You're the One - Part 1 || Greta Van Fleet

Chapter 71: By All Means

The next morning I woke up feeling better than I had in a long time. Looking around for a moment, I had completely forgotten where I was until I saw Jake awkwardly slumped over in the chair next to my bed, still asleep. I couldn't help but smile. He had really sat up with me all night.

I reached over, gently rubbing his arm. He twitched, waking up, quickly looking around.
"Hey, hey.." I said, grabbing onto his hand. "It's okay, you're fine." I giggled to myself. He rubbed his eyes, looking over at me, giving me a subtle smile, his eyes still sleepy.
"Hey.." He sighed, reaching out for me.
"Come here.." I said, moving over, patting the spot next to me.
"Am I allowed?" He asked, hesitating. I laughed, pulling him closer.
"It's fine." His smile grew as he climbed up onto the bed, lying close.

"How are you feeling?" He said softly, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me closer.
"Much better." I said, leaning up, gently kissing him on the cheek. I heard him giggle to himself, pulling me in closer.
"Good."

He reached around, gently moving his hand into mine, twirling the ring around my finger. I smirked up at him.
"Okay, I haven't scared you off yet." He giggled. "You're still wearing it."
"You know I never take off anything you give me." I said, reaching under the hospital gown, pulling out his necklace. His smile grew as he leaned down, gently kissing me on the lips, pulling me in closer.

"So when can I get you out of here?" He said softly, running his fingers through my hair.
"Well, if you wanna go ask them" I said, motioning towards the door. He nodded, gently kissing my forehead before getting up.

After he signed me out, he took my hand, leading me out to the van. As I reached for the door, he quickly grabbed it, opening it for me. I smiled, turning to him.
"Are you just gonna baby me from now on?" I laughed. "I told you, I'm okay now." His cheeks burned as he scrunched up his face, shaking his head.
"I'm not babying you.. I'm just-"
"I know, I know." I said, shaking my head, hopping into the passenger's seat. He smirked, shutting the door behind me.

"So, where are we meeting back up with everyone?" I asked as he drove off.
"Well, I convinced them to stay parked out at the venue until I got back, hoping we'd be able to leave early enough."
"Oh, so they're probably annoyed at me." I said, peeking over. He shook his head.
"Of course not. They understand." I bit down on my lip, holding my stare.
"Are you just saying that?" I asked. He shook his head, keeping his eyes forward.

I already knew I was going to get bombarded with questions, from Sam at least. So I was in no rush to get back to the bus. Jake reached over, taking my hand in his.

"Are.. are you gonna keep it on when we get back?" He asked. I felt my cheeks burn.
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Well.. I just.. I know how it looks."
"So do I." I smirked. I saw his smile grow as he kept his eyes on the road.
"I'm just saying.. if you didn't want all that.. attention. I wouldn't be upset."
"Well.. what if I do?" I asked, squeezing his hand tighter.
"Then.. by all means." He said softly, peeking over at me.

When we reached the bus, I could see the blinds still pulled shut, the lights still off.
"They're still sleeping." I sighed. Jake rolled his eyes.
"Well, we have to get going. We're late as it is." I went to reach for my door.
"No.." He said, smiling over at me, hopping out. He quickly made his way over, opening the door for me.

"You don't have to do this every time." I laughed, feeling my cheeks burn. 
"Why do you hate when I do things for you?" He laughed. I leaned back against the van, staring up at him. He propped his hand up onto the van next to me, looking back down with a smirk. I felt my heart start to beat faster. 

Even after all this time he still made me nervous when he looked at me like that, but I'd never admit it to him.

"I don't, I just.. I'm gonna hate it when you.. eventually stop." I said quietly, looking down. He gently tilted my chin up to meet his eyes again.
"As long as your mine, I will never stop." He said, smiling back at me.
"That's what's every guy says." I sighed.
"Well, I'm not every guy, and I mean it. Just as long as you want me to." He giggled, leaning in, pulling me into a kiss.

"She's alive!" Sam called out. I sighed, looking over as he made his way over to us.
"How are you doing?" He asked.
"I'm okay, Sam." I said.
"Glad everything... worked out?" He said reluctantly. I felt my cheeks burn. Jake shot him a look.
"It's okay.." I said softly. "Yeah."
"Thank you, Sam." Jake snapped, flashing him a forced smile. "Can you just give us a minute?"
"You guys have had plenty of minutes." Sam laughed, playfully shoving him. "Now get on the bus, we gotta go."

Jake took my hand again, leading me onto the bus.

"You know, I think that hospital chair might even be more comfortable than these bunks." He joked. I smiled up at him.
"You don't have to worry about the bunk anymore." I laughed, pulling him towards the back room.

"Jess?" I heard from behind me. I turned around to see Josh, propped up in his bunk, looking over at me, sleepy-eyed.
"Hey.." I said. I felt Jake's grip on my get tighter. I bit down on my lip, peeking back at him. He motioned towards the back room and I felt my cheeks burn.
"I'll be right there, okay?" His face dropped. 

I went over, quickly kissing him on the lips.
"I promise, I'll be right there." He sighed, holding his stare on me, and eventually nodded, going into the back room.

"Hey.." I said, turning back to Josh. He rubbed his eyes, flashing me a tired smile.
"How are you?" He asked, now sitting up.
"I'm okay." He nodded, biting down on his lip.
"I heard.." He said quietly. "And.. I'm sorry."
"It's okay." I said, looking away. "T-thank you.. for being there for me... during everything." He shrugged.

"Well.. not during everything." He said softly, his face dropping. I felt my cheeks burn.
"Still.. I appreciate it." He nodded.
"Of course."

My heart started beating faster the longer he stared. I could see his mind racing a mile a minute. 

"Jess, I meant it when I said I would always be there for you and.. I've been worried sick about you, I wish I could have been there for you through all of this.. and I know I told Jake I would back off, but.. I just.. I can't. The other day at the shoot.. I just.. I know you felt- " He reached out for my hand, stopping as he felt the ring on my finger. He stared down at it, and then quickly looked back up at me. I could see the color draining from his face as he held his stare. I bit down on my lip, not sure what to say.
"Jess, w-what.. what is.. but we.." He stammered. 

I quickly pulled my hand away, running into the back room, slamming the door behind me.