The next morning, Dean and Sam were back on the road.
"Bayport. Next exit." Sam read a road sign as they passed. "Hey! Isn't that the place those two guys were headed?"
"Oh yeah." Dean nodded his head. He had no intention of going to Bayport, but sometimes fate had a different view. "Oh no! Not now! No!" He couldn't imagine the same thing happening twice in one trip, but here he was again, looking at the gas gage, cursing himself for his stupidity.
"Dean? Are we outta gas again?" Sam laughed at his brother, as he took the exit.
"No!" Dean shot Sam a sharp look. "I have just enough to get us to a gas station." But Dean's retort did little to silence Sam's laughter. He guffawed all the way to the service station where Dean instantly got out to fill up the tank.
"Excuse me." A teenaged girl slowly approached their vehicle.
"Yes? What can I do for you?" Dean asked as he looked her over. She was petite, blonde, and good-looking, with a dark blue sweatshirt and denim mini-skirt. Dean's smile widened when he saw her eyes wander to his car.
"That your car?" The girl asked, obviously impressed. It seemed she had suddenly forgotten her own problem.
"Yep. That she is." Dean's smile widened. "You like?"
The girl looked to him. "Sure. You don't see many of those around nowadays."
"Don't I know it."
They stood silently for a while, both staring at the Impala. Sam's head suddenly popped out the window. "Hey, does it really take that long to pump… oh." Sam's expression changed upon seeing the girl.
"Hi." She said, somewhat embarrassedly, Dean noticed.
"Uh huh." Sam said before leaning back over to his side of the car.
"Oh! That reminds me!" The girl looked back to Dean. "I was wondering if you might have a car jack I could borrow. You see my car's got a flat and the man in the service station doesn't seem to know where his went."
"Uh. I might. Let me check the trunk." Dean walked to the trunk and popped it opened with the key, making sure to leave the false bottom down when he saw the girl follow. "Uh…" He looked around, "Here!"
"Thanks." She smiled at him again taking the jack from his outstretched hand.
"No prob. I'm Dean by the way. What about you? Got a name, Sweetheart?" He asked following her back to her green Honda.
She gave him a guarded look and replied plainly. "It's Callie."
"Dude! Where are you going?" Sam stuck his head out the window and yelled to Dean.
"Shut up, Sam!" Dean yelled back to him through gritted teeth. Sam scoffed and leaned back against his seat once more.
"Little brother?" The girl asked him.
"Yeah." Dean told her with a shake of his head.
"Can't say I understand. I'm an only child, but then again, my boyfriend has a little brother and sometimes I just want to smack him upside the head." She chuckled. By now they had reached her car and she crouched down near the rear right tire.
"Boy-boyfriend? Oh…" Dean stuttered. Of course she has a boyfriend! Why wouldn't she? Just my luck! He hated that when that happened.
She paused and looked up at him, "Something wrong?"
"Oh no… Nothing!" He forced a smile. "Anyways. You need some help?"
"Sure." She set the jack on the ground and waited for Dean to pump it. "You know," She said after awhile of silent work, "If you're worried about Frank decking you because you helped me with my car, you can forget it. He's not the jealous type." Dean suspected Frank was the name of the boyfriend.
"Frank, huh?" Dean asked then it hit him. "Wait! Is Frank's little brother Joe?"
Callie looked to him again. She seemed startled. "H-how did you know that?" But Dean was already ahead in his thoughts.
"Hardy… That was it! Frank Hardy. Am I right?"
Her tone was cautious. "Yes…"
"Man, what are the odds?" Dean thought aloud.
"Odds? You've met Frank?"
"Yeah. He helped us out last night. We ran outta gas and he and Joe drove us to the gas station and back." Dean laughed.
Callie laughed as well, "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Frank and Joe are constantly traveling." She began to pull the wheel away from its axel and then reached for the spare.
"Yeah." Dean could see her trying to lift the wheel. "Here let me help you with that."
She smiled at him. "Thanks." She looked so beautiful that Dean almost forgot she was taken.
"Yeah." He smiled back.
"Dean! Let's go!" Sam's voice came again. He was out of the car this time and walking towards the older two. "Please?" He added quickly.
"We're almost done." Dean replied and watched as Callie secured the spare tire into place. When she had finished she stood, brushing her hands on her skirt. "You good?"
"Yeah, thanks." She picked up a toolbox lying nearby and put it in the back of her vehicle. She then retrieved the jack and handed it back to Dean.
"Thanks. Glad we could help." Dean smiled at her again.
Sam looked from his brother to the blonde and then groaned loudly. "Can we go now?"
"Yeah, Sam. We can go." He looked back to the pretty blonde, "Tell Frank and Joe 'Hi' for us."
