Chapter 53: Meant to Be
Amy's boyfriend froze in his tracks when Rini called his name and waved to him from inside the ice cream parlor. Rini looked at me confused while she held up one arm awkwardly in the air, pondering what she might have done wrong.
"I think he's avoiding us because we're Amy's friends," I suggested to her. Rini lowered her arm and turned her back on him, but Greg stood in place like a statue. He wasn't sure what to do. As awkward as running into us was, he would be making his situation worse if he gave us the cold shoulder too.
"I forgot. You were right: he is mad at her," Rini answered sadly. Greg hesitantly peeked inside, so I tried to break the tension and waved to him. He awkwardly raised one hand in the air.
Rini noticed and swiveled around to return his smile, but her game face was back on when she looked at me. "We have to get to the bottom of this!"
I knew Raye, Lita, and Amy hadn't dragged her along to spy on our double date...she was just as nosy as the other Sailor Scouts! But I remembered...I promised Amy I would talk to Greg myself if I got a chance. Even if I had barely spoken to him before.
"Hold your horses. He needs to feel comfortable talking to us," I advised Rini when she put both her hands on the table to push herself away. Greg slowly approached the door handle and pushed it inside. Lucky for him...Rini looked like she was getting ready to dash outside and drag him indoors if she had to.
Normally, I wouldn't feel comfortable about talking to someone I just met over something so personal. I promised Amy I would talk to him because I wanted to make her to feel better. But even after what Amethyst had told me about the future...implying Sailor Mercury would become another unwitting pawn of a tyrannical Queen...I didn't meet their future selves. Twenty-first century Amy was still my friend, and I didn't want to see her heartbroken. I was the one who told Amy that her boyfriend had pulled away when she tried to hug him. And...maybe I was also a TEENY, TINY bit curious to find out about their relationship myself.
Greg stopped a couple of steps away from our table. He avoided making eye contact with either of us, but I could see it wasn't because we were Amy's friends. He was naturally shy, like me. "Hey. I remember you two from the coliseum. I...wanted to say thanks for helping us get out of there."
"You're welcome," Rini answered politely, but with a colder tone than I would have expected from her.
I could tell they didn't know each other very well, besides sharing common friends. Maybe Rini was feeling a bit hostile towards Greg...I got the sense she felt close to Amy. Rini got angry with me when she thought I was ignoring her in Crystal Tokyo; no doubt she would be just as upset with Greg if he was giving her the same treatment. I could see why he was avoiding Amy's friends, if he feared the other Scouts would also shun him. I noticed Greg back away slightly...but even if he had noticed Rini's initial coldness towards him, that wasn't the reason. Greg's eyes darted around the empty parlor: he was on the lookout for Amy and the other Scouts.
"I haven't met you before." Greg noticed Diana when she sat on her hind legs and purred at him. He let his guard down for a moment, leaned forward and smiled at the kitten. Greg slowly extended his arm forward, as if he was unsure about touching her, but he laughed when Diana crawled up his arm.
"Her name is Diana." Rini warmed up a bit when she saw that Diana was comfortable around Greg. However, he was still uptight. His head was angled slightly towards the window pane of the restaurant: he knew they weren't inside, but he was watching for them to show up. He was getting ready to bolt out of here.
Rini must have noticed that Greg was skittish too, because she frowned at me after he took his eyes off us. I shook my head 'no' to discourage her from openly confronting him about Amy. It wasn't the right time to ask him; not yet. He wasn't going to confide in us if Rini stayed tense. Rini looked down at her lap and twirled her spoon around what was left of our banana split.
"Amy and the others aren't here. We agreed to meet them at the hospital," I told Greg. I was right: he breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed once we knew they weren't coming. At least my approach was working so far: Greg removed his leather jacket and placed it on the seat before he sat with us.
"I just came from there," said Greg. "My group was able to make it to the hospital on our own. I was discharged, though some of my friends were admitted."
