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

no random selfies

"So we'll play Kuopio Festival tomorrow and we still got no bassist. Neither do we have a drummer.", stated Sammy as she sat on her couch with Johnny and Noah each next to her and Archie, Tazzy and Middy on the other side of the small table in front of the couch.
"How about I play bass? Or drums..", asked Johnny and smiled happily.
He truly wanted to help.
"Nah Johnny-boi. They need to figure this out on their own.", Archie said and turned to Sammy, apologizing, "I'm sorry, Smallie, but I cannot let Johnny play with your band all the time. The people come to hear your music, not to see him."
"Yeah you're right. We need to find somebody on our own. We'll just do acoustic then tomorrow?"
Noah agreed by nodding.
Sammy had told Archie about the incident with Rick.
He immediately wanted to beat the shit out of him but Sammy told him to let it be.
Rick didn't show up again and neither has he tried to contact her or Noah.
"A'right then I gotta head back home. I still have to pack up my stuff.."
Noah got up, hugged Sammy quickly and made his way to the front door to leave just seconds after.
"If anyone needs me I'm upstairs. Will go over the songs again before we leave."
With that Sammy left the boys on their own and escaped in her room but was soon joined by Johnny.
He firmly knocked first even though he knew that he could come in.
Sammy ignored him first, searching for the lyric papers somewhere in between her schoolbooks.
However they ended up there.
It took her some time to realize that Johnny still stood next to her door waiting for her to pay attention to him.
He smiled when she looked at him but there was something on his mind clearly.
"Are you okay?", Sammy asked and leaned back against her desk, looking straight at him now.
"I am. Are you?"
"Yep."
Now he walked through the room and eyed the guitar he gave to her once.
"We need to talk."
Every time he said that he started being curious.
"I suppose."
This time he wasn't excited as usually.
This time he was rather calm and sat down on her bed.
"It's been almost three weeks since we... since we kissed. And ever since we haven't talked it out."
"What do you want to talk out? It happened, you meant it I believe.."
"Yeah I did. I mean I do. I still do. I don't want it to be something like a 'it-just-happened-kiss' that's not how I planned it."
Sammy sighed and looked down to her feet.
It had to come to this conversation.
She had been afraid of it for the last 3 weeks.
Of course she realized that there had been feelings.
At least on her side, she wasn't that sure about him back then.
But now that they kissed she wasn't sure how to act - mostly towards him.
"Sammy?"
"Look, Johnny.. we need to talk about this.. somewhere else. Archie or whoever could come in any second and I need to be sure that this.. that this is privat."
Johnny nodded and stood up from her bed.
"You can come over to my house. Just call me."
"Yeah I will."
Slowly he walked over to her and smiled.
Sammy though still looked at her shoes.
Johnny lifted his hand and touched her cheek which caused her to look up to him.
"I hate that I can't come and watch you play tomorrow."
"Just come.. you have a car, a driving license. I don't see a problem."
"Nah. I mean I would love to but... it's better if I stay here. Archie's getting suspicious you know."
They both knew he was right.
Archie made jokes of them dating sometimes - even though they don't - but he got curious when it really came to a conversation about them.
"I'll see you in two days then.."
"Yeah. Call me."
Sammy nodded and smiled as he leaned down and kissed her cheek lightly.
"Bye Sams."
"Bye Johnny."

"Sams you're up for soundcheck!", Archie yelled from outside the dressing room.
"I'm coming!"
But first I gotta check Johnny's snap.

Pff, weirdo.

