'til forever falls apart | gracie abrams

9 - i never could've seen you coming

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The months passed like the natural ebb and flow of the waves against the California shoreline. Amelie and Gracie spent more time with each other with each passing day, the former pulling up to the latter's house in her vintage Jeep Mini Cooper every weekend to pick her up and take her to the beach. Amelie had every intention to get as much practice in as she could before volleyball season started up again, especially since she would again be fighting for that state championship during her senior year, but she had grown distracted.

It was a welcome distraction, one that came in the form of brown eyes, cascading waves of silky chocolate curls and a voice that dripped like honey and made her feel warm inside like a chai latte in the fall. It came in the form of picnic blankets in the sand and fingers intertwined and soft skin against her own in the sunset. Amelie, for once in her life, was content with being in the moment instead of looking turbo speed ahead.

She'd lay for a while, tangled in the safety that was Gracie for as long as she could. Especially since it didn't seem to be affecting her performance at practice at all, if anything, it made her better. Gracie reminded her to rest, that she deserved it, that she needed it. She reminded her to take a moment to take in the blooms of spring, smell the rain on the pavement once in a while, to call her sister. Gracie was her rest.

"If you ever got a dog, what would you name it?" Gracie had asked Amelie one evening, facing her on the picnic blanket as she popped a strawberry in her mouth.

Amelie giggled at the question, so random as Gracie always seemed to be. Carefree, different from the girl she first met in the bathroom that radiated nervous energy just from the sight of Amelie herself.

"I've actually thought about this quite a lot," Amelie replied with a comfortable smile.

"Have you, now?" Gracie returned the gesture, picking up another berry and bringing it to the blonde girl's mouth, "So? What's the answer?"

"Weenie," Amelie replied, then biting down on the red fruit held in front of her face.

"Okay, you're gonna need to elaborate," Gracie laughed.

"Well, obviously it would need to be a sausage dog," Amelie explained, "Preferably a rescue. I just love their funny little legs."

"Okay, that is not at all what I was expecting," Gracie admitted, shaking her head in incredulous disbelief, "But I respect it."

The two of them exchanged lazy, happy smiles. Gracie laid her head on Amelie's shoulder and they watched the sun descend past the horizon on the water. Amelie's fingers ran through Gracie's hair, gently massaging her scalp until the brunette found her eyelids getting heavy. Amelie only held her close, pressing gentle kisses on her forehead and letting her sleep until it got dark enough for her to have to go home. She would drive her each time, get her door, and walk her to the porch.

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By the summertime, Amelie and Gracie had kissed more than once. Many times, in fact.

The first time wasn't intentional, they had gotten frozen yogurt together at the mall, opting to share the same cup. They had gone to a quiet part behind the mall to enjoy their treat, appreciating the silence away from the crowds of people shopping and talking and children screaming at their parents for not buying them the toy they wanted. Gracie had gotten some yogurt on the edge of her lip, her clumsiness ever present. Before she could grab a napkin to rub it off herself, Amelie already had her face in her hand, palm cupping her cheek as she turned her towards herself.