eli

OP81

feline fortune - smau

⤷ you ask your boyfriend if you can get a cat and even use your friends and instagram to convince him that being cat parents couldn’t be that bad

sympathy is a knife - smau/written

⤷ after a fun vacation with your three best friends which consists of your best friend and your boyfriends who happen to be Mclaren drivers, racing is back on and because the title fight has come to a head, all your relationships within the friend group become very tense…

no other boys compete - smau

⤷ reader is a singer who’s longtime friends with oscar and visits him at his hockey games when she can but their friendship takes a hit when she’s seen with his rival

pleasures all mine smau/written

⤷ just oscar and his obvious crush on a certain ferrari driver

you could hate me part 2

⤷ You don’t know it yet, but your best friend, Oscar, is hiding the biggest secret ever kept between the two of you. Your friendship is tested by said secret while at the same time you’re questioning if it’s even a friendship at all, but despite what you truly want, you have got to figure out what he’s hiding.

emails i can’t send smau

⤷ you’re alex albon’s photographer who’s a bit of a familiar face in the paddock at this point and now, you’ve recently started getting small gifts and notes during race weekends…

the one for me smau

⤷ silly n random texts with your bf

all i need to hear

⤷ after a pr relationship goes sideways, months later you're trying to pick up the pieces of what used to be your life. it turns out letting go is always easier said than done.

she’s got a boyfriend anyway! smau

⤷ everyone thinks you and oscar despise each other but… they really couldn’t be further from the truth!

pretty baby let’s last awhile

⤷ After a wonderful day spent celebrating your anniversary, Oscar has one more surprise that makes you cry for the best possible reason.

favorite distraction smau

⤷ silly texts with your husband/fiance

lover boy

⤷ After a challenging year on you both, you finally get to spend the winter summer break with your boyfriend.

stranger danger | not much of a stranger

⤷ bumping into a cute stranger becomes your problem for the night (or you become his) (don’t delete the kisses smau snippets)

what a charmer smau

⤷ texts between a boyfriend and a girlfriend that miss each other all the time

surprise

⤷ you come home too early from an exam so oscar’s got to think on his feet

don’t delete the kisses smau (in the works)

⤷ after bumping into an f1 driver in a nightclub and a worried trip to the er, you start to unexpectedly fall for one another as you’re thrust into the spectacle sport’s public eye.

AA23

off duty angel (in the works)

⤷ you’re unable to attend the yearly fia awards because your sisters wedding falls on that weekend. your paddock frenemy, alex, happens to know one of the groomsmen so he convinces you to let him be your date.

CL16

good graces (in the works)

⤷ Rivals hate each other, or at least they should but time changes people… hopefully for the better.

LN4

won’t tell a soul smau

⤷ you cannot stand ​lando norris but he just so happens to be the only one there for you when your relationship blows up in your face.

put a ring on it smau

⤷ a certain mclaren boy seems to have taken a liking to the owner of the newest brand sponsor

hardly a cover smau

⤷ the benefits of hotels down the hall from each other is just too convenient for you and lando, even worse when your garages connect, and everything just feels too good to keep it casual. wait it is casual… right?

OB87

wrong red garage smau

⤷ lewis hamilton’s niece has started attending more races but she seems to have abandoned her dear uncle for her boyfriend

see replies

user1 is that who i think it is 🤨

user3 you see her too? user6 who??? user1 the girl next to lando, it’s 100% yn user6 be so fr

user2 dj lando is back we cheered

user7 that man look way too happy for someone that just crashed

user4 he’s so smiley i wonder why

user5 genuinely an unserious ass bitch

user6 he’s exactly where he wanna be im cryin

user8 is that yn?? doesn’t she have a bf?

user2 i swear she does idk why ppl think that’s her

user22 is that his ex omggg 

user12 anyone notice she left the paddock early then was seen at the gate when he left later? #hm

user1 that doesn’t mean they’d end up at the same club user2 it does when their races both ended from the crash lol 

liked by lando, charlesleclerc, alexalbon, and 740k others

yn81 can’t spell midclaren without me

alexalbon this is your main btw

yn81 i am aware alexalbon are you??

user1 all this aura just to get p8 today 😭

user3 even funnier to be posting this a week after the double dnf

lando well you can barely spell anyway

yn81 remind me who won admin’s spelling bee last year lando mate that cannot be your bar yn81 shut up fourhead user7 😭😭😭

mclaren yn please answer your email…!

user4 SHES IGNORING ADMIN LMFAO user9 poor admin omg

user814 fave driver

charlesleclerc put your phone away and focus on the meeting?

