Our Story

This story begins years ago with our friend Michael Clare Berryhill. Mike had been dating a certain female who he had planned on marrying. Fortunately for us he was broke. In order to save up money for the marriage, Mike shipped off to Alaska to work at his uncle's lodge. There he made friends with another lodge worker by the name of Jenna. During Mike's time in Alaska his girlfriend started dating someone else, and finding himself single again, took the opportunity to move away from home, out to Utah once he finished in Alaska.

Shortly after moving out to Utah, Mike found himself once again hanging out with Jenna, who also lived in Utah. In September 2007, Mike decided to attend an institute dance, with his friend Robert in tow.

That same night Kristal had been asked by her brother to tend her nephew. Afterwards Kristal's friend Megan called to invite her to the institute dance and a bonfire held up the canyon, that her roommate Jenna had planned.

At the dance Megan and Kristal sought out Michael Berryhill to get directions to the bonfire, and when they found him, Megan and he began talking about the plans for Jenna's bonfire. Robert and Kristal finding themselves in an awkward situation in which the people they were with knew each other, began to make weird faces at each other to pass the time as their friend's chatted away. The music soon brought Megan and Mike back to reality and he asked her to dance. Robert, finding himself left alone with Kristal quickly swooped in to ask her to dance.

Kristal was all kinds of impressed with Robert's incredibly energetic dance skills as they tore up the dance floor! They later danced to another song, enjoying each other's company, and were saddened when the dance finished. As they went their separate ways, they were excited to meet up with each other again up the canyon at Nunns Park for their friend's bonfire.

Kristal was again intrigued when Robert pulled out his guitar and began to serenade the group. Robert was impressed with Kristal's knowledge of the guitar, and tried to inconspicuously sit closer to her. She was at the same time strategizing to get nearer to him. Finally they found themselves seated next to each other in front of the fire, and switched off playing the guitar and talking.

As the end of the night drew closer Robert mentioned that he taught guitar lessons, but wouldn't charge as long as the student practiced. Kristal, wanting to improve her guitar skills asked if he could teach her, he consented. No numbers had been swapped however, and Kristal being traditional felt it the man's duty to do so. Robert, feeling that the women should be forward and ask for the number stubbornly refused to ask Kristal; so they were at an impasse. Finally as they were going to give up and leave, Robert asked Kristal if she wanted his number...and she said Yes!

Guitar lessons went well, they were very courteous towards each other, but there was no chemistry between them. Robert was in the middle of a lot of girl drama, and didn't want to lead another girl on. Kristal had just sent a long time boyfriend on a mission, and had no intentions of seriously getting involved with anyone. The natural flirting that occurs between men and women was absent, and the guitar lessons became stifling.

The two did end up going on one date in October to a haunted forest hayride, when Robert's date bailed on him he thought of Kristal and invited her along. The date in itself was really fun, but as everyone would make jokes and laugh, as soon as Kristal said anything everyone would be silent and awkward until someone else would speak. She felt so dumb and degraded on the date, she found that she couldn't stand being around Robert. It was one of the worst dates she had ever been on, although Robert thought it had gone rather well... (side note by Robert: It was a group date with two couples. The other 3 of us actually thought the date had gone really well, and the other couple on multiple occasions afterwards mentioned how cool Kristal was. So obviously we weren't on the same page as far as the date went. We both agreed it was a fun date, but Kristal later told me it was the worst date she had ever been on).

The guitar lessons continued though they became more and more sparse, and Kristal would strive to leave as soon as they commenced. One or two times Robert tried to get her to stay longer and offered her milk and cookies at one such occasion, and they stood in his kitchen together talking and eating cookies. Kristal told Robert of her intentions to wait for her missionary, and Robert told her that it was more likely for a missionary to turn gay on his mission than for his girlfriend to wait for him. Kristal stood firm and was adamant about her intentions. Robert talked of California and his desire to leave Utah as soon as he was finished with school. Kristal was grateful in the back of her head that there was little to no chance that she would marry this man and have to live in California.

By the middle of November, the guitar lessons stopped completely.

During this time Robert resolved his girl problems and swore off women for a while, and Kristal became involved in a short lived relationship after which she swore off men until the return of her missionary. Then one January day...

Robert was suddenly reminded of Kristal and wondered if she was ever going to return for another lesson, and doing something he's never done before, he texted HER to ask if she wanted another lesson. That same day Kristal was thinking about Robert, and having just moved back to Provo, was about to call to ask for a lesson.

As chance has it, they met up again, this time at Kristal's apartment for a lesson. Being at different levels in their lives now, everything seemed to fall into place this second time around, and they had an enjoyable lesson. This time as Robert gathered his things to leave, Kristal sought out an excuse for him to stay, and offered to teach him the guitar in Guitar Hero. Robert, not wanting to pass up an excuse to stay, took the offer.

They had an enjoyable time playing and laughing, and talking about everything, and quickly made plans for future adventures! They ended up hanging out the next week, and everyday after that, never wanting to leave each other's company...to be continued...