After thirty minutes of deliberation, Kathy and I finally picked an outfit worthy of a first date. I t was a pair of black baggy jeans and a black silk shirt. I wore a red wife beater underneath. I know, it's a bit butch but that's me. I wore black boots and brushed my hair forward accenting my low haircut.
"You look good, Hill," said Kathy admiring my frame. "You think I could get a piece of that?"
"You had your chance sweet stuff," I said giggling. "You really think I look all right? Not too manly? Do I need some lipstick? What about my hair? Damnit I'm a ball of nerves right now."
"You look fine, Hills. Don't worry. If i were Krystal, I would be at awe. Now you better go. You don't want to keep the young diva waiting." Kathy pushed me towards the opened door and kissed me on the cheek. It was a motherly kiss, and I appreciated it.
"Thanks Kathy. I owe you one. I'll be back later with details."
"You better tell me what the hell happened or else your ass is grass, King!" Kathy gave me one more supportive smile and closed the door behind me. I made my way to the hotel lobby fantasizing about Krystal and what could possibly happen that night.
* * *
(Krystal's POV)
I didn't know what to say when that fan said I was beautiful. I was dumbstruck. I mean, I get compliments all the time, mostly from guys. But somehow when she said it, it was heartfelt. She intrigued me. She was a bigger woman, big everything. But the sincerity in her voice and eyes called to me. I have always known that girls attracted me. That never was the question. Boys do too. It's just I have never acted on my feelings for a girl before, but somehow I knew this was different. I wanted to see her again, so I wrote a little note. I hoped she would call me, so we could talk and get to know each other better. As I sat at the table where I was giving autographs, I found myself thinking more about the girl and less about the task before me.
"Krystal, you ok," asked my manager and best friend Mook.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I guess I didn't sound too enthusiastic because Mook gave one of his 'Don't bullshit me' looks.
"You've got about ten more minutes here and then we are gonna talk. Got it?"
"Yeah I got it. But trust me I'm fine. OK?"
"Talk. Later. Now make these fans happy," he said with a sympathetic smile.
I continued to sign autographs and take pictures with the fans but my mind was elsewhere. 'God I hope she calls,' I thought to myself. I would feel really foolish if I had given her my hotel room number and she just blew me off. Finally, the time was up and all the fans returned to the arena to catch their "Boys" in action. Mook practically dragged me to my dressing room and gave me the third degree.'
"So what's the matter, girl."
"Nothing. Really nothing is wrong. Why do you ask?"
"Can we say spacey! You weren't giving the fans your all out there in the hall. So tell me what the deal is," Mook sounded upset but I could tell he was just concerned.
"Mook, I'm ok. Really. Let me ask you a question, though."
"Go ahead."
"Do you believe that there is a soul mate for everyone out in the world, be it male or female?"
Mook gave me this weird look and then opened his mouth to speak. But he immediately closed it. Then he opened it again. "Where is this coming from?"
"Well a fan came up to me at the table and said I was beautiful."
"They always say that. So what. He probably just was nervous."
"Well *she* was nervous but I could tell she really meant it. And Mook, I felt an attraction to her. Like she is what I have been singing about in my songs and writing about in my poetry. I know I sounds stupid but I feel a connection with her."
Mook sat there and digested what I just said. I couldn't read his face. That meant he was deep in thought.
"Krys, I don't know what to think about that. Anything is possible. A girl, huh? Well, there is nothing you can do about it. You can't go and meet her. That's just nonsense," he said to me.
I bowed my head not looking into Mook's eyes.
"What did you do Krys? Please tell me you did something that was not stupid."
"Weeeelll, on the paper I signed, I gave her my hotel room number."
"Oh man! Krystal Harris! You don't even know this chick!"
"I know, but I have a feeling about her. You know how I am about my feelings. They are never wrong. You know that," I said defending myself.
"Yeah but, she is a fan. Dammit. Ok. Let her call you. But under no circumstances are you to see her without an escort, got that?"
"Yeah I got it. Now let's go enjoy the rest of the Boys' concert."
"You go. I have some things I have to take care of with management."
I left Mook in my dressing room. I love talking to him. He can be a bit protective but he means the world to me and I to him. I went off to the stage area where the screams of the fans grew louder and louder as the fellas hit the stage. All through the show, I couldn't get my mind off the girl who I would later give my heart.
* * *
After the concert, I had the limo driver rush me to the hotel just in case she called. I had hoped she read the note I wrote. I told her to read later. I was so nervous as I got on the elevator. I pushed my floor number and stood back against the wall waiting for it to move. Finally it did and about five minutes later I was in my room, laying on the bed, waiting for the phone to ring. I must have waited 30 minutes because I was starting to give up. My heart sank and I felt like a fool.
I lifted the receiver and and spoke. "Hello?"
It was her. You have no idea how ecstatic I was to hear her voice. She asked for me and we talked for a few minutes. It was wonderful. It was as if we had known each other for years. Then she asked me to dinner. My heart nearly leapt into my mouth. I told her yes, forgetting what Mook had said earlier. We hung up and I got ready for my first date.
* * *
(My POV)
I arrived at the hotel a little after 11 pm. It was cleared of fans so I felt a little at ease. I walked to the house phone and called Krystal's room. My hands were shaking and I suddenly felt faint, but I tried to sound as calm as I could when she picked up the phone.
