A/N : This has been a piece I've been working on for years now. Lots of ideas, time, editing and so on have been put into this to get it finished. A lot of people have helped to make this what it is today, and I'm excited to start sharing this with y'all! The chapters will start off a little short, but i am working to make them a lot longer with a lot more context and details! This novel is dedicated to the most important people in my life. These people have been with me through it all, the ups and downs. Thanks for listening to story time mornings now it's time for these stories to come to light. Thanks for the coffees and adventures.
Disclaimer : I do not own any characters tied to the franchise Supernatural. I also have no ties to Toronto Life as it was thoroughly researched beforehand. Blaire Dare, is the only character that I've penned and is my own. Eva McGowan, was a character borrowed from my good friend, Rainbow Haired Girl (go check out all of her works!) Any names or places that I've come up with are also penned by me! This is my original work, please enjoy it but don't copy it & share as your own! thanks!
. I .
Toronto was always cold in November. Temperatures started dropping and it was finally time to break out the thicker coats and winter boots. People walked in clumps down the street, trying to use the person beside them as a source of body heat.
At least that's what it looked like. Perhaps only in Blaire's eyes that's what it looked like.
The young blonde woman sat in what she called her corner of the small cafe on the corner of Kensington Street. Her blue eyes watched as people walked by; texting, on an important call or reading newspapers. Everyone was always in a rush, no time to stop and sit down for a coffee anymore.
Blaire liked to people watch. It made her more critical, at least in her mind that's what she thought. She spotted the green-eyed man walking furiously straight towards the cafe she sat in, she arched a brow as he swung the door open exclaiming.
"Guess who's getting laid tonight?"
Blaire nearly spit out her coffee. Her eyes widened as she looked at the young man, who'd just walked in. She glanced around as other people sitting in the café looked up with the same confusion written on their faces as there was hers. The only person who didn't seem confused was the barista at the counter.
"No way dude!" he exclaimed. "Was it the girl from last night's gig?"
The new arrival grinned and nodded. "Hell, yeah it was Chuck."
Blaire had to hold back a scoff. She glanced between the two men before shaking her head to look back down at the papers laying on her table. Applications to small magazines across Toronto and apartments for rent. She tried to focus on the applications, as the men talked loudly. Letting out a frustrated breath, she gathered her papers quickly.
Other customers had already started to get up, many businessmen and women who had the same rather frustrated looks on their faces as Blaire did. Picking up bags and purses the majority of them headed out of the café and to their work places.
Blaire glanced around the now deserted café, as she grabbed her papers. Picking up her cup she brought it back to the counter, leaving it along with the other empty cups. The barista barely even glanced in her direction as he was far too interested in whoever was sleeping with who tonight. Shaking her head, Blaire swung the bag over her shoulder and wrapped her scarf around her neck. She headed towards the door, brushing past the overly excited man.
"Watch it!"
Blaire glanced over her shoulder as she lifted a brow. She rolled her eyes once before walking out of the café.
"What's got her panties in a twist?" the man asked the barista, who simply shrugged and realized that he needed to start cleaning all the empty coffee cups.
Blaire braced herself for the cold but she wasn't prepared for the gust of wind that was blowing outside of the café. Tying her coat tighter to her body, she headed down the street towards the busier streets in Toronto. She walked the familiar path down the streets to a small book shop only fifteen minutes away from the once peaceful café she had been sitting at.
Opening the door, the blond stepped inside rubbing her hands over the arms of her coat. The woman at the desk smiled.
"Blaire." She said with a smile.
"Hey Eva." Blaire responded to her friend.
"So, who pissed you off today?" Eva asked as she leaned her elbows on the desk, smirk playing at her features.
"Is it that noticeable?" Blaire asked with a groan as she headed to the desk.
"Only slightly." Eva said with a smile. "Must be the best friend telepathy to know when someone pissed you off."
"Stupid guy at the coffee place." She mumbled as she took off her coat, hanging it on the coat rack a few steps away from the desk.
"Was he cute?" Eva asked teasingly.
"Very cute, especially when he talked about the way he was going to get laid tonight. Apparently, Lisa is very flexible." Blaire said making a face. Blaire would never tell her friend, but the guy that burst into the café was cute, not cute more handsome. Or attractive, she wasn't sure. But he was definitely a guy that was way out of her league to say the least.
Eva laughed lightly. "Sounds like you had fun."
"That's not what I would call fun." Blaire put her bag behind the desk. "Since I'm your relief, you're good to get out of here for the day." She added to her friend with a smile.
