Seeing Stars By Jason Ulloa Original story by Moonsong Continued with her permission. Chapter 3 "YOU!!!" Serena screamed again, her fierce glare homing in on Darien like a heat-seeking missile. "What in the HELL are YOU doing here?!?" Darien slowly backed away from Serena until he bumped into the table behind him. "Uh... um...," he stammered nervously, trying desperately to think of anything to calm the raging actress down. "How dare you show your face anywhere near me after what you pulled the last time!" she fumed heatedly, walking up to him and poking him rudely in the chest. "I still haven't forgotten what you did to my favorite designer dress! Do you have any idea what that dress cost me to clean? Do you?!?" "No...," he murmured meekly. "Not really...." "I don't see how anybody in their right minds could let a bumbling oaf like you anywhere near a table full of refreshments - where an idiot like you could spill them all over the place and most likely on me - let alone a movie set! In fact, I don't think you should be allowed on one anyways, as long as I'm here. You there!" she ordered, turning towards a random worker. "Go get Van Holst! I need to speak with him concerning the choice of staff he has picked." The man grumbled under his breath as he went to get the producer, knowing that she would mostly likely chew him out as well if he didn't go right now. Serena Moon was infamous for her tirades. "Um, Miss Moon...," Darien tried to cut in, but was silenced by Serena shoving a hand in front of his face. "Don't you even speak to me!" she growled angrily as she watched for Melvin to show up. 'Geez,' Darien thought to himself, 'when she holds a grudge, she REALLY holds a grudge....' "Really, there's something that I must tell...." "I said, SHUT UP!!!" she barked loudly, as she whirled around to glare balefully at him. "Not another word, you worthless piece of sh...." "What is it you want now, Ms. Moon?" Melvin interrupted tiredly as he walked through the crowd that had gathered to listen to Serena chew out yet another person, followed by Amy. She had a neutral expression on her face, but there was an anxious gleam in her eyes, as if she was looking forward to something.... "I don't know what must've been going through your mind when you hired this...," she complained, waving her right hand in his direction in distaste, as if he was some disgusting piece of trash, "this... THING, but I want him off the set as of five minutes ago! I do NOT want to work anywhere near this walking disaster area! In fact, someone get security to escort him off the studio property right now! Well?" she demanded when neither Melvin, nor Amy, made a move to follow her demands. "Get rid of this loser! Now!!!" "Miss Moon," Darien tried again, "if you would just let me explain...." "Explain what?" Serena snapped. "Your incompetence? Your incoordination? Your inability to do ANYTHING right?" "Now, Miss Moon," Amy said quietly, "we have hired Mr. Shields to play a certain part for us...." "Him?" Serena scoffed scornfully, glaring at Darien. "Act? Now you're trying to be an actor? Now aren't we overstepping ourselves? Since when has a gofer like you become an actor?" Darien frowed at the 'gofer' crack. He was merely bringing the tray of drinks as a favor to the others he had been working with that day. He had asked them if they wanted anything while he was going to craft services, since he was heading there anyway. In no way was that any reason to label him a gofer. "Wait a minute...," he began, but was cut off when Melvin shook his head at him and gestured for him to keep quiet. Darien reluctantly held his peace. "As I was saying," Amy began again, more firmly this time. "We have hired Mr. Shields to play a certain part for us. We do not have to fire him just at your whimsy. He is contracted to work with us for two weeks, at the least." Serena scowled angrily. "Two weeks?!? You mean, I have to put up with this overrated excuse for an extra for two weeks?!?" she exclaimed, then sighed dramatically. "Well, as long as he's not in any of MY scenes, then I can probably stand it. Wait...," she said after a short, thoughtful pause. "Two weeks? Why would you need an extra for two we...." She paused as gave him a considering glance, then suddenly turned completely red with fury as she slowly backed away from Amy and Melvin. "You didn't. You couldn't! How DARE you do this to me!!!" "You said that extras could act better than some of the actors you're working with now," Amy said sweetly. "So, we followed your advice and hired an extra to play the part of Jack Terrance." She grinned as she and Melvin gestured toward Darien. "Meet the actor that will be playing Jack Terrance," Melvin added. "Darien Shields." "Um...," Darien murmured nervously, "I don't think that introductions are really necessary...." "So, I'm stuck with you for two whole weeks?" Serena grumbled and she frowned at Darien. "Yeah, I'm afraid so...." "You should be afraid, Shields," she growled. "If it wasn't for the fact that I'm contracted for this movie, I would've just walked. You, on the hand, are only here because they-" she pointed toward Amy and Melvin, "-want you here. Otherwise, your ass would've been outta here. "Enjoy your brief little 'acting' stint," she said threateningly as she turned and started to walk away. "If I had my way, not only would you be off this set and on your ass before the order had finished leaving my mouth, but you would never be able to get another job that has anything to do the movies, nor anything remotely close, like working in a video store. "One thing certain, though. I will do everything I can to make your two weeks here a living HELL. Count on it. I'm going to my trailer. I'll be ready for the first scene by 8:30, so nobody had better bother me until then." With that, she opened the door to the studio building and left, slamming the door behind her. "Well, that went well," Darien muttered sardonically. "I can hardly wait to start working with her." "Now, Darien, I hardly think that it's going to be as bad as you think," Amy consoled. "Yeah," Melvin added. "If you just steer clear of her during the time that you two are not acting together, then there's nothing to worry about. She can't make us fire you, and she