𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 9

Chapter 9:

The Announcement

It was the final night of the Secret of Us tour. The crowd was louder than ever, the air electric with anticipation. The last show in New York City—where it had all begun.

Lena stood backstage, heart racing. She couldn't believe it. After weeks of tension, stolen moments, and secret glances, this was the night. The night they would stop hiding.

And they were going to do it together.

She watched Gracie on the other side of the stage, smiling as she adjusted her mic, talking to her band. It felt surreal, how much had changed in such a short time.

Her gaze shifted down to her phone, where a message from Eli popped up.

"You guys are gonna crush it tonight. Let's show 'em what we're made of. And hey... don't fuck this up, alright? 😉"

Lena smiled, shaking her head.

"Are you ready?"

Gracie's voice cut through the noise, and Lena turned to see her standing right behind her, eyes soft, lips curving into that gentle smile.

Lena nodded, her heart hammering. "I think so."

Gracie took a step closer, her hand brushing against Lena's, the touch lingering just enough to send a thrill through her.

"I'm proud of you, Lena," Gracie said softly. "You've come so far."

Lena felt her chest swell with emotion. "Couldn't have done it without you."

They exchanged a quick look, understanding passing between them.

They were ready.

The show was everything they'd dreamed of.

From the opening notes of the first song to the last, the energy was unstoppable. Gracie and Lena, side by side on stage, singing together with a chemistry that couldn't be ignored. The crowd roared, and for a moment, it was just them—two women in the spotlight, finally free.

Lena's heart was full as she sang the final chorus, her eyes meeting Gracie's. There was no need for words. Their voices harmonized perfectly, each note a promise, a declaration.

As the last chord of the song rang out, Gracie pulled Lena into a quick, spontaneous hug. She whispered in her ear, "We did it."

Lena grinned, her voice shaking with emotion. "We're doing it."

They stayed there for a second longer, lost in the moment. Then, as the crowd continued to cheer, they turned to face the audience, arms raised together.

The applause felt like a release, a weight lifted.

This was it.

The moment when everything changed.

After the show, the entire crew gathered backstage to celebrate. But there was one thing that Lena and Gracie had been waiting for—the moment when they could finally share what they had been hiding for so long.

The dressing room was quiet, the buzz of excitement fading as everyone settled in. Lena sat on the edge of a couch, nervously tapping her fingers on her knee. Gracie stood beside her, biting her lip as she scrolled through her phone.

"Ready?" Gracie asked, glancing at Lena.

Lena took a deep breath. "I think so."

Gracie gave her a small smile and reached out, her fingers brushing against Lena's. It was a touch full of promise, of things unsaid.

They both knew this was it.

Together, they opened Instagram. Lena's heart raced as they typed out the caption.

The secret of us.

It was simple. Short. But it meant everything.

Gracie hit "Post."

The second it went live, the internet exploded.

Fans flooded their comments, some with love, some with confusion, but most with a sense of awe. People couldn't believe it—Lena Carter, the opener for Gracie Abrams, the girl they'd all criticized for not being "big enough," was now standing in the light with Gracie.

The flood of reactions was overwhelming.

@graciesfan: I KNEW it! I knew there was something between them!

@lenasupporter: YESSS. THIS is what we've all been waiting for.

@graciesangel: Omg I'm crying. This is so beautiful.

@musiclover123: Wait, what?! They were together this whole time?

@unknownfan_1: This is not real. They just ruined the whole tour.

But the hate was drowned out by the love.

Lena felt the weight lift off her shoulders, but at the same time, she could hardly process it. This was happening. The truth was out, and the world knew.

"What's it feel like?" Gracie asked, her voice a little teasing as she stood next to Lena, her hand still resting on Lena's leg.

Lena smiled, glancing at her. "Honestly? I feel lighter. Like I've been carrying this weight, and now..."

"And now it's gone?" Gracie finished for her.

"Yeah."

Gracie leaned in close, her lips brushing against Lena's ear. "I'm proud of you."

Lena turned her head, their lips meeting for a brief, sweet kiss. It was the kind of kiss that felt like everything—like years of waiting, of wanting, finally fulfilled.

It wasn't the first kiss they'd shared, but it was the first one in the light.

Gracie pulled away, eyes searching Lena's face. "I mean it. You're braver than I am."

Lena's heart swelled. She couldn't believe how easy it was to be with Gracie now. The fear that had kept them apart, the secrecy, was gone.

"I love you," Lena said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Gracie's smile widened. "I love you, too."

The door to the dressing room opened, and Maya and Noah stepped in, wide grins on their faces.

"Did you two seriously just post that?" Maya asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, and it feels amazing," Gracie replied, squeezing Lena's hand.

Maya's grin only grew wider. "Well, I'm happy for you two. About time, honestly."

Noah nodded in agreement. "You've been practically glowing for weeks, and I thought we'd have to kill someone if they didn't figure it out soon."

Lena laughed, feeling a warmth settle in her chest. She glanced at Gracie, their fingers still intertwined, the whole world now knowing.

They had done it.

Together.

Later that night, they sat on the roof of the hotel, looking out over the city. The stars above them seemed brighter than usual, and the air was cooler, the hum of the city below nothing more than a distant memory.

Lena leaned against Gracie, their legs intertwined, fingers brushing as they watched the lights flicker in the distance.

"This is real," Lena said softly, turning her head to look at Gracie.

Gracie met her gaze, her eyes soft and full of affection. "This is real."

It was a promise.

A promise that, no matter what, they were no longer hiding. The world knew the truth now, and there was nothing more to fear.

For the first time in weeks, Lena felt completely at peace.

Gracie's hand found hers, and she squeezed it gently, bringing it to her lips for a soft kiss.

The world could say whatever it wanted. They didn't need approval. They had each other.

And that was enough.

The secret of us was no longer a secret. It was the truth.

And it was beautiful.