The story of Crystal Lakes (pt 2)

Crystal and Jackson went inside and seated themselves in Crystal’s new living room, in which was her brand new plasma screen TV- something she and Donna had both bought before they moved house. They seated themselves on Crystal’s couch which she had conned Donna into giving her, and began to talk.1

“So, what’s gone on in Crystal Lakes since I’ve been gone?” Crystal wanted to know. “Like, how are people going? Are Mr and Mrs G still here?”2

“Alice and Oliver Gannaway?” Jackson smiled. “Yeah, they still live here. Still like the parents of this town. And Mrs G is still a massive gossip. They’re both in fine form.”3

“Well, what about that French chick, Amelia?” Crystal asked.4

“Married,” smirked Jackson. “Still lives in Crystal Lakes.”5

“Pepper Smart?” Crystal said. “She would probably have been married twice by now.”6

“Nope. She is pregnant though. Unmarried, but she lives with Ebony Holland in central Crystal Lakes, pretty close to the nightlife district,” Jackson laughed.7

“Know-it-all,” Crystal laughed with him. 8

Suddenly, Jackson pulled her to him and kissed her. Crystal was in shock; she could barely move. “What the hell, Jackson?” she yelled. “What was that?”9

“You don’t have a boyfriend, do you?” Jackson asked immediately. “Because if you do, that never happened.”10

“No, I don’t have a boyfriend,” Crystal said in loud disbelief. “But you have a wife who just so happens to hate my guts as it is.”11

But something inside Crystal had been awoken; the fact that she hadn’t had a steady boyfriend who had actually cared about her reminded her of how much she’d missed going out with Jackson, who had loved her as much as she’d loved him. She kissed him back. She’d missed him a lot, and didn’t he know it.12

Suddenly, there was another knock on the door. Yet another welcoming committee, no doubt. Crystal and Jackson sprang apart.13

“Here’s my phone number,” muttered Crystal, scribbling it down distractedly. “Call me sometime.”14

They both headed towards the door, walking in perfect unison; Crystal didn’t even notice this until they actually reached the door and Jackson was right beside her.15

“Well, see you later, Jackson,” Crystal smiled pleasantly, opening the door and ushering him out. 16

“Yeah, later, Crystal,” he said, waving as he headed out the door. 17

And at the door waiting were two totally unfamiliar faces to Crystal, a girl and a very good looking guy.18

Not that Crystal noticed.19

“Hey, I’m Belle Nirvado,” the girl grinned, extending her hand. “Nice to meet you.”20

“Nice to meet you too, Belle,” Crystal grinned back, shaking her hand.21

“And I’m Will,” the guy said. “An absolute honour to be in the infamous Crystal Depp’s presence.”22

“Infamous, now,” Crystal laughed. “Elysha has been busy these last seven years. Well, um, come in.”23

The two stepped into Crystal’s house together, and Crystal wondered if they were going out- they weren’t holding hands or anything, but they seemed friendly towards each other but Crystal couldn’t figure out if it was in a boyfriend/girlfriend friendly or a ‘just friends’ friendly. 24

Belle, clearly oblivious to what Crystal was thinking, made a beeline for the couch. “How awesome is this thing!”25

Crystal laughed at her. “I conned my ex-roommate into giving it to me. Believe me, it wasn’t easy.”26

Will then spoke to her. “So, you are as beautiful as all those newspapers and pictures from 2001 showed.”27

Crystal giggled, unable to control herself. Will was very good looking in his own right, with very dark messy hair and grey eyes. “So, do you have a girlfriend?” she asked him, posing herself on one of the beanbags in her lounge room.28

“No,” Will replied, joining her. “I’ve been waiting for the right girl.”29

“You just found her,” Crystal said, giving a dazzling smile. This was the only way she could get Jackson out of her head- by focusing completely on another guy. It was mean and manipulative of her, she knew, but something in her made her think it was necessary.”30

Will smiled back at her, taking the bait. “I reckon I have.”31

“So, are you two going out now or something?” Belle asked; clearly, she was not oblivious to what had just been said. “Because you two would look incredibly cute together.”32

