This work is forever dedicated to Elizabeth and her husband David who were killed in a car accident shortly before I penned this story. They left behind two beautiful daughters and a legacy of love and commitment. Their loss continues to affect those who loved them most. There is not a day that I don't still miss her.
This story doesn't have a happy ending where the guy gets the girl. I'm sorry to give away the ending, but it just doesn't happen that way. That's just how this story will go and while it may have been a story of real pure love, the boy and girl won't see each other for a long time. Both are happily married to other people and that's ok. This story doesn't need to be a sappy love story with a fairy tale ending. It’s my story and I need to tell it, SO here it goes...
I went to college at a less-than-prestigious University, studying music and enjoying myself for the most part. This particular semester, I took a full course load which included American History, English Literature, and a Geology course.
After attending class a few times, I noticed one of the girls in my class shared two of my other classes living on the girls' side of my dormitory. It was a happy coincidence that would lead me to one of the greatest loves of my life. And with that said, it was one of the greatest heartbreaks of my life, as well.
Despite having a full load of classes as a full-time student, I found plenty of time to practice my music, meet new people, and enjoy my first steps leaving home. It was a tremendous world of balance, and newfound freedom with responsibilities to complete my education. v So I made a conscious effort to go to class, study, and complete assignments
After a few weeks of Professor Andrea Camden's American History class, Professor Camden decided to break up the class into small groups. These groups would participate in a game version of an end-of-the-week History Exam for a participation grade that didn't force Professor Camden to have to grade papers. Winners of the game would be awarded extra credit points throughout the semester with the winning group being given the option to skip the Final Exam at the end of the semester. Suffice it to say, as a group, we decided to study together in an attempt to win each game.
At the end of the first game, having tied with another group, the girl I shared two other classes with offered to let us study in her dorm room. As the rooms are rather small and deciding we did not wish to run afoul of her roommate, we instead opted to meet in the University Library, where we could study until 10 pm. It was a perfect plan and we were sure we would win more of the games to get out of the Final Exam at the end of the semester.
As we made plans, we decided to introduce ourselves to each other so we could also learn each other's strengths and weaknesses to give the best person the opportunity the answer the question.
Chapter One: Elizabeth
Her name was Elizabeth and at first glance, she was a rather short and diminutive person. But I immediately noticed just how immensely attractive the Hispanic girl was. Her big jade green eyes were kind, Her soft black hair was styled yet simple and conservative. She had a lovely womanly figure of large breasts and shapely thighs.
Of all of her most beautiful traits, her most perfect was her lovely smile. Elizabeth always seemed to naturally smile with a jovial personality. Her smile warmed my heart and would make me smile. This made her even more beautiful, in my mind.
Elizabeth had a fun personality with a great sense of humor. She was kind and outgoing and I had never heard her say anything malicious or harmful toward any person. Even those that had somehow mistreated her or otherwise done her wrong, she would quite diplomatically claim they were probably just having a bad day and maybe the next day it would be better for them. After all, she'd say, college is hard for everyone.
I had to admire her positivity. I'd seen how awful some girls treated each other, especially those that were more attractive than them or had some other characteristic or charm they lacked. It was sad that in the 1990s women insisted upon respect but seemed to lack the fellow respect for each other. But I tended not to dwell on such things. too much. And rightly so I put Elizabeth mostly out of my mind to focus on school.
Chapter Two: Meeting at Horse Pens
I never did try my hand at being a cowboy. There isn’t much call for it. But everyone in Texas knows at least one rodeo star. Jeremy, a friend of mine had grown up in rodeo and taken me horseback riding at the University Pens. I soon found I enjoyed doing it myself and would go down once a week to ride Paco, an old white and grey workhorse that was approaching his prime but whose owner could no longer afford to take care of him.
As I rode around the pin, giving Paco his exercise, I noticed I had a visitor along the fence line.
Elizabeth stood at the fence watching as I rode the horse around the small arena. As soon as I noticed it was her, I rode over to meet her.
Her eyes were sparkling in the sunlight as always and fixed upon me as I approached.
“Christopher, is that you? I didn’t know you ride,” she said smiling.
“Well, of course, I ride,” I replied with a smile. “What kind of lousy country boy can’t ride a horse?”
Looking over my shoulder, I noticed a small patch of flowers hanging over the ragged wooden fence. I turned Paco in that direction and charged over toward them.
“Wait, Christopher, where are you going?” She climbed up on the fence almost ready to climb over after me, but instead just stood watching as I controlled the animal from a gallop to a slow stride and then a complete stop.
I hopped down and chose a small flower from the lot and jumped back up into the saddle. Bringing Paco back across the arena in a quick stride. I brought him right up along the fence line towards Elizabeth.
She reached over and pet him softly. “What a beautiful animal, Christopher...”
“His name is Paco, “ I replied.
“You’re very handsome, Paco.” Elizabeth was smiling, her eyes fixed on the horse as she stroked his forehead softly.
“Would you like to ride?” I asked.
“Oh, no,” she said as her eyes went wide. “I don’t ride.”
“Oh nonsense,” I replied. “A Texas girl like you? I bet you ride better than me.”
Elizabeth blushed.
“Well, I would like to, but...”
“Perfect!” I said, reaching out my hand to her.
“With you?” She asked.
“Sure, why not?” I replied. "I won't let you fall. I promise."
She took my hand and stepped over the fence. I helped her sit in front of me, scooting back a bit in the saddle to help her on.
Paco tensed for a second as Elizabeth climbed on and then relaxed. Cradled in my arms, we took Paco back out to the middle of the arena riding slowly.
I noticed Elizabeth was blushing but figured it might be that it was just her first time riding a horse. I reached around her waist to help her steady herself. She immediately tensed up.
“I apologize, I just wanted to make sure you won’t fall out of the saddle.” She immediately relaxed, leaning back against me.
“Sure, sure Christopher. I’m sure you hit on all the ladies this way…”
Now I was blushing. “Well, if that’s so. Then you’d be the first.”
Somehow, I knew she was smiling as we approached the far side of the arena. We brought Paco up to a slow gallop and I was careful to keep Elizabeth steady along with me.
"You've ridden a horse before," I said, noticing she kept her arms in and was not allowing them to bounce or flap.
