Chp 22
~Chapter 22~
On Wednesday evening…
"AJ, are you ready? It's almost sun down," informed Denise. AJ walked over to her with his head down and dragging his feet. "Are you ok?"
" *sigh* Yeah, I'm ok. I just have some other things to do so I'll meet you there, ok?"
"Alright. Be careful. Don't let anyone see you."
"I know. I lurk in the shadows. I am a creature of the night."
"Yeah."
"All the women I love are leaving me. Promise me you won't leave me? Please?"
She smiled and put her warm hand on his cold cheek.
"I'm not going anywhere. I promise. I'll see you later. Bye."
"Bye."
Denise arrived at Sea World an hour later and was greeted by Jane and the Boys. She hugged each of them. She was like a second mother to them.
"Aww, how are my boys?" she asked lovingly as she embraced Nick.
"Nervous! I'm glad you could come, Denise. It just wouldn't be the same without you cheering for us in the audience," replied Kevin.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world! And don't worry, you're going to do great!"
"What made you change your mind?"
"Well, a little angel convinced me to come. He told me that the next best thing to seeing my AJ's dreams come true, is knowing that his brothers were climbing to the top. He really would've wanted that for you."
"And we really would've wanted him to be here," Brian stated sadly.
"I'm sure he'll be watching," she said knowing that it was the truth.
"Yeah."
"Umm, boys? I think it's time to warm up," informed Jane pointing to a lady who was frantically waving her arms and pointing to her watch with an exasperated expression on her face.
"Oh yeah! Oops. Ok, guys, it's almost show time! See ya later, Jane, Denise!"
"Bye, boys! Good luck!"
"If you get nervous just imagine the audience in their underwear!"
"Eww, Mom! YOU"RE gonna be in the audience!" laughed Nick.
"Oh, never mind then."
The boys disappeared behind the stage. There was going to be a very large crowd at the event. And not just the graduates' parents, several record label executive directors and producers were also going to be there. Denise took a seat next to Jane.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so happy for them!" Jane excitedly declared. "I mean, this could be their big break!"
"I know. I'm really proud of them. They've worked really hard. I just know they're going to be big someday," proclaimed Denise with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Denise, you didn't have to come. The boys would've understood."
"No, I wanted to come."
"Are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
She looked at her watch then up at the beams. 'He should be here very soon.' A few minutes later, a guy took center stage and announced the event and told everyone to salute the flag. The graduates sat down, the valedictorian spoke, then the students were handed their diplomas. Everyone threw their caps and stuff. That all took two hours. Then, it was the moment everyone's been waiting for. The Backstreet Boys were going to perform. Denise glanced at her watch and up at the ceiling again, not that she would be able to see anything because it was pitch black up there. How was she going to know when he arrived? Jane noticed that she was doing that frequently.
"Denise, are you expecting someone?"
"What? Umm, no. I'm just nervous for the boys, that's all."
"Oh, ok."
Suddenly, Denise felt a tingling feeling surge through her body. AJ had arrived. The guy started talking again.
"Ladies and gentlemen, and now for you're entertainment and pleasure, I am proud to present four fine young men with four exceptional individual voices that come together to become one divine and beautiful sound. Give it up for the Backstreet Boys!"
The crowd applauded. Denise, Jane, and the rest of their family and friends, including AJ, who was sitting on top of the beams unnoticed, hooted. Howie, Brian, Nick, and Kevin confidently walked up on stage and sat on stools.
"How's everybody doing tonight?!" Brian yelled with his adorable cheeky grin.
The audience's response was a whole bunch of 'goods, fines, bads, and alrights' jumbled into one loud sound.
"That's good to hear! We're peachy keen, too! Oh by the way, I'm Brian!"
"I'm Howie!"
"Nick is in da house!"
"And I'm Kevin!"
"And we are…"
They all harmonized on 'the Backstreet Boys.'
AJ rolled his eyes. "Oh my God, can they be any cheesier?! Man, if I was in the group, I'd make this a party!"
Brian continued. "Our first of three songs we'll be performing for you fine folks is Joe's No One Else Comes Close."
The music began and Brian took the first verse. Nick did the second. Brian did the leads in the chorus.
"Wow! They're good!" AJ thought.
After they finished that, they did Boyz II Men's Water Runs Dry. The audience adored them!
"Let's don't wait till the water runs dry
We might watch our whole lives pass us by
Let's don't wait till the water runs dry
And make the biggest mistake of our lives
Don't do it, baby
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooooooh
Don't do it, baby…"
The audience screamed and clapped. Jane was moved to tears. Denise's mind wandered. AJ was amazed on how good and professional they sounded. When everyone grew quiet, Howie announced the third and final song.
"Our last song for the evening is a very powerful, moving, and sad ballad. We dedicate this song to our friend, brother, and fifth Backstreet Boy, Alexander James McLean, who passed away barely a month ago," he said getting emotional. Kevin wiped a tear away. Brian and Nick had their heads down. "We love ya, AJ, and we'll never forget you. This is Show Me The Meaning…"
"Show me the meaning of being lonely
So many words for the broken heart
It's hard to see in a crimson love
So hard to breathe
Walk with me and maybe
Nights of light so soon become
Wild and free, I can feel the sun
You're every wish will be done, they tell me
Show me the meaning of being lonely
Is this the feeling I need to walk with
Tell me why I can't be there where you are
There's something missing in my heart…"
AJ could feel the hot tears forming in his eyes. 'Aww man! They're making me cry! I have to get them back for that!'
