Don't Stop Believing

Everything happens for a reason

‘Oh yes, the past can hurt you. But, from the way I see it; you can either run from it or learn from it – The Lion King’.

He was standing there with his back towards me. I wasn’t sure if this was real…was it really him? I moved closer towards him taking deep breaths, and that’s when he turned around with his ice blue eyes glaring at me.

“Crystal?” he smiled. “Wow!”

“What?” I giggled.

“You look amazing.”

I felt myself blushing from head to toe. “You look good as well; it’s been a long time.”

“Yeah, I know.” He stepped closer towards me. All I wanted to do was hug him, but that would be weird right? We haven’t seen each other in years.

“So, how have you been?”

“Yeah, good…” I replied. I stopped myself before revealing that Mum’s dead…it’s not information that I want everyone knowing. I was very aware that Dad and the girls were waiting across the road. I didn’t want twenty questions. “I have to get going but send me a message. It’s Crystal Thomson.” I smiled giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek. I didn’t give him the chance to answer back; this was the perfect time to walk away while he was still watching. Man! This is the first time I have felt good about myself for months.

“Who’s that?” questioned Dad.

“An old friend.” I smiled. I knew deep down that there was still something there. He was my first love 5 years ago and no matter how much you try you just can’t get rid of those feelings, it’s like your first-time having s*x. You’ll always have some sort of feelings for that one person.

“Is that Joey?” asked Jodie.

I knew this was too good to be true. “Yes.” I hissed. “An old friend.” I looked at Jodie until she got in the hint.

“Oh yeah!” she smiled.

I was praying to God that Skyline wouldn’t pipe up, it’s not that I don’t want Dad knowing about Joey. I know for a fact that Dad wouldn’t approve of him. I stood staring at Dad as he was oblivious to the situation.

“Shall we get going?” asked Dad.

I smiled jumping straight in the front seat. All I wanted to do was rush home and tell Nan all about Joey. I’m a strong believer that everything happens for a reason…I lose my Mum, my best friend and now my first love comes back into my life…weird, right?

That night I spent hour’s googling Joey. I wanted to see how life had been treating him for the few years we’ve spent apart. That’s when I saw he’d been dating an old mate of mine…and just when I’m thinking about him, he messages me.

“Hey.” The message read. I had no right to get annoyed. We’re not even dating; I keep reminding myself.

“Hey.”

“I didn’t realise your Mum passed away. I’m sorry.” Sounds like I wasn’t the only one doing research. This was the perfect time to bring up what I found.

“It is what it is.” I didn’t have it in me to get emotional again. “I heard that you’ve been dating Kat?” I blurted out.

He ignored it…

I went the whole night not hearing from him. Have I just screwed this up already?

It had been a few days since I last heard from Joey. After day one I didn’t give it much thought again, what’s the point in getting sad about it? Getting sad won’t change it.

“Hey, sweetie.” Said Nan with a spring in her step.

“Hi.” I chuckled. “Why you in such a good mood?”

“Why not? It’s a beautiful day, and I’m loving life.”

I don’t realise how lucky I am to have her in my life. She makes the bad days seem good again.

 “I love you.” I wrapped my arms around her stomach.

“I love you too, sweetie.”

A loud knock on the door interrupted our moment. I swung open the door to see him standing there with his hands behind his head.

“What are you doing here?”

“Can we talk?” he begged.

“No!” I slammed the door in his face. He nudges the door back open. “What are you doing?” he put his foot in the doorway blocking it from shutting again.

“Can we talk?” he said calmly.

“Ye…yeah.” I stuttered. I had never feared anyone before, but something about his anger towards me scared the daylights out of me.

This felt a lot like déjà vu…

However, I still invited him upstairs to talk this over. I wasn’t sure what needed to be sorted, I asked a simple question and he ignored me, end off.

“Okay. Talk?” I kept the door wide open. I wasn’t that stupid.

“I’m sorry for ignoring you. When you said about Kat, I was shocked that you even knew.” He explained. “When I first saw you Crystal…wow.” He edged closer towards me. I felt his hand slowly stroke my wrist. I couldn’t help but think that there was more to this then he is telling me…

“Joey.” I whispered. “Things have got complicated and I really don’t need that in my life. I didn’t realise you and Kat have only just broke up.”

“What?” He laughed stepping away. “Babe we broke up two years ago.”

“What?”

“Yeah. I wouldn’t move on that quick.”

“Oh. I thought it was recent?”

Well, this made it even more complicated than before…

“Shall we see where things go between us?” I couldn’t resist his gorgeous smile.

“Yes.” I giggled. “Let’s see where things go.”

If only I saw the red flags…maybe things might have turned out differently….

I laid in bed that evening wondering what to do, do I give this another go. I started remembering what went down the last time we dated…I stopped eating and if it weren’t for Mum then I wouldn’t have survived. There are only so many days you can go without eating.

My eyes slowly began to get heavy….

“CRYSTAL!” Screamed Mum.

“Mum, what are you doing here?” there she was at the end of my bed. Her face was blacked out where her features should be. Every time I moved closer towards her; she was still out of reach.

“It’s going to be okay, Crystal. You do what makes you happy.”

“But what if I get hurt?” I sobbed.

“That’s the whole point of life babe, life is a messy thing. You’ve dealt with this well and I’m sure you can deal with anything that is thrown in your direction. I’ll be here babe.”

And just like that she was gone….

I knew exactly what she meant. I knew what I had to do….