Chapter One

Mystery Woman

Dean saw her first. And he made sure everyone knew it. Hazel was his, and his alone. Well, not technically. They had never agreed to be strictly exclusive. It was more, understood. He never worried that she was talking to other guys, or if they were out at a bar, he knew she wouldn't ignore him for some douche offering to buy her drinks.

They just kind of, fell into their thing. They worked well together, and it was enough for both of them. Dean's schedule was way too busy for him to be fully committed to someone, and thank Whoever that she completely understood and never pushed it. She wasn't one to be strapped down to one guy anyway.

It was just enough for the both of them. Their … whatever it was. It was enough for him, and he thought for her.

But then again, she has been looking at Seth more and more.

2012

Dean wasn't sure why he hadn't noticed her before. He had lived in his home for… well, he almost forgot at this point. But long enough where he knew each of his neighbors. From the young couple next door that were trying way too hard to impress everyone on the street, to the old woman to the left of him that constantly turned her nose up when he gave her an exaggerated wave.

She lived right across the street from him, in a house that for a while he thought was abandoned. There was hardly ever a car in the driveway, and the blinds always closed tightly. He never gave the house a second look. The only time it crossed his mind would be when one of his damn nosy neighbors would whisper about the woman who lived there, and often asked Dean if he saw her. He would always shrug them off and walk inside. Honestly, he couldn't care any less about the dark house and the mystery woman.

But then one day he saw her. His first thought was that she was a squatter. Someone breaking into the house and making it a temporary home.

She was bent over the side of her car, reaching through the window for something that seemed just out of her reach. He couldn't help but see the tanned legs as one kicked up in the air as if the movement would help her reach that much further. He had gone outside for something, but the moment he saw those legs he forgot what it was.

He stood on his front step watching. He probably looked like some weirdo staring at some girl he didn't know, but hell, Dean was never the one to care about what other's thought about him, anyway.

The long legs touched the driveway again and the rest of her emerged. Her face was covered by way too long blonde hair, but from the body that showed, Dean truthfully was fine with whatever her face looked like.

She played with something in her hands, her head still down as she quickly ran up her driveway.

Dean picked up his mail (after finally remembering why he went outside to begin with) and went back inside. His neighbor left his mind as soon as Seth clapped him on the shoulder, offering him another beer.

The second time Dean saw her, he caught a glimpse of her face. He didn't realize it was the same girl. Her hair was piled in a messy bun on the top of her head, she wore jeans that covered those amazing legs, and a too large sweatshirt that hung to her mid-thigh. Typical, food shopping attire.

Normally, his eyes would have passed right over her, but what caught his attention was her humming. It was, well – loud. Too loud for a grocery store. It was amusing to him. She seemed completely oblivious to the stares she was getting from those around her. Or she just didn't care. Either way, he couldn't help but laugh.

She seemed to notice, because the sound coming from her stopped, and she turned and walked quickly away. He felt bad after that. Dean didn't mean to scare her off. Truthfully, he admired that she was in such a happy state to hum and sing without a care of who was around her.

He saw her unpacking her car by the time he pulled into his own driveway. The oversized grey sweatshirt had given her away. He hesitated in his car after he parked, thinking over if he should say anything to her. He wasn't the best at apologizing, half of the time not thinking or even realizing that he needed to. With a short sigh that sounded almost like Fuck it, he turned the car off and looked across the street.

She seemed to feel his stare, and she turned to face him. Dean grinned wide, confident that she could see it from her place next to her car. She shifted the paper bag in her hand nervously.

"Howdy neighbor," he grinned.

She muttered something, the words going unheard from their distance. She shook her head, then spoke louder. "Uh, hi." The girl pushed her hair from her face, a few strands falling loose from the high bun. The slight movement made the bag shift and almost fall from her hands. Dean strolled across the street, easily picking the bag from her hands.

"Hey!" She scrunched her face, almost offended.

"I'm helpin' you out here. A thank you is the proper response." The girl looked him over, no doubt trying to figure out if he was joking or not. Her eyes settled on his grin and a small smile grew on her reddening face.

"Sorry. Um, thank," – she cleared her throat – "thank you." He grinned wider, turning towards her open trunk. He picked up another bag, waiting as she picked up the remaining one. Once she closed the open trunk, she turned towards him almost unsure of what to do next.

"After you." She ducked her head, leading him inside. The door was already propped open, and her shoulders dropped their tension as she entered her own space. Dean looked around quickly, noting the layout was almost exactly like his own. Just much more empty.

"On the counter is fine." With her back to him, her words fell out of her lips much smoother. Maybe just looking at him made her nervous. The thought made him smirk.

He placed the bags next to the ones she had brought in previously, and leaned on the empty space on the counter. His eyes scanned over her kitchen, trying to see if there was anything he could learn about her on the walls.

Too bad they were practically bare.

"Just move in?" She jumped and turned quickly, surprised he was still there.

"Uh, no. I've lived here for, two years? Almost two." Dean gave a small hm as a response, looking around again. "I know, it doesn't look it. I don't like a lot of … things." She shrugged, going back to unpacking food. The small action reminded Dean he had his own sitting in his car and he pushed back from the counter. "Thank you again … uh - ,"

"Dean."

"Dean," she smiled. "Hazel."


New story! I'm super excited about this and have not stopped writing it. Let me know what you think!