Chapter 5
He noticed her eyebrow ring was gone and she had cut her hair. Instead of going half way down her back, it only went a couple of inches past her shoulders. She wore an elegant light blue dress that seemed to show off her figure. He could tell she had lost weight. The dress tied at the neck and it had no back to it. Serenity hated dresses like that, he thought to himself. He continued to follow her with his eyes as he took her in like air. She went over to her father giving him a soft hug and kissing him on the cheek. Then he saw a tall blond man wrap his arms around her from behind. The man then reached out an arm to Barry shaking his hand.
Who was he? His mind was all over the place. He felt like he needed to take a seat soon or he was going to pass out. He didn�t understand why he was reacting this way. He hadn�t seen her in so long and it seemed like all the memories of her were rushing back all at once. The song they danced to soon ended. �Umm, I think I�m going to sit the next one out. See what my friends are up to.� He told Sarah.
�Okay, nice meeting you.�
�You to.� AJ said as he walked back over to where Brain and Kevin were sitting.
�Hey AJ, I was wondering when you were coming back. Lets go over and say Hi to Barry.� Brain told him. �Barry?� AJ asked remembering Serenity was with him at the moment. �Yeah, Barry. The man who this party is for..� Brain said. �Hey you okay? You look kind of pale.� Kevin asked him. �Yeah, I�m okay. Just all of a sudden don�t feel very good.� He answered as he took his seat. �It�s probably that sushi catching up to you. We went to lunch today and he had this new wierd looking sushi, and then after that he had this huge ice cream cone.� Brain told Kevin.
�Sushi and ice cream...not a good mix.� Kevin said shaking his head. �I think...I think I should go home.� AJ said looking down at the table. �We haven�t even been here for thirty minutes� Brian told him. AJ put his hand over his stomach as he continued looking down. �If you feel that bad, maybe you should.� Kevin said looking at him with concern. �Lets go say hi to Barry first.� Brian said as he stood from his seat. There was no use fighting it. AJ knew he was going to have to go over there sooner or later and face her. Maybe he needed to do this. Maybe this would actually make things better , he thought to himself. �Okay.� He said as he stood from his seat.
He followed Brain over to where Barry stood. Serenity�s back was facing them. They stood across from Barry waiting for him to finish his conversation with the person in front of them. As soon as the man left he noticed them. �AJ, Brain, it�s nice to see you guys. Can�t believe you came.� He said giving the men half hugs. �I just saw Kevin a little while ago.� He told them. �Yeah, well were sitting with him.� Brain explained.
�Seems like I haven�t seen you two in ages. Honey look who made it.� Barry said looking over to a girl in a light blue dress. She was busy talking to someone in front of her. Serenity turned around and caught sight of AJ and Brain in front of her. Brain�s eyes widened as he saw her and he immediately looked over at AJ. Her face looked as shocked as Brain�s, but she covered the shock up quickly with a soft smile.
�Hi Brain, AJ. How are you two?� She smiled as she gave Brain a slight hug and then AJ. He breathed in her perfume as she came close to him. He had missed that sent so much. Her touch gave him chills as she moved away.
�Hey.� A man said as two arms wrapped around her waist from behind. �Hey you.� She said giving the man a slight kiss on the cheek. This was the same man AJ had seen before with her while he was dancing. �Honey, this is AJ and Brain. Their clients of my father. Guys this is Randy.� She introduced him. �The boyfriend.� He said shaking their hands. �You always seem to forget that part.� He said looking down at her. �Whatever.� She rolled her eyes.
She had a boyfriend? How could she have a boyfriend? It hadn�t been that long had it...he was still alone. He hadn�t even wanted another girl, and she had a boyfriend. She had really gone on with her life...without him.
AJ watched them. He remembered how he use to hold her like that and how he use to make her giggle that way. �Yeah AJ.� He heard his name and tuned back into the conversation. �What?� He questioned. �Where did you go? Barry just asked where we were going to find another good lawyer, and I said yeah.� Brain said looking at him strangely.
�Oh...Oh yeah. Well we don�t know yet.� He smiled. �Have to be somebody good to fill your shoes.� Brain told him nodding. �So what have you guys been up to?� Serenity asked looking at them both. �Nothing much, were on vacation right now.� Brain replied, glancing over at AJ briefly. �Oh, that must be great for you. I know how you guys never seem to get that much time off.� She told them. �Yeah, we�ve had almost a year off. It�s all thanks to your father though. He helped arrange all of that with our new management.� Brain smiled. �Well that�s my dad, good at his job. Hope to be that good someday.� She smiled looking over at him.
�As good as him?� AJ questioned. �Yeah, well I�ve been kind of getting into the business. Learning the ropes of it all. He�s been helping me along. I�ve started taking classes and so far I�m doing pretty good.�
�She�s going to be a great lawyer someday. I let her sit in on some of my cases and she was finding things I hadn�t even noticed before.� Barry stepped in. Serenity wanted to be a lawyer? Where had that come from? She hated that business, she hated everything about it. AJ though as he listened.
�Well not as good as me.� Randy jumped in. �You�re a lawyer too?� Brain asked. �Yeah, Well I�m in criminal law though. More exciting to work with murderers I guess.� He laughed. AJ couldn�t believe it. Wasn�t this the exact kind of guy Serenity said she never wanted to end up with? He was the stuck up, business man stereotype, down to his shoes. He even had the obnoxious fake sounding laugh. Was he in the twilight zone? What had happened to her?
