Chapter Two: Asia
By the time Sam was walking to school Tuesday morning he wished he had never met Gabriel.
That morning the ghost had woken Sam up by blasting Heat of the Moment by Asia on his stereo. An hour early.
Sam, startled, sat up straight in his bed and nearly jumped out. Gabriel thought it was hilarious of course. Dean, however, did not.
"What do you think you're doing?!" He had shouted. "Its nearly five o'clock in the morning you asshat! Now is not the time to party, Sam!"
Sam was tired and annoyed and wanted Gabriel to go away more than anything. Mostly because he wouldn't shut up. The phantom was floating alongside the boy, munching on a Kit-Kat. "Why are you going to school?" Asked Gabriel.
"Because its Tuesday, you idiot." Sam grumbled.
"What do you do in school?"
"Haven't you ever been to school?"
"Yeah, but its been a while. Are there any girls you like?"
"No." Sam lied.
"Oh..any boys?"
"No!" Sam stopped and glared at Gabriel who was smirking wickedly. The back of Sams neck grew hot. "Why are you asking me all these questions? Don't you have something better to do other than annoy me? Why don't you go...I dunno...go scare somebody. Go do ghost things."
"Hmm...nah. Why do that when I get to spend all day with you?"
Sam frowned and then turned back to the sidewalk to continue walking, mumbling a curse under his breath.
"OH, Winchester!"
"Oh, brother..." Sam growled as he recognized the voice. "This day just keeps getting better..."
"Who's that?" Gabriel asked.
"Azazel and probably Alistair. Maybe if we ignore them they'll go away."
"Hey, Winchester!" Azazel slung an arm around Sams shoulder, must to the teenagers dismay, "what are you doin' talking to yourself?"
"I'm not talking to myself." Sam mumbled, flicking a glare at Gabriel, who was standing right next to him.
"It sure looked like it." chortled Alistair. "Who are you talking to then? The ghost who scared you yesterday?"
Azazel snickered and so did Gabriel. "If only they knew, kiddo!" the ghost laughed.
Sam didn't think it was very funny. The back of his neck felt too hot and he shrugged away from Azazels arm. "I wasnt scared." He said for what felt like the millionth time.
"Oh, sure you weren't, Sammy. Thats why you ran off screaming to Dean like the little bitch you are." said Azazel.
Sam glared at his feet.
"You should have seen the look on your face!" Alistair added. "It was priceless! Wait 'till we tell the school!"
Sams face was now very red and he hunched up his shoulders to hide his face.
"What are you doing kid?" Gabriel whispered, even though he didn't need to. "stand up for yourself!"
Sam merely casted Gabriel a sneer before continuing down the sidewalk with the two footballs players hurrying after him. Gabriel watched him with puzzlement. "Was it something I said?" he asked aloud before hurrying back up to Sam as they neared the school and lost the two bullies in the swarm of students.
"You better be quiet during school." Sam growled as he opened his locker.
"Okay, grumpy," Gabriel tisked.
Sam gave him another look and Gabriel rolled his eyes and held up his hands in defense. "Okay, okay, I'll be good, Sammy."
"Don't call me Sammy!" He spun around and slammed his locker. No one seemed to notice, the hall was full of loud chattering students, too busy socializing to care about angsty nerdy teenage boy problems. "You don't get to call me Sammy, Okay?! Only Dean gets to call me that! No one else!"
"I-I-just-" Gabriel blinked, his caramel eyes wide with surprise. He didnt mean it in an offensive way, he didnt really mean it in any kind of way, he didnt think about it.
"I'm sorry, kid." Gabriel said softly, landing on his feet so they were now at eye level.
"Never mind." Sam said moodily. "Forget it. I have to get to class."
He swung his books by his side as he crossed the hall to his classroom, Gabriel followed slowly behind him, meaning to keep his distance.
He wasnt one hundred per cent sure why Sam was mad at him, and usually he wouldnt care, but this time it was different. Sam was Gabriels only friend left in the world.
Sure they only met the night before but in a world where no one can see you, you make friends more easily.
The ghost walked into the class and hovered by the back of the room, a little ways a way from Sams desk in the back row. The boy immidetly pulled out his notebook and jotted down something as Gabriel watched, trying to refrain from asking any questions or talking period.
"Hi, Sam." A girl said when she sat down across from the brown haired boy. She had a cute face with big lips, straight raven hair and blue eyes.