"I'm sorry about the ones who are in there because of me," I apologized. His group of captives had attacked me when I fell underground; I badly hurt two of them before the Scouts caught up and told them I wasn't a threat. I noticed Diana eye me curiously...a bit fearfully. Rini told her I was the Spymaster, but Diana didn't know exactly WHAT I was.
I saw Greg didn't hold any resentment. "It was a misunderstanding. We didn't know you were working with the Sailor Scouts; we thought you were going to recapture us or put us back under mind control. Why would they come after us?"
"We're beating them. They're getting desperate," answered Rini. Whatever traces of hostility she might have still held towards him melted away after she was reminded the Spymaster imprisoned him. No doubt her own time with him had been unpleasant.
"And they started going after people they know are close to the Sailor Scouts," I told Greg.
The Spymaster could have done a lot worse. He knew the civilian identities of the Sailor Scouts...he could have exposed them, threatened the city with terrible consequences if they didn't turn them over. Not a very original plan, but it would have forced them into deeper hiding. Tithon seemed more ruthless than I remembered him...surely he had considered it? Did he consider revealing their identities beneath him? Would it have been counterproductive to making them his puppets while he covertly ruled Crystal Tokyo? Or was he holding back from doing his worst because he still cared for Serena and Rini?
"Hey, uh..." Greg shakily called out to me, pulling me out of my thoughts. "I don't think I caught your name back there."
"Logan," I answered him.
Rini immediately smiled when I said that name. "He's visiting from America! We met him a couple of days ago, but we're really good friends already! Serena said that she showed him the junior high school you guys used to go to!"
Rini had cheered up a lot more: it was like she had forgotten why she wanted to talk to Greg in the first place. Having her and Diana here went a long way towards loosening him up. Rini was so friendly and outgoing without even trying...even when I HAD to get information from someone, starting a conversation didn't come to me easily. Just like her mother, she had a way of brightening up the room just by being there. I still wondered just how we became friends sometimes.
Rini's smile copied itself onto Greg's face. Greg turned to me: "wow, I remember that school well! I lived in America for a while, though we never stayed in one city for long. We were always moving around because of my dad's job. What state are you from?"
"What state am I from?" I repeated his question, if only to stall for a little time. Rini's warm smile faded slightly as nervous lines infiltrated her face. I remembered more about the present than I did when I woke up, but the pieces were far from all together yet...I didn't even remember each American state had a name! Wait...that diner where I met Serena! What was it?
"Texas!" I pulled the name out of thin air. I heard Rini breathe a sigh of relief. Whew, I was in the clear! At least, I thought I was until I recognized the puzzled eyes and goofy smile. Sailor Mercury gave me the same exact look a thousand years ago, when she put together that my accent didn't match where I told her I was from.
"You don't have a Texan accent," observed Greg. And of course her boyfriend would hone in on the same damn thing!
"Say, Greg!" His eyes snapped towards Rini when she lifted both of her elbows and dropped them down on the table. She leaned into him with her chin sitting in her hands, drawing his attention away from me. "I know the others talked about me! What exactly did they say?"
"Y - yeah, I think they mentioned you!" Greg stuttered. Something told me the others didn't just 'mention' her, but he didn't want to go into details. "You're Serena's cousin, right?"
"Uh..." This time, Rini drew a blank and took a sudden interest in the rest of her ice cream. "No, I'm Serena's future daughter with Darien" would have been a lot for Greg to take in, even if he knew that they were Sailor Scouts.
"You can see the resemblance!" I cut in to answer Greg. "Besides, how many other pig-tailed, twelve-year-old rabbit heads could they have been talking about?"
Rini dipped her fingers into her sundae bowl and pulled out a cherry. With a purr, Diana leaped away from Greg and opened her mouth wide. Rini split off the fruit for Diana, who eagerly gobbled up the small red ball. Then Rini took the stem and playfully threw it at me. I responded by sticking my tongue out at her. Greg looked amused to see Rini and I teasing each other.
"I heard about you, Greg! Is it true you can foresee the future?" declared Rini. He had special powers? Maybe that's how he found out the Sailor Scouts' true identities if they were keeping it a secret.
