Class of '96 (spn/btvs) ch 4 wip
Class of '96 chapter 4
Noturbaby
word count 2700
Rating T - language
Summary: Dean's best friend tells Buffy about Dean's high school days. Buffy learns that Dean can dance.
Previous chapters
After the dinner, tables were cleared for a dance floor. Buffy watched in amusement as many of the women checked out Dean as they walked by. Oddly, Dean seemed oblivious to the attention. He was watching the time and keeping an eye on the exits when he heard, "Well, fuck me backwards and call me a two dollar whore. Is that Dean Winchester?"
Dean froze for a beat then a wide grin began to form. "Darren Czaplewski, you kiss your mama with that mouth?"
"Hell, yes. Who do you think taught me to cuss?" The two men smiled at each other before going in on a bear hug. "Damn, Winchester, it's good to see you. I never woulda thought you'd come to a class reunion."
Stepping out of the hug, Dean still had a warm smile plastered on his face. "Never thought you attended enough to graduate."
"Ha! You're still a fricking comedian. Hold on, what do we have here?" Darren asked as he pushed Dean aside to acknowledge Buffy's presence. His eyes traveled all over her, he even took a step to look behind her. "You cannot be here with this asshole."
Dean slipped an arm around Buffy's waist and gently squeezed her to his side. "Darren this is my girl, Buffy. Buffy, this piece of shit is Darren Czaplewski, my best friend from the hell hole throwing this party."
"Nice to meet you, Darren," Buffy said, blushing and holding out her hand for him to shake.
"Dean, you always did get the prettiest girls." Darren took Buffy's hand and kissed it, then gently tugged her away from Dean to look her up and down. "Buffy, you are so completely out of his league."
"Thanks, Darren. You can stop slobbering on her anytime now," Dean added pulling Buffy back to his side.
"Hey." Darren looked offended for the briefest second. He winked Buffy, "He's just worried I'll steal you from him. And rightfully so, I am, by far, the better catch." Darren looked around. "Stay here, I wanna get my little woman. She is not going to believe this." He gave Dean a look then addressed Buffy. "This one," he pointed at Dean, "has a habit of disappearing. Make him stay for one second, okay, Sweetness?" Without waiting for an answer, Darren walked away.
Buffy faced Dean. "That's some best friend."
"Yeah, me and Darren got in plenty of trouble together. I wonder if he still has that GTO."
Buffy wrinkled her brow in confusion and was about to ask what a GTO was when Dean's eyes bugged out from his head. He practically pushed her aside. "Connie Valero! Holy shit!"
Buffy turned to see who Dean was talking to or about and heard a giggle. "Dean Winchester! You dog."
Buffy was forced to step back as the voluptuous Connie wrapped Dean in an embrace that Buffy was sure Dean was enjoying very much, too much. Buffy was beginning to feel self conscious when Darren appeared at her side and threw his arm around her shoulder giving it the slightest squeeze. "Winchester, get your hands off my wife before teach Buffy what it's like to be with a real man."
Dean leaned out of the embrace, but didn't let go of the woman. "Connie, tell me you didn't marry this idiot."
Connie smiled warmly at Dean. "Someone had to keep him off the streets and out of jail." Then she turned to Buffy. "Hi, I'm Connie, Darren's wife."
"Hi, I'm Buffy."
"The girl Dean must have paid to be his date for the night," Darren chipped in.
"Wow, you two are back at it like you've never been apart," Connie chided. "Buffy, why don't the two of us grab a table while the guys get us cocktails?" She looked at Dean with a raised brow.
"Okay, sure." Buffy gave Dean a tight smile before letting Connie lead her away.
Dean hoped Buffy wasn't going to mind delaying their job for a couple minutes. Then he became worried what stories Connie would tell Buffy about him.
Connie led Buffy to a table not too far from the bar. "So, do you have any idea how many girls are going to be staring daggers at you for being with Dean tonight ?" Connie asked in a near whisper.
"No, why would they? I thought he only went to school here a little while."
Connie looked shocked at Buffy's ignorance. "Well," she began with a sigh, "when Dean first arrived, I think he dated the entire varsity cheer-leading squad. Probably at the same time."
Buffy looked slightly shocked, but tried to play it off with a slight laugh. "Oh. So, he thought he was quite the stud, huh?"
"I think the boy had a bronze nameplate on the third floor janitor closet." Buffy's mouth fell open. "He and Darren took turns sneaking girls in there," Connie added with a shake of her head. "Dean's obviously changed, though."
