Chapter 2 "Didn't you get the memo?"
If he had to pinpoint a time when it all started to unravel, he would have chosen then.
Meg had been working the bar for three weeks and showed no sign of leaving.
To Sam and Cas's relief, Dean pulled himself together quickly, dusted off his pride and began to treat Meg like a human being rather than a conquest.
Although there was a quiet flirtation there at times, it seemed very much to Cas, as though it was purely friendship.
A swat to her ass as he passed Meg would earn Dean a dead arm for 10 minutes. Even Sam was warming to her in his own way.
Cas had found him talking animatedly to her about his plans to go back to collage, his desire to go into law and she was praising him, gently pushing him forwards like a little brother.
He liked that.
How she was becoming part of their little work family.
Sometimes Cas found being in the middle of Sam and Dean exhausting, so having Meg take some of the load was a god send so far as he was concerned.
"Cas!"
He nearly dropped the glasses he was stacking.
Meg grinned. "You were zoning out there little trooper. You ok?"
Cas nodded and tried a smile. "I'm fine. Thank you."
She tilted her head slightly and touched his shoulder. "How about you buy me a drink after work?"
Wednesday was always early closing at Dean's, but further in town there were still bars open at this time of night.
Meg had chosen a tiny place, hardly bigger than a generous living room, its floor sticky, the lighting bad, the smell of stale liquor and cigarettes had permeated everything.
"Nice place." Tried Cas, glancing round as they slid into a booth.
"It's a fucking dive." Meg said loud enough for the bartender to hear, but he just smiled and waved his hand at her. "But it's one of the few places where I can still smoke if I want to. Some times you wanna go where nobody knows your name, right? You don't mind do you?" She raised her eyebrows at Cas as she put the cigarette to her lips and he just shook his head and shrugged.
Taking a pull on his beer he steeled himself to actually talk.
He didn't like to talk much.
It took him a long time to get to know people and sometimes he still felt like he was always half a step behind the joke, if he got it at all.
"So. Why did you want me to take you for a drink?"
The corner of Megs mouth pulled up in amusement and Cas felt the tips of his ears burn in embarrassment.
"Straight to the point huh?"
"I'm sorry. That was forwards of me."
"No. not at all. Look, this is bothering you…." She stubbed the cigarette out and waved her hand about to dispel the smoke. "Don't worry Cas. I've not brought you out here for anything sinister. I just felt we should talk. I mean, the boys at the bar are ok, you know? But they kind of dominate a conversation. I don't think I've heard you utter more than six sentences since I started. I just wanted to change that."
Cas smiled and looked down at the table. "That is true. They are rather forthcoming in their manner."
Meg chuckled and took a drink of her own beer. "They are that. So…. Tell me about yourself."
He froze.
Eyes darting up and then, just as quickly, back down to the table.
"Nothing to tell." His voice sounded too loud, too forced to his own ear. "I work at the bar, I go home, read, that's it."
"That's it?" She leaned over the table a little and narrowed her eyes at Cas before smiling broadly. "No pet's? Hobbies? Girl friend?" She winked slyly "Boy friend?"
"No. None."
"Tell me something Cas." Meg leaned back as though to look at him better. "You into boys or girls?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm just interested. Usually I can tell a mile off which way a person swings, but you…. No… I can't place you."
"I don't…."
"For example, I've seen you looking at Dean like you might want something a little more than what you have, oh, by the way…." She placed her hand to the side of her mouth in mock secretiveness. ".. If you do like him, despite his wannabe playboy antics, he still has a closet to hide in. Practically camped in Narnia, but he's in it."
Cas's mouth dropped open and then he laughed.
"So…" She waited for his laughter to die down. "You dig guys?"
"No."
"Ah, girls then?"
"No."
Meg wrinkled her nose and grinned. "Cas. You're being deliberately awkward!"
He smiled and looked up at her properly, trying hard not to let his gaze slip away.
"I'm sorry. It's just, I don't fall in love with genders. I fall in love with people."
"Huh…. I like that." She nodded to herself. "That's a very healthy attitude to have."
"Well. Not everyone would see it that way." He whispered.
"You know." Meg reached forwards and poked Cas playfully on the arm. "You're probably the only guy in a twenty mile radius that hasn't hit on me. Kinda hurts a girls feelings."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."
She waved a hand at him, as though swatting his apology away. " I like you Cas. You're straight talking, I was just curious about you, that's all."
"What about you." He said at last.
"What about me?"
"What do you do away from work?"
Meg laughed softly. "Didn't you get the memo? I'm the town skank. My hobbies include getting very drunk and having a lot of sex."
Cas lowered his eyes again.
"I've embarrassed you." Meg sighed. "Don't be. Some people play video games, some people go to the movies, some people collect stamps. When I want to escape for a while I … escape. Same song, different tune."
"But why?"
Meg blinked, and for the first time Cas saw her smile falter a little.
"Why? For fun. Why else."
He should have kept quiet, should have taken that as his cue to change the subject, but the subtle nuances of social behaviour had never been his strong point, even before he'd moved here.
"It's just…. You don't make it sound like it's much fun. Being drunk and sleeping with lots of men. That sounds more like you're blocking something out, trying to forget."
She glared at him and he knew he'd gone too far, but his mouth didn't seem to get the message..
"I mean, does having a morally questionable life make you happy?"
Her eye's widened in disbelief.
"Are you kidding me? What are you? My fucking therapist?"
"I didn't mean to…"
"No. Forget it."
Meg grabbed her coat and slid out of the booth, leaving Cas struggling to follow her.
"Meg, I'm sorry…"
"Look. I'm sorry if I'm not pure enough to be in your company. I guess I was wrong about you. I'll grab a cab. See you at work."
She stalked out of the door leaving Cas stood awkwardly in the middle of the bar.
"Smooth buddy." Chuckled the bartender.
The arrogance of him!
Meg strode down the street looking for a cab to hail.
How dare he!
How dare he fucking question her lifestyle!
He didn't know a goddamn thing about her.
Maybe that's the problem.
She slowed down, took time to pull her coat on properly.
You don't tell anyone anything and then ….Well…. This happens.
Meg gritted her teeth.
Well too bad.
She'd tried to be nice.
Wasn't a goddamn thing she owed anyone.
Yeah keep telling yourself that.
Check the youtube page (linked on my profile) for the music for this chapter x (Primal Scream ~ Country girl)