35 ᴍᴍ ꜰɪʟᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴄᴏꜰꜰᴇᴇ I 🎀 𝒢𝓇𝒶𝒸𝒾𝑒 𝒜𝒷𝓇𝒶𝓂𝓈 [𝑔𝓍𝑔] 🎀

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕: 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 17 

Charlie-Wren sat on the bathroom floor, her breathing slowly returning to normal as she rested against Gracie, their arms still wrapped around each other. The sobs that had shaken her body moments earlier had quieted, leaving a sense of calm in their wake. She wiped at her face, her fingers trembling slightly as she tried to compose herself.

Gracie gently stroked her hair, her voice soft and steady. "You okay now?"

Charlie nodded, still a little shaky but feeling the tension easing out of her body. "Yeah... I think I am. That helped. You helped." She sighed deeply, her chest rising and falling with newfound relief. "I just needed to let it out."

Gracie smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of Charlie's head. "I'm always here for you, okay? No matter how heavy it gets."

Charlie leaned into the touch, her heart swelling with gratitude. "I don't deserve you," she muttered with a small, teary laugh.

Gracie chuckled softly. "You deserve more than you realize."

After a few more moments of quiet, Charlie stood up, shaking off the remnants of her emotional breakdown. Gracie stood with her, and together they exited the bathroom, stepping back into the dressing room. Charlie ran a hand through her hair, feeling a little lighter but not fully expecting the shock waiting for her.

As soon as they walked out, Charlie froze, her eyes widening in surprise. Standing in the middle of the room were Jackson and Rachel, both grinning at her like they had just pulled off the surprise of the century.

"What...?" Charlie stammered, her mouth falling open. "What are you guys doing here?!"

Before anyone could answer, Charlie rushed forward, wrapping both of them in a tight hug. Her confusion was evident, but the joy of seeing her friends was palpable. "How—how are you even here in LA? I thought you guys were coming next month."

Jackson chuckled, giving her an exaggerated squeeze before stepping back. "All credit goes to Gracie, man. She flew us out to surprise you." Charlie shot a glance at Gracie, her heart swelling as she realised the lengths Gracie had gone to. "You did this?" she asked, still stunned.

Gracie just shrugged with a mischievous smile. "I knew you'd need your friends here."

Rachel chimed in, her eyes sparkling. "And we're not the only ones." Charlie furrowed her brow in confusion, looking between them. "Wait, what do you mean? Who else?"

Before anyone could respond, the door to the dressing room opened, and in walked her younger siblings, followed by her older ones and her stepparents. Charlie's heart skipped a beat as she stood there, stunned into silence. Her younger sibling, Ellie, rushed forward first, flinging her arms around Charlie's waist with a wide smile.

"Charlie!" Ellie cried, burying her face in Charlie's side.

Charlie reflexively hugged Ellie back, her hands shaking slightly as she held her. She glanced at her stepfamily, standing awkwardly by the door, smiles on their faces. She felt a strange mixture of emotions—nostalgia, tension, and the familiar heaviness that always came when she thought of her family.

Charlie forced a smile, patting Ellie's back as her mind raced. "Hey, Ellie..." she said softly, trying to keep her tone light. Her eyes flicked to her siblings and stepparents, her smile tightening. "It's... good to see you all."

But inside, her emotions were far from simple. The past with her stepfamily had always been complicated, filled with unresolved issues and distance she never fully bridged. Though she put on a brave face for them, the knot in her stomach told a different story. Still, she pushed her feelings aside, choosing to focus on Ellie's hug and the warmth of her friends nearby.