.

Lando’s smile softens as he looks down at the little girl, carefully pressing the sticker onto his fireproofs. “For me?” he asks, feigning surprise. “Thank you, P.”

“Bye, Lando!” P grins, bouncing on her heels before giving him a high five, which quickly turns into a hug.

Lando barely has time to wrap his arms around her before she suddenly gasps dramatically, pulling away as fast as she had latched onto him. Without a second thought, she bolts in the opposite direction.

“Y/N!”

The camera follows her path, cutting to Y/N just as she arrives. A wide smile spreads across her face as she kneels down, arms open and ready for impact.

P barrels straight into her, nearly knocking her over as she wraps her tiny arms around Y/N in a tight hug.

Y/N lets out a small laugh, steadying herself. “Hi, P! I love your hair—you look so pretty!”

P quickly pulls back, twirling proudly to show off her outfit. “Lando said he liked my hair too!” she exclaims.

Y/N gasps, playing along. “Well, if Lando said it, then it must be true.”

P giggles before Y/N takes her small hands in hers. “Alright, come on then, let’s go say goodbye to Lando.”

As they make their way back toward the group, Kelly watches them with a knowing smile. “She literally pulled away from Lando’s hug just to run to you,” she muses, shaking her head with amusement.

Lando lets out a dramatic sigh, crossing his arms. “Yeah, my family does the same thing when I bring her home with me.”

Cisca, who had been standing off to the side, bursts into laughter, nodding in agreement. “It’s true.”

“Hi, baby. I’m about to head off. I’ll see you after,” Lando murmurs, stepping in close to press a soft kiss to Y/N’s lips before pulling her into a tight hug.

Before Y/N can even melt into the embrace, a small but determined voice interrupts.

“Okay, bye now, Lando.”

P, eyes set with purpose, marches forward and starts pushing Lando away with her tiny hands.

Lando lets out a laugh, barely stumbling back before crossing his arms over his chest. “Excuse me? Am I not even allowed to kiss my girlfriend goodbye now?”

“She’s mine!” P announces proudly, wrapping her arms around Y/N in a possessive hug.

Y/N laughs, running a gentle hand over the little girl’s head. “Alright, missy, I think Lando gets the message loud and clear.” She glances at Lando with a teasing smile before blowing him a kiss. “I’ll see you later, my love. Good luck and be safe.”

Lando sneaks in a quick peck to her cheek before jogging off, grinning. “I’ll be back to take my girlfriend back, P! Watch over her for me!”

[harrysfolklore]

matchmaker - op81

summary: oscar finds a puppy wandering around the streets of monaco that leads him to meet his lucky charm

folkie radio: AN OSCAR FIC FINALLY OMG!!!! i have to say thank you to @cambrayficsrecs for sending this idea !! i LOVED IT and i hope you like this

MASTERLIST | MY PATREON

liked by alexandrasaintmleux, yourbff and 209 others

yourinstagram meet the newest monaco resident: arlo 🤍 swipe to see the goodest boy helping me settle in my new home 🐾

view all comments

yourbff HE'S PERFECT!! miss you already but so happy for you 😭

username1 the cutest addition to monaco!!

username2 remember when you said you'd never get a dog? 😂

alexandrasaintmleux my new favorite neighbor!!! can't wait for our puppy playdates 🤍

↳ yourinstagram arlo and leo are going to be bffs 🥹🥹

username3 told you moving to monaco was the best decision

username4 i'm visiting asap just to meet this angel

yourbff2 can't believe my best friend lives in monaco now

username5 you're living the dream with the goodest boy!

username6 look at that face!! when can i visit?

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texts between alex and yn

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liked by landonorris, charles_leclerc and 583,827 others

oscarpiastri Enjoyed being a temporary dog dad today 🐾 glad this good boy made it back home safe! might have to get one of my own now...

view all comments

username1 MY HEARTTT

username2 OSCAR YOU CAN’T DO THIS

maxverstappen1 Don't let lando see this

↳ landonorris too late. getting a dog.

mclaren Best teammate and dog sitter 🧡

username3 OSCAR WITH A PUPPY THIS IS NOT A DRILL

username4 the wholesome content we needed today

alexandrasaintmleux arlo already misses his rescuer! thanks again oscar 🤍

username5 get this man a dog asap

username6 the way he took care of a stranger's dog 🥺

username7 okay but imagine oscar with his own puppy

username8 JUST GET A DOG

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yourinstagram has added to their stories

replies:

yourbff ARLO OMG 🥺🥺 what happened to him?

