Radio Show Girl | Josh Kiszka

4

hey guys! thanks for those who have read! sorry I haven't updated in like a year... lol
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stella felt her phone buzz on the table next to her bed, and she sat up to look at who it was. she secretly knew exactly who it was, as soon as it had vibrated. after seeing all of the boys earlier in the day, she had been waiting for this very text. she took a deep breath before picking the phone up in her hands. the screen glowed brightly in her face as she read the newest notification.

unknown number: hey stel, its jake. i doubt you have my number saved still. ive got a free night tonight before we head to the studio tomorrow to record. want to hangout?

stella took a deep breath to remind herself she was still in fact able to breath. so jake had texted, he hadn't made the claim that they would see each other again under false pretenses. she smiled softly to herself. oh how she had missed him. her fingers typed rapidly as she replied.

stella: it has been a while, im sorry to say that the number isn't saved :/ i am free! what were you thinking?

she sent the text hesitantly. should she ask if the others would be there? she didn't need another awkward encounter with josh, though she knew that they would ultimately have to talk if she was to continue to see the boys.

jake: not sure where you're living, but there's an odd, old bar the boys and i found that we love. i can send you the address. do you have a car?

it was still unclear whether or not the others would be there. but she typed a 'yes!!!' anyways, before setting the phone down once again. stella thought she should probably get dressed up, since she was still wearing the plain work clothes from when she had seen them earlier. she walked over to her closet, eyeing her wardrobe carefully. what would make her look impressive? as if she had her life together? she settled on a tight fitting black dress over a pair of sheer tights and platform under the knee black boots. she didn't let herself feel embarrassed when she eyed herself in the mirror. she wasn't dressing this way for any reason except to feel good. she pushed the nagging thought that maybe josh would be there too, and see her and feel bad about how he had acted all those years ago.

the car ride was not memorable. it was full of stella fiddling with the volume knob over and over again, checking herself in the backmirror, and taking deep breaths. she had to keep reminding herself that she was not overacting. she hadn't seen the boys in years. it was okay that was slight- okay very- anxiety producing.

jake wasn't lying when he described the bar as old and odd. it looked as if it should be a monument for the old part of nashville in which it sat. it was a trailer home renovated into a bar. the building was short and squat, the walls lined with tan wood, and a metal staircase led to the shabby looking front door. music pounded the windows from the inside, and stella watched as shadows moved among the different colored lights. cars were parked out front next to hers, though she had no idea what kind of car jake drove. she hoped he was the only one there.

stepping inside, the place was crowded. it was one room; there was a long wooden bar, red velvet bar stools, and five different round tables. a door behind the bartender, who was a big, red faced, bearded man, led to a small bathroom. stella hesitantly walked towards the bar, and saw part of a face that belonged to jake. taking a deep breath, she tapped him lightly on the shoulder.

jake turned around in surprise which instantly turned to excitment. a large grin spread across his face.

"stella! hey!" jake called over the music that came from overhead speakers. he got up out of his chair and wrapped his arms around her. she couldn't help her body melting into his. jake felt too much like home. his flannel was soft against her cheek and even when he pulled away, stella wished that she could stay just a bit longer. just a bit longer in the past.

she smiled shyly back. stella still wasn't how to read the situation. the entire situation. she still couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that jake was sitting in front of her, the jake kiszka. him, along with all the other boys, were a part of high school she had tried to erase in nashville. yet there he was, sitting with his hair about 5 inches longer and dressed much better. his face was the same. his eyes told her that nothing had changed.

"im so happy you came. i was nervous you wouldn't" he surprised stella with that sentence.

"what do you mean nervous? of course i'd come". stella answered. "i told you i would."

jake looked at his beer for a moment. stella sat down next to him in the empty seat.

"i don't know. i guess i just can't believe you're back." he finally said. stella sighed.

"i know. i honestly can't believe it either" she said, laughing slightly. stella called the bar tender over and ordered a vodka soda. she watched as jake slightly smirked.

"whats so funny?"

"i've just never seen you order a drink. or drink anything other than boxed wine for that matter." he chuckled slightly.

"we aren't seventeen anymore, jake." stella couldn't stop her cheeks from going slightly red. she grabbed the drink that was placed in front of her and took a long sip.

the two of them talked for hours, laughing about old memories and jake telling stories from tour. as the night went on, the two of them became more and more drunk.

"shit jake i definitely drank too much." stella stood up from her seat too fast and clutched onto the bars railing for support. jake exhaled deeply and grabbed her arm, but accidentally fell on top of her.

"of fuck sorry-"

"jake get the hell off!" through fits of laughter he rolled back onto the seat. the bartender watched them closely.

"you drove yeah?" jake asked, finally helping stella into her old seat. stella exaggerated a nod yes.

"shittttt i did too." jake pulled his phone from his pocket and it clattered to the floor. stella began to giggle uncontrollably as she watched the grown man wobble on his feet as he scooped down to retrieve it. he was such a dork.

"im sorry miss, sir, you're going to need to leave the premises." the bartender came up behind the two of them and rested a heavy hand on jake's shoulder. the two of them gawked. "now." the man added.

"god shit okay man" jake pulled on stella's hand, and she followed him blindly as they made their way to the front door. it slammed behind them and the cool air hit Stella's cheeks. it felt refreshing. it woke her up... slightly. she continued to giggle.

"what are you giggling about?" jake threw an arm around stella with such great force that she almost fell to the ground. the two of them together maneuvered to the very edge of the bars property, next to the road.

"I don't know, the air is cold." stella answered. jake shook his head and pulled his phone out again.

"I gotta sit jake." stella said.

"okay, okay" they both haphazardly sat on the concrete. stella let her head lean slightly on jake's shoulder and closed her eyes. she listened to jake tapping on his phone and then it ringing up to his ear.

a muffled josh's voice began to talk.

"jake? it's 2am man." Josh yawned. Stella opened her eyes again and stared straight at jake.

"Jake what the fuck are you doing? Hang up, hang up, hang up!" she said, words sputtering out of her mouth.

"is that stella?" josh asked. his voice didn't sound as angry as it had in the interview.

"yeahhh man we're drunk as fuck. can you grab us? 50th and 2nd ave." jake said slowly in the phone. stella stopped trying to get jakes attention and looked at her hands. they looked fuzzy. she needed to lie down. she was going to see josh though! fuck, he was hot.

josh was silent on the line for what felt like ten minutes. "fine. be there in fifteen." the phone cut off and and jake leaned on stella.

"don't worry stella i called josh and he's coming to get us!" he sang. stella sighed.

"stella what's wrong? josh is coming- wait. fuck."