It was six o’clock Monday morning, and Crystal just woke up.  She was standing at her closet door trying to decide what to wear when she remembered it was she and Johnny’s two month anniversary.  

Johnny was the best looking guy in Crystal’s school, and it was just her luck that he liked her.  All of her friends were extremely jealous.

About four months after Johnny asked Crystal out, she fell in love with another guy that had just moved from Scotland.  Crystal thought he was gorgeous; of course, all her friends thought she was crazy, but she didn’t care.  She had completely fallen for this guy, but first she had to find out his name.

Crystal had friends everywhere.  So, when she wanted something, she usually got it.  She wandered into the office of her school and asked one of her friends to get the file on the new guy.  After a little persuading and ten bucks, she walked out of the office knowing not just his name but where he lived too.  She was surprised to find that Tyler McDowell lived next door to her.

After school she went straight home, changed, and decided to go visit her new neighbor.  As she walked toward Tyler’s house she saw and old black Mustang in the driveway.  “Wow!” she thought.  “I wonder if that’s his car.  It’s beautiful.”

“What can I say to him?” she thought.  “We could talk about English.  I mean he is in my class.  No.  That’s silly.  Think of something better, Crystal.”

She knocked on the door, and soon afterwards Tyler answered.  “Hi!  My name is Crystal.  I live next door and we have English together,” she said.

“Oh, yes!  I know you.  You’re the girl that sits in front of me,” he recalled.

“Is that your car?”  asked Crystal dazzled by the old Mustang.

“Yes, it is.  Why?” he asked.

“Just wondering,” she said.  “So, how do you like the neighborhood so far?”

“It’s great.  All of the people around here are so nice,” he answered.  “Would you like to come in?”

“Sure,” she replied.

“Would you like something to drink?” asked Tyler.

“Why not.  What do you have?” she asked.

“Well, let’s see.  We have Coke, Dr. Pepper, and milk,” he answered.

“We’re going to get along great,” she thought.  “Dr. Pepper, please,” she said.

“Now it’s my turn to ask questions,” Tyler said playfully.  “How long have you lived here?”

“Let’s see.  I would say about ten years,” she answered thoughtfully.

“Do you like it here?” he asked flirting just a little.

“Yes.  I love it here.  I couldn’t imagine being happier anywhere else,” she said thinking about all the good times she’s had in that little town.

“How would you like to go for a ride?” he asked hoping she’d say yes.

“Weeeeeeeeeell, okay, but I get to pick where to go,” she said excitedly.

They walked out of his house and to the old Mustang.  Tyler opened the passenger door for Crystal, then got into the driver’s side and waited for her to tell him where they were going.  

“Oh, sorry,” she apologized.  “Do you know how to get to the lake?”

“Not really,” he said.

“Okay.  Don’t worry.  I’ll show you,” she said.  “You need to know where the local hangout is.  I’ll even introduce you to all of my friends, if you’d like.”

“That sounds like a good idea to me.  I’d love to meet your friends.  If they’re even half as wonderful as you, I’m sure we’ll get along perfectly,” he replied using flattery on Crystal.

“Why, thank you,” she said as her faced turned red.  

After a few times turning around and going back, Crystal and Tyler finally arrived at the lake, and, of course, all of Crystal’s friends were there as she knew they would be.  Johnny was there too.  “Oh, no,” thought Crystal.  “Johnny must think I hate him.”

“Excuse me, Tyler,” she said.  “Johnny, can I talk to you?”

“Why would you want to talk to me when you have him?” replied Johnny angrily.

“I was going to tell you, but there’s really nothing to tell right now,” she said quietly.  “I was just trying to be a good neighbor, and he asked if I wanted to go for a ride.  I told him that would be nice, and we ended up here.  There is one thing I want to tell you though.”

“What is it?” he asked calming down a little.

“I do love him,” she said with tears welling up in her eyes.  “I’m sorry.  I don’t mean to hurt you, but we can’t go out with each other forever.”

“I guess you’re right.  I want to tell you that I’ve found someone else too,” he said.

“That’s great!  That way it won’t be so hard for us to break up,” she said with tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Come here,” he said.  Crystal leaned on his shoulder and cried.

“I thought it would be easier than this,” she said, “but I guess it’s never easy to break up with someone you’ll always love.”

“Are we still friends?” he asked unsure of what her answer would be.

“We’ll always be friends, Johnny,” she replied.

“Well, I guess this is goodbye,” he said sadly.

“Goodbyes aren’t forever,” she said, her voice shaking slightly.

“Bye,” Johnny said.

“Bye,” said Crystal starting to cry again.

Johnny walked away, got one of the girls in the group, and left.

The whole time Crystal and Johnny were talking, Tyler was asking the people in the group what was going on.  When he saw Johnny walk off, he went up to Crystal and asked if she was going to be okay.

“I’ll be fine in a few days.  Can you take me back home?” she asked still shaken up.

“Sure.  Is there any way I can cheer you up?” asked Tyler sympathetically.

“You can buy me dinner,” she said starting to laugh.  Then Tyler joined in, and before you knew it, they were both laughing hysterically.

Tyler stopped at Wendy’s and bought food for both of them.

“I guess we’ve had our first date together,” he said.

“I guess so,” she agreed.

After that first date came many more.  Crystal and Johnny became good friends after about a month of not speaking to each other.  Later, Crystal and Tyler started double dating with Johnny and his girlfriend.  They all became very close friends.

Their last year of college Tyler asked Crystal to marry him.  She said yes, of course.  They agreed that after they both got out of college, they would have a big wedding.

The big day finally came.  Johnny was the best man and his wife was the matron of honor.

After the wedding Crystal approached Johnny and said, “You see, goodbyes aren’t forever.”

“I guess you’re right,” he replied.  “Did I tell you that you looked absolutely ravishing up there in that dress?”

“Yes, you did....about ten times.  Thanks,” she said with tears beginning to fill her eyes.

“Please, don’t cry,” he said pulling out his handkerchief to wipe her tears away.  “It’s your wedding day.  You should be smiling, not crying.”

“All right,” she said laughing.

“That’s better.  Now, you promise me you’ll have a great honeymoon, and don’t forget to send me a postcard,” he said.

“I promise,” she said as she hugged him.  “Come on, Tyler.  We’re going to be late.”

“I’m coming, honey,” yelled Tyler from another room.

“I guess this is goodbye again,” said Johnny.

“I guess so.  We’ll keep in touch,” she said.

Finally, Tyler came into the room, grabbed Crystal’s hand, and they quickly walked through the people throwing rice.

Tyler got into the limo and started to drive off.  Crystal stuck her head out the sunroof and yelled to Johnny, “Remember, goodbyes aren’t forever.”

“I will.  Goodbye,” whispered Johnny while waving sadly to Crystal.