“Well, no. I’ve never…”
“Hmm, you could’ve fooled me.” I took Paco to a quicker gallop and noticed Jeremy was coming up to the gate. I looked at my watch and realized the rodeo class would be coming soon.
I turned Paco back towards the gate and brought him back to a saunter. Jeremy was waiting at the gate.
“I’m sorry Chris, but we have a class coming out in about fifteen minutes,” Jeremy explained. “You can take Paco for another 15 minutes or I can open the gate to the pasture for you.”
“Well, I got much of my ride finished today. But maybe Elizabeth would like to...”
“No, I think we should take Paco back in. We can come back out another time.”
“Well,” I said. “Let's get going.” I jumped down. I took the reins and led Paco and Elizabeth back to the horse pens. “OH, I almost forgot.”
I reached into my shirt pocket and found the small sunflower I had picked and handed it to Elizabeth.
“I love sunflowers!” She explained, putting it in her hair behind her ear with a huge smile on her face. “Thank you, Christopher.”
We took Paco back to his pen and I began breaking down his riding gear and began to brush him. Elizabeth took a second brush and brushed Paco as well. As we finished up, I put the saddle and other gear in a cabinet.
“That was fun, Christopher.”
“Yes, It was, Elizabeth. Would you like to come back out with me next Thursday?”
“I would love to. Let me look over my class schedule and I’ll let you know, Sir.”
Chapter Three: The Study Group
I began to see more and more of Elizabeth throughout the week. We had our three classes we shared and a study group on Wednesday nights. Occasionally, she would come to sit with me and my neighbor Daniel in the cafeteria.
The times she didn’t, I began to miss her company. But I didn’t directly seek her out. And I didn’t go out of my way to meet her. We had this friendly relationship where we hung around each other often, but nothing was set in stone.
We talked about everything – school, growing up in small towns, the excitement of being away from home, and various classes and professors.
It was on the night when I told the study group, I would not be in class the following Tuesday because I would be performing in the University’s Wind Concert that I got the inkling Elizabeth might like me. Her eyes lit up immediately.
"You have a concert?" She said excitedly.
"Yeah," I replied.
"Oooohhh, what do you play? Tell me!"
"Well," I said. "I play Trombone and Tuesday night is our Spring Concert."
"I want to go! May I come to it, please?"
"Of course, you may come, it is a public performance." I gave her the time and the building but didn't think anything of it.
"I can't wait to see you!" She said, “I'll be there!"
Chapter Four: The Black Dress
I didn't think about it and if she hadn't come, I wouldn't have held it against her. Usually, only the faculty and the other music students attended. Some of the people there were there for their Music Appreciation class and would get credit for writing a review on the program notes.
Elizabeth showed up in a lovely black dress. I didn't even see her come in, I was busy at the time with my trombone performance and the concert.
I heard the ladies in the flute and clarinet section commenting on some lady and her black dress. And didn't pay any attention. It was, "my god she looks lovely in that dress." And "I wish I could wear a dress like that." AND "who is she, anyway?" Nope, I didn't even notice her and it wasn't until after the concert that I even heard her in the audience.
Her sweet laugh. I saw her out in the audience, fifth row, eight seats over, nearly the middle of the auditorium. She did show up and she looked amazing. She was talking to a professor and he complimented her lovely dress. She thanked him and smiled brightly at him.
It was a long black dress that hugged her curves and went down almost to her ankles, with long sleeves, her hair was made up, and makeup on. She looked like a glass doll with her lovely light creamy brown skin and dazzling smile that seemed to light up the whole room. And above that, sat fiery jade green eyes looking around the room.
I was fixed gazing at Elizabeth when Tina said out loud, "well who is she, is she in one of the choir classes?"
I put my instrument back in its case and grabbed my music stand and music folder to head out the side stage door.
"Sir Christopher!" I hear from behind me. I put my instrument case and music stand into the bed of the director's tiny Datsun truck along with the other members of the band. "Sir Christopher, wait!" I heard.
I turned to see Elizabeth standing on the stairs, the door to the auditorium closed behind her.
"Oh shit, " she blurted out, turning around to try to open the door, but it had locked shut behind her. "Shit, it's locked."
"Yeah, they are locked. We'll have to walk around the side of the building if you want to go back in."
"Well, I'm ready to leave anyway. I just wanted to make sure you knew I came to see you play and it was wonderful."
"Thank you, Elizabeth," I replied. "You look nice," I said, looking her up and down.
"Oh, well I figured, at a concert, everyone would be wearing a suit and tie or a dress, but this is Texas, so everyone was wearing jeans..."
"You look beautiful,” I said, not even realizing what I was saying. She smiled and her eyes twinkle in the scarce sunlight.
"You look quite nice, yourself, Sir Christopher. You really should dress up like this more often."
"We usually wear a shirt and tie for performances, I don't care for it, much."
"You are quite handsome, Sir Christopher," she says and she reaches up to straighten my tie. "We should go over to the library and see if the study group is there. It might be fun to show up together dressed up."
"Why are you calling me "Sir Christopher?" I asked.
"Because you are so handsome and chivalrous and noble. You are my white knight!"
I stood there perplexed for a moment and remembered holding the door for her several times, and carrying her books to the library checkout desk a few times. Fair enough.
My concert duties were completed for the evening and what man wouldn't want to spend time with such a lovely young woman? That was the best idea I have ever heard.
"Let's go,” I say. And start to walk around the building.
"Wait!" She spoke. "Sir Christopher, I am a lady, after all." She hurries over to me and takes my arm. "Also, these high heels are difficult to walk in and I need your arm."
"I am at your service, Elizabeth. I certainly wouldn't want you to fall. Besides, you look so lovely."
There was that same sparkle in her eyes and that smile and I found my heart beating fast just looking at her. I did my best not to because I didn't want to just stare at her, but I found myself wanting to as we walked arm-in-arm across the campus.
We got to the library and the group was still there. There were immediate compliments on her dress and she looked amazing. At that moment, I might as well have not even been there at all. But she came up and threw her arm around me.
"And look at my handsome date, tonight! Sir Christopher, he's all dressed up."
The other two girls in the group started to fuss over me being dressed up, but Elizabeth quickly put a stop to it.
