Due North (3/8)
Author: writewanderlust
Artist: sapphrein
Beta: therellbepeace3
Genre: RPS AU
Pairing: Jensen/Jared, with brief mentions of previous relationships
Rating: PG-13
Word count: ~ 3,100
Summary: Jensen is a barista with a sordid past, Jared is running away from the shambles of his engagement; they come together in the wilderness of Caribou, Maine. Jared is everything Jensen isn't: outgoing, noisy, and cheerful. It's annoying. Especially since Jared has apparently decided that he likes Jensen and will stop at nothing to get a date with him. Jensen can't send him away as long as he's paying for coffee, and Jared won't take no for an answer, so Jensen agrees to a single date. With a little luck, and the magic of the Northern Lights, maybe they can have a chance after all.
“Get the fuck up, Padalecki!” Chad shouted, bouncing on the edge of Jared’s mattress their second morning in Caribou.
Jared had slept much better in his own bed than he had on the couch cushions on the floor, but that didn’t mean he felt like being woken at eight o’clock in the morning like this. “Godddddd, Chad, what do you want?” he moaned, opening one eye just a crack to glare at his friend.
Chad didn’t seem fazed. He wrenched the pillow from Jared’s grip and hit him in the face with it. “C’mon, dude, I’m starving! We don’t have any food, let’s go to the grocery store.”
Jared sat up, nearly knocking Chad off the bed. “We can’t go to the store while we’re hungry, we’ll just end up buying stuff we don’t need.”
“Okay, fine, then let’s go get breakfast and then the grocery store,” Chad whined. “I’m fuckin’ hungry.”
Jared beamed. “Great, I know the perfect place! I’ll be ready in five!” He was out of bed so swiftly, this time he did knock Chad off the bed.
“Oh no, no, no!” Chad exclaimed, scrambling back to his feet. “We are not going to the coffee shop so you can fuel your stupid crush, Padalecki.”
Jared wasn’t listening, already digging through his closet for a sweater, hopping around on one foot as he struggled into his jeans. “Do you think I look better in blue or red?” He asked Chad, combing his fingers frantically through his hair.
“Jesus Christ, I live with a giant girl,” Chad moaned, throwing himself down on Jared’s bed in dismay. After a few moments, voice muffled by the comforter, “You definitely should go with the red.”
***
Fifteen minutes later, Chad was parking his truck at the curb opposite the coffee shop while Jared worried over his face in the visor mirror.
“He thought I was a total freak yesterday,” he confided in Chad, suddenly a little nervous.
“You are a total freak, dude, don’t worry,” Chad answered, as always, the opposite of reassuring. Jared elbowed him in the ribs.
“Shut up, jerk, I’m awesome.”
“But you’re afraid of some pretty boy barista?” his roommate pointed out. “I dunno, that sounds pretty freakish and not-awesome to me.”
“Whatever, I’m going to be totally normal this time and he’ll find me super charming, you’ll see,” Jared countered, opening his door and climbing out of the truck.
“Uh huh, if you say so.”
They crossed the street together and went through the door, Chad raising his eyebrows at the sound of the door chime. “Huh, this place isn’t as lame as I thought it would be.”
Jensen was behind the counter, and he looked up at the sound, eyebrows coming together sharply. “Oh, you again.”
Chad snorted, covering it with a loud cough, but Jared ignored him, approaching the counter, heart thumping.
“Hi Jensen,” he managed. “This is my roommate, Chad.”
Jensen’s green eyes swept over Chad, unimpressed. “Uh huh. Can I take your order?”
“Oh my God, I didn’t even tell you my name, did I?” Jared realized suddenly, feeling very stupid.
“Well, I didn’t tell you mine either, but you seem perfectly comfortable using it,” the barista quipped.
Jared almost apologized, but he had a sense that backing down would just be what Jensen wanted. “Would you rather I call you ‘That Cranky Barista?’” he asked.
For a split-second Jensen looked surprised, but then he scowled. “I’d rather you just give me your order.”
“Somebody’s bitchy,” Chad said in an undertone. “Seriously, dude, what do you see in this guy? I mean, sure, he’s hot, but-” He cut off abruptly when Jared stomped his foot, glaring.
“Anyway,” Jared said, turning back to Jensen. “My name is Jared and we just moved to town.”