�Not a funny joke.� Serenity nudged Randy in the side. �Just joking baby.� He said kissing her neck softly. "Actually, right now since buissness has been kind of slow for me I've been helping Barry with some of his cases. It's nice to get away from the criminals for a while." AJ had seen enough. He really did feel sick now. He needed to get away from her, from... this.
�AJ you okay? You don�t look very good?� Serenity asked. �Yeah, umm, I�m just going to go get some fresh air. I�ll be back.� He said walking towards the terraced. �He had some bad sushi today.� Brain told them. When AJ made it outside he walked to the edge and looked over the side. He breathed in big breaths of air as he looked at the cars down below. His head felt as if it was spinning. He reached in his pocket for a cigaret and his lighter as he took another big breath of air in.
�Those aren�t good for you.� He heard a voice say from behind. He tuned around to see Serenity. �I know, I�ve been trying to quite. Actually, so far I�ve gone three weeks without smoking.� He said slipping the lighter and the cigaret back into his pocket. He leaned back over the balcony as he put a hand over his stomach. �Feeling any better?� She asked as she neared. � I�m fine, just had some bad sushi today I guess.� He winced as she came closer. �You need to sit down. Your stomach won�t settle while your standing.�
�I�m fine.�
�No, come sit down.� She argued grabbing his arm and taking him to one of the small chairs that sat next to a table outside. AJ felt as thought he had to catch his breath again. Every time she came near him he got the chills and a sick feeling came in the pit of his stomach.
�Now stay here, I�m going to go see if I can find you a coke.� She said as she disappeared back into the room. His eyebrows went up at that. She remembered that coke settled his stomach whenever it was upset. He remembered how she would always give him a coke when he felt sick to the stomach and somehow he would maracously feel better. He sat hunched over the table waiting for her to return. He breathed in slowly as he closed his eyes. His stomach was starting to settle a little. �Here.� she said handing him the glass of coke. �Thanks, you didn�t have to do that.� He said taking it from her. He swallowed half of it as he sat up. �Of course I did. Didn�t want to see you puke anytime soon, besides green isn�t a good color for you.� She smiled. He had missed that smile so much.
�So how have you been? You look good.�
�Thanks. Been doing well. Can�t complain, just been relaxing. Mostly writing now, getting deeper in my music.�
�That�s good. So you ready to make a solo CD yet?�
�Naw, don�t think I�m that far along yet. But maybe some of my stuff will make it on the new album.�
�Please! I know if you really wanted to, you could make a solo album. Your songs are great. You�d be fine on your own.� She starred into his eyes. �Yeah well, not ready. So you�re a lawyer now hu?� He asked her, changing the subject. �Yeah, crazy hu? Just started talking to my dad more and trying to understand what he does. I figure it�s not so bad. It�s brought us closer too.�
�Yeah, I noticed.�
�Yeah, so I�m a career girl now I guess. Funny how I became something I use to try so hard to fight.� She shrugged. �Boyfriend is too.� AJ replied. �Randy...he�s made for his job. I mean it�s like the perfect thing for him, he loves it. I would have never guessed he would have turned out to be a lawyer. I�ve known him for so long, and he just never seemed like that type, ya know? But when he inherited his grandfather�s money a while back I guess he changed his mind.�
�Oh, so you�ve known him a long time?� AJ questioned. �Yeah...actually I think I might have introduced him to you at my brother�s wedding.�
�Oh...oh yeah, I remember him now. The guy your dad was trying to get you to dance with.�
�Yeah...that�s him.� She said looking into the room through the clear glass. �We dated before, back when I was in high school. A really long time ago. I guess we just found each other again. So what about you? You have anyone special?� She asked him.
�Naw, I�m by myself. Dated a couple of times but that�s it...nothing serious. My dog actually died last month too, so I really do live alone now. He was hit by a car.� He shrugged. �Oh I�m sorry.� she said with concern across her face. �Naw, it�s okay. I�m cool...don�t really need anyone right now. I�m fine with my music. I think...I think I need to be by myself for a while, ya know? I�ve never just been me before. It was always me and another person. So I�m doing good.�
�That�s good then AJ. I�m happy for you.� She smiled. �So your happy...I mean with your life?� He asked. �Yeah.� She said looking down nodding. �What is there not to be happy about?�She asked as she looked back into the room. AJ could tell there was something wrong. She had avoided making eye contact with him. But he decided not to push it and leave it alone. She then looked at him with soft eyes.
�You know it�s really nice to see you again. I missed talking to you. You know...I meant what I said before I left. I really would like it if we could be friends.� She said looking down at the table and then back up at him. �Yeah...I�d like that too.� He agreed. She then reached inside her purse bringing a piece of paper and a pen out of it. She scribbled something down and then handed it to him. �That�s my new cell phone number. Maybe when you find someone, me, Randy, and you, and your date can double date sometime.� She smiled. �Yeah.� AJ nodded.
�So what�s going on? Your not trying to take my girl are you?� Randy appeared in the door way.
AJ looked up with wide eyes at he man with blond spiked hair. Who reminded him of an older version of Nick. �Chill dude. I�m just playing.� Randy laughed. AJ flashed a quick smile. �The Chandler sisters wanted to see you babe.� Randy said looking at Serenity. �Oh, I was just coming back in.� She said standing. �I hope you feel better.� She said looking at AJ. �Already do, thanks.� he smiled picking up the glass of coke. �Nice seeing you again. Take care.�
�You too.� he replied as she went back into the room. He swallowed the rest of his coke and leaned back over the side of the balcony. His head felt as if it was spinning again. He took a few breaths and then went back into the room.