Chapter 17: Finding Serenity
When AJ arrived at the airport he ran through all the people trying to reach the departure gate. He was tired from running and he almost felt as if he were about to pass out. As he ran he noticed lines were formed. They were checking people as they went through metal detectors. He found the shortest line and waited. Ten minutes passed before it was his turn to be cheeked. He then started running again until he was stopped by an attendant.
�Can I see your ticket please?� She asked him nicely. �I don�t have a ticket.� He said a little irritated. �I�m sorry sir but no one is allowed beyond this point without a ticket. You must have a ticket to go to the loading gates.� She said with half a smile. �Listen, I just need to talk to someone. It�s really important I talk to her before she leaves okay. After that I�ll come right back.� He told the lady. �I�m sorry sir, I can�t let you pass, you have to have a ticket.� She repeated. He then went over to nearest front desk he saw. �Excuse me, can I buy a ticket from here?� He asked the man that stood there. �Yes, but only...�
�I want a ticket, any kind to anywhere.� AJ interrupted the man. �I have one to Las Vegas at...�
�I�ll take it.� He said interrupting again as he pulled out money from his pocket. As soon as he got his ticket he started toward the loading gates again. When he reached the loading area he asked an attendant which gate the flight to Florida would be boarding. She told him ten, and he rushed toward it. An attendant stood by the gate as he arrived. �The flight for Florida...� He gasped as he was out of breath. �Florida? That flight left fifteen minutes ago sir...I�m sorry.� The short women told him with a look of wonder on her face.
AJ turned around and took a seat. He had gotten this far and he had missed her. He took in some deep breaths as he tried to breath normaly. �Are you okay sir?� The attendant asked him. �Yeah, I�ll be fine.� He replied. He felt frustrated, lost and mad. Why was this happening to him? The whole week had been crazy, and he just felt exhausted now. He slowly stood up and slowly started to walk toward the exit.
As he walked he thought. Maybe it just wasn�t meant to be. He could have been wrong, she probably didn�t even feel the same way about him as he did about her. Maybe he should have married Jessica. No, that would have been a mistake, not marrying her was defiantly the right thing. His frustration and anger started to give way to sadness. AJ seemed to be in a daze as he walked. He didn�t even hear the voice that yelled his name as he neared the exit.
�AJ! AJ! Hey.� The voice said as a hand reached to touch his shoulder. The person had caught his attention and he turned around to see who it was. His eyes widened as he caught sight of the figure in front of him.
�Serenity?� He questioned softly. �AJ what�s wrong?� She asked him. She stood there wearing blue jeans and a yellow shirt. He had a second chance. There she was right there in front of him. �Nothing...I...I thought you were gone.�He said looking at her. �Yeah, well I missed my flight. I got here too late. I was just about to call my dad to pick me up.� She told him. �Oh.� He replied. �So what are you doing here?� She asked with a questioning look on her face.
�I was looking for you.�
�For me, why? Wait a minute, why aren�t you at your wedding? Shouldn�t you be getting married right now?�
�The wedding...it was cancelled.�
�Cancelled? Why? What happened?�
�I cancelled it, I couldn�t...couldn�t marry her. I need to tell you something.�
�Tell me something? AJ what are you talking about, why aren�t you and Jessica getting married? You just left her at the alter?� Serenity asked looking serious now.
�Serenity remember when you said I need to stop thinking about Jessica and more about me? All those things you said, I thought about them and they made since, a lot of since. This week has been like a roller coaster, it�s just been so crazy. But the best part of it was meeting you. I thought getting married would make me a better person, a better man. But then I realized that meeting you had already done that.�
�Okay, I�m not listening to this AJ.� She said as she turned to walk away. �Yes, your going to listen.� He said as he stepped in front of her, blocking her path. � I know you�ve been hurt, and I don�t know if it�s your father or ex-boyfriend or what, but it seems like your use to people not being there for you. And you pretend like everything is perfect in your life when it�s not. You act like you don�t need anybody.�
�I don�t know what your talking about, I have to go.� She said trying move around him.
�Serenity, don�t try to runaway from this. I left Jessica, and I told her I didn�t love her. I came all the way down here just for you. I think I�m falling in love with you.�
�What? Oh my god, don�t do this, you have to go back to your wedding. You have to go back to Jessica AJ.�
�I don�t love her. I�m not even sure if I really like her. I came here for you, why are you trying to run from me? I know something happened in that cabin.�
�I can�t be the reason you left Jessica, I won�t. I won�t be the person who broke up your relationship. I won�t be the reason your wedding didn�t happen. I�m not going to be the girl that messed up your life AJ. I won�t be.�
�Don�t you know you could never be the girl that messed up my life. If anything you�re the girl that gave me my life back.� He paused. �I was so wrapped up in what I needed to change in my life and what I needed to have. I was trying to find serenity and piece of mind and I thought I needed to change my life to have that. I couldn�t see what I already had. And you helped me to see that. �
�Your just saying that because I put bad thoughts in your head, and I made you doubt your decision. You don�t really want to be here.�
�Is that what your telling yourself? Because it�s not true. I never loved Jessica, I just thought she was good for me, but she wasn�t. You are.�
�Why are you doing this...why did you come here and say all these things to me? I�m not the kind of girl guys fall for...I�m not.�
�No, you�re the kind of girl I fell for.� He said as he kissed her. She then pulled away, stood back and looked at him. �Are you really sure this is what you want?�
�Haven�t you been listening to anything I�ve just said? I�ve never been more certain of anything else.� He replied. She then wrapped her arms around him. �Good... it took you long enough.� She said as a huge smile appeared on her face. �I love you.� He said as he pulled her close and kissed her again. The kiss lasted for about 2 minutes. �Oh my god!� She exclaimed as she stopped kissing him. �What?� He asked. �I can�t believe my boyfriend is a Backstreet boy.� She said as she broke out in laughter. �Yap, and proud of it.� He said as he laughed and kissed her. And in each others arms is where they stayed.
The End