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Miles Away	By : CrysMarie2oo5 Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > SHINee Views: 1056 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not know the individual members of SHINee. This is a work of fiction, I do not write for monetary or status gain. I write only for myself and if you happen to enjoy it that's great!

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
-October 19th, 2013-
My mind was wrestling with me the whole day on whether or not I wanted to go out. After the guys didn’t respond to any of my texts, I decided it was fate that I go out and check out the mall for a bit.
My eyes ran over the invitation to Jasmine’s birthday party that hung up on the wall next to the door and I figured there might be something there I could pick up for Crystal’s daughter. I ran downstairs and withdrew a couple hundred dollars before going outside to start my new vehicle. The thing was barely a week old and I loved it.
It was on the cool side but it was fall now…oh how I missed the summer months already. I heard winters are brutal here. According to Crystal they are much worse than in South Korea, she urged me to get a vehicle. Which now, I’m glad I did.
I drove to the mall. Minot was pretty easy to navigate now that Crystal had taken me on a tour plenty of times. When I arrived, I parked my car and thought I saw Crystal’s Impala, but couldn’t remember her license plate number; I had seen plenty of Impalas of the same color so I figured I was just mistaken. I walked inside and immediately the smells of the food court hit me. As tempted as I was, I figured it was best just to get my shopping done first then enjoy a meal afterwards.
I walked straight ahead, and rounded the corner in front of the pretzel maker and the lobby when I saw a woman staring straight at the ground walk right into me. Her scent hit my nostrils. I had smelled that perfume before. Dark hair, olive complexion, clothes that were too loose on her shrinking frame…
“I’m sorry…” The woman muttered, and I was positive it was Crystal.
"Crystal? Crystal? Is that you?" The woman froze.
"Minho?" She asked, her voice filled with recognition as she turned around. Sure enough it was her. Anger or frustration was splayed all over her features but melted away as soon as our eyes met.
"Yeah, are you okay? You seem upset." I asked, taking a small step towards her. I glanced over her, hoping she would tell me what was bugging her.
"I'm fine, just disappointed that GameStop didn't have the game I was looking for..." She said quickly, I knew she was lying to me. She wasn’t good at lying. I had a feeling it had to do with her boyfriend; she wasn’t going to tell me that though.
"Oh, is George around?" I asked, our eyes meeting. She nodded.
"Yeah, he's in GameStop right now." She said simply, but I sensed a bitter undertone.
"Oh, has he found work yet?" I asked. She shook her head. I peeked my head around the corner and peered into GameStop to see George looking at all the games. Seeing that he was preoccupied I took my chance and grabbed Crystal’s hand and led her away from the store, then looked around.
"Where's Jasmine?" I asked, my eyes meeting hers, upon noticing that little Jasmine was nowhere to be found.
"She’s with the babysitter." Crystal said, shrugging slightly.
"I see. I miss her. She's cute." I said, my heart aching just a little, but I knew I would see her soon. I loosened my grip on her hand. It felt right, holding her hand. She didn’t pull her hand away either. I remembered glancing at the invitation to her daughter’s birthday party that was coming up. "Isn't her birthday coming up?"
"Yeah! Are you coming to her party?"
"Yeah, you're having it at the water park, right?" I asked, trying to recall the location from the invitation. She nodded.
"Yeah, from 3-7..."
"The 21st right?" I asked again, I had to make sure I had my facts right.
"Yep." She agreed..
"Count me in. I wouldn't miss it for the world...hey, grab a pretzel with me? I'm hungry." I stated, rather than asked, as my tummy rumbled at the smell of the pretzel shop. Her cheeks flushed red as she nodded, and glanced back behind her. I put my order in for a pretzel with nacho cheese dip, and she ordered what looked like pretzel bites.
We sat in front of the giant clock in the middle of the mall with our food and ate in silence. I couldn’t help but glance at Crystal as she daintily ate her pretzel bites. I on the other hand, tore my pretzel apart and ate like a caveman who had been starved for years. She let out a smirk of amusement as she watched.
"Was it good?" She asked, our eyes meeting..
"Yes, I definitely needed that." I said, swallowing the last piece smothered in nacho cheese. I then snagged one of Crystal’s pretzel bites and popped in my mouth. I moaned, at the contrast between the two. I made a mental note to get the pretzel bites next time I came to the mall. I decided to strike up conversation first. "So, what's going on with you?"
"Oh not much just spending time with George..." Crystal said, distain written all over her features. She wasn’t having fun here with him. That, I could tell.
