Fanfics

OTS part 5 - by yotuub

Perfectly fine.
Perfectly normal.
This is just... a crush. A product of spending too much time with someone. A product of that someone being this crazy ball of positive energy, who spreads it around like fairy dust. Maybe Grace is just attracted to being around her.
Honestly.
And, so, really, this is just a matter of internal processing. Grace needs to clearly explain to her subconscious why it cannot be attracted to Hannah Hart, her subconscious will agree, and things can move the fuck on.
...
Hannah turns up one day with a look of extreme excitement, and a holdall that looks suspiciously full.
"Grace, Grace, check it out, some of the perks arrived!"
Closing down her browser for the moment, Grace tugs her shirt to make sure she is looking presentable, and then opens up the screen door, becoming Hannah inside.
"Hey... wow, show me."
Hannah scampers over to the couch, and up ends the bag, before gesturing down at them with such a wide grin that Grace can't help but laugh at her, even as her heart pulses, strong.
Grace picks up a t-shirt and holds it out in front of her, conscious of Hannah's eyes on her.
"Oh wow, these are so good... can I try one on?"
She's already pulling it over her head before Hannah has answered, and so she doesn't see Hannah's face, just hears the answer.
"Yeah sure dude... in fact, if you could wear all of them, it might give them a higher value. As worn by the beautiful Grace Helbig."
Grace adjusts the sleeves slightly, before heading off to find a mirror, so Hannah can't see her blush. It doesn't work though, because Hannah just potters along after her, and stands behind her, peering over her reflection's shoulder.
"Looking good Helbig..."
This is getting ridiculous. Grace turns away from her reflection, but that means she is turning into the actual Hannah, and clearly, she just needs to find her own dimension she can occupy alone, and that way she wouldn't have to be a human in front of people.
Thankfully, she doesn't say all of that, instead just runs a hand awkwardly through her hair, looking beyond Hannah as if there is something really interesting happening in her kitchen.
"They look cool, people will love them..."
Hannah takes a step forward, and tugs at the bottom hem of the t-shirt, stretching it out slightly and pulling it tight, and Grace has to bite her lip hard to prevent from saying anything stupid.
"Wow Grace, my face looks really good on you."
Grace blank faces at Hannah until she laughs, and takes a step backwards, turning away to the rest of the couch's contents.
"Anyway, sorry to just invade, I was excited and wanted to show you. I should get moving, me and Pearl have a logistics think tank this afternoon."
Grace nods absently, and turns back to the mirror.
"Can I keep this one?"
Hannah sits on the couch, dumping the various perks back into the bag. Glancing over, she smiles.
"Umm, sure, how much did you contribute to the tour again...?"
Grace scoffs at her, and starts removing the shirt.
"A lot less than I would have done had I known it would equal more time with you out of the country."
Hannah clutches at her heart dramatically, and waves her away.
"How dare you? But yes, of course dude, my treat. Wear it with pride!"
Grace scrunches the t-shirt up into a ball in her hands, and then hugs it to her chest, because that's a thing that normal people do? Hannah doesn't seem to notice, is placing the final few items in her bag, casting her eyes around the room to check she hasn't forgotten anything. Grace clears her throat.
"This is all so cool, Hannah. I'm really proud of you."
Hannah grins at her, and then heaves the hold-all up onto her shoulder, bouncing slightly on her toes. Grace opens the door for her, and then gets a one armed hug in return, with Hannah's warmth pressed into her side. She manages to squeeze back, trying not to close her eyes, even when Hannah tip toes upwards, and plants a kiss on her cheek.
"You're such a peach Helbig, thanks. Catch you later dude, okay?"
Grace nods, concentrating on staying tethered to the ground and not just drifting off completely, and Hannah's gone.
...
It might go away. The tour might make her head remember its normal settings.
Yeah, because that's how the phrase goes. Absence makes the heart forget about all its feelings.
...
Time is... doing weird things right now.
Grace has a countdown in her head. It doesn't seem to be linked to any, real life event, but just a constant sensation that she is running out of time, that one day she'll get caught.
She worries being Hannah's friend. She worries about not being Hannah's friend. She worries that none of this seems to be going away.
She reads an article of a joint interview they did. Hannah refers to Grace as her best friend again.
There's a twist of relief that she has managed to retain top spot, and a twist of disbelief that she is still even thinking about this.
And a small pang of disappointment, because now it would seem that 'best friend' is not enough.
On impulse, she picks up the phone, breathing deep as it connects.
"Hey Grace, what's up?"
Grace bites at her lip, and panics slightly, frustrated because she should have been anticipating such a straight-forward question and prepared an answer.
"Aah, nothing. Just a bit bored I guess. What are you up to?"
Hannah grunts slightly, and the quality of her voice changes, as if she's tucked the phone up between her shoulder and her chin.
"Not much Grace, just getting into bed. Been a long day."
Grace winces at herself, glancing at the clock just to confirm that, yes, it is far too late for a non-emergency social call.
"Aw, shit, sorry Hannah, I didn't think about the time, I'll go..."
"No, no, man, it's cool, I usually don't go to sleep for ages anyway, you can keep me company."
Grace stands up, and walks away from her computer, because something about this conversation makes her restless.
"It really doesn't matter Hannah, I have nothing to say."
There's a general rustling and the soft noise of materials shifting, and Grace stares really hard at her own reflection in the bathroom mirror to avoid imagining Hannah getting into her bed.
"Whatever Grace, you never initiate phone contact unless there is something on your mind. Speak."
Grace frowns at herself, and then runs a hand through her hair. She worries that the hesitancy is obvious in her voice when she speaks.
"Umm, when do you guys leave? For the tour?"
Grace winces after her question, because that is hardly enough of a reason to call at close to midnight. Besides, they have already had this conversation, Grace has already carefully imprinted the date on her brain.
Hannah doesn't seem to notice, and just laughs at Grace.
"Can't wait to get rid of me, huh? It's a couple of weeks now. Shit, it's going so fast."
Grace nods in agreement, struggling for words. Her bedroom looks a mess, the sort of mess Grace feels like right now, familiar items in unexpected places. Her eye catches the Hello Harto tour shirt, draped over the back of her chair, and inspiration strikes.
"Are you going to have a leaving party? You should, no? A couple of days before."
Hannah sighs, and Grace can make out the mock hurt in her voice.
"Aw, Grace, I don't know how I feel about hosting my own thank fuck she's leaving party."
Grace laughs at her, and then allows too much honesty out of her mouth at once.
"Oh please Hannah, the title of the party will be we'll miss you, please don't forget to come back."
There's a pause, and Grace worries that Hannah is going to ask her a question she isn't ready to answer, but she is let of the hook.
"Dude, like I'd forget to come back. No, me and Pearl were talking about that earlier, actually, who do you think I should invite?"
...
The next hour is spent discussing the party, and which parts of Hannah's increasingly diverse friendship group could be put in the same room together. Grace doesn't know how Hannah has the time for all these friends, but there they are, all jostling for attention.
It's only when Hannah yawns softly, and her voice becomes more of a mumble, that Grace insists on ending the call.
Hannah agrees sleepily, and signs off with a tired sounding "night babe" that has Grace's heart doing a slow somersault in her chest.
She wears the tour shirt to bed that night. It doesn't smell anything like Hannah, but Grace pretends for a little bit, anyway.