I sat out on the verandah with my spaghetti and the home phone and called Jeffery and Andrew. I think they still lived together, they did when they moved away from here. They moved to go to UNI and do journalism but once your out here its in your blood and its dang hard to ignore. I knew theyd be back even if it werent to stay theyd be back just to vist, to get a fix and keep them goin till they came back.
I dialled their number and waited biting my tongue waitin for them to pick up hearin the dial tone and hopin they did. I missed them and i needed them if i were gonna survive this hot summer.
'Lo. This is Andrew.' I squealed with the excitement of hearin his voice. Damn I missed these guys.
'ANDREW' I practically screamed down the phone 'Oh my god andrew.'
'Crystal watch your language young lady' My Mama admonished from the kitchen I sighed "yes Mama sorry'
I picked the phone back up to my ear adn hear 'Cry??? Crystal is that you Darlin???'
'haha yea Andy its me. How you been?'
'Crys skip this here small talk I havent talked to you in months Darli. Theres somethin goin on I know it an so do you.. So tell me what it is an I'll be there in a couple of hours with all the boys. OK?'
'All the boys?' I asked in a small whisper, not realising how much I needed them all at this time.
'Yea darlin all the boys. You know we'll all be there for you. Your like our little sister darlin. So tell me whats wron an I'll get them all together an I promise you we'll all be there in no time ok?'
'OK Andy. It's a guy.' I whispered into the phone.
'Shit balls, darlin dont you do anythin you'll regret ok. Theyre all comin with me no matter what now ok. Stay with your Mama and away from this guy. We'll be there sonn.'
'You promise?'I asked feelin uncertain an sad. But happy that they'd all be there for me when i needed them. They were almost family anyway. Mama and Daddy loved them an Daddy wished I'd fall in love with one of them. he definitely approved of them, not any of the others. Not Jacob an definitelly not Daniel anymore. 'I promis darlin Crystal we'll all be there in no time jus you sit tight an wait for us you hear?'
'Yes Andy I cant wait to see you.'
'I cant wait to see you either Crys.' I smiled and I heard 'OMG is that Crystal on the phone gimme gimme gimme gimme. I wanna talk to her Pleaaaassseeeee.'
'NO Jeff. Go away go pack to go see her. We're gonna be there tonight ok.'
'Yay yayayayayay.. Love you Crys.' Jeff yelled into the phone that Andy seemed to be holding away from his ear so he wouldn be deaf when he got here. 'Crys I'm gonna go an strangle that idiot. Nah I'm gonna go call the others dont you worry one bit hey. Jus stay by your Mama an she gonna look after ya for us till we get there ok. Love you tell Mama D to make extra tea for us boys we're still growin she know right? Love you darlin. Bye'
'Bye Andy' I whispered into the phone. They couldnt get here quick enough. I walked into the kitchen to my Mama with my empty spaghetti bowl. 'Mama I'm afraid we're gonna have some company for dinner and maybe the whole summer' I smiled at her and she shook her head.
'You missy Crystal are gonna be the death of me. Who is it the boys again?' I laughed at her, she loved to have visitors to cook for. 'Mama its the boys and Sarah Jack's wife, member they were a datin in school. Well they got married adn they're both gonna come down here for the summer. Same as Ish, Andy and Jeff, I'm not sure bout Jacob or Stuart cause I haven herd from either of them since rhe end of school but yea at least six extra for tea tonight.' Mama rolled her eyes at me an I smiled. I knew she loved all of my friends an would love havin them here specially since they all almost grew up here with me anyway. An her an Sarah got on like a house on fire in this here kitchen, they cooked up a storm. I kissed Mama on the cheek 'Oh an Andy said theyre still growin boys so you better cook like you used to for em, haha' I winked and headed up to tell Daddy they were all a comin down for the summer. The house was gonna be full again like it used to be all the time. It was gonna be noisy as all hell but no one would mind we were goin to have fun an Mama an Daddy enjoyed all the extra people about the house, it made it feel more lived in.
'Daddy.' I yelled out as I walked into his office. He looked up from the accounts he was doin and smiled 'Cryslan darlin whats goin on you always knock? either somethins wrong or your boys are comin home?' he smiled damn he knew me too well.
'Daddy their comin home for the summer. It;s gonna be so good. I haven seen them in years everyones comin home but we're not sure about Jacob an Stuart yet I haven talked to them in years an I'm jus so happy. You dont mind do you??' I asked suddenly at the end of my excited chatter.
'Crys its all good as long as they help out around here a bit an dont get in the way an keep an eye on that Jacob Orsino an you its all fine I promise darlin.' he smiled at me an I smiled back. I love my Daddy I smiled as I walked down the hall toward all the empty rooms in the house to make up six beds so thay could all jus crash when they got here tonight an they ahd tea. Mama wouldnt reat easy if they didn eat when they got here. I hummed to myself as I got the sheets an smiled. This summer were startin to look up already.