"And how's that going?" I asked, my eyes meeting hers. After mere seconds after the words left my lips, I saw tears build up in her eyes and she flung her face into her hands. Anger coursed through me at the sight of her breaking down. This was the first time she had broke down like this in front of me, and seeing her hurt, only made my heart break.
"I don't know Minho...I don't mean to burden you with my issues, but I'm tired of George using me..."
"Why don't you dump him...it's obvious he's not doing you any good." I said, putting a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. What I really wanted to do was hold her. But I had to restrain myself.
"It's not that simple, he'll just manipulate me into staying with him." Remain calm Minho, be the voice of reason. I told myself.
"Hm...why are you with him in the first place?" I asked, our eyes meeting. She finally met my eyes and her face was streaked with tears. Her hand swept away any tears that were on her face.
"I need someone for my daughter, and he's good with her. Um...he's good in bed..." I rolled my eyes in frustration. T.M.I.
"I didn't need to know that..." I murmured feeling a wave of jealousy wash over me. How I wish I could be in George’s place right now. That…prick doesn’t deserve her.
"I know, sorry." Crystal said, offering an apology. "He also treats me well..."
"But you shouldn't have to be earning a living, he should be. It's custom in South Korea..." I had to stop myself from adding “I would if I was your boyfriend…”
"Minho we're not in South Korea...this is the United States, where women work to be equals with their male counterparts and single parenthood is rampant and something to be proud of..."
"Ugh, don't remind me. I miss my country...” And I miss the guys. “…but getting back to what we are talking about...I think you should really think about what you want in your life…”
“What I want in life is to be happy, beautiful and dirty rich…” I had to laugh, when she said that it reminded me of when Key sang “Beautiful, Dirty, Rich.” By Lady Gaga. The memory only made me miss the guys more.
“Yeah, well, you got the beautiful…now only to be happy and rich…why not pursue your love of songwriting. It makes you happy, and you can make a living doing it?” Crystal was a fantastic songwriter and she never gave herself credit for it though. She shook her head.
“Right, me…be a songwriter? You lost your damn mind…” She muttered rolling her eyes at me. I shook my head. I traced the side of her face and turned her chin up to look at me. She had even more tears in her eyes. What am I going to have to do to get it through to this girl…she’s fantastic!
“Crystal come on, quit putting yourself down. Jonghyun even likes your music and he’s very picky on what he listens to…you’ve got to have more faith in yourself.” A smile appeared on her features. “…There’s a smile.” Just then, my eyes saw a tall bald man turning the corner and I recognized him as George, Crystal’s boyfriend. I felt my blood begin to boil. Crystal turned her head in a split second and as soon as her eyes saw George she quickly turned back around, then got up and began walked in the opposite direction.
“Crystal!” We both froze when he called out her name. She turned back around, putting a hand on her hip and faced him.
“What?”
“Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere…” George walked over and towered over Crystal. I sat there, hoping that George wouldn’t see me. My heart began to race. I felt his eyes boring holes in the back of my head. “What is he doing here?” George asked, venomously. I rolled my eyes and shook my head, still staring at the ground.
“He’s here for the same reason anybody comes to the mall, to shop!” Crystal shot back, her anger making its appearance known in her voice.
“He needs to stay away from you…” I decided now would be a good of time as any to throw away my cheese container in the trash. “You hear me rice eater, stay away from her…” Rice eater? I threw George my iciest glare, making it known to him that he was treading on dangerous ground. Sure the guy had me by 10 centimeters and was twice my size but I wasn’t going to be afraid of him.
“George! Oh my God!” Crystal said, pushing George. I glanced at Crystal and raised a finger to stop her from continuing. I stepped up to George. I dared him to hit me.
“I can’t and won’t do that. We are friends, nothing more. I don’t know what I did to you to deserve this treatment from you George…but trust me, you don’t want to anger me.”
“No, boy you better not anger me. I’ll say this once. Stay the fuck away from her. She’s mine.” I just turned around, as eyes met Crystal’s and I leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“See you at Jasmine’s party.” I said, holding eye contact for a second longer before jetting down one of the corridors of the mall.
“FUCKER!” I heard George yell. What the---I spun around in time to see Crystal lunge in front of George to stop him from charging after me.
“George no! It’s not…” That’s when I saw George grab her arms and push Crystal out of his way. She lost her footing on the tile floor and landed with skin slapping thud. My anger hit a boil point and the next thing I know I’m pinning George against the wall.