“Fascinating,” Jensen drawled. His voice sounded uninterested, but he was still looking at Jared, so he was going to count that as a win.
“We’re from Texas,” Jared added. “I thought-are you maybe from Texas too?”
Jensen’s face shuttered immediately and Jared almost flinched. If he’d thought the barista’s expression before had been closed off, he’d been wrong. It was downright hostile now. “Are you going to order anything?” Jensen snapped.
“Um, yeah, sorry,” Jared quickly backtracked. “Can we just have two more of those things that Danni gave us yesterday? And a couple of those blueberry muffins in the case.”
Jensen was quiet as he rang up their order and, after Jared paid him and he went to fix the drinks, Chad dragged him away from the counter, frowning.
“Dude, you know I’m pretty chill about things, usually,” he said in a strangely serious voice. “And I don’t get into other people’s business if I can help it. But dude,” he lowered his voice even further, gaze darting over Jared’s shoulder to the counter. “Maybe you shouldn’t mess with this guy. He seems kind of harsh and I don’t want you to get hurt again.”
Jared shook his head. “So he’s a little prickly. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad person. Maybe he’s just shy.”
“Or maybe he’s damaged and angry and will rip your heart out and stomp on it if you let him.”
“No, he won’t,” Jared said, not even sure why he was defending this complete stranger against his best friend. “I can tell, he’s a good guy. And I’m not gonna get hurt. I just want to befriend him.”
Chad snorted. “Yeah, befriend him right into your bed, I’ll bet,” he said, but he seemed a little mollified. “It’s your call, Jay, and you know I’ll be here for you if things go south and you need somebody to kick the pretty boy’s ass.”
“You know, you’re kind of a pretty boy too, Chad, I don’t know why you keep saying that.”
“Blow me, Padalecki,” Chad said, flipping him the bird, just as Jensen called out their order. He stayed where he was, shaking his head as Jared made his way back to the counter.
“Have a good day,” Jensen said, voice quietly apologetic as Jared picked their drinks and muffins up off the counter. He glanced up, but Jensen was already turning away.
“You too, Jensen,” he said earnestly, not sticking around to see if his words had any impact.
Jared hated to admit Chad was right, but if Jensen did turn out to be an asshole, Jared was in trouble. He was already in way too deep with the barista.
***
Jared and Chad spent the rest of the day settling in and getting acquainted with the town. Jared showed his roommate the new bookstore where he was going to be working, and Chad put in applications at the diner and the grocery store and a couple of other random places they passed along the way. They got so many groceries it took four trips, even between the two of them, to get them all into the house.
Jared was in the middle of unloading the plastic bags into the pantry when his phone buzzed in his pocket. “Hello?”
“Hi baby, how’s the moving goin’?”
“Hey, Momma!” Jared exclaimed, sliding a box of pasta onto the shelf and stepping back. “How’re you doin’?”
“Missin’ you already, Jared,” Sherri said, voice a little misty. “I hope you and Chad are eating some real food up there and not just depending on carry-out.”
Jared laughed. “We just got back from the grocery store, Momma,” he told her. “I’m unloading into the pantry right now.”
“Well that’s alright,” Sherri said, sounding pleased. “You got your furniture set up how you like it yet?”
“Mostly, but we aren’t quite done in the living room. We still have to put together the entertainment system for the television.”
“You be sure and read those instructions, now, Jared Tristan,” she laughed. “I remember when you and Chad tried to put together that bookcase for me last summer!”
Jared laughed, remembering as well. It had been a disaster; listing precariously to the side and unable to hold much more than five pounds of weight. “I will, Momma, I promise. By the way, did I tell you? I already got a job!”
“That’s wonderful, baby! Where are you gonna be workin’?”
“There’s this girl, Genevieve, and she’s opening a bookshop on Monday down on Main Street,” he said excitedly. “She said she could use someone to help get things up and running.”
“Hmm,” Sherri said. “That sounds like a pretty good situation, sweetie. What’s this Genevieve like?”
Jared chuckled. “Oh, no, Momma, she’s just a friend-or I guess, a boss. I’ve only met her once anyway.”
Sherri clucked her tongue. “So nobody caught your eye just yet?”
“Uh, I don’t guess so…” Jared said, trying to sidestep the question. His mother wasn’t fooled.
“Jared!” she gasped. “Are you already crushing on somebody new?”