"Hands off, ladies. Sir Christopher is my date tonight! Get your own! And he's going to walk me back to my dorm room, first! Then, Sir Christopher may do as he pleases."
"Ummmm," I said nervously. "Sure, as you wish, Elizabeth."
"Let's go, Sir Christopher, we have stairs to climb and I'm wearing heels."
We bow out of the study group and we walk arm in arm across campus. When we get to the long stairs going up to her side of the dorm. I begin to help her with the first step.
"Are you mad, Sir Christopher? I'm not climbing all of those damned steps in these heels." She takes off her heels and walks barefoot to the middle entrance. I still help her to the door and then follow her upstairs to the lobby and then over to the girl’s dormitory door.
"Well," I say, “I guess I will see you tomorrow in Geology class."
"Sir Christopher! Don't I get a good night kiss?" She said, eyes twinkling and pouting slightly.
"Well, I.."
"I did get all dressed up like a princess for you, Sir Christopher and you are a complete prince. A princess deserves a good night kiss from her prince..."
"Well, yeah but, I..."
"Don't sweat it, Sir Christopher. I'm just screwing with ya!" She starts laughing and turns around. "You do look seriously handsome, tonight."
I go on to my dorm room and go to bed for the evening, watching a movie before falling asleep. I still think about how lovely she was as I fall asleep.
The next morning, I woke up to my usual routine. Workout, Shower, Breakfast, and on to Geology class. When I get there, Elizabeth is sitting right across from me. One of our fellow students asked why Elizabeth had moved.
Elizabeth slapped my arm. "He's my study buddy, right Sir Christopher?"
"Yeah, we have three other classes together..."
"Two."
"Yeah. Two other classes, I think History and English..."
Chapter Five: Getting the story right.
You're not telling the story right, Sir Christopher. Get it right. Tell them about how you fell madly in love with me and told me you loved me...
I'm getting to that part, Elizabeth. It just takes time. And it would take another month before I realized it.
Bullshit, Sir Christopher. You told me the night you saw me at the concert you knew then you were in love with me. MADLY IN LOVE...
Elizabeth. This is my story...
OUR STORY...
Ok, it is OUR story, but just remember that you did the leaving and I stayed behind.
You're right, Sir Christopher. But stop messing up the story. You've gone into all the details about my dress and almost nothing about the important stuff…
Important Stuff, Like?
Well, stud muffin, like the talks we had in the cafeteria where I told you I like you and was available and it went right over your head. Or the long talks we had in the library outside of the study group where I told you I was waiting for a good man. Or the time I called you on the phone at 3 am, crying. If you had paid attention then, this might have had a more epic love scene later in the story.
I didn't hear you complaining at that time.
Yeah, but you might have had quantity as opposed to just quality. Besides, Sir Christopher, it took you another two months to even make a move...
Umm, let’s just move on. We didn't jump into a relationship; it grew slowly and then it was over and you were gone. And things in my life might have turned out much differently, had you stayed. For one, we might have had a happy ending to this story. And I would be telling this story to our children instead of writing it for complete strangers.
Maybe, Sir Christopher. As I said, it took you a while to get the hint and I was throwing them out there trying to get your attention. Seemed like the dress was the only way, and then I almost worried you wanted to wear the dress yourself and you were a fag.
Always the joker. Let's tell the story and then you can tell jokes afterward.
OK, but stop messing up the story. I loved you, too, you know.
I know.
And I was hurt by leaving, too.
I know.
And it took years to finally forget you and move on. Thinking you would show up one day and rescue me and take me away to your castle and...
Yeah. I'm not Prince Charming. I don't have a white horse or a castle. And I didn't rescue anyone. I didn't get the girl and at the end of the story, is just more heartbreak.
Nice Foreshadowing, Sir Christopher. You’re a regular freakin' Edgar Allen Poe...
Do you want to tell this story?
OK. So, there was this beautiful frustrated young Chicano woman, who was trying to get Sir Christopher's attention. But he was blind as a bat and deaf as a door knob. And even though I flat out told him “I want you to ask me out,” and then flaunted myself for him, he was like that bashful buzzard on the Bugs Bunny cartoon. You really were that stupid sometimes, Sir Christopher
Elizabeth?
Nope! No no, no no nope. I'm bashful. Sir Christopher the Bashful!!!
You could always write your own story if you don’t like the way I’m telling this one. Don't you have a journal for medical professionals you write for?
Sir Christopher, my medical journal publications are not what I would classify as entertainment. Besides, nobody will read THIS shit, romance sxtory!!!
Elizabeth?
Look at me, I’m Sir Christopher and I have deep thoughts about stuff, I should share them on my BLOG!!! Oooh, so edgy!
Elizabeth?
Yes, Sir Christopher?
Let me tell the story.
Fine.
Chapter Six: Judy the roommate from hell
As I said, it took a while before I got the hint, but I wasn't looking to fall in love. I liked her but I was still focused on finishing up my semester. we sat together in all of our classes, at lunch, and in the study group. She would even come and sit outside our band practices so I could walk her back to the dorm in the evening. And then I met her roommate.
Elizabeth came from a large family of sisters. We had that in common. Her younger sister, Lisa, was one year younger. They grew up together sharing a room. So, when Elizabeth went off to college, she naturally missed her little sister. Her roommate, on the other hand, I could see her needing an exorcism to spend any kind of time with.
Judy, the roommate, was psychotic. That isn’t a professional diagnostic, mind you, but there was something off about that girl. She was the kind of woman that would break into a professor's office and take pictures of herself nude to blackmail the professor for a good grade. She was the kind of person who would get angry at her boyfriend for talking to another woman - any woman, his mother. And in some petty act of vengeance, superglue his junk to his stomach. She was a monster. and would occasionally terrorize the other girls on her floor.
Judy was the only person I had ever heard Elizabeth say anything that was not remotely positive about. She wouldn't bad mouth her, because I believe she was scared of her and worried it would somehow get back to Judy. But Elizabeth freely admitted that she thought Judy was either on Anti-psychotic meds that weren't working or that she should be on them.
Judy was crazy. And drove her roommate out within days. Unfortunately, Elizabeth couldn't get another room and she couldn't afford to get a private room. She was stuck in a bad situation with a bad roommate and the college would not do anything to fix that. Elizabeth was stuck.
