Chapter Text
Growing up, his parents weren’t exactly thrilled that Oscar’s dream University was on the other side of the planet. They were beyond proud of the exemplary ambition their eldest showed, but weren’t ecstatic at the idea of having their only son leave for the United Kingdom.
But after years of trying to convince Oscar otherwise, their efforts were only met with years of consistent stubbornness. He was determined, and absolutely nothing was stopping him from achieving his goal.
And on that beautiful Autumn day in Australia, his phone had chimed— screen illuminating to present a new email.
The rest of the day had been spent occupied with bittersweet celebrations, a few tears from his sisters and parents, an excited thrum settling in underneath his skin as he grasped the accomplishment of his lifelong dream.
Months later came the day he’d been counting down to his whole life, and the day his family had been emotionally preparing for. Yet they had sobbed nonetheless, all five of his loving family pressing against him as they joined him for a hug.
With a final wave over his shoulder, he was on the plane. Spending a large portion of his twenty years of life with his mind set on this single University, he knew everything he needed to know.
He was taking an Engineering-Physics combined course, joining two of his absolute favourite subjects together. It felt surreal, knowing for the next three terms he’d be studying what he’s most passionate about at the school that had seemed so out of reach. Yet he had done it.
Nerves alight, skin glimmering with pride; Oscar sucked in a sharp breath as he stepped off the plane.
And yeah, he shouldn’t have been this giddy at the sight of a Black Cab pulling up to the curb he stood on. Although he’ll have to get used to the term ‘cab’. Feeling incessantly wrong with his outlandish vocabulary. He had prepared for it, and still is. Australian terminology is drastically different to the British.
After a brief trip, those breathtakingly intricate historic buildings come into view. It’s the first time since being accepted he’d felt a few tears brim his lashline, he wills them not to spill.
He feels so small in comparison to this grandiose school, so insignificant, yet can’t help but feel a sense of belonging— after all, he’d made his way here.
His family was unfathomably wealthy, but it was his impressive schooling record that had gotten him that letter of acceptance. And so he drags his suitcase alongside, stepping past the threshold to his student accommodation building.
He’d been put in a shared room, yet he finds the room empty. He has time, then. Time to settle in and unpack, make his half of the room feel like him.
Call it patriotic, but Oscar had brought a small Australian flag on a stand, placing it by his bedside along with his favourite family photo. His heart clenches painfully at the sight.
Hinges creak open behind him, and he jumps slightly before turning. In the doorway is who he guesses will be his roommate, a slightly taller blonde man with grey eyes who introduces himself as Logan.
Oscar is a reserved man at times, but for some unknown yet miraculous reason, they click instantly. As Logan begins to unpack and Oscar finishes up, they maintain a steady conversation. He learns that the blonde had travelled from America to pursue a course in Business, and they’re quick to establish a friendship.
He mentally thanks the gods above he landed with a roommate he easily got along with, a friendship that will no doubt help him adjust to University life— someone to rely on.
The first week is spent with orientation-like activities, including tours of the campus and all its necessary facilities. On the fourth day, he has an introductory lecture for his course, and he makes sure to leave his dorm early enough to provide time for his aimless wandering— as he had struggled immensely with navigating the campus the day before.
Upon arrival he can’t help but feel excited, as this is the first step into the start of his academic year. He takes a seat in one of the vast rows, watching students pile into the hall in a steady stream.
It’s a far cry from Australia, and more importantly highschool, but he’s grown. This is his life now, and he has always been top of his class. Fought for it, craved it. He needs success like he needs air.
And he won’t let anything; or anyone get in his way.
By the end of the lecture he’s already preparing a study plan in his mind, though he’s naturally talented at retaining information and channelling it into coursework.
His phone vibrates against his thigh, text tone audible. He brings it out as he walks out of the lecture hall, it’s his mum. Smiling slightly to himself, he barely has time to react as he collides right into someone.
Stumbling back, Oscar hears a string of curses being thrown toward him. “You should watch where you’re going next time.” The man sneers, tone dripping with a mocking tone.
“Sorry.” Is all he supplies, and he’s met with a huff. “You sound Australian.” The statement catches him, bored as it comes. “I am Australian.” Oscar returns, earning nothing but an acknowledging “Hm.” in return as the other man walks away; just like that.
He lets the encounter slip from his mind as he returns to his dorm, Logan inside and hunched over a book on his bed.
Lectures start up and go surprisingly well, and he spots a familiar head of brown curls sitting a few rows down from him. That guy from the other day. Of course they’re in the same lecture.
He didn’t even know he was in this course, and it’s just his luck that the one guy he’d bumped into is sitting in the same lecture hall as him.
Absentmindedly he wonders why he had commented on his accent, and not just walked away. But the thought seems pointless so he shoves it aside, making sure to grasp every detail his professor provides.
When he returns to his dorm, he finds Logan waiting with a contemplative look on his face. “Oh Oscar, good.” He says by way of greeting, stepping closer.
“There’s a sort of.. party tonight. For the start of a new term, you know— and I know you want to focus on school but it’ll be fun and just—“ He’s cut off as Oscar laughs at his rambling, “Logan, we can go. I’ll go.” He shakes his head, finding his friend’s antics endearing.
The party is taking place in one of the dorm halls of an older group of students, and there’s so many people gathered in the space— it’s the embodiment of a stereotypical University party, red solo cups strewn about, people borderline groping each other in random corners.