“Don’t you dare push her…” I demanded, only to be pushed off my George. I saw his arm draw back as I braced myself for the hit but the hit never came. I looked and saw Crystal holding his arm back. I let out a sigh of relief.
“Get off of me!” George said, trying to rip his arm away from Crystal.
“No! Leave him alone! It’s not worth it George!” Crystal said, her angry gaze meeting George.
“You’re sticking up for that asshole!?!” George said, pointing at me.
“He’s not an asshole! He’s my good friend, if you’re that jealous then maybe we shouldn’t be together!” Crystal said her eyes meeting his. We had drawn a crowd now, but neither of us cared. George was about to argue, but Crystal spoke up again. “Look, go out to the car I’ll meet you out there in a minute.”
“Crystal! No…”
“I SAID GO!” She yelled, causing me and George to jump. She was distraught. George shook his head and stomped off like a little kid. Crystal turned to the crowd of people. “What are you staring at? There’s nothing to see here.” She said angrily, dismissing the people off with a wave of a hand. Slowly the people disbursed. Our eyes met for the first time since the debacle began.
“I’m sorry Minho…” Crystal apologized. I couldn’t help but be upset with her too. How could she stay with that, for the lack of a better word, asshole?
“Is that your definition of ‘treating you well’?” I asked, shaking my head while sneering at her.
“I didn’t know he could be so jealous? Why did you kiss me on the cheek, you knew that would set him off?” She asked, clearly out of breath and so upset she was shaking.
“He should’ve never called me a rice eater, and f.y.i, I didn’t know kissing your cheek would set him off like that. We do that in Korea all the time.” Minho said, explaining himself. She was going to argue but I opened my mouth to further argue my point. “Besides, if I wanted to make him jealous, I would’ve done a whole lot more than a kiss on the cheek…” I said my anger dissipating. She looked at me her eyes widening in recognition of what I was saying. She blushed and put a palm to her cheek. “I will see you Monday.” I said, walking away finally.
I walked into a store, not really looking at the location or anything. I just needed to calm down. I looked around and saw kid clothes…I remembered Jasmine’s party coming up on Monday. I glanced at the clothes and remembered that Crystal was stressing out about not having a Halloween costume for Jasmine’s Halloween party. I thought about it for a second and figured I should just stick to regular clothes for Jasmine, I would leave the Halloween costume shopping to Crystal. Upon selecting some beautiful (and expensive) clothes for Jasmine, I went to check out. This job would be better suited for Key. He did have the fashion sense after all.
“Oh my God…these are too cute! You have a little girl?” The pretty cashier asked, as she rang up the various articles of clothing and folded them and put them in a bag. I shook my head abruptly.
“No, no, they’re for my friend’s daughter. Her birthday is coming up…”
“Oh how nice! How old?”
“Um…five…” I said, feeling suddenly uncomfortable by the cashier’s interrogation. Why did I want to brag about Jasmine like she was my own? The feeling shocked me.
“Oh my goodness that’s such a cute age…now feel free to not answer this…but do you have a girlfriend?” The cashier asked, I felt my eyes bug out…I mean what do you say to such an abrupt question from a stranger?
“Uh…how much do I owe you?” I asked, digging out my wallet.
“Oh! Two hundred and seventy-eight dollars and 98 cents…”
“Here’s 300…keep the change.” I said, grabbing the lonely bag of clothes and making a beeline to the exit.
“Wait! You---“
“Thank you!” I said quickly as I exited the store. I breathed a sigh of relief as I saw the despairing woman didn’t follow me. Glancing down at the various clothes I had just bought, I figured a toy would be perfect way to top off the gift. I found the perfect gift for Jasmine as I shopped the toy section in Target.
After getting Jasmine’s gifts, I bought some things that I needed and checked out before picking some food up at the food court on my out of the mall. The mall here was pretty pathetic compared to the ones in Seoul but Seoul was about 100 times the size of Minot though.
I took off back to my motel. I unlocked the door and slammed the door, throwing the bag of clothes next to the bed. I belly flopped on my bed eager to take a nap, when my cellphone began ringing. I glanced down at the number. It was Taemin. I decided to answer the call.
“Annyeong…”
“Minho? How are you doing?”
“I’m doing well, how are you doing?”
“I’m doing great now that I’m talking to you.” Taemin said. Taemin and I had been talking back and forth for the past few weeks. The calls seemed to become more frequent between us as of late. Taemin was working as a janitor at a prominent dance studio in New York. He was making eleven dollars an hour. He seemed kind of depressed lately, and I didn’t know why.
