Filling the Emptiness
Author: MoonStarDutchess
Chapter 2: SJ Stone
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon but I do own my plot.
SJ Stone
The next morning, as per usual, she got up, took a shower, got dressed, and ate breakfast. She grabbed her purse and book then made her way to her spot in the park. When she arrived, she noticed someone writing on a tablet and leaning on the side of the tree. She didn't mind, it was a public park after all. She climbed the small hill and sat at her normal spot. She opened her book and began to read. A slight wind picked up and suddenly she found a paper on her book. It had a paragraph containing the same character that was in her book.
"Sorry about that," a voice said. She turned to see the man that was leaning against the tree, was gathering scattered pages. He was wearing jeans, a tight black t-shirt, and aviator sunglasses. She closed her book and helped him. She picked up the last paper and the name on it surprised her. SJ Stone, the author of the book she was reading. She looked at the man as she handed his papers to him.
"You're SJ Stone!" she exclaimed.
"Shussssss," he said putting a finger up to his lips.
"Oh, sorry," she said.
"It's all right Serena," he said.
"How did you know my name?" she asked in surprise. Then she realized that she recognized the voice. She got closer to his face. "Sapphire?" she questioned.
"Yea," he said. They went to sit back against the tree. "I heard you left Tokyo."
"I did but I came back to finish my second book," he said.
"It's amazing," she stated.
"Huh?"
"Your book," she said.
"So I hear," he replied.
"You don't sound like you believe it," she stated. Sapphire looked down at the manuscript in his lap.
"I'm not. I find it hard to believe that people enjoy reading about a man who just wants to accomplish such small goals. All he wants is …"
"To catch up, to not feel so damned lonely," Serena finished for him. He turned to her in surprise. She laughed. "He's real Sapphire. That is why people connect with him so much. No one wants to read about someone they can't really relate to. I really relate to him and I am sure the millions upon millions of people that read your book do as well."
"Yea, I guess. He was a difficult character to write. The truth is always hard to write," he replied. She turned to him.
"The truth?" she said puzzled a bit. Then she realized that the character seemed very similar to Sapphire. "Sapphire, is he based off you by any chance?"
"Yea," he answered truthfully. Then he kicked himself. He shouldn't have told her that.
"I see," she said looking down. She then turned her head to him. "I won't tell. I figure you wouldn't want people knowing that right? Just like I don't want people knowing what I am going through either."
"If you can relate to my character then I pity you," he said with a chuckle. Suddenly his watch beeped. He looked down at it and sighed.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I have a luncheon with the book publishers in two hours to discuss the new book. I hate those things."
"Oh," she said and smiled. "I am sure everything is going to be just fine," she said. "You have a way with words. They are sure to be impressed."
"I get so nervous at those things," he said honestly.
"Just know I'll be rooting for ya," she said and flashed a victory sign at him. It lacked the enthusiasm that it once had when she was younger. He nodded.
Serena stared at him. She didn't know him very well but from what she'd gathered, he was a loner for the most part. When they'd found him and Diamond unconscious after the entire moon family incident, not dead like they thought, they were overjoyed, especially the four sisters.
Sapphire and Prisma went out a few times and then broke up again. Prisma claimed Sapphire was too cold and distance. Serena didn't see that. She saw a loner but not cold. The two things were easily mixed up. She herself used to get them confused until she became more of a loner. There was a difference between being a loner and lonely and she believed that both she and Sapphire were loners.
"Would you like to come along?" he asked. He didn't know where he got the never to ask her from. It just came from his lips before he knew what he was saying.
She looked up in surprise. "With you to the luncheon?" she asked.
"Yea," he said.
"Sure, I'll go," she said. She looked down at her clothing. Jeans weren't exactly the best thing to go to wear for such an engagement.
"I need to go change. It wouldn't be a good idea for me to show up in jeans," she laughed.
"I have to change as well," he said with a slight chuckle. "How about I meet you back here in an hour then?"
"Sure," Serena said with a nod of her head. He stood and to Serena's surprise, offered her his hand to help her up. She grabbed her book and purse then took his hand.
"Thanks," she said,
"No problem," he replied. She smiled at him.
"See you in an hour then," she said and they both walked off in different directions.
