Once Upon A Time - A Stone Gossard one shot - OC X Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)

Once Upon a time Part 1

This is entirely fictional and based on a dream I had.

18+ Readers only. Slight sexual content.

2010
It's hard to put into words what being a music journalist entails, and how it changed my life. I spent most of my days doing it as a hobby on the side of other jobs, before finally getting the chance to make it my full time career. I would research bands and musicians and write intricate and thorough pieces on them, as well as going to shows frequently. I mostly started doing it as a freelancer, until a magazine publication hit me up and asked if I'd like to work for them at a permanent rate, at which I jumped at the chance. The pay is good and I am able to afford a one bed apartment in the centre of London.

Anyway, enough about my job.

My name is Karina, and I'm 34 years young, as they say. I live alone after being in a fast paced, whirlwind of a romance which lasted a year. I thought I loved the guy, but he didn't want to settle, and decided he wanted to see other people. It broke me, every part of my being was put into question by myself. Was I not good enough? Or maybe there was something wrong with me? After a few months in therapy, I realized it wasn't because of anything I did or could do, but we both wanted different things, and that's okay. He didn't cheat on me, instead telling me that he wanted something different. At first I was mad at him, then I got upset, but truthfully, he did the best thing and admitted how he felt before anything could happen with anyone else. I respect his decision to tell me, although I'm still trying to make sense of it.

I haven't seen anyone else romantically since, and truth be told, I've tried to keep my head down at work instead of even trying to meet anyone. I always think that mid 30s is a hard age to meet people at. I'm not in my 20s anymore, not as slender as I once was, but I still get told I look the same. My breasts are fuller, and my thighs a little wider than before, but still have my hourglass figure that I get told 'men love'. Not that I give a damn right now. My blonde locks are still as full as ever, and although there are a few faint lines on my face, my appearance stays the same. I get told my smile is lovely, but it's something I dislike about myself.

All this and I am learning to love myself, flaws and all, more than ever these days. Those insecurities don't seem half as worrisome as they once would be to my younger self.

**

Today I have chugged two cups of coffee and quickly applied a semi-okay face of make up, with a signature cat eye, dressed in some ripped jeans, a Mudhoney tee and some vans shoes. My hair is slightly messy in loose curls, but clean, and I throw on my faux leather jacket and my mini backpack, before I leave my apartment.

This weekend I head to Hyde Park for the Hard Rock Calling festival. Pearl Jam are headlining and I've been tasked to write a review and piece on the band for the next issue of the magazine.

I hop on a train to Hyde Park Corner station, to check out the venue and see if there are any sound checks going on, but first I decide to stop by the local record store.

I walk in and it's kind of empty, due to it being middle of the day, and I look at the alternative rock section of the store. I grab a few records and notice they have the newest Pearl Jam release 'Backspacer', on vinyl. I take one of the copies, in the hope I can listen to it this evening before I see them tomorrow, as well as a bunch of other vinyls.

I hear the bell ring as someone else enters the store, and I turn to look. I look at the man, dressed in jeans and a navy shirt, with a backpack, and feel like I've seen him before. He has mid length brown hair, with a few greys peeking through and wears some glasses. He's incredibly handsome, probably in his 40s, and I find myself staring for longer than I should. His eyes catch mine and I look away, still nervous about eye contact even in my 30s. I noticed out of the corner of my eye, that he cracks a slight smile as he's obviously seen me looking at him.