Prologue

They all thought college would be a waste. They didn't want it; they thought they would fail or they were too good for it; they knew they would be lonely. But none of that turned out to be true at the University of Kansas.

Chapter 1

-ship: Jo/Ash-

Jo wanted nothing better than to get away from her overprotective mother. But she never wanted to go to college. She wanted to be like her father and go into the army and join the unit of snipers nicknamed "the hunters" like he did. But after her father's death, her mother wouldn't let her consider the idea. College or stay home and work at the bar. So here she was at college, and what did she end up doing to help pay tuition? She had to work at a freaking bar. This particular bar didn't even get many cute guys in it. Just old drunks who smacked her ass and stared at her cleavage too much. But then things changed the night she met Ash.

He was a guy she wouldn't even look twice at on the outside. Greasy clothes and too-long hair tied back in a partial ponytail. He came to the bar a couple times a week, and never made her feel uncomfortable. Quite the opposite, actually. He always shyly smiled at her and thanked her politely for his drink, and even stood up for her when one of the drunks got a bit too handsy. After that, they started talking more, and he told her about being kicked out from MIT because of fighting, and how he was a sophomore majoring in computer science, but he thought college was a waste cause he already knew everything they taught. Partway through the year, he too got a job at the bar, so she got to spend even more time with him.

One night at the end of Jo's freshman year, she and Ash were both working the late night shift, but of course no one was showing up.

"God I'm so bored.", Ash said.

"Hey, you going to Balthazar's party on Friday?" Jo said, looking up from the glasses she was drying.

"Eh, maybe. I don't have anyone to go with though…"

"Oh come on, there have to be some genius girls you have your eyes on in your classes."

"HA like there's anyone smart in those stupid lectures…" Ash snorted.

"So you don't have a crush on ANY girl you've met? I find that hard to believe."

"I didn't say that. I just said that she isn't in my classes."

"Ooooh do tell!"

Ash looked over at Jo. She wasn't the brightest girl he'd ever met, but she was brilliant compared to most girls on campus. She leaned against the counter and god she was so pretty. Long, wavy blonde hair and a tall figure, hands that looked delicate but he knew could strangle someone who deserved it. He'd admired her ever since she started working at the bar. Sometimes he got a feeling that she might like him back, but most of the time he just figured they were best friends with nothing else.

"She probably doesn't like me back anyway. She would never say yes."

"Doesn't mean you shouldn't ask her."

"She has eyes for Dean Winchester…"

"Every girl on campus has eyes for Dean Winchester.", Jo laughed.

"My point, why should she even consider me?"

"Good god Ash, you should just walk up to her and kiss her and ask her out. That's basically what Dean does to any pretty girl. Minus the asking out part… he kinda skips that… I feel bad for his room…" and she was abruptly cut off by Ash's lips on hers.

She balanced against the counter, slightly in shock. He pulled away after a couple seconds and looked at her. She blinked at him, her mouth open a little, gaping at him. He looked down at the floor and quickly picked up the broom to start sweeping, it was almost closing time. But before he could start, Jo grabbed the broom, set it against the counter, and wrapped her arms around Ash's neck, kissing him. He smiled into the kiss and gently pushed her against a table, his hands wrapping themselves around her waist. He broke away first and laughed.

"What happened to Mr. Gorgeous Winchester?"

"Who needs a guy who will drop you after a good night when you can have a genius as a boyfriend, now aren't you gonna ask me to go to Balthazar's party with you?"

"I think that point has been made already." Ash laughed, and kissed her again.

From then on, Ash helped Jo figure out what she wanted to study in college, and they both decided that college was a lot less boring now…