Stardust Chords || Greta Van Fleet

Chapter 11: Pretty

Later That Night

As the lights faded on another successful show, the excitement of hitting the town with the guys tonight started to settle in. I made my way backstage toward the dressing rooms, grabbed my bag, and headed for the bathroom. I couldn't remember the last time I actually put effort into going out, but I guess I had a little extra energy in me tonight.

And maybe a little extra inspiration.

"Well look at you." I heard from behind me, now seeing Noah peeking his head into the doorway. "I can't tell you the last time I saw you with makeup on." I felt my cheeks burn, sensing the mocking tone of his voice, always leaving me with a pang of self-consciousness.

Why couldn't he just say I looked pretty?

"Well, we're going out, I don't know. I want to look nice." I muttered, putting on the finishing touches, tousling my hair into place. He nodded, holding his stare on me.
"So you don't want to look nice for me any other night?" He asked. I peeked back at him through the mirror's reflection, eventually giving him an indifferent shrug.

"We're always working. This is fun. I can't remember the last time you've taken me out." I said, surprising myself as the words left my lips. But it was true. When Noah and I started seeing each other, the effort was always there. But as the years went by it was like he didn't even care anymore; we had settled into the old married life, just without the ring, the wedding, the romance..

"I saw you were hanging out with Jake and them last night." I said, now trying to change the subject. As if things weren't difficult enough, the last thing I wanted to do was add another argument with Noah into the mix. We had a hard enough time on good days.

"Yeah." He finally said, making his way in and leaning up against the sink next to me. "I saw you were hanging out with him too." My stomach dropped.
"I wasn't hanging out with him." I said, zipping up my bag. "We just talked for a few minutes."
"Mhm.."
"What?" I asked, knowing how he got. He shrugged.
"Nothing."
"What Noah?"
"I just think it's interesting that all of a sudden we're going out with these guys and now you start putting effort in." I let out a deep sigh, grabbing my bag and pushing past him
"How about next time you can just say I look nice." I muttered, feeling my face flush, now trying to hide my teary eyes as I made my way down the hallway towards the buses.

I pushed through the back doors, taking in a deep breath, letting the chilled air fill my lungs. It was times like this I wondered what I was even doing, but anytime I tried talking about this with anyone, they all just told me it was normal. Couples got comfortable. This is just what happened.

But in what world should this be normal?
We were supposed to love each other.
This was not how people who loved each other acted.

I quickly ventured down the sidewalk, far enough out of earshot before pulling out my phone and pressing call on Audrey's contact. She answered almost immediately.
"There you are, I feel like I haven't heard from you in forever." She laughed. "What's going on out there? Did you finally fuck that guitar player?" I couldn't help but smile, my face now feeling like it was on fire.

"I miss you." I laughed, leaning up against the wall. "And no."
"Ugh, why not? What good is this job if you're not getting with these band guys?"
"Will you stop it?" I managed, unable to contain my grin. "When are you coming out here?"
"I guess that depends on when you invite me."
"You know you're always invited."
"I know, but I have no idea where you are. You live on a fucking bus, remember?"
"Yeah, I remember." I sighed. "How are things at home?"
"Nothing to report. You're supposed to be the interesting one, but you're still with that loser, so I'm not getting any of the good stories."

Part of me wanted to bring up Noah, but I already knew how that conversation would go. Part of me wanted it, but I knew it wouldn't solve anything. Not right now anyway. It was best if I just let it go for now.

"Are you at least still having fun out there?" She asked.
"I guess." I sighed. "We're all going out tonight so I guess that should be fun."
"Who's we all?" She pried. I could hear the smile in her voice.
"Me, Noah, the guys, you know.." I said, trailing off.
"And who's the guys?" She giggled.
"Audrey.."
"Oh, god forbid I want you to get laid by someone who isn't draining the life out of you."
"Well, I appreciate it, but-"

I then jumped at the sound of the back door slamming again, someone making their way out and lighting a cigarette, leaning up against the side of the building. My cheeks flushed with an inkling of excitement as I saw that familiar hair flying in the breeze under the golden yellow streetlights.

"Audrey, I gotta go. I'll talk to you soon, okay?"
"Fine." She groaned. "But you better call me with good news next time."
"Promise." I said, quickly hanging up, shoving my phone into my pocket.

As I made my way back over, I could smell the familiar scent of smoke in the air. It didn't take long for him to notice he wasn't alone anymore.
"What are you doing out here?" Jake asked, his eyes scanning me up and down as he took a drag of his cigarette. I felt my heart start to beat faster.
"I guess.. just needed some fresh air." I said, holding my hand out for it. He giggled to himself before passing it to me.

"I thought you were quitting." He joked, his lips curling into a playful grin. I nodded, taking a big drag.
"Tomorrow." I said, handing it back. He flashed me a toothy grin.
"Tomorrow."

"You played great tonight." I said, trying to change the subject. He took another drag, averting his eyes as his smile grew.
"Well, thank you. You make it easy." My heart jumped.
"That's my job."
"And you're very good at it."
"Thank you."

We lingered in the silence for a moment, passing back and forth the one thing that connected us until the smoke from our breath eventually cleared.

"So, where are we going tonight?" I asked, now crossing my arms against my chest. His eyes moved down to them for a moment before meeting my gaze again.
"I'm pretty sure there's a bar downtown that Josh wanted to check out. We all kinda just roll with whatever he decides." He laughed. I nodded, now trying to ignore the fact that the air was getting colder, wishing I had grabbed my jacket.

But the last thing I wanted to do was leave.

"Well, him and I had a nice time the other night." I said. His eyes lit up, now intrigued.
"Oh yeah, I saw you guys. W-what were you talking about?" He pried. I shrugged, unsure of how much Josh had shared with Jake and how much was just meant for him and I in that moment. He had earned my discretion.

"A little of this, a little of that.." I muttered. He nodded, his smile growing.
"Ah, secret. Okay." He joked. I shrugged, rubbing my arms. His eyes moved back down to them before finally sliding off his jacket, wrapping it around me.

"Jeez, you really know how to make a guy feel guilty." He giggled. My heart jumped, now feeling engulfed in the scent of his cologne and lingering smoke.
"Oh, y-you didn't have to-"
"Of course I did, you're practically shivering." He sighed, his arms tensing at the feeling of the cold air.

I couldn't help but smile, hoping my blushing face was hidden in the darkness.
"Well, t-thank you. But.. we're gonna head into the buses any minute, I can give you-"
"No, you keep it for now. I'm sure you'll need it later." He said nonchalantly. I nodded.
"Okay."

We lingered in the silence once again, Jake's eyes carefully scanning my face as if trying to figure out what was different. Never have I ever felt so self aware of the fact that I had never really gotten "dressed up" before, now making me question if it was even worth it.

"Jewel.." He finally said.
"Mhm?" I asked, clutching his jacket tighter. He noticed, his face relaxing into a subtle grin.
"Y-you.. you look really prett-

"Here he is!" I heard from behind us, the sound of the doors slamming open again as the rest of the guys came trickling out of the venue. Josh waved us down, flashing us a toothy grin.
"You guys ready to head out?" He asked, motioning towards the buses. Jake let out a deep sigh, nodding as he turned away from me.
"Ready." He muttered, following Josh towards their bus.

He said I looked pretty.