Lover/Leaver (Jake Kiszka)

Chapter 7: Challengers

Amelia groaned as her phone buzzed loudly on the nightstand, jolting her from a deep, dreamless sleep. She cracked one eye open, wincing at the harsh sunlight streaming through her bedroom window. Her head pounded, and her mouth felt like it was filled with cotton. The events of the previous night came back to her in hazy fragments, the bar and dancing.

She fumbled for her phone, squinting at the screen. It was Mike. "Hello?" she croaked, her voice rough from sleep and a hangover.

"Morning sunshine," Mike's cheerful voice sounded entirely too loud. "Hope you're ready to get to work because we've got a lot to do. We need to rehearse for the tour since it starts this coming week, and we've got a venue booked in Chicago. Can you make it today?"

Amelia rubbed her eyes sitting up slowly. "Yeah, I'll be there. What time?"

"Rehearsal starts at two. Don't be late," Mike replied. "Oh, and Greta Van Fleet will be there too as they are taking you guys on tour."

"Great," Amelia muttered, her thoughts immediately drifting to Jake. "I'll see you then."

After a long shower and several cups of coffee, Amelia felt somewhat human again. She dressed in comfortable rehearsal clothes, grabbed her guitar, and headed to the venue. Her mind raced with anticipation and nerves as she thought about seeing Jake again, especially after their tense exchange the night before.

The venue was a bustling hive of activity when she arrived. Sound technicians adjusted equipment, and stagehands moved back and forth, setting up for the rehearsal. Amelia spotted her bandmates, Lisa, Eddie, and Max already warming up.

"Hey you look like you've had a night," Max teased as she approached.

"You have no idea," Amelia replied, rolling her eyes. "Let's just focus on the rehearsal."

Soon after, Greta Van Fleet arrived and they all greeted the Echoes with friendly nods. Jake, however, caught Amelia's eye and smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

As the rehearsals began, Amelia watched Greta Van Fleet perform first. Their energy and cohesion were impressive, and it was clear they had a deep connection with their music and each other. Jake's guitar solo was particularly mesmerizing, his fingers flying over the strings with practiced ease.

"Not bad for a bunch of rock stars," Amelia said loudly, just as they finished. Jake's eyes snapped to hers, his smirk widening.

"Impressive, Amelia," Jake shot back. "Hope you can keep up when it's your turn."

The Echoes took the stage next. She felt the familiar rush of adrenaline as they started playing, the music flowing through her like a lifeline. Jake watched from the side, his gaze intense and unwavering. When they finished their first song, he leaned over and called out, "Not bad, for a college band."

Amelia shot him a look but chose to ignore the comment. The rehearsal continued smoothly, with both bands pushing each other to perform at their best. After a couple of hours they took a break. Amelia was tuning her guitar when she felt a presence beside her.

"Need any help with that?" Jake asked, his tone annoyingly smug.

"I think I can manage," Amelia replied, not looking up.

Jake leaned closer, his voice low. "How about a little guitar lesson then? Show me what you've got."

Amelia looked up, meeting his challenging gaze. "Fine. Let's see what you can do."
They move to the center of the stage, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. "Ladies and gentlemen," Josh announced with a grin, "it looks like we've got a guitar showdown on our hands."