Soundcheck was over quickly.
There wasn't much to check since it was only piano and Noah's acoustic guitar.
Archie just watched them now and then do their thing but would hang at the bar most of the time.
Sammy told him to make videos but even when they played he wasn't around.
At least Sammy couldn't see him backstage or in the crowd.
Strange.
He was kinda quiet lately.
She'd ask him why later.
If you forget about the fact that the whole acoustic set up was just a compromise solution it was actually a great show.
Both Sammy and Noah and also the crowd enjoyed it.
After the show Sammy found Archie in her dressing room - asleep.
Well half asleep.
He opened his eyes when she came in and mumbled something but closed his eyes again.
"Heyy Arch, are you okay?", she asked worried and sat down next to him.
"Yeah I'm fine, Smallie. Just tired."
He was so quiet, Sammy could barely understand a word he said.
"You don't look very well. Do you want Noah to drive us home?"
He shook his head but the way he looked made Sammy decide otherwise.
There was no way she would stay here with him in this state.
Noah completely understood and agreed that this would be the best.
After packing the stuff back into the car they made their way back home.
Archie was asleep in the backseat the whole ride.
Sammy was a bit worried but it was probably just flu.
They arrived home in the middle of the night.
Noah suggested to stay and keep an eye on Archie but Sammy sent him home after they carried the stuff into her house.
Now that Archie was asleep she couldn't really do anything but wait until tomorrow to check if he feels better then.
Her whole body was still of adrenaline and there was no way she could fall asleep now.
Sitting on her bed, staring at the wall she thought about calling Johnny.
It was almost 4am he wouldn't be awake.
But on the other hand he said she could always call him.
It was quite disappointing when he didn't answer and the answering machine came up but what did she think.
Why would he answer her call at 4am?
The more happy she was when his name popped up on the screen 5 minutes later.
The happiness didn't last long though.
She had probably just woken him up.
Ugh.
'Answer the damn call now, Sammy.'
"Johnny?"
"Hey whats up?" - of course he sounded sleepily.
"Did I wake you up? I'm so sorry!"
"Nah don't be it's fine. Are you okay?"
"Well yeah I am. Archie isn't. Probably got the flu."
"Are you at home?"
"Yep. Noah drove us. I can't sleep."
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that. Well lucky you I'm awake now."
"Yeah.. I guess. I'm sorry."
"No worries. How was it? Had fun?"
"Yes it was amazing. Sadly Archie couldn't see it."
"I bet he would've loved it. Well I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"Sorry that I don't have any videos now."
"Aw that's fine I'm sure someone puts theirs on youtube."
"Yeah probably."
"Do you wanna come over tomorrow?"
"Uhm well yeah but I'll have to see if Archie's state gets worse."
"Oh right.."

"Uhhh Johnny no random selfies please!"
"Why?"
"Because I always think it's important when I get a notification."
"So I'm not important?"
"No."
"Ouch."
"One gotta live with the truth."
"The truth is that you secretly want me to send pics."
"Nope."
"Yes you do. You wouldn't complain."
"The only truth here is that you send them because you want one back."
"Well I'm not denying that."
"See."
"Maybe I stop if you send one."
"Nah. I don't believe you. It's dark in here anyways."
"Turn the lights on."
"No I'm lazy."
"So am I."
"Why are your lights turned on then?"
"I just turned them off."
"Oh no what a shame."
"Don't be so ironic."
"I'm sorry Mr."
"You want to apologize? Oh I know a good way to do that."
"Forget about it."
"Nah. I'll stop if you send a pic."
"I'll end this call."
"Sure. You are the one who called in the first place."
"I hate you."
"Aw no you don't."
"That's the problem."
"Sams..?"
"What?"
"You know I hate to cut this short but.. I'm super tired. I will fall asleep in the next 5 minutes just to warn you."
"Hmmm. I'll have to talk to myself then."
"I'd love to keep talking to you but I need to get some sleep and you do too."
"I know.."
"Sweet dreams of me."
"I guess you're dreaming about me anyways even if I don't tell you to."
"Who knows.." - She could literally see him smirk right now.
"Goodnight Johnny."
"Night Sammy."
"Niiight."
"Night."
"Ugh this will never end."
"End the call, I won't."
"Okay, freak. Goodnight.
"Bye."