Eva laughed lightly as she stepped out from behind the desk, going to the coat rack and grabbing her navy-blue jacket. "Thought you'd never say that." She said with smile.
Blaire laughed lightly. "I'm not that kind of friend." She pointed out.
"It was one time!" she said to Blaire. "You're never going to forgive me for that, are you?"
"It was four times now, and no I don't think I will." Blaire said with a smile.
Eva shot her a look. "Just remember who got you this job in the first place."
"And I love that person very much."
"Smart ass." Eva said as she headed to the door.
"Have fun with Adam tonight." Blaire called to her with a smirk.
"You could be having the same amount of fun."
"I'd rather not." She mused with a smile.
"Gabriel hasn't come in yet, guess he was waiting for you to start." Eva said with a smirk.
"Thanks for the heads up." Blaire called to her as Eva opened the door.
"Maybe today he'll bring you flowers."
Blaire chuckled lightly. "Bye Eva." She called to her.
Eva laughed lightly as she shook her head. She stepped outside of the bookstore, letting the door slam behind her as she went.
Blaire smiled softly as she moved from behind the desk, going towards one of the shelves to fix some of the books. She couldn't stop her eyes from wandering to the door every so often. Not that she wanted Gabriel to come in, but it wouldn't hurt to have a few people come into the store every once and awhile.
She couldn't lie, she loved working at the bookstore. Surrounded by masterpieces, and in a place of silence. Somewhere she could just relax and finish up the last few applications.
Blaire headed back to the desk as she grabbed her bag from underneath the desk, pulling out the papers quickly as she laid them on the countertop. Sorting through the apartment papers and applications she pulled out one quickly. She smiled when she saw the logo on the top of the paper.
Toronto Life
Her dream job, being a writer for that magazine company was her dream. She'd only wanted to be a journalist for Toronto Life for her entire life.
Letting out a slow breath she grabbed a pen from the jar of pens by the cash register as she took it in her left hand. This was it. She was going to apply, get the job and live happily ever after.
Blaire pursed her lips together in a thin line as she started to fill out the application. Her features started to relax as she filled it carefully.
Just as she got through the first part, the bell rang as the bookstore door open. If she didn't have self-control, Blaire might have let out a groan – but she didn't. Instead she tucked the application beside the register as she looked up.
"Welcome to –," she stopped in her tracks.
"You left something on your table at the café." The green-eyed young man from the café said with a rather bored look on his face. He walked to the desk she stood behind.
Blaire looked at him. "I did?" she asked him carefully.
"Yeah, you did. Some kind of paper for," he glanced at the paper. "apartments for rent on Church Street." The young man made a face at that. "Why the hell would you want to live there? There's like no room in that apartment."
Blaire looked at him as she frowned. "Thank you for bringing the paper." She said as she went to grab it from his hands. "I appreciate the concern about the apartment, but I don't think space is a problem in that apartment."
He looked at her as she took the paper from him. "I'm just saying, when you want to have people over – how are you supposed to fit people in there?"
"I'm not going to need to fit people anywhere." Blaire responded as she tucked the apartment listing with the application.
"Well then where are you going to put all the people?"
"Nowhere." She responded.
"What do you mean nowhere?" he asked her.
"I'm not going to be having people over. End of discussion." She said to him. "If the only reason you came in here was to give me the paper, then you should get going. Thank you for bringing this and have a
good day."
The freckled man looked at her. "Are you always this charming?" he asked her.
"I'm sorry?"
"You shove people and you're not taking advice on a crap apartment." He said to her simply.
Blaire looked at him. "I'm sorry for shoving you." She said. "But that apartment is the best option I have right now."
He looked at her. "That's the best you have?" he asked her. "I saw the papers on your table, I'm sure you have plenty more options."
Blaire looked at him. "Those papers weren't just apartment listings." She said to him as she crossed her arms.
The man looked at her, with a loss of words. "Well fine, I'm just saying that's a crap apartment."
"Thank you for your input." Blaire said to him.
The man nodded as he looked around the bookstore. His eyes widened when he saw the classics section. He turned as he headed to the small section of classics that lined the corner of the wall.
Blaire lifted a brow as she uncrossed her arms, following him to the classics section. "None of those will get you any money if you try to steal and resell them by the way." She said to him.
He looked over his shoulder, with an amused look. "Just because I'm pretty doesn't mean I'm going to steal a book." He said to her.
"Then why-?"
"Maybe I just like reading classics." He said as he picked a copy of War and Peace off the shelf carefully. He smiled to himself as he scanned the shelves.
