You're the One - Part 1 || Greta Van Fleet

Chapter 141: He Wouldn't Want You

Every second was more agonizing than the next. Jake's grip got tighter, as he quickly finished his drink, only a minute into the first song, keeping his eyes locked on the stage the entire time. I gently rubbed my thumb over the top of his hand, peeking up at him. When he finally looked down, I gave him a subtle smile. He sighed, looking back over towards the stage. My stomach dropped.

"Hey.." I said, lightly pulling him towards me. He looked back down at me, visibly angry.
"I'm sorry." I mouthed, my face dropping. He held his stared on me for a moment, and then eventually leaned in, gently kissing my cheek, forcing a smile. I pulled him closer, holding on tight to his arm, leaning my head on his shoulder.

"You guys sound amazing out there!" Travis yelled, making his way towards the front of the stage. "We're gonna slow it down a bit with this next one, sing along if you know the words."

My heart sunk as I peeked up at Jake, his jaw already clenched.
"Is he fucking joking?" He snapped. My cheeks burned. 
"Jake, I swear, I had no idea, I'm sorry.." I said.
"What went on between you two?" He said, keeping his eyes forward. I bit down on my lip.
"Do we really have to talk about this now?" I asked. He rolled his eyes, pulling away from me as he made his way back over towards the bar.

I leaned back against the wall, crossing my arms tightly against my chest, watching the rest of the show alone. Occasionally, I'd peek back to make sure he was still there, and every time he had a new glass.

I knew what version of him I'd be getting tonight. And I was already dreading it.

After the show ended, I hung back with my mom and dad as Jake stayed sitting at the bar, waiting for the rest of the crowd to clear out.
"What's up with him?" My dad asked, motioning over towards Jake. My cheeks burned. The last thing I wanted to do was say anything to make him dislike him any more than he already did. I sighed, shrugging as I peeked back over at him. 

"Hey! You guys waited!" Travis called out, making his way out from backstage, coming down onto the floor. My heart started beating faster as his eyes locked on mine, flashing me his usual sly grin. I looked back over at Jake, hoping he'd come back over. It wasn't long before his head perked up, turning at the sound of Travis' voice. I held my stare on him, giving him a gentle smile as he slightly stumbled, making his way over, instantly wrapping his arm around me and flashing Travis a big smile.
"Great show!" Jake lied. Travis looked over at him with his same cunning smile.

"That's funny.." Travis said, crossing his arms. "You look a little different than you did in your video." My stomach dropped, my entire body going cold. Not the video. The last thing I wanted brought up was that video. Jake was silent, holding his glare on Travis, no doubt his mind running a mile a minute. I knew how much that video infuriated him, and apparently so did Travis. Travis was always great at finding the one thing that shook you to your core.
"We're really gonna do this?" Jake smirked, his cheeks burning bright red with anger. Travis shrugged nonchalantly.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He said, his smile growing.

"You were great, Travis!" My mom chimed in. "As always." He flashed her a wide smile, wrapping his arm around her, pulling her in close, kissing the top of her head.
"Thanks, Momma." He said. I shot him a look, my cheeks burning. Momma?  He had always called her that when we were together, but now.. 

Travis eventually turned to me, reaching over. I quickly moved away, glaring up at him.
"Can we talk for a minute?" He asked.
"Absolutely not." Jake snapped, wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I bit down on my lip, trying to contain my smile. Deep down, I always loved when he got possessive over me. Travis peeked over at him, giggling to himself.

"Oh, she can't make her own decisions now? Didn't know you were so insecure, man. Can't handle her being away from you for two seconds?" He said smugly. Jake's grip got tighter.
"I'm.. I'm not." Jake snapped, his cheeks getting redder.
"We were just heading out, Travis." I finally said.
"Just a few minutes, Jess."
"I don't think there's anything for us to talk about."
"Oh, I think there's plenty for us to talk about, Jess. But apparently you have to babysit your little boyfriend, I understand. Sad there's not enough trust there.."
"Jess, you go. I'll wait here." Jake said sternly, holding his glare on Travis. I stared up at him, wide-eyed. I knew exactly what Travis was doing. He had done it to me all the time when we were together, and now he was doing it to Jake. 