He shrugged, even though she couldn’t see him. “Not really. A little. It’s not that huge of a deal.”
“Baby, I’m not judging you,” Sherri said kindly. “Maybe that’s what the Good Lord sent you up there for; even if it isn’t, if that’s what helps you, I’ll support you one-hundred percent.”
Jared clutched the phone, a smile breaking out on his face. “Thanks, Momma, you’re the best.”
Sherri chuckled. “I don’t know about that, sweet pea, but I appreciate the sentiment nonetheless.” She paused for a moment, and then, as though she couldn’t contain herself, “So, are you gonna tell me about your new sweetheart, or am I to remain in the dark?”
“He’s not my sweetheart,” Jared protested. “He’s just-he’s the barista at the coffee shop here in town. There’s…there’s just something about him. I just want to get to know him better.”
“Well, if I know my son, he’s probably worth getting to know,” his mother said, and he could hear the smile in her voice. “I have to go-Meggie’s coming home tomorrow and I have to get the guest room set up for her boyfriend.”
“Meggie’s bringing a boy home?” Jared asked, distracted. “And she waited until I left?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll pass along your threats if he hurts her,” Sherri reassured him. “Keep me updated, Jared, and good luck with your new job on Monday!”
“Love you, Momma.” Jared said quietly.
“I love you too.”
***
The next morning, Jared woke up before Chad and turned his alarm off quickly, before it could disturb his roommate. He took a quick shower and actually took the time to comb his hair, putting on his best jeans and a nice button-down shirt before grabbing his coat and heading out.
He ended up dithering outside the coffee shop for a good twenty minutes after he got downtown, suddenly afraid to face Jensen again. The barista had been so uncommunicative the day before, and so upset when Jared mentioned Texas. If he hadn’t sounded sorry about it right before they left, Jared thought he might’ve been more inclined to back off.
Eventually, though, the lure of caffeine, and of seeing his crush again, was too strong, so Jared took a deep breath and headed inside.
“Are you going to come in here every day?” Jensen asked as he approached the counter, voice slightly resigned.
“Y’all have really good coffee,” said Jared a little defensively. He was determined to be normal today, so he wrenched his eyes away from Jensen’s face and looked up at the menu. “Those lattes named after The Beatles, which one is your fav-”
“I’m sorry I was an ass to you yesterday,” Jensen said abruptly and Jared’s eyes snapped back to his face. The barista looked deeply uncomfortable, a light blush staining his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. It was a really nice look on him. “It’s just…I haven’t been home in a really long time and I don’t really like to talk about it.”
“Why haven’t you been home?” Jared asked before he could stop himself. Jensen shot him a sour look.
“Didn’t I just say I don’t like to talk about it?” he griped. “Besides, I don’t even know you, why would I tell you anything about my life?” He turned away, fiddling with the coffee machine.
“I’d like to get to know you,” Jared admitted, fascinated by the lines of Jensen’s shoulders when he registered the words and went tense.
“What?”
“Go out on a date with me,” Jared said impulsively. “Just one time, and if you still hate me afterwards, then I promise to leave you alone.”
Jensen laughed, hands fluttering nervously over the knobs of the espresso machine. “I don’t hate you,” he said. “You’re just annoying as hell. And incredibly nosy.”
“So is that a yes?”
Jensen turned to face him again, slipping a coffee sleeve onto the cup in his hand. “No,” he answered, setting the cup in front of Jared. “I don’t date customers. That’ll be two-fifty.”
“What is it?” Jared asked, mechanically digging a couple crumpled dollar bills out of his pocket to pay.
“Lennon,” Jensen said coolly. “You asked which was my favorite Beatle-inspired drink was, there you go.”
Somehow that mollified Jared, and even though he’d just gotten turned down for a date, he left the coffee shop feeling lighter, like maybe he actually had a chance.
***
Chad didn’t seem to be in agreement. “His favorite Beatle is Lennon?” he sneered. “Pretentious douchebag much?”
“He didn’t say Lennon was his favorite Beatle,” Jared pointed out patiently. “He said that the Lennon-inspired latte was his favorite. But you’re missing the point.”
“Probably because I’m under-caffeinated,” Chad said pointedly.