can't quit. Everything'll work out fine." "Sure, fine for you two," Darien muttered skeptically. "Well, as long as Serena isn't here, you might as well take some time to go over the script again," Amy told him. "I won't be needing you right away, so you can take the time to finish reading the entire script. I know I didn't give you much time to look it over, seeing how I sent your agent the script only yesterday." "Well, I did get through only part of the script last night," Darien admitted. "I spent most of the time memorizing most of the lines in the first scene." "Good," Melvin said, grinning. "Well, I have some things that need my attending to, so I'll be off. Just be sure to watch for any audio cables that might be lying about." He walked away, chuckling to himself at his own joke. "I haven't the heart to tell him how bad his jokes are," Amy said tiredly. Darien nodded quietly in agreement. "Anyway, you've got about a half-hour until Serena's ready for the first scene, so you might as well skim through the script while you have some peace." "Okay, Ms. Anderson," he replied and went to go pick up his script from where he left it. "Darien...," Amy called out to him. "Yes?" "You can just call me Amy," she told him. "And you can refer to Melvin by his first name as well. I assure you, we don't mind." "Thank you, Amy," he replied with a small grin and turned to go pick up his script. ********************************************** "Hmm...," Darien murmured thoughtfully as he turned another page of the script. He was now more than halfway through the script and he was thouroughly enjoying it. This could probably make a great novel if it wasn't being made into a movie first. Novels were always better than the movies, at least, he had always thought so. As soon as he turned the next page, his jaw almost dropped in shock. In that scene, he and Serena were.... 'Oh my.... I was wondering why she was giving me that look earlier. But, from her expression, she didn't seem to be totally against that part of working with me.' He sighed as he glanced toward the clock. 8:25. Five minutes left. Well, since he wasn't needed yet, he might as well read on. He reached over to his left, grabbed the cup of coffee beside him and took a small sip, then continued to read. ********************************************** "Where is he?" Serena demanded haughtily. "He's over there, looking over the script and trying to catch up with where we're at in the plot," Amy replied, pointing in Darien's direction. He was on the other side of the set, sipping some coffee and reading the script. The chair was tilted back against the wall and resting on only two legs.... "That should take him all day," Serena remarked snidely, then smiled devilishly. "Maybe I should go see how he's doing...." She walked silently toward him, trying carefully to not be heard. Since Darien was intent on the script in front of him, he never heard Serena approach. She waited until he lifted the cup of coffee and took another sip.... "Hey, Shields!" she shouted as she kicked the leg of the chair Darien was sitting in, causing the chair to collapse from under him. The coffee ended up all over Darien's shirt and face as he landed face-up on the ground, the chair lying on its side beside him. Luckily, the script remained dry. "AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" Darien roared, as the coffee was still hot. He frantically got to his knees and pulled his shirt off over his head and quickly wiped the rest of the coffee off him with the dry parts of his shirt. "Oh, I'm so sorry," Serena said in mock contrition. "I didn't know that the coffee was still hot. Anyways," she continued in a serious tone, "I've been thinking. You'd better pay attention, Shields, 'cause I'm only gonna say this once. If you're gonna play opposite of me, then you'd better be good. I've only put up with those other poor excuses for actors because they aren't that important. "However, your part is important. If you screw up, then I'll look bad. And I HATE to look bad. You must have some meager acting skill if Anderson chose you to take this part. If you manage to actually do a decent job, which I doubt, then I may find it in my heart to consider forgiving you for that drink incident. Are we clear on that, Shields?" "Crystal," he replied, getting to his feet. "Good," she said, nodding in satisfaction. "One more thing: I told you that I hate to look bad. If your acting sucks so much, that I look bad, then I'll REALLY make your life a living hell. Got it?" "Got it." "Very well, then." She paused as she looked over Darien's bare chest at the very well defined muscles across his chest and grinned slightly. "Now go put something on," she told him off-handedly as she turned back toward where she had came from. "You're distracting me." Darien blinked in surprise as he realized that he was just standing around with no shirt on. Most of the female crew had paused in their work and were now staring at him in fascination. Even some of the married women had stopped to stare. With a sheepish grin, Darien quickly gathered up his script and hurried out towards wardrobe to get something to wear while he got his shirt cleaned. "Was that really necessary?" Amy asked Serena as she walked out in front of the cameras. "What?" Serena asked, an innocent, confused expression on her face. "I don't know what you're talking about." Amy sighed in vexation. 'This is going to be a very long shoot....' ********************************************** To Chapter 4 ********************************************** Author's Note: Grab some popcorn and take a seat, 'cause next chapter, you're going behind the scenes of the making of 'Total Eclipse'. How will Darien fare? Will his acting impress Serena? Or, will he suck? Wait and see! Disclaimer: All original materials belong to their respective owners. Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi and a bunch of big companies. No copyright infringement is intended. This story belongs to Moonsong and myself, and I would appreciate you emailing her or myself for permission before posting it anywhere else. Thank you. Prologue Copyright © January 24, 2000 Moonsong. Other Chapters Copyright © August 12, 2000 Jason Ulloa. All Rights Reserved.