“Why so down Taemin?” I asked, flipping over on my back.
“Um…well about that…um…I love you Minho…”
“Well I love you too Taemin…” I had said it a million times since SHINee was put together to different members. I mean I love each one of them like they were my family
“No I don’t think you understand Minho, I love you…not like family, but like I wanna be with you.” I nearly dropped my phone when I heard Taemin say he wanted to be with me. I felt sick to my stomach and I swallowed trying to gather my thoughts. “Key-hyung thought it would be wise to tell you how I feel…please don’t judge me…”
“Taemin…I…”
“I know this is a shock for you…I just can’t help how I feel, just everything about you…”
“How long have you felt this way Taemin?” My question and tone surprised me. I felt the anger rising from the pit of my gut and it was threatening to explode any second. This was the last thing I needed…I took a deep breath and tried to calm down as Taemin continued talking.
“Um…since you cut your hair, I mean I’ve always had feelings for you, but something changed when you cut your hair…I can’t really explain hyung.”
“Taemin…you realize that I can’t return your feelings right?” I asked, I heard him sigh and choke back a sob. “Look I’m sorry Taemin. I love you as a friend, but nothing more. I think I’m in love with someone else anyway…”
“It’s that girl isn’t it? The one you’ve been sending us videos about…oh hyung! I would do anything for you…please just give me a chance…”
“Taemin you know it would never work, I’m not gay, I never have been.”
“We’ve kissed, hugged…”
“All of that was showing that I cared about you as my dongsaeng,”
“But Key and Jonghyun are together, the fans want us together…”
“Taemin I’m not gay…I’m sorry, I can’t return your feelings…” With that Taemin lost it, and starting sobbing uncontrollably. I felt horrible, I swallowed the lump that was developing in my throat..
“Are you sure hyung? This girl is what you want?” I let out a breath, as I self reflected.
“I’m not sure yet. Give me some time to think…” I said feeling our conversation come to an end. “Look I’m gonna let you go, stay healthy. Fighting!” I said as I swiped the end call button on my phone. I let out a breath, my chest feeling heavy with guilt.
I lay in bed thinking, there was no way I was going to be able to sleep tonight.
After the way Taemin just dropped the bomb about his feelings? There was no way. I needed someone outside of the SHINee circle to talk to. The maknae was really living up to his name tonight. Foolish boy. I had to come to grips with my own feelings. I knew what I felt was strong, but Crystal had a boyfriend, and had a daughter. Did I really want to take this chance and risk losing a good friendship? Did I really want to add the burden of being a father to a child that wasn’t even mine? The child wasn’t even George’s; she was a product of another failed relationship of Crystal’s.
Was this, a woman who has a child, who has been hurt three different times by men really what I wanted? Hell yes! Was it even practical? No.
I laid in bed thinking about what had happened. I stood at a crossroads. Either way, there were drastic consequences. It was catch 22. I knew what was right, but it risked the bands' reputation as well as my own. You don't just fall for a foreigner, it wasn't the Korean way. Korean men were ousted by their families for falling in love with a Japanese or Chinese girl. I don't want to think about what my family will think if and when they find out.
This was the land of opportunity, where it didn't matter if you were bi, gay, straight, Black, White, Chinese, Japanese, if you loved someone you could find your happiness. In America, what he was feeling was perfectly normal. In Korea...it was treason. I was expected to fall in love with a young Korean girl...not an older American woman. The fans expected 2Min...but as much as I adore Taemin...I'm not gay.
I got up off of the bed and stared at myself in the mirror. I was going through the pros and the cons of the situation.
Fuck it, fuck SM, fuck manager hyung, fuck everyone and what they think of me. I want happiness, and I’m going to do what the fuck I want. I thought as I picked up a comb and ran it through my hair.
I sprayed my favorite cologne on. Tonight it was about doing what I wanted to, it’s my life. Tonight was about me.
Boyfriend or not, I’m laying it all down tonight. I grabbed my phone off the end table as well as my keys and I dialed Crystal’s number.
"Hello?" Came the reply on the other end. Chills ran down my spine at the sound of her voice.
"Hey, I need to talk to you. Meet me at the Hardees parking lot in ten minutes. I'll pick you up there." I said, as I hung up the phone not wanting to hear a rebuttal or a response. I was too frustrated to hear rejection right now. I opened the door to the mediocre hotel room and took a deep breath. It was now or never.