"What makes you say that?" Buffy really didn't want to hear any more about Dean's past conquests.
"The fact that he's barely taken his eyes off you since we sat down," Connie answered in a lowered voice.
Buffy smiled for Connie's benefit, but wondered to herself why Connie's statement made her feel the tiniest bit elated.
"Watch out for Laura, though. She's not the nicest ex to run into," Connie warned forcing Buffy to wonder for the second time just who this Laura was.
"So, Connie Valero, huh?" Dean teased as he watched the women sit at a table not too far away. "How the hell did you manage that?"
"Czaplewski," Darren corrected with a grin and shook his head. "I have no idea, but she is incredible. Best thing that ever happened to me."
"Well no shit. I could have told you that," Dean looked back at Buffy. "My question is what does she see in you?"
Darren looked truly shocked at the question. "Dude, I'm a sweetheart. And you're one to talk. How'd a guy like you meet a girl like Buffy?"
"She lost a bet," Dean joked.
Darren did a subtle look around, "Did Mrs. Gamble see you here?
Dean nodded. "Yeah. I grabbed Buffy and pretended not to recognize her."
"Good move. What about Laura?" Darren asked with a playful glint in his eye.
Dean shuddered, "Dude, I just ate. She's the last thing I want to think about."
Dean, hoping to change the subject as they walked to the table, asked, "Hey, do you still have your GTO?"
"Up on blocks in the garage. Did you finally get the Impala?"
"It's in the lot as we speak," Dean replied with a satisfied smile.
Dean and Darren joined the women at the table. However, a lack of chairs forced the women to sit on guys' lap.
"What about your Gibson from god, still play it?" Darren asked.
Dean laughed, "No, man. I got rid of that thing a long time ago."
"Gibson from god? What's that?" Buffy asked from her perch on Dean's knee.
Dean ran his fingers down her back, then rested his hand on her hip. "Nothing," he said turning his head to look up at her.
"Nothing?" Connie gasped. "The Gibson was Dean's gorgeous guitar."
Buffy gaped."You? You play guitar?" she asked with an unbelieving laugh.
Dean shook his head, "Not anymore, babe."
Darren was shocked Dean's answer. "What? You quit playing?" Dean rolled his eyes at his friend's surprise as Darren continued. "Buffy, my brother, Johnny, and me, and Dean and this other guy, Rick, had a band and we kicked ass."
Buffy's brow shot up in amusement and she looked at Dean. "A band?" she laughed. Dean just shook his head at the memory and Buffy noticed his cheeks colored a bit.
"What did Johnny make you play before he let you join his band?" Connie asked.
Dean sighed and rolled his eyes, "Eruption." Then Dean began to smile again. "I made Sam completely insane practicing that. It was awesome."
"What's Eruption?" Buffy asked.
"Eddie Van Halen's solo," Dean responded wondering how it was possible she didn't know.
"But, didn't you end up playing something else?" Darren asked squinting to help him remember.
"Yeah. I played Ozzy's Crazy Train instead," Dean answered readily.
"That figures. That's one I've heard a million times since I've met you," Buffy added with a gentle squeeze to Dean's shoulder. Dean smiled up at her unexpectedly and squeezed her hip.
"So, Dean still has the same taste in music, classic rock or hair metal?" Darren teased looking at Buffy who answered with a chuckle and a nod.
Dean tried to look insulted, but failed. "Hey, you liked all that ska shit. We only agreed on one band anyway," Dean said.
"That's right," Darren grinned, "The Clash."
"Social Distortion," Dean said at the same time, making the two friends chuckle again.
"So why'd ya sell the guitar, man?"
"Needed the cash."
Darren nodded in understanding but fixed Dean with a look. "You mean Sam needed the cash." Dean looked surprised at his friend's comment. Darren scoffed at Dean's expression. "Dude, I know you. If Sam needed something, you made sure he got it. So what was it, the kid need a haircut? Pair of shoes?"
Dean rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Darren." Dean's retort didn't have any anger.
"Well, you better have gotten a great price. That was a beautiful guitar."
"Hey, I won it in a card game so any money was free money."
Buffy was absently playing with the hair at Dean's collar and smiling at him. "At least someone is willing to share some memories of your time in high school," she teased.
Overhearing her, Darren raised a brow and asked, "Hey, you think they'll play our prom song?" He looked around then grinned at Dean who suddenly couldn't keep a straight face, and the two busted up laughing.
Seeing the exchange, Buffy cheered to herself and happily asked, "All right, what's the prom story?"