Blaire pursed her lips as she headed back towards the desk. "Just shout if you need any help then." She said as she walked to the desk.
The man mumbled something as his eyes continued to scan the shelves, not that Blaire caught it but she let him be. Perhaps he'd only come in for books after all.
She stood behind the desk as she pulled the stool from underneath it to sit down, as her eyes drifted to the man in the back, who was pulling a few more books off the shelf.
Blaire shook her head as she decided to try and go back to the application she'd been filling out prior to the man's arrival. The door opened a second time, as the bell rung.
"Welcome to B&E's Bookstore." Blaire said looking up from the application.
"Blaire, my love." The new arrival said as he carried flowers to the desk.
"Gabriel, hi." Blaire said as she pushed the papers out of the way once more.
"My darling, are you not happy to see me?" Gabriel asked as he put the flowers on the desk.
"Always happy to see a customer." She said to him.
Gabriel smiled. "But I'm not just any customer." He said to her. "Go out with me Blaire, I can treat you so well. You wouldn't have to work here anymore. We'd be so happy."
Blaire looked at him. "That's a very sweet offer Gabriel, but my answer hasn't changed since yesterday, or the day before that." She said to him.
"Blaire darling, you could live with me. You wouldn't have to live in the terrible apartment you live in now." Gabriel said to her. "You'd be so much better off with me."
Blaire smiled at him. "Tempting offer Gabriel, but it's still a no." she said to him politely.
"What do you want Blaire?" he asked her. "I could be the Christian Grey to your Anastasia."
Blaire looked at him. "I think it's time you leave Gabriel."
Gabriel looked at her. "Blaire please."
At that, the man that was in the classics section looked over from the Tolstoy book he had in his hands.
"Buddy, back off." he said in a tone that made even Blaire tense a little.
Gabriel looked over at him. "Don't tell me, Blaire is this your boyfriend?" he asked her.
Blaire scoffed lightly. "He's not my boyfriend."
The man looked at Gabriel as he walked over. "Not her boyfriend. More like a bodyguard." He said to him with a smirk. "The lady said it's time for you to go, and that's exactly what you'll be doing pal."
Gabriel stiffened. "I see." He said looking at Blaire once more. "Until tomorrow my love." He said as he walked to the door. "I anticipate we'll be seeing a lot of each other if you're her bodyguard."
The man scoffed. "Get lost pal."
Gabriel huffed as he opened the door, stepping outside quickly. The door slammed shut as Blaire let out an agitated breath. Taking the flowers off the counter, she went to put them in the vase by the front window.
"So, what's with Romeo?" The man asked as he followed her to the window.
"You mean Gabriel?" she asked. "He's harmless. Just doesn't understand the meaning of get lost."
"You don't say." The man said with a shake of his head as Blaire put the flowers in the vase. She walked back to the desk and looked at him. "What's his deal anyways?"
Blaire chuckled. "That's not a story I want to tell, ever." She said to him.
The man chuckled lightly. "You know Blaire is an interesting name." he said to her.
"It's Scottish." Blaire said to him as she looked at him.
"No kidding." The man said with a smile. "I'm Dean." He said offering his hand.
She looked at him as she took his hand. "I'd introduce myself but you already know who I am."
He smiled. "Pleasure."
"Likewise."
"So, I think I've picked out enough books for today." Dean said gesturing to the pile of four books sitting on the counter.
Blaire looked at him. "No kidding." She said with a smile.
Dean smiled a little wider at that. Blaire chuckled as she took the books and put them in the bag. "It'll be twenty-five dollars." She said to him.
"That's it?" he asked her.
Blaire nodded. "Uh, yeah." She said looking slightly confused.
Dean whistled lowly as he grabbed his wallet. He pulled out a twenty and a ten. He handed it to her.
Blaire took the bills as she went to grab his change from under the desk from their safe.
Dean grabbed the bag and headed to the door quickly. He opened it and walked outside, letting it close behind him. "See you around Blaire."
Blaire looked over. "Your change." She said with the five-dollar bill. She groaned softly as she walked from behind the desk after Dean quickly. She opened the door as she looked around for Dean. She let out a soft breath as she closed the door when she didn't see him. Heading back to the desk, she spotted the paper on her desk. Lifting a brow, she lifted the paper.
57 Charles at Bay. Apartment 245. Looking for roommate. Call me – 6475543243
Dean
Blaire smirked slightly as she looked at the note. She shook her head as she put the paper with the rest of her applications.