And it was working. 

"Jake, I don't have to, it's okay, we can just g-"
"No, it's fine." He said. I bit down on my lip, hesitating.
"Jake, I don't want to upset y-"
"It's okay, go ahead. I'll be here with your parents. Don't worry."
"Jake, really, I-" He then leaned down, pulling me into a passionate kiss. My heart jumped, reaching up, gently holding his face in my hand. I sighed, as he backed away, giving me a gentle smile.
"I'll be here." He said. I hesitated, peeking back at Travis.

"O-okay.." I said softly. "But.. I'll be quick, okay? I promise." I leaned in, quickly kissing him again.
"And there will be more of that later." I whispered. He nodded, smirking back at me, his cheeks burning. I held my stare on him for a moment before going off, following Travis backstage.

Before turning the corner, I turned around to see Jake already back at the bar. 

"Did you like the songs?" Travis asked. I shook my head, leaning up against the wall, turning to face him.
"No." I snapped. "And who told you I was gonna be here tonight?" He smirked at me, giving me a look.
"My mom.." I sighed, rolling my eyes. He shrugged.
"She does love me, you know." He said, his smile growing.
"Well, that makes one of us." I snapped. He shook his head, giggling to himself.
"Why do you always have to be like that?" He asked, leaning in closer. My cheeks burned as I looked down at my feet, avoiding his eyes.

"Travis, we've been broken up for-"
"I know how long it's been, Jess." He sighed, staring back at me with dazed eyes. I bit down on my lip, looking back up at him. "When are you coming back home?" I shook my head.
"We're not doing this again." I said softly. "I'm not. This.. this isn't home anymore." He stared back at me, confused.
"What are you talking about?" He asked, his voice getting more stern.
"Jake and I are moving in together." I said. He shook his head, now starting to laugh. My cheeks burned, my heart beating faster.
"What's so funny about that?" I snapped. He held his stare on me, his smile growing.

"You really expect me to believe you're that serious with this kid?" He asked. "We were together for over three years, and you barely touched me."
"Cause why would I?" I yelled, feeling my face get hot. "You cheated on me! Any chance you got!"
"Well, I had to get it from somewhere! You really expected me to just wait around.. for how long?"
"If you loved me.. however long it took.." I said softly.
"Jess, I do love you, you know that." I shook my head, looking away. His face got angrier.
"It doesn't matter." I sighed, crossing my arms tightly against my chest.
"Of course it matters, Jess. We're meant to be together. We were always meant to be together. I fucked up, and I'm sorry, but.. I'm done with that now. So.. just come home. And we can finally do this right."

"No, T. Jake and I-"
"Oh, I missed you calling me that." He sighed, staring back with a dazed look. I shook my head, glaring back.
"No, I.. stop it!" I snapped. He smirked back at me, reaching out. I quickly pushed his hand away.
"Jake and I.. are getting married." I said. He stopped, staring back at me wide-eyed.
"He.. he proposed?" He said, his face dropping.
"N-no.. not yet, but.. he's going-" Travis laughed, shaking his head again.
"But he's going to right?" He said, condescendingly. My cheeks burned.
"Yes." I said.
"If he wanted to, he would, Jess. He's just keeping you on the hook. When a guy wants to marry you, he doesn't wait around. I proposed to you, I would know." I bit down on my lip, feeling my heart beat faster.

"He's your right now, Jess. But.. you know that I am home. And I will always be home to you, because it doesn't matter what other band guys you manage to run around with, you're always gonna be stuck here. He doesn't know the you that I know, and chances are, knowing you, he never will. But if he knew the real you that I know.. he wouldn't want you anyway."