out of the blue | gracie abrams

XLVI

xlvi - used to the turbulence, i wore long sleeves.

29th of June, 2023, Los Angeles

-12:00pm-

"So, Alex found you another apartment," Gracie informed, "It's much closer to my place in case anything bad happens again."

"Thank you, you didn't have to do that, Gray," Pippa replied.

"I'll go with you to get your stuff. I'm asking one of Taylor's security guys to come with us in case Charlotte tries anything, but I've already destroyed all the cameras. We figured out how she got them there, we just need to figure out how she found the apartment and how she found Alex's connection to it," Gracie explained.

"This is so crazy, all of this," Pippa shook her head, nerves overwhelming her whole body the more she thought about the situation she was in.

"I know, I'm sorry my bird," Gracie pulled her in for a much welcomed hug, Pippa still clad in her hoodie that she wore to sleep.

Worry lines formed in between Gracie's brows when she realized she could feel every bone in Pippa's body through it. Maybe it was the stress. Maybe she hadn't been taking care of herself properly.

Maybe that's just what Gracie wanted to believe.

"Do you want to stop for lunch on the way? There's this new cafe Abby told me about that's near your new apartment. We could grab a sandwich or a croissant or something," Gracie offered.

"Um, thanks but I'm okay," Pippa declined, waving it off with a forced smile.

Gracie frowned. The younger girl looked so fragile she could snap with just a breeze too strong unfortunately blowing in her direction. Gracie hated seeing the bags under Pippa's eyes and the way her body seemed paler everyday. She hated every single ounce of hurt that Pippa had to endure.

"You sure? We didn't even eat dinner last night, or breakfast," Gracie urged.

"I'm really okay, Gray, I'm not hungry," Pippa lied.

And Gracie knew. But she didn't push, in fear of scaring Pippa off again. Gracie didn't think she could handle that.

Pippa was silent on the drive over to the new apartment, her belongings hastily packed into her suitcase and the extra ones Gracie brought. All non-essential items were left behind to be retrieved at a later date, if at all. There weren't many things anyway, Pippa wasn't really the material type. Gracie stole a myriad of glances at the girl in the passenger seat, trying her best not to crash her car in the process. She wished Pippa would just tell her what was bothering her so she could do everything she could to make it better.

But Gracie of all people knew better, so she just sat in the comfortable silence and enjoyed her presence. Then she would help her unpack, and she would notice Pippa only owned long sleeved shirts and pants despite it being the middle of the sweltering Los Angeles summer. And she would remember how Pippa had no food in her apartment when they emptied it out, save for a half empty carton of oat milk which she just poured down the sink. Gracie would notice it all, the way Pippa would pick at the sleeves of her hoodie despite there being nothing there, how she wouldn't roll her sleeves up even when they greatly inconvenienced her, and how she didn't own a single knife save for a plastic one for butter. She would notice it all, but she wouldn't say a word. She would rather have a shell of Pippa than none of her at all.

-10:02pm-

"Did you track down her new location?" Charlotte, asked.

She leaned against the window of the driver's seat of a blacked out car with fake license plates and tinted glass that was parked in some obscure alleyway in nowhere Los Angeles. The figure she was talking to was clad in a black hood and sunglasses, clearly not wanting to be seen.

"Not yet, but I will," The figure responds, gripping the steering wheel in his hands.

"When?" Charlotte pushed.

"Soon. You need to calm down, Charlie. These things take time, I know what I'm doing, I promise," The man proclaimed.

"You fucking better. If I can't have her, I'm sure as hell not going to let Gracie Fucking Abrams have her," Charlotte seethed, all pish and posh gone along with her composure as her blood boiled at the thought of Gracie and Pippa together, "And I told you a million times to quit calling me that."

"Whatever Charlie," The man in the car quipped, earning a murderous look from the blonde girl, "You know, if you just treated her better when you were together, none of this would have even happened."

"Did you forget I'm the one lining your pockets, Richie?" Charlotte reminded, "Just track her down and don't let her slip away this time or you won't like what I do to you."

"Why do you even want this girl so bad anyway? Wasn't she just some bet you made to play soccer?" The man asked, and Charlotte found herself looking at anything but him.

"That's what it was supposed to be. But my dumbass fell in love with her," Charlotte whispered, wholly embarrassed by the truth and shocked at herself for admitting it.

"Charlie, you have one weird way of showing it," The man laughed at the blonde girl, leaning back in the seat of his car.

"Shut up, Reynolds. You might be like a brother to me but I am not above burying your ass in my backyard," Charlotte informed.

"I'm just saying - if you loved her, why did you treat her the way you did and then cheat on her? That's kind of fucked up even for you, Charlie," Reynolds asked.

"Richie, how about you stop asking questions and just do the job I'm paying you to do?" Charlotte suggested, plastering on a plastic grin on her perfect face with a broken nose.

Richie Reynolds, Charlotte's oldest and only friend, laughed when she turned around to face him.

"Sorry, I just think it's hilarious that she got you square in the nose," Richie choked down a cackle, ripping the sunglasses off his face to get a better look, "I mean, you gotta give it to her, Gracie Abrams has good fucking aim."

"Drive away, Reynolds. I swear to god."

-✫★✫-

hello my lovelies!

if this makes no sense it is because it is currently almost five in the morning and i have not slept a wink

-🍎