Always There - Part 2 || Greta Van Fleet

Chapter 243: Over Anything

The drive home was excruciatingly silent, which I appreciated, considering just how loud it was in my head. I don't know why I was getting myself so worked up to begin with. What if there wasn't even anything to worry about? The tests had all been negative before, why would this time be any different?

As I pulled up to their house, Sam didn't move, eventually peeking over at me.
"Are you gonna be okay?" He asked. I nodded, keeping my eyes forward.
"Yeah." I managed, not entirely sure if that was true.
"Do you.. want me to come with you?"

As badly as I didn't want to be alone at a time like this, I knew how he felt, whether or not we wanted to address it, and it wouldn't be fair to put him through that. He could sense my reluctance.

"If it's because of.. everything that's happened, I just.. I need you to know, I'm okay." He said softly. I looked back over to see him giving me a subtle grin, his eyes kinder than I deserved. Finally I nodded, reaching over for the bag, to which he quickly grabbed it first, smirking at me before getting out of the car.

We made our way over to my house where eventually I could see the light on in the kitchen. My stomach dropped, knowing that my mom was up and would undoubtedly ask us what we were up to. I couldn't remember the last time Sam and I had spent time together alone, so it was bound to raise some questions, especially considering everything that's happened recently.

"She doesn't know." I whispered, reaching back over for the bag. He nodded, pulling it away from me before guiding us into the house. I felt my heart beat faster as she peeked out into the hallway, flashing us a excited grin.

"Sam! What are you doing here?" She asked. "Are you hungry? I'm just making some lunch, I can make some for you guys too."
"Oh no, that's okay, Mrs. Adams, thank you. We were just.. gonna go upstairs for a little bit. You know, with Jaime leaving again and all, I kinda guilted her into spending some time with me, so.." She nodded, her smile growing.

"Right, of course, well, don't let me interrupt. Just let me know if you guys need anything." She said. Sam then swiftly passed the bag off to me, motioning upstairs.
"Actually, if you don't mind, I'll just grab us some waters." He said, going over and helping himself to the fridge. I couldn't help but smile, loving how easily he could make himself comfortable wherever he went.

I quickly made my way up and into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me as I began rummaging through the bag. Why was I suddenly so nervous? I had done this before, and I'd probably do it again. I ripped open the box, pulling out the test and looked it over. I'd imagine they all typically worked the same.

Then I jumped at the sound of knocking at the door, it swiftly opening as Sam let himself in, quickly shutting it behind him.
"Sam!" I laughed, playfully pushing him away.
"What?" He said, flashing me a toothy grin. He placed one of the waters down on the counter as he went over, sitting down on the edge of the bathtub.

"You're probably gonna need that." He insisted, opening his own and taking a big sip. I did the same, drinking as much as I could manage before my stomach started to hurt.
"Alright, alright, how many tests do you plan on taking?" He laughed.
"You know I'm not doing this with you in here, right?"
"Well, where do you want me to go then, Jaime?"
"I don't know, wait out in the hallway." I said. He groaned, playfully rolling his eyes before pushing himself back up and going out, shutting the door behind him.

I skimmed through the instructions one more time before finally squatting down onto the toilet, suddenly that much more nervous knowing that Sam was right outside. When I finally finished, I placed it down onto the counter before going over and opening the door, peeking out to find him looking at the old photographs on the walls. I watched him for a moment, a subtle grin on his lips as he admired closely, lingering on the ones of me as a baby a little bit longer than the others.

"I'm done." I whispered. He looked over with a nervous smile like he had been caught, then quickly made his way in, quietly shutting the door behind him. He sat back down on the edge of the tub and I did the same, moving closer, leaning my head on his shoulder. He then timidly reached over, placing his hand on top of mine, carefully interlocking our fingers.

"So, how long do we have to wait?" He asked.
"About three minutes." I said. I felt him nod.
"Then we've got some time to kill."
"Mhm.."
"W-what did you mean before.. when you said.. what you were gonna do?" He asked. My stomach dropped.

"I love Jake." I muttered, suddenly feeling the tears start to form again. I heard him sigh.
"Yeah, I know, don't rub it in." He joked. I peeked back up at him, unable to contain my grin. I playfully nudged him, leaning my head back onto his shoulder.
"But.. I know he would give up everything for this. And.. I can't let him do that." Sam stayed quiet, listening.
"Where.. Josh and I.. this.. this was always the plan."
"And when that kid comes out holding a guitar, then what?" He asked, smirking back down at me. I nodded, giggling to myself.

Ever since Thanksgiving, seeing him like that.. it changed everything for me. Our whole lives I had always assumed a life with him would mean anything but conventional, and.. deep down I told myself that it would be worth it, if it meant being with him. But as I got older, I realized just how important having a family was to me.. and how much I loved the idea of a mini version of him.

"He deserves to know the truth, Jaime." He said softly. "He should be able to decide what's right for him."
"But he won't choose what's right for him. And.. deciding for him.. it.. it gets rid of the risk."
"Risk of what?"
"Of him not picking me."
"He would pick you over anything."

As much as I loved to hear that, I just couldn't let him do it.

"By even considering this, I know you'd pick him too, and you two deserve the chance to figure it out together." As much as I wanted to deny it, I hated when he was right.
"How am I supposed to direct a movie like this?" I laughed, wiping my eyes. He giggled to himself, squeezing my hand tighter.
"You can do anything, Jaime. And.. whatever you decide, you know you're not going to be doing it alone." I peeked back up at him to see him already looking down at me, his eyes now in a daze.

"What? You'd come to New York?" I joked. He bit down on his lip, holding his stare on me before reluctantly nodding.
"If you asked.. I would." He muttered. My heart jumped.
"I would never ask that of you." He shrugged.
"You know you wouldn't have to." I nodded, looking back down at our hands, how perfectly they fit within one another.

"Do you think it's been three minutes yet?" He asked, now breaking the silent tension.
"I think so." I sighed, looking over at the sink.
"Do you want to look or do you want me to?"

It was bad enough I had dragged him into this.
The least I could do was spare him of giving me the bad news.

"I'll go look." I said, but I just couldn't bring myself to move. He stayed quiet, holding my hand tight until I finally managed to push myself up and go over.
"Well?" He asked. I picked it up, bringing it up closer to my face.

"Jaime?" He asked, getting up and looking over my shoulder. "What does two lines mean?"
"Positive."