Jared heaved a deep sigh. “I’m sorry I didn’t take you with me to get coffee this morning, but you weren’t really helping my case yesterday. And I didn’t even really get to order this morning, or I would’ve brought one back for you, too,” he said. “Jensen just distracted me.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet,” Chad muttered.
“Why do I get the feeling that you’re just looking for reasons to dislike him?” Jared asked mildly. “I just told you that he apologized for yesterday, and I didn’t even saying anything about it, he just brought it up on his own.”
Chad shrugged. “Yeah, but the fact that he got so bent out of shape over such an innocent question in the first place isn’t a good sign. I just don’t want you to get all fucked up over this guy, Jay. You just broke it off with Sandy a just a few weeks ago, and you guys were dating for a long time.”
“Yeah, I’m aware,” Jared said, his voice a little strained. “I was there.”
“I’m just saying…maybe take it slow?”
Jared stared at his friend’s earnest expression for a moment, still kind of surprised that Chad was being serious about anything. “You never take it slow,” he mumbled.
“That’s because I’m a sexually depraved jackass,” Chad said, nodding solemnly. “But you’re a fuckin’ flower child with all your feelings and shit.”
Jared tried to keep a straight face, but his lip started twitching and Chad took his opportunity.
“Oh, I’m Jared, and I just love everyone!” he squeaked. “Sunshine and flowers and puppies-look at me, doesn’t my big dimpled face just make you want to swooooooon?” He completed the act by dramatically fainting on to the couch, and Jared lost it, cracking up as he collapsed next to his friend.
***
Chad had an interview at the grocery store the next morning, so Jared convinced him to drop him off on Main Street on his way, employing the puppy dog eyes to the best of his ability.
Jared made a beeline for the coffee shop, ignoring whatever rude thing Chad was shouting at him through the open window as he drove away. He let himself into the store and was immediately disappointed not to see Jensen behind the counter.
It made sense, when he thought about it; everybody gets days off, or works different shifts sometimes. That didn’t keep him from feeling a little let-down, and apparently it showed on his face because the barista at the counter shook his head and smiled warmly.
“You look like you could use a pick-me-up,” he said. “What can I get for you?”
Jared shrugged. “Jensen gave me one of those Lennon lattes yesterday, that was pretty good.”
“Jensen?” said the barista, sharp blue eyes widening in realization. “Oh my God, you’re Jared.”
“Did Jensen tell you about me?” Jared couldn’t help asking and the barista smirked.
“Oh, no, Danni did,” he answered. “She said you were quite taken with my friend.”
Jared felt his face heating, but he didn’t back down from the guy’s challenging gaze. “Who are you anyway?”
“Misha Collins,” the barista answered, easily enough. “Jensen’s my best friend.”
“Oh,” Jared stammered, a little cowed. “He’s-he seems like a really cool guy.”
“You’re not just hitting on him because he’s really attractive, are you?” Misha asked bluntly. “I don’t really feel like beating around the bush, because Jensen is really shy, and he’s never really had things easy, so I don’t intend to let you mess with him just because you like what he looks like.”
It would be so easy to be offended by this complete stranger’s assumptions, but he clearly was just trying to protect his friend. Jared could respect that; Chad had done the same thing just two days previously.
“I mean, yeah, he’s very good-looking,” Jared conceded. “But he seems like a genuinely good person. I just want to get to know him, and maybe make up for the bad first impression I gave him.”
Misha eyed him critically for a long moment, some kind of emotion warring behind his blue eyes. Then he nodded and gave Jared a sunny smile. “Fair enough,” he said agreeably. “But if you upset him, I will gladly kill you. And I watch a lot of crime documentaries, so they would never find your body.”
“Shake on it,” Jared insisted, extending his hand. Misha looked kind of surprised, but he took the other man’s hand in a firm grip nonetheless. As soon as Jared released his hand, he bounced away, yodeling to himself as he prepared the latte. He was kind of a weird guy, but Jared decided that he kind of liked him, anyway.
A few minutes later, Misha came back with his drink in hand. Jared started to reach for it, but the barista made a ‘tsk’ing sound and pulled it back, holding up one finger to stop him.
“One more question for you, before you go,” he said in a deadly serious voice. Jared swallowed nervously, afraid that Misha was going to change his mind and possibly murder him right there in the coffee shop.
“If you were a muffin, what kind of muffin would you be?”
Yep, Jared thought that he and Misha could make pretty good friends.