↳ yourinstagram sneaky little minx disappeared from the balcony.. he’s safe tho

username1 omg poor you! good thing you found him

username2 is this knight in shinning armor who saved arlo cute?

↳ yourinstagram STOP 😭

username3 i need to visit so i can meet arlo

alexandrasaintmleux I could give you his insta… or his number 👀

↳ yourinstagram STOP IT ALEX

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texts between alex and yn

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liked by alexandrasaintmleux, oscarpiastri and 28,724 others

yourinstagram turns out the nice guy who found arlo last week also happens to be pretty good at driving cars 🏎️ congrats on p2! @/oscarpiastri

view all comments

username1 GIRL WHAT IS YOUR LIFE RN

username2 you move to monaco and suddenly you're in f1 garages???

alexandrasaintmleux told you you'd love f1 🤍

↳ yourinstagram love you !

username3 OMG OSCAR

username4 SHES THE OWNER OF THE DOG

username5 this plot twist though 👀

mclaren 🧡

username6 the way this all started because arlo escaped

charles_leclerc I won you know? 🤔

↳ yourinstagram congrats charles !

username7 YOUR LIFE IS A MOVIE

username8 the best meet cute ever??

oscarpiastri Couldn't have done it without my good luck charm 🐾

↳ yourinstagram arlo says you’re welcome!

username9 IS THIS THE OWNER??

username10 the cutest storyline of the season

username11 THE WAY HE COMMENTED

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oscarpiastri sent you a direct message

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liked by username1, username2 and 14,826 others

f1gossip Oscar Piastri spotted having coffee with the owner of the now-famous beagle puppy in Monaco this morning 👀

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username1 THE WAY THIS STORY KEEPS GETTING BETTER

username2 from rescuing her dog to coffee dates we love this journey

username3 this is better than drive to survive

username4 THEY’RE SO CLOSE HELLO

username5 this is the cutest thing ever help

username6 the fact that the dog is there too 😭

username7 someone check on lando he's losing his bachelor buddy

username8 the good luck charm strikes again

username9 living a wattpad story fr

username10 HE LOOKS SO HAPPY

liked by oscarpiastri, alexandrasaintmleux and 47,935 others

yourinstagram turns out there's more to monaco than just fancy cars 🤍

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username1 THE WAY YOU MOVED TO MONACO AND IMMEDIATELY LIVING A ROMCOM

username2 OSCAR?????

username3 arlo the ultimate wingman

username4 this storyline keeps getting better

username5 OMFG WHAT IS THIS I NEED THE CONTEXT

alexandrasaintmleux told you he was cute 😌

↳ username1 OMFG ALEX

↳ username2 i love her

↳ charles_leclerc 😂😂😂

username6 need full story time asap

username7 the way this all started because she lost her dog 😭

username8 living for this plot development

oscarpiastri arlo approved ✅

↳ username1 OSCAR STOPPPPP

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yourinstagram has added to their stories

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texts between oscar and yn

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liked by yourinstagram, landonorris and 986,033

oscarpiastri Great weekend with the team 🧡 Ready to head back home to Monaco though... missing my favorite good luck charm 🐾"

view all comments

username1 OSCCCC

username2 is he talking about the dog? 😭

landonorris which one? 👀

↳ oscarpiastri 🤫

↳ username1 HELLO???

↳ username3 DECODE THIS

alexandrasaintmleux someone's eager to get back 😌

↳ charles_leclerc Your matchmaking services working well

↳ username1 LET ME INNNN

georgerussell63 The power of puppy love

username3 WE ALL KNOW WHICH GOOD LUCK CHARM

username4 the way he said "home" to monaco 🥺

username5 did anyone else catch him waving to someone on facetime after the race??

username6 some of this comments saying “the dog” his name is ARLO and he’s an icon

username7 i’m going to call it right now oscar is dating the dog owner

username8 OSC 😩

yourinstagram 🤍

liked by username1, username2 and 8,739 others

f1gossipinsider Straight from Barcelona to dinner in Monaco... Oscar Piastri spotted at Le Grill with a certain someone 👀

view all comments

username1 THE WAY HE DIDN'T EVEN GO HOME FIRST

username2 man flew straight from barcelona to take her to dinner i'm crying

username3 not me zooming in to confirm it's her

username4 THATS DEFINITELY YN AND ARLO UNDER THE TABLE

username5 fastest post-race exit we've ever seen

username6 Le Grill?? Man's not playing around

username7 our favorite story continues...

