out of the blue | gracie abrams

XLV

xlv - the air conditioner.

28th of June, 2023, Los Angeles

-9:41pm-

Gracie had insisted that Pippa go back to her and Audrey's place with her that night. She certainly couldn't go back to her own place, and clearly staying with her brother wasn't a viable option either. Since there was no one else Pippa knew in Los Angeles, she agreed.

"Are you sure Audrey won't mind? I mean, I don't really have anywhere else to go but I'm sure I'll figure something out if she-"

"Birdy, I promise, it'll be fine," Gracie reassured, shuffling through her clutch for her key as they approached the door of her apartment, "Besides, as far as she's concerned you're my girlfriend, and she's been dying to meet you."

"Right," Pippa swallowed, amidst all the chaos, she had almost completely forgotten about the fact that her and Gracie were technically supposed to be 'dating'.

"Hey Audrey, I'm back," Gracie greeted as she stepped beyond the threshold of the apartment, her blonde best friend sitting on the couch engrossed in an episode of 'The Great British Baking Show'.

"It's rather late," Audrey stated as she turned her head just slightly, "I take it the apology went well? I mean- oh."

Pippa suddenly felt incredibly out of place, the gaze of Audrey burning through her skin as she examined her from head to toe as if she was a threat or a bomb or a biohazard or something. Pippa couldn't tell if the girl just always looked slightly pissed off or if she had somehow already made a bad impression despite not even having said anything yet.

"Audrey, what are you doing? You're scaring her," Gracie scolded, though she found the situation rather amusing.

"So, this is the fabled Pippa Doves I've heard so much about," Audrey observed, standing up from her place on the couch and making her way over to the doorway where Gracie was hanging up her and Pippa's coats.

"Um, y-yes, that's me," Pippa stuttered, unsure what to say in response.

"I was beginning to think you were a myth, Gracie has done an excellent job at keeping you all to herself," Audrey said.

"Oh my god, ignore her," Gracie urged, waving off her best friend, "Do you want something to drink?"

"Uh, no I'm okay, thank you," Pippa replied.

"So, how did you two meet?" Audrey asked Pippa, taking a seat at the stool of the kitchen island and ushering Pippa to do the same.

"We met at Taylor's show in Chicago," Pippa divulged, "She actually crashed into me while walking because I was somewhere I definitely wasn't supposed to be."

"Oh, that sounds exactly like Gracie. This one," Audrey pointed to Gracie as she had her back turned to her while she made herself a cup of tea, "Is the clumsiest clusterfuck of a person you'll ever meet."

"Hey! It's not like I left her there on the floor, I helped her up afterwards!" Gracie defended.

-11:11pm-

"I don't think Audrey likes me very much," Pippa confessed, sitting down on one end of Gracie's bed.

She had just taken a shower in Gracie's bathroom, and asked for one of her hoodies to sleep in since she didn't have the chance to bring any clothes. Gracie and Audrey's apartment didn't have a spare bedroom, so Pippa had to sleep in the same bed as Gracie. She didn't mind as much as before, besides it was far from the first time it happened. And, even if they did have a spare bedroom, Audrey would find it suspicious that the two of them weren't sleeping together. Yes, Pippa was doing it for appearances sake.

It was hard to even think about all of that, though, when Gracie was tucked comfortably in her bed with her glasses on, a star shaped pimple patch sticker on her nose and an anthology written by some ancient poet in her hands. She looked as gorgeous as ever to Pippa, despite being all but ready to fall asleep at any second.

"Birdy, I don't even think Audrey likes me very much most days," Gracie joked, setting her book down on her lap, "She's just messing with you, give her a few days and she'll warm right up."

Pippa forced a smile, tugging at the sleeves of Gracie's hoodie that was much too big for her. It fit more like a dress than anything, the bottom hemline reaching way below the middle of her thighs and almost touching her knees. To Pippa though, that was a good thing.

"Come here," Gracie patted the spot in bed beside her, ushering the smaller girl to join her under the covers, "You've had a very long day, you must be exhausted."

Pippa climbed in under the soft white sheets, laying on her side so she could face Gracie. Pippa debated telling her she was never allowed to take her glasses off ever again.

"Tell me about it," Pippa muttered, rubbing her eyes, "I don't even know how I'm gonna do school tomorrow. My laptop is still in my apartment."

"How is that what you're concerned about right now?" Gracie scoffed, though she smiled in affection.

"I guess you have a point," Pippa chuckled, sinking down further into the bed and pulling the blankets up to her face.

"I'll ask Alexandra about it tomorrow. Maybe she can find you somewhere else to stay," Gracie offered, putting her book down on her nightstand and switching off her lamp.

But Pippa was already fast asleep, her face relaxed for the first time that day as she snored almost inaudibly. Gracie didn't know it was even possible to fall asleep in just under seven seconds, but she guessed she couldn't really blame her bird after a day sent from literal hell. Leaning down, Gracie planted a firm kiss to her forehead, brushing a few strands of hair out of her face as she herself sank down to face Pippa.

"You don't know the things I'd do for you, my bird."

29th of June, 2023, Los Angeles

-10:11am-

"You're sure no one else has access to the apartment?" Gracie repeated, "Like sure, sure?"

"For the hundredth time, Gracie, yes I'm sure. I only had two sets of keys made, the original ones and the copy you asked for, that's it," Alexandra defended, and Gracie could hear her annoyance through the phone.

"Well, what about maintenance? Any workers in the building? We must be missing something," Gracie pressed.

"Actually, wait, yes! That weekend when you were away in Minnesota I got a call from an unknown number. Supposedly, it was the apartment complex's body corporate wanting to fix a broken air conditioner in Pippa's unit. I didn't think anything of it at the time, and since you two were away anyway I just gave them the go ahead. I think they had their own set of keys, though," Alexandra explained.

"Alex, that wasn't the body corp," Gracie felt the rising urge to break something as frustration exponentially built up in her body, "Pippa's apartment doesn't even have an AC unit."

-✫★✫-

hello my lovelies!

i didnt know snickers bars were such a topic for a heated debate

love you <3

-🍎