Everything I Wanted

Gracie - 5

The interviewer smiled warmly as they shifted gears, a slight pause before the next question. "Story, what would you say is the most important thing to you right now?"

Story tilted her head, taking a moment to think. "I think... happiness, honestly. I've learned a lot about how important it is to feel good about what I'm doing and to surround myself with people who support that. It's easy to get caught up in everything, but at the end of the day, if I'm not happy with the music I'm making or the life I'm living, then what's the point?"

The interviewer nodded, clearly impressed. "That's a great perspective to have, especially with everything happening so fast for you. Do you ever feel pressured by all this?"

Story shook her head, smiling. "Not really. I mean, having my mom as my momager is a huge part of that. She lets me move at my own pace, which is so important. She's always made it clear that I should do this my way, and I think that helps me stay grounded. So, no, I don't feel pressured—just grateful."

The interviewer grinned, appreciating Story's authenticity. "Okay, switching gears a bit here—what did you eat today?"

Story laughed, not expecting the question. "Oh, that's random! I had scrambled eggs and french toast this morning! Oh, also some espresso!" She said with a wink.

"Sounds delicious," the interviewer chuckled, moving on. As the interview neared its end, the interviewer smiled, glancing at her notes. "Fans are really curious about your friendship with Gracie. Can you tell us how you two met?"

Story glanced over at Gracie, who was watching from just off-camera, a playful grin on her face. Story chuckled, turning back to the interviewer. "We actually met at this 21-and-up club in Charleston last summer. I wasn't even technically old enough to be there yet, but somehow, I ended up inside." She laughed at the memory, shaking her head. "I recognized Gracie, of course—I mean, who doesn't? But I wasn't going to, like, fangirl or anything. We just ended up talking and hit it off right away."

The interviewer raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And the rest was history?"

"Pretty much," Story said, smiling making her think back to the night she met Gracie.

✨

The club was buzzing with life, people swaying to the beat, lights flashing to the rhythm of a song that Story half-recognized but couldn't quite place. She'd spent the night bouncing between friends and enjoying the freedom of slipping into this 21-and-up place without any trouble. It wasn't exactly her scene, but the thrill of breaking the usual routine was worth it.

She was by the bar, nursing a mocktail, when she caught sight of a familiar face a few seats away. Story knew the girl's name—Gracie Abrams. She'd heard her songs before, and though she wasn't a die-hard fan, she respected her as a fellow artist, especially since people in Story's circle had started saying her voice had a similar vibe. They'd even suggested the two would get along. Now, seeing Gracie there in person, Story couldn't shake the feeling that maybe they really would.

Story took a breath, deciding to go for it. "Gracie, right?" she asked, leaning against the bar.

Gracie turned, a little surprised, but her face broke into a welcoming smile. "Yeah, that's me. And you're... Story, right?"

Story blinked, surprised Gracie recognized her. "Yeah, that's me. I didn't think you'd know who I was."

Gracie chuckled, brushing her hair back. "I've definitely heard of you. A few people I know have mentioned your covers. Guess we're both on that singer-songwriter grind."

They shared a laugh, the ice immediately breaking. They fell into conversation, moving past the initial small talk to chatting about music, the Charleston scene, and the ups and downs of performing. There was a natural ease between them, like they were picking up on a conversation they'd started long before tonight.