"So what you're telling me is that you two bimbos think that Gracie was forced to date Callum?" Dorothea stared at the girls in front of her as if they were utterly insane (which they probably were, though). "You guys sound crazy. Gracie hasn't been forced to do anything; I just read the whole situation wrong."
Olivia and Leonora shared a look, and it was one Dorothea definitely didn't like. She felt on the outside, like they knew something she didn't. She hated being put on the outside.
"Just think about it..." and then Olivia went on a twenty-minute-long rant about what might've happened between Gracie and Callum. Dorothea wasn't convinced, not even after the excruciatingly long explanation with way too many sidetracks because Olivia sucked at staying on topic.
"No, I still don't believe you guys. Sorry, but I seriously just saw things and signs that weren't there. You can believe whatever you want to, but I'm not jumping on that train of insanity." Dorothea said with a shrug and leant back in her chair to check herself out of the conversation.
Olivia and Leonora kept talking and sharing crazy conspiracy theories as to what was going on with the ever-so-famous couple that made Dorothea want to barf. But the Bishop girl — the oldest of the two — didn't listen to a word her sister and her best friend said.
She fished her phone out of her pocket and stared at the lock screen, where a notification had popped up. She froze at the name portrayed at the bottom of her screen, and a quiet scream left her mouth. It felt as though she'd blown her own eardrums out, but in reality, it wasn't even loud enough to catch Olivia and Nora's attention.
Dorothea stood up and sped out of the room, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. And when she'd finally reached the guest bedroom, where she could be alone and not be disturbed by the two adult children downstairs, she clicked the same name that her entire mind had revolved around for several months.
Gracie. Or, in this case, Gray <3.
The honey-like voice of Gracie Abrams filled Dorothea's ears, and she felt her eyes well up with salty tears. She'd missed that voice. It used to be the only thing that could ever comfort her, and now it felt like a stranger's. And it'd only been a few weeks.
But the tears and the weirdly nostalgic feeling were soon gone when Dorothea heard the muffled cries of the girl she held so dearly. She recognised them. She could feel the shakiness behind them and the gasps for air. She knew what it meant, and it broke her heart.
"I'll be right over, Gracie. You're at home, right?"
And that she was.
"Hey, Grace, c'mere. It's okay; I promise you, you're okay. I'm here now; you're okay." Dorothea whispered as she let Gracie collapse into her arms. She held her tightly, and for a moment, just for a short moment, everything felt the way they used to.
Gracie was hers for a second as she sat there in her arms, and Dorothea had forgotten about Callum for the same exact second. Everything — except for the fact that Gracie was having yet another panic attack — was good. Dorothea hated how messed up everything had become.
"Thank you, Dory," Gracie whispered after calming down and getting her breathing back under control. "I don't deserve you."
Dorothea raised a brow and looked down at Gracie in disbelief. If there was someone who didn't deserve the other, it was Dorothea. Gracie was everything and more, and Dorothea was just...Dorothea.
"Gracie, stop. Don't say that. I'm the one who doesn't deserve you. I've ignored you for weeks because you have a boyfriend? That's so unfair. I'm supposed to be happy for you, and here I am, filled with this disgusting feeling of jealousy that I can't seem to get rid of. I definitely don't deserve y—"
"—stop, Dorothea. Stop that. I'm the one in the wrong here, and you know it. I kissed you on my birthday, and I kissed you after that. Many times. And then, out of the blue, without saying anything, I'm posting pictures of me kissing a guy you haven't even heard me mention once? It was a shitty move, and I am incredibly sorry. It's just — so much is happening, and there's so much you don't know."
Dorothea looked at Gracie, and she hoped she'd explain what she meant. What was it that Dorothea didn't know? What had she missed?
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about The Era's Tour, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Callum," Gracie mumbled, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Look. Um, Callum and I, we're— it's PR; the relationship is PR. It's fake. My manager told me it was for the best and that it was a good idea leading up to the album release. I'm sorry. It's all been so weird and shitty, and I hate every second of it. I tried ending it today, but my manager refused. That's why you're here, helping me out of yet another attack."
Dorothea wrapped her arms around Gracie again as the girl started crying, and she felt her own heart break in her chest. Poor Gracie must've been so stressed not being able to tell anyone the truth about the relationship.
"I wanted to bring you to Taylor's party as my plus one, but my manger said I had to take Callum so we could spark the relationship rumours," Gracie sniffled and moved her body even closer to Dorothea.
"Look, Gracie, we'll figure it out. How long does the contract last?" Dorothea asked, feeling Gracie's face burying in the crook of her neck. "We'll figure it out, I promise."
"It's for two months. Started December 10th, so there's still a long way to go." Gracie sighed, and she found herself tearing up again at the thought of having to pretend to be in a relationship with Callum for another month. It'd already been hard enough the first month, and they hadn't even had to do much then, because the holidays had allowed Gracie to stay at her childhood home with her family.
Dorothea planted a kiss on the side of Gracie's face and tightened her arms around the girl. "Okay, that's good; that's fine. You can do that, okay? One month isn't a long time, and you don't have to be glued to his side. You'll get through it, and I'll be right here by your side. I promise."
And one thing Gracie knew about Dorothea Bishop was that she never broke her promises.
Author's Note
so sorry for the wait
only two exams left, tho
history tomorrow, i'm a bit nervy
LOVE YOUUU,
@hearthands
YOU ARE READING
SWEET NOTHING , Gracie Abrams
Fanfiction» I find myself running home to your 𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 « Gracie Abram...
