Dean yawned as he walked downstairs. He walked into the kitchen to find Bobby sitting at the table reading the newspaper.
"Morning," Bobby said. Dean was about to respond when he saw his essay on the fridge.
"What's this?" he asked instead.
"What the hell do you think it is? It's a paper with your name on it and a B- next to it."
"Why is it on the fridge?"
"Well you left it on the table last night and I thought I'd hang it up," Bobby said, shrugging.
Dean bit his lip and gushed. Never had he had anything hung on the fridge with his name on it. Maybe drawings when he was younger that his mom would put up. But sometimes if Sam got a good grade on something, Dean would try to hang it up at whichever hotel they were staying at.
"I can take it down if you want," Bobby offered.
"Keep it up," Dean said, trying to hide his smile. Bobby saw it anyway.
"So Kelly must to be a good tutor if she can get you to work hard enough to get a B."
"Kelly's not my tutor," Dean explained. "Tutors kind of can't date their students, so I have someone else."
"Girl's still a good influence on you. I like her."
"I do too."
"What's this?" Sam asked, pointing at Dean's paper. Neither Dean nor Bobby noticed he had even walked in.
"Your brother got a B on a paper. Isn't that great?"
"And he actually wrote it?" Sam asked, still shocked.
"Samuel," Bobby said sternly.
"Sorry," Sam mumbled, grabbing and apple and running out of the room.
"Don't listen to him. He's gotta share the spotlight sometime. I'm proud of you son," Bobby said, squeezing Dean's shoulder. Bobby left the room and Dean sat there, staring at the fridge. He was proud of himself. He didn't know what it was; Kelly just made him feel like he had to be the best he could. Now that he knew he was capable of a B-, he knew he had more "best".
"Hey! Look at that!" Kelly said pointing to the essay. She had come over later to hang out with Dean.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know."
"Remember how you were when you first came to tutoring? Look how much you've changed!"
"I think everyone has you to thank."
"Well tell them all I said they're welcome."
"So have you bought your ticket for the Halloween dance yet?" Dean asked. They moved into the living room and turned on the tv.
"No not yet."
"Good. Then I will buy it."
"I actually wasn't going to go to the dance."
"What? Why not?"
"High school dances are so… High school. Not my scene remember? I usually help the junior high with theirs instead."
"Then I will sign the both of us up."
"Really?"
"Absolutely. If it's what you want."
Kelly sat closer to him on the couch and rested her head on his shoulder. The two decided on a tv show marathon to spend the day watching.
Dean was in the bedroom putting on his costume for the Halloween dance. Kelly and him were going as Cinderella and Prince Charming.
Sam walked into the room and laughed when he saw Dean.
"Laugh all you want Sammy. You'll learn someday the things you have to do for love. No matter how ridiculous they may seem. What's Brooke making you wear tonight?"
"I'm not going," Sam said, sitting on the edge of his bed.
"What? Why not? It'll be fun."
Sam stayed quiet. He looked down at his hands and twiddled his fingers.
"Saaaaammy?" Dean sang. "Something happen?"
"A couple days ago, Brooke put a note in my locker. I wrote one back and put it in hers."
"Like a love note? Dude!" Dean said, feeling proud for his little brother.
"I put it in Shane Parker's locker instead on accident and he read it to the entire school."
Dean immediately stopped what he was doing and sat next to Sam on the bed.
"Is this why you were upset and didn't want to go home with her the other day?" he asked. Sam nodded.
"Have you talked to her since then?"
"I think she's avoiding me."
"Have you even tried?"
"Not really. We haven't even talked about going tonight."
"I think you should anyways. Just because some dick did something doesn't mean you have to miss out on the fun. And what if Brooke is there waiting for you to show?"
"I don't know."
"Look, I have a suit that can fit you, but it's up to you."
Dean stood behind the snack table helping Kelly. Kids were everywhere, dancing, sitting at the tables talking, and playing carnival games.
"She's not here yet," Sam said, moping in the corner behind the snack table.
"Dude give her time. The dance is just getting started."
"No it's not! It's been over an hour. She's not coming. I don't even know why I'm here. I'm just humiliating myself more."
"I don't know what to tell you dude. I'm sorry Sammy."
"Is everything okay?" Kelly asked, returning with some more punch.
"Brooke isn't here, and we don't think she's going to show," Dean whispered to her. Kelly sighed and walked over to Sam.
"May I?" she asked him, holding her hand out. Sam looked confused. "Come on, it'll be fun."
"I'm not dancing with my brother's girlfriend!"
"Please? You know he won't and I really want to. Just one song."
Sam still hesitated but took Kelly's hand. They walked out to the dance floor, Dean mouthing Kelly 'thank you' as they passed.
Dean watched them. Sam lightened up a little bit dancing with Kelly. The two were out there for almost 20 minutes.
"Your little brother's got some moves," Kelly said when they came back to the snack table.
"Someone had to teach him," Dean teased, winking at Sam.
"I am gonna run to the ladies room. Be ready for more dancing when I get back."
"So you having fun?" Dean asked Sam.
"Eh, a little."
"Glad you came?"
"I guess. Dude, it was so funny! Kelly…" Sam rambled on and on about funny moments that happened while they were dancing. Dean laughed at every one of them. After about 15 minutes, he noticed Kelly wasn't back. Not even thinking of going into the girl's room with a bunch of 12 and 13 year olds around, Dean found a teacher to go check on her.
"I'm afraid she's ill," the teacher said coming back to Dean. "I've cleared the restroom so you can be in there with her."
Dean ran down the hall with the teacher right behind him. He walked up to the locked stall and knocked.
"Kels you alright?"
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine!" Kelly said quickly, right before gagging and spitting what came up in the toilet.
"Can you let me in?"
"I don't want you to see me like this."
"What happened out there? Get too hot dancing?"
"Maybe. Or maybe it was those shady tacos we had for dinner."
"I'll go get Sam and we'll take you home."
"No please!" Kelly said, gagging again. "Just call my dad. He can come get me."
"Sam will understand. Plus you saw how miserable he is without Brooke here."
Kelly gagged a second time. Dean leaned his forehead against the stall door.
"Can I at least wait in here so I know you're okay?"
"Yes please."
Dean stood there for a few more minutes until Kelly was done. He stepped out to find Sam while she cleaned herself up. Then they all drove home.
someones-big-sister
