?If you love something, set it free; If it comes back, it?s yours, if it doesn?t, it never was?? ? Richard Bach
A twenty-seven year old woman walked down the hallway of Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, carrying two fair sized black looking suitcases, and a small rectangular, sepia colored purse. Her unzipped, pink goose-feathered parka made her all of hundred pounds slender frame, look bulky. Her waist length, dark brown hair was windblown and partially obstructing the view in front of her gray-blue eyes, making it difficult to walk in her heeled ankle boots. She was however thankful to herself for wearing a pair of plain black dress pants with her white silk blouse instead of her black pencil skirt. Since it was well in to December, in fact it almost Christmas, and the temperature at night drops quite a bit, a skirt would not have been a wise choice, she didn?t care if it would have made her look more professional.
?Thank you.?
Crystal Everett said to the gentleman who helped bring her suitcase and overnight bag up to the room. With the sweetest smile she could muster she said goodnight and closed the door behind her. Setting her over-packed luggage bags, makeup and hair kit into a closet-like space beside the door, Crystal slipped off her boots as she shrugged out of her parka. Making her way to the hotel room?s queen size bed, she thought about her day. It had been another long and exhausting day of styling the hair. Models of both genders were the only people she worked with, touching up makeup, fixing their hair? And then preparing to do it all over again tomorrow?
?Ugh!? Crystal threw herself on to the soft comforter of the bed. ?Another two weeks of this and I can go home.? She mumbled.
Crystal was a student from Marvel Beauty School, but when a man hosting a fundraiser through the use of a fashion show saw Crystal?s portfolio he begged for her to come to England to work with the models that were hired. The fundraiser's host refused to take no for an answer, and now here she is, in Canterbury, and it?s only day one of her prepaid, expense free trip.
Crystal wanted to scream, but she was raised better than that. ?No sense in disturbing the guests who are having a good time.? She mumbled to no one but herself. ?Screw the shower, I?m too tired.?
Groggily she pulled herself up onto the bed and gingerly moved into a sitting position on the bed. Slowly she began braiding her hair and when that was done she slipped off the hair-tie from around her wrist and looped it around the bottom of the braid a few times. After that she crawled up to the one-to-many pillows on the bed and fell against them, leaving her body to be propped up in somewhat of a leaning position. She rolled slightly on to her side, so she could take in the night sky outside of her window. Letting out a sigh she closed her eyes, falling into deep sleep, and dreaming of a man she used to know.
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?Aaron!?
?Crystal? I?m sorry but it?s better this way??
HEADSHOT
?Damn you!? Crystal screamed into the Xbox 360 headset mic. She watched as her red Spartan collapsed on the television screen. ?I?m going to find you, and I?m going to shove this energy sword up your ass!?
She could hear Aaron laughing evilly through her headset. ?Love, by all means, come and find me.?
Crystal smirked as her Spartan re-spawned right next to an energy sword. ?Well, dear , you do know I can find you. I know where you live.?
?I didn?t forget love, but how pray-tell will you find an energy sword in real life to shove up my ass??
Even though she couldn?t see him, as he lived miles away from her home in Canada, she knew he was grinning.
?Oh I?ll find one, don?t you worry. If I have to I?ll make the damn thing myself!? She yelled triumphantly as she came up behind Aaron's blue Spartan and swung the energy sword repeatedly until his Spartan was dead. ?I?ll take your sniper rifle now, jackass.?
?No! How the hell-?
Crystal laughed maniacally. ?Never underestimate a woman, love.?
This game of cat and mouse through the Halo game continued, with a personal wager between the two. The wager being whoever had more kills at when the match ended, would get to ask for one thing from the loser. The winner ? Crystal, what she asked of Aaron, ?Marry me?.
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Crystal started to wake from her dream of a not so happy-ending memory. But something was different from when she had fallen asleep after finally making it to the hotel late at night. Aside from feeling like she hadn?t really slept, there was someone next to her; they were tucking some loose hair behind her ear. Through somewhat opened eyes, she saw her own hand resting on a man?s not to overly muscular chest, and she could feel the heat coming off of his body. The realization that there was a strange man in room hit her like ton of bricks. Sitting up sharply Crystal threw herself back and away from him, curling up near the corner of the bed.
Crystal drew her knees tight against her, and pulled the top of her blouse closed with her hands. ?I don?t know who you are? But if you don?t get out right now, I?ll scream.? She whispered, refusing to look at the man.
The stranger laughed, it sounded so familiar? ?Well love, I locked the door behind me when I came in, since it is quite obvious I?m sure that you did not.?
Crystal knew this honeyed, English accented voice. It belonged to-
?Aaron?? She breathed, finally looking at the man who was now sitting upright.
?Yes love??
All Crystal could do was stare back at him, dumbfounded. She took in his messy multilayer dark hair, his sculpted face, his sky blue eyes, broad shoulders, his thin yet muscular torso and arms?