I walked down the hall in my black fleece felt jacket, my fingers fiddling with the car keys in my pocket, my mind racing with thoughts. I trotted down the steps and walked by the ATM machine. I grabbed my wallet from my back pocket and found $64 dollars. I nodded as I closed my wallet and bid the lady at the front desk a good evening.
The bitter fall air hit my face as I opened the front door and went out to my car. Being sure to start the engine up as soon as I entered the car. I put the car into gear and exited the parking lot, taking the frontage road two blocks over and parking in the Hardees parking lot. I saw a shadowy figure off in the distance that looked like Crystal. I was tempted to pick her up, but figured best to have her come to me.
As the figured neared, there was no mistaking that it was Crystal. I recognized the white fleece turtleneck jacket that I had purchased for her during a shopping trip to Fargo a couple weeks ago. She was about 25 meters away now and my heart was pounding. The moon was out, and she glowed, much like she had on the camping trip…I was becoming aroused just by the flashback of how she looked. She had dropped even more weight since then, her high cheekbones and square chin were more prominent now, even in the pale moonlight you could make them out. My car door opened, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Hey.” She greeted, shivering from the cold air that now invaded the warmth that had accumulated in the cab of my car. She gingerly sat in the passenger side seat, bringing her right leg in and shutting herself in my car.
“Hey.” I breathed, bringing myself to meet her eyes. “Want to go for a ride around?” I asked, breaking our gaze to put the car in reverse and begin backing out of the parking spot. I felt her eyes on me.
“Sure, what did you have in mind?” She asked. I felt a smirk curl my lips and I pressed on the brake long enough to look at her.
“You don’t want to know what I have in mind. My mind is a very dangerous place…” I said, answering truthfully as I broke our gaze once again to put the car into drive. She laughed wholeheartedly.
“Somehow, I have a feeling it involves me and doing nasty things in the backseat of your new car…” That comment threw me for a loop. She giggled at my shocked expression.
“No! You’re such a pervert!” I said, my face flushing with embarrassment as I began driving onto 22^nd avenue, stopping at the stop sign, before pulling out onto Broadway.
“Hey! You left the door wide open for that one! Admit it.” Crystal said, looking at me from the side of her eyes.
“Okay, okay, I admit it, I want to do nasty things to you in the back of my car…” I said seductively, sticking a finger in my mouth, an evil plan formulating in my head.
“WHAT!?!?” Crystal said, this time it was her turn to be shocked. I took my wet finger out of my mouth and fingered her left ear with it. “EW!!! That’s gross!” She whined pulling away from me abruptly and wiping her ear with her left hand. Her reaction was all I needed as I erupted into a belly laugh.
“See? I told you.” I said, still laughing. Crystal shook her head as she finished cleaning off her ear.
“Yuck…okay…that not what I had in mind…but I’ll take it I guess…” Crystal said, as her wet finger entered my right ear, causing me to yelp out in surprise. I kept control of the car despite Crystal’s surprise attack, wiping off my violated ear and laughing. I figured it was best to change the topic, and my stomach growled, giving me something to talk about.
“Well I’m hungry, want to grab some food somewhere?” I asked, as I pulled up to a red light. My eyes met Crystal’s and my heart began racing again. She nodded. It was a quarter to eight my last meal was from the mall and that was a while ago.
“Yeah…is Big Time Bistro okay?” She asked. My ears perked at her suggestion cause I was craving one of their succulent burgers and crispy homemade chips.
“Yeah! That’s where I was going to go…” I said, as I saw the light turn green. I got into the appropriate lane to make the turn. Crystal laughed and nudged me. Her act of skin ship didn’t go unnoticed. It made my heart race even more.
“Great minds think alike…” Crystal added, looking over at me. I cast a glance her way and give a smile. I pulled onto Central Ave, before pulling into a parking spot. Just then my phone chimed notifying me that I had a text message, so thinking that it was Jinki, or Taemin I pull out my phone and had to do a double take at the number. There was no way…There in front of my very own eyes, was Crystal’s number sending a nasty text message.

Where the fuck are you? I will fucking kill you Minho. I don’t make promises I don’t keep. When Crystal gets home she’s never leaving this house again. Not with you, not even for work.

“Crystal, where’s your phone?” I asked, my eyes meeting Crystal’s. She felt up her pockets then took a look in her purse before her eyes widened in shock.
“What the—I thought I had it…” She said double checking her pockets. Aigoo she left it at home, and George probably looked at it. I’m dead.
