Skylar could hear the familiar humming of the Impala pulling up next to her. For a moment she actually thought that Dean would leave her be and realize that she wanted to be left alone. But she clearly gave him more credit than he deserved.
She risked a glance over at him to witness him peering through the open passenger side window, staring up at her expectantly, with one wrist draped over the steering wheel. They stayed like that for several moments as he drove slowly next to her fast paced walking.
"Get in the car, Sky."
She stayed silent.
Dean sighed. "We can do this all night, or we can go back to your house and pretend like this little tantrum of yours never existed."
"Or we can pretend like I never existed at all since that is clearly what you and my dad want."
Dean stopped the car despite Skylar's continued steps. However, she paused to look back, surprised that he would give up so easily. He exited the car, the street completely deserted aside from the two of them.
Instead of coming to stand next to her, he leaned on the hood of his car, his hands tucked into his leather jacket. "You look cold."
She shivered, not realizing how chilly she had been until that very moment.
"Walking warms me up and you're determined to stop me," she turned around to leave again. "Just let me go, Dean."
"Why do you think I come to see you like clockwork?"
Without missing a beat, she turned to face him and said, "Don's burgers and that skank waitress we all know you're fucking."
Dean's face twisted in amusement, his handsome features raised in surprise. Skylar watched his full lips cock into a smirk before nodding his head slightly in agreement.
"I don't give you enough credit, Baby Girl. You're more observant than I thought."
"Observant?" she guffawed. "It doesn't take much when you ask her out right in front of the person. Of course I noticed."
"And is that why you're mad? Because I like to have a little fun when I'm in town?"
Skylar rolled her eyes, feeling the anger boil up inside her. "I can give a rat's ass about some man whore's definition of fun. You and I both know that you don't come to town to see me."
Dean rubbed his temples, taking a slow breath to calm down before speaking his words. "You're my responsibility. Yes, I like to eat…yes, I like sex…yes, there is a job in town as we speak…but like it or not, you're stuck with me. It's time you got use to that."
"But you just told my dad…"
"I know what I told him. And he is trying to shove you off on me. We aren't supposed to be together until you're at least eighteen, and even then, I think you should go to college first."
"College," she lifted a dark eyebrow in surprise. She folded her arms defensively before speaking. "You hated Sam for going off to college."
He nodded his head in agreement. "True. But mostly it had to do with him and dad fighting over it. I would have preferred it if he had stayed in the family business rather than force me to take a side."
"You know, my parents were younger than me when they got together," Skylar said with a shrug, trying to say her piece nonchalantly.
Dean seemed surprised by her sudden declaration and subject change, but quickly recovered. "And your dad wasn't 12 years older than your mom, either."
"So," she said while avoiding his intense green eyed stare at all costs.
"So…what are you saying?"
She sighed, "All I'm saying is that through all of the fights that you and my dad seem to go through, not once did you ever ask me what I want."
"No disrespect, Baby Girl, but you're just a kid."
"And that's the problem. You guys treat me like I'm still a child. Well, I'm not!" she stomped her foot in retaliation.
Dean's lips quirked once again. "I see that."
"I hate you," she ground out. Skylar turned her back to him, rocking back on the heels of her feet.
"No you don't," he said in a self-assured manner. "And I'm going to play into your hands right now, and ask you…what do you want?"
She whipped her head around, surprised. Maybe it a trick…a joke. "It's not like you'll actually take me seriously."
"Try me," Dean said in a low voice, barely above a whisper. He began sauntering towards her shivering form, shrugging out his leather jacket and placing it around her shoulders. "What…do…you…want?"
"I think I hate my dad more than I hate you."
His eyes danced with amusement. However, there remained a trace of seriousness behind the green depth.
"Meaning," he urged on.
"Meaning…I just want to be left alone. That's what I want."
Dean swallowed, the strain in his neck obvious. Several emotions passed over his features before he landed on his usual carefree look. "You know we can't do that."
"And why not."
"You know why not," Dean said. He grabbed her by her bare thigh, causing her to yelp and grab hold of his firm body for support.
"Let me go!" she shrieked.
"This damn mark is why I can't leave you alone. Whether we like it or not, you…belong…to…me."
"I don't belong to anyone," Skylar said in a defiant tone, her lips pursed in distain.
"That's where you're wrong. Whether you like or not…and no matter how dated branding may be…you belong to me. So deal with it," he growled out his last words.
She was frozen in place by the anger and possessiveness he displayed. His anger had always scared her, but in turn, she always found herself riveted by this beautiful man.
"Then just get it over with, and take me with you."
"I will…when you're older."
"And why not now? What's the difference?"
He chuckled low, his hand grabbing her by her loose dark hair, pulling her head back in a rough gesture.
Her face was a mere inch from his own, and despite his manhandling, she was more intrigued than frightening.
"Two years. That's the difference."
"It's not a crime to take me with you."
Dean let go of her hair, pushing her head to the side so that she had to take several steps backwards to catch her balance.
"You're too damn innocent for your own good."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Get in the car."
Before she could say anything else, Dean got into the driver's seat and revved the engine, waiting for her to get inside. Reluctantly, she opened the door and slid into the cool leather, the soft sounds of Bob Seger drifting to her ears. He began driving straight down the road rather than turning around, taking the long way home.
"I'll have to marry you if I take you with me."
His voice was barely above a whisper, Skylar was unsure if she heard him correctly. She hesitated.
"You don't have…"
"I do. I can't have you with me if we don't do this right."
"And that's what you and my dad were fighting about in the kitchen?"
"He's willing to just hand you off," Dean clenched tight to the steering wheel, his anger beginning to surface once again. "If he wanted me to watch out for you while he went wild…went hunting, then whatever. But he wants to pass you off to me. He wants to leave and never look back, and that means that it's over. He wants me to marry you now so that he can cut all ties."
Skyler pulled Dean's leather jacket closer to her shivering body, unsure of what to say. He just told her that her father wanted nothing to do with her. Ike's distain for his daughter was evident, but hearing what he had spoken to Dean about that she, herself, had not been aware of, was entirely different. She was shocked into silence. Embarrassed.
"And will you?"
"Will I what?" Dean said with a quick glance her way.
"Marry me? Now?"
"That's the last thing I want," he shook his head heavy and then breathed deep. "But I will."
Skylar tried her best to hold back her tears.
"Okay."