"I still have visions once in a while. Nothing interesting, lately," Greg smiled.
Trista probably felt the same way about her powers. "That must have driven you mad sometimes, not being able to live in the moment," I said to Greg.
"It did! I love it when I can see things play out like everyone else!" he laughed. I noticed Rini's cheeks turn rosy again when she noticed Greg's eyes darting from side-to-side, eyeing both of us. "So, are you two - "
"AHAHAHAHAHA!" Rini launched into a fit of nervous laughter before Greg could finish his question. Diana jumped with a squeak, while Greg and I leaned back in our seats. Rini sat up and paused for a breath: "Logan isn't my BOYfriend! You're so silly, Greg! He just started going out with Mina, actually! We're just sitting here, chillin'! You know: hanging out, chatting over ice cream!"
I felt like Rini was trying to convince herself of that more than she was trying to convince Greg. After Rini finished babbling, Greg stared at her blankly for several seconds and managed another awkward smile.
"I was going to ask if you were cousins," he muttered politely. Rini's entire face turned as red as the cherry she had just fed Diana. She definitely hadn't fooled Greg.
"Oh, um...n-no, we're not...related," Rini stuttered. She sank into her seat as if she hoped the ice cream bowl would hide her face from the rest of us.
"As far as we know," I added awkwardly, even though Rini indirectly answered his question already.
"I can see you two are close," Greg smiled...but then his eyes hazed over as he became trapped within his own thoughts. His smile abruptly fell from his face as he shrank in his seat, just like Rini. NOW was the right time to ask him about Amy.
"You said your family moved around a lot. It must have been hard for you to make friends," I said to Greg. Rini put her hands on the table and pushed herself back up to a normal sitting position, though she was still blushing.
"Lasting ones...yes, it was," he admitted. "You don't know how excited I was when my dad told me we were moving back long-term. Amy and I spoke a couple of times after we first moved, but I didn't think Serena or the others would remember me if I saw them. I didn't care. Just the chance to see them again was enough for me."
"It is funny how we all keep bumping into each other," said Rini.
"You're telling me," agreed Greg. "I couldn't believe it when I ran into Amy in the hallway and she recognized me. Same city, same high school...like it was all meant to be. Her best friends became my best friends, you know?"
"It sounds great...except...who do you turn to if you and Amy are having problems?" I asked.
Greg swallowed and stared blankly at me. He must have known we would ask him about Amy if he hung around us long enough. He just hadn't expected me to directly ask him about his relationship. I saw it in his eyes: on some level, he DID want to talk to someone. He was just scared to admit it.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to become a third wheel - " Greg clenched his teeth when Rini dropped face-first into her remaining ice cream.
"Rini...you alright, buddy?" I asked.
"Mmm-hmm!" Rini moved her head in a nodding motion, but kept her face buried in our dessert. Diana ran over with a pile of napkins in her mouth for Rini to wipe her face off...though she was happy to lick some of it. She was going to have a tummy-ache later if she kept eating this much.
Greg jumped out of his chair and grabbed his jacket. "I meant in a social context, not 'third wheel on a date'! Sorry!"
"Greg." He stopped where he was after I called his name. "Listen, I know we just met but there are some things you shouldn't have to go through alone. You can talk to us!"
Rini finished wiping the remaining ice cream off her face, still flushed with embarrassment. "We won't get mad at you just because we're Amy's friends. Promise."
I caught Greg eyeing the closed door behind the counter. He was still wary someone could be listening. I needed a way to reassure him...
"Ready to continue training, Diana?" She gave an enthusiastic 'meow' and her ears perked up. I wasn't sure if Greg already knew about talking cats helping the Scouts, so I tilted my head and leaned downwards so he couldn't see Diana. "I have a job for you. I want you to stand watch at the counter over there. If you think ANYONE else is listening to us from behind that door, give us a signal."
"You've got it! You can count on me, Spy - I mean, Mister Charon, sir!" she whispered and lifted her paw by her eyebrow in a salute, then leaped off of our table.
