✓ | 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐄𝐌𝐌𝐀 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄, charlie bushnell

twenty-two. vacation plans

ೀ ⁀➷ . . . CHAPTER TWENTY TWO ⭑.ᐟ
▬▬ vacation plans .ᐟ

ᝰ.ᐟ . . . real life ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁

EMMA AND CHARLIE HAD TURNED the living room into a cozy theater, piling blankets and pillows on the couch until it was practically a fortress of comfort. The lights were dimmed, a bowl of popcorn balanced between them, and the soft sound of waves drifted through the open windows, mingling with the quiet murmur of the opening credits.

as dead poets society started, charlie glanced at emma, a smile tugging at his lips. "this is a solid choice," he whispered. "i haven't watched it in years." emma leaned her head against his shoulder, smiling back. "it's one of my favorites. something about it just... i don't know, it reminds me of why i want to live a full life. even if it's a bit sad."

charlie nodded thoughtfully, letting his arm rest around her shoulders, pulling her a bit closer. "i get that. 'carpe diem,' right?" he said softly. "it's about making sure you're living for something real."

they fell into a comfortable silence as the movie unfolded, with robin williams's character, mr. keating, urging his students to see the world differently, to embrace life, and to seize every moment. the intensity of the film pulled them both in, and they were soon sitting in total stillness, focused on the screen as the characters grappled with big questions, with passion, dreams, and pressures they couldn't quite escape.

at some point, emma felt charlie's thumb trace soft circles against her shoulder, as if he were subconsciously trying to comfort her as the film grew more intense. she glanced up at him, and he met her gaze, a small, understanding smile in his eyes.

they didn't say anything, but emma felt a warmth bloom in her chest, knowing that he understood exactly what this movie meant to her. by the time the final, emotional scenes played out, emma had tears in her eyes, and when charlie noticed, he gently took her hand, squeezing it as they sat together, letting the moment settle over them.

the credits rolled, but they stayed in silence, watching the names scroll up the screen, both lost in thought. finally, charlie turned to her, brushing a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "that was... a lot," he murmured. "but in a good way. the way a movie's supposed to be."

emma nodded, managing a watery smile. "yeah. it just makes you think, doesn't it? about how easy it is to forget what really matters." she looked down, squeezing his hand. "and how lucky i am to have people who remind me."

charlie leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "well, for what it's worth," he said quietly, "you're a pretty great reminder for me, too. watching you care so much about things... it makes me want to make the most of it all."

they stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms as the last of the credits faded. neither of them was in a rush to move, content to just be there, letting the weight of the movie linger, together, in the comforting silence of the night.

as the end credits of dead poets society rolled across the screen, emma let out a deep sigh, sinking further into the couch. she leaned her head on charlie's shoulder, absently tracing circles on his hand. the movie had given her a lot to think about, its message lingering as the weight of everything on her mind slowly bubbled back to the surface.

charlie looked over, sensing her restlessness. "You okay?" he asked gently. emma gave a tired smile, not quite hiding her exhaustion. "yeah. i mean, i love the movie... it's just... everything else, you know?" she sighed again, running her fingers through her hair.

"i just feel like i'm barely keeping up. the tour planning, rehearsals, the album—there's always something else to do." charlie wrapped an arm around her, pulling her in closer. "you've been running nonstop for months now," he said softly. "i can tell it's weighing on you."

she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "it is. i'm excited, but sometimes it's like i'm carrying this huge weight i can't put down. there's so much i want to do, and i just don't want to let anyone down." charlie squeezed her shoulder, letting her lean into him.

"i know you're under a lot of pressure, but you don't have to do everything alone. you deserve a break, em. a real one, even if just for a few days." emma tilted her head, looking up at him curiously. "what are you saying?"

charlie gave her a warm smile. "how about we escape somewhere for a few days? just you and me. Spain. remember how much you loved it last time?"

emma's eyes lit up at the suggestion. she'd been to Spain a couple of years back, and the memories of that trip—beautiful beaches, warm sunsets, and vibrant cities—washed over her. the idea of escaping there, even briefly, felt like a lifeline.

"but the tour..." she began, though her resistance was already faltering. charlie shook his head, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "it'll still be there when we get back. a few days won't change anything. think of it as pressing reset, giving yourself space to breathe before diving back in. you deserve that."

emma couldn't help but smile at the thought. the image of the two of them wandering through sunlit streets, dipping their toes in the sea, and savoring slow mornings together was too tempting to resist. "you're right," she said softly, her voice tinged with relief. "i could really use that. just a few days to recharge... i'd love that."

charlie grinned, clearly pleased. "then it's settled. we'll go. just us, no schedules, no stress." emma threw her arms around him, feeling a weight lift as she hugged him close. "thank you, charlie. i don't know what i'd do without you."

he kissed the top of her head, his voice filled with quiet certainty. "you'll never have to find out." they stayed like that for a while, a soft peace settling between them as they both dreamed of sunlit beaches and time spent away from the world, knowing that sometimes, taking a step back was the best way forward.

˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ Angelina speaks
i'm so low energized
i had a huge fight with my cousin today but we're okay now
but how we feeling with the last three chaps in spain?