username8 this man SPRINTED from the circuit

username9 the commitment >>>

username10 our boy's got his priorities straight

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texts between oscar and yn

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liked by lilymhe, oscarpiastri and 45,099 others

yourinstagram turns out watching someone drive in circles for 2 hours isn't so bad after all 🏎️ proud of you @/oscarpiastri 🧡

view all comments

username1 OMGGGG

username2 look at little arloooo

francisca.cgomes So lovely meeting you! Welcome to the family ❤️

yourbff we have soooo much catching up to do

carmenmmundt You're a natural! Can't wait for Hungary

alexandrasaintmleux look who's becoming an f1 expert

↳ charles_leclerc Stop taking credit for this

↳ alexandrasaintmleux never 😌

↳ username1 HELLO??

username3 the WAGs adopting her immediately >>

username4 ARE THEY DATING??

username5 oh what a plot twist

username6 THIS IS GIVING ME LIFE

username7 so the key go getting an f1 driver to date you is getting a dog i see

username8 ARLO IS SO CUTE

oscarpiastri Best good luck charms ever 🤍

↳ username1 OSCAR STOP

↳ username2 i simply cannot do this

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texts between alex and yn

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oscarpiastri has added to their stories

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liked by carlossainz55, yourinstagram and 1,099,832 others

oscarpiastri First Grand Prix Win. Incredible 🧡 Thank you to the two lucky charms who changed everything

view all comments

username1 IM CRYING

username2 HELLO TWO LUCKY CHARMS ??

landonorris GET IN THERE MATE!! Proud of you 🧡

alex_albon THATS MY BOY

username3 IS HE TALKING ABOUT ARLO AND YN??

username4 im actually sobbing

username5 man won his first race and chose to be THIS cute about it

username6 SOMEONE SAID HE KEPT SHOWING HER THE TROPHY

georgerussell63 CONGRATS OSCO 🙌🙌

username7 from monaco meet cute to whatever this is im crying

username8 THIS IS ADORABLE OSCAR HELLO

username9 not to be parasocial but he's so in love

username10 THE WAY ARLO WAS THERE FOR HIS WIN

yourinstagram we're incredibly proud of you 🤍

liked by username1, username2 and 10,877 others

f1gossip From first F1 win to celebration dinner - Oscar Piastri living his best life in Budapest tonight! Sources say he couldn't stop smiling and kept calling her "my girlfriend" to everyone 👀

view all comments

username1 OH MY LORD

username2 is this oscar "i don't like pda" piastri??

username3 I CANNOT BELIEVE MY EYES

username4 the way this all started bc she lost her dog...

username5 I NEED THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME

username6 this is how we find out oscar is not single anymore

username7 EVERYBODY SAY THANK YOU ARLO

username8 lord i've seen what you've done for others

username9 the best meet cute in history

username10 THAT SHOULD BE ME

liked by alexandrasaintmleux, oscarpiastri and 60,826 others

yourinstagram home sweet home with my favorite race winner (and his trophy that he definitely didn't make me pack extra carefully) 🏆✨ still pinching myself about this weekend 🧡

view all comments

username1 CRYING

username2 the way we all watched this love story unfold

username3 most precious f1 couple no debate

landonorris Mans giving away his caps now?? love's changed him

lilymhe cutest neighbors ever! dinner tomorrow? 🤍

↳ yourinstagram count on it!

username4 LOOK AT ARLOOO I CANT

username5 i can’t believe oscar has a gf now

francisca.cgomes you two are goals honestly

mclaren Our lucky charm is back home! 🧡

username6 remember when she didn't know what DRS was 😭

username7 she's literally living the dream

username8 how to go from dog mom to f1 wag: a novel

alexandrasaintmleux my biggest masterpiece 🥹

↳ charles_leclerc STOP TAKING CREDIT

↳ alexandrasaintmleux NEVER

↳ yourinstagram arlo was the real matchmaker

username9 HOW DO I GET THIS LIFE

username10 they’re so in love i can’t

oscarpiastri My two favorite things in monaco ❤️

↳ yourinstagram three* don't forget the trophy

↳ oscarpiastri Trophy’s just a bonus 😘

liked by yourinstagram, landonorris and 1,549,022 others

oscarpiastri To the best wingman and matchmaker in F1 - thanks for running away that day in Monaco. Changed my whole life 🐾❤️ (YN says I need to stop spoiling him but look at that face)

