snapshot | crygi

"She was never mine to lose"

It was a busy day in the office, Gigi had been travelling around and walking to different studios for the photoshoots she was assigned to, having not much time for herself in her own little office. Meanwhile, Crystal was left alone on their floor, working on some editing touches before she submitted the photographs from her last photoshoot the other day. She was having a peaceful time, her mind focused on her tasks when suddenly the elevator rang open. She knew her colleagues wouldn't be back until the very end of the day and so seeing someone arriving there felt like a surprise.

She shot a look at the elevator, her eyebrow jerking up as she saw a familiar blonde woman approaching. She thought about what the woman was doing there again and remembered the last time they interacted all on their own, the tension-filled conversation she wished she would never have to put up again.

Crystal watched as Alisha walked closer to her desk, "She's not here. She's in a photoshoot."

"Yeah," Alisha said, "I'm not here for her, I'm here to talk to you."

Crystal raised an eyebrow, "Why? If you're here to convince me to be your wedding photographer, I haven't looked through my schedule. You can find a new one instead."

The blonde let out an exhausted breath, walking closer to where the photographer was working to lean on a table before her as they talked, "Let's cut to the chase. I know about your relationship with Gigi." Crystal couldn't find a word to say, so she looked away while thinking about how much of it she might know as Alisha chose her words. "Before and now. I know about all of it."

The red-haired woman turned back to the woman before her, realizing the hand she was playing with had no ring on it. They were exactly at the spot where she first met her, where Crystal examined the ring as they shook hands. "What happened now? You know what, if you want help with the relationship and the whole trying thing, I'm not your person."

"We ended it. Wait, no. She did. She ended our engagement. She kept telling me all my jealousy was unnecessary, only to break up with me for you." Crystal couldn't trace a hint of sorrow in that sentence, it was all blame and anger. She saw the hatred in Alisha's eyes, her look giving her daggers as she talked. She decided to play with the tone, mocking her a little bit.

"I guess you won't be needing me as your photographer then." She let out a soft chuckle. This made Alisha drop her hand on Crystal's table, holding onto the edge firmly.

"You think this is funny? Is it all fun and games to you that you broke off an engagement?"

"What made you think I'm the reason she left you?"

"We were doing okay before she even met you. We were great for years. But it all changed when she left and came back after you. She changed because of you. When you came back, her mind's a mess. All she thinks about is you. Crystal here, Crystal there. She values you more than she did with me."

"I don't believe a word of that," she replied with a challenging tone as she shut her laptop off. She put her hands together on the table, leaning in to listen better. "You might be deceiving her with all your half truths but it won't work with me. You don't get to blame me for something you've done. So cut the act and tell me why you really are here."

"I want to know... About you, you two together. I deserve to know," the blonde demanded as a mocking smile placed on Crystal's lips.

"I won't tell you anything she wouldn't tell you, and how would knowing help you anyway?" she asked, seeing how Alisha got annoyed with not getting the answer she wanted.

The blonde crossed her arms on her chest defensively, "Why you?"

"It was never me, Alisha. But I believe it used to be you..." They both took a second to comprehend the words that spilled from Crystal's lips, "You told me, she came back to you. She still chose to be with you. She left the person who cared for her so much just to be with you. Gigi gave you a chance to show her what she actually deserves. But here you are, still trying to control her, own her. It's not what she wants, no matter how much she loves the caring feeling it brings. This is not what she deserves."