Crystal's Story

Crystal sighed pleasantly into her pillow. Gracefully, she had woken up at her usual time. It was eight in the morning, but her room was perfectly dark. It was time to open the blinds and greet the day. Crystal slowly sat up and ran her decorated fingers through her long, brunette hair. As she stretched, her hand brushed up against a sleepy cat, Blue. He gave a mew of protest.

"Sorry, Blue. It's time to get up," Crystal chirped happily.

Crystal slid graceful off her queen-sized mattress and walked barefooted across the wooden floor, over to the window that took up the farthest wall in her bedroom. The blinds flew open with a swift movement. At first, Crystal winced but then smiled as she saw a beautiful blue bird perched on the tree outside her window. Today is going to be a beautiful day, she thought to herself.

Her head turned as her phone buzzed where it was charged on her dresser. She walked over and picked up the smartphone to see two new messages. The first was from her love, Ashton, wishing her a good day and to say he loves her. What a routine text. The second was from Dehlilah, "Please adopt me." Crystal composed a new message for her and replied, "I wish"

Dehlilah was a nice girl, but Crystal never met her family. She didn't know why Dehlilah would ever want to leave her family. Wasn't having a family better than not having one at all? Not having a family to come home to? She was better off.

Delilah smiled "Sure do you still have those clothes I left at your house?"
She didn't know Kay well but she was willing to meet new people. Honestly she was sort of judge mental and high maintenance. Which was why the only people she really trusted were Sam, crystal, and zoey.

She once again Checked her phone for a message from Sam. None, of course. She rolled her eyes in annoyance who doesn't at least text their girlfriends? Though honestly she knew she couldn't stay mad at him. She loved him too much, it sort of scred her.

"Hey can crystal come too?" she asked spinning her keys to the range rover around her fingers "I'll drive" she added as a bribe.

What am I going to do today? Crystal thought as she dried her hair with a towel and looked for a fitting outfit to wear today. Her boyfriend was on the other side of town, and her two best friends had left for the summer. She was alone for the day - and probably the whole week - but what was new?

After a bit of thinking, Crystal decided to spend the day out shopping. What better way to spend a day on her own than to spend her parents' money? She headed downstairs with a hungry cat close at her heels. First order of business: breakfast. She fixed her old, spoiled Blue with some fancy cat mix and settled herself down with a plain slice of toast.

Crystal curiously eyed her phone. Usually Ashton would've texted her to see what her plans were by now. Why hadn't he?

Oh, right. He was with his family. She had met them once, but wasn't quite impressed. Ashton's little sister was sweet, but his mother... Didn't seem to like Crystal too much. Whatever. Ashton was hers no matter what.

Crystal picked up her phone and texted Ashton, "Hi sweetheart. How's ur family? Tell them I said hi. Miss u."

And with that, Crystal started her day of purchasing needless merchandise.

Just as Crystal was walking out the door and headed to her car, her phone buzzed in her hand. Expecting a quick reply from Ashton, she was disappointed to see it was Dehlilah again. With a heavy sigh, she opened the text, "wanna come over to my friend Zoe's house?"

Zoe? Zoey Willisom? Crystal knew of her, but had never really spoken to her. But as everyone else in the town, Crystal knew where she lived. She shrugged and got into her car. Instead of her initial plan to spend her day in a clothing store, she was going to meet new people. Why not?

