I had actually met her a year prior to when we actually got together. She didn't know my feelings then and she really didn't remember me at first. When I had met her again later that year, she had broken up with her boyfriend, who was also her manager. I guess I caught her a bad time. Like the day she broke up with him.
She was in a little coffee shop, crying over a mocha, and it wasn't even spilt. Her head was down on the table so she didn't see me watching her as I ordered my own grande mocha. She was wearing black jeans and a cute little red top that I couldn't read, but was sure it said something like "Princess" or "Angel" on it.
I was simply stopping in to get my morning coffee, as I always did at Café Java. I would usually sit and read the paper or a paperback novel in the corner, but seeing her there just made my heart break. I didn't like to see people hurt and it almost always made me cry to see others crying. Fearing that I would break down into sypathy tears, I decided I would approach her. I walked up to her and simply told her that no matter what the problem was, the Lord never gives us something we can't handle. I then tried to walk away. But she called me back. At that point, I didn't realize it was her, but once I realized who she was, my heart skipped a beat. The Supergirl herself wanted to talk to me, or me to talk to her, I didn't know which. But taking my grande mocha, I sat down across from her and we talked. We talked about lost loves and loves we knew we could never have. She never once asked for my name. She didn't even realize that I now knew who she was, but that became apparent when I pulled out her album from my backpack slung over the back of the chair. She smiled at me, wiping the tears away. "So I take it you want an autograph," she stated, staring at herself on the jacket cover.
I smiled back. "No. I already have one, but thank you." She brought her gaze up to meet mine. "I've already met you once," I replied to her unasked question.
"So why the CD?"
I looked down and ran my fingers over the cover. "Well, I haven't really been able to stop listening to it. It got promoted to bath-time CD within a week."
She raised an eyebrow at me. "Bath-time CD?"
"Yeah. Those are the CDs that get put in the stereo when I take a bath. Since I can't change them without electrocuting myself, I usually end up listening to the whole album." She nodded her understanding. "Anyway, I'm a fan, yes. And yes, it was the Backstreet Boys who opened my eyes and ears to you, and for that I'm grateful."
"So am I," she said. "It's so wonderful getting to perform with them. Their fans have been so welcoming."
"Well, we try," I replied, sipping my coffee and then fingering the jewel case in my hands. I really didn't know why I pulled it out, but I guess it was because I needed something to occupy my hands. I was nervous sitting there with Krystal Harris, the first artist signed to the Backstreet Boys label KBNHA. I tried hard not to stare too long and not to get caught staring. I didn't want to turn her off to me so quickly. I wanted to be her friend, if anything. It was still hard for me to admit that I had a crush on the artist before me. I was still coming to grips with my own sexuality.
She then did something I wasn't expecting. She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. I thought I was going to die in that moment. I did my best to hide my elation at the simple gesture, knowing that it was only in gratitude. "Thank you for listening," she said softly.
"You're welcome," I replied before I had registered I had said anything.
She slid a piece of paper across the table to me, saying, "Email me. We'll chat." She then got up to leave. She still didn't know my name, which felt odd to me.
I grabbed at the paper and pushed it into my pocket as she walked past me. "Krystal," I said and she turned around to look at me. Her small stature reminded me of myself. The short dark hair and green eyes made me quiver and the piercings just melted my heart. I smiled at her and said softly, "Thank you."
Quizzically, she looked at me and strided back over to where I was turned in my chair to look at her. "You're welcome," she whispered in my ear, her breath falling almost lustfully on my ear lobe. Maybe I was seeing something, but I thought at that moment that Krystal was smitten with me also.
I sat there in Café Java just staring at the album cover in my hands. My mocha had gone cold, but I didn't really care. Krystal wanted me to email her, but she didn't know my name. Somehow we had made a connection. I truly hoped that things were going to work out in my favor.