“Well your phone just sent me a text message asking where the fuck you are…” I said looking at her. Her look was one of shock as she realized what I said.
“Can I see your phone?” Crystal asked, holding her hand out to receive my phone. I could only shrug and hand the I-phone to her.
“Sure, good luck.” I said getting out of the car. Crystal sent the text off. My phone chimed in her hand and her eyes widened with shock.
“That fucking son-of-a-bitch…oh I’m pissed…he’s done fucked himself…” Crystal said her hand balling up into a fist. She was visibly upset. Her eyes meet mine, a stern look splayed on her features. “Minho, I’m sorry, can we pick up Jasmine? I just broke up with George, and I have a feeling that shit’s about to hit the fan.”
“You think he would hurt her?” I asked, she could only nod in response. That made my heart leap into my throat with fear for Jasmine’s well being, as well as Crystal’s.
“Well after he responded toward you at the mall? Anything is possible.” Her words were on repeat in my head.
“You might want to call the police too then, just in case he tries anything.” I said, handing the I-phone back to her.
She called the police and asked them to send a unit down to her apartment. She explained carefully that she had just kicked her boyfriend out and the situation might turn ugly. I got back into the car and turned the car over, before taking off back to her apartment.
“So?“
“They’re sending someone, but we’ll be there before they arrive…“ She then looked at me. I pulled into the parking space next to Crystal‘s impala and turned to her, giving her all my attention.
“Minho I’m scared…” Crystal confessed, her voice full of fear. I could tell her adrenaline was pumping. My hand laced itself around the back of her neck and I pulled her forward so that our foreheads were together.
“Don’t be scared, I’ll be right here…” I said, trying to reassure her. I really wanted to kiss her right then and there, but I controlled myself, releasing her as soon as I saw George rip the door open to her apartment and step out. He was fuming. Crystal took a deep breath and held her chin up, ready for a fight as she stepped out of the car. I stepped out along with her but he quickly closed the gap between himself and Crystal and grabbed a fistful of Crystal’s hair. She cried out in pain.
“Ow! George!” I ran around the car and tried to rip him off of her, but with one coordinated shove of his arm, threw me off balance and I crashed onto the hood of Crystal’s silver impala. Crystal fought against George by clawing at his hands trying to make him unhand her. I heard Jasmine cry out to George.
“Let my mommy go!” I quickly turned around and looked George in the eye.
“George, don’t be like this…let her go…” I said trying to be reasonable. There was no reasoning with the ogre.
“My life was fine before you came around Minho! Now she kicks me out! After over a year together! You’re a fucking slut Crystal! Just like the rest of them…” That made my blood boil and I lunged at George and he landed a foot right into my diaphragm, knocked the wind out of me as I landed on the ground in pain. My hand came to rest on my stomach. Fuck that hurt.
“George!!!! LET ME GO!!! YOU SON OF A BITCH!” Crystal yelled, seeing the violence erupt right in front of her. George wasn’t going to have it, people were beginning to get suspicious of what was going on so he pushed Crystal inside by her hair before slamming the door in my face.
I stayed on the ground trying to recover from the powerful kick that George had landed. I was genuinely worried. I got up and tried to get inside, but it was locked so I began pounding on the door. I could hear what was going on. Jasmine was crying hysterically.
“George move!” Crystal yelled.
“No! You’re just like all the other sluts I’ve been with. You see some hot guy and you’re willing to give it up to them just like that! Fuck you!” George said. I saw red and blue flashing lights behind me and I knew it was the cops. I let out a strangled sigh of relief.
“Officer, my friend’s in trouble, her boyfriend is abusive and is not willing to let her come out with her child…he’s kicked me in the stomach when I tried to intervene…”
“Okay son, let’s see what’s going on here…” The officer said, as he began pounding on the door, he heard Jasmine crying and Crystal’s voice.
“George I haven’t done anything with Minho! God! I just want you out! I’m tired of raising two kids! You think you own everything! You don‘t I‘m just DONE WITH IT, I’M DONE WITH YOU!”
“Crystal the police are here…” I yelled. I felt so helpless, at least I had help now. The other officer joined his partner at the door.
“What’s going on?”
“They’re arguing, they won’t let us in.”
“We can do this the hard way or the easy way George, but either way, you won’t be living here anymore.” I heard Crystal say.
“You really want me out?”
“Yes! Now, get your things…I’ll tell the cops that you’re leaving, they’ll have a place for you stay for the time being until you can find a place of your own.” I heard the door unlock and we all entered the apartment. I walked to Crystal placing a hand on her tear streaked face. This got a dirty glare from George but I shot him a dirty glare of my own before turning my attention to Crystal.