Artist: sapphrein
Beta: therellbepeace3
Genre: RPS AU
Pairing: Jensen/Jared, with brief mentions of previous relationships
Rating: PG-13
Word count: ~ 3,100
Summary: Jensen is a barista with a sordid past, Jared is running away from the shambles of his engagement; they come together in the wilderness of Caribou, Maine. Jared is everything Jensen isn't: outgoing, noisy, and cheerful. It's annoying. Especially since Jared has apparently decided that he likes Jensen and will stop at nothing to get a date with him. Jensen can't send him away as long as he's paying for coffee, and Jared won't take no for an answer, so Jensen agrees to a single date. With a little luck, and the magic of the Northern Lights, maybe they can have a chance after all.
“Get the fuck up, Padalecki!” Chad shouted, bouncing on the edge of Jared’s mattress their second morning in Caribou.
Jared had slept much better in his own bed than he had on the couch cushions on the floor, but that didn’t mean he felt like being woken at eight o’clock in the morning like this. “Godddddd, Chad, what do you want?” he moaned, opening one eye just a crack to glare at his friend.
Chad didn’t seem fazed. He wrenched the pillow from Jared’s grip and hit him in the face with it. “C’mon, dude, I’m starving! We don’t have any food, let’s go to the grocery store.”
Jared sat up, nearly knocking Chad off the bed. “We can’t go to the store while we’re hungry, we’ll just end up buying stuff we don’t need.”
“Okay, fine, then let’s go get breakfast and then the grocery store,” Chad whined. “I’m fuckin’ hungry.”
Jared beamed. “Great, I know the perfect place! I’ll be ready in five!” He was out of bed so swiftly, this time he did knock Chad off the bed.
“Oh no, no, no!” Chad exclaimed, scrambling back to his feet. “We are not going to the coffee shop so you can fuel your stupid crush, Padalecki.”
Jared wasn’t listening, already digging through his closet for a sweater, hopping around on one foot as he struggled into his jeans. “Do you think I look better in blue or red?” He asked Chad, combing his fingers frantically through his hair.
“Jesus Christ, I live with a giant girl,” Chad moaned, throwing himself down on Jared’s bed in dismay. After a few moments, voice muffled by the comforter, “You definitely should go with the red.”
***
Fifteen minutes later, Chad was parking his truck at the curb opposite the coffee shop while Jared worried over his face in the visor mirror.
“He thought I was a total freak yesterday,” he confided in Chad, suddenly a little nervous.
“You are a total freak, dude, don’t worry,” Chad answered, as always, the opposite of reassuring. Jared elbowed him in the ribs.
“Shut up, jerk, I’m awesome.”
“But you’re afraid of some pretty boy barista?” his roommate pointed out. “I dunno, that sounds pretty freakish and not-awesome to me.”
“Whatever, I’m going to be totally normal this time and he’ll find me super charming, you’ll see,” Jared countered, opening his door and climbing out of the truck.
“Uh huh, if you say so.”
They crossed the street together and went through the door, Chad raising his eyebrows at the sound of the door chime. “Huh, this place isn’t as lame as I thought it would be.”
Jensen was behind the counter, and he looked up at the sound, eyebrows coming together sharply. “Oh, you again.”
Chad snorted, covering it with a loud cough, but Jared ignored him, approaching the counter, heart thumping.
“Hi Jensen,” he managed. “This is my roommate, Chad.”
Jensen’s green eyes swept over Chad, unimpressed. “Uh huh. Can I take your order?”
“Oh my God, I didn’t even tell you my name, did I?” Jared realized suddenly, feeling very stupid.
“Well, I didn’t tell you mine either, but you seem perfectly comfortable using it,” the barista quipped.
Jared almost apologized, but he had a sense that backing down would just be what Jensen wanted. “Would you rather I call you ‘That Cranky Barista?’” he asked.
For a split-second Jensen looked surprised, but then he scowled. “I’d rather you just give me your order.”
“Somebody’s bitchy,” Chad said in an undertone. “Seriously, dude, what do you see in this guy? I mean, sure, he’s hot, but-” He cut off abruptly when Jared stomped his foot, glaring.
“Anyway,” Jared said, turning back to Jensen. “My name is Jared and we just moved to town.”
