Always There - Part 2 || Greta Van Fleet

Chapter 255: Forever With You

"What do you mean you're.. giving me the movie?" He asked. I couldn't help but smile, that look in his eyes now making all of this worth it. If me winning meant being able to have the opportunity to give him this, then I would have done it all over again.

"I mean, you deserve it. And.. I just want you to finally have your dream too. You're giving Jake the band, so.." I shrugged, now looking back towards the house to see if there was any sight of him. My heart jumped at the familiar silhouette that stood next to the sliding glass door, I'm sure watching intently.

"But.. but how-"
"I called them, and.. I told them that.. I couldn't do it anymore, and if it should go to anyone, if my word meant anything to them, that I think that it should go to you. Now thinking back on it, it might've been a little risky." I laughed. "But.. it worked. And they're probably gonna call you tomorrow to work out all of the details."

He stayed quiet, holding that same stare on me that I had fallen into one too many times, still so beautiful.
"Jaime, I don't want you to think you have to do this for us to-"
"I know." I said, quick to cut him off, knowing that if he said anything else, I would get way more emotional than I could handle right now.

Not without having to explain why.

"I want to go with you guys this time. I want to see you, all of you, but then.. I also want you to finally have your moment. And.. if I can give that to you-"
"Thank you." He whispered, avoiding my eyes again, now awkwardly picking at his nails.
"I don't want things to be weird though." I added. He shrugged.
"I can't promise it won't be." He muttered. "Not at first, at least."
"I understand."

"Are you happy?" He asked. As eagerly as I wanted to answer, I managed a subtle nod.
"Yes." I said simply, not wanting to hurt his feelings more than I'm sure I already had.
"Then I'm happy. That's all I wanted."
"Thank you." I said softly, now reaching over for his hand. "For knowing me better than I know myself." He peeked back up at me, his cheeks instantly burning red.
"What are friends for?"

Friends.
I guess that's what we were now.
Maybe that's what we needed to be all along.

"You are the best friend I've ever had." I said, feeling tears start to come to my eyes. I quickly wiped them away, letting out a deep sigh. His smile grew.
"So are you, Jaime."
"And I know, one day, you're gonna find someone-"
"We don't have to talk about that yet." He giggled.
"Okay."

"I love you." I whispered. He sighed, giving me a subtle grin, as if accepting that those words meant something different now.
"I love you too." I couldn't help but smile at the sound of it, knowing that it would always have an effect on me, no matter how we meant it.

"So.. do you have any idea what you're gonna make?" I asked. He nodded, giggling to himself as he looked back out at the rest of the party.
"Yeah." He sighed. "I have an idea."

And he left it at that.

Jake's P.O.V

My entire life I had always imagined what it would feel like, finally getting engaged and then getting to celebrate with my family, but what I most looked forward to was the look on Josh's face, knowing that out of anyone, he would always be the happiest for me.

But I didn't see it happening like that anymore.

I watched intently, wondering what they could possibly saying, how she was going to break the news to him. I was sure that I'd see some sort of shift in him when she finally said it, but so far it seemed like everything was going well. After all, he was the one who left her. He had no right to be upset. But I think deep down, just like everyone else, he knew.

It was always meant to be us.

"You okay?" I heard from behind me. I quickly jumped, turning around to see Sam, flashing me a tired smile, his eyes even more bloodshot than I remembered.
"I should be asking you the same thing." I joked, reaching over and taking the drink from his hand. He playfully rolled his eyes, now leaning up against one of the dining room chairs for balance.

"I'm fine." He sighed, his eyes now moving down to my hand. I felt my face get hot, my heart starting to beat faster. It was only a matter of time before he found out anyway. I might as well tell him, though I never expected him being the first person I told.

"What's that?" He finally asked. I let out a deep sigh.
"Um.." I muttered. "Jaime and I.. we're.. we're engaged." And it was like the color had drained from his face.
"Y-you are?" He asked, forcing as much of a smile as he could manage in his drunken state. I nodded, unable to contain my grin. Despite everything, I couldn't be happier. This was I had always wanted, and now it was finally happening.

I was allowed to be happy too.

"Yeah." I said. He nodded, letting out a deep sigh.
"I'm happy for you guys." He muttered. I couldn't tell if he was telling the truth, but I appreciated the words nonetheless.
"Thank you." I said. "And.. thank you for being there for her. You know.."
"Mhm.."
"I'm glad she wasn't alone. And.. well, before when I was.. I mean.. I just.." He shrugged.
"It's okay. It's a lot. I know. But.. she's so happy." I couldn't help but smile.
"I'm happy too." I said softly, now avoiding his eyes, feeling my cheeks burn.

"It's really nice to see you happy, Jake." He finally said.
"You know, it really means a lot to me, you agreeing to be in the band again." I muttered. He nodded, giggling to himself.
"Yeah, well. Don't fuck it up again, okay?"
"I won't." I assured him. He nodded, grabbing his drink back and taking a long sip.

There was just something off about him lately; a lingering sadness that I had never seen in him before.

"She's coming with us." I added, and instantly saw his eyes light up, despite trying his best to contain his apparent excitement.
"O-oh yeah?" He asked, taking another sip.
"That's what she's talking to him about." I said, peeking back out the window. He came over, standing next to me as we both watched.

My heart sunk as I saw Josh reach over, gently touching her cheek, knowing all the things I thought about when I touched her like that, praying she didn't still think that way about him.

If we were going to be a family, it had to be me,
and only me.

I let out a deep sigh as he pulled away, holding his stare on her for a moment as she got up, making her way back towards the house.
"I'll go talk to him." Sam sighed, heading outside. I watched as they flashed each other glances of secret moments shared, suddenly wondering what they talked about when they were alone.

When she finally got back to the house, she peeked her head inside, her smile growing as her eyes eventually landed on me, quickly making her way over and wrapping me in a tight hug. I held her close, leaning my chin on top of her head, just happy to have her in my arms again.

To have them both in my arms again.

"Is everything okay?" I asked. I felt her nod. That was enough. And then she looked back up at me and I could feel my heart melt in my chest, suddenly dreading every moment we could have been together, but instead we let life get in the way one too many times.

"I wish I was braver." I sighed, squeezing her tighter.
"I wish I was too." She said softly, as if reading my mind.
"We could have avoided so much."
"We could have." She agreed. "But.. we still have forever." My heart jumped.
"Forever sounds really nice with you, Jaime." She smirked back up at me.
"Forever sounds nice with you too." She agreed, before pulling me into a passionate kiss.