Next leg: here we go! (don't forget to review)
"Whaaat were you sssaying to the hotiee?" Harriet slurred into Emma's ear as she half guided/half dragged her back to their room.
Emma winced; her breath smelled like death. "We were just talking about how cute you looked tonight in those new boots you got." She felt bad lying to her best friend, but Emma knew what Dean had told was beyond private. And anyways, lying came easily to her, like it was second nature. Not to mention that she was good at it too. What kind of person did that make her?
"Reallyyy? That'ss ssso nicce!" Emma winced again- her voice was also super loud.
"Okay, bedtime soldier. You're gonna hate me… and you when you wake up." Emma said as she opened their door. All she got in return was a grunt that would make a caveman proud. Grumbling, Emma went to work, stripping her friend down and shoving her into the shower- she really stank.
After Harriet was passed out in bed, Emma plopped down in a chair to ponder about Dean. She felt so comfortable around him, so at ease. But it wasn't like she felt attracted to him, but there was definitely a connection. But the dam kept everything clogged up in her head. With a groan, Emma flopped onto her bed and quickly lost consciousness.
Emma's favorite band, Led Zeppelin, jarred her awake. Reaching blindly, she shut off the song. She'd been dreaming of a man, one with tousled brown hair and electric blue eyes. He'd looked at her with such adoration. Just as their lips touched, she'd woken. Emma could practically taste his name on her tongue, but her memory wouldn't bring it to the surface.
Frustrated with herself, she launched out of bed, still in her clothes from the night before. Sighting, she faced a more important problem: Harriet.
She was sprawled, full-out on her bed, mouth open slightly and snoring softly. But that peaceful expression wouldn't last long. As quietly as she could, Emma hopped into the shower, letting the hot water beat out her tensed shoulders; it felt heavenly.
Closing the door quietly behind her, Emma hoped that the glass of water and bottle of Aspirin would help her best friend's hellish headache.
Joining the cross country team had been one of Emma's best decisions. She loved running; it cleared her head and gave her a sense of clarity. Her pounding feet drummed quietly along the abandoned neighborhood. Nobody was awake since it was six in the morning. Emma cherished the silence of the air, the peaceful atmosphere was her tonic for all her problems. And right now she had a butt-load amount.
How did she know Dean? Did it have something to do with her missing childhood? Why did she feel so at ease with him? With a groan, she leapt into a full-out sprint for a block, physically battering down each gnawing question with her pumping legs and heavy breathing.
It was well after nine when she felt satisfied with her run; her stamina amazed everyone, including her. Her excuse was that she must've trained long-hours since she was young, the Olympics maybe? But her memory was being dammed up as if little brain beavers had built it while she was asleep. Damn those beavers!
The main square of the college was swarmed as always. Emma expertly weaved through the throng, practice for her next soccer game on her mind.
She didn't recognize him at once, his average outline and size blending easily with every other guy on campus. But something slipped through the dam, pulling some distorted memory to the surface of her mind.
"Daddy, can I try it on?" The little girl asked, forest green eyes pleading. Laughing, the man with dark brown hair and eyes slid off his leather jacket and wrapped it around her small frame as a beautiful woman with long blonde hair held up a Polaroid camera. The sleeves dragged along behind her like little attendees while she scampered through the house, squealing like a maniac…
Emma shook her head, frowning. Where had that come from? But when she saw the leather jacket, her feet propelled her forward, but she felt like she was floating above the ground in a dream-like state. Two guys had their backs to her, heads bent as they studied a map of the college. She picked up their conversation as she neared.
"Are you sure she didn't say what house or dorm she was staying at?" The taller one asked. He had shaggy brown hair that swooshed across his forehead and had to hunch his shoulders slightly to be level with the other guy.
"Yes, I'm sure. What do you want me to do, Sam? It wasn't like I could just ask her where she was living. I was still in shock that she was actually in front of me." Emma recognized the voice instantly.
"Dean?" She questioned, even though she knew it was him. They stiffened in unison, slowly turning to face her. The taller one's eyes widened in surprise. Tears welled in their chocolate depths, causing alarm to shine in Emma's emerald ones.
"Are you okay?" She asked worriedly, and she started at the sudden desire that shot through her to comfort him, to make him feel better. A protective, motherly feeling.
"Umm, yeah. I've got allergies." He muttered, wiping at his eyes. "they must've flared up." She nodded, turning back to Dean, not believing a word he just said. But that was his business.
"What are you doing here?" Emma asked, not accusing, simply curious. The two men exchanged a look.
"I wanted you to meet my brother. Sam, this is Emma, the girl I told you about." He green gaze slid to Sam, studying him. He twitched nervously under her penetrating look.
He obviously wanted the best for his brother, he cared about him... but also for himself. He fought for his future but was unaware what his older brother had given up to help him. But he was painfully oblivious to what his fights with their dad did to Dean. Emma quietly absorbed this information before giving him a 100 watt smile. Sam sighed in relief; he must've passed her examination.
"Hey, nice to meet you. Are you here to check out Stanford as a freshman?" He looked about 18 to her. "We got a lot to offer here, and you look like a bright kid." Somehow, she felt pride course through him, like she knew he was smart. He nodded, smiling brightly. "If you'd like, I could show you around." She offered, friendly smile back in place.
The brothers nodded eagerly and followed her as she led them through the throng.
There you go. Sorry for the mini 'hate-on-sam' moment, but sometimes he's such a selfish butt! but we love him anyway.