Jealousy – Natalie Merchant
Is she fine
So well bred
The perfect girl
A social deb?
Is she the sort
You've always thought
Could make you
What you're not?
Ooh, jealousy
Is she bright
So well read
Are there novels
By her bed?
Is she the sort
That you've always said
Could satisfy
Your head?
Ooh,my jealousy
Late in the evening, Jo was awakened by a slamming door and then a soft knock on her door. She knew it was Castiel. "Come in," she called loud enough for him to hear.
Castiel entered the room. Jo chuckled at his appearance. When they were younger, Castiel was the model young man. With his polo's, button down shirts and topsiders, he was every parents wet dream. Nowadays he frequented jeans,t-shirts and Doc Martens, every now and then the occasional linen button down. He went days without shaving and approached every situation in a laid back fashion that he'd learned from years of spending time with Sam and Dean. But no amount of messy hair or clothes or even beard stubble could hide the kindness in his piercing blue eyes. They were serene and patient all the time.
He lifted his lips in a half smile as he spoke quietly."Hey Dean went to work already. Are you coming out?"
Jo lifted her head out of her comfy pillow to see the red numbers on the clock that read 745pm. She had lain in bed all day and slept off and on all afternoon. It was time to get up or her friends were sure to come looking for her.
"Yeah, I'm getting up."
"Good cause Ruby has been calling you to come out and meet her and Bela. Something about if you don't make it to the bar tonight, you won't live to see graduation." Castiel chuckled.
Ruby, Jo's old roommate and Sam's girlfriend, could be a force to reckon with when she wanted to be. And Bela Talbot…Jo couldn't quite figure out how she had gone from her arch enemy, big mouth Bela who followed Dean around like a puppy in junior high to sophisticated Bela Talbot, future wife of Michael Novak, Cas' big brother.
"Ughhh"Jo groaned crawling out of the bed and opening the bedroom door.
"Woah..I hope you're combing your hair before you leave," he blurted. One of the things, Cas hadn't outgrown was his lack of filter. If it popped into his head, it usually came out of his mouth.
"Shut up, Cas." Jo said grumpily walking to the bathroom. "I'll comb my hair when you shave that mess of a beard you have going on."
"It's not that long," he replied.
"No, it's not but it is a mess."
He laughed as he turned to walk down the hall. "I'll catch you later then."
"Wait," Jo called from the bathroom doorway "Are you going to the bar? Now?"
Cas wavered "No, I have to run an errand first."
Jo's eyes narrowed "An errand?" she repeated.
Cas fumbled with his hands in his pockets "Yeah, an errand. I'll be there later."
Jo looked at him but he had turned away. "Have fun," she mumbled slamming the bathroom door. She debated crawling back to bed. She really didn't want to go to the club tonight and the last thing she wanted to do was put herself in a position to see things she really didn't feel like to seeing. And she really, really, didn't want to be dragged up on stage tonight. But still, it was Friday night and she was positive that Bela or Ruby would be calling or texting her within a matter of minutes to pick her up. Besides, she wasn't about to give Dean the satisfaction of knowing he had gotten to her.
As if on cue, her phone buzzed above her head. It was Ruby. Of course. With an exasperated exhale, Jo picked up the phone and quickly winced when Ruby proceeded to talk her ear off before she could even say hello.
"Alright, alright, alright…just give me fifteen minutes. No, nothing's wrong. No really I'm fine. Seriously? Ok, ok, Ruby, fine, fifteen minutes. Yeah, I'll just come down when I'm ready. Fifteen minutes, promise."
She snapped the phone shut and jumped out of bed. What to wear…what to wear…everything in her closet just seemed like crap to her at that moment and for a split second, she wished she had the fashion prowess to impress. For some reason, she felt like she needed to look pretty tonight. After all, it was a Friday and who knew who was going to be at the club? Maybe, finally, some guy would take pity on her and actually ask her out. For the most part, it seemed like the fact that she had two boys as roommates scared off any potential suitors, but this night could be different.
After five minutes passed, she gave up trying and threw on her favourite emerald green top with the first pair of jeans she saw. She hurriedly applied a few swipes of mascara, a little bit of lip gloss and reached for her flats. She shook her head and dug through her closet until she found her favourite pair of black high heels. She would most likely live to regret the decision but she was way past caring.
A quick glance at the clock told her she was already running late and she knew instinctively that Ruby was already downstairs waiting impatiently. After a string of curses and near collision with the floor as she rushed to the door, she made it to Ruby's car in one piece.
