Here it finally is, fellow Nabrina shippers! The Nabrina AU that everyone on Tumblr said they wanted to read more than any of the other AU options. I really enjoyed writing this first chapter, and I hope you all enjoy reading it just as much.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything associated with Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. It is not mine, and it never will be. I just like playing around with the characters sometimes.
Sabrina thinks that becoming stranded in a remote location with a handsome stranger only happens in books and movies — until a room mishap and a raging snowstorm force her into that very tale. But that doesn't necessarily mean it will end happily ever after.
Chapter 1 - One Room Left
"Yeah, yeah. I should be home by tomorrow night," Sabrina says to her aunt, Zelda, through the phone, staring intently at the snow covered road ahead of her. "As long as I can survive this blizzard that seems to be starting up."
"Stop somewhere if you can, there's no rush."
"Are you sure? I thought you said I needed to be there as soon as possible."
"I did say that. However, I'd much rather you end up here late and alive than try to be on time, and get hurt or die."
"Alright, I'll stop at the next place I come across."
"Good. Call me once you safe and settled."
"I will. Love you."
"Love you, too."
The phone call ends and Sabrina throws her phone into the passenger's seat. The snow fall begins to get heavier, the road is getting harder for her to see. Sabrina glances at each side of the road to see if she can see any lights from a motel, or a hotel... or even an inn; she just needed to find somewhere to be safe for the night.
Driving another mile or two, she finally comes across a small town. The streets were bare, every other street light was on permeating the town with just enough light to make someone feel safe walking down the street alone. Sabrina drives slowly through town, looking for a hotel or inn, anywhere. Luck is on her side moments later as a neon sign for Forest Lane Inn appears on the side of the street.
She pulls into the parking lot, parking as close to the front door as she can. The snow was falling much heavier now, so much so that the second she turns off her car, her windshield is damn near covered in the white substance. She quickly grabs her overnight bag from the back and her cellphone from the passenger's seat.
Sabrina takes a deep breath and throws her car door open, making sure to lock it before slamming it shut and running for the inn door. Only seconds in the snow and she's got a chill. She swings the inn door open, and steps inside; the door shuts loudly behind her, causing her to jump slightly.
"Darn it," she mutters under her breath, placing a hand on her chest over her beating heart.
As she makes her way up to the front desk, Sabrina takes her beanie off and shakes the snow off it. There is no one at the counter when she approaches it, however, there is a silver bell. She reaches for it, ringing it once and then twice.
It isn't longer than thirty seconds before a middle-aged woman appears from an open doorway that leads to another area of the inn.
"Hello, miss. How can I help you?" she asks with a smile.
"Are there any more rooms available?" Sabrina asks, leaning against the counter. "The snow is falling way too much for me to get home tonight."
The woman looks down at her book, trailing a finger down the page. She nods as she reaches halfway down the page. "You're in luck. There is one last room available."
Sabrina smiles, relieved. "Oh, good. I'll take it."
"It'll be $165 for the night."
Sabrina's eyes widen. "$165.00?! For just the night?"
The woman nods. "The last room we have is the best room in the best. It has a sitting area, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a half kitchen. Plus a really nice view of the lake."
"Okay. Maybe I can find a way to pay that," Sabrina says quietly.
It's a lot to pay for just one night, but it's either pay it and be warm all night... or she stays in her car and likely freezes. Warm wins, hands down.
Just as she's searching for money in her purse, the front door opens. Sabrina keeps searching, but vaguely listens in on the conversation between the woman and man, based on the other voice, that just entered. He, too, is there because of the sudden insane snow fall. The woman tells him that the last room has just been taken. He's obviously unsure of what to do afterwards. That's when the idea comes to Sabrina.
Sabrina stands up straight, and turns to the man. Her jaw drops only slightly upon seeing him for the first time. If she had to guess, he was about her age. His black hair was slightly slicked back with just the right amount of hair gel, and he wore all black. But that wasn't surprising considering the weather outside.
The man smiles at her, and she smiles back briefly.
Sabrina turns back to the woman managing the front counter. "The room has a living area, right?"
The woman nods. "Yes, it does," she answers.
"Okay then," she says before turning back to the man. "If you agree to pay half of the room fee and stay out in the living area, you can bunk with me."
The man smirks. "You don't even know me," he muses, stepping towards her. "What if I am a serial killer or something?"
Sabrina shrugs. "Hence, the reason you're staying in the living area, and I'm staying behind a door that locks." She grins. "Besides, who is to say I'm not the serial killer."
"Touché."
"So do we have a deal?" Sabrina asks, reaching her hand out.
The man looks towards the door where the snow is clearly falling harder than just moments before. "Deal," he says, nodding as he turns back to Sabrina and takes her hand.
Sabrina smiles briefly before shaking her head and turning to the woman at the desk. "Do you have two keys for the room?"