view all comments

username1 IM FULL PN SOBBING NOW

username2 ARLOOOOO🥹🥹🥹

alex_albon most successful matchmaker in monaco

mclaren Our honorary team member 🧡

username3 i love one fairytale love story

alexandrasaintmleux YOU’RE ALL WELCOME

↳ username1 alex 😭😭

↳ charles_leclerc you're still not getting credit for this

↳ oscarpiastri It was all Arlo

username4 HE CALLED HIM HIS WINGMAN 😭

username5 from runaway dog to f1 power couple

username6 netflix writing this down rn

username7 cupid who? we only know arlo

nicolepiastri ❤️

username8 most iconic f1 meet cute ever

username9 the real mvp of the season

username10 OSCAR DOG DAD

yourinstagram our matchmaker 🤍

[aeribbon]

target acquired | oscar piastri

summary; part two here the only thing more dangerous than your job is dating an f1 driver in secret and oh...! oscar is just trying to survive lando's gossip group chat

featuring; f1driver!oscar piastri x bau agent!f!reader

fc; yu jimin

warnings; english isn't my first language + not proof read YET !

an; requested here i tried lol i don't really know a lot about bau/fbi hope you like it !! i have my finals exams next week hurfezpIPFJ

navigation masterlist request

part two here

texts between lando, charles, carlos, george, ollie, pierre, max, alex → oscar

texts between oscar → you

instagram post

f1paddocktea - miami gp

liked by yourusername, yourfriend and 98k others !

f1paddocktea a mysterious girl was seen arriving at the paddock with a part of oscar's team and then headed to the mclaren motorhome ! could this be oscar's girlfriend 💌 ? if you have any more info please send us an email.

view all comments

username she didn’t even look lost. first time in the paddock and she knew where to go. that’s suspicious

username someone said she flashed a badge at some haters. IS THIS A JOKE

username this is giving criminal minds x drive to survive crossover energy and i’m living for it

username she's the badass girl we all want to be omg

username she gave the vibes of someone who has disarmed a man before. with one hand. while texting.

username we have nothing on her. no tagged pics. no pap shots. no soft launch. WHO IS SHE ??

username for real though, never seen someone with zero to none presence online this is so suspicious.

anonymouswagupdates unconfirmed but someone from hospitality said she “doesn’t eat during cases” WHAT DOES THAT MEAN 😭

username i saw her. black boots, dark sunglasses, zero expression. that’s not a random plus one, that’s a mission...

texts between charles, george, ollie and lando

instagram post

kymillman - miami gp

liked by lilymhe, oscarpiastri, yourusername and 298k others !

kymillman a first official appearance for oscar piastri and his girlfriend in the f1 paddock ahead of today's race !

view all comments

username DAMN

username nvm oscar i don't want you but YOUR GF ??

username never knew oscar had the game to pull of this beauty

username SO YOU’RE TELLING ME SHE’S BEEN IN THE PADDOCK THIS WHOLE TIME?? she's giving secret agent fr

landonorris what you know about that ?

oscarpiastri lando please behave

username she blinked and ferrari fumbled a strategy call. coincidence?? I THINK NOT.

username this explains the sudden confidence boost this season 😌

mclaren our driver’s safe and emotionally supported... and also heavily protected apparently

username she shows up and he wins once again ?? pls come to every race from now on

username YES PLEASE

georgerussell plot twist: oscar’s actually the emotional support boyfriend in this relationship

olliebearman be careful on your words with oscar she might come and get you

username i love how we are all acting as if she’s not here for the grid drama but she’s here to assess threat levels and kiss her man after podium.

username i meannnnnn

texts between lando, charles, carlos, george, ollie, pierre, max, alex → oscar

[norrisainz33]

the return || mv33

summary: after taking a long break from social media, actress y/n y/l/n makes a surprise appearance with max verstappen's and his family and its not long after that the pair make things official

pairing: max verstappen x famous!reader

fc & warnings: coco jones and none

requested: yesssss!!!! thank you @sassyqueen-15 for always sending the most indepth requests!! i did my best with this one and hope you enjoy! looking forward to what else you cook up xoxoxoxo

masterlist

ﾟ. ✿ ୨❤︎୧⠀✿ . ﾟ

victoriaverstappen has posted to her story

view all story replies

user1: now wait a second.... is that ......... who i think it is????

maxverstappen1: how will i ever survive 😫

victoriaverstappen: bring them some more sweets next time im sure they'll rethink their preference

maxverstappen1: i very much like that she's their favorite so ill leave it this way 🤍

user2: who is this gorgeous woman and why are we apologizing to max bc your kids like her???

