Real Person Fic - J2: But We'll Always Have Our Vending Machines [Part 3/3]

[cherie_morte]

“So you told them?” Jared asks. His voice is already beginning to run a little from the champagne he’s been drinking and it makes the conversation simultaneously more fun and a little insufferable. Jared’s words are slurring and Jensen can just imagine the sloppy grin on his face as he’s talking, making Jensen’s stomach curl with want.

“First night I was here.”

“How’d they take it?”

Jensen pauses for a long time, then decides this isn’t the conversation you have while your boyfriend is drunk and trying to have a good time. “They took it well.”

“That’s great, Jen.”

“I certainly think so.”

“Go figure. Now my parents are mad at me.”

“I told you not to try skinny dipping in the neighbor’s pool.”

“I didn’t!” Jared says, laughing. “I learned my lesson last year.”

“I’m working under the assumption that that’s a joke. Since I never know for sure with you, please don’t correct me if I’m wrong.”

“Colin won’t shut up about you. Megan and Drew, too. They wanna meet you.”

“Well, who doesn’t? I’m a joy.”

“You are,” Jared says softly.

“You’re drunk,” Jensen teases.

“It’s true. And it’s not even midnight yet.”

“It’s close, though.”

“Yeah. You excited?”

“I don’t know. Whatever. I guess. Wish I had someone around to celebrate with.”

“Mmm,” Jared agrees. “I miss you.”

“I miss you, too.”

“I can’t believe we went almost a week without talking.”

“Well, if you’d answered my damn phone calls.”

“Hey, you didn’t answer mine, either. Not my fault we’re on opposite schedules.”

“Of course it’s your fault. ‘Cause it sure ain’t mine.”

“I have to let you win because I’m drunk and can’t make an argument.”

“Cheap win is still a win in my book.”

“I think they’re counting down. Want me to kiss you through the phone?”

“You’re so cheesy.”

“8…7…6…”

Jensen closes his eyes and listens to Jared trip through the last five digits until cries of “Happy New Year!” begin to filter through his walls and through the phone.

Jared’s lips make a smacking noise into the receiver. “There, see? That means your year will be full of my kisses.”

“Phone kisses aren’t really what make a good year for me.”

“I can think of other things phones are good for,” Jared says, the waggle of his eyebrows implicit in his tone.

“Dude, I am so not having phone sex with you. We are both at our parents’ houses.”

“Oh, like you never had boys over when you were in high school.”

Jensen doesn’t reply, and Jared snorts on the other end.

“Oh my God, you’re so cute! You really didn’t.”

“I went to other boys’ houses, thank you very much.”

“How respectable. Does that mean you’ll put out if you come home with me but not if I come home with you? Because that’s giving me some serious arguments in favor of staying in San Antonio next year.”

“No, Jared. I like to think I’ve progressed past the desperation of high school and can now wait to have sex at home like an adult without risking anyone’s parents walking in.”

“You’re no fun.”

“Never said I was fun.”

Jared makes an amused sound. Jensen sits back on his bed and stares up at the ceiling, listening to Jared breathe.

“Still there?” Jared asks after a few minutes.

“Yeah. Just a little tired.”

“Jensen,” says Jared, drawing the name out for a full half minute. “I have something I want to say.”

“You always do.”

“Shut up, it’s important.” Jared clears his throat. “I’m going to be the chick here, okay? Because it’s a new year and all that bullshit. And because I feel like it.”

“Your new year’s resolution is to become a chick?”

“I love you.”

Jensen’s eyes widen and he begins to stutter something out, but Jared interrupts him.

“No, stop, it’s okay. You don’t have to say it back. I know you’re not ready to. I like that about you. I love that about you, in fact. But I wanna say it, so I’m saying it and you can, too, whenever you feel like it, but you don’t have to right now. Because I know you feel it and that’s what matters, right? I just, this last week was great and I love seeing my family and everything, but I miss you, Jen. And so, yes. That’s what my point is that I am trying to make. Right. Should I hang up?”