~snowedinn~
"Due to the fact that we are going to be rooming together tonight, I suppose we should introduce ourselves," the man says as they enter their room for the night. "I'm Nick Scratch."
Sabrina drops her bag inside the door, and turns to him. "Sabrina Spellman," she replies, sticking her hand out. "It's nice to officially meet you, Nick Scratch."
Nick smiles, taking her hand and shaking it. "Likewise."
"The couch looks comfy," Sabrina muses, looking around the room. "Hopefully you can sleep well tonight."
"It's only for one night." He shrugs. "And it's much better than having to sleep outside in my car."
"That is for sure. It's freezing out there!"
"Tell me about it. I was out in it for not even a minute, and I swear my body temperature went down ten degrees at least."
Sabrina laughs as she shrugs out of her coat and hangs it up on the coat rack by the door. "Definite exaggeration, but I can believe it."
Turning around, she takes in the room. The room has a living room with a decent sized couch... Nick should fit and get a good night's sleep... as well as two matching chairs, two glass side tables, and a matching glass coffee table. In front of the living area is a big armoire that Sabrina is sure holds a tv of some sort. Since she's only there for the night, she doesn't feel the need to confirm that. She's here to sleep, not watch tv.
To the left of the living area, there is a pair of double doors that likely lead to the bedroom. To the right, there's a single door which no doubt leads to the bathroom. The room looks more like a mini apartment than it does a guest room for an inn. Not that Sabrina is complaining. It all feels very homely as an inn should.
"Care for some coffee?" Nick asks, interrupting Sabrina's look through of the room, as he walks over to the little kitchen area that is tucked in the corner of the room.
Sabrina narrows her eyes, staring at his retreating back and watching his muscles revealed by his tight shirt. She mentally smacks herself to get herself back in check. "You're not going to slip something into it, are you?" she asks, only half teasing.
"If you really thought I was a bad guy, you wouldn't have agreed to share this room with me."
"I can never be too sure. Plus, who is to say I'm not just a really kindhearted person who couldn't bare to have you sleeping outside in this cold?"
"I doubt anybody is that kindhearted."
Sabrina gives him a pointed look. "I'm letting you stay here tonight, aren't I?"
Nick thinks it over for a short time. "Alright, point well made."
A smile lights up Sabrina's face as she momentarily delves in her small win. "I will take that coffee, though."
~snowedinn~
What seems like minutes, but is actually hours, pass by as Sabrina and Nick talk over a couple cups of coffee. It turns out they had both been travelling to visit friends and family. So talking to each other despite only knowing each other for one night before going their separate ways was nice for them both.
Tomorrow they'd both pack up their things, head out and never see each other again. Sabrina wouldn't say it out loud, but it kind of sucked. She was enjoying the easy, no strings attached, conversation she and Nick were having. It wasn't that easy for her to find a guy who would talk to her like this without expecting something sexual from her in return.
Looking up at the clock on the wall, Sabrina sighs. It's going on one in the morning and she still has a little ways to go before she gets to her aunt's house. The more sleep she could get before then, the better.
"It's getting late," Sabrina points out, tilting her head towards the clock. "Got a long drive ahead of me, and you probably do, too."
Nick nods as he stands up, picks up both of their empty coffee mugs and goes over to the kitchen area. "Yeah, we probably should both get some sleep. Don't want either of us to fall asleep at the wheel."
"I'll definitely pass on that. I have too much left to do in life first."
"What do you do?"
"Uh, I'm a travel journalist."
"You've been all around the world then?"
Sabrina shrugs. "Some places, hopefully yes to your question by time I am too old and tired to travel anymore."
"I enjoy travelling all over."
"Are you a journalist, too?"
Nick shakes his head and laughs. "Oh, no. I'm an awful writer."
Sabrina smirks, leaning back against the kitchenette counter. "Alright then. What do you do?"
"I'm a local tour guide."
"Doesn't local mean once place?"
"It's more broad than that. I work as a tour guide in many places. My dad was in the military so I travelled to many places as a kid. Now I go back to those places and work as a tour guide for a while before moving on to the next place."
"Sounds fun."
"As fun as being a travel journalist, surely."
"Maybe we will meet back up again somewhere," Sabrina muses.
"If you're ever where I am tour guiding at the time, I'll happily give you a free tour. Help you out with your latest article."
"I will definitely hold you to that."
"I'll hold my own self to it as well."
"Alright, well goodnight," Sabrina says, heading for the bedroom. "It was really nice meeting you and talking for a bit."
"Same to you." Nick smiles. "Who knew a snowstorm could turn out to be a good thing?"
"It did turn out well, didn't it?"
"Yes, it really did."
"I'll maybe see you tomorrow before one of us leaves."
Nick nods. "Maybe."
"Okay. Night."
Sabrina offers him a brief smile before heading into the bedroom for the night. Despite what she'd said earlier, she did not lock the bedroom door. Her gut wasn't giving her a reason to fear him over night; said gut had rarely steered her wrong in the past.