Jen's POV
Come the end of the week, Dean, and sometimes Sam, had become part of our group before I realized what was happening. They sat with us at lunch, joking, picking up on who and what you could tease everyone about. Cas, it was the fact that his parents never let him out past nine. Ash, it was his little side business and how he tested his own product a little too much. Jo, well Dean didn't know what to mess with her about, but I knew to tease her about Dean when he wasn't watching. Me? They were in the middle of this right now,
Ash bumped my shoulder, "She kinda has this I want to kill everything but I'm a huge softy vibe."
"Shut-up Ash." I shoved another fry in my mouth.
"It is that whole stoic, I have no emotion thing." Jo smiled, and I rolled my eyes. Continuing to make my way through my lunch. Dean leaned forward, "Is that why she is always so pissy? See I was wondering why Jen..."
I threw a fry at Dean's forehead and he started laughing, "I guess that's a yes."
The bell rang, dismissing us and thankfully dismissing this conversation. It was Friday, last day before the weekend and it was raining hard outside. Gym was non-existent today because Coach Morgan was stuck in his office watching game tapes for tonight. He had told us we didn't need to change today, it was a free period. Sweet. I wanted to go and practice in the music wing anyways. I turned to go but Dean stood in my way, "Where are you off to?"
"Are you serious?"
He nodded, "Yeah, I was thinking maybe we could actually start that project...The one that's worth most of our grade."
I smirked, "What's to say I haven't already started it?"
Dean shrugged as I walked past him, "You probably already have...But I feel like I should put some effort into this...But again, where are you off to?"
I held the door for him, "I'm going to practice... Music stuff."
Dean was walking half a pace in front of me, "Really? What do you play?"
"A little of everything I guess."
"Talking to you is like pulling teeth…" He held the door for the stairwell for me, "Right now I am going to practice piano, maybe something else if I have enough time...Do you play anything Dean?"
He chuckled uncomfortably, "Um...I learned how to play guitar at this place I stayed for a few months one time."
"You stayed?... What about Sam?" I opened the door in time to see his face scrunch. Okay, that was something he didn't want to talk about, "Um..Well this is the music wing… I usually practice over in that room."
It was a cramped room with a piano and a couple of chairs, "Guitar is something I have never picked up…"
"What? Jennifer Wesson doesn't know how to do something?... God forbid." Dean chuckled and lounged back in a char. It was kinda weird being in this small of a space and having someone watch me play. I tried to ignore him as I set my fingers over the keys, going into a tune that I partially knew by heart, adding my own little flares to it. I got lost in it, like I always did in music. This particular one everyone always said sounded sad and then went to a more happy place...I thought it was complex, layers that made my heart ache, not in sadness but more, I don't know. Maybe desperation, like trying to find something you could never have. Something that was there that you couldn't touch. See I never thought it ever quite made it to the happy chords, there was always this dark undertone playing in the left hand, and when I paced it slightly different than written, it really came through. And that's really the thing, music is never played the same twice. The way the composer hears it is never the same way as I would play it; and the way I played it today would not be the same way I played it tomorrow.
I played the last chord, darkening the sound by changing a single note on my left hand.
"Wow." I jumped at Dean's voice. I had completely forgotten he was here. I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks. I really didn't play piano in front of anyone, it was just something I had picked up awhile back that Mr. Wilkens had been helping me with.
"Thanks. I guess." I replied quietly.
"What is it?"
"A part of the Concord Sonata by Ives...I changed a couple of parts though."
"I'm not really into classical music but...but that's, deep, maybe? I don't know the word."
I smiled to myself, playing over a few keys, "I know...That's why I love music so much…It's like everything you can't say that you feel and expressing it...I guess that's kinda cheesy huh?"
"Yeah that's cheesy...But I guess I never thought of it like that...Can you play something else?" He asked quietly.
"Really?"
"Why not?" I thought for a moment and pulled some music out from under the seat, "What do you want?"
He leaned back and closed his eyes, "Whatever you like."