“Fascinating,” Jensen drawled. His voice sounded uninterested, but he was still looking at Jared, so he was going to count that as a win.
“We’re from Texas,” Jared added. “I thought-are you maybe from Texas too?”
Jensen’s face shuttered immediately and Jared almost flinched. If he’d thought the barista’s expression before had been closed off, he’d been wrong. It was downright hostile now. “Are you going to order anything?” Jensen snapped.
“Um, yeah, sorry,” Jared quickly backtracked. “Can we just have two more of those things that Danni gave us yesterday? And a couple of those blueberry muffins in the case.”
Jensen was quiet as he rang up their order and, after Jared paid him and he went to fix the drinks, Chad dragged him away from the counter, frowning.
“Dude, you know I’m pretty chill about things, usually,” he said in a strangely serious voice. “And I don’t get into other people’s business if I can help it. But dude,” he lowered his voice even further, gaze darting over Jared’s shoulder to the counter. “Maybe you shouldn’t mess with this guy. He seems kind of harsh and I don’t want you to get hurt again.”
Jared shook his head. “So he’s a little prickly. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad person. Maybe he’s just shy.”
“Or maybe he’s damaged and angry and will rip your heart out and stomp on it if you let him.”
“No, he won’t,” Jared said, not even sure why he was defending this complete stranger against his best friend. “I can tell, he’s a good guy. And I’m not gonna get hurt. I just want to befriend him.”
Chad snorted. “Yeah, befriend him right into your bed, I’ll bet,” he said, but he seemed a little mollified. “It’s your call, Jay, and you know I’ll be here for you if things go south and you need somebody to kick the pretty boy’s ass.”
“You know, you’re kind of a pretty boy too, Chad, I don’t know why you keep saying that.”
“Blow me, Padalecki,” Chad said, flipping him the bird, just as Jensen called out their order. He stayed where he was, shaking his head as Jared made his way back to the counter.
“Have a good day,” Jensen said, voice quietly apologetic as Jared picked their drinks and muffins up off the counter. He glanced up, but Jensen was already turning away.
“You too, Jensen,” he said earnestly, not sticking around to see if his words had any impact.
Jared hated to admit Chad was right, but if Jensen did turn out to be an asshole, Jared was in trouble. He was already in way too deep with the barista.
***
Jared and Chad spent the rest of the day settling in and getting acquainted with the town. Jared showed his roommate the new bookstore where he was going to be working, and Chad put in applications at the diner and the grocery store and a couple of other random places they passed along the way. They got so many groceries it took four trips, even between the two of them, to get them all into the house.
Jared was in the middle of unloading the plastic bags into the pantry when his phone buzzed in his pocket. “Hello?”
“Hi baby, how’s the moving goin’?”
“Hey, Momma!” Jared exclaimed, sliding a box of pasta onto the shelf and stepping back. “How’re you doin’?”
“Missin’ you already, Jared,” Sherri said, voice a little misty. “I hope you and Chad are eating some real food up there and not just depending on carry-out.”
Jared laughed. “We just got back from the grocery store, Momma,” he told her. “I’m unloading into the pantry right now.”
“Well that’s alright,” Sherri said, sounding pleased. “You got your furniture set up how you like it yet?”
“Mostly, but we aren’t quite done in the living room. We still have to put together the entertainment system for the television.”
“You be sure and read those instructions, now, Jared Tristan,” she laughed. “I remember when you and Chad tried to put together that bookcase for me last summer!”
Jared laughed, remembering as well. It had been a disaster; listing precariously to the side and unable to hold much more than five pounds of weight. “I will, Momma, I promise. By the way, did I tell you? I already got a job!”
“That’s wonderful, baby! Where are you gonna be workin’?”
“There’s this girl, Genevieve, and she’s opening a bookshop on Monday down on Main Street,” he said excitedly. “She said she could use someone to help get things up and running.”
“Hmm,” Sherri said. “That sounds like a pretty good situation, sweetie. What’s this Genevieve like?”
Jared chuckled. “Oh, no, Momma, she’s just a friend-or I guess, a boss. I’ve only met her once anyway.”
Sherri clucked her tongue. “So nobody caught your eye just yet?”
“Uh, I don’t guess so…” Jared said, trying to sidestep the question. His mother wasn’t fooled.
“Jared!” she gasped. “Are you already crushing on somebody new?”
