It's been a while (Johnny Cruz/Joonas Parkkonen) - Santa Cruz -

Shopping

She took a deep breath and entered the house.
To her surprise there was nothing.
It looked exactly like she just left to water the flowers in the garden quickly.
No sight of any kind of mess.
No sight of any boys or girls.
No sight of Archie.
"Archie?", she called for him.
No answer.
"Archie?"
Again, no answer.
He was probably still asleep.
She made her way into the kitchen where she found a note on the fridge.

Hi Sams,
just in case you return before I do
I went out for a quick walk.
Will be back around 2.
Archie xoxo

The clock read ten to 2.
Enough time to wash the dirty laundry then.
Just as she entered the bathroom she noticed a bra that definitely doesn't belong to her.
"Sams? I'm back!"
She heard the door being closed.
Walking out of the bathroom Archie greeted her with a quick hug.
"So how many girls did you fuck last night?", she asked without any shame.
"Sorry?", he asked raising an eyebrow.
"Don't play innocent now I found the bra.", she pointed at the bathroom.
He slowly nodded and laughed.
"Well.. I'm not complaining."
He took a toast and put some cheese on it.
"How many?"
"Erhh dunno it was just like... 7?"
Shocked Sammy stared at him.
"Sams calm down it was just the boys, Tazzy's girlfriend and me. I have no idea what Tazzy and his girly did in the bathroom. I definitely didn't fuck her."
He put a plate with toast in front of her on the table and another one for him.
She nodded and sat down.
"Archie?"
"Hm?"
He stopped eating and looked at her?
He swallowed as she didn't say anything else.
"What's wrong?"
"D Do you... you know.. when you're on tour...", she couldn't find the right words to ask this question.
"Sometimes."
He just said, getting what she wanted to ask.
"Why?"
"Why not? It's just a fuck."
She looked at him.
Disappointed.
She was sad to hear that he was like that.
"Sammy listen, I'm not just fucking around with girls every night. It's just sometimes.. I don't know it just happens sometimes when I'm drunk."
"Are they like this too?"
He knew that she was talking about his bandmates.
"I don't know. I don't think so. Middy is married, Tazzy has a girlfriend and Johnny... well he's just way too nice."
"You know. I always hoped you're not like this. You always wanted me to be proud of you. Seriously. I'm not."
"I know", he whispered, not looking at her.
"I'm not hungry anymore."
She got up but Archie grabbed her arm and pulled her back down.
"I'm sorry, Sams. I'll stop. I promise."
"You never keep your promises, Archie."
"I will. This time I will. I don't want you to be disappointed. I always wanted you to be proud. To have a brother that you can look up to. I know I'm not that kind of a brother. But I'll change that. I'll make you proud. I promise."
He squeezed her hand and smiled at her.
"I really hope this is not just another empty promise."
He shook his head.
"Not again."

"Hey Jord, uhm could you do me a favor and get me some pizza when you head home?", Sammy asked into her phone.
"Yeah sure. Veggie as always I guess?"
"Yes please."
"Will get it!"
"You are an angel!! See you later."
"Bye"
Jordan worked in a supermarket on the weekends to earn some extra money to pay the fuel.
On his way home he'd drive past Pizza Hut and he sometimes brings a pizza for her because Saturday is no-cooking-day for Sammy.
He arrived around 1 hour later with two fresh pizzas.
"Come innn!"
She grinned and literally pulled the pizza out of his hands.
"Top one's yours"
He took off his shoes and bumped onto the couch.
Sammy sat down next to him handing him his pizza.
"How was work?", she asked and took a big bite.
"A'right. How 'bout your day? Where's Archie?"
"My day... well I slept in until 2pm and haven't had anything to eat since. Archie's at band practice."
"Sounds interesting.", he smirked and tabbed something in his phone.
"Everything fine between you 'n Anne?"
"Yeah sure. It's perfect. How 'bout you 'n Johnny?"
Sammy answered with a hit against his shoulder.
"It's going perfect as well. We just had our first time together and everything's just amazing. He even proposed!", she joked, playing his game.
"Oh mi gosh really? Well I bet he's so good in bed isn't he? I can imagine that he's a sex god!"
"Gawd Jordan stop it! This is disgusting.", she laughed and put the empty plate onto the table.
Jordan looked confused that she already finished the pizza.
"Oh come on just admit that you like him."
"Shut. Up. Finish your pizza. And then go."
They both laughed their asses off and joked around until sometime around 6pm.
Jordan left with the excuse that he has a date with Anne later.
Archie came home at 9.30pm.
They talked about what they could do tomorrow and decided to go shopping.
Well, Sammy decided and Archie had to give in because nobody can change a girl's decision to go shopping.

"Archeyyyyyy!!!!"
She ran into his room and jumped right on top of him.
"Gosh, have you lost your mind?", he asked looking at her sleepily.
"Get up we leave in 30 minutes!!"
She happily jumped through his room, opened the curtains and pulled his blanket off him.
"But everything else in your brain is still alright?"
He took back his blanket and turned around to sleep again.
"Archie you got exactly 30 minutes. Hurry up! And don't fall asleep again."
With that she left the room, leaving the door open.
Archie just put the pillow over his head and groaned something.

30 minutes later Archie wasn't ready of course.
He wasn't in bed anymore though.
"Archieeeee!", Sammy screamed from downstairs, ready to leave.
"What? I'm doing my best but 30 minutes is impossible!", he shouted back.
"What takes you so long man?"
"Ughh calm down, Smallie, I'm here."
He half ran down the stairs and put on his shoes.
"I drive.", said Sammy.

When they arrived at the shopping centre Archie wasn't as convinced as he was yesterday.
He was used to many people but not to many people fighting for something like clothes.
He never liked shopping.
"Okay, I want to go to..."
He wasn't even listening anymore.
It was impossible to remember which shop was which.
"Do you think the green or the black one fits me better?"
She pointed at some tops and held them in front of her to show him what it looks like.
"Uh I don't know, Sammy, you gotta find out yourself."
He seemed to be clueless about all the clothes and shops.
"Well you aren't much of a help."
She turned around to look into the mirror and sighed.
"Maybe the green one is too much color. Black is better."
"Omg excuse me. Uhm I'm a big fan of your band, can we take a picture together?"
Sammy turned around to see some girls all over her brother.
She groaned annoyed and went away.
No way she would watch those little girlies flirt with her brother.
Archie soon came after her and made an excusing gaze.
"I'm sorry. I can't just say no."
"I know I understand."
She turned her attention to the shirts again.
"You should really try the Skid Row shirt. This one's really sick."
She looked at it and shrugged.
"Sure."
"Do you listen to them?"
"Yeah sometimes."
"Cool."
That's pretty much how they spent the day.
Archie tried his best to support her choices and Sammy also bought a new leather jacket for her brother.
She was really happy that Archie came with her.
After all they still had a lot of fun and they spent time together that's the most important part.