heart strings // jake virtanen

chapter 5

I had woken up this morning to, you guessed it, more country music. The first performer didn't come on stage until 11, but the festival took every opportunity to play some cowboy song in the speakers all over the park at all times.

Avery and I packed up our stuff, heading to the communal washrooms to get ready for the day. My hair was waved from the braid yesterday, so I left it down, putting the cowboy hat that Jake had won for me on top. Avery was giving me major side eye, but I pretended not to notice. She definitely didn't like my whole Jake-situation, and even without using her words, she made sure I knew that. 

For breakfast, I opted to buy a fruit smoothie at one of the food booths. Avery bought the same. The two of us were sitting in a large area full of groups of people eating around tables. Everyone seemed to be grinning and chatting — how was I the only person here that didn't enjoy early mornings?

"Do you want a beer?" I asked Avery once we were both done.

She looked up from her phone, her eyebrows furrowed. "It's ten in the morning, Sav, why would I want a beer?"

I smiled a bit. "It's a music festival. You do what you want here." I said as if it were obvious. I stood up, tucking my chair in. "Well, I want one. Are you coming?"

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not letting you get a beer this early." She didn't move.

I groaned. "Avery, I'm gonna need some alcohol in me if I have to be listening to this shitty stuff all day." I said, throwing my hand up in reference to the music playing from the speakers. She didn't budge. "Fine, I'll go myself."

I examine my surroundings, not really sure where to go. I'm not too far from the stand I went to yesterday, so I walk in that direction. There were so many stands and booths here that looked alike that I didn't exactly know where I was going. I wasn't really in the mood to get lost in this yokel valley.

I was surprised to find a lineup at the beer stand, I didn't realize that other young adults craved beer at 10AM.

I was staring up at the price list when I felt a tap on my shoulder. A smile formed on my lips the second I saw his familiar face.

"How did I know I'd find you here?" Jake grinned.

"What can I say, I love beer." I laughed. He was wearing my bandana in his hair, the red colour making his light eyes pop.

"This looks great on you." He said, reaching his hands up to adjust my hat. My stomach was doing backflips. Screw Jake for being so attractive and making me nervous just being around him.

"Thanks, a guy won it for me." I say.

He looks mock offended. "That's all I am to you? Some guy?" He stuck his bottom lip out in a pout.

"Some guy that I enjoy talking to?" I try again. "Some guy who's great at tossing bean bags?" He laughs along right as we reach the front of the line.

"We'll get two Heinekens." Jake told the worker, taking out his wallet and putting a bill on the counter, not bothering to collect his change as he pulled me away.

"On me." He said, offering me one of the two glasses he bought.

"What? Why?" I said, feeling immensely guilty with the amount of beer he's paid for already.