“Are you okay?” I asked, our eyes meeting.
“I’m fine, George is leaving. Are you okay?” Crystal asked, her gaze leaving mine to glare at George who was getting his stuff out of the bedroom. I nodded as Jasmine held her arms out for me to hold her. Jasmine held me tightly, crying into the nook of my neck as Crystal grabbed her car seat out of her car and placed it into my car. I calmed the child down with Korean song about brushing her teeth and such. Making goofy actions that made her giggle.
“Jasmine, would you like to go to McDonald’s?”
“Yes Mino! I love McDonald’s…” Jasmine said, looking up at me with her bright blue eyes. I pat the top of her head and flash her a smile.
“Good.” I said, kissing the top of her head. I then put Jasmine in the car. I closed her car door and looked at Crystal who had been watching me this whole time.
“I always knew you were good with kids…but what you did was a miracle in and of itself. I’ve never seen her so upset.”
“It was nothing…I care about the both of you…I’d do everything in my power to keep the both of you happy…” I said, not really watching my words. Crystal’s lips curved into a smile.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you’re falling in love with us.” She teased, leaned into me so her shoulder was against mine. She was actually closer to the truth than I think she realized. Both Crystal and I got into my car and I drove us down to Mcdonald’s. After placing out order, and paying and receiving our food, Crystal and I walked with Jasmine into the Play Place so that Jasmine could play.
“Minho I’m sorry about that drama earlier, you didn’t deserve that.” Crystal said, her eyes meeting mine. I nodded in understanding.
“It’s okay, that’s was kind of what I wanted to talk to you about…” I said, setting the tray of food down. We allowed Jasmine to play for a moment longer to allow us to have an adult conversation. She looked at me with a look of uncertainty. I swallowed, sitting down and folding my hands in front of me as my eyes met hers. “Feel free to say no okay, there’s no pressure here…but…“ I took in another breath before continuing. “I feel very strongly for you Crystal, I feel…very…” I paused a moment as racked my brain for the right word. “…passionate for you. I would do anything in my power to make you happy…”
“You have feelings for me…” Crystal said, summarizing what I was trying to tell her. I looked at her, blushing, bringing my hand up to my mouth. All I could do was nod. “Minho that was no secret to me, I’ve known since…probably this summer, on the camping trip.” Crystal said our eyes meeting. She was so unanalyzable right now, it started to get to me.
“I know that I’m single now, but I don’t want to rush into this, because I really like you Minho.” Those last words echoed in my head. She really likes me…so she feels the same, there’s a ‘but’ there though.
“I just don’t want to make the same mistake I did with the last three relationships I’ve been in. Let’s just take it steady and see where it goes…how does that sound?” Crystal asked, our eyes meeting. I sucked in a breath and let out a sigh of relief, before nodding understandingly.
“I don’t expect you to jump into a relationship with me right now, especially after what happened tonight. I just wanted you to know how I felt. I’m very excited to hear that you feel the same way.” I said, feeling an authentic smile appearing on my features. She smiled back, our eyes meeting again. I reached across the table and traced the side of her face with the back of my hand.
“You’re beautiful when you smile.” I complimented, withdrawing my arm. This caused Crystal to blush. She called Jasmine over to eat her food while I looked down at the food before us. I grabbed my sandwich opening the cardboard box to reveal the sloppily put together sandwich, feeling the pit of my stomach growl at me.
“I also wanted to tell you that Taemin also expressed interest in me.” I said, taking out my sandwich and looking at Crystal. She nearly choked on the bite that she had taken in shock. She quickly swallowed bite, clearing her throat.
“Wh--What!?!” Crystal asked, her eyes widening, kind of shocked by what I said.
“Yeah, he says that he’s been interested in me since I cut my hair…”
“Oh my God! I didn’t even know Taemin was…that way. I thought you guys did that for the fans…what do they call it again…fan service?” She asked, still shocked by my confession.
“I didn’t either, I knew there was something off about Taemin, I just chalked it up to us moving to the US, but tonight he said that he was in love with me. I just don’t share his feelings. I mean I’ll do fan service with the same sex, but I always viewed Taemin as a good friend, never as a lover.” I confessed, as I finally took a bite of my food. Jasmine ate her food, completely oblivious to our conversation.
“So, you had no idea he felt this way?” Crystal asked, her eyes meeting mine.
