You've Got The Glow (A Jake Miller Fanfiction) [Editing]

You've Got The Glow chapter 12

**NOT EDITED**
Chapter 12:
Kayla's POV

***

"So who won?" I asked again. The first time Jake didn't answer, he just looked off into the distance as he drove.

Finally he mumbled something, "Not me."

My heart literally shattered. Why wouldn't he have won? He was amazing. I didn't say anything like that though, he didn't need my pity.

"That's such a shame," I decided on, "Maybe there could be another contest."

He shook his head. "No, it doesn't matter. I'm done with music. If I can't win a contest like that, then I obviously can't sell out concerts and go on tours or even have an album! It's just not meant to be."

You don't understand how badly I wanted to say something to him. To tell him he has a shot and not to give up, but it was a sore subject still. If I were him I wouldn't want that. I would want to be alone.

"Thank you."

In response I got a strange look. "For what?"

"Picking me up from practice." I say.

A soft smile played on his lips now instead of his clenched jaw and stone hard facial expression. "Anytime."

"So where are we going? You passed our street already."

"Thought you might be hungry," He said, "You know, because of practice. I was going to take you out for something to eat."

Replaying practice in my head I realized food was not something I wanted right now. "That's really sweet of you, but that's the last thing I want right now."

He gave me a strange look. "Since
when does Kayla turn down free food?"

"Since I threw up ten minutes ago."

Instead of Jake being kind and asking me if I was okay, he bursted out laughing. Not like a chuckle, a full on laugh. You know those laughs when you start bawling your eyes out because of how hard your laughing? Yeah it was one of those.

I playfully hit his arm, "Stop! It's not funny."

"It kinda is." He said still laughing.

Okay fine, yeah it is kinda funny if you think about it. I just didn't admit it to him or would I ever.

***

Jake left this morning, he's all the way across the country. The Miller family is in California visiting relatives and enjoying the day on the beach. As for me, I'm sitting in a loose, squeaky chair and leaning on a cracked wooden desk. Sounds fun right?

Oh, I forgot to mention how some kid thought it was a good idea to throw a bunch of paper at me. Mrs. Potts was oblivious to all of it like always. She was cool, but extremely clueless.

Finally the bell rang for lunch to put me out of my misery. I was the first one out the door. Someone fell in step beside me and I turned to see who it was.

"I don't think we've met yet," He said, "I'm Noah, and you are?"

The crumpled up ball of paper that was repeatedly thrown at me was sitting in his pocket. "The girl you spent an hour throwing paper at?" I snapped back.

"Sorry about that, I was just trying to get your attention." His hand went to the back of his neck as he said it.

Deciding to be the thoughtful person I am, I forgave him. "No worries, I'm Kayla by the way."

"Kayla, that's a pretty name."

A small smile took over my face as I thanked him. My phone beeped in my pocket and I pulled it out to see a text from Jake. Not bothering to read it I ignored it.

"May I?" Noah asked gesturing towards my phone. I nodded and handed it to him and watched him enter his number.

When we got to the cafeteria he handed me back my phone. "Text me or call me later?" He asked.

"Sure." I replied. After he waved goodbye I joined Jessica and her friends at their table.

"Hey, long time no see." I greeted them, but manly Jessica.

"I know!" Jessica replied happy as ever, "What were you doing talking to Noah? I thought you were with Jake."

All the memories from the "girls night" came back to me. The advice Jessica gave me about Jake is what swirled around in my head.

"About that," I trailed off not knowing what to say. "I guess we're just going to be friends."

I could see the disappointment in her face and immediately felt bad, but this really couldn't be sugar coated.

"Well now you have Noah to try out." Theres Jessica, always seeing the bright side in things. I wish I was more like her.

I nodded while digging into my lunch, "Yeah your right." My mouth was full of various foods so everything came out muffled causing her to laugh.

"What?" I asked which made food actually fall out of my mouth.

"That's attractive." Someone said from behind me.

I turned around to see Jake smiling. Grabbing a napkin I spit out the rest of the food that was in my mouth and cleaned up the table.

"What happened to going to California?" I asked.

"Didn't you get my text?" He asked.

I immediately felt bad for ignoring it now and decided to say, "No my phones off."

He motioned for me to follow him making it obvious that it was a private discussion. We ended up on the roof- don't ask me how- before he actually said anything.

Jake wouldn't look at me when he said, "Missed our flight."

"Why is that private?" I asked.

His eyes were glassy and his jaw was tense. "We missed our flight because my dad had a heart attack."

He didn't need to hear sorry or any pity at all. I went on my tipy toes and put my arms around his neck. At first he just stood there motionless, but then he seemed to relax and wrapped his arms around my waist.

Right away I could tell Jake's dad was a big part of his life. I'm sure his mom was too, but by the way he reacted told me him and his dad were super close.

