invisible string • Gracie Abrams

025 flashing lights

charlotte kept her head down, following after marcus out the car. normally charlotte wouldn't get so nervous over paparazzi and would respond, but it was harder now considering she knew they could spring a gracie question on her at any moment. her IMBd interview with maddie that would hopefully clear any rumours still hasn't released yet and would probably take another week to finish being edited and proofed, so in the meantime she just had to pray no gracie abrams questions would be thrown at her.

"marcus, charlotte, what're your plans for tonight?"

marcus responded while charlotte took sadie's hand helping her out the car, and the redhead leaned in to whisper something but was interrupted.

"charlotte, do you really not know who alex monaghan is?" one guy asked, a camera getting way too close for her liking.

"you're in her face," sadie mumbled at the camera, ushering charlotte away and to the entrance, protectively taking her best friends hand and glaring at the paparazzi.

jude, maddie and jenna thankfully took the attention of the paparazzi off charlotte and sadie since the three of them have never even all been seen together, so while they were smiling at flashing lights, charlotte, sadie, marcus, matthew, and caleb entered the club. it was pretty high end given that it was mainly a spot influencers and celebrity's went to, but charlotte's never been to this one so she's curious as to who she'd run into. it was also a Saturday night which made the chances of seeing someone she'd recognize much higher.

"alright i'll go get us started," marcus said, walking to one of the open bartenders with matthew.

after the two of them brought back a couple rounds of drinks for everyone through the first while of the night, which charlotte spent mostly dancing and somehow getting into a heated debate with jude over who wore red better tonight, the actress stumbled into a booth with jenna and sadie to take a breather.

"so what's it like growing up with him?" jenna asked charlotte, her eyes stuck on jude.

charlotte smirked, "pretty boring. you seem a little interested though."

sadie giggled, "i think a little is an understatement."

jenna rolled her eyes, "please, i've just met him, i know plenty of others on my roster, he's barely got my attention. what about you two, talking to any guys?"

sadie blinked, "nah not really."

to that, charlotte held back a groan of annoyance and a sigh of sympathy for caleb, "sure sades," she smiled, which sadie just gave her a confused look at. "um i'm not  talking to anyone either," she mumbled, looking away from that analyzing stare she knew sadie would be giving her.

"which is exactly why you need to go act on our bet," stated matthew, sliding into the booth as he sipped his drink.

"ooo what bet?" jenna asked.

"these two usually get in competitions of trying to get with someone, really entertaining but also really sad since they've both been single for way too long now," marcus said, getting charlotte and matthew to roll their eyes.

"which is exactly why charlotte needs to step up," matthew replied. he then looked over at some random guy standing with some other people a few spaces ahead, "try him."

"shit, he's hot," sadie said, nudging charlotte, "i'd go for him bet or not."

charlotte sighed. she really didn't want to but matthew definitely wouldn't drop this for the night, and he'd know something was up since charlotte never walks away from his challenges. she also didn't want to raise any of sadie's suspicions since she has been pretty observant recently, weirdly enough. besides, it wasn't like she'd actually speak to this random guy ever again, it'll be like putting on a scene, a spare acting gig really. she also knew gracie wouldn't mind much, whatever it takes to keep their relationship hidden.