"Krystal? This is Hills. I'm in the lobby. Did you want me to wait here for you or come upstairs.?"
"No. Stay there. Security is pretty tight up here and I would have to come down and escort you back up, so just meet me in the restaurant," she said. How could she be so calm at that moment. I was damn near shaking like a leaf.
"Ok. I'll waiting. Take your time. Bye."
I hung the house phone up and made my way tot he the hotel restaurant. I asked the waiter for a table for two. He sat me in a secluded corner and left me to myself in a nervous daze. I was still in a daze when someone walked up to me and touched me on my shoulder. I looked up and into the most beautiful pair of blues I have ever seen.
"Hi," she said.
"Hi. Care to sit down," I asked her.
"Sure." She was wearing a pair of low riding blue jeans and a tank top. The jeans accentuated the slight curves of her hips while the tank top showed off the roundness of her breasts. My breath nearly caught in my throat at the innocent erotic sight before me.
"Soooo. God this is awkward. I don't have anything to say at the moment," I said bashfully.
She smiled at me then. Such a beautiful smile. I was momentarily lost in it until she spoke.
"Did you like the concert?" she asked suddenly.
"Yeah. Of course I did. You have an angel's voice, you know."
She blushed slightly. It was a delicate flush of red and it made her look positively exquisite.
"Thanks," she said. "What about the guys? Did you enjoy their performance?"
"Ummm.. Yeah I did. AJ looked damn hot as always," I said then felt stupid for saying so.
"So AJ is your favorite I take it," she asked with a wide grin.
"How can you tell," I joked. "He is my fav. He seems so intense, you know?"
"He's a good guy. A bit wild but he's cool to hang out with."
"Yeah I bet." The table got quiet again. I didn't know what to say. I was just happy to be there sitting in front of the most beautiful woman in the world.
"Tell me about yourself, Hill. Where you come from? What's your family like?" she asked.
I started telling her all about myself and she looked genuinely interested. She nodded her head and asked more questions. By the time I was through, we still hadn't ordered anything to eat.
"Are you hungry," I asked.
"No not really. Are you?"
"No. It's sad though. We are taking up a perfectly good table just talking. I feel kind of bad," I said.
"There is no one in here," she said looking around the restaurant. I looked around too, noticing that it was indeed empty.
"You're right. So tell me about yourself. I'm sorry to say I know nothing about you except you come from a musical family."
She talked about her family and her dreams. I stared into her eyes, learning what made her tick. She looked so confident sitting across from me. I relished it. Wanting to have that feeling myself but at the moment I felt like I was the biggest goober alive. We talked for what seemed like hours until finally I looked at my watch and noticed the time.
"Oh goodness, it's 1 am. I would hate to keep you up late," I said.
"Oh that's ok. I'm usually up until 3 am anyway. Do you have to go somewhere?"
"Actually, yeah. My roommate will kill me if I came back too late. We have an early wake up so we can get back to Phoenix. I'm sorry."
"That's ok," she said. I thought I saw a look of dismay in her eyes though.
"I would love to walk you up to your room," I said.
She smile that wonderful smile again. "Sure."
We walked to the elevator and waited for it to make it's way down to the first floor. The doors opened and we both got in. She pressed the floor button and soon we arrived at her floor. We walked to her room which was a steps away from the elevator.
"I had a wonderful time," she said.
"So did I. I want to apologize for the comment I made earlier at the arena. I didn't mean to embarrass you."
"You didn't embarrass me at all, so don't worry about it."
I smiled. She was one of a kind. A beautiful treasure that had made its way into my life. I wanted to keep in touch with her but didn't want to intrude on her hectic life. This saddened me a bit and it must have registered on my face because she walked up close to me and tilted my head up so I could look into her eyes once more.
"You ok?" she asked.
"Yeah. I'm fine, but I really should be going. Good night, cherie." I looked into her eyes deeply and felt my heart break into a thousand pieces. I was never gonna see her again. I placed my lips against hers and kissed her gently and walked away. I heard the door slam behind me and I got into the elevator a single tear gracing my face.
* * *
(Krystal's POV)
I don't know what went wrong. We had a good evening of talking and getting to know one another. Then when we get to my room, she all of a sudden becomes reclusive and silent. I didn't know what to do so I lifted her head towards mine so I could possibly read her through her eyes. Then she kissed me. Softly, a gentle peck, if you will. I didn't know what to do so I stood there and accepted it. It was a fleeting kiss and soon i let her go and she walked off not saying a word. I looked briefly as she walked away and then went into my room. I felt alone then. A feeling I had become accustomed to feeling but some how this was worse.
"What the hell happened," I said to myself as I got ready for bed. I didn't feel much like sleeping, however, so I went to the little table in my room and took out a piece of paper. A song soon appeared and I had to laugh. Why is everything in my life a song? Everything I feel comes forth and I have to write it down. I wondered if Hills knew how much she affected me in such a small period of time. I still felt her lips on mine and I knew I had to see her again, but I didn't know how. All I had was her name. I picked up the phone and began dialing the hotels in the area where I thought she might be. I was going to find her if it took all night.
