Chapter 11 – It surely means that I don't know

It had been years since he had been in Fort Thompson, but Dean managed to drive to the high school almost on autopilot. Pulling into the student parking lot, Dean parked near the bleachers of the football field. A soft smile flitted across his face, as memories came flooding in. He and Sam had attended many, many schools while growing up, but this was his last one. He graduated a year later than he should have because of all the moves – it was about ten years ago, yet some of the memories were still fresh in his mind. Some of the regrets, too…


It was becoming second nature – being the new kid at school. It used to bother him. He used to be nervous, and would try to combat that by telling himself he faced far worse as a hunter than a bunch of stupid kids. He wasn't nervous about whether he'd be liked…ok, that was part of it, but mainly it was because he was so worried about following his Dad's rules: be average, don't make waves, don't make anyone question things. And never, ever talk about what we do.

Now, the nervousness, if it was there at all, was buried deep underneath the cool exterior. By 19, Dean was already well-equipped to display the devil-may-care attitude and bad boy persona that would remain his trademark. The teachers and administrators that saw him seemed to know immediately that this boy could be trouble.

They found it hard to believe when they learned he was related to the sweet, shy sophomore that followed him into the school.

Getting his schedule from the main office, Dean glanced at it. Auto/ Shop and Phy. Ed. – that he could handle. Chemistry may even come in useful someday with hunting. But, unfortunately, they weren't until after lunch. First up, English, then Math and Social Studies. Grimacing, Dean looked up at the room numbers near him, so he could figure out where to go. After awhile, he got pretty good at finding his way around a new school – they were all pretty much the same anyway…

Entering the classroom, Dean immediately took in the posters of celebrities trying to convince him to READ! Yep…pretty much the same…

The eyes of everybody in the room turned toward him, and conversation noticeably paused. Fort Thompson was a small enough town where a new student was still notable. Dean knew Sammy was probably experiencing the same thing in his first classroom, and was probably blushing and hurrying to take a seat in the back.

Dean sat in the middle of the classroom, next to the prettiest cheerleader he could see.

Flashing the girl his trademark grin, Dean was amused to watch her scoff, roll her eyes, and turn back to gossiping with her friends. A muscle-bound boy in a football jersey sitting on her other side leaned forward to glare at Dean. Dean chuckled. Wow…this place is a walking cliché.

The teacher walked into the room and, after taking attendance, proceeded to do exactly what Dean knew she'd do – and what he really wished she wouldn't do – asked him to "introduce himself."

"Dean Winchester." And that's all he said, fighting the smirk that wanted to explode as the teacher kept smiling at him, clearly waiting for him to say more. When she realized he wasn't, the smile faltered and she uncomfortably moved on to tell the students that they were now going to start reading Dracula, causing Dean to wonder again if vampires were really real…

The first couple weeks of school passed in a blur. Dean was doing enough to pass – he promised his Dad he would, so that he could start really hunting finally – but just enough to pass. Sammy, of course, spent most of his waking hours at the library, being the model student and Geek Boy.

The rest of the student body had picked up on the fact that Dean wasn't going to be one of the golden, popular people. As such, the jocks, their girlfriends, and the academic types quickly learned to leave him alone. A couple of the fringe people were starting to befriend him, but Dean found his most relaxing times to be when he was in Auto/Shop class, underneath the hood of whatever car they were learning on that day.

Only a handful of students were in the class with him, but Dean was by far the best of them. The teacher loved him, always asking him to demonstrate for the rest of the students. It made Dean begin to wonder if this was what Sammy felt like all the time in school.

And, he had to admit, it felt kind of good to be appreciated for something other than hunting…

So, pretty much the only thing that wasn't going his way at the school so far was his love life. Usually, he was able to find at least one girl within the first few weeks of being at a new school who was willing to "experiment" with the bad boy. Here, the girls seemed to be taking their cue from the cheerleader he sat next to on the first day, who wouldn't give him the time of day.

Her name was Nikki, and she wasn't just any cheerleader – she was the head cheerleader, dating the quarterback, straight-A student. Pretty much the type of person that was the opposite of Dean.

Yet he couldn't get her out of his mind. He was sure it was the idea of the chase – she was the unattainable, and getting her would be his greatest accomplishment to date. Not that he had that many accomplishments yet….even if he bragged to Sammy differently.

He must have annoyed her, or caused a problem for her with No-Neck Quarterback, that first day because she'd been treating him like he was the plague ever since. But Dean wasn't counting his losses yet – she always seemed to blush a little bit when he walked into a room, always seemed to talk and laugh a little louder when he sat near her table at lunch, always was a little too quick to look away when he caught her eye.