Sams mood instantly changed. "H-hi, Ruby..." Sam stammered, blushing noticeably. "D-did you do the history homework last night?"
Gabriel slapped a palm to his face this kid was hopeless. "What a nerd." he mumbled to himself.
"Oh-uh-no I didnt..." She flashed him a smile. "But you wrote down some notes for me didnt you?"
"Oh, y-yeah!" Sam nodded happily. "I got them right here! Just like always!"
"Oh, Sam," Ruby grinned a toothy smile and touched his arm. "I knew I could always count on you."
Gabriel tried not to gag as Sam nearly melted in his seat from the girls touch. Obviously this girl was just using Sam and was not interested in him or any other part of him other than that big brain of his. It was as plain as the nose on his face.
Did Sam really think he had a chance with this girl? Ruby was popular and Sam...well...wasnt. Gabriel just knew these things. He was popular once.
Was Sam really that desperate?
"Its a good thing youre cute, kiddo." Gabriel thought as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Gabriel didn't say a word to Sam the rest of the school day and Sam seemed content with that. Instead of talking to Sam, Gabriel observed him.
He discovered Sam was very smart, and didn't have many friends from the looks of it. He sat with two people at lunch. A skinny, lanky, boy with glasses whos name was Barry, and a blonde haired girl named Jo who only talked about auto shop, but other than that Sam didn't really talk to anyone. Gabriel also saw that Sam reads for fun. Not only that he also reads Latin. Gabriel got stuck with the kid who reads Latin for fun in his free time in the Library.
Gabriel had to bite his tongue to keep himself from making a comment.
But the most obvious thing about Sam was that he was head over heels for Ruby. When ever he saw her he would stare at her with big round puppy dog eyes. Ruby would sort of smile at him, Gabriel thought maybe she felt bad for him, because it was also obvious that Ruby didn't return Sams probably will never like Sam the same way he likes her and he was completely ignorant to it.
Gabe thought it was pretty funny all the things he could point out now that he was a ghost. He also wished that he could think of a way to tell Sam about Ruby.
Sams English class was the last hour of the day and the phantom was spending it sprawled out on top of the cabinets. He was trying to take a nap as Mrs. Lafitte-who also taught Gabriel when he was alive-read The Lord of the Flies aloud to the class. Her voice was like a dull lullaby for the ghost.
Gabriel was half asleep and almost drooling when he heard a commotion come from below.
"Hey, Winchester," someone whispered. "You want to barrow some of my baby sisters pampers?"
"what?" Sam whispered back.
"I heard you pissed yourself yesterday when you went into the house on Oak. Thought you might need some in case you're still scared."
Some students around him snickered into their hands as Sams cheeks turned red, frowning at the bully.
Gabriel propped himself up on his elbows and rolled his eyes. "Oh, please," He said, unable to keep silent a moment longer, "Kids these days have absolutely no sense of humor. If you're going to pick on him, for Gods sake say something funny. My six year old brother could think of a better insult."
Sam flicked his eyes over to the sound of Gabriels voice and then back to the bully. He smirked. "Zachariah," he said, "If you're going to pick on me, for God's sake say something funny."
"What." Growled Zachariah through his teeth, he was a husky boy with thin, short spiked black hair and zits covering his nose.
"Oooooo..." Some students awed, placing their palms over their lips and bending their heads together to whisper.
Gabriel grinned down at Sam, snickering, feeling a little proud even.
"You trying to start something, Winchester?" The bully whispered threateningly. "'Cause if you are, you should know that I'm gonna finish it."
"The only thing you're gonna finish is another cheeseburger, pimples." Gabriel taunted.
"The only thing you're gonna finish is another cheeseburger." Repeated Sam.
"What did you say, shorty?" Zachariah grabbed a hold of Sams shirt and yanked it down.
"I think you heard me."
Up on the cabinet Gabriel was pressing his palm against his mouth, laughing hysterically and kicking his short legs as they dangled off the edge.
"You want to start something, half-pint?" The bully growled.
"YES!" Gabriel shouted, raising his fists and then pretending to box the air. "Hell yes! Bring it on, pizza face!"
"No." Sam said hardly.
"What?" The ghost breathed, his face crest fallen.
"Thats what I thought, wimp." Zach snorted and threw Sam back against his chair, hitting his head against the end.
"You cant just end it like that!" Gabriel exclaimed, pointing his hand at Zachariahs head. Sam turned and mouthed 'leave it.'
