Another long one with lots of things that happened! I love it though. Probably two/three more chapters? Work slowed down (we did this thing where a person came in and looked at everything to make sure that we follow rules/regulations correctly and we PASSED! My other manager and I went out for drinks to celebrate because we were so nervous about failing.) so I'm hoping to not be as tired so I'll have energy to write. Anyway, as per usual, thank you for your reviews (Kittygirl225, Tari4078, Amy945, hectatess, and horsegirl2430), favs, and follows! You guys are AMAZING and I love you!
Sam stared at the clock on the diner's wall. He hadn't seen a customer in almost an hour. The first snow in December always made people a little weary about driving, so once it had started falling, the patrons began paying and flocking to their cars, so the diner was unusually dead for a Friday night. Garth poked his head out of the window.
"Sam, did you scare everybody away?"
"Now why would people be afraid of me?"
"The hair and the jawline. It's very intimidating for us regular folk." Sam rolled his eyes and threw a towel at Garth. Garth threw it back. "Mama Tran will probably have you out of here soon."
"Good, I…" The bell above the door rang and they both looked up to see Dean brushing snow out of his hair. "Hey, Dean. What are you doing here?" Dean held up an envelope addressed to Sam from, at least according to the corner, The Stanford Admissions Office. Sam caught his breath.
"Sorry, I just…I couldn't wait for you to get home." Dean handed Sam the envelope and Sam stared at it for a long time. Mrs. Tran came out of the office.
"Sam, why don't…oh." She looked at Dean and smiled. "Hello, Dean. How are you?" She leaned over the counter and gave Dean a kiss on his cheek.
"Great, thank you, Linda." Dean smiled back. "I heard Kevin got into Princeton on early decision." Mrs. Tran beamed.
"He did! He's so excited. He wants to leave for New Jersey now." She looked at Sam. "Have you heard from Stanford yet?" Sam held out the envelope.
"Dean just brought it."
"Well open it! Open it!" Sam inhaled deeply and opened the letter.
Dear Sam,
Congratulations! It is with great pleasure that I offer you admission to Stanford University.
There was more but Sam didn't read it. He just kept reading the opening line over and over. His face broke into a huge grin.
"I got accepted." Sam looked up at Dean and repeated himself. "I got in." Sam came around the counter and gave his brother a hug. Sam really couldn't believe it. Everything was finally okay.
"I'm so proud of you, Sammy." Dean whispered in his ear. Sam felt the tears come to his eyes and wiped them away.
"That's great, honey!" Mrs. Tran gave him a big hug too, and Garth came from the kitchen to give him one as well.
"Congrats, Sam!"
"Why don't you head home and celebrate?" Sam smiled wide.
"Thanks, Mrs. Tran. I'll see you later." Sam finished what he needed to do before placing his apron back under the counter.
"Congratulations again, Sam!" Garth called as Sam and Dean walked out the door. Dean walked Sam to his car before he put his hands in his pockets and looked around, then at Sam.
"So, Gabriel doesn't live far from here, does he?" Sam squinted at his brother, confused.
"Nooo, why?" Dean shrugged.
"I mean, you probably want to tell him that you're going to California. And I'm sure he'll want to know that you heard back from them."
"Are you…saying that I can go to Gabriel's?" Dean nodded. "By myself?" Dean hesitated, but nodded again.
"I want you home by eleven. And if you're late…"
"I won't be! I swear. Thank you, Dean."
"Yeah, yeah, just go before I change my mind." Sam gave his brother another quick hug before he went to his car. He couldn't get the smile off his face. He drove to Gabriel's apartment and run up to the door. He knocked and was greeted by Gabriel in pajama pants, a t-shirt, and mug of what looked like hot chocolate.
"Sam-a-lam." Gabriel grabbed Sam by his coat and pulled him inside before giving him a quick kiss and shutting the door. "Does Dean know you're here?"
