Chapter 9: The price of happiness
When they returned home Jessica called almost ever friend she had and told them her good news. As she went spreading the news AJ started getting ready for the dinner he was to attend with Serenity and Barry. As he left the house Jessica was getting ready for the party she was attending. When he arrived at the restaurant he searched around trying to find Barry or his daughter. He then spotted them at a far table in the corner. Serenity�s hair was now down in big curls that cascaded down her back and around her shoulders. A silver hair ban held the front of it together. She wore a short purple dress that had silver sparkles on the bottom. Barry was dresses in a dark blue suite respectfully. �Hello, good evening.� AJ greeted them as he shook their hands and smiled. He gave Serenity an annoyed look as he sat down.
� We will be eating with some clients of mine tonight. They still haven�t arrived, but they should be here very soon. I suggest we just go ahead and order now.� Barry pronounced. After ordering their food the waitress politely took their menus and excused herself. �So you must be really hungry? You ordered the big plate, don�t even think I could finish all of that.� Barry said looking at AJ. �Yeah, well didn�t eat very much today.� AJ said taking a sip of his glass of water. �Gardenias.� Serenity said obviously as she coughed. AJ looked at her with a stern face and rolled his eyes. �Sorry were late.� Two gentlemen said as they walked up to the table wearing suites.
�Oh, glad to see you, and no, you�re right on time.� Barry said standing to shake their hands. �I would like you to meet my daughter Serenity and a close friend of my family, AJ McLean. This is Jeremy Turner and Bob Thomas guys.� AJ and Serenity politely shook the men�s hands and greeted them. �So how has it been Bob?� Barry asked him. �Everything has been fine. My daughter had her first child last month and so everything has been great.� The dark haired gentleman explained. �Oh that�s great. So you�re a grandfather now.� Barry replied. �Yap, that�s me grandpa.� He chuckled back to him. �My son just got married.� The bald gentleman told them. �Really? My son is getting married on Friday.� Barry told them. �I am too.� AJ pronounced.
Serenity slightly choked on her water as she heard him. �Married?� Barry questioned as Serenity coughed in the background. �Yeah, I was just engaged today. Actually just an hour and half ago.� The young man said smiling. �Wow, congratulations son. I didn�t know your relationship was that serious. I�m happy for you.� Barry said reaching his arm across the table. �Well when you know it�s right you know it�s right. Right? Congrats.� The bald man said to AJ. �Yes, congratulations to you.� The other man replied. As they shook AJ�s hand and congratulated him.
Serenity took a couple of gulps of her water. �Well aren�t you going to congratulate AJ?� Barry asked her.�Yeah, oh, um, congrats AJ. That�s good news.� She said as she shook her head and smiled. The waitress soon returned to take the rest of the orders and the topic of conversation soon turned to business. AJ and Serenity sat eating as the other three gentlemen talked about matters that didn�t involve them. After Serenity had finished eating and the waitress had taken the plates, she excused herself to the restroom. �Listen, I�m going to be out an hour or so, this is going to take a while. So why don�t you take Serenity to a movie or something okay.� Barry whispering to AJ as he leaned in towards him. When Serenity returned he asked her if she was ready to leave and they said their goodbyes and left. AJ walked in front of her as she followed behind. �You�re really doing it? You�re getting married?� She asked catching up to AJ. �He ignored her and continued to walk. �I can�t believe that, weren�t you just saying yesterday how you couldn�t stand her food? You�re really going to marry the Gardenias girl?� The young women asked, still talking. �I�m mad at you if you haven�t noticed yet.� He retorted. �Mad? At me? For wha...Oh last night? You�re still mad over that thing?�
�If by that thing, you�re speaking of your disappearing act yesterday you would be right.� He said walking faster. �AJ I�m sorry. I really did see friends I knew. And they wanted to go to this club and you were busy with the fans and all. And so I just left. I really didn�t mean to make you mad.�
�The funny thing was right before we went you told me you weren�t going to runaway. Of course I thought it was just a figure of speech when you said it. But that�s exactly what you did, you ran away. Do you know how long I looked for you? Do you know how worried I was? I didn�t know where you had gone or what had happened.�
�AJ, I was fine I told you I went dancing. Wait, did you just say you were worried? Ahh, you were worried about me?� She said making a baby face.