Andy POV...
The conversation I had with Crystal nearly killed me. She sounded so scared and sad. Crys was never scared. I was real worried. Jeff was packed and ready to go so I called the others.
'Hey Ish its Andy, Crystal she needs us. Can you come down for the summer?'
'Andy I'll be there you know that. Only I need to bring me girl she's here for the summer. You remember Chantell from school. Yea her. I'll drive down an see you there. Bye.'
'Bye ish.' I smiled good boy I knew he'd be there now it was just time to call Jack and Sarah see if they could come down. I dialled Jacks number then thought better of it an called Sarah.
'Hey Sarah it's Andrew. I was wonderin if you an Jack could come down to Crystals for the summer she havin a mighty hard time with some guy who been hired for the summer.' I waited for her to answer and I heard a 'Jack go pack your bags darlin we're goin away for the summer to Crystals with the boys.' I smiled we were all together again just not JAcob, none of us had seen him since school.
'Andy we'll be there we're gonna drive down so we'll see you there.'
'Sure thing Sarah I'll see you there tonight. Bye' I hung up an smiled. Only one more call to make to Stuart. It should be two but Jacob dropped off the radar after we left school and no one had seen him since. I dialled Stuarts number and he picked up on the first ring. 'hey Andy whats goin on mate?'
'Not much Stu but I need you to come to Crystals for the summer. She isnt too good and some guy is givin her hell. You in?'
'Hell yea I'm in I'll be there in twenty. I'm drivin past as it is so I'll jus drop in an introduce myself again.' I could imagine him winking at me an I sighed damn he was a flirt. 'Sure thing Stu but dont crack on to Crys you already broke her heart in high school remember?'
'Yea, yea I know. I'll see you all there Andy.' he hung up on me. I shook my head. Some things never change at all. I picked up the clothes bag I'd packed as I was on the phone and walked out to the Ute.
Jeff was already in the cab almost bouncing with excitement. he loved Crystal a lot they were actually like brother an sister it was cute. I was excited to see her too but I jus had a different way of showin it. I threw my bag in the tray with the two swags and Jeffs bag and swung into the drivers seat and kicked the engine over.
jeff plugged his Ipod into the cd player and we listened to Luke Bryan and brantely Gilbert. These were Crystals favoutire artists. I guess some of her rubbed off on Jeff then. He always listened to these guys when he wanted to talk to her or needed to talk to her, it was kinda cute. We sat in silence untill I could tell Jeff had something to say an couldn wait no longer. I turned to him 'Jeff spit it out already your a gonna burst at this rate.'
'Who is it?? Whos this guy were gonna save her from. Who? Did she tell you who it was or did she jus say she needed help?'
'I dunno Jeff she jus sounded like she needed help. So I told her to tell me what was goin on, you know Crys she wouldn tell us what was wrong if she didn have to. She jus said real quiet like that it was a guy that were botherin her. So I said I'd get us all together and we'd come down for the summer.' Jeff nodded an sat there quiet listenin to Luke Bryans song Sorority Girl. His an Crystals favourite song I smiled an listened to the lyrics.
Verse 1
You got your sundress on for game day
Just to drink beer on an old tailgate
You were born and raised to be a southern belle
But in a place like this you like to raise a little hell
You got your year-round tan
You’re on the five year plan
You shake your little pom poms up in the stands
Chorus
My my my little ADPi
Kappa Delta
Tri Delts you look so fine
Ooo don’t know what I’m gonna do around those
Zeta’s
Theta’s
Chi O’s
and little Phi Mu’s
Hey Yea Hey Yea
My my sorority girl
My my sorority girl
Verse 2
You got that high school boyfriend you still think about
You know how to make him jealous when he comes into town
You drive your little love bug when you’re skipping class
And your sisters get you home when you’re drunk off your ass
You know how to be a lady
Yea you’re still your daddy’s baby
You drive the band and the boys and the bartenders crazy
Chorus
My my my little ADPi
Kappa Delta
Tri Delts you look so fine
Ooo don’t know what I’m gonna do around those
Zeta’s
Theta’s
Chi O’s
and little Phi Mu’s
Hey Yea Hey Yea
My my sorority girl
My my sorority girl
Ooo here you come again
Walking my way
And there I go again with
nothing to say
My my my little ADPi
Kappa Delta
Tri Delts you look so fine
Ooo don’t know what I’m gonna do around those
Zeta’s
Theta’s
Chi O’s
and little Phi Mu’s
Hey Yea Hey Yea
My my sorority girl
My my sorority girl
Yea you rock this county boy’s world
My my sorority girl
I smiled again when the song finished. Jeff looked at me and said "Isnt it funny how a melody can sound like a memory?' I nodded and realised that he was meanin back in high school when Crys used to drive the boys crazy she didn know she did it an when she wore those little light summer dresses and showed her damn sexy legs we were all gone. Those boots an dresses an the way shed dance on the back of the tailgate when she'd had a few drinks an how we used to sneak her in past her curfew. I'm sure all of us guys have wanted her at one time or another jus never acted on it cause it would have been weird, but I know for one I wanted this summer to be different. I wanted Crys this summer and I hoped against all hope I was gonna finally get her.