"He does. Actually, he told me that I could come here, because I got this in the mail." Sam grabbed the envelope out of his inner pocket and handed it to Gabriel. Gabriel stared at it like Sam had. He then pulled the letter out and read. His face broke into a grin as well, he looked up at Sam and gave him a kiss. They broke apart and Sam smiled.
"I am so proud of you, kiddo."
"Thanks, I still can't believe it. I just…I keep thinking maybe this is a prank or something."
"No way, Sammy boy. This is all you. I knew you could do it. Want some hot chocolate to celebrate?"
"Nah." Sam pulled Gabriel into another kiss.
Sam had left twenty minutes ago, and now Gabriel was back on his laptop. He had an email he really needed to respond to. He had known this was coming. He knew that Sam was going to be accepted to Stanford, and he had been prepared.
"Dear Mister Novak,
Thank you for your interest in teaching at Palo Alto High School. I am happy to inform you that we will have an opening in the English department at the beginning of next year. I would be happy to meet with you for an interview or have one over the phone if that would be more convenient for you. Please email me back as soon as you can so we can set up a time.
Thank you,
Pamela Barnes
Principal, Palo Alto High School"
Gabriel thought for a minute. Maybe he could go for a weekend and then surprise Sam with a Christmas present of him going with him to California. But what if Sam didn't want Gabriel to come? What if Gabriel was reading everything wrong and Sam was going to say 'Oh, you're going to come with me? This is awkward.' Well, let's worry about getting the job first.
"So, where are you going?" Sam asked a week later on Gabriel's bed as Gabriel packed. Dean had finally allowed Sam over for a couple hours after school, as long as he didn't miss work and he didn't miss curfew.
"Just a trip. Little vacay." Gabriel turned to grab a tie.
"And I can't come?" Gabriel looked at Sam. He seemed sad. Gabriel wanted to tell him, but he also wanted it to be a surprise if he actually got the job.
"You know Dean wouldn't allow that. Plus, you have finals to study for this weekend. I hear that Creative Writing one is going to be a bitch." Sam rolled his eyes.
"I'm pretty sure our teacher said there is no final, just a final portfolio."
"Oh yeah, well, I know your pre-calc one will suck."
"That's not until Wednesday, and Kevin and I are going to help each study." Sam picked at the bed cover.
"Sam, babe," Gabriel sat next to him and placed his hand on one of his knees. Sam looked at Gabriel. "I promise you, I'll be home Monday and I'll tell you all about my trip." Gabriel kissed Sam on the cheek before standing up again and grabbing some more clothes.
"Where are you even going?"
"Like I said, I'll tell you when I get back." Sam sighed.
"Fine. I do need to get to work though." Sam gave Gabriel a kiss before Gabriel walked him to the front door, the two shared another kiss, and Sam left. Gabriel sighed, trying to decide if this was really what he wanted to do. To be with Sam though, Gabriel knew he'd do anything.
Gabriel smiled at the blonde receptionist in the office. She smiled back.
"Hi, I'm Gabriel Novak, here to see Ms. Barnes."
"Oh! Yes, just a moment. I'll go grab her." The girl disappeared into an office and came out with a brunette woman in jeans, a t-shirt, and black boots. She smiled and offered her hand.
"Hi, Pamela Barnes, so nice to meet you." Gabriel suddenly felt overdressed in a suit. "Come on in, come on in." She led the way back to an office. She took a seat behind her desk and Gabriel sat across from her. "So! Tired of the winters in Kansas?" Pamela smiled. Gabriel could tell that he already liked her.
"You could say that. Actually, my boyfriend is going to go to Stanford and…" Pamela held up her hand.
"Say no more." Pamela pulled a piece of paper out of her desk, stared at it for a moment, and then back at Gabriel. "So, I guess we already talked about why California, and I understand why Palo Alto, but why Palo Alto High? There are other schools in the area." Gabriel nodded.
