Appendix E

Section B

Alex Age 18

Jenna

Most of the day was spent standing in line or doing paperwork. Or walking or driving from one building to the other. The University of Wisconsin Madison was a massive campus sitting in the heart of a bustling city, and getting to the right place at the right time was a challenge. And still they waited in line.

Alex was clearly happy in spite of the monotony of the experience, but Sam and Dean noticed that while she stood patiently, she also tapped a rapid beat on her thigh with her fingertips. They knew this as one of her anxious ticks.

"Something got you nervous?" Sam asked while in the work study queue.

"What?" Alex asked, momentarily distracted. "Oh, well… yeah, I guess. I'm just… thinking about Jenna."

"That's your roommate, right?" asked Dean.

"Yeah," said Alex. "I'm really curious what she's going to be like. She friended me on Facebook and we've been messaging back and forth, and she seems really cool, but I still don't actually know what she's like."

"Well, you'll get to meet her soon," said Sam. "We'll be unloading at the dorm next."

Luckily, the residence hall had three carts and two elevators available for moving in the new students. Unluckily, all the carts were in use and they were finishing up the summer renovations to the elevators, rendering them nonfunctional. So Alex and her father and her uncle hauled her possessions from the Impala and up two flights of stairs to what would be her new home for the next nine months. The best part was Alex had spent a lifetime traveling light, so they wouldn't have to make many trips.

Alex led the way to her dorm room cautiously, chewing her lower lip. She knew generally what her roommate looked like, but Jenna's photos had been sparse on her Facebook page and Alex knew those would never really give her the full impression of her.

Indeed, Alex was very surprised when she walked through the door. With a dazzling flash of long, wavy blond hair, Jenna turned on a dime to see who had entered. Her blue eyes were huge and lively, and her initial expression of surprise was quickly broken with a brilliant smile. While it was clear she wore a heavy layer of makeup, it was very artfully natural. Her nails were neatly polished and shaped (if not so long as to be nonfunctional) and her clothing was fashionable in spite of the chaos of patterned fabric. She was narrow-waisted, broad-hipped, and well-endowed… proportionally, as she was about four foot eleven. She was probably the tiniest person Alex had ever encountered in the Midwest.

But she proved to be the loudest.

"Oh my God—HI!" she squealed. "You're Alex, right?"

"Uhh," Alex wheeled her suitcase off to the side, "yeah…."

"AAAHHH!" With that, Jenna rapidly picked her way between all her stuff scattered about the floor of the tiny dorm room and catapulted into Alex, squeezing her tightly and rocking them both side to side.

Sam and Dean had followed close behind, and Dean was visibly disappointed at the sight of Jenna. He had been hoping for one of the female rugby players, or a beefy farm girl from Iowa. How was this little piece of fruitcake supposed to watch Alex's six in a fight?

They rapidly found out.

"Oh my gosh, we are going to have an absolute blast this year!" Jenna was saying as she released Alex and held her at arm's length. Then she noticed Sam and Dean in the doorway. "Oh my gosh! Alex, are these your dads? Come in, come in! Those look heavy! There's space over here!" She gestured pointedly to an open spot by the second desk.

"We're not a couple," Dean said tiredly, rolling his eyes.

"I'm Alex's Uncle," said Sam, trying to use a reassuring tone to offset his brother's unfriendly demeanor.

"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry!" said Jenna, her wide eyes getting even wider.

"It's okay, it happens," Alex grinned. "This is my dad, Dean, and this is Uncle Sam." She indicated her father and uncle respectively as they straightened up.

"It is so nice to meet you!" Jenna came over to them and shook both their hands emphatically. "I totally see it now! You are one hundred percent brothers. And, oh my gosh, look at you two! You're so, like, tough-looking but also kinda pretty and a couple of really big guys. Like, look how tall you are!" Indeed, she had to crane her head back to look at Sam's face. "I bet the ladies are always asking you to get stuff off the top shelf at the grocery store, HA!"

At that moment, she teasingly poked Sam directly in his navel with one pointy little forefinger. It was so sharp and sudden, and so surprised him, that it made him double up a little when she did it. Dean snorted laughter. Alex had covered her mouth with a hand, her eyes absolutely gleeful at watching the whole interaction.

Then it was Dean's turn.

"And hey, look at this badass leather jacket of yours!" Jenna grabbed the lapels of Dean's jacket and straightened it. "Gotta keep that bad boy vibe vibin' in case anyone looks at you funny, right?"

Then she socked Dean in the side of his arm. Surprisingly hard and fast, and the small size of her fist concentrated the impact to a minute area, making it unexpectedly painful. Dean involuntarily gave a quiet, "Ow…."

Then it was Alex's turn.

Jenna walked over to her. "No wonder you are so stinkin' cool! With these two to hang out with? Got leathers of your own, too! Seriously, though," Jenna whirled on Sam and Dean, who flinched slightly at having her attention flung back at them, "like, she is so friendly, but so obviously strong and stoic, like nothing phases her. You can even tell just from her texts and her profile pic how personable and tough she is. And, like, actually strong!" She spun back around to Alex. "I bet I could jump into your arms and you'd catch me!"

And then she did.

And Alex caught her.

It helped that Jenna was so compact, but it still took a quick set of her feet and a swift scoop of her arms for Alex to snag the young woman's back and legs. Once she realized she wasn't going to fall over, she fixed her father and uncle with a look of shocked amusement. They looked back at her with similar expressions.

Then Jenna threw her head back and cackled. When she came back up, Alex looked at her and started shaking with laughter. Their faces were within a few inches of each other, and somehow it was completely comfortable, as if in the span of a minute Jenna had broken down all the barriers necessary for the two to share the same space with no reservations.

"We are going to have so much fun!" said Jenna.

"I think we will," Alex laughed.

"OH!" Jenna suddenly seemed to remember something. "Oh my gosh, I have to show you! You're gonna love this!"

Jenna moved to stand on her own two feet again, and Alex set her down. She immediately started rummaging through boxes.

"I'll go get the box of books," said Sam, heading toward the door.

"Yeah, you get that box, big, strong man!" Jenna cheered without even turning around to look or stopping in her search.

Alex slowly doubled over in silent laughter as Sam turned slightly red.

"Hey, Sammy?" Dean halted his brother's progress, the hint of a mischievous grin on his face. "It's kinda hot out there for haulin' around a bunch of textbooks. Maybe you should take your shirt off."

Sam rolled his eyes and exited with a quick, "Bite me." Dean chuckled.

"Okay, but actually, though," Jenna flipped around. "It is a super hot day! But not humid? Which is so nice. I think it's the breeze off the lake. Which is weird because you'd think that would make it more humid, but it's kinda crisp and refreshing. Oh! I think it's in this one!" She dug into a box.

Alex paced over to where her father was standing and hissed, "I love her!"

"I kinda do, too," Dean had to admit.

He threw an arm around Alex's neck and shoulders and gave her a good-natured squeeze.

A/N: Okay y'all, how do we feel about this gal? Love her like Alex does? Or do you find her super, super irritating? Be honest, haha!

Also, you know… you gotta wonder how long she'll last….