Crystal tossed her hair over her shoulder and texted Dehlilah back, "Yah, on my way, chica." She tossed her phone in the passenger seat and drove off down the road.

~~~~~~~

Crystal pulled up in Zoe's driveway and parked behind Dehlilah's car. She checked her reflection in the rear-view mirror before picking up her purse and cell phone and stalked up the sidewalk to the front door. For a moment, she hesitated. What was she supposed to say? Hi. I'm Crystal. I know you don't know me, and I don't know you. But my friend texted me to come over here, and I just happened to know where you lived.

I'll just stick with the first sentence.

With a deep breath, Crystal knocked.

Crystal was surprised by such a warm welcome. When Zoey pulled her in for a hug, Crystal's first reaction was to push her away to keep her dignity, but she decided otherwise. Best to make a good impression. You could never have too many friends.

"Uh, hi," Crystal breathed out once she was finally released. She gave Zoey a winning smile that she hoped was friendly, and then fixed her hair as she followed Zoey into the house.

What a quaint little house. Crystal thought to herself as she gazed over the tiny room before her. Well, maybe it wasn't tiny, but compared to her house, this was considerably smaller. She liked it, though. It was cute.

Crystal found Dehlilah sitting on the couch. She was the only familiar face in the room. The other girl was completely unfamiliar to her. She decided to greet them both, "Hello," Crystal gave a single wave with the hand that had her phone in it.

Kat just quietly sat on Zoey's couch watching as things went by. Crystal, a complete stranger to Kat, arrived just a short time after Zoey, Kat, and Delilah. Kat usually by now would be entertaiing the whole group since no good t.v. shows where on, but she just sat unusally quiet as she stared at what the t.v. was left on last.

When Zoey got up to get her tea ad said everyone else could go out to the porch, Kat waited util the two others girls had gone, making sure she was the last out, icludig holding the door for Zoey. She had filled her arms to full with glasses and a pitcher of tea.

''Man it's warm today, huh?'' She asked akwardly scratching the back of her neck.

Ashton walked out the door with a happy grin on his face. He had just heard from Crystal and he remembered how they met right before he had gone away. The two had somehow kept in touch. 

He waited until he was in his car before texting her back. 

** Hey Crystal, I'm back in town, want to hang out? I'll come pick you up, x Ash

The tall Asian boy slid his phone shut and started driving around aimlessly, revisiting some places which held a lot of memories. That tree... The river.... He couldn't help but feel so relaxed and comfortable. This was where he grew up. This was Ashton's home, and he would be sad to leave it again eventually. Then he spotted an old flower shop that was run by one of his old friend's mom. Walking in quickly, he bought a simple bouquet of spring time flowers. Pink, white, yellow... It matched his mood. Would Crystal like them too? 

Crystal looked around at the girls awkwardly. It was strange being in a place that she really didn't know anyone. Dehlilah may be the one person she knew, but the more she thought about it... How much did she really know? How much did she really know about anyone? Crystal couldn't think of one person she could possibly know a considerable amount about. The closest person she has ever been with was Ashton.

Ashton... He still hasn't texted her back. His family must be keeping him busy.

Before she could think of much else, Zoey announced her boredom and a change of plans. They were going to sit outside. Ugh, really? It was hot outside, and the wind would mess up her hair. Oh well. Maybe now without the TV as a distraction, she could get to know these girls more. Especially this red-headed girl she has never seen before...

Once Crystal settled herself into a metal chair positioned around a matching table on the porch outside, she looked over to find the red head. Dehlilah had already sat down next to Crystal, but Zoey and the red head were still inside. She could see Zoey coming toward the door with arms full and... There she was. The red head was holding the door.

"Man, it's warm today, huh?" her voice didn't seem familiar either.

Once they were all outside and relaxing in the afternoon sun, Crystal opened her mouth to speak. She wanted to ask the red head what her name was, at least, but before she could say anything, her phone vibrated. Crystal looked down to see what she has been waiting for all morning: Ashton.

Hey Crystal, I'm back in town, want to hang out? I'll come pick you up, x Ash

His family must have finally let him leave their grasp. He wanted to hang out? Crystal didn't expect him to be available for the rest of the day. What was she supposed to do when she was here with these three girls? Maybe... Maybe they would like to meet him.

Crystal spoke up at last, "Hey, Zoey... My boyfriend wants to meet up. Would it be alright if he come by here and hang out for a little while? He's really cool. You'll like him." Crystal flashed her winning smile at Zoey.

Crystal looked at the red-head... Kat... Curiously. Kat.. She had heard that name before. But from where?

"...She lives with a guy named Ashton. He's like their family friend or something..."

Crystal's head whipped around to look at Zoey. Kat lived with Ashton? Why had she never heard of this? Was this some sort of mistake? Was Ashton not telling her something? This had to be settled. This was too much doubt for Crystal's taste.

"Ashton. Yes, that's my boyfriend," Crystal informed the whole table with a peppy tone, trying to keep the suspicion out of her voice. Then she eyed Kat politely, "I didn't know you knew him."

Another winning smile from Crystal before she dropped her gaze to her phone, quickly forming a reply to Ashton: "Im @ a friend's house. Meet me here. U kno Zoey Willisom? Im @ her house. Come on over."

"He'll be here A.S.A.P," Crystal informed the table. She looked again toward Kat and gave her a smile Crystal hoped was sweet.

Whatever is going on, it will be settled soon.