"No! You cant-"
Sam glared at him and Gabriels sentence fell into the air. He slumped his shoulders and pouted, turning to glare at the clock above the chalkboard.
The bell rang and the students almost instantly leapt from their chairs and gathered their things. Ignoring Mrs. Lafitte as she tried to shout over the commotion to remind them of tonights homework.
Gabriel stretched his arms and sank into the cabinet and out the door on the bottom. He was sick of hovering around he wanted to stretch his legs.
As looked around for Sam a couple of students passed through him and he flinched, gripping his stomach.
"I just got the chills!"
"Oh, me too! That's weird!"
"How do you think it makes me feel, sister?!" Gabriel called after them, even though they couldn't hear him.
When a human walks through him, Gabriel used to feel hallow and cold, empty even. He hated the feeling. It just reminded him of how alone he actually was in the world. But over the past twelve years hes gotten used to it. Now he just feels numb and tinglely. Its still not the greatest feeling.
Sam was heading out the door, swinging his notebooks at his side when Zachariah and a few of his cronies came up and knocked them out of his grasp and all over the floor. Loose papers scattered under desks and bookmarks fell out of their places.
The cronies didn't hesitate to purposely step on Sams belongings as they passed, snickering.
"Mess with me again shorty," Zachariah growled under his bad breath, "You're in for a world of hurt." He punched his fist into his palm before turning on his heel and leaving out the door.
Sam huffed and bent down to pick up his things, Gabriel rushed over to help but Sam had already gathered his papers and books hapazardly in his arms and dashed out into the hallway to his locker.
"Sam." Gabriel sighed and hurried after him.
He met him at his locker, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Dude," he said, standing behind the Junior, "why did you back down from that fight? You could have taken on old pizza face, all you gotta do is push him over and run."
"I didnt want to fight." Sam said simply, not looking at the ghost as he stuffed his papers into his bag.
"Why not? You dont know how?"
"No I do. Dean taught me."
"Why then?!"
"Because I didnt have to, Gabriel." He shut his locker door and tossed his bag over his shoulder, his thumb resting under the strap on his shoulder.
"What do you mean you didn't have to?! It's not like you wouldnt be kicking the crap out of him for his lunch money, youre standing up for yourself!"
"Gabriel." Sam looked over his shoulder at him and gave him a look. 'Nice bitch face.' Gabriel frowned and lowered his lids over his eyes as he looked at the face Sam had given him at least five times already today.
"Fine, fine, I know..leave it." He sighed, and the two made their way out of the building.
They walked in silence until they were far enough down the sidewalk that no one else was around.
"Gabriel..." Sam began, watching his feet go up and down on the sidewalk. "I just wanna say that...I'm sorry for snapping at you this morning..."
"Ugh..you're not gonna get all chick flick on me are you?" The ghost rolled his eyes.
"Gabriel," Sam smirked, picking up his head. "I'm being serious. I felt bad when you didn't talk to me all day. It wasn't you I was mad at, it was Azazel and Alistair..."
The ghost smiled back at him and wrapped an arm around his shoulder, squeezing it. He felt like a weight lifted off his chest. "Its all right, Kiddo," he told Sam, "I deserved it."
Sam grinned a toothy smile and asked, "Did you see me talking back to Zachariah back there?"
"Of course I did." Gabriel said coolly.
"And?"
The ghost smirked. "You were terrific, kiddo! Couldn't have said it better myself! I've always told you to start listening to me."
"...You've never told me that and we haven't even known each other for twenty-four hours yet."
"Well I'm telling you now."
Sam shook his head and laughed. Gabriels face lit up, that was the first time he had ever made Sam laugh. It was a wonderful laugh; it was childlike, happy, full of energy, and just...good. It was adorable.
Gabriel liked his liked making Sam laugh. He liked the way Sams eyes squinted and how his nose crinkled, and how it showed off all his pearly white teeth. Gabriel liked Sam.
His heart drummed in his chest as they continued their walk home. Sam asked, "Why do you think Mrs. Lafitte didn't hear us talking? I thought for sure she was gonna catch us."
"Because she's an old fart that's why."
Sam laughed again and a grin cracked across Gabriels face, digging into his cheeks and his warm honey eyes twinkled.
As the weeks passed and September began to fade, Gabriel and Sam had a bit of a routine. Gabriel did his best to help Sam with bullies and Sam spent his allowance on candy for the ghost. He didn't mind, he liked having someone to spend his money on. Every Tuesday morning Gabriel played Heat of the Moment, why, Sam will never know. He just knew Gabriel found it hilarious.
