The music industry buzzed with excitement as Ember's success continued to skyrocket. "Afraid of Heights" and "Feels Like" dominated the charts, solidifying Ember Gray as a rising star. The paparazzi pictures with Taylor spread like wildfire and her fans were loving the music and Ember herself. Ember was happier than ever, feeling like a helium balloon that would float away, with Gracie always there to keep her grounded.
In the midst of a busy day filled with interviews and promotional events with Gracie, Ember's phone started buzzed with a persistent intensity, interrupting the lighthearted banter. She glanced at the screen, her smile fading as she read the headlines.
"Rising Musician Involved in Drunk Driving Accident Leading to Brother's Death."
Her heart sank to the floor, the weight of those words hitting her like a tidal wave. The room seemed to spin as she read the distorted narrative, her parents implying that she was responsible for her brother Egan's death. Thea, Ember's manager, rushed into the room, concern etched on her face. She ushered Ember to a separate room, interrupting the interviewer that was getting ready to start. "Something's come up, we've got to go. Ember, we need to address this as soon as possible," she urged, holding out her phone where a video interview with Ember's parents played on a news website.
Ember's mother, who she hadn't seen in months, spoke somberly with a façade of grief, "We never expected this from our daughter. Egan was our beautiful boy, and his life was cut short because of Ember's reckless actions." Ember's father stood next to his wife and added, "She was the one who was drunk that night, and now our family is shattered because of her choices. Our son deserves justice." Ember felt like she had been punched in the gut. She knew they were horrible people, but for them to go as far as lying on television saying she killed her brother? The words hung in the air, poisoning the triumphant atmosphere that had surrounded Ember just moments before. The interview painted Ember as a villain in her own story, and the world seemed to close in around her. "This will be cleared up quickly," Thea insisted as she led her frozen client out of the building. "We'll get them to release the police report, prove that you weren't at fault and we'll get everything taken down."
The beginning of the end ensued, with a legal team working to get the facts of the accident and the interviews taken down. The police report was what they needed to clear her name, but there were so many hoops they needed to jump through to make it public. Gracie stood by Ember's side, offering support and reassurance despite Ember's shocked state. Yet, as the days unfolded, the weight of the accusations took a toll on their relationship. One evening, in the dimly lit confines of Ember's apartment, tension hung in the air like a heavy fog. Gracie, trying to navigate the delicate balance between comforting and pressing, spoke cautiously, "Ember, I'm here for you always and we're in this together. But I need you to speak. Help me help you, honey." Ember, however, was spiraling into the depths of her own turmoil. She hadn't said more than a few words since the defaming interviews came out. The room felt claustrophobic, the shadows echoing with the pain of her past with nothing, not even Gracie, able to draw her out. Flashbacks of the car crash haunted her, intertwining with the memories of the abuse she had faced within the walls of her childhood home. That was the first time she had seen the faces of her abusers since she left on her eighteenth birthday. Anger swirled in her, burning rage under her skin because wasn't what they did enough? Did they have to ruin what she worked hard for too? Blaming her for Egan's death in the press when Ember was still processing the grief herself. As she had finally started to believe that maybe it wasn't her fault. "Face it together? Face what, Gracie?" Ember's voice cracked, suddenly finding her voice. "Do you think you can fix this? Do you think you can fix me?" Gracie, taken aback by the sudden outburst, tried to remain composed. "I'm not trying to fix you, Em. I just want to help and-" Ember's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and despair. "You can't fix me. No one can."
In the silence that followed, Gracie struggled to find the right words. Before she could speak, Ember continued, her tone bitter and resentful, "I don't need you, Abrams. I don't need anyone. I've been through worse, and I survived on my own." The words hung in the air, a painful echo of Ember's internal struggles. Gracie, wounded by the rejection, felt a chasm widening between them. She knew how much her—. She paused her thoughts, cutting herself off. They had never really defined their relationship and right now didn't feel like the time to say girlfriend. Gracie shook her head, clearing her head and stood up. She knew Ember was hurting, she knew Ember's parents hurt her. Not to what extent, but she knew how much Egan meant to her and how much she already blamed herself for the accident. But Ember made it clear she didn't want her there. Gracie's voice was steady but filled with hurt, "If you don't need me, Ember, then maybe I should go." There was a moment of silence, Gracie's eyes almost pleading for Ember to stop her, to apologize, to talk to her, to say something. And she was met with silence. Gracie grabbed her bag, tears stinging her eyes as she walked out, Ember still silent. The door closed softly behind her and Ember felt a crushing loneliness settle in her chest as tears began to overwhelm her. The apartment seemed colder, the shadows more oppressive. She sank to the floor, tears streaming down her face, as the weight of the accusations and the fractured relationship bore down on her.
Days turned into nights, each passing moment a reminder of the void that Gracie's absence had created. The press intensified, with Ember's team working tirelessly to prove her innocence. The evidence mounted, the police report proving another driver being responsible for the accident was finally released but people were still in uproar. There was no statement from the artist herself, no explanation. As Ember faced the scrutiny of the public eye, Gracie found herself caught in the crossfire of a battle she never anticipated. The tabloids ran stories about their falling out after paparazzi pictures caught Gracie leaving Ember's apartment in tears, only adding fuel to the fire of Ember's already tarnished image. Ember sat alone in her apartment, the echoes of the past reverberated through her mind. The car crash, the abusive environment she had escaped, and the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders formed a suffocating tapestry of pain. Her phone sat, constantly buzzing and full of messages from anonymous users, telling her to end herself, threatening her, and worse. Texts and calls from friends flooded her phone, filled with worry, and they all went unanswered.
author's note: who was expecting that?? what's going to happen?? what if i just end it here?? alas, i won't. i want y'all to know that i listened to castles crumbling while writing the majority of this, so for more impact, try it out. or any other devastatingly sad music. hope you guys enjoyed, please vote and comment, i would loveee feedback! also a HUGE thank you to the consistent about 8 readers that always vote, i see each one and they make me incredibly happy.
sorry for the turmoil,
ella
YOU ARE READING
sparks; gracie abrams
Fanfiction☆☆☆ she toes the line between them, she says she's new at this there's holy ground beneath them, and sparks fly when they kiss ☆☆☆ 19 year old aspiring musician, ember gray collins, is a waitress at the bitter end in new york city. when her manager...
