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

Just friends.

"I feel like there's still something missing."
Archie sighed and sat back down on the couch.
"What exactly do you think is still missing?", he asked his sister.
"I don't know."
She felt bad because she's been keeping Archie and Richard in the studio 3 hours longer than planned now.
"Maybe we just leave it the way it is now and as soon as you have an idea about what you want it to be different or whatever we can come back.", suggested Richard.
Unsure she nodded and looked at Archie who raised an eyebrow at her.
"Don't force yourself into recording, it will end up sounding like crap."
"Okay then if you say so."
The boys nodded and they left the studio together.
"Sleep over it. The perfect idea will come when you give it a chance to evolve. Don't think about it all the time.", said Richard and went into the opposite direction.
"He's right, Smallie. It's okay. It's your first time recording songs. Don't expect it to go as you want it to right away. I remember my first song, it sounded like shit. I had to record it more than 20 times. It took me more than 5 months until it sounded the way I wanted it to."
At least this gave her more confidence.
"You know I'm hungry. Let's grab a Pizza before we head home."
"Yes sounds great."
She smiled up at her brother and felt happy to have him here.
He supported her wherever he could.
She's so lucky to have him as her brother.

"Saaaaam!!!"
Archie screamed from downstairs for the 5th time already.
"Ughh what is it??", Sammy asked annoyed.
Is it too much to ask to watch a movie in peace?
The boys came like 30 hours ago.
Ever since she's been waiting for the moment that one of them would call her.
It had never happened that she wasn't forced to go downstairs when they came over.
There has always been a stupid reason.
And by stupid she means stupid.
"Can you come down please?"
Yes, of course.
Just like always.
Well it would be the first time she'd see Johnny after what happened.
She had no idea if any of them remembers what happened that night.
She thought about changing before she'd go downstairs but let it be.
It was only the boys.
She doesn't care anymore what she looks like when they're around.
So she walked down in sweatpants, a shirt that she stole from Archie - not to mention that it was like 3 sizes too big - and her hair in a messy bun.
Well to be honest she indeed felt better when she saw Middy having the same hairstyle.
The boys greeted her by waving at her simply.
Johnny barely looked at her.
She noticed a slight smirk on Middy's face.
Dear god please make him forget what he saw at the party.
"We got a question.", Archie simply stated and gestured her to sit down.
She did so and looked at him.
"Ask away."
"Well, you might have heard about the hometown show in 3 days."
It wasn't really a question.
He probably just expected her to know about it.
They'd have a hometown show in 3 days.
Playing here for the first time after their world tour.
It's gonna be huge.
The got so many fans here over the years.
"Yes, I have. What about it?"
"I know this is a big thing to ask but... uhm we thought that you might want to open for us that day."
He did not just say.
No way.
Unable to believe what she just heard she stared at him in shock.
"I wasn't sure if we should really ask you because you don't have a band that can play along to your songs and some of the songs aren't even finished yet but we'll work something out and I'd be so happy because this is such a great opportunity for you. There'll be around 12000 people and all of them would get to know you and I believe at least half of them will love your music."
"Archie..."
She was still speechless.
He was right, it would be a great opportunity but she has never played in front of more than 100 people.
How is he supposed to play in front of 12000 people?
12000 people looking at her.
What if she plays the wrong notes?
"Smallie?"
Archie interrupted her worries.
"It's okay if you feel uncomfortable about this. I know it's a lot to ask."
"No. I'll do it."
Uff where is the self confidence coming from suddenly?
"Really? That's amazing."
"But.. am I going to play alone? Like only the piano?"
"Ah no I think I can play along. Or Johnny because I might be busy.", he smirked and winked at Johnny who looked up for the first time during this conversation.
He didn't look that happy though.
"We didn't talk about that part..", he muttered more to himself than to anyone else.
"Sorry? Can you stop mumbling bro."
Just now Sammy realized that neither of them had a cigarette or beer.
"I think's it's better if you do that because you recorded the guitar and I have no idea how to play the songs.", Johnny said to Archie.
Ha.
As if it would be a problem to him to learn the songs by ear.
"We'll see. But.. you still have 3 days so you can at least learn them in case I won't be able to play for whatever reason."
"And what reason might that be?"
Seems like Johnny tries everything to avoid playing with her.
Archie sighed.
He was clearly annoyed by him.
"Johnny... for example an interview? And anyway. What's your fucking problem? You never had a problem when it came to helping her or just simply to play guitar. And don't say anything stupid now."
He looked at Johnny as if he was about to beat the shit out of him.
Normally Johnny would shout back at him now.
He wasn't the kind of man who would let Archie get what he wants.
But he knew Archie was right.
It is stupid to act like an idiot because of some fight at a party.
He should've just talked to her.
It's not like he's a child.
But he's acting like one.
He nodded at Archie and stood up.
"Let's talk.", he said to Sammy.
The both of them went upstairs followed by the boy's confused looks.
Well, Middy wasn't as confused as Archie and Tazzy.
He couldn't remember everything but there was still this picture of them on couch on his mind.

"This is so stupid.", said Johnny as he looked out of the window.
He was afraid to turn around and face her.
"Yes, you are stupid.", stated Sammy and sat down on her bed.
"Wait what? Why am I stupid now?"
Suddenly he did face her.
"Because you..."
"Okay stop. You are right. I am stupid. And it's stupid to argue about something like this now. Let's just learn the damn songs."
He looked around but realized that there was no guitar in her room.
"You know what your problem is? You are trying so bad to make yourself believe that this is over when you tell yourself that it is over. But it's not. Eventually you'll find yourself thinking about this again. You'll try to avoid me for the rest of your life because you can't grow your damn balls and tell me what you feel. I mean sure just try to push your problems away but don't come back and pick me up from the kitchen floor again then. I don't know if you acted like this because you were drunk and actually didn't mean it or if you were drunk and went further than you wanted to. But..."
"Stop."
Neither of them said a word.
Wow.
Did she really just tell him to grow balls to admit that he likes her?
She didn't even know if he really likes her.
"I was drunk. And I did go further than I would have gone normally.
But I...", he paused to think about what he wanted to say.
'Oh gawd don't you dare make my life complicated now' she thought.
"I just went too far... I'm sorry."
"You just went too far? That's all?"
She was a little disappointed.
She really did expect him to tell her something else.
"Yes. Sometimes I do things when I'm drunk. I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable with this. We are friends. That's all."
They are friends.
That's all.
That's what she used to tell herself.
Are they?
"Yes. Good. Just friends."
And then it just hit her.
The song.
It sounded too happy.