�For real Serenity, it wasn't funny. What if your dad would have found out?�
�I already told you. My dad wasn't going to find out anything. You really think I would tell on you, please. Speaking of my dad what does he have on you anyway?�
�What do you mean, what are you talking about?�
�I mean what does he have on you? What is he going to do for you? I know my dad, either he has something on you or is paying you to go out on these little dates with me, so what is it? No one dose anything for free and I know for sure you�d rather be somewhere else so what is it?�
�Oh don�t start.� AJ said as he started to walk faster, not expecting her question. �No AJ I�m serious.� She said then standing in front of him to stop him. �Tell me, what is it?� She asked him blankly as she stood in his way. �Serenity I don�t have time for this okay.� He said trying to maneuver around her. �AJ tell me. Don�t you think I should know how much I�m worth to my father?�
�Fine, fine then. He told me if I took you out then I wouldn�t have to pay for legal fees. Remember how I told you your father was helping my group, well I asked him if he�d represent us for a new law suite that�s been planted on us. He said their would be no coast if I took you out a couple of times. And that�s it.�
�Oh, wow. I guess I was a pretty good price.� She said as she moved out of his way and looked down at the floor. �Serenity, contrary to what you believe up until you left last night I was having fun, and up until that moment the only place I wanted to be was right their, with you. It�s not a burden to take you out.�
�It�s not even that AJ. Since I was 10 my father has been paying people to take me out when I come visit him. He�d pay the maid to take me to a movie and the candy store. Then he started paying the garden boy and the maid�s son. My whole life he�s never noticed me, he never wanted to. If I meant anything to him he�d be out here right now walking me to a movie, not you. He would have been the one to take me to the carnival yesterday. He�s getting better though, this time I was worth more then 60 bucks, I guess that�s good to know, right?� She said as she turned to start walking.
�Serenity...�
�It�s okay, I guess since I've grown up now 60 bucks is kind of cheap.� She said interrupting AJ.
As they walked she noticed a lame man sitting on the curb with a hat in his hand. AJ recognized the man. He was the same man he and Jessica had seen earlier that day. He reached inside his pockets as he noticed Serenity doing the same thing. She dropped $20 in the hat while he dropped $50 and a bunch of change. �I saw that.� She said smiling at him.
�What?� He asked. �The money, that was generous of you. A lot of guys I know wouldn�t have given him anything.� She said looking down at the ground as they walked. �Serenity, look, I don�t know what the whole thing is between you and your father and I don�t know why he doesn�t spend time with you but your worth a whole lot more then 60 bucks. You�re worth a whole lot more then free legal representation too. Believe me, there is no amount that can compare to what you are worth. You are one of the strongest, bull headed, take no BS, kick ass chicks I know. Nothing can amount to your worth so don�t ever let someone or even your own thoughts make you think you�re not worth anything.� He told her. �I think that was defiantly one of the sweetest things anyone has said to me. Thanks. I guess I was really wrong about you. Rich snobs aren�t sweet.� She said as she giggled. He laughed with her. �Hey, you know what, lets go to the club you went to last night. Let�s go dancing.� AJ proclaimed.
�I have a confession to make to you. I didn�t really go to a club last night with friends.�
�Then where did you go?�
�I... I left the fair and took a cab home.�
�Why?�
�Because, I didn�t think you really wanted to be there with me. I mean you looked tired and you had all those fans that were asking you for autographs. I was just in the way, and I figured I�d just give you a break and leave.�
�Fans come around all the time that doesn�t mean I don�t have a life of my own. And like I said, I was having fun with you, you were not in the way. You know what, doesn�t matter, lets go dancing anyway.�
�Dancing? You really want to go dancing?� She asked sounding surprised. �Yeah, I want to go dancing. I�am a really good dancer.�
�Yeah, after your choreographer teaches you the steps.� She retorted.
�Oh those are defiantly fighting words. Okay, that�s it, lets go.�
�Fine, you�re on backstreet boy.� She said as she laughed after. They drove to Sunset Blvd. And entered one of the local clubs on the street. They stayed for 5 hours dancing, and then AJ drove her home. A strange feeling came to him after she had left the car though; he felt lonely, what was strange about the feeling was that even after he left the car and went home to Jessica he still felt alone.