Logan is equally nervous, since it’s both of their first times at a party since coming here. But they’re determined to give it a try, see if it’s their sort of scene.
Some random girl shoves two cups into their hands, of what exactly he has no clue. So they shrug and take a sip, and he really shouldn’t have expected it to taste nice. That’s his fault.
“So what exactly do we .. do..?” Logan laughs briskly, they’re both standing in the middle of a hallway looking the perfect image of out of place.
“My guess is as good as yours. I’m guessing just like, socialise? Get drunk?” Oscar shrugs, and it’s a little worrying; considering he’s never been drunk before. But it’s also a little invigorating, liberating even. Crossing this boundary, taking a small yet well-earned break from studying.
And they both decide on the latter, opting to get drunk and let things escalate from there. They find the makeshift ‘bar’ and are immediately chugging down a second cup of god knows what kind of alcohol.
Somewhere in the midst of chasing the goal of lowering his inhibitions, he catches sight of brown curls. For the third time, weirdly enough. Except this time they’re coming this way, towards where he stands alone at the counter. He doesn’t exactly recall where Logan had ended up.
So he finishes the cup in his hand and grabs another. As the guy steps up, reaching for his own drink, he speaks before he can stop himself. “Hey.” And then he’s turning, blue eyes meeting his own.
“Do I know you?” Definitely not the reaction he’d been expecting. He swallows down the embarrassment that floods through him.
“I’m in the same course as you,” Oscar adds quietly, and he’s met with a huff of surprise. “Really? Never seen you before.” A muscle twitches in his jaw, what’s this guys problem?
“I bumped into you in the hallway after the introductory lecture.” God, why is he still talking? Yeah, the alcohol wasn’t exactly his smartest idea.
“Oh, the Australian.” He doesn’t seem particularly interested at the recognition, his tone bored. “Bit far from home, aren’t you mate?” The brunette’s eyebrows raise simultaneously as he brings his cup to his mouth and skulls it. “I suppose.” Oscar shifts where he stands, this entire encounter is incredibly awkward. And he sort of wants to run away.
“Your parents buy your way here or what?” The stranger cocks a single eyebrow this time— he’s fucking toying with him. And it’s working. “No. I worked my way here, using my brain.” Oscar huffs, defensive. He pouts a little, his eyebrows furrowed inwards; tipsy and now angry. Two things he isn’t very often.
“Uh huh. We’ll see about that, I’ve never not been top of the class. And you’re not about to change that.” And oh, it’s just the right button to press, because Oscar’s pride will not take a hit, and he feels a surge of competitiveness rise at the comment. “Yeah, sure.” He’s never sounded so cocky before, so egotistical. It feels wrong, because nobody has ever evoked that side of him before.
They’d completely drowned out everyone surrounding them, the party insignificant in this moment. A moment that should’ve never happened if Oscar had just kept his mouth shut. How had he already managed to make an enemy after only a week?
Interrupting Oscar’s recollection of regrets, the stranger pipes up. “What’s your name, or do you like being referred to as Australian?” The brunette hums, trying his best to sound disinterested. “Oscar.” He grinds out, silently begging Logan to return and save him.
“Well Oscar, when you come second after our first assignment? Remember this, this moment you told yourself you could beat me.” He purrs, and Oscar kind of wants to punch him.
Someone calls out to the brunette, a masculine voice yelling out the name ‘Lando’, who turns and walks in that direction.
In hindsight, Oscar shouldn’t have let a stranger get to him that easily— so severely unlike him to get that angry over a mere comment. He blames the alcohol and the guy’s overtly cocky personality.
The rest of the night disappears from memory when Oscar wakes up half-falling off a random couch in the dorm hall, head pounding and mouth unfathomably dry. He groans as he sits up, the room spinning momentarily before he forces himself to stand.
He makes a note to never do that again, forcing himself to make the trek back to his own dorm. Yet on the way out, someone pointedly shoves against his shoulder as they walk by— and hard. Lando stalks off in front of him, turning down a hallway. Not even looking his way.
Seriously, what the fuck? All this over last night? Admittedly it could also have been their small collision on the fourth day, but neither reasons are justifiable.
Logan is in the room when he gets there, looking equally as hungover as he is. “Oscar!” He practically beams as he leaps out of bed, “Oh god, where did you go last night? It was so awful without you.” He pouts dramatically. “I’m afraid my night wasn’t much better. Let’s both agree to never do that again.” Oscar rasps as he collapses back onto his own bed, the comfort of his own bed a stark contrast to that stiff couch he’d woken on.
And as expected, Logan pries. So Oscar tells him all he remembers, about his encounter with Lando. At the mention of his name, the American’s eyes widen. “Dude, you made rivals with Lando Norris??” He gasps, sitting up on the bed.
This has Oscar immediately concerned, so he also props himself up. “Why do you say that like it’s something to be worried about?” He tries cautiously, earning a rather dramatic display from his friend.
“He’s like— crazy smart, and apparently the campus's biggest asshole. You do not wanna mess with him.”
Oh, that’s just great. Fucking wonderful, actually.
Oscar had only gone and fucked up his entire university experience within the first week, which must be a record; he thinks. Because now he’s ’made rivals’ with the biggest asshole at this University, who also happens to be smart enough to actually put up a challenge for Oscar.
Something akin to worry settles into his gut, a dawning realisation that Lando had been telling the truth last night. He probably hadn’t ever come anything but first in school, just like Oscar.
He’s so fucked.