The Weight of Dreams || Greta Van Fleet

Chapter 17: If She Felt the Same Way

I followed as Tony lead them towards the wings of the stage. I had finished getting ready early, and I wanted to finally see them play (in person). I saw them all talking amongst themselves, except for Sam who seemed to be hanging back. I caught up with him.

"You okay?" I said quietly. He nodded, keeping his head down.
"Yeah." He sighed. "Just.. a little nervous." He said, now looking over at me with a gentle smile.
"You're gonna do great, don't worry. You've done this before." He laughed.
"Yeah.. not like this." He said, looking back down.
"You'll feel great once you're out there. Trust me." I said, looking back up at him. He smiled again, and then reached down to grab my hand. I felt my face burn.

"I learned it helps me too." He said, smirking down at me, his cheeks blushing. I intertwined our fingers, praying Jake wouldn't turn around. I couldn't deny Sam without making it seem like something was up. After all, I had held his hand the whole time they were here. It would seem suspicious to turn him away now, and I did miss it.

And he was right, it did help.

I wanted nothing more than to just wrap my arms around him. I craved that sense of security he gave me, especially at a time like this. I wondered if he felt the same way.

"Do you still get nervous?" He asked, keeping his eyes down. "Or.. does it just feel like work to you at this point?"
"I still do." I said quietly. "You.. you never know what's gonna happen. I don't think anyone could ever really get used to this. I know I couldn't. Every night is different, but it's always amazing." I saw him smile.
"That's good to hear." He said, gently swinging our hands as we walked. My smile grew. 

He was adorable.

"Alright, you guys ready?" Tony asked, turning around. His eyes instantly shot towards Sam and me, down to our hands, and then quickly over towards the rest of the guys, trying his best not to make it obvious. I was thankful. Now that I knew he had been tracking my phone, he knew Sam and I had been talking privately. I'm sure despite now knowing about Jake, he suspected there had to be something going on.

Thankfully, Sam let go of my hand to grab his bass before Jake saw. They all stood silently in the wings, huddled close together. I stood further back, cautious of the audience's view. We always made sure that no one got a glimpse of me until showtime, to "maintain suspense," or whatever the label said. 

I could already hear the audience over the music they played before the show. I could only imagine how loud it was going to get once the lights went down. Looking back over, I could tell the guys were nervous. They lacked their usual energy. I couldn't help but smile. It was cute. Then Jake looked over, flashing me nervous wide-eyes and a forced smile. I motioned for him to come over. He didn't hesitate.

"How you doing?" I said quietly, pulling him closer. His smile grew.
"Little better now." He said, leaning in. I stopped him before he got too close. He giggled to himself.
"Not even for good luck?" He asked. I shook my head.
"You got that before." I teased. He rolled his eyes, smirking back at me. From behind Jake, I could see Sam looking back over at us. My heart started to race.
"You're gonna do great. Don't be nervous." He stared back at me with his familiar dazed look, his eyes moving down to my lips. I playfully shoved him back.
"Have a good show. I'll see you after." I laughed. He sighed, backing away, and making his way back over to the guys.

And then the lights went down.

Sam's P.O.V.

Tony lead us out of the dressing room and towards the wings of the stage. Looking back, I saw Juliette following closely behind. I felt my heart start to race. She was coming to watch? As if I wasn't already nervous enough. I hung back from the guys to maybe give her an excuse to talk to me. 

"You okay?" I heard from behind me. It worked. I nodded.
"Yeah." I sighed, peeking over at her. "Just a little nervous." I couldn't help but smile at her, despite how insane I felt on the inside right now. She looked.. gorgeous, all done up for her set. It was a different kind of beautiful. It was amazing the way she could shape-shift into this person, but then be just as beautiful when it all comes off. I hope she knew she didn't need all of this to be as amazing as she was.

"You're gonna do great, don't worry. You've done this before." She said. I laughed. The way she was able to say that so casually. She was probably used to this. I'm sure nothing phased her at this point.
"Yeah.. not like this." I finally said, looking back down.
"You'll feel great once you're out there. Trust me." She said. I could feel her looking back up at me. There was just something about the way she looked at me. I could never really tell what it meant. The more I was around her, the better I felt. I didn't know what it was, but something in me was just drawn to her. She just made me.. better. 

I smiled back at her, reaching down and grabbing her hand. I saw her cheeks blush and a small smile escape her lips.

"I learned it helps me too." I said, smirking down at her, now feeling my cheeks burn. She intertwined our fingers and my heart started beating faster. I don't know how she did it, but she managed to drive me crazy in the best way, but also make me feel completely calm. The longer she held me, the more at peace I felt. They always say how once you're in a band, you can have any girl you want. Oh, how untrue. I wanted nothing more than to just wrap my arms around her. I craved that sense of security she gave me, especially at a time like this.

I wonder if she felt the same way.

"Do you still get nervous?" I finally asked her, keeping my eyes down. "Or.. does it just feel like work to you at this point?" I always wondered how anyone could get used to something like this. But.. this was her world. To her, this was just another day at the office.

"I still do." She said quietly. "You.. you never know what's gonna happen. I don't think anyone could ever really get used to this. I know I couldn't. Every night is different, but it's always amazing." I couldn't help but smile.

"That's good to hear." I said, now gently swinging our hands as we walked. I could her smile growing out of the corner of my eye, her cheeks blushing even more. She was adorable.

"Alright, you guys ready?" Tony asked, turning around. His eyes instantly shot towards Juliette and me, down to our hands, and then quickly over towards the rest of the guys. I wondered what that was about. She held my hand all the time.

As much as it killed me, I let go of her and grabbed my bass, tossing it over my shoulder. We made our way closer into the wings and huddled close together.
"This is it." Josh said quietly, nervously jumping up and down. I felt my heart pounding. I didn't think I could move my legs, let alone jump around. I'd be amazed if they'd manage to carry me out onto the stage. I looked back at Juliette, and my stomach dropped.

Jake was standing close to her, inches from her face. My whole body felt like it was on fire and my heart was beating even faster. She lightly shoved him away as they laughed amongst each other, and then he eventually made his way back over to us, a smirk pressed against his lips.

Was there something going on between them? Were they sneaking around together? I felt like I was going to be sick.

And then the lights went down.