He figured it was only a matter of time…

"Dean?" Mr. Jackson, the Auto/Shop teacher, called out, and Dean pulled himself out from under the Taurus he was working on for extra credit.

"Yeah?"

"Listen, I don't know if you'd be interested in a part-time job, but my friend Bob owns a garage on Fourth. I was telling him about you, and he'd like to meet you."

Dean was shocked, having never really known what it was like for a teacher to take such a strong interest in him. Still, his first instinct was to say no – he didn't know when they'd have to leave. But then he reconsidered, thinking it might be nice to actually make money in a legal way for once. Dean smiled, planning to convince John that it was a good idea by saying that he could then learn enough to be able to fix the Impala if necessary.

"That sounds great."

"Good. I'll let him know you're going to stop by. What day should I tell him?"

"Uh…tomorrow?"

"Sounds good. I hope it works out for you, Dean!"

He watched the older teacher walk away, remembering belatedly to call out a thanks. A grin spread across Dean's face, as he maneuvered himself back into position under the car. Who would have thought that he'd ever have a job besides hunting?

With Mr. Jackson's recommendation, Dean easily got the job. He fell into the routine of having a job much quicker than he thought he would – and being an actual, respectable employee wasn't quite as horrifying as he thought it would be. Bob took a shine to him, teaching him new procedures that Mr. Jackson hadn't even approached in class yet. Things were starting to look up…


Dean hid himself under the bleachers, trying to block out the cheers and screams of the crowd, the annoying commentary of the announcer, the whistles of the referees and the thuds of the players throwing themselves at each other.

He could not believe he was at a football game.

Sam had been invited to go along with a friend. He was so excited to actually be asked that he begged Dean to take him. Begged and whined and gave that pathetic puppy dog look of his – the one he knew Dean couldn't resist.

So here he was.

Sammy owed him one.

It did, however, offer him an excellent view of Nikki in her short little skirt, kicking her legs into the air and cheering for No-Neck and his friends. Dean had been making progress the last few weeks. Whispering jokes to her in English class about Dracula had netted him a few smiles, giving him the courage to start making jokes that were more ... suggestive... She responded in kind, giving him playful smirks and winks in the hallway, even when she was walking with an arm entwined with No-Neck's.

Noticing that the cheerleaders were heading off the sidelines and running toward the locker room, Dean realized it was time for their break before the halftime show. Nikki was the last to run off, getting a few last kicks and "air-punches" in before making her way back. Reaching out, he grabbed her arm and pulled her into the shadows with him.

She gasped, frightened at first. When she realized it was him, she gave him a seductive smirk, obviously thinking she was the one in control when it came to their relationship. Dean intended to finally prove her wrong that night.

"Dean Winchester, what are you doing at a football game?"

"Well, who am I to argue with high school tradition?"

"I would have thought you'd argue with everything you could."

Dean smirked. "Well, you seem to be pretty much the embodiment of high school tradition. Doesn't that make you feel kind of…unoriginal?"

"I happen to like my life, thank you very much."

"I'm just saying it could be better."

"Really? And how is that?"

"Well," he drawled, backing her up until she was pressed against the cement wall. His body hovered near her, allowing limbs to lightly graze here and there but not quite touch. Her breath hitched in her throat. "You could always hook up with the Bad Boy instead of Mr. All-American out there."

Nikki scoffed. "I am not going to cheat on Doug."

"Uh-huh." Dean whispered into her ear, one hand already running up her leg and under her short skirt. She gasped and whimpered, and Dean knew he had won. In a matter of a few breathless seconds, her tongue was down his throat, her hands were down his pants, and his hands were all over her body. A few minutes later, when Dean entered her, he didn't know what was hotter – the fact that he was actually having sex in public, or the fact that she was crying out his name when her boyfriend scored a touchdown.


Dean's self-satisfied smirk still graced his lips when he walked into the garage the next day.

"What's that look for?" teased Bob.

"Oh…nothing." Dean winked.

"Ah! Say no more." Bob rested against his work table, crossing his arms. "Well, how would you like something else to smile about?"

Dean quirked an eyebrow in curiosity and anticipation. "What?"

"Jake decided it was time to retire. How would you like to stay on after graduation? I'll pay for your tech school courses, and you can work the hours you do now until you get your Associate's."

Dean stared at Bob, jaw slack. "Wow…uh…thanks. I – I haven't really thought about what to do after graduation." Dean swallowed, longing fighting with duty in his heart. That was a lie – he had thought about what he'd do after graduation; he just didn't think he'd have much of a choice. Now, secret dreams of living in one place, having a normal life, raced through his head.