“We certainly are,” Crystal told Belle, and she leant over and kissed Will right there on the beanbags, not wasting any time in focusing on her new guy.33

“Sorry, babe, but I gotta go, anyway,” he grinned at her. “I told my best friend I’d pick him up and take him to his girlfriend’s on the way home, he’s stuffed his car.”34

“Reece?” Belle enquired. “He’s been four wheel driving again?”35

“Yep,” Will rolled his eyes. “He’s an idiot sometimes. Anyway, see ya, girls.” And with that he kissed Crystal, waved to Belle and walked out the door. 36

“So, Belle,” Crystal smiled, “you’re the town gossip, are you?”37

Belle laughed. “More or less. Hey, every small town has one. You and I are good though, in case Jackson is overwhelmed with jealousy and attacks Will with a chainsaw.”38

Crystal frowned, slightly concerned. “Is Jackson really that much of a nutcase?”39

“No, but there is no doubt in my mind that he is still in love with you. You should have seen how drunk he had to be to marry Elysha. Totally blotto. It was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. I think the bartender pronounced them husband and wife and then instead of kissing Elysha he went and barfed all over Amelia.” 40

“Yes, well, he would have had to be drunk to be stupid enough to marry her,” Crystal giggled. Belle joined in and they were both laughing together like they’d been friends for a lot more than just five minutes.41

“Hey, you’re cool. Do you have a mobile?” Belle asked, producing her own.42

“Duh,” Crystal said, and then she winced at how much she sounded like some sad teen wannabe on a bad soap opera.43

“Give me your number, and I’ll give you mine, and then later this week I’ll call you and we can go shopping or go for lunch or something and I can tell you what’s what here in Crystal Lakes. You know, the standard rundown on what’s up,” Belle babbled.44

“Okay, okay,” Crystal laughed, taking Belle’s phone. She put her name and number in, and then gave it back to Belle (somewhat clumsily, as she nearly dropped it, grabbed it mid-fall and gave it back to her then). “And why can’t you give me the goss now?”45

“I’ve got work in an hour,” Belle sighed. “A necessary evil if I want to be able to pay my maid to come every day. So, anyway, I’ll see you around, Crystal.”46

“Yeah, definitely,” Crystal replied. “Bye.”47

And with that, Belle swept out the door, waving to Crystal as she went, and going clackity-clack down the driveway in her high heels.48

“Well, it’s been a very eventful day,” Crystal said to herself, and flopped down onto the couch.49

*50

“Guess what, girls?” Belle announced, taking her place behind the bar at Crystal Lakes’ most popular hangout and also Belle’s work, The Cherry Bar. Belle’s two best friends, twin sisters Dulcie and Scarlett Wright, were behind the bar, waiting for her to tell her massive news. 51

“Your shoes cost two and a half thousand dollars?” Scarlett guessed, admiring Belle’s high heels.52

“That’s true, they did, but that’s not my big news.”53

“So, what is it then?” Dulcie demanded, getting impatient.54

“Well, you know Will, right?” gushed Belle. “Well, he’s dating the new girl in town, Crystal. Or not so new, historically speaking.”55

Scarlett’s jaw dropped. “The Crystal? Jackson Clear’s ex-girlfriend?”56

“Yep. And Crystal is actually ridiculously pretty. Like a brunette Miss Universe.”57

“You used to date Will, didn’t you Dulcie?” Scarlett commented.58

Dulcie laughed. “Date? We were married, very briefly. You both came to the wedding.”59

“Yeah, I remember now. Your dress was so pretty, Dulcie,” Belle sighed. “Wasn’t it by like Vera Wang or someone?”60

“Yeah,” Dulcie said, sighing as well. “That was one awesome dress.”61

“So is Crystal, like, really mean, like Elysha’s been telling us all consistently for the last seven years?”62

Scarlett asked, relaxing into the ordinary Monday night ritual.63

“No way, she’s awesome. And her house is incredibly beautiful too. We’re going shopping later this week.”64

“God, Belle, do you have the whole town wired or something?” Dulcie laughed. “You’re like friends with every single person in town.”65

Belle laughed with her. “Pretty much, my friend.”66