This is it, my sequel to "Keep on Singing". It's going to center around Johnny and Cia and how they try to work out this whole relationship-thing. The others are going to show up, too, of course, but the chapters are going to be written in Johnny's and Cia's perspectives only. I know there's a female OC involved, but I love my Cia, and I hope you're going to give the story a chance. For those that haven't been scared off yet, thanks for sticking with me and have fun reading! ^^
Johnny
"So how's the not-that-kind-of-girl-kind of girl doing?" his father asks, and Johnny rolls his eyes.
"She's doing fine," he replies. "And would you please stop calling her that?"
"No," his father replies, followed by a laugh. "It's just too funny. I bet everyone knew, except for her maybe."
Johnny rolls his eyes again. He has to admit, after their kiss, so many things suddenly made sense. Ash telling him that he lllllllikes Cia. Mike telling them they could go back to being lovey-dovey.
They all could have given him a hint, though. If they really knew and he didn't. Although Ash tried, maybe, but he isn't sure about that.
"The boys are still making comments on you having your first girlfriend," his father goes on.
Johnny shrugs. "They have a point. Cia is my first girlfriend."
His father looks at him for a moment, and he wears that smirk on his face, so Johnny expects another comment on Cia being the not-that-kind-of-girl-kind of girl.
To his surprise his father asks, "When do I get to meet her?" He taps against the class separating them. "You know, it'll take a while with all the paperwork and such."
Johnny clears his throat. "I … uhm … I don't think we have reached the parents-meeting-level yet. We have only been dating for a couple of weeks."
"It's been ten weeks," his father replies. "That's more than a couple of weeks."
"I didn't know you were keeping count," Johnny replies with a twist of his mouth.
His father shrugs. "I don't have much else to do around here."
It reminds Johnny of his father's situation. Not that he could ever forget that his father is in prison. But he forgets sometimes what this means for his father. But things are looking good so far. Yes, he has to stay in prison a bit longer than the other gang members because he broke out once, but still, it could be worse. Or so he keeps telling himself.
"So?" his father asks all of a sudden, and Johnny realizes that some moments in silence have passed.
"So what?" he asks.
"So do I get to meet her soon?"
"Well, as I said we haven't…"
"...reached the parents-meeting-level yet." His father rolls his eyes. "I heard you the first time. But you'll talk to her about it, right? 'Cause I'd really like to meet her."
"Okay," Johnny replies. "I will."
"Good." His father smiles. "What else is new?"
"Not much. Still rehearsing for Mr. Moon's new show."
"And how's that album of yours coming along?"
"Good, good," Johnny replies. If you can call only having one song done good, that is. So far, it has worked out. He's still sticking to the song he turned Cia's poem into and he is still amazed by how far he's gotten with that. But he needs to start working on more songs soon. Maybe he should talk to Ash again. Her first album has been topping the charts for weeks. He makes a mental note to give Ash a call later.
"What about you, Dad?"
Luckily, his father takes the bait and starts telling him about what has happened in prison lately.
On his way back to his truck, Johnny keeps thinking about how to bring the whole meeting his dad-thing up.
It's true, he and Cia really haven't reached the parents-meeting-level yet.
Okay, they haven't reached many levels yet.
Ten weeks - yes, he knows it's been ten weeks because he keeps count on that, but it still feels like this amazing kiss on stage has just happened yesterday - and they haven't done much more than making out. Okay, making out a lot, but still.
It's not that he doesn't want to take the next step, it's just that he doesn't know how to do that.
He doesn't want to push Cia to do something she maybe isn't ready for yet.
And it might have to do with the fact that he isn't sure if he is ready to take the next step yet.
Not that he doesn't want to.
He's just … well … scared? Confused? Still trying to figure things out?
Yes, the last one sounds right.
The rest, too, but he doesn't want to admit that.
As he walks up to his truck, he looks at the animal in the passenger seat. She hasn't discovered him yet as she's looking at her phone, and he takes a moment to look at her a little longer.
Suddenly she looks up and the moment she sets eyes on him, she smiles. He returns the smile, then he walks the last few steps to his car and climbs inside.
He and Cia share a quick kiss before he starts the engine and drives away.
"So, how's your dad?" Cia asks.
"He's fine."
Maybe he should tell her now that his father wants to meet her, but somehow, it doesn't feel right.
"Hey, wanna go get a pizza after work?" he changes the topic.
"Sure. Takeout?" she asks.
"If you want to. We could eat at my place."
"Great!" Something in her voice tells him that she's smiling. "After a day with Ms. Crawly at the office I'd rather spend the evening with you alone."
Johnny laughs a little at that. "I thought she's changed for the better?"
"She has. But still, she can be challenging sometimes."
She joins his laugh.
They drive for a few moments in silence, until Cia speaks up.
"Oh, is that Lance over there?"
Johnny quickly looks out of the window. "Yes, could be. Ash mentioned he has gigs at a bar around here every Wednesday. Might be on his way to rehearsals with his band."
"Are they really keeping work and private life separated?"
Johnny shrugs. "They're trying. Ash doesn't go to his gigs and he doesn't come to her concerts. It seems to work for them."
"I still can't believe they got back together."
"He seems to have changed. And I trust Ash on this one. If it is what she wants, I'm fine with it."
"Was that the speech you had figured out for this intervention thing Rosita had planned when she heard they're back together?"
"It would have been," Johnny replies. "If Ash hadn't just turned on her heel and left the building."
"Rosita still mad at them?"
"No, I think she's accepted it. It is Ash's decision after all. And she's happy. However surprising that is."
"I still can't believe they got back together."
"You know what I can't believe?" Johnny says as he stops at a red light and turns his head to look at Cia.
She gives him a questioning look.
"That we got together," he says. And it's true. He still can't believe it. It happened so fast, and he didn't see it coming. Yet, he wouldn't want it any other way.
He smiles at her and Cia returns the smile.
Then she leans in closer and their lips touch, just for a second, but that's never enough for them. It never has been.
Their lips touch again, longer this time, they would have deepened the kiss, but that moment, a car horn reminds Johnny that they've only stopped at a red light.
They jump apart, and Johnny lifts his hand as a gesture of apology for the driver behind them.
"Sorry!" he says quickly although he knows they can't hear them and drives on.
Next to him, Cia giggles.