?But how?? She inched away from him, unsure if she is still just dreaming. ?Why are you he-?
Her hand fell upon thin air, Crystal felt herself falling backwards off the large bed. Shutting her eyes tightly, she prepared for an impact with the floor that never happened, at least not with her body.
There was a thud, and the sound of air being knocked out of someone. Slowly Crystal opened her eyes, only to find Aaron underneath her on the floor, his arms wrapped around her protectively.
?Are, you? Okay?? He asked between breaths.
?I-I?m all right...? She tilts her face up to see Aaron's, she could feel his tight ab muscles against the palms of her hands, which were pinned between their bodies. ?Are? Are you okay??
Aaron gave a chuckle. ?Love as long as you remain uninjured, I will always be okay.?
Tentatively Crystal pushed herself up, allowing Aaron to push himself in to a sitting position while Crystal now sat basically straddling his lap.
?And to answer your question that ended with us falling off the bed? I happen to recall an e-mail from a little bird telling me when she would arrive in Canterbury. As well as which hotel she was staying in, along with her room number.? With an evil grin he added, ?And what should I find when I knock on the door and receive no response? Well of course I turn the doorknob, only to find the door unlocked, and lo? and behold! There is a sleeping beauty on the bed snoring loudly!?
?I do not snore!? Crystal shouted at him while leaning forward till they were nose-to-nose. ?I?ll admit to talking in my sleep, mister, but I do not snore.? She quickly added, poking his shoulder with her index finger.
Aaron's facial expression changed to that of a mischievous child right and in an instant had Crystal on the floor, lying on her back. He then took her wrists and pinned them to the floor above her head. She could feel her cheeks flush with embarrassment as the bottom of her blouse began to slide up over her toned stomach.
?A-Aaron! What in bloody hell are you doing?? She hissed.
Aaron leaned his body over hers; she could feel his breath against her as his face brushed hers.
?You look so beautiful with those rosy cheeks of yours.? He whispered in her ear while sliding his hands over her arms.
Flustered and feeling her face going an even deeper shade of red, Crystal attempted to buck him off of her. Again in just the blink of an eye, his hands were suddenly there on her shoulders, pushing them into the plush carpet.
?Crystal?? His voice was so sensual, the way he said her name almost pleadingly, so much so that Crystal stopped struggling. She lay there motionless with him on top of her, she was somewhere between a state of shock and surprise. She could feel the smile as his lips brushed past her cheek bone. With a quick kiss on her cheek, he pushes himself up, stood up and walked over to the room?s desk area to put on some tea.
Crystal lay there blinking for a few seconds, stunned and left wondering what had just happened, before she too got up angrily. ?What the hell was that??
?A greeting.? He said finishing with starting the tea maker.
Crystal stammered, unable to comprehend his so called greeting. ?Bullshit!?
?Actually, kissing one on the cheek is common in-.? He started saying while going to retrieve his shirt from the nightstand.
?That?s not what I meant!? She interrupted while picking up a small pillow up and whipped it across the bed at him.
Catching the pillow he gave her a quizzical look. ?What do you mean then??
?You know damn well what I mean Aaron! Don?t play dumb, you can?t fool me and you know it.? Looking at her watch she frowns. ?Six in the damn morning.? She has to be at the studio till nine.
?So do you have a day off during the two weeks you are here? Or do they plan on forcing you to work yourself to death the entire time?? Aaron asked, pulling her away from thinking about how tired she was.
With a sigh Crystal headed into the bathroom, Aaron followed her; she had an idea of where this conversation was going. ?Everyone has the day off tomorrow.?
?When will you be done today?? He asked leaning against the bathroom?s door frame as Crystal went to the sink.
?Around seven in the evening today thank god.? She answers while picking up her toothbrush. As she picks up the toothpaste she looks at his reflection in the mirror. ?Are you gonna watch me brush my teeth and while I take a shower??
?Sure, unless you wish for me to join you.? He said with a wink.
Crystal rolled her eyes and squirted some toothpaste onto her toothbrush. ?You going to help me get dressed to then I bet.?
This seemed to catch his attention, as he straightened up and stepped into the bathroom. ?To be honest I?d rather take your-?
?Out!? Crystal yelled, turning around she shoved him out of the bathroom, with toothpaste in hand. Then she slammed the door closed in his face.
She shook her head, she could not believe that even after almost a year he hadn?t changed one bit. He was still the same amusing, flirty, aggravating and overly handsome self. Sighing she pushed her thoughts and memories of Aaron aside. She finished up brushing her teeth and then took a quick fifteen minute shower. Finished with her shower, Crystal pulled on the complimentary cotton robe and grabbed a towel to dry her hair. Stepping from the bathroom to grab some clothes, she saw Aaron sitting in one of the plush chairs by the room?s window, with a cup of tea, and decided to simply ignore him.