yn81 you are not my real father user3 charles why are YOU on your phone

liked by yn81, mclaren, maxfewtrell, and 383k others

lando miami you were class

yn81 congrats

lando no exclamation points?? even charles got them yn81 charles won a home race

maxfewtrell proud of you mate!

user3 yn liked within the first minute 🤨

user1 she’s crazy actually user3 like why do you have your teammates notifs on??

user4 YESSSS SO HAPPY RN

carlossainz Congratulations mate!!!

mclaren 🧡 🏆 

user2 my favorite podium this year

—

replies

ynpriv am i? lnpriv yes ur like 80% heat ynpriv missed chance to say 81% lnpriv im not that corny ynpriv 😔 ynpriv u wouldn’t be so cold if you wore smth around ur flat lnpriv if only someone didn’t constantly steal my hoodies ynpriv youll get them back ynpriv eventually! lnpriv yeah yeah

replies

albono is that a certain teammates hands? ynpriv nooo ofc not albono i thought you stopped all that ynpriv I DID albono but? ynpriv but we hooked up again at some party awhile ago 😔 albono mate albono you cannot be serious ynpriv im gonna end it i swear! albono i’ll see it when i believe it!

see replies

user9 kinda breaching her privacy idk

user5 then why was she out and about with lando?? user97 they’re literally friends it’s not crazy that she’d be there

user212 one of the girls that was there said on tiktok that yn and lando were super close and giggly when he wasn’t filming

user4 my ship is sailing?? user81 which could mean nothing at all 👀 

user33 they’re such bestie goals

user2 right, i want a friendship like them

user7 i wonder if she’s in the video

user11 she was def filming with them

user03 he had a film camera toooo

user003 landyn hard launch on his jpeg account WHEN

user1 yn is so pretty ahhh

liked by lando, mclaren, alexalbon, and 877k others

yn81 austria you will always be famous to me 🥇

alexalbon congrats yn!! yn81 thank youuu 

user2 YAYYYY

user9 my drivers champion

mclaren Amazing as always!

lando i agree ☝️ liked by author

user6 your overtakes are insane btw

lando no creds for slide 4?

yn81 flash was too bright, didn’t see who took it 🤷‍♀️ lando and who bought your MATCHA yesterday?? yn81 who bought your TEQUILA???🤨 lando you seemed to enjoy it more than me ;)

user37 the landyn chemistry on the podium was crazy

user3 no fr like yall are in public user10 the way they’re no better in the comments either 😭 

charlesleclerc my front wing would like a word

yn81 im sorry charlie 😭😭

maxfewtrell Congratulations!

lando finally stopped cropping me out, yeah?

yn81 only bc admin told me to lando 🧍‍♂️  user2 LMAOOO user88 funny asl for that im sorry

f1 Lando Norris wins it in Silverstone! #BritishGP

—

Your heart skipped a couple beats while letting the phone ring out just once before picking up the next call. While holding the speaker closer towards your ear, the first thing coming through was all the noise at whatever club his friends chose for the night. The music, if you can even call it that, had gotten slightly quieter due to Lando stumbling towards a hallway near the exit, holding his phone close to his own ear. 

“Are you there? Hellooo?” His voice cut through all the voices and music, which was slighter higher than usual and slurring every syllable possible.

“Yeah, I’m here, Lan.” Your slightly exasperated voice answered, a sort of shock landing through the line.

“You sound mad already,” he slurred some more and the pout was just about heard through the phone. “Are you?”

“Should I be? Did you do something?” You sat up in your bed, sliding to the edge in case you needed to pull your shoes. Lando grumbled, mulling over the words he couldn’t get out, opting for trying to let the music drown him out before he even started.

“Lan? Are you okay over there?” you let out a small and bit of a nervous chuckle.

“I think I should take another shot before I say this.” He replied, a sigh blowing through his lips. You knew just how ridiculous he looked. Green eyes half lidded, his back slumped against a wall, and most likely the most stupidly cute pout known to man. He usually wasn’t this nervous, especially when your usual was being in one of your beds. He went quiet again for barely a second before blurting out—

“I need you— and… I need you so, so badly.” 

“What?”

“As in you’re more than some hookup to me, and I think you know that.” he replied, but it had been sharper than when he first called. “Can I come over?”

You blinked, slowly adjusting yourself on the edge of the mattress before letting out a small cough and certainly not a real one. “Now’s not a good time, Lan, I’m, uh, I’m kinda tired. Long race.” 

“I drove the same race as you and I’m not tired,”  he replied. 

“Fair, but you also have the adrenaline of a German Shepherd,” you chuckled. 

“All I get is a laugh after pouring my heart out? Don’t change the subject, Yn, cmon.” Lando whined into the line, hoping he could plead his way out of sounding completely desperate, and hoping it didn’t fall on deaf ears.

