Chapter 19
AJ joined the other guys on the side of the grave yard where Barry�s body was to be lowered down. All of them stood amongst the crowed as the priest stood at the head of the coffin.
AJ stared at the coffin for a while remembering his own father�s coffin. It looked as if it was the same exact color. All of it felt like dejea�vu to him. It was like his dad had died all over again and this time it was even more painful.
As he lowered his head he felt tears start to swell up in his eyes. He batted his eyelashes to hold them back. He then swallowed them down as a single tear escaped and trickled down his cheek. He quickly whipped it away as he looked at the flowers that laid on top of the coffin.
He then turned his attention to Serenity who stood on the opposite side as he did. Randy�s arm hung around her neck as she stared at the flowers also. Her brother stood on the opposite side of her with his wife. He had a blank expression on his face while his wife cried a river.
When Serenity took her dark shades off, her eyes looked cold and empty inside as she stared lifelessly at the flowers.
They then started to lower the coffin down into the ground slowly. A sound of thunder was heard as the dark sky released the contents of the heavy clouds it barred. Her face began to change as it crinkled up and tears started to flow. She quickly masked her face and straightened her composure as she closed her eyes, as if trying to push the pain down. She rubbed her eyes and when she opened them, her face was straightened once again. She then quickly returned her dark shades.
It hurt AJ to see her in the state she was in and another tear trickled down his face as he looked back down. He wiped it away and rubbed his eyes for a second. He then raised his head and looked onward as the coffin disappeared into the deep dark hole, while drops of rain pounded on it.
The crowed then started to disperse as the last of the funeral ended. The other Backstreet Boys talked amongst themselves as AJ went over to Serenity. Randy had walked away to talk to some business people he knew. She stood alone with her eyes fixated on the dark hole.
�Serenity.� He said as he came close to her. She looked up at him with a broken look on her face.
�You came?� She said, staring at him through the dark shades.
�Of course.�
�He�s gone...I can�t believe he�s gone.� She said in a low voice as she looked toward the ground again. He came closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. �It�s okay. You�ll get through this, you will.� He pulled her closer in the hug. She then quickly opened her eyes and pulled away from him.
She looked over her shoulder to find Randy staring at her. �Don�t touch me.� She said blinking her eyes a few times looking towards the ground with her head down. AJ looked over at Randy and then back at her. �Okay.� He nodded. �I just want you to know I�m here for you. If you ever need me, I�m here, no matter what.�
�Thanks.� She nodded. �I�m okay though, I have Randy. I�ll be fine, Just have to get over it.�
�Get over it? It�s not something you just get over. This is something you have to go through, not get over Serenity. I know... you�re the one who helped me. Remember?�
She looked up at him and then back towards the ground again. She hadn�t even thought about his father through all of this.
�I have to go. Thanks for coming though AJ. It does mean a lot. Goodbye.� She said as she turned around walking towards Randy.
AJ couldn�t shake the feeling that something was wrong with Serenity. She was so different, even more so then before, and he felt that it was more then just her father�s death. She looked kind of paranoid and almost scared of something.