?When you?re dressed, I?ll take you out for breakfast.? He said nonchalantly.
Glancing over at him, she frowns and pulls her suitcase to the bed, then grabbing the other small pillow, proceeds by throwing it at his knee. ?Is that why you?re still here??
?Well I figured you would just grab something you can eat quickly.? He stated while kicking the pillow aside. ?For example, a cup of coffee and a sandwich.?
Opening her suitcase, she glared over at him. ?What?s wrong with that??
?You need to eat more.? He said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Pulling out a black turtleneck, clean dress pants and white undergarments Crystal stormed back to the bathroom to get dressed. ?I eat enough! Not always the healthiest of meals, but I do eat!?
Finished putting on her clothes, she start brushing her hair when Aaron comes around the corner and enters the bathroom. Coming up behind her he puts his hands on her waist, stretching his fingers across her stomach. ?I can practically wrap my hands around your waist.?
Crystal reaches behind her and hits him with the back of her brush. ?You cannot!?
Pushing him away she finishes pulling out the knots in her hair and pulls it back into a ponytail. ?Not like this is any of your business, but I?m thirty-three, twenty-seven and thirty-five.? She indicated to her three sizes. ?So you?re so full of shit, your eyes should be brown.?
Aaron starts laughing and leans down, kissing her cheek again. ?I love you.?
Pushing him out of her way she huffs. ?Liar.?
Crystal goes out and closes her suitcase and moves all her luggage out of the way of the hotel room's doorway, not bothering to pick up the pillows. Instead as she is picking up her purse and kits for work, Aaron goes to pick up the two pillows and tosses them onto the bed.
Unlocking the door, she looks over her shoulder at him. ?You are taking me for breakfast or what?? Pulling open the door she continues speaking to him, ?Otherwise I?m grabbing a coffee and a sandwich and be done with this.?
With a chuckle and a shake of his head, Aaron pulls out a set of keys from his pants pocket. ?I?m coming love and I?ll drive, since I?m planning on taking you on date after work.?
He grabs his jacket from a hanger by the door and looks over at Crystal.
?What?? She asks him.
Aaron sighs and pulls on his jacket before grabbing hers and hangs it over his arm. ?When we get to the car you are putting on your jacket.?
Crystal rolls her eyes. ?Yes sir, Mister Grey sir.? She says sarcastically, quoting Ana from Fifty Shades of Grey books.
Aaron smacks her behind and grins when Crystal lets out a yelp. ?Keep it up and I will go all Christian Grey on you.?
With a growl and a cold stare back at him, Crystal stepped out into the hotel hallway and kicked herself mentally for sending an e-mail to Aaron Walker.
After their first dinner date, Aaron took Crystal to see a show at the Gulbenkian theatre, and afterward Aaron decided that he would be spending the night in the hotel room with her. Over the next week, Aaron joined Crystal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With how much time he was spending with her, Crystal begun to wonder what this man, who was seven years younger than her, did for a living. Was he in college or university or perhaps he had a job? But these were fleeting thoughts of hers; Crystal was simply enjoying her time with Aaron? Even when he annoyed her to no end with how persnickety he was. Whenever Aaron could steal Crystal for more than a meal he would take her sight-seeing through Canterbury. They spent a few hours looking at animals at Howletts, the aspinall wild animal park on one day and took an early morning stroll through the Westgate Gardens on another. Aaron even took her to visit the Saint Augustine's Abbey ruins.
In Crystal's mind, everything with Aaron was magical; every moment was something new and exciting. Here they were getting close like they had once been, even though they lived hundreds of miles away from one another. Maybe, just maybe she hoped, Aaron had changed his mind.
It was Christmas Eve and the host of the fundraiser Crystal was working for, decided to throw a Christmas party for everyone who was involved. Everyone was allowed to bring a date, so of course Crystal mentioned this to Aaron over dinner one night, and while he seemed nervous about the idea, he said he would accompany her anyways.
It was when the Christmas party was in full swing with music, dancing and drinking, that the unexpected happened. Someone started a fight, leading from yelling to fists flying and finally to full blown bar brawl. One strapping young male was thrown on to a table, breaking it, another grabbed a bottle from the open bar and smashed it over another man's head. As soon as Aaron realized the fighting had escalated her grabbed Crystal's hand and dragged her behind the bar.
?Stay here, and do not move from this corner.?
?The hell I?m just going to sit here cowering! I can handle this Aaron, I?ll get them to calm the fuck down!? She shouted, trying to be heard over all the yelling and screaming.
?No!? Aaron screamed at her. Putting his hands on her shoulder he looked Crystal straight in the eyes. ?If you got hurt, I? I don?t know what I?d do? So please, stay here.?