He shrugged, even though she couldn’t see him. “Not really. A little. It’s not that huge of a deal.”
“Baby, I’m not judging you,” Sherri said kindly. “Maybe that’s what the Good Lord sent you up there for; even if it isn’t, if that’s what helps you, I’ll support you one-hundred percent.”
Jared clutched the phone, a smile breaking out on his face. “Thanks, Momma, you’re the best.”
Sherri chuckled. “I don’t know about that, sweet pea, but I appreciate the sentiment nonetheless.” She paused for a moment, and then, as though she couldn’t contain herself, “So, are you gonna tell me about your new sweetheart, or am I to remain in the dark?”
“He’s not my sweetheart,” Jared protested. “He’s just-he’s the barista at the coffee shop here in town. There’s…there’s just something about him. I just want to get to know him better.”
“Well, if I know my son, he’s probably worth getting to know,” his mother said, and he could hear the smile in her voice. “I have to go-Meggie’s coming home tomorrow and I have to get the guest room set up for her boyfriend.”
“Meggie’s bringing a boy home?” Jared asked, distracted. “And she waited until I left?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll pass along your threats if he hurts her,” Sherri reassured him. “Keep me updated, Jared, and good luck with your new job on Monday!”
“Love you, Momma.” Jared said quietly.
“I love you too.”
***
The next morning, Jared woke up before Chad and turned his alarm off quickly, before it could disturb his roommate. He took a quick shower and actually took the time to comb his hair, putting on his best jeans and a nice button-down shirt before grabbing his coat and heading out.
He ended up dithering outside the coffee shop for a good twenty minutes after he got downtown, suddenly afraid to face Jensen again. The barista had been so uncommunicative the day before, and so upset when Jared mentioned Texas. If he hadn’t sounded sorry about it right before they left, Jared thought he might’ve been more inclined to back off.
Eventually, though, the lure of caffeine, and of seeing his crush again, was too strong, so Jared took a deep breath and headed inside.
“Are you going to come in here every day?” Jensen asked as he approached the counter, voice slightly resigned.
“Y’all have really good coffee,” said Jared a little defensively. He was determined to be normal today, so he wrenched his eyes away from Jensen’s face and looked up at the menu. “Those lattes named after The Beatles, which one is your fav-”
“I’m sorry I was an ass to you yesterday,” Jensen said abruptly and Jared’s eyes snapped back to his face. The barista looked deeply uncomfortable, a light blush staining his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. It was a really nice look on him. “It’s just…I haven’t been home in a really long time and I don’t really like to talk about it.”
“Why haven’t you been home?” Jared asked before he could stop himself. Jensen shot him a sour look.
“Didn’t I just say I don’t like to talk about it?” he griped. “Besides, I don’t even know you, why would I tell you anything about my life?” He turned away, fiddling with the coffee machine.
“I’d like to get to know you,” Jared admitted, fascinated by the lines of Jensen’s shoulders when he registered the words and went tense.
“What?”
“Go out on a date with me,” Jared said impulsively. “Just one time, and if you still hate me afterwards, then I promise to leave you alone.”
Jensen laughed, hands fluttering nervously over the knobs of the espresso machine. “I don’t hate you,” he said. “You’re just annoying as hell. And incredibly nosy.”
“So is that a yes?”
Jensen turned to face him again, slipping a coffee sleeve onto the cup in his hand. “No,” he answered, setting the cup in front of Jared. “I don’t date customers. That’ll be two-fifty.”
“What is it?” Jared asked, mechanically digging a couple crumpled dollar bills out of his pocket to pay.
“Lennon,” Jensen said coolly. “You asked which was my favorite Beatle-inspired drink was, there you go.”
Somehow that mollified Jared, and even though he’d just gotten turned down for a date, he left the coffee shop feeling lighter, like maybe he actually had a chance.
***
Chad didn’t seem to be in agreement. “His favorite Beatle is Lennon?” he sneered. “Pretentious douchebag much?”
“He didn’t say Lennon was his favorite Beatle,” Jared pointed out patiently. “He said that the Lennon-inspired latte was his favorite. But you’re missing the point.”
“Probably because I’m under-caffeinated,” Chad said pointedly.