“Probably.”

“Good idea.”

Jensen listens to the dial tone after Jared hangs up, closes his cell phone, and presses it against his chest.



“Mornin’, sunshine,” Jensen says, a little surprised to find Jared’s name flashing on his caller ID early the next day.

“I hate the sun,” he says, voice scratchy. “Don’t associate me with the bastard.”

Jensen can’t bite back the laugh. “How’s your head feeling?”

“I hate you. And everything. And mostly you.”

“My goodness, you’re fickle.”

“Am I?”

“Incredibly.”

“I just thought you should know…I slept on it-not enough sleep, mind you, but that’s not my fault, that’s all on the sunshine-and I don’t regret anything I said last night. Or take it back. Or want you to act like I didn’t say it.”

“Sharp memory you got there.”

“I wasn’t that drunk.”

“You were pretty special.”

“I don’t throw that word around, never have.”

“Jay,” Jensen says, scrubbing a hand over his mouth.

“I have to go finish packing up my car. I hope your last day at home is great. I’m really excited to see you on Monday. Love you.”

Jared hangs up before Jensen has a chance to say anything, which Jensen is pretty much used to by now. By the time they talk on the phone again that night, Jared acts like everything is normal between them and maybe everything is. All Jensen knows for sure is that this isn’t safe, and it should really make him more nervous than it does.



The day Jensen is set to leave his parents’ house, his father comes into his room while he’s packing up his bag and sits on his bed. Jensen recognizes the look of intense discomfort on his face and knows on instinct that Alan hasn’t forgotten about Jensen’s announcement during Christmas dinner like he’s been pretending.

“I need to talk to you,” he says.

Jensen is trapped, so he shrugs and sits next to his father. “Okay. I’m all ears.”

“It’s about you and this…thing that you’ve decided.”

“I’m gay, Dad, and I didn’t decide anything. That’s the way it is.”

“I just don’t want you doing anything dramatic, for example with this…this person you’re involved with, when it might be a phase.”

“Dad, it’s not a phase. Honestly, this is how it’s always been for me, I just hid it well.”

“In that case, your mother and I don’t appreciate how long you lied to us about it.”

“Can you blame me? I didn’t want my parents to hate me.”

“We don’t hate you. I could never hate you, Jensen. I just want you to be a man, son. A real man.”

I’m more of a man than you are right now, Jensen thinks. It takes all of his self-control-not a quality Jensen is particularly lacking in-to resist spitting the retort back at his father. Instead he speaks in an even, measured tone.

“Dad, I’m not gonna have this conversation with you every time I come here. So let’s get one thing clear: you are going to accept this about me, let me talk about it if I feel something needs to be talked about, and not make me feel like you did on Christmas, or I’m just going to do us both a favor and stop showing up on holidays.”

Alan, clearly taken off guard by the command in Jensen’s voice, is finally the one at a loss for words. He stares at the floor until Jensen speaks again.

“What’ll it be, Dad? Can we be mature adults about this, or are you going to explain to Mom why her son doesn’t come to see her anymore?”

“Don’t punish your mother for this. You can’t spring this news on us and expect us to be ok with it overnight. But we-I’ll try harder to understand you.”

Jensen nods, grabs his bag up, and leaves his father on that note. It sucks, and Jensen feels sick for the entire ride home, but he knows he won and that counts for a lot.



Jensen stands outside of Jared’s door, getting pelted by rain as he knocks, and feeling just a tad pathetic.

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” he hears from within before the door opens and Jared’s standing there, some cartoon character Jensen doesn’t recognize printed on his pajama bottoms, sleepy eyes, and messy hair. Jensen can hardly see him through the water on his lenses, but what he can see makes him feel better already. “Oh, it’s you. Well I guess that’s not so bad.”

“Hey,” Jensen says. He points to his bag and Jared moves aside, welcoming Jensen into the much-needed warmth of his living room. He drops his things in a corner where they won’t get the furniture wet and wipes his glasses off. “Can I stay the night?”