“You need to go back to your room and sober up, Lan. We can talk about whatever you want in the morning but you need some water right now.” You replied, the reassurance feeling more like a sting to your throat. You almost didn’t want to be the responsible one, you always had too much fun doing the opposite around Lando.

Although he hated every bit of being ignored by you, something in his inebriated mind told him you were right. 

“Okay,” he groaned. “Whatever you say, baby.” The line went silent. But you two did not speak the next day. 

—

see replies 

user1 they look good together 👀 

user3 i loved her and lando thooo

user9 he kinda looks like…yk

user81 clock it 😭😭

user4 she’s gonna soft launch him im calling it

user92 she lowkey did with her story last night

user2 i didn’t think she was a party person she looks so fine

user8 wasn’t she just w lando last week? she can’t keep a man 😒 

user4 you’re weird  user10 who said she was even dating lando tho

user23 that kiss was hot

Three dots of yours pop up, disappear, pop up, disappear then rinse and repeat before dropping completely. Lando however, barely waited a minute before his face and name lit up your screen. You pick up the facetime call almost immediately and it's basically muscle memory at this point.

The two of you hadn’t spoken much the last few weeks. Sure, there were plenty of team sponsor shoots attended, but also plenty of small greetings that barely lasted a second in passing too. And your texts; random updates on each other's day or stupid memes had gotten sparse. Since meeting him, your phone had been the opposite of this, and now, the air in every room felt thicker than even the dense humidity of the Singaporean GP and God, you could not stand it. 

There wasn’t much behind him, just a couple paintings that looked familiar from his apartment buildings hallways, then, a metal wall. There was a small whirring while the most familar look spread across Lando’s face, a small pout paired with his eyebrows pinched trying to figure out the puzzle that is his beloved teammate.

He didnt know what to think, and of course he wouldn’t. There wasn’t much up go off of when you had spent practically every other day together for the last few years, even on days without a payroll, but now it's stopped. Now it's weird. Now it's something he almost can’t even describe because he never thought he’d have to even entertain the thought. 

It feels like forever before Lando breaks the silence, a burn chasing the rasp down his throat, “Why were you out with him? All over each other like that?”

You shrug, wanting to make this hurt less than it did, “I was just having a bit of fun, Lan. Not sure why it’s such a big deal.”

“I meant what I said after Silverstone.” His tone sharp and his green eyes searing into yours through the screen, despite the hurried pace through the lobby and glancing up for doors. “I can’t believe you’re lying to yourself about this, lying to me.”

His eyes flicker away and he tilts his chin up for a moment, car horns blaring and traffic lights reflecting off his face, and it brought you back to that party. 

His huffing resumed as he crossed the busy road, “I know you better than anyone. And I know you’ve been avoiding me but you can’t do that anymore. We can’t ignore this.”

“I don’t wanna ruin this, Lando.”

He stopped right in his tracks. Lando full on scoffed and narrowed his eyes, “Ruin it? By what, acting on what’s already between us?” 

He sucks his teeth, the click is sharp. You hesitate for a moment before sighing and looking away, “I just, you know, don’t wanna complicate things. I’m trying to be realistic here.”

“No, you’re letting yourself be scared of the truth. I just don’t understand you like this.” He replied. His feet picked back up again, rushing more than just a couple of minutes prior. His hand with the phone dropped, leaving you to see nothing but darkness.

You were confused, not about this being brought up, it would’ve had to be a conversation at some point, but about the timing. You thought if you avoided Lando for as long as possible, the feeling, the need for closeness, that it would disappear on him. But the guilt, God the guilt of it all crept into every second of your daily routines for weeks. 

His extra toothbrush he once left by accident was still sitting in your apartment even after an entire move. His hoodies hadn’t left your bedroom floors or hangers in ages, and every time you looked over at them, all you could think was how much you missed his presence. Now that you’ve thought about it too much, he’s been gone too long. 

And pretty fortunately for you, Lando is a determination filled man. 

The cool night air must have felt like a pin to a cushion to his eyes that were glazed with tears. They hadn’t really fallen yet, but he could feel them, just as he had felt your hands all over him months before. He missed how your breathing went into overdrive when he had you right where he wanted. Lips crashing into the other’s, buttons ripped, and jeans forgotten about. Lando couldn’t stop thinking about the cuddling at 2 in the morning, when there was nothing to do but stress over a race just fourteen hours later. How dare anyone think that it was all forgettable?

It was strange, he thought. Trying to text the last few weeks and pretending nothing had changed. 

Your exasperation was more than apparent when you started to press him, “Where are you even headed this late? I hope you’re not about to do something you regret.”