ynuser: my favorite little beans in the entire world!!! i love them and you xxoo

victoriaverstappen: we love you so much auntie y/n/n ❤️‍🔥

f1gossip: oh the drama that this is going to cause... thank you ms victoria

sophiekumpen: 🤍

victoriaverstappen: 😘

user3: this is the best day of my life you have no idea

user4: just bc i haven't seen my queen in years doesn't mean i have forgotten my roots. thats my y/n/n ❤️‍🔥

f1gossip has made a post

liked by user1, user2, user3, user4, user5, user6, user7, user8 and 26,295 others

f1gossip: 🚨max verstappen's niece and nephew spotted on victoria verstappen's instagram story the THE anthea from the hit tv show the originals aka the ever illusive, y/n y/l/n who hasn’t been on social media in years. this feels like so much more than a soft launch and frankly, i think we may have missed an entire relationship because the second picture is from over a year ago and with this knowledge, it appears it's y/n on max’s yacht. what do you all think?

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user1: wait wait wait. the mother nature? ANTHEA?? with the verstappens?

user3: my worlds colliding this was not on my bingo card

user12: that’s absolutely y/n on that boat no doubt

user4: there’s no way her character predicted the 2024 season and then ran off to date max like she was living the prophecy 😭

user2: shes so pretty its actually insane

user5: y/n/n babe he wears skinny jeans whyyyyyyy

user6: y/n sign of life!!!!! thanks to the car guy!!!

f1 has made a post

liked by redbullracing, danielriccardo, tvdupdates, ynupdates, maxverstappen1, visacashapprb, f1gossip, and 670,233 others

f1: our reigning world champion arriving in paddock with actress y/n y/l/n! the originals star makes her first official f1 appearance 🔥🇧🇷

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user1: PADDOCK OFFICIAL?!

redbullracing: our favorite superstars 😍

user2: pause! we just found out about them yesterdy and now they're official?!

tvdupdates: real ones know her character loved max. looks like y/n does too 😌😍🥹🤯

maxverstappen1: ❤️💙

ynuser: 😘

user4: Y/N OMG SHES HERE SHE REMEMBERED HER PASSWORD

danielriccardo: my babies 😭🤍

user1: danny what are you doing here

user4: someone pinch me i must be dreaming

user5: she’s literally radiant it’s unfair

ynuser has made a post

liked by maxverstappen1, danielriccardo, yourbff, claireholt, tvdupdates, victoriaverstappen, jensenackles, paulwesley, and 1,435,303 others

ynuser: my dutch lion! champion once more!! i am so proud of you 😘🤍

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user4: MY LOVE OH YOU ARE GLOWING

maxverstappen1: i love you more than anything in the entire world

ynuser: love of my life, man of my dreams 😍🤍

user2: oh chat , this is the cutest thing ive ever seen

user1: the picture of them hidding at the end the are so precious

claireholt: gorgeous girl i have missed your beautiful face

ynuser: claireeeee my love

redbullracing: our champion and his queen [liked by ynuser]

user9: y/n you are outrageously beautiful its actually sickening

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danielriccardo has posted to his story

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maxverstappen1: you really had to post this huh

danielriccardo: had to make sure everyone knew i was an og

maxverstappen1: some would say you are THE og

danielriccardo: and they would be right for saying that because i did hype you up the night you went and shot your shot

maxverstappen1: was it you or was it the gin and tonic?

danielriccardo: ME!!!!!

user3: danny feeding us thank you

f1gossip: and.... when exactly did this happen mr riccardo?

ynuser: freak! (i love you)

danielriccardo: i am your favorite freak xoxoxxo

ynuser: absolutely! not a single doubt about that

redbullracing: ❤️💙

user4: keep giving us these crumbs please!!!!!

user5: my new mom and dad #confirmed

maxverstappen1 has posted to his private story

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victoriaverstappen: happy birthday to the prettiest girl in the world!!!!

maxverstappen1: THANK YOU TO MY ALL TIME FAV VERSTAPPEN - y/n

victoriaverstappen: oh hes going to love that message when he sees it LOL

danielriccardo: HAPPPYYYY BIRTHDAY BEST FRIEND

maxverstappen1: i thought i was your best friend?