"Don't call me 'sir'," I whispered through clenched teeth. I heard Rini giggle behind me. At least she got over being embarrassed for the time being.
"And you didn't want to take her with us," teased Rini.
I leaned in to whisper to Rini: "I had no problem taking Diana with us, it was Pluto unceremoniously dumping her responsibility - " Rini coughed and nudged me back towards Greg. "Diana's standing guard for us," I told him.
The corner of Greg's mouth raised briefly, then he took a deep breath. "I figured you guys noticed. But you're right: I feel like I have no one else to turn to. I knew Amy's dream was to become a doctor, and studying in Germany was such a great opportunity for her. How could I ask her not to? I was bummed she left just after we got together, but I was sure WE could make long-distance work. Then she started calling me less and less, until I was always the one trying to get in touch with her. Messages became non-existent. Even when we tried to get together during breaks, she was focused on getting a head start for next semester and kept putting it off. We barely spoke this semester."
"Amy's been super focused on making her dreams come true, Greg," said Rini. "Have you heard about Serena yet?"
"I heard she was struggling with university. I know she tried to get in touch with Amy too," said Greg. "Amy always knew what she wanted. I respect her a lot for it. But the last two years, I haven't felt like I'm a part of her dream. I feel like I'm just...tacked on. The times we did get together, her mind was always somewhere else. I thought she didn't want to be with me any more, and she didn't want to hurt my feelings by saying it."
"She wasn't avoiding you on purpose! Amy loves you, Greg!" exclaimed Rini. She shrank again when she saw Greg wince at those words...words that should have brought him bliss. "I thought you loved her too."
"I did," Greg answered after a long pause. "I don't feel the same way anymore...at least, I was sure I didn't until I saw her again today. But now she's a full-time Sailor Scout again. Things are only going to get harder, and I have to start thinking about my own future. Lately, my dad's been struggling with his job. Maybe it's better for Amy and I to focus on our own progress."
"She said she called you when she came back from school, but you didn't pick up the phone! She IS trying, Greg!" cried Rini. She was coming close to breaking her promise not to get upset with Greg.
"Rini," I raised a hand to calm her. "We need to let them decide things on there own. You sound conflicted, Greg. I know you feel that Amy hasn't been there for you before, but it sounds like she'll listen now."
Greg sighed. "Rini said you started dating Mina?"
"Only for a few days," I admitted. "Mina and I are pretty different: I'm not used to being open about my feelings either, but I heard Mina can be..."
"Obsessive?" suggested Rini. Her eyebrows lifted and mouth opened when I narrowed my own eyes at her. "What? You must have noticed!"
"I was thinking 'enthusiastic'." I went to face Greg again. "You and Amy sound pretty similar, though. She feels hurt because she thinks you're avoiding her. She is worried she hurt your feelings, and she doesn't want to lose you."
He opened his mouth, but it took a while for the words to come out. "Before today, I thought we were over and I had to accept it. Now I know there's still a chance, but I don't know what to do. For six years, I thought I knew that she was the one: I didn't think there might be someone else out there. But then she left, and I started to wonder..."
"I...I know how it feels when the one you were meant to be with leaves you, Greg," admitted Rini. Was she talking about Pegasus? "Then you meet someone else, and you start to wonder...I hope you can work things out with Amy, but you can't force yourself to love someone. Both of you need to be happy, or else it isn't love."
"You're the only one who knows your feelings, Greg. We can't tell you whether or not to stay with her. Just...don't keep her waiting." I exchanged a glance with Rini when my communicator started beeping.
Rini gulped. "I guess we can't hide from them forever, either."
"You'll be OK," I assured Rini. I wasn't sure about myself when the wrist watch's face flipped open and Mina's miniaturized face glared at me through the video screen. I could have sworn one of her furrowed eyebrows twitched. "H - hey...missed you, darling!"