It's not that he didn't like hunting, or feel like it was something he was meant to do. His mom deserved justice…his dad needed him.

But he also realized that this might be his only chance…

"Can I think about it?"

Bob looked surprised. "Well sure. I do think you'd be perfect for this."

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

Dean was wracked with indecision for the rest of the weekend. Every part of him that was loyalty and duty and destiny shouted at him, telling him there's no way he could do this.

But that didn't stop him from wanting to.


He had something else to worry about Monday, though. No-Neck had apparently found out – an unfortunate consequence of sex in public. Before first hour, the quarterback very publicly and cruelly dumped Nikki. Everybody was talking about it at lunch, sneaking looks at Dean as they talked behind his back.

Before gym, in the locker room, No-Neck and a couple of his thug sidekicks came up to Dean, slamming empty lockers on their way. Dean rolled his eyes at their antics, but was a little concerned about the odds of three against one.

Not really concerned, but a little…

"Winchester!" No-Neck growled.

Dean nonchalantly pulled on his T-shirt. "You get one free shot. After that, I fight back."

No-Necks eyes flashed in anger, and he let his fist fly. Dean barely moved as the connection was made, lifting a finger to his lip to wipe at the faint trickle of blood.

"God. My 15-year-old brother hits harder than you."

Dean regretted that comment a second later, when No-Neck's friends shoved him forward and held him against the lockers. His cheek pressed painfully against the smooth metal.

"Give me one reason not to murder you!" No-Neck threatened.

Dean smirked – a difficult feat when half his face was basically immobile. "I'd like to see you try."

One of No-Neck's friends stepped back, giving the quarterback room to punch Dean in the stomach. Dean doubled over, exhaling in pain. Unfortunately for them, the punch didn't affect Dean as much as he let on. It was actually the opening he was looking for. They didn't suspect a thing as Dean shot back up, fists flying.

Dean won the fight, but it was a bitter victory given the detention he'd be serving later that day.

Not to mention that any joy he felt at having gotten the better of three football players was tarnished by the verbal beating he got from Nikki when school was letting out.

She had been avoiding him most of the day, but now, with the moral support of a couple friends behind her, she stormed up to his locker and slapped him hard across the face.

"I don't know what the hell I was thinking. My God, I threw away a perfect relationship…and for what? It's not like you can offer me anything. You have nothing to offer any woman…and you never will. You're so beneath me!"

As she walked away, his face was a mask of derision and indifference. Inside, though, it started a trickle of self-doubt that would only grow the more often Dean had one-night stands and cheap relationships.

The tirade was apparently enough to get No-Neck to forgive her, as he "generously" took her back the next week. It was also enough for Dean to decide he was never again going to mess around with a woman who was involved with someone else…that he knew of, at least.


Dean avoided girls for the rest of the school year…or maybe they avoided him? All he knew was that his time was spent counting down the days until he finally had his high school diploma. His evenings were spent at the shop, where it was getting harder and harder to not give Bob an answer.

A couple days before graduation, John told Dean that he heard of a bogeyman a few cities over. They would take care of it on Saturday.

Dean swallowed hard, but didn't remind his father what that day was. Sam shot Dean a pointed look, but didn't say anything as Dean subtly shook his head at the younger Winchester.

On Saturday, he fought with everything he had, trying not to think of the cap and gown in his closet, or the fact that the announcer was probably reading his name right now, wondering why no one was standing to walk across the stage and get the diploma.

That night, back in the rundown house they had been staying at, the boys were packing their stuff. John had informed them on the way back that, now that Dean was done with school, they may as well move on.

Dean was trying to find the words to say that he was going to stay, work at the shop, get a degree. Somewhere along the way, he had made his decision. Now he just had to find the courage to do it.

Dean was pulled out of his own thoughts by the anger and frustration that was coming off of Sam in waves. The younger boy was shoving his clothes in the bag, clearly taking his emotions out on the inanimate objects.

"What, Sammy?"

"I just don't understand why we always have to move! So what if you're graduated? I'm not. I like it here. I have friends. I have school too!"

"You knew this was going to happen eventually, Sam."

Sam flopped down on his bed, sighing dramatically. "I know…I know." He turned his head to look at his older brother, a small smile flitting across his lips. "I'm so glad you're with us, Dean.

The younger Winchester looked up at the ceiling, missing the odd look that flashed across his brother's face. "I don't know what I'd do, if it was just me and Dad."

The next day, all three Winchesters left town.