"I know, and I saw that, but I also saw the difference in how many kids were in the schools and what some of the parents have said about this school compared to the other schools." Pamela kept her mouth in a line, not showing anything.
"And why did those make you choose us?"
"The class sizes are small, and I like that. The parents seem very supportive of not only their kids, but of the administration and you and it seems like something I want to be a part of." Pamela smiled again.
"Those sound like good things. Now, I didn't speak with Mr. Shurley, as per your request, but I did speak with a Mr. Cox and he seemed very pleased with you. He seemed very upset that you left at all and now that you're possibly leaving the state." Gabriel chuckled.
"Yes, he took it a little hard, but he knew it was a good opportunity for me to go to Lawrence, and now I think I need to be in Palo Alto." Pamela and Gabriel spoke for almost another hour before the secretary came back in.
"Pamela, I'm sorry, but that Ash boy got sent here again." Pamela rolled her eyes and then looked at Gabriel.
"Sorry, but if you're here for the rest of the weekend would you want to maybe get a drink and I can show you around town? Good places for dates and what not." Pamela winked.
"Yeah, that would be great. So, I take it this went well?"
"Oh very well, matter of fact, I would like to offer you the job here and now." Gabriel was actually taken aback. He hadn't been expecting that.
"I…yeah! I…I mean, I would love to. Thank you." Gabriel offered his hand and Pamela took and shook it.
"Of course! Now, we need to go out and celebrate. I'll see you tonight. I've got your number, so don't freak out when I call you."
The rest of the weekend had been fun. Pamela had shown him some fun restaurants, bars, and possible apartments near both schools. Gabriel grabbed one of the applications to one of them that he thought would actually work. On Sunday, he and Pamela went to breakfast and she asked more about his personal life. He was careful with his details about Sam, mostly avoiding his age and what he did now. Pamela told him about her life and how she became a principal. It had been a lot of fun. Now Gabriel couldn't wait until he got home to tell Sam his good news.
"Sammy! Is the bathroom clean?" Dean shouted as he came home. It was a couple days before Christmas.
"Yes, I got my chores done." Sam replied from the couch. He had wanted this Christmas to be extra special. Gabriel, Castiel, and Bobby were going to be coming over. Charlie and Dorothy were originally going to come as well, but Dorothy's father had invited them to his reclusive island for Christmas, and Charlie "was going to be damned if she didn't get to go get a tan".
"Good. I think this is going to be a good Christmas, Sammy." Dean smiled at his brother before walking into the kitchen to start on dinner.
Christmas Eve came cold and windy with snow coming down way too fast. Everybody was most likely going to have to stay at the Winchester's. Sam still hadn't talked to Gabriel about his trip. He'd been working as much as possible over break to save money for gifts for everybody and now that he was going to have time to actually talk to Gabriel, he needed to know what was going on.
Gabriel and Castiel arrived, covered in snow and shaking it off of them as they stepped inside.
"I just cleaned that floor." Dean rumbled as he gave Castiel a kiss, leading him to the kitchen to finish dinner. Sam grabbed Gabriel's hand and pulled him into his bedroom (with the door open, per both Dean and Gabriel's requests).
"How was your mysterious trip?"
"Great! The wife and kids are good." Gabriel smirked. Sam frowned at him.
"You know, it's not nice to mess with your boyfriend on Christmas."
"Aw, Sammy, are you really this upset? Babe, I told you, it's a good thing. Actually, I was going to tell you about it tonight." Sam stared at Gabriel quizzically. Gabriel suddenly seemed very nervous, as if he wasn't sure how to say what he needed to.
"Sam, you know I love you, right?" Sam nodded slowly. "Do you know how much I hate being apart from you? How much I hate the fact that you haven't been sleeping in my arms for months?" Sam was quiet, wondering where this rant from Gabriel was going. "I miss you. Even when we're in class together because I can't touch you. I just want to hold you, run my fingers through your hair, something, but I can't."