"Sure." She nodded at him again and opened the door to her car. She got in and looked back up at him one last time.
"Drive safe." He said as he closed the door to her car for her.
She looked down at the dashboard and then back at the brothers. "Hey, did the two of you have lunch yet?"
Dean's grin widened again, "Nope! Not yet."
"Dean?" Sam looked up at his brother.
"Can it, Sammy." Dean glared at him. Sam sighed and crossed his arms across his chest. Dean then looked back to Callie. "Did you want to go out?"
Callie grinned. "That was the idea. My treat, considering the two of you came to my rescue." She placed her hands on the steering wheel. "Burgers okay?"
"Better then okay!"
"Alright, then. There's this burger joint just up the road. Why don't you follow me and I'll show you the way?"
"Lead on!" Dean rushed back to the car dragging Sam along behind him. They reached the car and Dean took the gas pump out and placed it back in the slot. "Come on, Sam! Get in!" Sam reluctantly followed his brother's command and took his time as he reentered the vehicle and buckled his seatbelt.
"Dean?" Sam asked once his brother had gotten back in the car. "Why are we going to lunch with her?"
"Oh come on! Sam, she's hot!"
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Didn't she mention a boyfriend?"
"You were you listening in on our conversation?"
"Well..."
"Man, Sammy, you suck. Stay out of my love life!" Dean frowned at him.
"Dude. I don't want to think about your love life! Gross!" Sam hit his arm.
Dean grinned and looked back out the front windshield. Callie waved to him and he waved back. Soon he had the engine started and followed the green Honda out onto the road and down a couple of blocks to the restaurant. Callie parked her vehicle and he pulled up along beside. He turned off the engine and unbuckled his seatbelt.
"Anxious are we?" Sam teased, also releasing himself from the belt. Dean shot him 'The look'. "Just go, Dean."
The two Winchester brothers exited the car and joined Callie on the sidewalk. The three of them then went into the restaurant and took a seat by the window. A waitress soon joined them.
"What can I get you folks today?"
"Iced Tea, please." Said Callie.
"Coffee." Dean told her.
"Water." Sam grinned at her.
"Okay, sweetie. Be back with those drinks." With that she walked back toward the kitchen leaving the three youth alone again. Dean elbowed his brother, who stopped smiling.
"So..." Callie sighed and leaned back in her seat. "What brings you guys to Bayport?"
"Just passing through." Sam said before his brother got a chance to say any different. Callie nodded.
"We were getting low on gas and it was the nearest city." Dean shrugged.
The waitress soon returned with their drinks. "You kids ready to order?" She asked them, handing each teen a glass.
Callie looked to the brothers.
"A hamburger." Sam said, folding his menu.
"Same." Dean nodded.
The waitress looked to Callie. "And you?"
"A cheeseburger, please; hold the onion." Callie smiled.
The waitress wrote down their orders, and then grabbed the menus. "Be back shortly." Sam watched as she turned and went back to the kitchen.
"So…" Callie was saying when the younger Winchester looked back to his dining companions. "If you're not visiting Bayport, where are you two headed?" She stirred her drink with her straw before taking a sip.
"Uh. We don't know yet." Sam admitted to her.
"Wanderers, eh?" She teased, her question accompanied by a sly smile. Sam stole a glace up at his brother before forcing a laugh at Callie.
"Wanderers. That's funny." Dean said trying a bit too hard to sound convincing.
"You mean, I'm right?" She seemed surprised. She had noticed the catch in his voice.
"What? No! I mean… Well my brother and I are just on a trip before I move out." Dean explained.
"You two are close aren't you?" Callie looked from the oldest to the youngest, then back again.
"More then you know." Dean smiled at her.
She laughed then. "Man! This is crazy! You guys are just like Frank & Joe!"
"Really? You think so?" Sam looked up at her from his drink.
Callie nodded. "They do practically everything together." She sipped at her iced tea slowly. A smile still creased her lips. "The surest sign that something is wrong is whenever the two of them aren't together."
"Joe didn't seem to be in a very good mood when we met them." Dean looked to Callie again.
"Doesn't surprise me. He's a hot-head. It doesn't take much to set him off."
"Hm." Was all Sam had to say before turning his attention to the bells on the diner door. More kids, around their ages, came walking in.
"So…" Dean said to Callie, "Have you lived here long?"
"For most of my life." Replied Callie.
"Cool." Dean nodded taking a sip of his coffee. Sam was getting restless, and Dean could tell.
"Dean?" Sam whined his brother's name.
"What, Sammy?" Dean answered irately. Sam didn't say anything just stared at him and Dean knew just what he was thinking. Why did we come here? This is boring!
The waitress returned with their meals and set each in front of the correct person, refilling their drinks. "How's everything? Can I get you anything else?" She asked as she poured more water into Sam's glass.