I'd never told anyone that I loved Crys but I'm sure her Daddy an Mama knew why I was always around even if the other boys were always there. They knew I was a shootin for their daughters heart. We drove the rest of the trip in silence jus listenin to Luke and Brantely an thinkin bout the good ole days on the farm with Crys before things got complicated and it werent the same no more.
Thinkin bout how good it was gonna be to see her again.
I pulled into the drive of the Station and felt a tug on my heart an I knew Jeff felt it too. We both sat up straighter and breathed in a little deeper. This was alway gonna be home. We heard a horn blowin an goin off an turned to see three Utes pull in behind us. It was all of the others. I dont know how we got here before Stuart but we did. we were all here an Thats all that mattered. We were here for Crystal and we were gonna give her all our lovin.
We all drove up to the homestead as a convoy of cars. Lights on full beam, hazzards goin an horns blarin. They couldn miss us. We pulled up to see Crys pullin her boots on while tryin to run towards us, damn she was the same as ever. I jumped outta the truck and ran toward her to give her the biggest hug ever. I picked her up an swung her round laughin at her little squeal of joy. I put her down just to be enveloped into a hug from all of the others. It was chaos centeral.
'Crystal.'
'Chrissie'
'Crys'
'Crystal babes'
'darlin Crystal.' all of our nicknames for her were thrown into the air all of us tryin to get her attention an be the one to talk to her about somethin.
'Smelly Feet' I turned round to see Stuart jump down outta the back of his ute carryin a small bundle of fur. He had that cocky grin of his plastered on his face as if he had won some big prize or somethin. She turned and yelled'Stuart.' an ran over to him. He held the bundle of fur out to her and smiled it was a small Kelpie brown an tan like she'd always wanted. She smiled and laughed while leadin us all into the house for tea an to see her Mama and Daddy. I came in last not belivin how gorgeous she was an the way her face lit up when she saw us all pile outta our utes jus to see her. I was behind ish an his girl Chantell she didn look to comfortable but she was gonna fit in jus fine. We all went to school together an she sat with us she jus didn spend all her time here.
We were ushered into the kitchen an Mrs. Smith standing over the stove stirrin a big pot of somethin, keepin an eye on the oven an microwave at te same time. We converged on her an Sarah an Chantell went to work helpin her finish cookin. Chantell was gonna fit in jus fine I was sure. She was gonna be one of us before the end of the summer. I actually gave it a week before she Kicked it in the sticks like us. Sarah Mrs. Smith and Chantell brough over some amazing smellin stew that had been made, fesh baked bread adn fresh greens. There was enough to feed a small army but that didn matter we werte gonna finish it all I know, we always finished Mrs. S' food she was one hell of a cook. 'Mrs. S wheres Mr. S? is he here ir out on business?'
'No no Andrew he a gone down to the bunkhouse to tell the farm ands that all you boys an girls' she gave Sarah and Chantell t that look of hers 'are to be treated with the most respect here like Crystal, that your practically family an what you say is law.' she stood lookin at me hands on her hips an I blushed. We had never been treated like this here before. They were treatin us like faily. I felt honoured and glanced at Crys she looked at me an smiled. Maybe jus maybe she might think this gave me some more standin an migh like me more. here's to hopin.
We sat about the table chattin when Crystal looked at Jack an Sarah an their weddin rings. 'Right you two I know that you sent us a letter sayin you were a married but, excuse me where was my invitation?' she looked sad and about to laugh at the same time. I chuckled to myself. Jack looked at her an shrugged 'We eloped Sarahs Mama an Daddy didn want her to marry me cause we were high school sweethearts. So we decided to leave an go get married anyway.' Crystal looked shocked but then she whoopeed out loud 'Damn I never figured you two to be the ones to do that at all. I always figures Stuart would run off with some Southern Belle that her daddy didn approve of him. Haha' Stuart looked shocked 'Me never. Ok maybe thats right but I only ever had eyes for onr gal' he winked at Crystal an she flipped him off. We all laughed. 'So how was the wedding? where was it? what diid you wear?' Crystal gushed she looked so happy to be knowin bout this an finally talkin to them bout it.
