The morning sun streamed through the curtains, waking Story up with its warm glow. She stretched under the covers, a wave of excitement and nerves washing over her. Today, she was heading home to Charleston to see her family before embarking on tour. Though the thought of leaving LA made her a little sad, the prospect of reconnecting with her mom and her younger siblings filled her with joy.
She thought back to the night before when Billie had joined her and Gracie for a movie night. They'd laughed, argued over which movie to watch, and shared popcorn until Billie announced she had to head out early for a shoot in the morning. As Billie left, she'd given Story a long hug, her bright blue eyes flashing with warmth as she said, "I'll see you soon." The memory brought a soft smile to Story's face.
Having packed everything the night before, Story was already prepared to leave. She got dressed, grabbed her suitcase, and headed into the living room, where Gracie was waiting. "You all set?" Gracie asked, her voice tinged with reluctance.
"Yeah," Story replied, hoisting her bag. "As ready as I'll ever be."
The two headed out to the car, the air buzzing with the bittersweetness of their impending goodbye. The drive to the airport was filled with lighthearted small talk—reminiscing about their picnic, laughing about Gracie's dramatic reaction to the movie, and discussing plans for when Story would be back in LA.
As they pulled up to the airport, the reality of the situation began to sink in. Story stepped out of the car, her suitcase in hand, and turned to Gracie. They shared a tight hug, neither wanting to let go.
"I'm gonna miss you so much," Gracie said, her voice cracking slightly.
"Me too," Story replied, her own eyes misty. "But I'll FaceTime you every chance I get."
They pulled apart just as tears began streaming down their faces. Gracie wiped at her cheeks, laughing softly at how emotional they'd both become. But as they turned to head toward the terminal, Story caught sight of a small group of paparazzi heading their way, cameras already raised.
"Gracie," she said urgently, nudging her friend. Gracie followed her gaze and let out a small groan.
"Great. Just what we needed."
They exchanged a quick, knowing glance before splitting up. Story pulled her cap lower over her face and hurried toward the entrance, blending into the crowd as best she could. She felt a pang of sadness as she glanced back at Gracie heading toward the car, but she knew they'd see each other again soon.
As Story handed her ticket to the airline agent and made her way to the gate, she couldn't help but smile. In just a few hours, she'd be home with her family, soaking in all the love and familiarity before the whirlwind of the tour began. It was the perfect way to recharge before diving headfirst into her next adventure.
✨
As the plane touched down in Charleston, Story glanced out the window to see rain streaking against the glass. The familiar gray skies and soft drizzle brought a comforting sense of home, and a warm smile crept across her face. She loved LA, but there was nothing like coming back to the city where it all began.
As soon as she stepped off the gate bridge, she pulled out her phone and texted her mom:
"Just landed!"
Moments later, her phone buzzed with a response.
"I'm waiting by the exit! Can't wait to see you, love. 💖"
YOU ARE READING
Everything I Wanted
FanfictionRising star Story Belle is quickly finding her voice in a world where dreams rarely come true. With lyrics that cut to the core and a sound as unique as she is, she's caught the attention of fans everywhere. But there's one person she's always hoped...
