c h a p t e r   f o u r

"I would do whatever you wanted
We don't have to leave the apartment
Met you at the right time
This is what it feels like"

feels like. gracie abrams.
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

HATE COMMENTS CAME WITH THE JOB. Alice had known this ever since she decided to become a YouTuber. However, she did not expect that collaborating with Arthur would result in more hate than love on her own video. 

She knew that she shouldn't let it bother her, but it really did. Her entire job was built around people liking her and her content. As soon as she posted a video with a loved guy, she got shamed for it. God forbid a guy and a girl be friends. 

The Murphy girl had spent the entire day scrolling through the comments, liking all of the ones that supported her and trying not to cry at the ones slut-shaming her. It was extremely unhealthy, but she just couldn't stop. She had received many texts from her friends, but she hadn't answered them or left her room.

Finally, Lindsey had enough and practically kicked the door open. Once she was inside, she lunged for the phone in her best friend's hands, snatching it as she rolled across the bed. 

"No, Lindsey!" Alice yelled, reaching for the device. 

"Yes!" the Harris girl countered, flying to her feet and holding the phone out of reach. "I know what you're doing, and I'm not letting you do it. I'm giving your phone to Natalie to hide, and we're all having a night in."

The blonde girl sighed, shaking her head. "That's really not necessary. I'll just turn it off, I promise."

"Don't lie to me. You lack that kind of self control," Lindsey reminded her. It would've hurt, but it was very true. Lindsey crouched down and slid the phone through the open door to where Natalie was waiting to grab it. 

Alice groaned, "Guys!"

"Now, get up," the brunette in front of her ordered, grabbing her arms while Natalie scurried off the hide the phone. As Paisley walked into the room, Lindsey pulled her best friend up until she was standing. "I sent Elliot and Emi to get supplies, and then, they'll meet us here."

"Okay, I came up with some movie ideas: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Dead Poets Society, or Good Will Hunting," Paisley informed them.

Natalie came in behind her, rolling her eyes. "Or, if we're looking for something a bit less depressing, there's Crazy Rich Asians."

"Or Almost Famous!" Paisley exclaimed. She spun around to look at Alice. "Can we please watch Almost Famous?"

The Murphy girl chuckled. They were already making her feel better. "Yeah, that sounds great."

"Score! I'll get the blankets together. You guys order some pizza," the Minter girl ordered. She was a movie fanatic, and watching one was almost like a ritual to her. 

As she and Natalie left the room excitedly, Lindsey turned back to Alice with a small smile, still holding her hands. She insisted, "Those comments are fucking stupid, and they don't know you. Don't let these random dumbasses get to you. Arthur would agree with me."

"Yeah, yeah," the Murphy girl sighed with a nod.

They headed out into the living room and got the place as cozy as possible. Emi and Elliot arrived a bit later with snacks and face masks. They gathered around the TV, practically sitting on top of each other to watch the movie.

As always, Paisley commentated the entire thing and got mad whenever anyone else talked. Toward the end, Natalie groaned, "Ugh, I can't believe Russell gave all that away for some beer. I mean, it's Kate Hudson."

"She is beautiful," Elliot agreed. 

"He's a tortured artist," Paisley pointed out. "And she always knew that he was going to break her heart. She kept saying it was about the music, but it was really about the guy too."

Lindsey threw a piece of popcorn at the Minter girl's head. "Will you shut up so we can watch the movie?"

"Natalie started it!" she exclaimed, and the two began arguing playfully and chucking popcorn at each other. 

Alice glanced between each of her friends, and she could not be more grateful for them. Every single one of them gave up their evening just to make her feel better. Those commenters didn't know her. They just hated to hate. Her friends knew her, and they loved her.

And that was all she really needed.

aliceinwonderland posted a story!

AUTHOR'S NOTE

cute little friend moment for ya