Present Day...
"How are you doing, truthfully?" Desi asked from the back porch steps.
I shrugged. "Better than yesterday..." making it more of a question than a statement.
Desi was part of the new life I'd started. Was more a helpful suggestion from Bobby than something I'd come up with on my own. I needed a clean slate, new scenery. Taking his advice I'd got in my car and hadn't stopped until the tank was running on fumes. Just south of Wilmington, North Carolina was where I now called home.
Desi and Jess were roommates from across the street and the first people to pop in and welcome me to the neighborhood. I still hadn't figured out how they could live together, they were as different as night from day. Jess was the carefree go-getter who spoke without thinking and as much as I hated stereotypes upon first sight I'd assumed she'd recently moved from California. Bleach blonde hair, caramel skin and bright baby blues. She never had a problem getting a guys attention, but most quickly moved on when they realized she wasn't quite as ditzy as they'd hoped.
It didn't help matters any that she worked as a lifeguard. But she enjoyed it and didn't have time for much else while finishing her degree in social work.
Society would look at Desi as plus-size, although in my books zero most definitely wasn't a size. She hated her freckles, but that was pretty much the trademark of most redheads. To look at her I suppose others would think she was a librarian. Her glasses and the overly conservative way she dressed pretty much screamed that she had to be. She wasn't . Desi had worked at the clinic in Wilmington as a therapist. We called her the brains of our little clan, when we weren't calling her doc.
She had a tendency to analyze us, even if we hadn't asked.
I found myself falling somewhere in between them. While Desi had the brains, Jess the looks, I imagined the only thing I really had was street smarts. I knew that things much worse than the boogeyman existed out there somewhere. That was the only part about me my new friends didn't know.
And that part they never would...
Thanks to a good word from Bobby a friend of his had hired me as head chef at Carly's. Not that I was hurting for money mind you. Being the only surviving family member I ended up inheriting enough money to see my dream come true. I'd opened up a combination rec center and soup kitchen, as well as having a 25 unit complex for those either in crisis or just down on their luck. Even had two private offices for my friends. Desi was thankful to be her own boss for a change, and Jess was just happy to know that in a few weeks with her degree complete she already had a job waiting.
Lady Antebellums "Need You Now" rang from the cell at my side. Desi watched me over her cup of tea to see if I'd answer. I didn't have to look and she needn't ask who was calling. That was Sam's ringtone alone. Red's "Never be the same" was Cas's. Not that he called everyday like Sam. Hadn't heard from Cas in over a month.
I stared off into the backyard as the porch swing swayed noiselessly underneath me.
Wait for it...
Ticking off the seconds as they passed I knew Desi couldn't resist the urge.
One fifty-six.. one fifty-seven...
"You need to make a list..."
Wow, almost two minutes. Had to be her record!
"Good old pros versus cons. Not that I would need one if I were you. Not too hard to choose between someone who shows he cares over someone who barely even speaks to you."
Maybe if he wasn't upstairs with the rest of the winged guards he would...
"It's not that simple Des." Times like this I wish my friends knew the truth about them. Oh they'd met them both, but by all appearances they seemed like ordinary people.
Minus the fact that now Castiel had his Angel mojo back he'd gone back to being this unemotional soldier.
I hated to admit I liked him better without the angel juice. At least then he wasn't such an assbutt.
Who was I kidding. Unless this suddenly played out like City of Angels I was simply wishful thinking.