BOUND TO FALL IN LOVE - gracie abrams

- eight

HAND in hand, side by side, the two best friends went back to their shared hotel room. gracie was exhausted, and so was august, but they had promised each other they'd talk about the argument between gracie and...brandon, barf.

"angel, gracie, c'mere," august cooed, waving her best friend towards her. gracie didn't resist, instead she allowed herself to go limp and fall into august's safe arms. "what's going on with you and brandon? i know you're arguing, and i know why, but...in general, what's going on?"

"i— i don't know, auggie," gracie frowned, letting out a deep sigh, "i love him, i know i do, and i know he loves me too..." she breathed out, "but, i mean, i don't know...tings have been a bit weird recently, i don't know, i think we just have to get used to this long distance stuff."

august knew what she had to say, she knew the exact words, but she didn't want to. she didn't want to hurt gracie's feelings.

"gracie...he's— i'm not saying he's a bad guy, i know you love him, but...i— ellie said something to me the night after her birthday party...something she noticed about you and brandon, and—" august sighed, scavenging her brain for the right words. the words that would break her best friends heart in the most gentle way possible.

"what did she say?" gracie mumbled, her voice wobbly as she desperately tried to keep the tears from falling.

august had to take a deep breaths. the words about to leave her mouth was bound to break gracie's heart. they could ruin their friendship, break them apart. but she knew she had to say them.

"she's um, y'know, she's worried that you're losing your shine...she's eight years old and she can see it."

gracie knew the relationship had changed since the beginning. but she also knew she loved brandon. she was sure of it. she truly was in love with him. but then why did everything feel so complicated? "august, what...what did she say?"

gracie heard the redhead take another deep breath. she was scared, scared that whatever her best friend's sister had noticed was true. scared that an eight year old could see the red flags clearer than her 23 year old self.

"um, she's seen the way you go quiet whenever he's around, how you've started to act...different...she's noticed how his hand is..it's always on you, on your ass, he's always glancing at your chest and leaving marks on your neck...she's eight gracie, it shouldn't be that obvious."

it was as if the world stopped the moment those words left august's mouth.

"ellie said that your body is the most boring part of you, that she thinks the only important part of you is how much fun you are to spend time with and how good you are at playing with barbie's, and how good your hugs are," august swallowed the lump in her throat. she had noticed these things too, how brandon seemed to have his focus on the wrong parts of the amazing human that was gracie abrams.

gracie didn't say anything. she just stared straight ahead, allowing augusts soft fingers to gently stroke her arm.

"and i, i think i've noticed it too," august admitted, "and i swear, after our talk, after the argument, i really did try to give him a chance, to be the supportive best friend you needed, but after today...i don't— it just feels like he's only using you for your body, gracie, and no matter how absolutely stunning it is — which is a lot — it's still nowhere near as beautiful as your personality, as you, gracie abrams."

"no! yo— you don't get to say that! you don't anything! he loves me! i love him! he's not using me for my body, why would he do that? no, stop, august!" gracie was crying. she was angry, she was sad, and she was confused.

"gracie, i don't want you to get mad at me, seriously, i get it, i get you...i know how it is to have feelings for someone you shouldn't have feelings for...to be in love with someone you shouldn't be in love with. i've been there, remember david? he was horrible, but i was so convinced i was in love and he was the one..." august would never judge gracie for what she was going through. she knew how it was to be in that situation, not realising how toxic your relationship is, being convinced you're in love.

the abrams girl kept denying everything her best friend said. she didn't believe it, she didn't believe any of what august was saying. she was in love with brandon, and brandon was in love with her. there was no doubt, no questions to be asked. brandon was the one. she'd end up marrying him and have kids with him and love him forever and ever.

she knew it, she was sure of it.

and brandon using her for her body? that was the stupidest thing she had ever heard. why would he do that? there was nothing to use her for, she didn't have any curves, she wasn't very pretty.

why the hell would someone ever use her for her body? that'd just be a waste of time for them.

brandon loved her, she loved brandon. if she didn't, she wouldn't be with him. and so what his hand was on her ass a lot? he was her boyfriend, he was allowed to touch her. glances at her chest? once again, she was his girlfriend, he wasn't some random creep. and the marks. those damn marks. gracie did it to him too, didn't she? sure, maybe she didn't do it in public, in front of all his friends and his cousin, but everyone's different, no one's the exact same.

in conclusion, gracie loved brandon. she was with him because they loved each other. they were in love. in a happy, loving relationship.

author's note
this is also short, but i didn't want to add even more repeated
sentences about gracie loving brandon and brandon loving gracie
there's already way too many repeats

GAVE YOU TWO CHAPTERS TODAY BC I LOVE YOU
right now when i'm writing this, we've just reached 700 reads. THANK. YOU.
THAT IS WILD AND CRAZY AND NOT SO FRUSTRATING! i love you so much.

also, new years tomorrow, what the actual fuck 😀
2024 is such a scary year for me personally, filled with so many changes and new things
and i have so many exams in 2024, kill me plz

(lmao ^^^ that was written december 30th, i wrote this chapter before most of the other ones whoops)