So, she slept sporadically at night, worried Judy might do something crazy to her while she slept. And she would try to catch up on missed sleep during the day or while Judy was in class. But with a full load, like the rest of us, that didn't leave much free time for her to take a short nap. And she missed a few classes and study groups from falling asleep or sleeping late. Elizabeth's grades began to suffer in some of her other classes and she worried she would lose her scholarships.
Elizabeth knew the next semester; her little sister would join her at college and they could room together like they had growing up. She would have her sister back and could focus on resting at night and class during the day. Unfortunately, her little sister didn't want to come to this West Texas University, she had bigger plans. Elizabeth had been accepted to the same school, but the thought of going there alone frightened her.
It is completely understandable to be thrust into the larger world when you come from a tiny West Texas town. This would be Elizabeth's only semester at this University. She would go on to attend a much more prestigious school and obtain a Medical Degree and training. And she had this semester to get a few core classes out of the way and start the rest in the fall with her little sister.
It was a good plan and one I wish I had followed on my own, having been offered full scholarships to several Universities for Music Education. I passed them up for separate reasons, but it was still a good plan, nonetheless.
One of the evenings we met at study group Elizabeth offered her dorm room as a place for us to study together. Usually, we stayed at the library until it closed at 10, staying until 10:30 when they turned the lights off and locked the doors. They would let us finish up, go to the restrooms or wait out in the lobby to finish up visiting for the night. But tonight, they shut down at eight when a light exploded causing a small fire.
So, we went to Elizabeth's room. The six of us sat around the room and studied while Judy was out stealing children's souls or something equally horrific. Judy wasn't due back until 11 when she got off her shift at a small convenience store. She came home early that night.
Upon seeing six strangers in her room along with Elizabeth, Judy immediately began screeching at all of us demanding we leave her "home" immediately. Elizabeth immediately began to apologize and offered to move us to the dorm room lobby. But Judy then continued to gripe at Elizabeth for bringing all of these people into her "home."
We went down to the lobby and stayed until almost midnight. Elizabeth came down a few minutes later, clearly flustered and upset from her interaction with Judy.
"Guys," she said. "I am SOOO sorry for Judy's behavior. That was over the top even for her."
"It’s OK Liz," Rosie, one of our study partners said. "I wouldn't want all of those people in my home."
"You know, " I said. "They say there's no place like home."
"Yeah, Home is where the heart is, but she left hers somewhere else."
"Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam..."
We continued to make jokes and Elizabeth finally cheered up a bit.
"You know," I said. "This is why I have a private room. They assigned me a roommate, and he moved out to an off-campus apartment. So, they gave me a second roommate and he moved to the room next door and we share the bathroom now. I paid for a private room, so now I don't have to worry about psychotic roommates. Thank God for my music scholarship!"
"Hey there, handsome!" Elizabeth smiled at me and my heart almost melted. "I need to talk to you later."
"OK," I said sheepishly.
We wrapped up our study session and decided to call it a night. It was after midnight and we had another day the next day starting at 8 am and the Bed certainly sounded very good. Elizabeth would flash me her smile a few more times throughout our group goodbyes and I headed down to my dorm room, finally.
When I got there, my phone was already ringing. Nobody calls me, especially after 1 AM.
Chapter Seven: A Simple Question
"Hello?" I answer, groggily.
"Oh god, I'm asking him, just shut up!" I can hear a commotion over the line in the background.
"Who is this?" I demand.
"Sir Christopher, this is Liz. I have a big favor to ask you."
"Oh, HI Elizabeth! Sure, what do you need?"
"Well, Judy is still pissed off for bringing all of you, the study group, into her room. I don't want to listen to her bitching and griping ALL NIGHT!"
"Yeah. I don't blame you."
"You said you have a spare dorm bed?"
"Yeah, well I."
"Don't worry, Prince Charming, I'm not asking you to marry me. Can I come crash on your spare bed and I'll see if they can move me to another room tomorrow."
"Well, it’s just that girls aren't supposed to be over on this side after Midnight. I don't think my RA would be happy seeing you here..."
"Then don't tell him. Hey, I'm a small woman, you can hide me away and no one would be the wiser."
"I just don't want to get kicked out or get in trouble."
"Just tell them my roommate had a psychotic episode and I asked you for help.."
"Wouldn't you rather... Oh OK, Yeah, sure, whatever you want, Elizabeth. Do you need bedding or blankets?"
"Nope, I’ll be right over in five minutes! Leave the door open for me!"
I didn't remember bringing her by my dorm room or telling her which floor I was on, for that matter. I do share a class with my RA, Brian, and he had told me girls needed to be out of the rooms by 1 AM and no sleepovers. I am sure if he found out, we'd have to have that talk about violating the rules and the trouble we could get into with the campus police.
About ten minutes later there was a knock at my door and it was Brian.
"Hey, Brian." I saw he looked exhausted.
"Hey, Christopher. There's this chick that showed up asking for you and I know you know we're not supposed to have girls over. But she has bedding and a pillow and you're both adults and, DUDE! You've got this!" He looked back down the hall and Elizabeth was standing in his doorway in pajamas with her blanket and pillow. "And I didn't see NOTHIN'!"
"Uhm yeah, I've got this, Brian."
"Goddamn right," he fist-bumped me. "You've got this. And she's ready! Goddamn, Jesus in heaven, is she ready? She's ready, Brian! Take care of her, boy! And I see NOTHIN'!"
He walks down the hallway back to his room and ceremoniously kicks his door open before slamming it shut and locking it. In the background, I hear him still going on about it before he turns up his stereo.
I stick my head out the door as Elizabeth comes in. "What in hell was that all about?" She asks.
“Hmm, apparently, I've got this," I say looking down at her.
"OH, not yet you don't, Sir Christopher." She smiles. "But who knows what the night will bring."
"Well, I have extra blankets and pillows and.."
"I brought my own..." She smiled devilishly, eyes sparking a jade fire at me.
"...I have clean bath linens if you..."
"Oh no, Sir Christopher. You're not going to get my clothes off that easily..."
"Ummm," my face turned bright red, embarrassed to do almost nothing...
"This bitch is tired and wants some sleep. So, let’s get some sleep and I'll see you in the morning."