“I promise I won't. Please, just— open your door.”

You narrowed your eyes at the front door, not wanting to believe the man that was practically invisible the last month, was right outside. He didn’t knock or even repeat himself, but his pout returned almost as quick as you crossed your living room to open it. He was in one of his hoodies you hadn’t stolen yet, a brown one with red loops of letters on the back. It was one you were eyeing for a while though.

“I’m not about to ask you to sign a mortgage with me if that’s what you’re scared of.” Lando steps in, closing the door behind him way more carefully than he ever did before. He follows you in your neon green socks and pastel pink pajamas, down the dim hallway. When you reach the end of the short hallway, you both stop, standing in the open space of your living room just behind the recliner.

Lando rests his hand on the top of the seat, locking eyes with you. “You are one of my best friends if not the literal best of them all. Do you realize that?”

“Yeah, I think I know it a little better than I ever expected to.” you whisper, as your head shakes and eyebrows lift.

Unconsciously, or maybe too consciously, you step closer into his space and rest your own hand on the edge of the recliner. It’s close enough to hear his still uneven breathing and to look over his curls. They fall just over his forehead, shining individually under the warm lighting of your living room. He notices and of course he does, so his fingers march an inch towards yours, and they don’t touch but it's enough. 

“I mean, you— you make me a better driver and challenge the hell out of me. You make me a better man, a thoughtful one for sure.” He continued, eyes rolling the other way, hoping not to catch yours while he rambled on. “The thought of losing you over something as stupid as hooking up in hotels is just—“

You cup his face, which in turn shuts him up the quickest you’d ever seen, still whispering, “I love you.”

"Ridiculous." He finishes. His breath hitches and his eyes came back to yours pretty much instantly and his words tumble out of him, “I love you too. I love you so, so fucking much.”

“Kiss me?” You ask, but his eyes are already looking down.

“You don't even have to fucking ask, baby.” 

Lando does not waste a single second. For the first few kisses, his lips crash against yours with a desperation he’s been holding in half his career and this entire season. He steals every breath of yours, groaning when you deepen the kiss and pull yourself flush against him while your fingers curl into the collar of his hoodie, yanking him impossibly closer. His hands make their way down to your waist in less than a tenth of second, like they belong there; because they do. He bites your lip, savoring the small noises you make when he backs you up through the archway. 

Your hands hit the edge of the kitchen island with a slightly bruising thud, but you couldn’t care less as he peppered kisses down the side of your jaw. Like always, he snuck his lips to spot just behind your ear and you melt into it. 

He pulls back just a couple inches to look you over, barely believing the sight. His voice is rough and his gaze is heavy and hooded, “Just keep looking at me like that.”

You lean in, mumbling just against his lips, “Like what?” 

Of course he’s smug about it while leaning in to close the gap again, “Like you’re in love with me or something.” 

“I am, you idiot. I just said it two seconds ago.” You roll your eyes and let out a hushed giggle against his lips.

“I know, I just like hearing it.” 

—

see replies

user1 WHAT THE HELL

user2 that’s soo blurry cmon that ain’t them

user5 that’s 10000% lando and yn

user3 sooo are they gonna hard launch or like?

user6 no fr can teammates even date lol?

user005  bitch i just got whiplash

user9 when zak said he wants to keep them as teammates forever, he meant it lmfao

user00 wait that’s so cute he took her to that restaurant she mentioned in an interview in her rookie year

user22 why does this give double date the way max and pietra were also seen w them?

user3 probably was lmaooo

user8 i thought she was with that actor guy?

user91 seems she found someone better lol

liked by yn81, dannyric, mclaren, and 825k others

ln.jpg not a summer to forget ;)

user43 not yn being 99% of this dump

user8 cuteeee

georgerussell looks refreshing

yn81 did u have to make the .5 the cover photo. genuinely 

lando it was extremely necessary 

user9 landyn most fun duo on the grid wbk 

alexalbon good luck w that sunburn mate

lando it’s called a tan alexalbon it’s called skin cancer

user002 NO ONES TALKING ABOUT THE QUADRANT BTS

user82 RIGHT never thought itd see the light of day IN A PHOTO DUMP

user800 ok so does this mean she was never dating matt fr??

user81 i have a feeling...she was not

carlossainz looking nice 

dannyric is that my camera?

yn81 no 🧍‍♂️ lando no 🧍‍♂️

user2 soft launch?

user3 baby ain’t no soft launch needed w these two

replies

lando BABE lando NOT YOUR PRIVATE ACCOUNT BY THE WAY yn81 what yn81 OH FUCK yn81 ohmygod im getting fired before i win another race yn81 before i even step in another f1 car lando LESS TEXTING MORE DELETING yn81 RIGHT

see replies

user1 hanging out or straight up together 

user2 right like after his summer break dump there’s no way they’re not dating (again?)

