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

Chapter 156: Can We Hear It Again?

A Few Days Later

As I made my way out of the back room, I saw Jake lying in his bunk, headphones in, flipping through his notebook. I went over, gently nudging him towards the wall. He peeked up at me, flashing me a smile as he took out one of his earbuds, quickly tossing his book to the side. My smile grew as I motioned for him to move over. He made room, patting the spot next to him. 

"Whatcha listening to?" I asked, cuddling close, leaning my head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me up against him. He took one of his earbuds, gently placing it in my ear.

We listened in silence as he reached out for my hand, gently intertwining our fingers. I flipped over, wrapping my arm around his stomach, hiding my face in his neck. He turned to me, tilting my chin up to face him as he stared back into my eyes. I stared back feeling my heart beat faster. He then leaned down, kissing me so gently, his lips barely grazing mine. It took everything in me not to kiss him back, but to just enjoy the tender innocence of the moment.

When he backed away, his smile grew, his cheeks burning red.
"I like this song." I sighed, holding his face in my hand.
"Noted." He said, gently rubbing his fingers up and down my arm.
"How much longer until we're back at your house?" I asked.
"Soon."

I peeked over as I heard his phone vibrate, but he quickly flipped it upside down.
"Who's that?" I asked, my eyes moving back down to his hand. He shrugged.
"No one." He said simply. My cheeks burned. He had never kept anything from me before.

I couldn't help but overanalyze his every move these past couple of days. He had kept mentioning a proposal but every time I thought something was about to happen it just.. didn't. I was beginning to wonder if he was having second thoughts.

The tour was coming to an end soon and that would mean we'd be finally moving into our place together, or so I hoped that was still the plan. He hadn't really mentioned that either. If anything, he's been.. almost cold towards me. I didn't want to push it, but it only left me to worry. He knew how I overthought, why would he leave me in the dark? Had I done something wrong?

His phone vibrated again.
He peeked at it, flipping it back over.

"You can get it if it's important." I said, feeling my cheeks burn. He shook his head.
"No, it's okay." He said softly. I nodded, cuddling closer to him.

"I'm excited to see everyone again." I said, sliding my hand up his shirt, gently tracing my fingers across his chest. He giggled to himself, pulling me closer.
"They're excited to see you too. They always make sure to tell me that you don't work on the nights we play our hometown shows." My smile grew as I peeked back up at him.
"But those are the nights you do the best. I always want to get those."
"Yeah, but Ronnie always wants you to herself." He laughed, now stroking his fingers through my hair. "She loves the idea of having a sister one day." My heart jumped. Sister. 

Had they been discussing that?

When the song ended, I reached over for his phone.
"Can we hear it again?" I asked. He quickly moved it out of reach, pressing play again.
"Sure, I got it." He said, his voice going up. My cheeks burned. Why was he being so secretive over his phone? After all the times we've talked about hiding our phones, he had to know I'd be thinking this way. I tried my best not to let it bother me. I'm sure I was just overthinking it. 

But the more his phone continued to vibrate, the more it ate away at me.

"We're gonna be there soon." Josh called out, making his way over to us. He hopped up onto his bunk, shooting me a look, his eyes moving down towards our hands, and then back up.
"Ronnie sounded excited on the phone." He said. Jake turned to face him, propping his head up.
"Y-yeah.. she.. uh.. her and I have been talking." He shot Josh a wide-eyed look. Josh's face dropped, his eyes quickly moving to me, and then back to Jake.
"O-oh.. yeah? Yeah, good. Okay." He awkwardly managed. What was going on?

I peeked out into the main area to see Sam sitting at the table, headphones on, eyes glued to his notebook again. Him and I hadn't really talked in a while, but I couldn't say I blamed him. Jake had been attached to my hip ever since we got back from my apartment. I wasn't complaining, but I did miss having a friend.

I wonder what he's been writing. I missed being able to talk to him about anything, but I guess part of me knew it would come to this. Sometimes I wished him and I never kissed. I feel like once you take it too far, you can never go back to being just friends, and there was no denying that Sam and I were.. more than just friends. Maybe this was for the best. But despite everything, I did miss him. As much as I loved Jake, you always needed friends outside of your significant other, and I hoped that maybe one day him and I could go back to the way things were.

And then I felt the bus stop. My heart started beating faster. I remember the first time they brought me home. I was so nervous to meet everyone, but now I always looked forward to coming back. It was slowly starting to feel like my home too, their family now feeling like my family. And I was hoping sometime soon.. they would be.

"Can we stay in your room tonight?" I asked. He smirked, leaning in close.
"Well, I.. I was kinda hoping we could be.. alone tonight." He whispered into my ear. My cheeks burned.
"But.. we would be alone." I said. His smile grew.
"I mean.. alone.. alone." My heart jumped. I knew what that meant. I bit down on my lip, nodding. He brushed the hair out of my face, gently kissing my forehead.

As Josh hopped down from his bunk, Sam and Danny followed him off the bus. I sat up, looking back down at Jake who was still staring up at me with dazed eyes.
"You ready?" I asked, motioning towards the door.
"Just.. a few more minutes." He sighed, grabbing my shirt, pulling me back down to lay with him. I couldn't help but smile, resting my head on his chest, listening to the gentle flutter of his heart beat. He slid his hand under my shirt, gently tracing his fingers up and down my spine.

"Can we hear it again?" I asked. He nodded, reaching over for his phone, pressing play.