Crystal slumped her shoulders and nodded. ?Okay Aaron? I?ll stay right here, where it?s safe.?
Aaron smiled, though Crystal could see it was full of worry, kissed her on the cheek and jumped over the bar counter. The world around Crystal was earth shattering loud, even shutting her eyes tightly and covering her ears with her hands couldn?t drown out all the noises. Suddenly a silence fell, startling Crystal in to peering over the counter to see what had happened. There was no one in the room, she could see broken glass scattered everywhere and broken tables all around. Crystal thought it even looked like there were spots of blood on hardwood floor. It wasn?t until Aaron stood in front of her, shouting her name, that she realized something was wrong.
?Crystal!? Aaron said running to her slumped body lying in the corner. ?Crystal! Oh my god? Crystal no? Wake up, please wake up.?
Aaron gently touched her face with his hand, her face was very pale and she wasn?t moving. There were scratches on Crystal?s faces from bottles falling off or breaking on the shelf above her, but what concerned him more was the fact that she wasn?t breathing. Pulling off his shirt and wrapped it loosely around one hand. Aaron then began to sweep broken bottles and glass away so he could lay Crystal out on her back to perform CPR.
Aaron didn't know when the paramedics arrived, but when they found him performing CPR on Crystal they quickly jumped in to action. They bombarded Aaron with questions as they got Crystal up on a stretcher and got her in to the ambulance; do you know this woman? How well do you know this woman? Is she one any medications for anything? Does she have any health concerns or allergies? Does she live here?
Aaron answered them as best as his thoughts of worst case scenarios ran through his mind; Yes, I love her. I know her well; we?ve known each other for almost two years. She is on medication, for epilepsy. She has an allergy to almonds. No she is from Canada.
Aaron would never have left by Crystal's side if he knew that this would have happened. He didn?t want to leave her side when the hospital staff took her in to a room where he was authorized to be in. He had been so afraid of his love her that he always kept her at a distance, and now Aaron sees what this has brought him. The woman he loves lay barely hanging on, and though he thanked God the paramedics were able to get her heart beating again, to get her take one breath, then another, and another. He was now cursing God for failing to protect her when Aaron could not.
It was hours before anyone came to the waiting room to update Aaron on Crystal?s condition. His heart sank when the doctor told him that Crystal had suffered a head trauma, most likely from when a bottle fell on her. The doctor said they would know more when the MRI results came back, but until then they could only speculate that she had a seizure due to the head trauma, causing her to have respiratory failure, which now left her in a coma. The doctor couldn't say when or if Crystal would ever wake up, and asked Aaron if he knew how to contact her family.
Aaron could feel his heart breaking as he tried to digest all of what the doctor was telling him, and not knowing how to reach her family, he left it to the doctor to call them.
Aaron made his way to the room where Crystal lay on a hospital bed, hooked up to various machines that were keeping her alive. He sat down beside her, took her hand, and cried.
A few days passed, and the results from the MRI were not good. She had suffered a Grand Mal seizure, and the trauma from most likely having bottles partially or full of alcohol falling on her head, plus the respiratory failure, left her brain in a state of shock. Should she wake up, there was a good chance she would suffer some minor confusion and at worst, she would have severe memory loss.
But Aaron didn?t care, he visited her every day. Bringing fresh flowers when the previous ones wilted, he would tell her about his day, and even read and sing to her. Before he left every evening he would whisper in her ear, 'I love you Crystal, and when you wake up, I?m going to marry you'.
But Crystal would never wake up. She tried to tell Aaron this over and over again every time he visited her. But he couldn?t see her, and she couldn?t touch him. She would scream and cry, continuously trying to reach out to him, to get him to notice her standing right there in front of him. She didn?t want to give up on getting Aaron to see her spirit, but it was useless, he was too focused on her physical form that he would never see Crystal as she is now.
New Year?s eve, two thousand and fourteen is the day Crystal?s physical body suffered the fatal blow from a stroke. And even though her ashes and grave lie on Canadian soil, her spirit stays wherever Aaron is, Crystal refuses to leave the side of the man who she loves, as he loves her.
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60 minutes go daddy Tom Kenny tim tebow Long Island Medium Alfonso Ribeiro cbs sports
This was our awesome 2011 Christmas tree. ?It?s the first and only tree MG and I have had as a couple. ?It?s fake. ?It?s plastic. ?But it?s ours! ?It doesn?t look like much while we?re inserting Branch 6 into Slot F, but once it?s fully decorated, there?s not a Christmas tree painted on any Candy Land game board in the world that can beat it.
Interact with me while you can, people. ?Come December 26th, MG and I will start dismantling the Candy Land Tree and wrapping the ornaments back up in newspaper and old plastic grocery bags. ?Everything in Hollywood will cease smelling like pine and go back to smelling like public transit. ?Drunk people will just be annoying and loud again.