user7 YALL have you ever gone through her old likes on lando’s posts?? like wayyy before they became teammates

user8 saw another thread on here from months ago and my flabbers were gasted 🫪

user4 also muncher lando being confirmed directly from the source was crazy as hell

user1 OKAY!! couldn’t believe my eyes user3 lmao i know they’re grown as hell but i still clutched my pearls

totallynotmcladmin im gonna lose my job 😔

user09 next media day about to be awkward as hell

user88 there’s an old mcl video from a few years ago where they were flirting heavily and i think about it all the timeee

user7 oomf do you have the link 😁😁 user88 yess youtube.com/watch?v=rIwkBsKb4oo

liked by yn81, lnfour, maxfewtrell, and 790k others

lando bangerz

yn81 wait is slide 6 vegan??

lando no but slide 1 is mclaren yeah i quit

comments on this post have been limited

—

That morning at around 11, you had reluctantly left for an exam that would take at least a few hours. The only problem is: it’s only been two and a half. On one hand, Oscar was very proud of his brilliant girlfriend but on the other… he was panicking.

And really, the entire afternoon had been almost too calm, he thought. A few of Oscar’s friends had come over to help decorate for the party, a small one. He assumed it would be done setting up within that day’s time frame, the one he originally planned for anyway. A frantic run around his mess of an apartment told him that this all definitely would not be done in five minutes or less.

“Arthur!” He whisper yelled into the phone. Alex’s head popped up from where he was sat on the floor and pumping air into balloons with an old bike pump. “You were supposed to keep her busy til at least 4:30!”

“Ah, deep breaths, Oscar.” Arthur’s almost too calm French accent comes over the speaker phone, a small chuckle following. “She finished early, what was I supposed to do, keep her hostage in a dusty, old uni library until you are ready?”

Oscar simply rolled his eyes.

He let out the most exasperated sigh after hanging up with Arthur. He swiped both hands down his face before carding one through his hair. As he glanced over at the digital clock imbedded in the stove, narrowing his eyes as if it would make the time slow down in his favor, Oscar sighed.

The second your car pulled into the underground garage of the apartment building, Oscar was stood just a few cars away near the entrance. You turned the car off and got out, greeting him with a tired smile and a yawn.

“I didn’t think I’d have to go in today. I mean of all days, really?” You groaned into his chest, your face snug against it and practically using him as a pillow. He rubbed your back, pressing a kiss to your curls and gently pulling you in. It was a wonder how he always knew exactly what to do after a long day, especially one where you had no intention on actually leaving his side in the first place.

Before lifting your head, it was hard not to notice the lightning quick heartbeats happening just below your ears. You pulled back and finally noticed his pink ears and cheeks, not to mention his slightly heaving chest as if he’d just ran a marathon to get down here.

“So, what was with your texts? Anything blow up while I was gone?” You joked, poking his chest and hoping you’d earn a laugh.

Instead, Oscar met you with an awfully awkward chuckle and a cough that came from nowhere, but really, he thought back to the first cake of yours, “Uh, no, no.”

When he finally did laugh, it had gotten caught in his throat, “Just— I know you’re exhausted but I thought we could spend the afternoon out.”

“I’m totally not opposed to that but i’ve gotta go upstairs and change, I look a whole mess.” You replied. Glancing down at the sweats you threw on before leaving with just a water bottle and your keys that morning, you sucked your teeth. Oscar grabbed your shoulders, squeezing them, twirling you in one go and started pushing you backs towards the car.

“I actually have an idea, just uh, get in the car,” his lips came to your cheek, placing a quick kiss as you leaned into the touch, “But you look beautiful!”

Before you could even think about uttering a ‘thank you’, he grabbed the key and opened the passenger side. Stepping down into the low seated McLaren, you grinned while heat creeping into your cheeks.

As promised, he bought you something new, a dress in fact. It was already on order at a local boutique. Considering Oscar never preordered anything, it was a tiny bit surprising. And suspicious. You questioned it immediately but he simply shrugged. Oscar assured you that he saw you eyeing it months ago and chose a random day to pick it up. You asked the cashier to try it on, not out of doubt that he knew your size but that you’re usually in such a rush that you never really get to do so.

“Take your time, baby.” He sent you a wink from a chair as you shuffled into the fitting room.

When you came back out, Oscar’s eyes immediately lit up, gluing themselves to you. His breath hitched, so much so he could have ceased breathing if you hadn’t gone to stand in front of him, snapping him out of his thoughts.