"Is he going to be okay?" I asked still hugging him.

I felt him shrug his shoulders. "I hope so." He said so softly I almost didn't catch it.

We stayed like that for a while, I had to stop because my toes started to hurt. I drove Jake to the hospital to be with his dad and drove myself home.

***

I waited until school let out to call Noah. When I did call him he answered on the second ring.

"Hello?" He answered.

"Hey Noah, it's Kayla." I informed him.

"Oh hey! What's up?"

I skipped back and forth around my room, I always do the weirdest things when I talk on the phone. "Nothing really, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out?"

He agreed and we made plans for 6:00 to go somewhere, but it's a secret.

I threw on a simple sky blue tank top and a pair of black jeggings. I've never been found of or good at makeup so I only applied a little mascara and chap stick.

"Hey Mom." I said entering the living room. She was currently watching her science fiction shows on the television.

"Got any plans tonight?" She asked while pausing her show.

Nodding my head I answered, "I'm going on a date."

Her face lit up with joy, "That's great! With Jake right?"

Why did everyone think I was with Jake? The last time I even considered liking him was a few weeks ago at Jessica's house.

"No, not with Jake. We're just friends." I replied.

Her facial expression faltered a bit as she said, "Oh. Well don't be back too late."

"Don't worry I won't."

Noah pulled into the drive way and I walked out the door and said goodbye to my Mom. He got out of the car and opened the passenger door. "Hey Kayla." He said with a smile.

"Hi," I smiled back, "So where are we going?"

***

Jakes POV

***

I stared at my Dad from the chair in the corner. He was now unconscious and the doctors were analyzing tests to see what was wrong. Thats's not what was on my mind though.

The phone call was replaying in my head over and over again. "Sorry, but you didn't have the talent we were looking for."

They couldn't have said it in any other way? It probably wouldn't have made a difference to what they were trying to say. They meant I wasn't good enough, I wouldn't survive in the dream land I so desperately wanted to be in. That's why it's called a dream and not a reality, because it doesn't happen.

Life throws you curveballs, your either swing and miss, or you knock it outta the park. You can do it or you can't, and there's a lot of things in this world where you swing and miss. My dream of being a famous rapper or singer is one of them.

I walked over to the side of my Dad's hospital bed and grabbed his hand. "Out of all things that I couldn't be good at, why is this one of them? Why can't everybody do the thing they want to do most? Why can't dreams come true?" I whispered. I wanted a response from him, but I knew it wasn't coming.

"Jake? Are you okay?" I turned around and let go of my Dad's hand at the sound of her voice.

"Uh, yeah I'm fine." I replied to Jenny.

She looked at me strangely, "You looked like you were going to cry. Tell me what's wrong."

Jenny and I are pretty close, but Kayla is the only person who knows about me entering the contest and not winning. My parents knew I entered and Jenny probably did too, but I never told anyone but Kayla the results.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Anything." She replied walking further into the room.

Jenny is an elite cheerleader at the local gym. She's always been an amazing gymnast and cheerleader, it's unbelievable what those girls do. Her and Kayla have one special talent. They get to live their dreams, it's just not fair.

"If you were to not make the squad, what would you have done? Would you have tried again, or would you think since you weren't good enough the first try, what would make your second any better?" I asked her.

I could tell she was really thinking about it by her expression and lack of response. "Well, did I have a bad try out, or did I give the best of my abilities?"

"You did the best you could."

"It seems logical to quit because you weren't good enough, but I honestly wouldn't. There's nothing I'd rather do more then cheering. If I can't do that then what's the point?" Jenny answered.

"She's right."

We both turned to my Dad to see him fully awake and smiling.

"When did you wake up?" I asked sitting on the side of his bed.

He smiled even bigger when he said, "Just in time to tell you to not give up just because you don't succeed the first time. Even the second and third time. Eventually, you will get it."

"I guess your both right," I said referring to Jenny and my Dad, "I'll just try again."

After that day I wrote lyrics nonstop about everything and anything. When I came across the right song I knew it would be the one, the one that would change everything.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Wow. I never would've thought I would get this far. I know it's not a lot, but it's more than I could ask for. The number of reads and votes have been wonderful and thank you so much, but please it would be great if you guys could comment. I'm going to try to put a question or questions at the end of each authors notes for you guys to answer if you don't know what to comment!

Let me know what you think about this chapter! Were you excepting Jake to win? Or did you know he wouldn't? Opinions on Kayla and Noah? Opinions on Kayla and Jake?

Jake News: The Glow music video will NOT be posted at all, but Collide is coming out next week! The album has also been moved to November 5th instead of October 29th. Cleveland sold out and San Fran and Huntington will sell out soon too! For more info go to jakemiller.com

It would be great to meet more Millertary members so comment if your fans of Jake and your favorite song of his!

Sorry for the long authors note!

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~Megan