Stardust Chords || Greta Van Fleet

Chapter 25: We're the Problem

His bunk.

I followed Jake as he led me down the hall, pulling the curtain open to show a slightly messy bed. His forest green pillows clashed with his light grey sheets, gathered at the bottom like he had left it in a rush.

"Thank you." I muttered from behind him, forcing an embarrassed grin as he turned back to face me. "You know, for letting me stay here. I.. I'm sorry-"
"It's okay." He said sweetly, smiling back. I got lost in his eyes again, still wondering what it was that had upset him so much to leave them so blistering red and bloodshot.

I watched as he made the bed for me, pulling up the sheets, tucking them in properly, fluffing the pillows as much as he could, subtly sliding his hand under one of them and grabbing something from underneath.

"What's that?" I asked, peeking around him. He smirked back at me.
"My journal." He said simply. I nodded.
"Oh, you don't want to leave that with me?" I joked. He shook his head, his smile growing.
"No." He laughed, now moving out of the way. "Alright, here you go."

I hesitated for a moment, looking it over before bringing my attention back to him.
"What?" He asked, subtly rocking back and forth. "Not good enough for you?"
"It's perfect." I sighed. "Thank you. It's just.."
"Just what?"
"Do you think.. could you just.. sit with me for a little bit?" I asked, now feeling my heart beat faster. "I.. I haven't really spent the night alone in.. years, and.. well, I-"
"I can stay for a little bit." He said softly, motioning back to his bunk. I couldn't help but smile, feeling my cheeks burn as I carefully climbed in, getting myself comfortable under the covers. My heart jumped as I felt him climb over me, sitting towards the end, keeping a respectable distance.

Though, I wouldn't have minded if he got a little closer.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, leaning his back against the wall, positioning his legs, fitting like puzzle pieces between my own. How perfectly we fit together. I shrugged, holding my stare on him.

Honestly, the last thing I wanted to do was talk about Noah, especially when I was with Jake. All I really wanted was to learn more about him.

"Well.." He started. "Something had to have happened, you guys were just talking about getting engaged the other night." I could sense the annoyance in his voice, as if he hated talking about Noah just as much as I did. I couldn't say I blamed him.
"Well, technically.. he did propose." I muttered. His eyes went wide for a moment, but he stayed quiet, biting down on his lip.

"He did." I nodded.
"He did. Just a little while ago."
"And.. you said no." I nodded again.
"I said no."
"Why?" He finally asked.

"There were a lot of reasons." I muttered.
Him being one of them.
But I couldn't tell him that.
Not yet, at least.

"Okay, well.. give me the pettiest one." He said, now giggling to himself. I couldn't help but smile, his laughter always igniting something in me.
"What?" I laughed. He nodded.
"What's the pettiest reason?" He asked again. "There's gotta be something. What's the thing that just.. got under your skin but you couldn't really tell anyone because it was so ridiculous?" My smile grew, knowing that he was only doing this to distract me. I appreciated it.

"Well.. he snored." I said. He rolled his eyes, flashing me a toothy grin.
"Everyone snores, Jewel." He laughed. "Even I snore. You'll probably hear it tonight." I bit down on my lip, trying my best to contain my flustered grin. I knew I wouldn't care if he snored.
"I don't snore." I said. He shot me a look, shaking his head.
"I'm sure you do, and I'll let you know tomorrow. I bet I'll hear it all the way from the couch." I let out a deep sigh, wishing he'd just stay here in this bunk with me all night.

"What else?" He asked. I could tell he was enjoying this now.
"He.. he would order for me. And.. not what I wanted. He'd order me what he wanted." Jake nodded, holding his stare on me.
"Yeah, I noticed that." He said softly.
"Thanks for asking me what I actually wanted that night." I muttered.
"Of course." He said softly, his eyes now slowly falling into a tired gaze. I could only imagine what time it was.

But I didn't want the night to end.

"Jake.."
"Mhm?"
"Can I.. can I ask.. w-what happened with.. the last girl you were with?" His face dropped, but eventually he let out a deep sigh, giving me another gentle nod.
"She.. was my first real serious relationship. We were together for about.. two years." He said, his voice trailing off.

Part of me regretted asking, seeing on his face just how much it bothered him to talk about, but.. I wanted to know everything about him, the good and the bad, and whatever else in-between that he was willing to tell me.

"When did you break up?" I asked. He bit down on his lip, bringing his attention to the window, watching at the lights went by in a blur, having finally left the bar.
"A little over a year ago." He said simply. And he was still so hurt over it? Part of me wondered if he was over her. If he would ever get over her.
"Do you still-"
"I'm okay now." He said, peeking back at me, giving me a gentle smile. "It just.. it sucked."
"If you don't want to tell me-"
"I can tell you. It's only fair." He said. "She.. she cheated on me. With one of the other guys we were touring with at the time. His band was bigger and.. I guess she just saw.. more opportunities elsewhere."

I hated seeing him like this. Just the thought of someone else hurting him..

"I'm sorry." I muttered. He nodded.
"It's okay."
"It's not okay." I said. He shrugged, smirking back at me.

"What was one petty thing you didn't like about her?" I asked, my heart jumping as his smile grew.
"Probably the fact that she slept with another guy." He joked. I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head, happy that he could at least make light of it now.
"I.. I don't have proof, but.. I feel like.. Noah cheated on me too." I said softly. I then felt Jake shift, moving one of his legs over mine. My heart jumped.

"So, I guess we're the problem." He giggled. I nodded.
"I guess so."
"How come the people who get cheated on never find each other?" He asked. I shrugged, holding my stare on him.
"I don't know." I sighed.

We were quiet again for a moment, just enjoying the silence between us, watching as the lights of the passing cities flew by, submerging us within it's constantly changing shades of blues and greens.

I could feel my eyelids start to get heavier, watching the city's lights reflecting off of his face, wanting to live within this moment with him for as long as I could.
"Tired?" He asked, peeking back at me, his eyes just as exhausted. I shook my head.
"I'm okay." I lied. He shook his head, giggling to himself.
"You're barely keeping your eyes open." He said, leaning back against the wall of the bunk, resting his arm on my leg for balance. My whole body felt like it was on fire.

"So are you." I laughed. He shook his head again, letting out another tired laugh.
"I should let you sleep." He said softly.
"I don't want you to go." I muttered, my exhaustion disabling what was left of any filter I had once had. He held his stare on me for a moment, his eyes suddenly that much more alert.
"Okay." He said, giving me another gentle smile.

I shifted closer to him, getting comfortable under his blankets, knowing that there was no more fighting it, and the second my head hit the pillow I was going to be out.
"Jewel.." I then heard, instantly bringing me back.
"Hmm?" I managed. He was quiet again, making me wonder if he was just checking to see if I was asleep.

"Any guy that would do anything to risk losing you.. is the stupidest guy in the world." He muttered. Despite not being able to open my eyes anymore, that didn't stop my lips from curling into a giddy grin.