Hmm. I flipped to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata… It was another favorite; calming, slow. I let it flow, allowing notes to take over the small space. About halfway through I realized Dean had moved, now standing behind me, watching. I hit the last note, "Not saying I'm gonna start listening to it...but listening to you play is nice."
"Thanks."
"Can you show me?"
I scoffed, "That?! Probably not?"
He laughed, "I meant something simple."
"Sure...Here. Sit." I scooted over and he took up more than half of the bench. He sat there awkwardly and I grabbed his wrist, placing his left hand over a G fifth, "Do the same with your right, up a little…"
He struggled, "Over two more Dean...There... way you only have to use the white keys. It won't be so awkward then."
I talked him through it. Very slowly, and a lot of laughing and swearing later Dean could struggle through this little tune, "Fuck."
He had messed it up again. I chuckled, "You have been playing for an hour...It's fine. You did fine until the end...Here..."
I covered his hand, pushing his thumb and pinky down to complete the final fifth, "See… Can you hear it?"
Dean nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. There was a pause, "Are you gonna be at the game tonight, Jen?"
"I am...Woodwinds aren't playing, but I love to watch football so yeah. You playing?"
"Yep...Coach has me starting again."
"Heard you had quite the start last week."
Dean smiled, biting down on his lip, "It wasn't too shabby."
I was curious, "Are Sam and your parents coming?"
"Sam will be there. He doesn't really like football, but he will be there. My dad probably has to work."
That was two out of three, "What about your mom?"
Dean immediately clammed up, leaning forward and rubbing the nape of his neck, "Oh… My mom...She's dead."
Shit, now I was uncomfortable, "I'm sorry Dean..I didn't…"
He looked over, setting his hand on my forearm, "Hey...There is nothing you could do. Don't feel bad for asking. You didn't know...It, it was a long time ago. I was four, Sam was a baby."
I felt really shitty for asking now, "Dean, I'm…"
"Jesus, Jen...Seriously. It's fine." He rubbed my shoulder reassuringly. I half smiled, "Weird transition slash question...Do you like watching pro football?"
Dean paused, "Yeah...Why?"
"You want to watch some of the games on Sunday and work on our project?"
He seemed taken aback, "Sure, but can we do it at my place? Sam would be alone all day otherwise."
I nodded, "Sounds great."
Sam's POV:
I was sitting in the armchair, trying to get homework done. It was impossible with Dean and Jen arguing on the couch, "That was a shit play, dumbass!"
"Who here actually plays football? Huh?"
"You play safety! You aren't a quarterback."
Dean mocked offense, "I gotta read the quarterback to make a play!"
Jen scoffed, "And I'm sure your genius ass would have taken the run!"
"Damn straight...There was a line right up the middle."
"What line are you seeing? They didn't open anything up for him!" This had been going on for a game and a half. It was funny watching someone stand toe to toe with Dean and not back down, but my homework was suffering because of it. I gathered my stuff, going to go to the kitchen table.
"Where you going Sammy?" Dean asked, throwing popcorn at me.
"Kitchen."
Jen laughed, "See, even your brother can't stand your crap."
Dean shoved her and she giggled. I shook my head, "Just trying to get the homework done."
"Well, if Dean would just admit I'm right and shut his mouth…"
"No way...You aren't right about this." They were starting in again and didn't notice me slip into the kitchen. This was good for Dean, making friends.
Eventually, I heard the second game post-report end and Jen get up to leave. She had said earlier that she refused to watch the late game because it was the Cowboys and she hated them and their quarterback. I stood, watching them talk quietly by the door, before she spotted me, "See you tomorrow Sam."
"See ya Jen." I waved and she looked up and smiled at Dean before he held the door for her. When she was gone, I laughed, "Dude...You are pathetic."
"What?"
"You beat on me about asking Jess out...But you are in the same boat."
Dean sighed and sat on the couch, flipping channels, "Don't know what you mean Sam."
"Ah...The girl you were just making googoo eyes at for the last seven hours...Plus, were you listening to classical music on the laptop yesterday?"
"No…" Dean was defensive.
I grinned, "Aww."
"It isn't like that Sammy."
