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

Top of the hill

"Johnny? What are you doing here?"
Sammy stared at him, a bit shocked.
"I was just.. eh.. I wanted to show you something."
Jordan must have felt superfluous in this weird 'conversation'.
Sammy kept staring at Johnny, confused that he wouldn't move or say anything.
It was a teacher who released them from their rigid by asking Jordan to hold the door open.
"What do you want to show me?"
"I can't tell you yet. Can you come with me?"
Sammy looked over to Jordan
He nodded quietly and gave her a smile to tell her it's alright to go.
Johnny was acting weird. Different.
He lead her to his car and drove off after she entered.
Sammy wanted to ask so many questions but she kept her mouth shut because he didn't seem like talking.
The ride wasn't too long, only about 15 minutes.
He stopped in the middle of nowhere and left the car.
Sammy thought he just stopped to have a pee or something but he waited for her to follow him out.
She did so and that was the first time she saw him smiling that day.
It wasn't a big, happy smile, but it was a smile and that was way better than the curious face.
"Is this the place you wanted to show me?"
She didn't expect him to say yes now but the damn silence got on her nerves.
She had to ask something.
"No we aren't there yet. We need to walk up there.", he turned around and pointed to the top of the hill.
Let's be honest, walking wasn't Sammy's thing at all but as soon as they reached the top she was completely overwhelmed.
"Wow.", was all she could say to the breathtaking view.
The valley was full of dust and haze and it looked like you were above the clouds.
"Wait till it's dark. It's even more impressive."
Oh yeah right Johnny was here too.
She totally forgot about him.
"How come I've never been here?"
He didn't answer.
Instead he walked to the little bench and sat down.
They waited there for about one hour and it finally started dawning.
"Why are we here?"
"I wanted to show you the view."
"Okay and now the real reason."
Johnny sighed.
"We need to talk."
And there it was again, the good old silence.
"What is going on lately? I mean what is this?", he asked, sounding lost, desperate to find an answer.
Sammy turned her head and looked at his questioning face.
She couldn't give him more than a shrug.
"I like you.."
Woah.
That came unexpected.
He actually said that, didn't he?
"Say something. Please."
He shifted closer, just a tiny bit.
"What should I say?"
Still so many question floating through her head.
Why did he take her up here to tell her that he liked her?
"Just.. something. Just say something, Sammy."
Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath and exhaled.
"I like you too I guess.."
"You guess?"
Of course she did.
Wasn't it obvious?
"I don't know when that happened..", he whispered now and looked down to his feet.
It almost seemed like he tried to take back his words.
Did he expect a different reaction?
"Neither do I..."
"This is so awkward now."
"Hmm."
He looked back up.
If Sammy knew better she would say there was a spark of something like hope, no, determination in his eyes.
But he wouldn't give her the time to take in all those details.
The only detail she noticed was the warming smile on his face before he leaned forward.
And all at once all the thoughts were gone.
It was just him and her now.
Gently, very gently he pressed his soft lips against hers.
It was such a slight touch that Sammy thought she just imagined it first but as soon as he was sure that she wouldn't push him away he shifted even closer and started moving his lips in sync with her.
It wasn't a passionate kiss at all.
It was a kiss full of feelings that's been waiting to come out for such a long time.
Sammy kept her eyes closed when he pulled back, afraid to look into his eyes.
She could feel his breath against her and their foreheads were still leaning against each other.
Slowly she opened her eyes just to see that his eyes were closed too.
"I went crazy when I realized that I fell for you."
Now his brown eyes stared into Sammy's.
"I thought you didn't like me the way I did and Archie.."
"Stop, Johnny."
Sammy needed silence.
All the worries she had over the last weeks...
All the worries about him liking somebody else...
For nothing.
Just to find out that he's been feeling the same way she did all the time.
It was hilarious.
"Sammy?"
Yes.
She didn't say it.
But he didn't wait for an answer anyways.
"I really do like you."
"I like you too, Johnny. I did all the time."
She whispered.
There was no reason to whisper.
But it was her mind telling her to whisper.
"I guess we both were super ridiculous.", he laughed at the thought of them liking each other but being too dumb to admit it.
"Yeah we were."
"I'm glad I brought you up here though."
Sammy gave him a smile.
"Can I kiss you again?"
"Why do you ask? You didn't ask when you did it for the first time..."
He just smirked and put his lips onto hers just milliseconds later.
If this is a dream don't wake me up.