Everything I Wanted

Vanity Fair - 1

Sunlight poured through the large windows of Story's loft apartment, illuminating the open, cozy space with a soft, golden glow. The Charleston air still carried a hint of salt from their morning spent at the beach, and the faint sound of seagulls could be heard from outside, drifting in on the warm breeze.

Story Belle sat cross-legged on the floor, her damp hair falling loosely over her shoulders as she leaned back against the sofa, a relaxed smile on her face. Across from her sat Gracie Abrams, Story's best friend and partner in mischief, whose laughter filled the apartment with the warmth of a long summer day.

"I can't believe how beautiful it is here," Gracie said, stretching her arms above her head. "And the beach this morning? Perfect. Seriously, I might never leave."

"Stay as long as you want," Story replied with a playful grin. "You've got two days left, but who's counting?"

They exchanged a look and burst into laughter, remembering the spontaneous beach picnic they'd put together that morning. They'd picked up pastries from a little bakery by the beach and sat on the sand, eating croissants and fruit while watching the waves roll in.

Now back at the loft, both of them were fresh from the shower, clad in oversized hoodies and worn-out socks, settling into the kind of easy companionship that needed no words. The table beside them held a few leftover pastries and mugs of coffee that had long gone cold, but neither cared. The afternoon was perfect, untouched by any obligations, deadlines, or worries.

Gracie took a sip from her mug and leaned back, a content smile spreading across her face. "I'm telling you, Story, I could get used to this. There's something about Charleston... it feels like a slower, softer world out here."

Story chuckled, pulling her legs up to her chest. "Oh, it's slower, all right. Most people are older and don't even know what TikTok is, which is kind of a relief." She glanced around her apartment, thinking how Charleston had always been her safety net—especially when her music started catching on and the rest of her life felt like it was moving faster than she could handle.

Gracie raised her eyebrows playfully. "Speak for yourself. I think Charleston's about to blow up even more because of you. And when it does, I'll be able to say I was here first, hanging out with the next big thing."

"Pfft. You and your fame predictions," Story teased, rolling her eyes. "I'm just lucky I managed to get noticed at all, let alone grow an audience. Honestly, if it weren't for my mom helping me stay on track with all this, I'd probably be lost."

Gracie tilted her head, watching her friend with a thoughtful smile. "I get that. But you know, it's more than luck, Story. You have something special. Like, really special. People feel that."

A soft blush spread across Story's cheeks, and she looked away, embarrassed by the praise. "Yeah, well... it still feels surreal sometimes. I mean, I was just this small-town girl covering songs in my room. It's hard to believe people actually care about my music."

"Oh, they care," Gracie said, reaching over to give her friend's hand a reassuring squeeze. "I mean, you're putting real, honest emotion out there. And people connect with that. It's another reason why I felt so connected with you."

Story's expression softened, and she squeezed Gracie's hand back, feeling a pang of gratitude. "Honestly, Gracie, I don't know where I'd be without you. My ex and all that drama? It threw me off completely. I felt like I didn't know who I was anymore."

Gracie nodded, her expression understanding. "Yeah, I mean, that's a tough thing to go through—especially with someone who meant so much to you."

"Yeah..." Story's voice trailed off, her gaze drifting toward the floor as she remembered the days after her breakup. "I don't think I'd ever felt that lost before. It's like I had this plan for my life, and suddenly it all just... vanished."