"Gabe," Sam whispered, but Gabriel put a finger to Sam's lips, silencing him.
"What I'm trying to tell you, Sammoose, is that I miss you this bad when we're in the same state. Do you know how crazy I'd go in August without you here?" Sam had been secretly thinking the same thing. Was this it though? Was Gabriel saying he didn't want to be with Sam anymore because he was leaving?
"What are you saying?" Sam's voice was thick. Gabriel gave him a gentle smile and tucked some of Sam's hair back.
"How would you feel about me coming to California with you?" Sam stilled for a moment. He hadn't heard that right.
"I…I'm sorry?"
"When I left? I was going to a job interview at Palo Alto High school, and I got it. I'm starting in August, the day after your orientation. I found us an apartment that I would be able to afford, even if you just wanted to focus on school and…Sam please say something." Sam hadn't said anything. He was still trying to comprehend. Gabriel was going to come with him. Gabriel had found an apartment that they were going to live in. Together. The two of them. Sam rocketed himself forward onto Gabriel's mouth, kissing him desperately, trying to let him know everything that he wanted to say. Thank you, I love you, I can't wait to live with you, I love you, you're amazing, I LOVE YOU.
"Hey!" They broke apart at Dean's voice. Sam hadn't realized that his eyes had watered even more while he was kissing Gabriel. "Bobby's here, and dinner is ready."
"Thanks, Dean." Sam said, breathlessly. He was smiling, and couldn't stop it. He also didn't move.
"Come on, I don't want to kick Gabriel out on Christmas." Gabriel knew Dean would probably do it. Dean walked away as Gabriel stood up and took Sam's hand.
"So, I take it that you're okay with me coming with you?"
"Are you kidding? Gabriel, you are willing to give up an amazing job, move to a place that you don't know anybody, and want to support me while I go to school? You are the most amazing person I've ever met." Sam gave Gabriel another kiss before the two went out to the dining room.
"Finally, what took you two so long?" Sam squeezed Gabriel's hand.
"Actually, Gabriel was just giving me some good news."
"Oh yeah?" Bobby said, from the head of the table.
"Dean-o, good news, you know how we talked about Sam moving into those cramped dorms and you have no idea what kind of person he'd room with and it could be bad?" Sam glanced between the two of them, trying to remember when they had talked without him there.
"Um…yes?"
"Well, how about I go out there with him?" Dean stared at Gabriel.
"What exactly do you mean?"
"I mean I'm going to California. And, if you and Bobby are okay with it, I would like to have Sam move in with me there. I got a job at Palo Alto high school, and…"
"You just went a got a job in California?" The hurt voice didn't come from Dean, but Castiel. Gabriel looked at his brother.
"Well, yeah?" Gabriel was confused. He'd never had Castiel challenge him about something that was actually good for him.
"And you just…. decided this? Without talking to anybody?"
"I…I guess so?" Castiel glared at Gabriel before walking out of the room. Dean looked between the hall and Gabriel shocked.
"I um…I should go get him." Dean offered. Gabriel stood in front of him.
"No, I got it." Gabriel walked into Dean's room where Castiel was standing, staring out the window, his back to the door. He took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry. Now I know how Dean feels." Castiel turned around. "I just worry about you. There's a lot of trouble for you to get into in California. And nobody will be there to bail you out."
"I'll have Sam, and I'll make friends." Castiel lunged himself at Gabriel. The two hugged and Castiel pulled away, wiping his eyes.
"We'll come visit you. Dean and I. And you and Sam will take care of each other." Gabriel smiled.
"Yeah, we will."
"You two are breakin my heart, can we eat now?" The Novak brothers looked at over and saw Bobby and the Winchesters watching them.
"Everything okay, Cas?" Dean stepped into the room. Castiel smiled.
"Yes, thank you, Dean. Are we ready to eat?" Bobby nodded and lead the way back to the dining room, the two couples in tow.
