I Know I Shouldn't But I Just Can't Stop Myself

Let Downs

Chapter 15
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Crystal-Violet
"I'll walk you down to your car." Martin offers. It's nearing ten o'clock, which means it's time for me to go back home. I'll stop by Dustin's house, I felt like I haven't talked to him in like forever. Martin and I were in the elevator, making our way down to the ground floor. "I'm going to stop by Dustin's on the way home. Would you mind if I ask him to come to the Amsterdam trip with us?" I asked Martin.
"No, I really think he should come." He replies.
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, while I'm with my family, we'll be drinking alcohol. And since your the sweet, angelic, good girl," He places his hands, palms down, underneath his chin, smiles, and looks up. I imagine a halo above his head and a sparkly single spotlight shining down from heaven, and I laugh. "You'll have Dustin to talk to while we drink."
"Good point." I retort, and we both laugh together.

The elevator reaches its final destination and, as usual, Martin let me out first. Martin was going to ask Caroline if she wanted to come to Amsterdam with us.

Caroline was typing up something on the computer in front of her, looking fully concentrated on getting the task done. "Hey, Caroline, could I ask you something?" Martin inquired her.
"Sure, what?"
"Well you know how that I have two weeks off, right?" Caroline nods and he continues.
"Well...how would you like to go to Amsterdam with Crystal and I?"
"Oh, Martin, I really would love to but," she broke eye contact with him, looking distant. "My sister, she passed away a few days ago. The day I wrote you that note and stuck it on my desk, she got into a really bad accident and went to the hospital. She died from significant injuries to her brain. Her funeral is during your time off."
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry." Martin says sympathetically. I give her a look to show my regards as best as I could.
"It's fine. You guys go, have fun. I'll be okay."
"Are you sure?" I intervene. She nods and gives me a sad smile.

After we give Caroline our condolences, Martin walks me out to my car. He tells me that he'll see me tomorrow and to drive safe.

I make my way to Dustin's house. Once I reach there, I knocked on his door.
"Hey girl!" He greets, giving me a hug. I giggle.
"Hey! So I have something to propose to you."
"Oohhh what is it?"
"Well two weeks from now, Martin has some time off. He's going back to Amsterdam and he's invited me to come as well. I said yes because I haven't been there ever. Anyways, I asked if I could ask you to come and he has no problem with it. So can you come?"
"Oh Crystal, honey, I can't."
"What? Why?"
"My family planned our vacation during that time."

Dustin's family always planned a family vacation at least once a year. It was a tradition, and I can't mess with that. I told Dustin that it's totally fine and that I understood.

➕✖️

I went to work a little early the next day because I wanted to get as much work done as possible during the week. I'll need to find out from Martin how much the ticket to Amsterdam will cost and see if I have enough money saved up.

I walk through the door, that smell that always seems to be there wafts out the door, but mixed in with a cinnamon scent. It smells really good. As I enter the building, I find the source of the divine scent. Caroline is having a cinnamon roll, with some coffee, I assume. "Hey, that smells really good." I said
"I think it tastes better than it smells." We both giggle.
"How are you feeling?" I ask.
"I'm feeling better. But next week we have to start planning out the funeral. And I have to start writing my speech." I nodded, then said, "If you don't mind me asking, how was your sister like?"
"Oh she was a beautiful girl, with an even more beautiful personality. Even if you didn't know her, she would make you laugh once you strike up a conversation with her. She was one of those people who if you made eye contact with her, she would flash you a smile. Martin met her a few times, and he likes her as well. I miss her so much." A few tears slip from her eyes.
"I'm so sorry. She seemed like a wonderful person, and I wish I could've met her."
"Thank you so much for your support Crystal."

I nod and give her a sad, yet reassuring smile. Then I went to see Martin.

Once I reach upstairs and greet Martin, I asked him how much the ticket costs.
"I already bought you your ticket." He answered, holding up the two pieces of paper.
"Oh my god, Martin, you didn't have to."
"But I wanted to, so I did."

I thanked him once again. I seem to be thanking him a lot lately, I'll have to do something for him someday.
"So is Dustin coming?" Martin asked. I almost forgot to tell him.
"No, he can't. His traditional family vacation is during that time, and it's not to Amsterdam."
"Oh, that's too bad. Guess you'll have to drink with us then."
"Ha-ha." I laugh sarcastically.
"You'll be of age there! Eighteen."
"Okay, okay, fine. I'll do some shots with you, will that make you happy?"
"Very." He says with a smile.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Hey everyone! Fast update, since I have my phone back. I hope you like how the story is progressing. I have another idea for another book, but I'm not going to start writing it until this book is finished. As always, thanks for reading. I love you all.
                       ~Lilian