"Jo, we're going to be late now. What took you so long? I'm sure the band has already started." Ruby complained.
"It's not like you haven't seen them before." Jo countered
"Yeah well tonight is special."
"Special how?"
"Sam's filling in on the guitar. Chuck asked him too."
Jo's eyebrows crashed together "Where is Dani?"
Ruby shrugged "Not sure. Chuck thought she might be sick. She didn't show up to sound check earlier and was late when the first set came up so Chuck gave Sam a call."
"And you are rushing to the club to see Sam's debut?"
"Of course," Ruby replied proudly
"Groupy," Jo mumbled under her breath and she braced herself for an insult which was Ruby's typical response but she was surprised when she just and half turned to look at her "Wow Jo, you look great tonight. I love that color green on you and check it out..you've got heels on!"
Before long they pulled up in the crowded parking lot of the Roadhouse. None of them were surprised at the crowd since despite being geeky Charlie's band, the Queens of Moondoor, a name drummer Chuck Shurley hated, had quite a campus following. For the most part, Jo was sure that it was the big voices of Gilda and Dani that was the draw. Both girls could really sing.
They entered the front door and the bouncer just waved them in, not needing to see any ID. Music coursed through the walls of the now too crowded club and Jo tried to make out the song they were playing. It sounded a little like "New Perspective" by Panic at the Disco but she wasn't completely sure because of the noise of the crowd. The two girls pushed their way through the crowds of people.
Twice Jo tripped over her shoes and realized it had been too long since she'd worn heels. She needed to wear them more often.
"How are those heels treating you?" Bela yelled over the crowd as they reached where she'd been standing near the bar.
Jo just shook her head and when she turned she caught sight of her least favourite bartender.
His green eyes narrowed as she continued to gaze at him. She was only able to pull her stare away when Charlie announced. "This one is for the fabulous bartender back there. Be sure to tip him big."
With that, the band started up with "Hard to Handle."
Baby here I am
I'm the woman on the scene
I can give you what you want
But you gotta' come home with me
I have got some good old lovin'
And I got some more in store
When I get through throwin' it on you
You gotta' come back for more
Girls and things that come by the dozen
That ain't nothin' but drugstore lovin'
Hey little thing let me light your candle
'Cause papa I'm sure hard to handle, now
Gets around
"C'mon lets get a drink." Ruby said, nodding in the direction of the bar while swaying to the music.
Jo turned back to look at the group of girls that Dean was chatting up. He had turned on his best smile and he said something that made them laugh. Jo could only imagine what he was saying to them to make them laugh like that.. And the red head was back...damn Anna Milton..the way she was leaning over the bar squeezing her breasts practically out of her nonexistent top made Jo want to claw her eyes out.
Jo tried to focus on something different "Where is Michael tonight?"
Bela brushed her long lashes over her green/gray eyes "Studying for the MCATs, can you believe?"
"Well he wants to get into med school," Ruby asked "That's a good thing right?"
"Normally I would " Bela agreed in her haughty British accent. "But every now and then it would be nice to have an evening out with my eye candy on my arm. Ugh..look at those girls..seriously..Dean isn't all that. He used to pick his nose when he was little..maybe I should clue them in."
"I think I'll wait here." Jo replied. "I don't want to battle his entourage just to get a drink."
"Oh Jo, let's go. Don't be mad at Dean." Ruby said pulling her hand.
"Mad at Dean?" Bela asked curiously.
"Jo's just still sore at him from earlier today," Ruby interjected before Jo could respond. "They really got into it today…can't say it hasn't been a trend lately, though…"
"Did Dean tell Sam that?" Jo demanded.
"Maybe," Ruby said laughing.
Bela's eyebrows rose in curiosity. "Really? Hmm…go figure. So what were you two fighting about this time?"
Jo exhaled with obvious annoyance. "I'm just sick of him."
Bela didn't even try to hide her devious grin. "Uh huh. Let me guess…he brought another girl home with him last night and you heard them having hot animal sex all night?"
"You know, Bel, something about your British accent and the phrase hot animal sex doesn't mesh well," Jo rolled her eyes and tried to act horrified by her comment. "And no…come on. He was with someone last night and no, I didn't hear anything…but there were clothes everywhere, the whole place just stinks right now and I'm just sick of it…alright?"
Bela eyes widened with mock surprise. "Ok, ok…don't get your underwear in a twist over it…"
"You can be annoying sometimes, you know that?"
Bela gave her a smug smile and jibed back. "I don't care. When I'm right, I'm right."
"Whatever."