Connie rolled her eyes. "These two nearly got themselves expelled over a song." The two guys continued to laugh until they had to wipe their eyes.
"What was the song?" Buffy asked.
"These two convinced the prom committee, mostly cheerleaders I might add, that 'Closer' by Nine in Nails is the perfect love song for prom."
"Dude, that was so awesome," Dean added as he laughed even harder.
"I don't know it," Buffy said looking at Dean.
Connie looked at the two laughing guys and made a face like a mother scolding her children. It had the desired effect on Darren but Dean took longer to stop laughing. Connie leaned forward and whispered, "The song's chorus is 'I wanna fuck you like an animal'."
Buffy gasped and slapped Dean on the arm. "That's horrible!"
"No, it's hilarious. Not my fault they were so frickin' stupid they didn't listen to it until they had everything printed," Dean panted over his laugh.
Darren snickered again. "Remember the look on Laura Stengle's face? Priceless."
Dean joined him in the laughter. Connie just shook her head, trying her hardest not to give in to the laughter. But, Buffy was smiling, basking in a happy Dean and loving every moment of it.
"Do you even remember what they finally chose?" Buffy asked.
"No," Dean answered getting his laughter under control. "We were both suspended and not allowed to go."
"I'm sure your dates were thrilled," Buffy teased.
"Dates?" Connie joked. "These two weren't going to prom. These two were way too cool for prom."
A smiling Dean looked up at Buffy and brushed her hair over her shoulder. "And you weren't here to be my pity date so who would go with me anyway?"
Feeling conflicted, Buffy responded with a taunt. "From what I hear the varsity cheer-leading squad would have. Or Brittney or Chelsea."
Darren and Connie roared as Dean balked for a second before he gave Connie a stern look. "Just what have you been telling her?"
Connie's eyes widened in mock fear. "Me? Nothing." She quickly turned to Darren. "They're playing our song. Let's dance." She stood and held out a hand. Darren shrugged and obediently followed his wife.
Buffy drained her cosmo then hopped off Dean's lap. She briefly wondered if she should sit in Darren's vacated chair. "I suppose this is where I have to make good on the dance I promised, huh?" Dean asked as he stood and gently took her hand.
Buffy's expression brightened. She bit her lip and nodded. "Definitely."
As the Honeydrippers sang Sea of Love, Dean danced Buffy effortlessly around the floor. For a minute, it reminded Buffy of when she used to skate. The only difference being that now her partner kept holding her closer. Dean was grateful Buffy wanted to dance as it gave him an excuse to touch the bared skin of her near backless dress. He casually wondered how something as powerful as the slayer could be contained in such a delicate package as the girl in his arms. Holding her closer, he hoped the song wouldn't end too soon.
With the opening notes of Josh Turner's Your Man Buffy was sure they'd head back to their seats. Instead, Dean kept dancing he just changed their step a bit. Who knew Dean could dance, she wondered to herself. With their bodies moving so perfectly, so closely together, Buffy's mind raced. Her mind returning to the scene in the hallway and how close she had been to kissing him. Buffy needed to reign in whatever this was she was feeling before she did something she'd regret.
"Sorry you had to sell the guitar. I would have liked to hear you play." Buffy hoped the change in subject would cool her feelings.
Noticing Buffy was no longer relaxed under his touch, Dean pulled back slightly. "Don't be sorry. I couldn't play it anymore," Dean replied with a slight shrug. "I had my hand smashed during a fight with a particularly angry spirit. I don't have enough feeling in these two fingers to play anyway."
Dean's unintentional reminder that he didn't heal like she did made Buffy's heart clench. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder.
"You all right?" A confused Dean whispered into her ear. He gently rubbed a hand on her back hoping her hangover wasn't returning.
Buffy took a breath. "Yeah, I'm fine." She straightened up and plastered a fake smile on her face.
Dean studied her for a second then added, "Don't believe Darren either, the band sucked. I mean, we were all right for a high school garage band. But we couldn't agree on the music to play and trust me, there was never going to be a record deal in our future." Dean grinned and tilted his head to meet her eyes and Buffy nodded. "Sammy had a chance at a real life, ya know? Totally worth unloading it to pay Sam's application fee for Stanford." Buffy nodded again but Dean thought she looked upset. He was about to ask if something was wrong when the song ended.
"We should probably go kill the beastie before it gets too late." She abruptly let go of him and began to walk to the exit.
Dean sighed. Just when I'm enjoying holding her, she runs away, he thought. He shook his head at himself. Focus on the job, Winchester, she's only here for the job.
Chapter 5