Serena arrived at her house and went inside. She ran up to her room and sifted through her closet. She knew she'd had something proper somewhere in her closet. She let out a cry of victory when she found it. Rei had teased her merciless over the outfit. It was a white dress shirt with a dark green suit-like skirt. The skirt came down to mid calf. She'd said Serena should leave the clothing like that to career minded women and that she wouldn't have a career because of her marriage to Darien and she becoming queen. She hadn't worn the outfit since then. She'd asked Darien about it and he'd said that he didn't think it really flattered her much and that it was too formal for a girl like her.
She wrinkled her nose and nodded firmly. She would wear it now and she didn't care if they liked it or not. She liked it and that was what mattered. Besides, it was proper to wear to a luncheon. She went in the bathroom, showered, got dressed and took her hair down so she could redo it up in the pigtails better. She started to ball it up in the standard odangos that she was known for and stopped. She sighed; it had been her hairstyle for so long that it had become boring, it was safe and she was honestly tired of it.
When she was younger, she experimented with new hairstyles. The others told her that the odangos were her trademark and that since the future queen had them she probably wouldn't stick with a new hairstyle for very long.
Suddenly, Serena dropped the hair she was balling up. She separated it into different sections and began to pin it up into an elegant style until the strands hanging hung to mid back. She took out a curling iron and curled the strands handing. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror, the first time she did so in two years. She liked it much better. It was different and made her look more her age. It wasn't that she was giving up the odangos permanently but a change was refreshing. She looked at the clock then grabbed her purse and rushed out the door, locking it behind her.
Her heels clicked along the pavement as she made her way back to the park. She turned around when she heard a whistle. It was two businessmen coming out of a diner. She smiled at them and they returned it. Then she proceeded to walk across the street and into the park. That was the first time someone ever whistled at her.
She saw Sapphire standing at the tree and couldn't help but stare. He had on a dark grey business suit and a dark blue tie. His aviator glasses he had on previously were replaced by a new pair of more elegant sunglasses. She sighed and began walking toward him.
He spotted her and grinned. She didn't look like the girl that he'd talked to an hour ago; she looked older and more elegant. Not that she looked bad before, on the contrary, it was just she seemed more comfortable and confident in those clothes and with that hairstyle. It was as if those clothes and those heels were magic. She walked in a more confident manner. Instead of walking with her head down toward the ground, it was up and focused.
She made her way to him and smiled. "You look nice," he said. She blushed a bit.
"You too," she said.
"Thank you," he replied. "You ready?" he asked, picking up his briefcase that was leaning against the tree.
"I should be asking you that," she laughed.
"I am never ready for these things," he chucked. It was a foreign feeling for him to be talking to someone like this. It was as if he'd known her his entire life. No, scratch that, he didn't even talk to his brother and the sisters like this and he did know them his entire life.
He offered her his arm on instinct and she took it instantly. As they walked out of the park, she could feel people's eyes on them. They probably thought they were a couple or something. They walked down the street and people stared at them as well. She gripped his arm tighter.
"You are noticing too huh?" he asked, looking down at her.
"Yea, it's weird," she said.
They made their way to the hotel where the luncheon was being held. An old bulky, short man instantly made his way to Sapphire as they walked through the door.
"Sapphire! Great to see ya! I am looking forward to hearing about your new book. I am sure it's going to be great!" He hit Sapphire on the back.
Serena watched Sapphire cringe at the hit. "Thank you Mr. Jensen," Sapphire replied.
Mr. Jensen turned his attention to Serena. "And who is this beautiful woman here?" he asked.
"Mr. Jensen this is Serena Tsukino, Serena, this is Mr. Frank Jensen," he replied.
She extended her hand to him. "Pleasure to meet you," she said.
He bent and kissed her hand. "Pleasure Miss Tsukino," he said. Serena smiled at the man. No one had ever called her Miss Tsukino before. Well . . . other than teachers when they were yelling at her to wake up because she was sleeping in classes.
They went inside the restaurant and took a set. Soon the food was served and as they had drinks one of the men that had introduce himself as Yow Miakawa, the owner of the publishing company, brought up a subject that caused Sapphire's eyes to narrow in anger.
"I think it's about time we consider having a picture of you on the book jacket."
"No," Sapphire stated.
"Sapphire, it's common practice," he replied. "People want to know what you look like."