I scoffed, "Dude...You talk about her all the time. You have it so bad."
Dean leaned forward, "So? What if I do?...She doesn't."
"You don't know that Dean."
"Sam...She hates my guts okay? Just drop it." Dean tossed the remote to me and stalked off to our room.
Dean's POV:
This week was a bye week for football, so Coach had had us on half practices all week. I had taken most of the time to work with Jen on either studying or our project. I knew she really wanted to knock it out so we didn't have to worry about it when finals rolled around, and now we were a few weeks out from midterms. It was Friday and Sam had gone out with some friends to the movies, so we had decided that we could study at Jen's tonight.
When I pulled up, it was just starting to get dark. The house seemed quiet, but as soon as I cut the engine, I could hear the dogs barking. Jen opened the door before I could even knock, holding a gigantic German Shepherd at bay by the collar, and shoving Bond away with her foot, "Sorry...They won't hurt you, they just get excited sometimes."
"It's fine," I patted both of them and kicked off my boots on the rug, glancing around. It was so country and warm. Jen walked off into a kitchen that was wide open with a center island, "Do you want some water or something?"
"Sure." I kept looking around, curious, until the glass hitting the counter brought me back, "Thanks."
Jen was watching me, "Well, if you want to get to work, the computer is in my room."
"After you." I gestured for her to lead the way. Jen trotted up the stairway, as Bond raced in front of her. She turned to the left, past a door and opened another, "Just to warn you, it is a little cramped."
"I'm sure it isn't...Nope I was wrong." The room was tiny, with a sloped ceiling. Like the size of a closet. There was barely enough room to push the chair back from the small desk without hitting the single bed. I could only stand straight up for part of the room. Jen laughed, "Yeah...Told you."
She crawled over laid out papers and books onto the bed that creaked loudly, propping herself against the wall. Bond immediately jumped next to her, curling against her side, pawing for attention. I sat at the desk, my knees not having enough room without the chair against the bed.
"Where are we?" I asked, feeling bad. I really hadn't been much help on this project, and I knew she did a lot on her own time. Jen flipped through a notebook and tossed it to me.
"I finished up the Bill of Rights cases and am through the fifteenth amendment…"
I scoffed, looking over her notes, "You did all that in one day? How many hours are you putting in?"
Jen blushed, "I just spent a little time on it last night. I couldn't sleep for a bit, so I worked."
"Couldn't sleep for a bit? Did you sleep at all?" She had been a little out of it at school today, and now that she had mentioned it I saw the bags under her eyes, and that she was a little more drawn out than normal.
"If you just want to get the next few done and then we can go through the English study guide for next week." I noticed that she didn't answer me about sleep. I started scanning through web pages, taking notes, "Where's your family at?"
"Sky and Mags are up the road at a friends, mom and dad are working."
I turned, confused, "Working on a Friday night? This late?"
Jen nodded, still scribbling in her notebook."Yeah...Mom is on a business trip and Dad got called in."
I watched her for a moment, the way her forest green eyes scanned the page quickly, darting. Her dark brown, messy curls, fell long and she pushed it back whenever she turned a page over. Jen flipped the pen, rolling it through her fingers when she wasn't writing. Suddenly, she glanced up, and when her eyes met mine, she smiled slowly, "What?"
I shook my head and swallowed hard, "Nothing."
Jen shrugged and shook her head, "Okay then."
Shit. Sam was right, "Hey...You wanna come over and watch the games again on Sunday? I promise no Patriots or Cowboys"
Jen couldn't stand Brady or Romo. Her face brightened, "Yeah...I would love to. Vikings are gonna kick some ass this weekend."
I scoffed, "You are so full of shit...They suck."
"Once they get rid of this damn q.b. and coach they will be fine. The defense isn't that bad, they have some promising players."
This argument went on for awhile as we worked. She was the first person period who I could hold a conversation with about sports for a long time. Jen could argue any direction and didn't judge an entire team based solely on record. She analyzed players individually, knew what coaches couldn't coach worth a damn. Finally we got to the study guide for To Kill A Mockingbird. I had thought it was kind of a boring read until Jen had explained it, and pointed out all the little details that she liked.