Denise was crying, too. So was Jane.
"Life goes on as it never ends
Eyes of stone observe the trends
They never say forever gaze if only
Guilty roads to an endless love
There's no control
Are you with me now
You're every wish will be done, they tell me
Show me the meaning of being lonely
Is this the feeling I need to walk with
Tell me why I can't be there where you are
There's something missing in my heart
There's no where to run
I have no place to go
Surrender my heart, body, and soul
How can it be you're asking me to feel the things you never show
You are missing in my heart
Tell me why can't I be there where you are"
Brian's awesome voice filled the arena.
"Show me the meaning of being lonely
Is this the feeling I need to walk with
Tell me why I can't be there where you are
There's something missing in my heart…"
The last note really tugged at everyone's heartstrings. It was as if everyone felt their pain and sense of loss. There wasn't a dry eye in the audience. Especially, Denise and AJ. They were bawling. Jane put her arms around Denise.
"Oh Denise, I'm so sorry! Shhh, it's ok. Everything's going to be ok," she said trying to console her.
The audience gave them a standing ovation. The boys thanked everyone then went backstage. The song really affected them and made them cry, too. They group hugged, counting on each other for comfort. Some girls were standing outside the backstage entrance wanting autographs. The security guards told them to wait until the boys pulled themselves together. After several packets of tissues and a couple of comforting words, Kevin, Brian, Nick, and Howie emerged and signed the autographs with smiles on their faces. They met up with their families and friends. Jane was still solacing Denise. They each gave her a reassuring hug.
"Denise, we're so sorry. We didn't mean to bring back the pain," said Kevin as he embraced her.
"No, I'm sorry. It's just me and my foolish emotions," she declared, genuinely feeling stupid for crying knowing that AJ was still with her.
"Don't say that. You'r emotions aren't foolish. We know how you feel. He was important to us, too."
"I know, dear. I know."
"Are you ok now? Do you want one of us to take you back home?"
"No thank you. I'm fine. I'll make it. Oh, you boys were so fantastic! I'm so proud of you!"
"Thanks. Let's just hope those record label people think the same."
"I'm sure they will."
She said good bye to everyone then left. AJ was waiting for her on the front steps.
"Don't tell me you're locked out!"
He held up his keys.
"Then what are you doing out here?"
She sat down beside him.
"I don't know, just thinking. They were great, weren't they?"
"Yes, they were. That last number really got to me. I cried so much!"
"You cried?! I was bawling like a baby!"
"So was the rest of the audience."
"I know."
They sat in silence for a moment.
"I thought I could handle it," AJ began quietly. "I was fine the first two songs. But when they dedicated Show Me The Meaning to me, it really hit me hard. I was supposed to be up there with them."
Denise put her arm around his shoulders.
"I know, honey, I know."
"What am I going to do for the rest of eternity? I'll be bored to tears."
"You have Toni."
"Yeah, but I won't have you."
"I'll always be with you, AJ, no matter what."
"Mom? Have you ever thought about getting remarried?"
"Sometimes, but I don't think it's going to happen. I'm too old for romance."
"Mom, don't say that! You're never too old for romance! Toni's 210 and she's got me!"
"Yeah well, she doesn't look it and she doesn't feel it."
"You can't be THAT old! You're still attractive! How old are you now? Fifty?"
"None of your business!"
"Aww, come on! Tell me! I promise not to laugh!"
"Well, if you don't know, I'm not going to tell you!"
"I did know! I just lost track of time! Tell me!"
"No!"
She stood up, unlocked the door, and went inside, followed by AJ who was laughing.
"Mom!"
"No! Leave me alone!"
"Ok, fine, you asked for it!"
He looked into her eyes and studied them hard.
"AJ, what are you doing? AJ?"
"You're 48! That's it?! No and you're thinking about…hitting me with a pillow and…cutting Dad's fingers off and feeding them to the squirrels. Why? What did he do now? No wait! You don't want to cut off his fingers! You want to cut off his…" AJ's eyes grew wide. "MOM!"
"Alexander James McLean, get out of my head this instant!"
"Why do you want to mutilate Dad?! Especially THAT?!"
"Because I feel like it! Good night!"
She stomped up the stairs. AJ continued searching for answers, some which he'd rather not have known.
'Oh my God! She still has the hots for him! She thinks he's a lean mean sex machine! Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!! GROSS! I don't want to know anymore! I don't want to know anymore!'
He stuck his head under a couch cushion trying to get those thoughts out of his head.
'Get out! Get out! Get out! MY parents and SEX?! Ugh! I know that's how I came to be, but sex for PLEASURE?! NO! Stop thinking about it! I have to stop thinking about! Just think about something nice…something nice…think about Toni! Yeah, Toni! Toni's nice! Especially in a bikini, hehehe…'
He fell asleep with that thought in his head. He dreamt about marrying her and having kids. Too bad it wasn't going to be possible…in more ways than one.
Chp 23
Chp 21
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