danielriccardo: i'm going to hold your hand when i say this

ynuser: thank you for an incredible morning baby

maxverstappen1: you are so welcome my love. this is only just the beginning of a day to celebrate you

ynuser: i don't know what i did to deserve you

maxverstappen1: i find myself asking the same question all the time 🤍

sophiekumpen: beautiful! treat her well my boy xx

maxverstappen1: of course mum! by the way she absolutely loved the necklace you sent 😌

yourbff: spoiled smh

maxverstappen1: just wait till you the ring later

yourbff: i'm already buzzing. i actually can't wait to see it

lando: y/n! can't wait for her surprise party later 😌

maxverstappen1: i cant either!

lando: you've got everything set up yea? can i help?

maxverstappen1: just make sure she's distracted right after cake, ok?

lando: that i can do

isackhadjar: queen sht

maxverstappen1: period

maxverstappen1 has made a post

liked by danielriccardo, redbullracing, isackhadjar, liamlawson30, lando, ynuser, yourbff, martingarrix and 999,444 others

maxverstappen1: happy birthday to the girl who over the past 2 years has taught me what true love really looks like. you are my reason for being, my inspiration, my biggest cheerleader and my favorite person. thank you for making me a better version of me. i love you more than words will ever be able to describe. cheers to chapter 24 on the 24th 🥂🤍

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user4: the first official post and im in actual tears

danielriccardo: going soft on me now huh

maxverstappen1: when it comes to her? yes! if it comes to someone on track? no.

user12: may this sort of love find me

ynuser: max 🥹 i am the luckiest girl in the world. you are everything to me and more

maxverstappen1: liefje 😭😭😭😭

user19: i just looked at my bf and sighed

lando: CONGRATS AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY [this comment has been deleted by maxverstappen1]

user4: congrats about what?!!!?!? LET ME IN

user19: oh my god... walk w me here... does this mean engagement???

charlesleclerc: i love lover boy max

ynuser: me too 😍

user18: max did you kiss the brick before you threw it at me??? i cant stop crying this is so sweet

ynuser has added to their story

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user4: ENAGEMETNRGKM 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

alexandrasaintmluex: he did such a good job wow

ynuser: RIGHT?! its stunning

user2: fell to my knees in the walmart parking lot

maxverstappen1: god that looks ring looks so god damn good on you

ynuser: i'm glad you think so handsome

f1gossip: consider us shocked

danielriccardo: best day of my life

ynuser: same but now max and i are going to have to fight over if you're a groomsman or a bridesmaid

danielriccardo: don't tell him just yet because i want him to enjoy this moment but im 100% going to be your bridesmaid 🥀

tvdupdates: you havent posted a story in literally 2 years i cant believe your first one is to tell us that youre engaged!!! i'm so glad you've returned to us

redbullracing: welcome to the family y/n!

ynuser: thank you admin xxxooo

user18: i have no one to talk to about this. my favorite actress and my favorite driver???

ynverstappen has made a post

liked by yourbff, claireholt, alexandrasaintmluex, iamrebeccad, maxverstappen1, lewishamilton, redbullracing, victoriaverstappen and 1,875,320 others

ynverstappen: tell everyone shes back but don't forget to tell them that she's mrs. verstappen now 😌💍

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iamrebeccad: the most beautiful bride to ever exist

ynverstappen: and you made the most beautiful bridesmaid to ever exist!

user8: THE MOTHER HAS RETURNED AND SHE’S A WIFE????? I’M SOBBING IN THE CLUB 😭😭😭

maxverstappen1: thats my wife!!!! god i am the luckiest man to ever walk the earth. i love you gorgeous

ynverstappen: i love you my handsome perfect husband

user5: she logged back in just to end us. queen behavior.

yourbff: absolutely beautiful. thanks for letting me share in this day with you 😭❤️‍🔥

ynverstappen: thank YOU for always sharing in the best moments with me 🥹🥹

user12: THE COMEBACK. THE RING. THE MARRIAGE. she really said “finale” like it’s a tv show

danielricciardo: mrs. verstappen has such a nice ring to it 👀 literally and figuratively

ynverstappen: i know thats right

user22: anthea fr manifested this. canonically and spiritually

georgerussell63: wedding of the century, no notes. max actually smiled. shocking scenes!

ynverstappen: he smiled and cried! wouldn't have believed it if there weren't a million photos

maxverstappen1: really gonna expose me like this?

georgerussell63: yup!

user4: my jaw is on the floor

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a/n: thanks for reading!! likes and reblogs appreciated

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disclaimer: pictures are not mine and everything i write is fiction

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