Let It Be Me

Part 19

Johnny had been standing in the street in front of the house for at least five minutes but he hadn't come to the door yet. I watched him from the window curiously as he paced back and forth, biting his thumbnail and looking towards the house every now and then. He was obviously nervous but the only thing registering to me was how beautiful he was. The way his bangs dropped down over his eyes when he looked down. His olive skin and perfect lips. The eyes I could drown in. I couldn't remember a time when he was more mesmerizing. I rubbed my hand over the top of the couch, disappointed that the tingles on my palm were already fading.

Johnny finally settled on something, took a breath and started walking towards the door. I smiled and dropped down onto the cushions ready to see that gorgeous face up close and a second later he knocked on the door. I made a face and laughed out loud, then got up and opened it for him.

"Since when do you knock?" I asked in a giggle. He raised a shoulder and looked down at his feet.

"Well, that's when the guys are here. I ain't never been here when it's just you" he said chuckling a little at himself too.

The sunlight was casting his profile in a shade of gold. I got caught in the beauty of it for a moment until Johnny's voice brought me back.

"Cal?" I took a breath.

"Hmm?"

"I asked if I can come in" he said with a look that bordered between amusement and confusion.

"Oh, sorry. Come in" I said taking a step back from the door.

I thought for sure I'd be past the initial high and on to the part where I just felt relaxed by the time Johnny got to the house but it was taking longer than I thought to lift. If I was going to get through today unnoticed, I knew I was going to have to put on my best straight face.

"What were you doing out there?" I asked dropping down onto the couch, noticing the way my head didn't react at all. Something about the way he suddenly looked shy made me want to maul him. He looked around the living room and then sat down next to me on the couch.

"Thinkin' about what I was gonna say to you" he said softly. I made a face.

"Really? Why?" I stared curiously at the beam of sunlight pouring through the window that was touching his shoulder. The brighter blue on his jean jacket in contrast to the darker color in the shadows was strangely hypnotic. Johnny watched me for a moment and then turned to check over his shoulder and see what I was looking at. I quickly caught myself and moved my eyes back to him. "I mean, why did you look so nervous about just talking to me?" He shrugged.

"Well, we didn't exactly leave things so great last night" he reminded me. He was right. I had totally forgotten. For a brief moment I frowned, realizing that everything I was feeling was fake. I was starting to wish the high wasn't quite so high. How could I have forgotten about last night? Johnny misread the reason for the look on my face and took my hand. "I just wanted to say sorry" he breathed. "For gettin' angry with you last night." I shook my head.

"No, that was my fault. You were right. I shouldn't have said anything to Dallas." He leaned back a little and the slice of sunlight moved to his chest. My eyes followed and I smiled and reached out to touch it before I had even thought of what I was doing. He thought I was reaching out towards him for a hug and he pulled me in and wrapped his arms around me.

"That ain't your fault, Cal." He thought for a second. "Ain't mine either I guess. It was Dally." He shook his head and took a breath. "He would have found out sooner or later and there ain't nothin' any of us could have done to stop him. I shouldn't have blamed you like that." He held me for another moment and then leaned back and took my hand again. "Besides, from what I heard, Dally went after him skin on skin. It was the other kid that pulled a blade. Dal was just defendin' himself." I leaned back.