invisible string • Gracie Abrams

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CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
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CHARLOTTE listened to gracie talk about how her parents are utterly disappointed and going back to barely talking to her while holding weenie in her arms as the dog slept against her chest. gracie had wrapped her in blankets after she got changed, over protectively wanting to make sure she was cozy and warm after walking in the rain all the way to her apartment. just as charlotte predicted, it started to storm really bad outside, lightning would illuminate the room ever once in a while as thunder clashed.

the chaos of outside reminded her of how she felt when everything got leaked. and when her dad yelled at her earlier this day. a chill ran down her spine as her mind wandered back to that argument, spacing out of gracie's voice as she stared out the window. she couldn't tell if she felt anger, sadness, fear, or whatever. there was just a burning in her eyes and chest as she replayed his words over and over and over—

"char?"

charlotte turned her head to gracie as she bit down on her lip.

"you okay?"

charlotte nodded as she moved away from the window and closer to gracie, "yeah."

gracie gave her a sarcastic look, brushing the messy strands of hair away from charlottes face as the actress sniffled and hugged her knees to her chest, staring at the carpet. gracie gently moved charlotte into her arms, laying her down on top of her body and wrapping her arms around her.

"what'd you parents say to you?" gracie asked, lightning flickering in her eyes.

charlotte hummed, "my mom didn't say much. but my dad doesn't— well he says he does but he doesn't love me."

gracie furrowed her eyebrows, "what? i'm sure that's not true," she said, knowing there was no way in hell charlottes own dad would feel that way.

"yeah, well until i turn straight, date a boy who they approve of, and get rid of you he hates me," charlotte said, throwing in a little laugh to lighten it. "had to slap me to get that point across."

gracie held charlotte away slightly to move her head to look at her, showing her face of morbid disbelief and anger, "what?!"

"not like it matters, i mean i'm still not listening to his homophobic—"

"he hit you?" gracie's eyes examined charlottes face.

"just a slap to the cheek, nothing like dramatic," charlotte mumbled. she then looked back out to the window, folding her arms over her chest, "he said dating you is really out of hand, but the fact that you're a girl is apparently even worse for my rep."

"i thought he was cool with you liking girls after a while?"

charlotte shrugged, "guess not. your parents?"

"they're still supportive. i mean they didn't say that you're damaging my future, more stuff like you're toxic and going to destroy my life and mental health."

"destroy your life?" charlotte smirked.

a smile grew on gracie's face, "yeah i don't think he knows that i'd let you if you wanted to."

charlotte laughed before looking back to gracie and stopping to think for a minute. honestly she was still hurt deeply by today and everything but hearing gracie say that gave her an idea she thought she'd never think.

"then how about we go out tomorrow. publicly," charlotte casually said. "look as much as i kinda want my parents to like me, i think i want to just shove this in their uptight bitch-ass faces even more. and maybe it'll be enough to shut everyone up and like one hundred percent confirm everything. we've already been outed, there's no point in staying quiet anymore and y'know what this could prove to both our parents that me and you actually work and won't end up having each other ruined. i wanna prove that you're mine and we're good for each other." she grabbed gracie's hand, her thumb rubbing over her wrist. "it'll be a whole crazy thing but we've sealed with that kind of shit a lot already, won't be anything new to us."