Kats eyes went wide when name, Ashton, started being said.'' Ah...Uh...So you're dating Ashton?'' She asked in a voice wwhich she tried to make sound as happy and real as possible, but truly sounds akward and sad toned. She gave a fake smile.'' Do you know how he's doing in his college?'' She asked tucking some hair behind her ear and sippig her tea. If there was one person on this world she would rather stay away from her, it would be Ashton Kang. Ever since he left she has missed him like crazy and seeing him, with his girlfriend right there with him is going to heartbreaking for her. Though she guessed she would just have to smile and bear, if she could.

Crystal watched Kat as her eyes went wide. So she didn't know... Somehow, this made it better. At least now Crystal knew that Kat wasn't trying to get in the way of her and Ashton. She didn't even know he was back. This was a good sign. Now all she had to worry about was how Ashton was going to react to seeing a long-lost friend. This thought aroused some new questions. What went on between Kat and Ashton? Were they only friends? Was there something more? How much did Kat know about Ashton? They lived together, so she must know a lot... Could she know more than I do about my own boyfriend?

Crystal focused back in the conversation when she realized a question had been directed toward her, "Do you know how he's doing in his college?" Kat had asked.

"Oh, he's doing fantastic. He's bright, smart, and determined. He succeeds in anything he puts his mind to, and college isn't any different," Crystal answered in a confident tone. She was sincerely proud of Ashton. It was a great feeling to be in a relationship with someone that has such a future ahead of them. With his smarts and Crystal's family money, their future life together would be nothing but perfect.

If anything were to get in the way of her perfect vision of the future, she would be sure to put an immediate stop to it.

''Oh, he's doing fantastic. He's bright, smart, and determined. He succeeds in anything he puts his mind to, and college isn't any different," Crystal had said in a tone that sounded almost like bragging to Kat. Though she just let out a small laugh ans smiled at the thought of Ashton working so hard.'' So he hasn't changed at all, has he?'' She shook her head.'' Yeah that's the Ashton I knew always doing perfectly so long as he believes he can do it.'' She smiled at Crystal.'' He is lucky to have someone as nice, and pretty as you as a girl friend.'' Kat said. she didn't like lying but, truly she was jealous of her.

"My boyfriend died, and now my parents think I'm mentally insane." Zoey blurted out.

Crystal gave Zoey a surprised look. Where did that come from? The way she said it, she either had it built up inside of her, screaming for someone to know, or it was a rapid change of subject. Could it be both? Either way, it wasn't only Crystal giving Zoey a strange look. What were they supposed to say? "Sorry for your loss"?

Crystal hasn't lost anyone special to her. She couldn't compare how Zoey must be feeling. Instead, Crystal imagined scenes from millions of movies she has watched containing deaths of loved ones - scenes where the living grieved in various different ways. Some refused to speak for months on end, and some couldn't stop talking about them. Some were emotional wrecks and brought those around them down into their pit of misery, causing everyone to suffer. How could Zoey possibly be dealing with her loss?

Crystal stood up from her seat when she saw Ashton walking onto the porch. It seemed like forever since she last saw him, even though it hadn't been that long.

"Hey, sweetheart!" Crystal greeted Ashton. She walked over to him and gave him a warm hug, but stopped when she noticed the flowers he held in his hands. "Oh, how sweet. Those are pretty."

Crystal expected nothing less from Ashton. He thought of everything. Over the year since they've been dating, he has been so sweet to her. He got her gifts on a regular basis, even though he knew Crystal had everything she ever needed. It was the thought that counted, he always told her.

Seeing Ashton again warmed Crystal's heart. Ashton wasn't the only boy she had ever dated. On the contrary, she had dated many, many guys before him, but Ashton was different. Ashton gave Crystal a new feeling she hadn't ever experienced before. She hadn't thought about the feeling that often. Honestly, this was the first time she had ever noticed it as a unique feeling. What could it have been? True love? A sense of a place in this world? Whatever it was, Crystal liked it.

Crystal had the capability of getting whatever she wanted. Any guy would fall to their knees to know her, but for the first time, Crystal realized she didn't want just any guy. She wanted Ashton. She couldn't think of herself with anyone else but him.

Crystal looked back at the table where Zoey sat and drank her tea, Dehlilah doing the same, and Kat... She sat, staring at her glass of tea as if some hidden message only she could see lies on the glass. Kat knew Ashton... So why wasn't she up greeting him as Crystal was? Did she think that because Ashton has a new girlfriend means that she doesn't matter at all?

But what does that mean to Crystal? Nothing. Ashton could possibly have forgotten about this girl completely. A jealous feeling washed over Crystal. What if he hadn't forgotten her? Could he possibly still have feelings for her? What would it mean if he did?

No. Crystal refused to let some simple girl steal what meant so much to her. She would have to be on her guard through this whole get-together.

Crystal turned back to give Ashton a loving smile, and pecked a kiss on his cheek. "How is your family? Glad to see you?"

"Kitty Kat"? What type of nickname was that? Without knowing, she had been glaring at Kat. Quickly, she put a smile on her face and looked back to Ashton. Yes, there obviously was a past between the two of them.

Crystal put her arm through his, "Here, Ashton. You can sit by me. We're just talking about whatever, so you'll fit right into the conversation. You could tell everyone all about your time at college. I know I want to hear about it."

Crystal sat down and patted the seat next to her. Dehlilah would sit by his left while Crystal was on her right. Kat sat right beside Crystal, so she could catch every glance between the two of them. Zoey, the host of this little hang-out, was sitting on the opposite side of the table from Crystal. She had on a polite smile, probably ready to keep any awkward moments out of their conversation.