I lay down facing the outer wall away from her, not wanting to be tempted to ogle her in her sleep. She wrapped herself in her blankets and then asked me for one of my blankets. I helped her cuddle up and she was softly snoring in minutes. I drifted off to sleep enjoying the scent of her light perfume before falling fast asleep myself.
A few hours later I was jarred out of sleep. I thought I heard someone in my room and sat up.
"Sir Christopher, are you awake?"
"Huh? Elizabeth, is that you? What?" I'm looking around the room and see her cuddled up in the corner of the room.
"Yes, it’s me. I'm freezing. Do you think I could come to snuggle with you until I warm up?"
"Well, yes. I guess. Are you sure you want to sleep in my bed? I can trade with you"
"Yes, I want to snuggle. I had a bad dream and couldn't sleep. Can I snuggle with you for a little while and then I'll go back to my bed."
"Sure. As you wish, Elizabeth. Just don't want people to talk about you."
"That's sweet, hon, but I don't care what other people think. Now scoot over. This bitch is tired and needs cuddles from my Sir Christopher."
"OK." I move up against the side of the bed against the wall and she claims into my bed, pulls up the covers, and snuggles right up beside me.
"Can you cover me up please, Sir Christopher?"
"Yes, ma'am." I wrap my blanket around her and she cuddles into me.
"OH, leave the arm," she says, grabbing my arm and draping it over her shoulder. "Extra warm!"
I look at the back of her neck and can smell her very light rose petal scent and her hair... is intoxicating, but I try my best to make the best of the situation and remain a gentleman.
Elizabeth sighed contently. "Thank you, Sir Christopher." We fall asleep together. Safe and warm.
Chapter Eight: The Next Morning
I awaken the next morning, Elizabeth and I are still spooning with me, and I move my arm in front of my belly and off her shoulder. She begins to stir and turns over to face me. Her eyes flutter lazily open. She immediately smiles and kisses me on the cheek.
"Thank you for letting me stay over last night. I don't know what I would have done, otherwise..."
"Well, yeah. I hope we can find you another place to stay. You'll have to talk to the Dorm office. But there should be a few rooms open, I don't think the girl's side is full...:"
"Yeah. I don't know if they'll have an open room, one floor is shut down because of a water leak. And some of the other rooms are just trashy. Can I stay with you until they give me a room?"
"Sure, but I don't want to get in trouble. If anyone asks, Judy went into another psychotic fit and you requested refuge..."
"OH, I think everyone knows that will happen, she's a lunatic!"
"Yeah. she's nuts!"
"SO can I stay with you, for now, Sir Christopher?
"Yes, Elizabeth. You may stay for as long as you need."
"Thank you, Sir Christopher. Now, this bitch needs a shower and some breakfast!"
"OK. But hold on, first."
"OH, yes, Sir Christopher!"
I cross through my bathroom to the other dorm room door and knock on it. My neighbor answers.
"Hey, Chris. What's up?"
"Hey, Daniel. My friend needs to borrow my shower, hers isn't working."
"Hers?" Daniel gets a knowing grin on his face. "Her shower is broken!"
"Daniel, you need to focus." I grab him by the collar. "Elizabeth is like a little sister to me and a big brother VERY protective of his little sister. If there were to be an incident between you and her, I would have to beat you to death. And Daniel, it’s going to be very painful for you if that has to happen." I flex my arm and squeeze my fist. He looks at me and swallows hard.
"Sure thing, Chris. She deserves her privacy. I had a little sister, once. Or was it twice?"
"FOCUS!"
"Sure thing. I'll knock before I enter. Better yet. You knock when she's finished and dressed. I won't see anything that way. If I need anything, I just go down the hall. OK?"
"Yeah," I say menacingly. "She's like my baby sister and I protect my baby sister."
"OK." Daniel is stammering. "MY sister sure doesn't look like her..."
"FOCUS!" I squeeze his shoulder.
"OK! Whatever you say, Christopher!"
I closed the door behind me and heard Daniel lock the door.
I come back into my room and Elizabeth is standing there with a mischievous grin on her face.
"Sir Christopher! Did you just threaten to beat your neighbor to death if he came in while I was in the shower?"
"Umm yeah!" I was embarrassed. "Sorry."
"Why Sir Christopher, I had no idea you could be so brutal or that you had a baby sister. I'll have to remember that."
"I have clean towels and washcloths. I clean out the shower almost every day, so it should be clean. and there is a fresh roll of tissue..."
"I'll be fine, Sir Christopher, you psycho! Terrorizing your neighbor like that for your baby sister! How Sweet!"
"Yeah, I just.... yeah... sorry... I wouldn’t..."
"Don't let me stop you, Sir Christopher. I think it is kind of hot. In a creepy sort of way! But I like it!" She leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. "Protecting me from your mean and nasty neighbor."
Elizabeth took the towel and washcloth I offered and closed the door behind her. I heard the shower curtain moving and the water turning on. I went to sit on my bed and began to get ready for my morning, starting the day with pushups and sit-ups before moving to the 25- and 50-pound hand weights in my closet to do arm and shoulder curls.
I was still working out when she came out of the bathroom about thirty minutes later with towels wrapped around her body and head. I gave her some privacy while she got dressed by going into the shower next.
When I came out, she was dressed and ready to go to breakfast. I quickly dressed in the bathroom and came out ready to go to breakfast as well. I knocked on Daniel's door, but he had already left for the morning, opting to come back after his first class to shower and his other usual morning routines.
We eventually worked out a schedule between the three of us. He would get up an hour earlier, get all of his morning business done, and then head out just before we got up to start our day.
And luckily, for him, no beating was ever necessary. He not only was the perfect gentleman to Elizabeth but had even offered to help her around campus if he saw her in a class they shared or anywhere else by holding the door for her or offering to carry her book bag.
Knowing I was very protective of my "little sister," Elizabeth became Daniel's surrogate sister. And he warned his friends not to make his bodybuilder neighbor (me) angry by hitting on his little sister. It is very likely the threats of bodily harm were completely unnecessary, but they had their intended effects.