“Not really? Like I said, I knew something was off about Taemin in the past few weeks. I couldn’t put a finger on it.” Minho said, shoving a few fries into his mouth. “I feel very strongly for you, besides, we show each other we care by giving skin ship to each other. It should never be taken as showing romantic interest.” I added. Crystal nodded in understanding.
“So what did he say when you told him you weren’t interested?” Crystal asked, genuinely interested in my story.
“He cried, then asked me why I didn’t share his feelings…” I said trailing off, by now I had finished half of my sandwich.
“And you said…”
“I told him I didn’t feel that way for him and that I found someone else who makes me happy?”
“Did you tell him?”
“I did, but I don’t expect him to understand…”
“Of course he’s going to understand Minho, that’s one of the things that can’t stand is that everyone treats Taemin like a little kid…not the young man he is…” Crystal said, suddenly throwing me an accusatory look. I felt like she was cornering me in the conversation.
“Crystal I don’t treat Taemin like a child…” I said defending myself.
“Well I can’t say that you do, because I’ve never seen you interact with him, but I’m saying from what I’ve seen from Youtube and how the other members interact with him based upon that, everyone treats him like a child.” Crystal said, as I watched her shove a couple of fries into her mouth. I shrugged, watching her. “…he’s like what? Twenty right?”
“Yes, 20 internationally…” I said, eating some of my fries as well, before following it with some iced tea to clear my throat.
“Well, he’s a grown man. I can’t help but feel bad for Taemin. He has urges just like everyone else…” Crystal said, finishing up her food and glancing over at her daughter who was enjoying her chicken nuggets.
“Our culture is so different though, we recognize a person by their age and status, not by their talents and who they know or are. It not like America here, where you can start up a conversation with just about anyone…”
“Minho, I know all about the honorific system you have in South Korea. I do my research when I like something new. I just don’t think it’s fair to Taemin, he deserves happiness too…” Crystal said, and I brought my hand to rest on hers and our eyes met.
“I understand…you don’t need to explain it to me.” I said, my gaze unwavering.
“Mommy can I go play?” Jasmine asked, causing Crystal to pull her gaze from mine to look at how much food her daughter had actually eaten. Satisfied, she nodded and Jasmine ran off to play.
We finished eating and I got up from the plastic seating booth to dump the tray. Crystal's phone chimed signifying that she had a text message. When I came back Crystal was on her phone texting someone.
“Minho, did you give Jinki my number?” She asked her eyes moving back and forth along the tiny screen.
"I did a couple days ago, he asked for it saying he had questions for you…”
“I see…I just got a text from him, he misspelled my name.” She said, deciding to respond to whatever he had texted her. Typical Jinki and his horrible spelling.
His reply was instantaneous. Was he like super texter or something? He rarely replies that quick to my texts...unless its about chicken of course.
Crystal swiped a reply as I walked around the table and sat next to her see what they were talking about. I glanced over at her phone feeling her body heat radiate off of her. It felt so delicious. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders bringing her closer to me.

Yes, I can play the flute, piano, guitar, and drums.

CrysMarie

I read, as my eyes met Crystal’s as she threw a glance my way. I cocked my head to the side, taken aback a little by what I had just read.
“Really? I didn’t know you played anything…” I commented, she nodded in agreement.
“Yeah…I’ll have to show you one day.” With that her phone chimed but she didn’t bother to read it, since we both knew that it was Jinki.
“Okay…it’s a date.” I said, knowingly stealing Crystal’s expression. She leaned against me, bumping her shoulder into my ribs lightly.
“Quit that.” She said her mahogany eyes meeting mine. I just shrugged and played like I didn’t know what I did. “You know what you did, don’t even try to deny it. Quit stealing my expressions, or else I’m gonna have to stick a foot up your ass…” I locked eyes with her and pressed my forehead against hers.
“I’d like to see you try…girl scout…” I challenged, and with I felt her foot come down upon mine…hard. Pain coursed from my foot and I cried out, jerking away from her. She stuck her tongue out at me as I got up out of the booth we were in. She called out for Jasmine.
“You of all people should know that I’m the furthest thing from a girl scout…” I said, getting out of the booth as well. I placed my hand on her waist and drew her close so my lips were just millimeters from her ear.
“One day you’ll have to prove it to me…” I whispered seductively before clearing my throat and letting her go.. “But until then, you’re a girl scout…” I added, having the last word before walking over to get the door for Crystal and Jasmine.
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Miles Away