"Oh, did you? I see that your communicator is working just fine." Mina spoke with an eerie level of calm in her voice that didn't match the thinly-veiled anger sketched on her face. She looked to the side when someone next to her mumbled something. "I remember it's his birthday, Lita. I'm not mad, I'm just wondering out loud why my usually thoughtful boyfriend didn't call to let me know HE AND RINI WERE STILL ALIVE!"
Another fair-skinned hand pressed onto Mina's cheek and pushed her head off to the side. I felt a chill run down my spine when Serena's face replaced her on screen. "Hey, Logan. Don't mind her, Trista told us you were fine though she was vague as usual. How's Rini doing?"
Despite hearing only relief and concern in her voice, I felt my vocal chords tighten. Rationalizing twenty-first century Amy was still my friend was so much easier when we weren't face-to-face. Princess Serenity had been my only close friend, and Serena was still one of my best friends...but now her face reminded me of Amethyst and Tithon's warnings about what she would become...
Rini crawled under the table and reemerged on my side. "Hi, Serena. I'm OK. Logan and I went to get something to eat," she answered the communicator nervously. Far more subdued compared to most of Serena and Rini's interactions.
"Oh. Just you and Logan, huh?" Serena's voice sounded a bit more agitated this time.
"No, Diana's with us!" Rini tried to correct herself and shied away. To my surprise, Greg came over and leaned in front of the tiny watch face.
"H...hi Serena!" he greeted her.
Serena gave him one of her trademark blank stares. "Greg?! You're with Rini and Logan?"
"Did you say Greg?!" That was Amy's voice on the other side of the communicator...and then the blue-haired Scout was face-to-face with him. He started trembling, but he did not pull away like I suspected he would.
"Y-yeah! I bumped into them on my way home and thought the four of us could go for ice cream! The time went by so fast!" Greg was covering for us.
Mina pushed her way back on-screen. I did not expect Greg's semi-lie to work so well, but Mina was beaming. "Aww, that's SO cute! Logan made a new friend! Did he mention he has a girlfriend?"
Serena's palm came between Amy and Mina's face and pushed my girlfriend out of the way. "Butt out, Mina! Let Greg and Amy have their moment!" demanded Serena, leaving only Amy's face on the screen with some audible clashing in the background.
"Amy...you're in the hospital?" asked Greg.
"We're just in the lobby, waiting for Rini and Logan," she answered. "Greg...could we talk?"
"I can meet you at the hospital. Hopefully somewhere a bit more PRIVATE," said Greg. Rini made a nervous grin in his direction when Diana purred and rang her collar bell. She tilted her head towards the door behind the counter when the three of us looked at her. Someone was listening in on us.
"Are they still on?" Rini asked me. I lifted the communicator in her face. "Be honest, girls. Are you spying on us?" she asked.
"No, Rini. All the other Scouts are here, including Hotaru and Trista. I promise!" Amy answered.
"Rini, the girl who served your ice cream...has she come back out ever since she went for coffee?" I asked Rini.
"I didn't see her," Rini whispered. It could have been her...but I couldn't take that chance. Only one way to find out...
To Be Continued
A/N: As always, thanks for reading. I was hoping to turn chapters out faster, but I struggled with this one especially with the end. It feels like I dodged one cliffhanger only to end it with another one, but even with my outline it was hard to figure out how to tie in to what I have planned next. Hopefully the little 'reunion' scene I added with the Inner Scouts at the end made it a bit easier. We already know Amy's been absorbed in her studies, and it could be taking a major toll on her personal relationships. Reuniting with the rest of the group, and Greg's talk with Amy about the future of their relationship, will be the focus of the next chapter.
I hope I was able to do justice to Greg's character - Greg's a likable character but he was only in two episodes as far as I know. I thought of a scene where Charon spoke to Greg in the coliseum but narrative-wise I couldn't get it to make sense. It was when I thought of adding Rini and Diana to the scene that it finally started to flow, since this is the first time Greg has had the chance to really talk to them (even if Amy and Serena have mentioned Rini to Greg). And I wanted to add some more Charon/Rini fluff by teasing her continued crush :)
I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I'm looking forward to your comments!
