Stardust Chords || Greta Van Fleet

Chapter 26: A Friend

Jake's P.O.V

I opened my eyes to see I was still engulfed in darkness. The bus was quiet, aside from the humming of the engine, but I couldn't help but smile at the sound of the gentle snores from across my bunk.

I'd have to tell her in the morning.

I slowly sat up, trying my best not to wake her. She was still so adorable, even when she slept, clutching the blankets tight, gathering them under her chin. I hoped they smelt like her in the morning.

Carefully climbing out of my bunk, I made my way into the main area of the bus where I saw Josh still sitting at the table, his attention out the window watching as we passed through yet another city we'd probably never see again.

"Hey." I whispered, going over, quietly sliding in across from him. "Can't sleep?" He eventually brought his attention over to me, giving me a tired smile, shaking his head.
"I'm surprised you're out here." He said. I felt my cheeks burn, unable to contain my grin.
"Yeah, me too." I sighed. "But.. I don't want to push it. I'll just sleep on the couch." He nodded, holding his stare on me.

"So.. she's not engaged." He said, cautious of the fact that if anyone else was awake, they would be able to hear us. I nodded, my smile growing.
"I guess she isn't."
"And the second it happened.. she thought to come here."
"Well, there really wasn't anywhere else for her to go." I giggled. "He locked her out." Josh playfully rolled his eyes.
"Still. She thought of you."
"Don't give me false hope." I muttered, bringing my attention back to the window.

But he was right. She could've asked anyone. But she asked me, and that had to count for something. Even if it wasn't to the extent that I wanted, she still trusted me enough to come to me at a time like this, and that was good enough.

"She asked for you to stay with her." He continued, flashing me wide eyes as he motioned back towards my bunk. I playfully kicked him under the table, waving him off.
"And I did. At least, until she fell asleep." I said. He nodded.
"I don't know, her invitation didn't sound very conditional. It kinda felt like she expected you to still be there when she wakes up." I bit down on my lip, feeling my cheeks burn.

"You were listening?" I asked, going back and trying to remember everything I had said to her. He shrugged, avoiding my eyes.
"What can I say, I have good hearing." He defended. "But.. I think if she wakes up and sees you on the couch, she's gonna get offended." I brought my attention back to him, now wondering if he was right. The last thing I wanted was for her to think I didn't want to be there with her. But I also didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

Why did this have to be so difficult?

"They just broke up. I.. I think she just needs a friend right now. I don't want her to be uncomfortable." I muttered, feeling my face flush. "Who's to say they're not just gonna.. get back together." Josh rolled his eyes again, shooting me a look.
"Just because you're known for getting back together with your horrible exes, doesn't mean that's what everyone does, Jake." I let out a deep sigh, knowing he was right.

But even still. It had only been a few hours. The last thing I wanted to do was make a move too soon and just turn into a rebound. I also hated the idea of her bringing a rebound around. It was bad enough seeing her with Noah who had been around for years. I don't know what I would do if I had to watch her with someone knowing how casual it was.

I shot him a look. He groaned, sinking down into his seat, avoiding my eyes again. These were the moments I was thankful for the fact that it was like we could just read each others minds.
"Fine." He sighed. "I'll talk to her. We have plenty to catch up on anyway." I couldn't help but smile.
"Thanks." I muttered. He nodded, keeping his eyes out the window.
"But just.. don't-"
"You don't have to give me a script, I know how to talk to girls, unlike you guys." I nodded, trying to contain my laughter.

"Did you want to talk about Avery?" I pried, suddenly aware of the fact that I was monopolizing the conversation again. He shrugged, staying quiet for a moment before eventually turning back to me.
"I just hate the not knowing." He said softly. "At least you know that Jewel likes you."
"I don't know that-"
"You know what I mean." He said. I nodded, aware of the fact that when it came to this, I guess I did have an easier time than he did.

"W-what.. are the tells?" I asked. "How would you even know if a guy-"
"You'd know." He giggled. "Typically. But.. he's hard to read. I can't tell if he is or.. if he's just.. really friendly."
"Can't you just.. ask him?" I questioned. Josh shook his head, giggling to himself.
"It's not that easy." He muttered.
"I could ask him if you wa-"
"No." He said, quick to cut me off. I nodded, knowing I wouldn't know how to go about that anyway, but I just wanted him to know I was there for him just as much as he was there for me.

"Well, thanks for helping me then." I muttered. He nodded, flashing me a tired grin.
"No problem. She's my friend too you know."
"I guess." I said, playfully rolling my eyes. He held his stare on me for a minute; I could see the gears turning behind his eyes.

"What?" I asked. He hesitated for a minute.
"I heard you tell her about Charlotte." He said softly. I nodded, appreciating the discretion.
"Mhm.."
"You haven't talked about her in a long time."
"I just.. I figured.. she should know." I shrugged.
"Well, I think it's good you're finally talking about it. I know how hard that was for you." I nodded, avoiding his eyes.
"But.. you're okay about it now?" He asked. I nodded again.

I almost felt lighter after talking to Jewel about it, like after all these years of it eating me up from the inside out, I was finally able to rid myself of what it had done, finally welcoming in the possibility of someone who.. could maybe heal those parts of me that I could never heal by myself.

"Cause.. you know, that was hard for me too." He muttered. I nodded, smirking at him.
"Yeah, I'm sure, me getting cheated on must have been so hard for you." I joked. He shrugged, smirking back at me.
"It was." He said simply. "I hated seeing you like that. I.. I wish there was something I could've done, to take it away but.. I couldn't. And it just.. it felt like.. it hurt you.. for a long time and.. I don't know, it's just really nice to see you.. excited about someone again. Someone who.. well, someone who seems like she would never do that to you."
"I really hope not." I muttered.

I guess I really hadn't considered what it was like for everyone around me during that time. I knew I wasn't exactly the most fun guy to be around, but I never knew just how much me being hurt effected him. If the tables were turned, I'm sure it would have killed me to see him like that too.

"We should probably go to bed." He sighed, stretching his arms above his head, letting out a loud groan. I listened for any sign that anyone else was awake, but was met with silence again. I did the same, following him as we slid out from behind the table.

"So, where are you sleeping tonight?" He asked, smirking over at me. My cheeks burned.
"Go to sleep." I joked, playfully shoving him towards the bunks. He flashed me a toothy grin, making his way down, crawling into his bunk and pulling the curtain closed behind him.

I then went over and made up a bed for myself on the couch, feeling myself drift back to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.