“Osc? Hey, I asked if it looks good. Should I get it tailored at all? I love it by the way.” You pinched at the fabric, then waved a hand in his face.

“Yeah- Yes, yes. God, you are gorgeous.” Oscar blinked. “I’m really glad you like it, but tailored? It’s perfect, love.”

You placed your hands on either side of the arms of his chair, leaning down into his space, “Laying on the sweetness today, are you?”

“Only the best for my girl,” he hummed, reaching up the rest of the way to kiss you, his lips finding your nose next. “You taste sweeter though.”

“We’re in public you freak.” Your hand came to his shoulder, playfully shoving back in the chair as you gasp dramatically. The high pitched laugh he usually did when something someone in the paddock said was absent, instead the one he let out was deeper and more teasing.

“No one’s looking,” he hummed, looking up with a smug smile. You looked around the fitting room area, and not only was no one looking but no one was really there either. Still, the way your boyfriend was looking you up and down sent a shiver down your spine then thighs.

“You’re so annoying,” you mumbled, straightening up to walk back into the fitting room. He tugged at the dress’ soft cotton until you looked back at him, and shot him a narrowed glance over your shoulder.

The next stop was the same bakery you mentioned earlier, one that apparently was stock full of every person in Monaco that day for some reason.

Usually, you two sat inside and much to Oscar’s good luck in timing that day, he caught the head belonging to a certain teammate too late after stepping in line. He almost started praying his eyes were playing tricks on him. While the line moved periodically and almost not at all, you were obsessively refreshing the portal for the exam results. Thinking if you scrolled enough times, they’d magically appear. Even the sweet smell of croissants and cakes couldn’t distract you.

Oscar leaned in, speaking in your ear just low enough for you to hear, “You’ll pass, baby.”

“Wh- yeah, sure.” You waved him off, not even thinking about taking your eyes off the screen. He gently squeezed your free hand in his, causing you to finally glance up at him.

“This isn’t just some first year shit, I need this exam to graduate, Osc.” A sigh came from somewhere deep in your chest and your shoulders felt tighter than ever, “I don’t want to fail.”

“You won’t fail, you will cross that stage and I’ll be right there cheering you on, love.” He replied and pressed a soft kiss to your temple then hair, “You just need to focus on today, it’ll be better than any exam stress you’re putting yourself through right now.”

You melted right into the kisses, hardly resisting his soft reassurance. All he could do was shrug and plant yet another kiss, but to your lips this time. Just then, you saw a figure turn in your peripheral vision. An unfortunately familiar one for Oscar at that, causing his body to stiffen.

“Oh, Osc, fancy seeing you here!” Lando said brightly, pulling him in for a quick half hug given the box of pastries in his other arm. Oscar leaned, giving the man a stern look that you caught almost immediately.

Lando turned towards you and gave your arm a light tap, “You must be excited for later on, yeah? Real cool what Osc’s planned.”

You gave your boyfriend a look, a truly confused one.

Lando glanced between the two of you, eventually letting out an awkward chuckle. Oscar finally replied, breaking the small set of silence that formed between the three of you, “Oh, yeah, that.”

“The farmer’s market so secret even the tourists don’t know about it?” He continued, narrowing his eyes towards Lando with almost no room for joking, “Yeah, mate, I’m excited to take her down there.”

Lando’s smile dropped just slightly, quickly understanding what Oscar was truly telling him and pushed out another awkward chuckle. His jaw tightened, and so did his grip on your hand but he barely noticed. So, you rubbed your thumb over his and nudged his shoulder. His jaw finally settled, his eyebrows falling with his hand as he glanced at you, then Lando again.

Lando smiled once again, “Really hope you two enjoy that, uh, that market then. See you later, Osc.”

Lando tucked the box of pastries under his arm, whipping out his phone and hurried out of the bakery doors before you could even get a word out.

“What the hell was that?”

“What was what?”

“Don’t play,” you replied, poking his upper arm and earning a small ‘ah’ from him. “That was the weirdest conversation I have ever witnessed between the two of you.”

Oscar gulped and his voice dropped, his cheeks turning the same shade of pinocchio pink they had been turning all day, “I was surprised to see him show his face after cheating at poker last week. That’s all.”

You gave him a nod, one of confusion and acceptance that your boyfriend is a strange guy, but at least it was kind of adorable. The rest of your time in the bakery was spent realizing your birthday freebie was still available the day after, getting your favorite flavor of cupcake, and teasing Oscar for inhaling his. The man is a vacuum when it comes to food but especially sweets and by God your collectively favorite flavor of chocolate was no exception.