Jared heaved a deep sigh. “I’m sorry I didn’t take you with me to get coffee this morning, but you weren’t really helping my case yesterday. And I didn’t even really get to order this morning, or I would’ve brought one back for you, too,” he said. “Jensen just distracted me.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet,” Chad muttered.
“Why do I get the feeling that you’re just looking for reasons to dislike him?” Jared asked mildly. “I just told you that he apologized for yesterday, and I didn’t even saying anything about it, he just brought it up on his own.”
Chad shrugged. “Yeah, but the fact that he got so bent out of shape over such an innocent question in the first place isn’t a good sign. I just don’t want you to get all fucked up over this guy, Jay. You just broke it off with Sandy a just a few weeks ago, and you guys were dating for a long time.”
“Yeah, I’m aware,” Jared said, his voice a little strained. “I was there.”
“I’m just saying…maybe take it slow?”
Jared stared at his friend’s earnest expression for a moment, still kind of surprised that Chad was being serious about anything. “You never take it slow,” he mumbled.
“That’s because I’m a sexually depraved jackass,” Chad said, nodding solemnly. “But you’re a fuckin’ flower child with all your feelings and shit.”
Jared tried to keep a straight face, but his lip started twitching and Chad took his opportunity.
“Oh, I’m Jared, and I just love everyone!” he squeaked. “Sunshine and flowers and puppies-look at me, doesn’t my big dimpled face just make you want to swooooooon?” He completed the act by dramatically fainting on to the couch, and Jared lost it, cracking up as he collapsed next to his friend.
***
Chad had an interview at the grocery store the next morning, so Jared convinced him to drop him off on Main Street on his way, employing the puppy dog eyes to the best of his ability.
Jared made a beeline for the coffee shop, ignoring whatever rude thing Chad was shouting at him through the open window as he drove away. He let himself into the store and was immediately disappointed not to see Jensen behind the counter.
It made sense, when he thought about it; everybody gets days off, or works different shifts sometimes. That didn’t keep him from feeling a little let-down, and apparently it showed on his face because the barista at the counter shook his head and smiled warmly.
“You look like you could use a pick-me-up,” he said. “What can I get for you?”
Jared shrugged. “Jensen gave me one of those Lennon lattes yesterday, that was pretty good.”
“Jensen?” said the barista, sharp blue eyes widening in realization. “Oh my God, you’re Jared.”
“Did Jensen tell you about me?” Jared couldn’t help asking and the barista smirked.
“Oh, no, Danni did,” he answered. “She said you were quite taken with my friend.”
Jared felt his face heating, but he didn’t back down from the guy’s challenging gaze. “Who are you anyway?”
“Misha Collins,” the barista answered, easily enough. “Jensen’s my best friend.”
“Oh,” Jared stammered, a little cowed. “He’s-he seems like a really cool guy.”
“You’re not just hitting on him because he’s really attractive, are you?” Misha asked bluntly. “I don’t really feel like beating around the bush, because Jensen is really shy, and he’s never really had things easy, so I don’t intend to let you mess with him just because you like what he looks like.”
It would be so easy to be offended by this complete stranger’s assumptions, but he clearly was just trying to protect his friend. Jared could respect that; Chad had done the same thing just two days previously.
“I mean, yeah, he’s very good-looking,” Jared conceded. “But he seems like a genuinely good person. I just want to get to know him, and maybe make up for the bad first impression I gave him.”
Misha eyed him critically for a long moment, some kind of emotion warring behind his blue eyes. Then he nodded and gave Jared a sunny smile. “Fair enough,” he said agreeably. “But if you upset him, I will gladly kill you. And I watch a lot of crime documentaries, so they would never find your body.”
“Shake on it,” Jared insisted, extending his hand. Misha looked kind of surprised, but he took the other man’s hand in a firm grip nonetheless. As soon as Jared released his hand, he bounced away, yodeling to himself as he prepared the latte. He was kind of a weird guy, but Jared decided that he kind of liked him, anyway.
A few minutes later, Misha came back with his drink in hand. Jared started to reach for it, but the barista made a ‘tsk’ing sound and pulled it back, holding up one finger to stop him.
“One more question for you, before you go,” he said in a deadly serious voice. Jared swallowed nervously, afraid that Misha was going to change his mind and possibly murder him right there in the coffee shop.
“If you were a muffin, what kind of muffin would you be?”
Yep, Jared thought that he and Misha could make pretty good friends.