Chapter Nine: Many Weeks to come
So, over the next few weeks, Elizabeth would stay with me off and on. She would take my spare bed on some nights and crawl into mine on others. The Dorm office couldn't get her another room with a roommate as rooms were scarce at the time. So, we made the best of it and Elizabeth stayed with me most nights. Opting to go back to her room when Judy was out of town or not coming home due to a different work shift at the little convenience store.
Some nights, we would cuddle up watching a movie and others she would sit up and read while I slept. We almost became like an old couple, discussing the day’s events and then going to bed for the evening. But we still were not doing anything apart from occasionally sleeping in the same bed. We flirted with each other and complimented each other. But for the most part, our relationship was platonic and friendly.
The final full week of classes was approaching and knowing she was soon leaving was beginning to break my heart and hers. We felt as if time was running down and if something wasn't said to one another, we would always regret it.
Chapter Ten: One Last Week Together
Sunday night, Elizabeth decided to stay in her dorm room and begin to pack up her things. She would be leaving on Friday afternoon once her mom arrived. So, we didn't have long to pack and get her things ready to go. The next morning, Elizabeth was at my door waiting to go to breakfast.
We went up to the dining hall and sat at the table together. Many of the other dorm occupants had already left, having wrapped up finals the week before. Judy had already left Sunday afternoon having quit her job and packing up all her things that morning and leaving shortly after lunch.
But Elizabeth still came over in the evening to stay with me. She sat on the end of my bed crying.
"What's wrong," I asked.
"Don't you even care about me? I know you feel something for me. I've seen the way you look at me. Even when you think I don't notice. You're in love with me. "
"I am."
"So, what are you going to do about it?" She looked into my eyes pleading, jade green eyes sparkling, tears running down her face.
I looked away for a second not wanting to see her cry, she stood up and started to walk towards the door...
I stood up behind her, taking her by the shoulders and turned around to face me, and kissed her on the lips. Holding her face tenderly, I kissed her hard, with passion and love in my mind thinking of every waking moment we had spent together of countless moments of laughter with her and holding her as we drifted off to sleep together and longed for each other and loved each other. Every single moment...
Elizabeth wrapped her arms around me and sighed as I leaned back from her, leaving her breathless. I looked deeply into her sparkling eyes seeing jade flames lashing back at me and she blushed, looking back up at me as I kissed her again.
Holding her in my arms I lifted her off the floor, laying her gently on the bed as she cuddled up next to me turning around, we continued to kiss and caress each other tenderly.
"I love you, Sir Christopher."
"I love you, too, Elizabeth."
We kissed and held each other in our arms. Realizing we only had a short time together, we decided to hold each other that night. Then and there. Now.
The next morning, we woke and began our usual morning routine. But this time when she came out of the shower with the towel wrapped around her, stood in front of me with her hands on her hips.
"I have to tell you something," she said with all seriousness in her voice.
“What is it?" I asked, putting down my weights.
Her serious look became a grin as she leaned down, kissing me on the nose.
"I love you, Sir Christopher."
"I love you, Elizabeth," I said, kissing her back again.
"Well, you're about to get lucky again, Mister." She said, dropping the towel to the floor revealing her naked body. I took her by the hand laying down on the bed as I began to kiss her passionately. My hands holding her tightly at the waist, she reached back to grab my hand and placed it on her butt, insisting I squeeze her. I obliged her.
We spent the rest of the day together. Leaving the room for lunch and dinner and enjoying a quiet evening of watching TV before snuggling up for more romantic times. We then fell asleep holding each other.
The next few days were mostly a blur of finals and turning my instruments in for the year. We spent as much of the time together as we could, never leaving each other's side, we would stray in her dorm room and mine and go to the dining hall together for meals.
Chapter Eleven: Daniel Risks his own life
On Thursday morning, neither of us had any finals so decided to stay in the room. We hear Daniel rattling around in his room in what sounded like him moving out. We stayed in bed and when it quieted down.
We both got out of bed and wrapped bath towels around ourselves to go into the bathroom for a shower. But I picked Elizabeth up and sat her down on the bathroom counter, kissing her passionately.
We didn't even pay attention when the door opened as we were too engrossed in each other to notice.
"OH SHIT! I'm DEAD!" It was Daniel. But we paid him no mind. He quickly closed the door and locked it again. "I KNEW SHE WASN'T YOUR SISTER; I knew it!!!"
I continued kissing Elizabeth, wrapping my arm around her waist and picking her up. The towels dropped from around her waist and mine as I half carried her to the shower, turned on the hot water, and placed ourselves both inside. The hot steamy mist rose to cover the mirrors with fog as we enjoyed the hot steady pressure of the shower head waters beating down on our bodies. WeE helped to scrub each other’s bodies but also spent time loving and holding each other. We would gaze into each other's eyes and then embrace as the high pressure of hot water beat down across our bodies. We didn't have to speak, she looked into my eyes with tears in hers and I held her, kissing her.
We decided that unless we intended to grow gills, we should probably get dressed to start our day. We got out of the shower and got dried off and dressed. As soon as we were done, and ready to head out, we got a knock at the door.
I opened the door and it was Daniel and Brian.
"Hey Chris,” Brian started. "Daniel told me he accidentally walked in on you and Liz there and he’s scared shitless."
"Good," I replied. "HE SHOULD BE afraid," I replied gruffly flexing muscles for all to see.
"Yeah. Right. I can't have you beating him up, I don't want to have to call campus police to haul off some beat-up Jewish kid who was ‘perving on your girlfriend and..."
"What?" Daniel explained incredulously. "You motherfucker, Brian. Christopher said he would beat me to death if there was an incident. THERE WAS A FUCKING INCIDENT. I'm so sorry Liz, I didn't know anyone was in there."
Elizabeth smiled, passed by me, and looked into Daniel's eyes. "Daniel, honey." She smiled. "It’s OK. You have been the perfect gentleman. It was my fault we slept in late and I wanted a shower. I didn't realize you were still in your room, though. I thought you had moved out."
"Yeah, well. I didn't see anything but the towel. And I didn't look at that either. I am so sorry. Please don't kill me!"
"Well," I said. "I could give you this one chance, seeing as you didn't see anything."
Elizabeth kissed Daniel on the cheek. "You are the perfect gentleman, Sir Danieltopher!"
"See, Chris? Daniel said proudly puffing out his chest. "I am a perfect gentleman!"