After getting back in the car, he clicked in the seat belt and noticed some frosting still on the corner of your lips. You were taken by surprise when he was suddenly leaning all the way across the console trying to kiss you instead of starting the engine. Instead of a kiss, he licked the small bout of whipped sugar and giggled. You both couldn’t stop, and Oscar’s amused glint in his eyes wasn’t helping.

“Hold still,” he hummed, his hand snaking up to your neck from where it previously kept him steady over the console.

While you tried pushing him back by the shoulders, you ended up leaning in too. The laughing ceased the moment his eyes locked onto yours, instead it had been replaced by only yours and his heavy and desperate breathing. Oscar glanced back and forth between for eyes before the thumb rubbing the base of your jaw, was suddenly positioning your chin upwards.

You hummed while looking up with half lidded eyes, wanting nothing more than him this close, and waiting all day for it. Oscar’s kiss was nothing short of hungry, as always. His reach was far more desperate than his bite and even then, all he could ever say to defend it was that you were his favorite taste in the world. Well, besides all the hot chocolate he’d make the two of you whenever the chill of living by the harbor got too cold.

Honk! A sudden jolt ran through both your bodies as you broke away, heaving. His elbow had accidentally pressed a little too hard on the horn and now you had a few too many people looking into the car. The tints on the windows would’ve been a great touch if they were slightly darker… but not enough and now you both were awkwardly shifting back in your seats, smoothing out your dress as Oscar started the drive down the street.

You gasped, “Wait, Osc, make a U turn!”

He looked over at you, eyebrow raised but already moving over a lane, “What? Why?”

“My dream car! We just passed it, we have to go back.” You reached for his arm, beaming.

One underhand steer of the wheel later and you were back on the other side of the road with your window down. He kept a hand on the wheel while the other wandered down to your thigh while slowly rolling down the street, searching for the car too.

When you finally spotted the maroon corvette, you softly gasped while pointing, “Isn’t it just the coolest car ever?”

You weren’t the only person looking the other way with a dreamy look in your eyes, but it didn’t stop Oscar from mockingly taking offense, “Wait, are my cars not cool?”

You leaned back in your seat then sighed and shrugged, “Eh, I’ve seen better.”

As you cracked an eye open slightly, just to see his reaction, he ripped his hand from your thigh, placing it back on the wheel.

You chuckled and reached your own out to cup the side of his jaw, “God, you are so stubborn.”

“Stubborn? Maybe I’m just deeply offended at the moment. Not everyday your girlfriend tells you she’s seen better cars than yours.” He replied, pulling the most dramatic of pouts you’re sure you’ve only seen during certain post quali pictures.

You teased him the rest of drive until he pulled into a small alley, one you knew well. When you two got out the car, the fresh, salty air filled your lungs immediately. You couldn’t help but stop for a moment, closing your eyes and squeezing Oscar’s hand a little tighter while walking out of the alley and closer to the harbor.

All the tiny shops and restaurants along the harbor had been decorated with fairy lights and flags lining the edges of their buildings. You always loved how pretty it looked in the daytime but in the evening? Even better.

Oscar bought you each a cup of gelato, specifically strawberry, from the same shop you had your first date at. He thought it was cute how obsessed you were with the tiny spoons, especially when you insisted on taking them home. Now, they live glued to a frame of the two of you on the mantle in your shared apartment, and you never fail to hear him bring it up every time he cleans the living room.

“You’ve had one hell of a sweet tooth today, baby,” you started but he was quick to shut you up with a kiss, not that you were complaining. Oscar then tugged you backwards, pulling you past the curtain of a photo booth and onto his lap. You giggled, holding his face while looking down sweetly. His eyes beamed, holding onto your waist with a grip stronger than that of his weekend drive. Climbing in was quick and easy, but getting adjusted to the small space was slightly frustrating for a second when he realized his wallet was actually in the back pocket of his jeans.

After finally getting a few coins in the slot, a prerecorded voice played out the small speaker to the side of the screen. The first few pictures were normal. Smiles, a couple kisses, a hug or two. Then, Oscar got a bit a bit needy, really. You hooked your wrists around his neck, smiling and leaning down until his lips were yours, as if they weren’t already. His breath hitched feeling you shift and finally kissing you again with no eyes.

It started off soft, just tasting the sugary strawberry on his tongue. But it got deeper, more desperate and he trailed them down your jaw then neck, right to the soft and supple skin above your collarbone. Your hands found his hair, fluffy and now tangled in your fingers. Then, he let out a small noise, a careful one. Although there was plenty of noise outside of you twos small escape, there were still strangers. You giggled and leaned your head back just enough for Oscar to have better access. When you finally leaned down again, his gaze was almost cloudy, like he couldn’t believe he had you all to his self.

A buzz came from his phone, which he promptly ignored.