Jack looked embarassed but Sarah looked happy to finally be able to tell the girls about her big day. the girls talked about that for a bit an the Stuart went an brought the grog in. The girls went upsatairs to shower an change before they started to drink so we cleaned an washed up after dinner.
wWe could hear the girls laughing an giggling upstairs, I couldn wait for them to come down. When they did come down I dang nearly had a heart attack. Damn they looked so good all of them but I only had eyes for my Crystal.
They all wore summer dresses and no shoes an damn did those tan legs look good. She walked over to the stereo an pushed in an Ipod and put on Luke bryan Country Girl (Shake it For Me). I smiled at her an she smiled back. This was the song her an Jacob danced to at the formal an the song that we had listened to every day on the way to school and the first time I had kissed her, I'm not sure if she remembers that kiss or not. But this song had a lot of history an I'm glad she put it on. I sat an sang along with it sippin my beer an watchin her an Stuart dance around the room with Ish an Chantell.
Verse 1
You got your sundress on for game day
Just to drink beer on an old tailgate
You were born and raised to be a southern belle
But in a place like this you like to raise a little hell
You got your year-round tan
You’re on the five year plan
You shake your little pom poms up in the stands
Chorus
My my my little ADPi
Kappa Delta
Tri Delts you look so fine
Ooo don’t know what I’m gonna do around those
Zeta’s
Theta’s
Chi O’s
and little Phi Mu’s
Hey Yea Hey Yea
My my sorority girl
My my sorority girl
Verse 2
You got that high school boyfriend you still think about
You know how to make him jealous when he comes into town
You drive your little love bug when you’re skipping class
And your sisters get you home when you’re drunk off your ass
You know how to be a lady
Yea you’re still your daddy’s baby
You drive the band and the boys and the bartenders crazy
Chorus
My my my little ADPi
Kappa Delta
Tri Delts you look so fine
Ooo don’t know what I’m gonna do around those
Zeta’s
Theta’s
Chi O’s
and little Phi Mu’s
Hey Yea Hey Yea
My my sorority girl
My my sorority girl
Ooo here you come again
Walking my way
And there I go again with
nothing to say
My my my little ADPi
Kappa Delta
Tri Delts you look so fine
Ooo don’t know what I’m gonna do around those
Zeta’s
Theta’s
Chi O’s
and little Phi Mu’s
Hey Yea Hey Yea
My my sorority girl
My my sorority girl
Yea you rock this county boy’s world
My my sorority girl
When the song ended I smiled an she came an sat down next to me. 'Damn Andy why didn you save me?'
'Darlin you didn wanna be saved you were havin so much fun out there with Stuart. You missed havin a good ole fashioned dance and drink with all your friends so I let you be.' She nodded and grabbed my drink outta my hand an downed it in one go. 'Hot damn girl your not gonna drink like that all night are you?' she looked at me with those gorgeous eyes of hers and said.
'Andy if youd had the few days I'd had youd be drinkin like that too.' I nodded an handed her a beer she took it an drank more slowly watchin everyone an takin em all in as if they'd jus dissapear if she blinked. Kick it in the Sticks came on by Brantely gilbert an we all cheered. Damn we'd had a few drinks. We started dancing. I danced with every one of the girls an mostly with Crystal when the song ended I sighed an went to sit down but Country Must Be Country wide came on an I smiled again. I pulled Crystal up with the other girls an we started to dance. really dance like we were back in high school. Ish an Jack took their girls so Stuart an I danced with Crystal. Damn she was a good dancer, I had a hard on cause of the way she was grindin on me. I'm sure stuart felt the same cause no matter how much he was enjoying this he looked kind of uncomfortable with the situation he was in.
the song ended an she sat down with Sarah an Chantell. 'Damn Crys you looked like you were back at a highschool dance the way you were dancin. An you had more than one guy damn girl.' Sarah said 'Crystal damn your hot wish I could do that an pull guys like you do haha' Chantell laughed at her. 'Excuse me I do not pull guys.' they gave her that look 'Ok fine I do but these two are my friends not anything else we're too close for that.'
My face fell. We're too close for that, I heard Stuart sigh next to me. My sentiments exactly. Sarah an Chantell looked at me an Stuart an I think they realised what was wrong cause they changed the subject real quick. Time for another drink I think. We drank an drank an damn I had to stop drinkin, I forgot that this girl could drink any of us under the table without lookin sideways at us.
I stood up with Crystal in my arms. It was bedtime, the others were ahead of me carrying the girls an Jeff an Stuart had already gonr to bed. They had drunk as much as the girls but had the sense to go to bed not go outside an play spotlight. Somethings never change. I pushed her door open an put her in bed fully clothed. I kissed her lips lightly an said "I love you Darlin Crystal. I love you so much' She stirred slightly in her sleep and muttered under her breath. I left it was time to go or i wouldn leave her in bed alone tonight. My room was next door I flopped onto the bed n sighed. I came to save her from a guy I didn know but could I save her from myself?