Driven to you - OP81

As the seasons changed, so did their bond. The quiet connection that started under the tree grew stronger, as if each day together added layers to a foundation they were building, even when they didn't quite realize it yet.

At fourteen, their worlds had been so different. Oscar's life was centered around his racing dreams and the laid-back culture of Melbourne. He was used to simplicity—days at the beach, family barbecues, and the constant hum of casual, yet intense, focus on his future. Meanwhile, Cocco's life in Italy had always been drenched in the warmth of family. Her days had revolved around shared meals, impassioned discussions, and an understanding that emotions were everything.

They hadn't yet fully grasped the weight of their differences, but as they spent more time together, they couldn't help but feel them.

One evening, they were sitting at a small café near their school in the UK. Oscar had just finished a practice session for his upcoming Formula 4 race, and Cocco had, as usual, invited herself to tag along, even if just for the sake of being with him.

The day had been gray, the kind of British day that made everything feel a little heavier, and they sat by the window, staring at the misty street. Oscar, as usual, was quiet, absorbed in his own thoughts, while Cocco, with her expressive face and the ever-present energy she carried, couldn't help but chat about everything and nothing at all.

"I was thinking of going back to Italy for the Easter," she said, her voice quiet as she stared out of the café window, her mind already halfway to Turin.

Oscar turned his head, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. "Really? What for?"

Cocco hesitated for a moment, then shrugged, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Just... to see my family, to be home again for a little while. It's been too long."

Oscar leaned back in his chair, feeling an odd pang in his chest. He didn't like the idea of her leaving. Not for long stretches. Not when they were just beginning to understand each other.

"It's not the same when you're not around," he admitted, his voice low.

She looked at him then, a small flicker of surprise in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by affection.

"I'll miss you too, you know," she said softly. "But sometimes, home just feels different, you know? You get a piece of you back."

Oscar was quiet for a moment, his eyes not leaving hers. The thought of being without her, even for a short time, was unsettling. "I get that," he said, though he didn't entirely understand it. For him, home was more about the people—his family, his friends. He didn't need a place to feel whole, but Cocco seemed to.

"I'll visit," he added after a pause, a decision solidifying in his mind. "Next time. I want to see Italy, the way you do. I want to understand what makes it home for you."

Her face lit up at that, her smile wide and genuine. "You'll love it," she said. "And when we're there, we'll take time to wander, to eat all the food, and maybe even argue about the best pasta shape, like my mom does every year."

Oscar grinned at her, his thoughts of being apart for the summer slipping away. "Sounds like a good plan."

She smiled at him before looking out the window, her mind somewhere far away, and Oscar felt an odd pang. They were different. And it made him realize that, while their bond was strong, it was always going to come with challenges. The cultural differences didn't seem to matter when they were together, but they were present, buried under everything.

It wasn't long before their differences became a source of tension—especially in the little things. They didn't fight often, but when they did, it was about things that, in retrospect, were ridiculous. Like the time when they were fifteen, and Oscar had gone to Italy with her for the first time.