"I really want to kiss you right now."
"Then do it."
"I can't."
--
In which Gracie Abrams watches Stranger things and ends up stalking the newest cast member.
Or
In which August isn't ready and Gracie would wait a lifetime for her.
--
Social Media...
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"Happy birthday, slut!"
Conan and Austin jumped in surprise when August walked through the door before grinning excitedly and rushing up to her. The brunette smiled as her friends trapped her in a hug, unaware of the second entity that had followed August in.
"You okay?" Austin asked when he pulled away to look at her.
August nodded with a bright smile. "Mhm. Turns out I just needed to get dicked down," She said nonchalantly, manoeuvring to go and sit on the sofa.
Conan widened his eyes in shock as Austin noticed Gracie stood awkwardly at the door. "Oh, no," Austin murmured. "Oh, that's bad."
The actress shook her head. "It's not. I spent four weeks moping around with alcohol as my only friend. She came and I'm getting better. I admit, sex probably wasn't the right answer so soon, but it happened and unfortunately, we can't change the past. If we could, we wouldn't even be in this mess."
Her friends sighed and nodded as Gracie took a step forward. "I bought you a present."
"Thank you," Austin smiled, side-hugging Gracie.
"It's a cowboy hat, but if you don't like cowboy hats anymore I still have to receipt-"
"Cowboys never go out of style," Austin shook his head.
"Save a horse, ride a cowboy," August and Conan murmured at the same time. They shared a look before high-fiving each other.
"Stop checking out my boyfriend," Conan nudged August, who just shrugged and looked away.
"Can I check you out instead?"
"God, shut up."
The party kicked off an hour later. August forced herself to stay by Gracie's side so she didn't make any mistakes. She was sure Gracie's hand was bruised from her grip, but the smell of alcohol was all too tempting and she knew the fear of relapsing all too well.
Gracie's free hand found itself on top of their intertwined ones, making August turn to her. "Do you want to step aside for a second?"
August gulped and nodded. Gracie led her to Conan's bedroom and locked the door, opening the window. August crouched on the floor between the wall and his bedside table, pulling her knees up to her chest.
"Lilac-"
"I thought I could do it," August looked down in embarrassment. "I feel like I'm going crazy. One second I can't breathe or sleep or eat and the next I'm joking around with my friends then it all collapses back down again."
Gracie held her hand. "You're grieving, that's normal, August-"
"I don't want to grieve anymore. I want to be okay again."