During school Gabriel mostly took naps or at least tried not to be distracting. Sometimes he just couldn't help himself though. He liked to mess with his old teachers that used to give him a hard time. He shot spitballs at Mr. Crowley and hid Mr. Campbells wig in Mrs. Bradburys circle of life' frog tank. He also packed lucubrated condoms into Alistairs and Azazels lockers so when they opened the doors they were buried in a wet sticky mess. Sam bought him a king size Crunch bar for that one. He didn't say that was the reason but Gabriel knew it was a way of saying thank you.
Gabriel seemed to enjoy his time with Sam, he liked being able to get back into his prank game. But one thing he absolutely couldn't stand, was Ruby Johnson.
He despised the girl. He didn't like the way she talked down to Sam, how she treated him like her little servant. The only time she talked to him was when she needed something. It was obvious she was only pretending to like him and that drove Gabriel mad. He tried telling Sam but he only ignored him and continued going on about how wonderful she was.
Every Monday through Friday morning Gabriel had to sit and watch Sam stare at Ruby for an hour. It was dreadful. So every day in their Algebra Two class he would try to get Sams attention one way or another.
Look at me, Sam. Gabriel thought as he sat on the counter top and frowned at the boy. Look at me not, Ruby...Me, look at me! Gabriel crumpled up a stray piece of paper and threw it at Sams head, missing it and hitting his shoulder. Sam ignored him. The ghost pouted and swiped another one, wadding it up like the one before and chucked it at his back. Still nothing. He repeated this action; hitting the sixteen year olds arms and shoulders and back until finally he nailed him in the head.
Sam slowly turned his head and glared at the ghost. He raised his eyebrows, what?! He said with his face. Gabriel merely smiled and waved eagerly. Sam looked at him with half lidded eyes before turning back to face the board. "Attention whore." He whispered in a low voice, a smirk on his lips.
Gabriel grinned and leaned back, kicking his legs. Mission accomplished.
"Why do you like Ruby exactly?" Gabriel asked Sam later that day in the library as Sam sat over a book about ghosts and Gabe sat back in the chair munching on a bag of M&Ms. The book was old, the pages looked brown and they smelled like dust and smoke, the edges were ripped and frayed.
"Because shes perfect." Sam sighed blissfully, running his finger along the pages as he read.
"Yeah, I got that the first one hundred times you said that..." The ghost rolled his eyes.
"Well, whats wrong with her?" Sam looked up from his book and gave his friend a quizzical look.
"Nothing, nothing..." Gabriel shoved another handful of chocolate candies into his mouth and Sam raised his book to his face. "if you like girls who use you.." he added under his breath. Sam slammed his book back down, rupturing a loud banging echo around the library, and frowned.
"Shhh!" Miss Pond hissed from her desk at the other side of the library. Sam sunk into his chair and glared at Gabriel.
"Shut up, will you," He whispered. "You're going to get me in trouble."
"I'm not doing anything." Gabriel cocked his head to the side like Castiel does. "She can't hear me," he turned towards the librarian and began to shout, "HEY! HEY MISS POND! YOU-WHO! Hey! Teacher-lady!" Gabriel waved his hands and whistled. He then turned to Sam and said, "People used to say she's part dinosaur." The sixteen year old snorted back a laugh and told Gabriel to shush.
"You're so dumb. Now, shut up, I found something," He whispered again. "It says here that people can only become ghosts if they've died a violent death, like suicide or murder. How did you die, Gabe?"
Gabriel glared at Sam through half-lidded eyes and Sam turned back to his book, blushing and apologizing, "Right, sorry, sorry, don't listen to me I'm an idiot." He flipped another page and continued reading, "it also says that spirits are usually connected to an object that was theirs when they were alive...it also says that ghosts wont go near salt or iron...and you can kill them by burning the object they're attached to." Sam clasped the dog tag hanging off his neck in his hand, pressing it against his palm. He looked over to the phantom and smirked, "Pretty cool, huh?"
Gabriel pressed his lips together as he leaned forward, his eyes scanning the book. He nodded slowly. "I'm finding out more about myself everyday...You know Sam, I'd say it was destiny that the two of us met. I could have gotten stuck with anyone else. That's destiny."
"I wouldn't call it destiny, Gabe." Sam wrinkled his nose and smirked.
"No?"
"Nope. It's just my dumb luck that I'd be stuck with a pathetic ghost like you." He teased.