Chapter Two: The Library
Dean and Sam dropped Hunter off at the library down the street from her high school on their way to Bobby's garage. Dean handed her a twenty, which she quickly shoved in her back pocket without question. She'd learned that it was easier to just accept whatever cash Dean handed her, as he would be sure to make a scene until she did. She rarely ate at school, her only real vice being coffee, but she always had change for that. Dean's sporadic gifts of tens or twenties and even the odd fifty were the whole reason she was going on her trip to Madagascar. She was sure he didn't realize how much money he had handed her over the three years she'd been living with him and Sam, and when she tried to bring it up, he simply stated that he could afford it and not to worry.
She waved as Dean and Sam pulled into traffic, trotting up the steps to the library's front door.
Hunter only had to rap twice before there was a buzzing sound and she pulled the door open, a smile on her face. Usually when Dean drove her, she got there before the librarian. It appeared today was one of the exceptions, and she noticed him behind the main desk trying to set the coffee maker to brew as he fought back a yawn. She couldn't help but smile. She had had a crush on the librarian since the first time she'd seen him, early one morning almost a year ago as she banged on the doors of the still-locked library, begging for entrance since she had completely forgotten to study for her English exam. He'd opened the door with an eyebrow raised, asking what could be so important at 6 am.
"I have an exam today," she gasped. "I just need an hour or two, please. I need at least an 80, and I completely forgot to study. Please."
He had conceded to let her in, even helping her to find the books she needed before offering a cup of coffee and sitting down to help her, quizzing her on various forms of poetry and asking for in depth descriptions of symbolism from the short stories she was studying. He placed his finger on his chin every time he asked a question and Hunter couldn't help but smile, something about his hands making her stomach twist. He couldn't be more than three or four years older than her, but the wisdom in his too-blue eyes seemed to be infinite, and the way he spoke was more like that of a sixty year old scholar. If it weren't for his messy black hair, flawless skin and the illScarlett t-shirt under his button down, she would have been sure that he was older than his early twenties.
As it was, she had finally turned eighteen last week, finally legal, and she was determined to see this boy somewhere besides the library. She could actually see him outside the library without it being weird. The thought had her smiling to herself as she approached the front desk.
"Hey, Cas," she called as she set her bag on the counter, walking around to fix the settings on the coffee maker for him. "Long night?" He sighed and rubbed at his eyes with one hand, leaning back against the counter.
"The longest," he said quietly, his voice deep and raspy. "I swear, school is going to kill me before I even decide what I want to do."
Hunter laughed as she flicked the button on the coffee maker, making sure there was enough water in it to brew a full pot. Cas looked like he needed it. "What are you even taking right now? You're here almost every day."
Cas smiled sheepishly as he looked over at Hunter. "Everything?" he laughed. "I just started astronomy last week, and it's a night course. It's been hell with the job in the mornings and the art classes in the afternoon, but it's also cool to learn about all those different star systems, different universes." He yawned again, looking at the coffee pot longingly as it slowly filled. "It's amazing how small we are."
"It really is," Hunter conceded in a low voice, her eyes on the coffee maker as well. There was a long few minutes while the two of them stood side-by-side, Hunter's arms crossed over her chest, Cas' spread over the counter behind him as he leaned back. His usual button down shirt was open, revealing a grey Sesame Street t-shirt underneath. Hunter giggled, shaking her head. Cas looked over at her, his eyes red and puffy from lack of sleep, a small, tired smile on his lips.
"What?" he asked quietly. "Something I didn't say?"
Hunter looked over at him again, unable to stop herself from chuckling quietly. "Can you tell me how to get..." she sang softly.
"How to get to Sesame Street," Cas finished easily, laughing quietly along with her. "It was a gift, all right? Don't hate." He let out another long yawn.
Holding her hands up in mock-surrender, Hunter moved away from the counter to start preparing their mugs. She tossed two sugars into Cas' cup and five into her own, pulling a carton of milk from the mini-fridge that one of the other librarians, Balthazar, had insisted on bringing in. The coffee was finished brewing by the time she had straightened up, and she grabbed the pot as she hummed the Sesame Street song to herself quietly. After she finished with the coffee, she handed Cas' cup to him and he gave her a thankful smile, chugging almost all of it in one go.
The way he moaned had Hunter's heart threatening to escape her chest, her mug freezing halfway to her lips as she glanced over at him. His eyes were closed, a small smile on his lips. "You make the best damn coffee, Hunter," he said quietly.
Hunter shook herself, focusing back on her own coffee and taking a sip to hide her smile. "Thanks," she murmured as she turned to set the mug down... and maybe a little to hide her blush. "Dean says the same thing." Why the hell did she say that?! Why the hell was she talking about her brother? She should be setting up for asking the guy out, not boring him with random family trivia.
"Dean's the older one, right?" Cas asked, pulling her from her panicky reverie. "The one with the pretty car?"
"Yeah," Hunter sighed, turning to her book bag and beginning to pull books out. "I swear, he loves that fucking thing more then oxygen."
She heard Cas laugh and shot a look over her shoulder, eyebrow raised. He coughed slightly, quelling his laughter before asking. "Did you just curse?"
Hunter rolled her eyes, turning her focus back to her books. "I curse all the time."
"I've never heard it," Cas said. "You're always so academic. But I guess talking about your.. what did you call them? Barbarian brothers? Must bring out the worst in you."
Flipping open her biology book, Hunter shot Cas a wary glance. "You have no idea."
Cas full out smiled at her, causing her breath to hitch. She had never met a man who had such a devastating smile. Well, maybe Dean, but as her brother it didn't work on her. Cas though? Cas was down right stunning when he smiled.
Hunter stared at his lips, loving the way they curved over his teeth... she was completely incapable of looking him in the eye, her eyes drawn to that perfect smile. The next words out of her mouth surprised her, and came out in a jumbled mess.
"Wannahavedinner?"
Cas laughed, another brilliant display of white teeth and deep, sultry tones. "What about dinner?"
Hunter forced herself to look up to Cas' eyes. "We're doing it," she said simply, her cheeks heating up.
Cas lifted an eyebrow and turned from Hunter, taking a slow sip from his mug, and letting out a long sigh before turning back to her. "We are?"
"Yes," Hunter said quickly. "Yes, we're doing dinner... and my brothers are going to hate you."
Cas nodded, his lips pursed as though deep in thought. "You want me to meet your brothers," he finally said. "I'll wear my Bob Marley shirt. I don't want to disappoint, after all."
"Disappoint?" Hunter parroted, a look of confusion coming over her face.
Cas looked over at her, blue eyes meeting her green ones. "You said they'd hate me," he informed her. "I refuse to disappoint."
It was a minute before Hunter answered, trying to process what was just said. "You... you're agreeing?"
"I didn't think you were giving me a choice," he smiled. "And I like bossy women. They're the most fun in bed." He winked before turning away to sort through the returned library material, leaving Hunter with her jaw practically on the floor.