"Daniel, you're making me spend my lady time with you. And I don't want to spend time with you, right now. I want to spend time with my lady. SO, Fuck off..."
"Damn Chris, you got this shit!" Brian exclaimed, closing my door and taking Daniel back down the hall to his door. They finished moving a few more items and then the dorms were silent again.
We went to her room and began packing her items and putting her clothes in a duffle bag. Everything was packed up and ready to move. She brought her duffle bag to my room and we went to our last dining hall dinner together. We took one last walk across the campus together and we spent one final evening together.
After such a busy day, we settled in and watched a movie before falling asleep for the evening. We slept soundly, waking up late the next morning.
Chapter Twelve: One last day together
We awoke by 9 am but had to get moving as her mom had planned to get to town by 11:30 to pack and be gone before noon. So, we went through my room to find all of her things and packed them into her duffle. The last thing I gave her was a secret.
The night we had gone to the study group after the concert, one of the group members took a picture of us all dressed up. The picture was back from development and he had ordered four copies. I hid the picture inside her duffle bag knowing she would find it later.
She was sitting at her desk writing on a piece of paper. But I didn't see it. When done, she grabbed it, tore it off the tablet, and crumpled it up. At 11, her mom honked the horn in the parking lot. She was early!
I went down to meet her mother and her sisters. We made quick work of her six large bins and Elizabeth finally introduced me to her mother and sisters as "Sir Christopher" before explaining in Spanish about my suit and tie and what a gentleman I had been.
She grabs her duffle bag and leaves the dorm. I follow her out and she stuffs the wadded-up paper into my jacket pocket. Then she gives me a peck on the cheek, I'm sure for her mother's sake, and she jumps into the car. They drive away, immediately.
I watched as they drove away, down the hill to take the right turn around the corner. Feeling a tremendous unbearable weight upon my shoulders and feeling as if my heart had just gone down the hill with them, it began to beat painfully as if it had just torn itself in half. I found that unbearable weight was the weight of my jacket and I slumped it off my shoulders, dragging it behind me, suddenly too exhausted to carry even its weight...
I walked back to the dorm lobby door in shock over what had just happened. No "goodbye." No "I love you." Nothing. She had just gone down the hill with my heart. I didn't even feel the next twenty steps and could barely push open the door to the stairwell.
"Sir Christopher!" I could not believe my ears. It must have been my broken heart playing tricks on me. "SIR Christopher!!!!"
I turned and Elizabeth was standing in front of me. Jade's eyes were full of tears, yet burning, still, with green fire. She was holding the picture in her hands, her mother and sisters standing a few feet behind her in the lobby.
"I found this picture..."
She wasn't even able to speak another word as I picked her up off the floor kissing her with all of my broken heart and every loving memory flashing before my eyes with this, my final last chance to tell her, those last few important words.
I sat her down on the floor and she stood there and sighed.
"You always take my breath away, Sir Christopher."
"A lady deserves nothing less, Elizabeth."
"I love you, Sir Christopher."
"I love you, Elizabeth. I've always loved you. And I will always love you. From now and forever with every ounce of my being. Your beautiful body, your hands, your legs, your soul, your smile in the morning, and your fiery green eyes sparkling as I gaze into them, with everything that you and I are, I will always love you until the day I die."
I caress her face one last time and kiss her. Her eyes pour out tears as she stumbles to her mother.
"She insisted we come back. What did you say to her?" Her mother asks angrily.
"The only thing that matters. I love her."
Her mother and sisters take her out to the car, help her get inside, and drive away, the picture still clutched in her hand.
I watched her leave a second time, knowing this would be the last time I saw her and my heart would never feel the same way about anyone else.
Chapter Thirteen: Elizabeth’s Broken Heart
Why did you never come for me, Sir Christopher? Why did never write to me?
Elizabeth. I did write to you for months and I never heard back from you. I went to your home and your neighbors told me your family had left for the summer. I assumed you would get my letters.
My father threw them all away. He told me I needed to focus on my education and not on boys. My mother told him about you, and me – our last meeting at the dorm lobby. He didn’t approve.
Did your father ever tell you I came back? Did he tell you that I asked to speak with you and he wouldn’t let me? He wouldn’t let me call you either. I tried for months and months…
My father told me later. When I met my husband, we talked and he said he’d worried I would have run off with you if he had let me see you. He told me everything hoping that someday I would forgive him and understand why it was important. I have to admit when he told me that, I almost backed out of the wedding. David, my husband, is a good man and I love him, but finding out…
I went back to see you that fall. My sister drove us there and we went to the Homecoming game. But when we went to the bleachers where you were, I saw you with her.
Her.
You were sitting with a pretty blond girl. And she looked at you. And you held her hand. I knew that you two were together.
Beverly. Her name was Beverly.
Beverly. She looked at you with love in her eyes.
Elizabeth, I was broken when you left. I spent the summer trying to find you and speak to you. I even borrowed a car to go see you. But your father wouldn’t let me even speak to you. He said that I’d hurt you enough and that I needed to leave.
I started drinking and almost dropped out of school. Beverly found me. I told her about us and how your father wouldn’t even let us speak. She was a friend to me at first. And then I grew to love her. But that was not meant to be either.
Beverly could not have children because of a car accident she had while she was a child. She knew that being a father was important to me. So she made that decision for me. At the end of the semester, she too left. I never saw her again.
And you loved her?
I did.
You told me you loved me and that you would always love me.
I did.
When I saw the two of you together, it broke my heart. It took years to get over that betrayal. I hated you for the longest time and I hated myself for falling for you. But when others would come around, I still loved you. I couldn’t move on for years.
If I had known you would come, I would have waited for you. But I never heard from you again and your father made sure I wouldn’t see you. He’s right. I would have taken you by hand and brought you home with me. WE could have been together, Elizabeth.
Maybe, Sir Christopher. Why didn’t you stay with Beverly?
She made that decision for me, Elizabeth. She couldn’t give me the family she knew I wanted. SO at the end of the semester, she left and didn’t tell me where she went.
Twice?
Elizabeth, my life has been full of these stories. I had another who left me and shacked up with a drug dealer. Another that stole everything I had and left me to be evicted after she cleaned out my bank account…
Did you love me, Sir Christopher? In the end, Elizabeth, every woman had the exact same problem. They just weren't you...
