Castiel sighed as he sat outside on his balcony. The entire town was silent since everyone was fast asleep. It was two in the morning and Castiel couldn't sleep. His insomnia used to hit him at the most abnormal times and he knew Lysander would be at his house early to wake him up. At times like this, Castiel always sat outside and thought about his life even though he insisted that it was a girly thing to do.
Then he began hearing something. Someone was singing. The voice was sweet and washed over his senses easily.
London Bridge is falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady.
Castiel let out a long sigh as his eyes slipped shut. Whoever was singing, their voice was soothing and beautiful. For the first time in years Castiel felt utterly relaxed and peaceful. The song went on and on the two lines repeating themselves and echoing in his mind.
London Bridge is falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down, my dear darling.
Castiel didn't notice the change in words but sleep took over soon enough.
"Cas? Castiel!" Castiel woke to someone shaking his shoulder.
"Five more minutes Lys" He said and Lysander shook his shoulder even more.
"What!"
"You've been out here the entire night? Didn't you get cold?" Lysander asked worriedly.
"I fell asleep out here last night?" Castiel sat up and looked around at the sunny balcony.
"You should have slept in your bed where it's warm. You could have fallen sick" Lysander said.
"How did I fall asleep? I wasn't even sleepy" Castiel stood up and then looked around.
"Get ready for school. Let's go" Lysander said.
Castiel grumbled and then went inside to change. Lysander sighed and then spotted a woman in the empty house next door. She had brown hair and she was rather skinny. She seemed to be shifting furniture around and Lysander spotted a large van inside. He followed Castiel inside and didn't think much about the woman.
"Did you know you have a new neighbor?" Lysander asked.
"New neighbor? Someone finally moved into the haunted house next door?" Castiel replied draining his cup of coffee.
"It's not haunted, we just made too much noise and spooked the street" Lysander said.
"I know but who's moved in?"
"A woman. She doesn't seem to be with anyone. I saw her shift furniture around in the house" Lysander replied.
"That house had four bedrooms and three of them are ensuites. The living room and kitchen are small but the garden is extensive. All that space just for one woman? How old did she look?"
"I didn't see her that well, Cas. Maybe we can go over and help her out after school"
"Or how about we ditch and help her. I'm curious about this woman anyway" Castiel suggested.
"I don't really enjoy the idea but I admit, I'm curious as well" Lysander replied.
They walked over and then saw the door was wide open.
"Hey lady, aren't you worried that something will be stolen?" Castiel called out only to have Lysander slap the back of his head.
"That must have hurt" the woman came out from what seemed to be the kitchen area.
Castiel's mouth dropped open. The woman to him was absolutely gorgeous. Her curly brown hair was up in a messy bun and her green eyes had a touch of mischief in them. She was dressed in shorts and a plaid shirt with converse. Lysander frowned when he saw the woman. She was just too thin. Her arms were like sticks and her cheeks were hollow.
"Close that mouth. It's uncouth" She reached out and pushed Castiel's mouth up to close it.
"I'm Lysander Windsor and this is Castiel Ryan. He lives in the house next door and I'm his friend. We saw you moving furniture so we were wondering if we could help you out" Lysander said and Castiel snapped back to attention.
"How sweet. I didn't know teens had manners in this century" She replied.
"Is there anything for us to lift, ma'am?" Lysander asked.
"First of all, my name is Idina Harvard. Don't ever call me ma'am" She said with her green eyes sparkling.
"Idina..." Castiel seemed to be capable of speech right about now.
"I have some stuff that needs lifting if you guys can do it" Lisa said walking back into the kitchen.
Lysander dragged Castiel inside and then they began helping her move furniture.
"I'll be upstairs unpacking. Holler if you need me" She ran up the stairs and Castiel collapsed on the brand new leather couch.
"Cas, get up!" Lysander griped.
"She's gorgeous. I mean, damn even some of the girls in our school aren't that hot" Castiel said.
"She's also older than us and we know nothing about her. Now, get up, we still have to set up the patio furniture" Lysander said.
"I wonder if she would date me. She doesn't look like she was dating anyone" Castiel wondered.
"Why don't you ask her?" Lysander asked sarcastically but when Castiel began walking up the stairs, the silver haired boy face palmed.