"Let them keep guessing," he stated. The man sighed in frustration.
"Do you realize how many requests we have for people wanting to see you? This year alone we've had millions."
"Why?" he asked. "My book should speak for itself. People read it they know the characters. If anything, at least have a picture of the character on the book jacket."
"What is your issue with a simple photograph," he questioned.
"With a photograph comes people," he stated as if it was the simplest thing in the world. It seemed to confuse the men around the table but Serena understood his reasoning.
"Pardon?" another man stated.
"Don't they get it?" Sapphire muttered.
"I get what you're saying Sapphire," she said. Everyone looked at her, Sapphire smiled. He thought she'd understand. She turned to the men at the table.
"Right now Sapphire can walk down the street and is treated like a normal man. The minute they find out he's the famous author SJ Stone he won't be able to do that."
Sapphire added on to what she said. It was as if he'd gained more confidence just from her presence. "I write in the park, or out on the lakes in boats. I do most of my writing in public places and my ideas come most in public. I wouldn't be able to write in public if people knew who I was."
The men at the table all got quite and looked at each other. Serena couldn't believe these men. Were they really that …stupid?
"Very well then," Mr. Miakawa said and the subject was dropped.
The rest of the luncheon went on without a problem. As Serena suspected, the men loved the book idea. She was already looking forward to reading it. She found herself carrying on interesting conversations with some of the men. She'd never been treated with such respect before. It was as if they were actually listening to her, unlike other people when she spoke. She was also the most confident she'd ever been. The luncheon soon ended. She and Sapphire left the hotel and walked down the sidewalk.
"That was probably one of the easiest meetings I've had," Sapphire said.
"I couldn't even tell you were nervous. You were great!"
"I think the fact that you were there put me at ease. You aren't in the business so I didn't feel I had to impress. I didn't fell that I had to struggle to be something I'm not. Therefore, I just went out on a limb and said what was on my mind. You're help with the photo issue was much appreciated."
"No problem," she said. Neither of them noticed that their arms were still linked together. Sapphire tensed up and she noticed. She looked up at him.
"What's the matter?" she asked. He motioned his head forward and it caused her to tense up. The scouts, Darien, Diamond and the 4 sisters were making their way down the sidewalk.
"I haven't talked to Diamond and the others in two years," he said. "I haven't even sent any letters to them. They don't know that I am back." Serena laughed and he looked puzzled.
"They were looking straight at us a moment ago and didn't even notice that we were who we are. Let's walk past them."
"They would recognize us for sure," he said.
"So? We are just two people that went on …for a luncheon." Serena kicked herself. She'd almost said date. She found herself thinking that going on a date with Sapphire wouldn't be very bad. "Besides, who cares if they do?"
Sapphire smiled at her. She was right! Why did he care? "All right," he said. She squeezed his arm and they walked toward the group. The group separated politely as they walked by. They just stared.
"What a great looking couple," Rei said.
The group heard the two people, who had stopped, laugh. "Thanks Rei," Serena couldn't help but say. Serena grabbed Sapphire's hand and they ran down the sidewalk.
"Serena? Hey, wait up! Who's that guy," Mina yelled.
They turned the corner and Sapphire leaned against the wall. Serena placed a hand on the wall and laughed, Sapphire's laugher joining hers. They didn't even recognize him. He stared at Serena who was now glancing at him.
They finally stopped laughing and stood up straight.
"Well, I had fun!" Serena said.
"You know, me too," he replied. Then a silence overcame the two people. Sapphire stared at her a second and gaining confidence he decided to ask what was on his mind. "Um…I have a business dinner tomorrow night with some US publishers. Would you be interested in coming with me?" he asked.
She smiled widely. "Sure!" she said. "I'd like that."
Like a proper gentlemen he walked her to her house and they said their goodbyes to each other.
"Would you like me to pick you up here?" Sapphire asked her.
"Sure, that would be great," she replied.
He nodded, left and she went inside. She took off her shoes and couldn't seem to wipe the smile off her face. She'd enjoyed that lunch. She enjoyed the respect that those men gave her. She wasn't used to being treated like that. She gained a bit of self-confidence just by attending that luncheon and she found herself hoping to become better friends with the man that she has accompanied.
AN: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please drop a review my way.