"Fine." Sam grumbled.
"We're fine. Thanks!" Dean said trying to detour the waitresses attention away from his brother.
The waitress smiled at him and then left the table. Callie, meanwhile, snatched a fry off her plate and popped it into her mouth. "Delicious!" She commented and then gave the boys a guilty smile. "I know, I probably should be eating healthier, but some things…" She ate another fry, "Are just so hard to say no to."
Dean laughed and took a fry off his own plate and popped it in his mouth. "Don't I know it!"
"Hey, Callie." A pink-clad girl suddenly came to the table.
Callie turned, "Vanessa! Hi! What are you doing here?"
"Mom and I came in for lunch." Replied the fair-haired girl. "We were in the area doing a little bit of back-to-school shopping." Her eyes wandered to the Winchesters.
"Oh!" Callie said suddenly. "Vanessa Bender? Meet Dean and Sam." She motioned towards the two brothers who sat across from her at the booth.
"Hi." Vanessa smiled.
"Hi." Dean smiled up at her. Sam just waved two fingers at her.
"Where's your mother?" Callie asked her friend.
"She's over at the counter. I saw you and told her I was going to say 'hi'."
"See Frank and Joe lately?" Callie continued.
"No. But they were scheduled to return from their trip today. Joe should have called me…" Vanessa looked over at the Winchester brothers and smiled. "Anyhow, I'd better get back to the counter. Nice to meet you guys."
"You too." Dean smiled at her again.
Vanessa fluttered her fingers and then left the table.
"Joe's girlfriend." Callie told them.
"Oh okay." Dean nodded in understanding. Man! Another cute girl taken!
"You sound disappointed…" Callie teased, but then her smile faded and she sighed. She took the top off her cheeseburger and added some more ketchup from the table dispenser.
"What? Me disappointed? Nah!" Dean joked with her.
Callie didn't reply, but rather continued on with her meal. She returned the top bun to her sandwich and took a bite. Ketchup slid out the end and landed on her plate.
Sam picked at his burger not really pay attention to his brother and his non-date.
Callie took a couple more bites and then, finally turned back to the brothers. "Sorry." She apologized somewhat sheepishly. "Lost in my own thoughts."
"All good. I'm kinda the same way right now." Dean told her. Looking at you!
Callie put down the burger and turned back to her fries. She smiled. "So…. Um… where are you guys from, again?"
"All over." Sam said including himself back into the conversation.
"What my brother means is: we move around a lot." Dean elaborated his brother's statement.
"How can you keep a job?" Callie wanted to know.
"We live with our dad." Sam answered again. "He moves us around for his work."
Callie nodded. "Home schooled?" She looked to Sam.
"Nope. I go to a different school whenever we move." Sam sounded a bit thwarted in his answer.
Callie didn't look like she believed him, but then said nothing further on the subject. She pushed her plate off to the side. "Well, I guess I'd better get going."
"Going?" Dean looked at her disbelievingly.
"Yeah." She flashed him another smile. "I need to get to my aunt's house at around two to help her paint her fence. That's where I was headed when my tire blew… Wait," She paused. "I didn't mention that before?"
"No."
"Well see ya!" Sam said taking a bit of his burger again.
Callie only glanced at him briefly before scooting out of the booth and standing, retrieving her purse. "Don't worry about the balance, I'll get a hold of the waitress and pay for it now."
"No. No. No. We'll get it!" Dean looked up at her from his seat. "Can't let a girl pay for us."
"Hey, you guys fixed my car. I owe you one." She took out her wallet. "Let's compromise: I pay the check, you do the tip?"
"Or the other way around." Dean winked at her.
Callie raised her eyebrow. Dean couldn't tell if she liked the attention or not. He hoped for the first.
Just then, the waitress returned with their check. "How's it going? Can I get you three any dessert?"
"No thanks," Said Callie quickly, taking the receipt. "Thanks."
"No problem." She looked to Dean, "Want more coffee?"
Dean looked over towards Callie, but she was already gone. Outdone by a girl. He shook his head amusedly.
"Can we go now, Dean?" Sam asked his brother bringing his attention back to him.
"Um… sure." Dean pulled out his wallet, removing a few bills for the tip. His thoughts were still on Callie. Part of him was tempted to stay in Bayport a few extra days, but deep down he knew Sam wouldn't stand for that. "Let's go." He laid the couple dollars on the table and then slid out of the booth. He knew they wouldn't be staying in Bayport, but still, he couldn't help but wonder if he'd see Callie again.
A/N: Well what did you think? We are going to start chapter 4 here soon! As I have done before I am asking for at LEAST two reviews before posting the next chapter. Who knows where this story may go! Anyways! Thanks for reading!
R&R!
Britt and Friend!