"Come on, lover boy" Lysander dragged the red head out.
They began setting up the furniture and a window opened from an upstairs window. Castiel took frequently glances up there and Lysander couldn't help the smile that came onto his face. Idina had worked her way right into Castiel's mind without even trying. Then music began floating out of the window.
"Where have I heard that song before?" Lysander wondered and then heard a melodious voice accompanying the music. Castiel stilled as he listened.
I'm limited...
Just look at me,
I'm limited,
And just look at me, you can do all I couldn't do,
Glinda...
Then Lysander remembered where he had heard the song. His mother had enjoyed the musical Wicked since she had first seen it in New York. She used to sing the songs frequently and the lyrics had stuck themselves in Lysander's brain.
"I've heard that voice before" Castiel commented quietly, still listening.
"Where?"
"Last night. I heard a nursery rhyme. London bridge is falling down" Castiel replied, his mind miles away.
The music stopped and so did whoever was singing. Then Idina popped her head out the window.
"Are you boys done? I was going to order pizza for lunch" She called out.
"We're nearly done" Lysander replied and Idina went back inside.
He turned and saw Castiel seemed to have snapped out of his stupor and was setting up the patio table. Lysander sighed and then began assembling the chairs. About half an hour later, footsteps were heard on the wooden patio.
"Looking good boys. Come on in for pizza" Idina said.
Castiel wiped the sweat from his brow and then tied his hair up with a hair tie. They followed Idina inside and then sat down on the newly set up dining room table and chairs.
"So, Idina, why'd you decide to move here?" Lysander asked.
"Why, you don't want me here?" She asked.
"Oh I want you. In my bed" Castiel said under his breath and Lysander kicked Castiel's shin.
"I didn't mean any offence" Lysander said.
"Oh it's okay, I was just kidding. I moved here because I wanted my daughter to have a quieter life" Idina said with a laugh.
"You have a daughter?" Castiel asked.
"Yeah she's four, going on fourteen. Life in New York is a bit hectic so I moved here for a bit more peace" Idina replied.
"So where is she?" Lysander asked.
"She'll be arriving tomorrow so I wanted the house to be set up before she got here"
"And her dad?" Lysander asked and Idina's hands jumped up to rub her shoulder automatically.
"He...walked out when he found out I was pregnant. I didn't care though, I had enough money to support myself and a child" Idina replied looking down at her slice of pizza.
Lysander nodded and then spotted an uncharacteristically sad look on Castiel's face. He reached out and held Idina's shoulder in comfort.
"Don't worry about him anymore. You've got your daughter and you're making a new start with her in this city. You've got me and Lysander now if you have any problems" Castiel said and Idina smiled.
Lysander smiled at this. It was abnormal for Castiel to offer help to anyone, especially a woman who just got to town. Many of the new girls at school tried to relate to him but never got close enough to try.
"Thanks" Idina said and Castiel lifted his hand off her shoulder.
"So let's get back to work, boys" she stood with a cheerful smile and directed them upstairs where she needed them to assemble the bed.
After a day's work, Idina cooked them both dinner.
"So you guys are juniors at the high school?" she asked.
"Yeah. I wouldn't count him a junior since he always ditches class" Lysander replied and Idina laughed at the annoyed look Castiel shot Lysander.
"We have a band too. I play guitar and Lys sings" Castiel said attempting to save face.
"I was a singer back when I was in high school. I was on Broadway too before I got into acting in movies and TV shows. Then I got married and had a kid" Idina said.
"Was that you singing For Good upstairs? It sounded heavenly" Lysander said.
"Thank you"
"Were you singing last night too? London Bridge is falling down" Castiel asked.
"Yes that was me. My little girl wasn't getting to sleep so she had her nanny call me up so I could sing to her" Idina replied.
"That song made me have the best sleep I've had in years" Castiel said.
Idina turned red in embarrassment. Castiel's ears stained pink at his admission. Lysander glanced between them and smirked. Idina cleared her throat uncomfortably and then stood to wash her plate. Castiel continued eating but Lysander kept smirking.
'Wonder what's going to happen next' Lysander mused as he took a bite of the lasagna.