Another text came through. And a couple more until Oscar groaned, his lips letting go of yours and looking down at his phone but kept it turned away from you. His eyes widened suddenly and you were becoming concerned.

“What is it?” Your fingers still tangled in his hair, rubbing slow circles with your thumb, keeping him still a slight bit content.

“Oh, nothing,” he shoved his phone back into his black jeans.

“You sure?” You gave him a small frown.

“Very sure, let’s go home.” Oscar nodded, same reassuringly soft smile as every time you had any doubt.

The drive home was charged, way more than earlier that afternoon. The stress of that morning’s exam had slowly melted off your bones, and the orange and pink and blue hues of the sunset surely helped. There was a bouquet in your lap; pink roses to match your new dress and a smile to match Oscar’s.

You were on your phone again, texting a couple of your friends about the day, then when trying to take a picture of the flowers, you had realized you couldn’t find your airpods. Opening Find My immediately, all your friends locations happened to be overlapping each other in nowhere else but your apartment.

The fuck?

You thought it was a glitch, leaning the phone towards your boyfriend while stopped at a red light, “Osc?”

“Yeah?” He glanced over, his hand on your thigh going from gently rubbing circles with his thumb to freezing when he saw your screen. His panic settled in all over again and he quickly took his eyes back to the road, almost forgetting to press the gas when the light went green again.

“What’s this?”

“Hm?”

“Oscar, I know you saw my damn screen. Why the hell is half of Monaco inside our apartment right now?” you pressed, eyes narrow.

He sighs and drops his hand tapping at the steering wheel to the bottom of it as he turned left into the underground parking lot and parked the car. “Okay, I didn’t wanna ruin it and I still refuse to but… you have to act surprised when we get upstairs.”

A smile cracks through, your stern face falling at once, failing to keep up the facade of any actual sense of being upset. You weren’t really upset after all, you started giggling actually.

“What’s happening?” Oscar knit his eyebrows and squeezed your thigh. You picked his hand up from it, kiss the back of his hand and looking over with a small head tilt, whispering, “Still the best birthday ever, but you’re a terrible liar.”

Oscar’s eyes widened but still had started silently pleading, “Tell me you didn’t know all day.”

You shook your head, “Nope, but you couldn’t have thought of any reason that all our friends were in the same apartment?”

He let out a breathless laugh, turning your hand in his and kissing yours as well, “I was driving and distracted, can you blame me?”

“So… there’s no farmers market, huh?”

He shook his head and you sighed dramatically before snickering and teasing him again, “You’re terrible.”

Just as you climbed out of the car for the a millionth time that day, there Oscar was, ready to take your hand in his.

There was shuffling inside the apartment, it was slightly louder than Oscar unlocking the door. When he stopped fumbling with the key and opened the door, the lights flicked on, revealing all of your friends yelling, “Surprise!”

Balloons in your favorite colors and gold streamers filled your entryway and living room, topped off with the box of pastries on the coffee table you saw Lando with earlier. Everyone came up to you, hugging and handing over presents, or even complimenting your dress. You couldn’t stop smiling hard, it was starting to hurt your face but the happiness was even harder to hide. You laughed at the cake in the trash which Alex, was proud to show off your boyfriend’s lack of baking skills. When leaving the kitchen to rejoin everyone just before singing happy birthday, a hand grasped your arm. It was Oscar, leaning against the counter with a shy smile. You stumbled back into his chest.

You’re in his arms start giggling when you feel him whisper against your ear, “Happy Birthday my girl.”

You turn and whisper into his with a gentle hum, “Thank you, baby.”

Later on when the party had died down and everyone had gone home, you and Oscar were lounging on the sofa, tipsy from all the prosecco and wine, intertwined limbs, and absolutely no space left in between.

“So the dress? Was that…” You started but trailed off.

“I was meant to pick it up after the cake was out the oven and cooling,” he replied with a sigh. His fingers came to the hemming at the strap of your opposite shoulder, finding that he quite liked fidgeting with the soft pink dress. “But I kinda love that I got to see you in it all day.”

You leaned more onto his shoulder and nestled deeper into his side, sighing yourself but out of complete content. While pulling out the strips from the photo booth, you nuzzled into his neck for a quick kiss to his cheek. Then, your arm snaked behind him, causing him to laugh quietly from the suddenness but he quickly settled into you. Oscar’s arm tightened around you too, pressing a quick but steady kiss to your curls. And almost as if you could almost hear him smiling from it, you craned your neck to look up at your boyfriend, smiling too. Your eyes landed everywhere from his freckles to his brown eyes. His eyes however, were on your lips and before you could even say a word, he leaned into you, savoring every granule of cake on them.