Chapter Fourteen: Years Later...
You truly never forget your first love. It changes who you are inside and changes all other relationships you will ever have. I never did forget Elizabeth, but the piece of paper she stuffed into my jacket, I never actually read and forgot about it. Having found it several years later, I was living nearly two thousand miles away and had just gotten married.
I found my old jacket in a box of things my parents had shipped me. I looked through the pockets and found a scrunched-up piece of paper. Curiously, I opened it. Scrawled in Elizabeth's Handwriting was a short message.
"Sir Christopher;
I just want you to know that I love you and will always love you.
Yours truly;
Elizabeth"
My heart skipped a beat and I sighed remembering the love we felt. But my heart no longer ached for her. I remember months of missing her, finally accepting she was gone. It was a hard thing to do and a stream of failed relationships testament to this culminating in my first marriage.
I wished daily she had stayed with me. We might still be together today if she had...
While my first marriage lasted 12 years, towards the end of that time, it began to fall apart. I packed my belongings and moved back to Texas and didn't look back. I moved back to my college town and took a job providing remote technical support for several hospitals.
Several more failed relationships lead to my current one. It's been nine years together and a pretty good nine years at that.
So, after all those years, you'll never guess who I ran into at the Grocery Store.
"Sir Christopher!" Elizabeth exclaimed as she saw me across the aisle. She immediately hugged me and kissed me on the cheek. She was blushing. Jade's eyes are still fiery and sparkling as always with a beautiful smile. 18 years, a professional career, and two children had been very kind to her
"Sir Christopher, I've never seen you with a beard."
"Yes. I don't have to deal with the public anymore, so I can grow a beard."
"You are quite handsome, dear. You look so rugged. Simply Brutal!"
"Thank you." I noticed my current wife looking curiously at the two of us talking.
"Honey, won't you introduce me to your friend?" My wife asks with a little smile on her face. “He knows so many attractive women and it is difficult to keep track of all of them - family, school buddies, old girlfriends."
"Is that so, Sir Christopher? You are having trouble keeping track of your ladies and making your wife do it for you? How awful for you Mrs. Williams!!"
"Honey, " I began. "This is Elizabeth..."
"OMG, Elizabeth?" She gasped. "The one you thought you would never see again?" Rachel blushed. "The one that left?"
"You've heard of me, Mrs. Williams?" Elizabeth was surprised. "HE told you about me?"
"Well....I..."
"Ohhh, Shame on you, Sir Christopher. Shame, shame! I sure hope you haven't given away all of my secrets!"
"No,” she replied. When we got together, I asked about him being in love. He told me a heartbreaking story of you and him. Anyhow, despite only having you in his life for a short time, he loved you dearly. I hope you’re not angry."
"Mrs. Williams, I could never be mad at my Sir Christopher, dear. I loved him too much. Well, you know how he is..."
"Yes, I do," Rachel replied, giving her a slight knowing grin.
"Look at that, Sir Christopher, she smiles! How wonderful. What a beautiful day today is for running across a lost love!"
"Indeed,” Rachel replied. She looked at me.
"MAMA! We found the cereal but they don't have the fruit we like." Two young girls strongly resemble Elizabeth.
"OH darling, it’s a small store." Elizabeth explained." They might not have durian fruit here. That’s ok. baby doll. Find the Mango you like instead."
"OK MAMA, " Erica replied.
"Mama," Ana asked. Who is the beardy man, Mama?"
"Yes, Mama, who is your friend?" Erica chimed in...
"Why girls, this is Christopher, a dear friend of mine from many years ago. And this is his wife, Rachel?"
"This is Sir Christopher?" Ana asked.
"SIR CHRISTOPHER!!!" Erica chimed in.
"Yes, baby dolls,” Elizabeth replied with a smile. "This is SIR Christopher."
Both of the girls shared their mama's fiery green eyes and beaming smiles but were clearly in awe.
"The man with the Horse in the stories? The only man better than Daddy?"
"Yes, Baby doll!" She put her hand on my shoulder. "We were close friends many years ago before you were born."
"Sir Christopher, are you going to take my mom to your castle?"
"NO. I don't have a castle."
"Are you going to whisk her away to your condo?"
"No, dear. Sir Christopher is happily married and so is your mamma, to your daddy," Elizabeth answered.
"Didn’t Sir Christopher steal your heart, Mama?" Erica Asked.
"Sir Christopher was so handsome that mama gave him her heart and he kept it for her until the day she met your daddy. And on that day, your daddy and I decided to have you, baby doll!"
"AND me, too!" Ana exclaimed.
"Where did you keep my mama's heart, Sir Christopher?" Erica asked, suddenly very seriously looking up at me with the same fiery eyes as her mother.
"Close to my heart, my dear." I patted my chest. "And I kept it until the day it broke, many years ago. But that was a long time ago, sweetie. And sometimes enough time gives you a chance to heal and move on." I looked up at Elizabeth and her eyes still burned with jade fire and she smiled, reminding me of the day she had left.
The words are still echoing in my head and heart. "...until the day I die..."
"Mama, you said Sir Christopher loved you for your green eyes, I have green eyes, too. Am I special?" Ana asked.
"You're special to Mama! And one day, girls, your charming knight will come." She looked at Rachel and me. And spoke. "We must get going. It was nice to see you again, Sir Christopher," she said, kissing me on the cheek. "And it was lovely to meet you, Mrs. Williams. You know, for me, Sir Christopher was always the one that got away." She pushed her cart further down the aisle and went to get into line at the cash registers.
And for one final time, I watched her walk out the door and out of my life, forever.
Chapter Fifteen: Final Words
So, as you see I didn't get the girl. I'm certainly no Prince Charming. Elizabeth and I didn't get back together and that romantic nonsense you see on TV is just that. Nonsense.
I don't have a white horse or a castle. I didn't save any maidens in distress. I didn't get the girl, and though my story is filled with a painful loss, I did get a happy ending.
Elizabeth and I Both are happily married to other people and that's ok. We went on to have professional careers and families of our own and that too is OK. This story didn't need to have a sappy fairytale love story ending. But it’s OUR story and we needed to tell it. So, there it is...
No comments:
Post a Comment