"Have you ever seen the movie?"
I shook my head, "I can't say that I have."
A smile lit her face, "Okay...We will probably watch it in class, but Gregory Peck kills it."
"Do you have it?"
"Yeah!" Jen leans over, across me and under the desk, rummaging around. Jen was so close, smelling like apples and vanilla. "No..nope...Here it is. Do you want to borrow it?"
"Do you want to watch it now? We have been studying for…" I glance down at my watch, "Like over three hours."
"The movie is like two hours long."
I grabbed it out of her hands, putting it into the computer, "Well then we can work on stuff before the game then...Or god forbid, during."
She gasped, rolling her eyes before giggling, "Fine...But we are not doing homework during football."
I played the movie and Jen scooted over so I could sit on the bed, propping my feet up on the chair. I ran my hand mindlessly over Bond, who was lying in between us. By the time the children were trying to sneak into Boo Radley's house, I could feel Jen leaning against me. I was surprised and hopeful. I looked out of the corner of my eye, Jen was sound asleep, mouth agape, breathing deep and heavy. I couldn't help the small smile, she was exhausted. I watched the rest of the movie. Jen had been right, despite moving a little slow, it was pretty good. When the credits rolled, I shifted to turn it off.
"Dean?"
"Whoa...The snorer is up."
She glanced around, getting her bearings, "I don't snore."
Jen hadn't been, but, "I had to turn up the movie twice to hear it."
She gave me the stink eye, "Did you like it?"
"It was good Jen...I'm gonna have to take movie recommendations from you more often."
"Anytime Dean. Between me and Dad, we got damn near any good movie you can think of."
I nodded, "I'll keep that in mind...I'm gonna head out."
"Here..." She hopped up, "I'll walk you out. I gotta check the animals and let the dogs out anyways."
She walked down the stairs and stood by the door. I shoved my feet into my boots, "I think if we work on this during study hall this week, we should get most of it done. Then…
"I'm not going to be in school for most of next week…", Jen didn't look at me, hands shoved into her pockets.
"Why?"
"Family stuff." She replied quietly. Not sounding like she wanted to elaborate.
"Oh...Are you sure you can come over Sunday then?"
Jen looked up quickly, "Yeah, I'm sure...If everything goes as planned I should only be gone Monday until Friday morning...So I will be at the game too."
I smiled, "Good...I wouldn't want you to miss the opportunity to tell me everything I did wrong."
Jen laughed, "Phantoms are the best team in the region...Minus their safety."
"Ouch."
"Kidding...You are probably the best defensive player they have had in awhile."
I clutched my chest, "Jen Wesson? Was that a compliment? I think I'm gonna have a heart attack."
Jen blushed, playfully punching me in the shoulder, "Shut-up...I gotta keep up appearances, and if people hear that I'm actually giving out compliments...There will be chaos."
I winked, "I won't tell anyone. Promise...I guess I will get outta your hair."
"Okay Dean...I will see you Sunday."
She held the door, and I stepped out on the stoop. Stopping. Maybe I should just go for it. Dammit, "Hey Jen?"
"Hmm?"
I turned, rubbing the back of my neck, "Umm…"
"Yes?"
"Do you want to go do something next Friday?...Like a movie, or whatever...Only if you want to, you know, just hang out after the game?"
Fucking smooth Dean. Jen half-smiled, "Sure...We can figure it out next week when I get back."
Did she just say yes to hanging out?, "Really?"
Jen nodded, leaning her shoulder against the door, "Of course Dean. It's fun hanging out with you."
"Oh...Okay...Well, I will see you Sunday Jen."
"Bye Dean." I climbed into the car, feeling like I was walking on air. She wanted to go do something outside of school. She had said it was fun hanging out with me. Even though I didn't have it as a date, I knew the possibility could be there for another time. I turned the key, looking back to the front of the house. She was still standing there watching. Jen smiled and gave a small wave, before turning and shutting the door. God, this week couldn't go fast enough.