Jared smirks as he shuts the door. “What is this? Is this a booty call? Am I getting a booty call right now?”

Jensen steps forward and kisses Jared too hard, not caring that he’ll get his boyfriend soaked with the contact. “If that’s what it takes to earn my keep,” he whispers against Jared’s mouth.

Jared tries to smile and ends up yawning instead, so he pulls away from the kiss. As soon as he gets a good look at Jensen, his lips turn down. “What’s wrong?”

Jensen rests his head on Jared’s shoulder. “You know how I told you my parents took it well when I told them about you?”

“Yeah?”

“I lied,” Jensen admits.

“Ah shit, Jensen. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, I’ll get over it. They’ll get over it, too. It just sucks, you know?”

Jared definitely doesn’t know, but he nods for Jensen’s sake and holds on to him supportively.

“So, no. This isn’t a booty call. I really just wanted to…”

Jensen would rather poke his eye out than say, ‘I just wanted to cuddle,’ but Jared gets it, takes his hand and tugs him towards the hallway.

“Let’s get you in some dry clothes and go to bed, okay?”

Jensen nods, content to let Jared lead him and not have to over-think everything for a night. “Sounds good to me.”



“Who’s figured out number seven and wants to volunteer the answer for the class?” Jensen asks.

A hand shoots up in the back of the room and begins to wave excitedly.

Jensen sighs. “Yeah, Padalecki, what’d’ya want?”

“Is it 78?”

“Yes, the answer to number four was indeed 78. Congratulations. The class has moved on to seven.”

Jared grins like he’s just saved the world from Armageddon. “You’re a good teacher,” he says, drawing a big red check mark on his paper.

“Why is my English teacher in here holding class up again?” Emily, a blonde girl who sits in the second row and is secretly one of Jensen’s favorite students, asks.

“Would that I knew, Emily,” Jensen replies.

“I’m learning!” Jared defends. “See, kids? It’s never too late to learn.”

The class groans and Jared laughs. Jensen tries to ignore the mischief in his eyes. It’s making him a little bit nervous that the day Jared decides to spend his planning period in Jensen’s room just so happens to be Valentine’s.

“Learning awfully slowly,” Colin snarks.

Jared winks at Jensen, and Jensen shakes his head in exasperation. He happens to know that Jared not only likes math but is good at it, too, and is just pretending otherwise because he thinks he’s a lot cuter than he is. Jensen should really stop encouraging that particular thought process.

“Psh. Like I need math, anyway,” Jared replies. “Math is totally not a serious subject.”

“You had glitter in your classroom last week, Jared,” Jensen points out.

“The siren song of glitter cannot be resisted,” Jared says, somehow managing to keep a straight face through this entire comment. “Besides, I now have a model of the Elysian Fields complete with little toothpick gods and goddesses. What does your classroom have?”

“Dignity?” Jensen replies. Jared sticks his tongue out. “Can I teach my class please?”

“No, no, cat fight!” a student shouts.

Jared laughs. “By all means, Mr. Ackles, regale us with your numbers.”

“Emily, I know you have number seven.”

“104.”

Jensen nods and is about to write the number up on the board when yet another group of choir kids comes in. It’s the third time in the day his class has been interrupted by one of these singing Valentine’s and between that, Jared, and the fact that people are having roses and candy delivered every three minutes, Jensen is about ready to give up on class altogether.

“Mr. Ackles, we have a song, can we have a minute of your class time to-?”

“Yeah, yeah, just get it over with. Who’re you here for?”

Jensen smiles (he’s not a complete Grinch), pulls the stool he’s been using to embarrass the kids receiving these things into the center of the classroom, and waits for the singers to announce the next victim.

“Actually, it’s you.”

“What now?”

“Yeah, we have a song for you from Anonymous.”

“Are you even allowed to do this to teachers?”

“Oh, sure. Kids love sending them to teachers. I’ve had four today,” Jared says. Jensen turns to glare, suddenly fitting the whole thing together.

“How nice for you,” he replies in a voice that’s supposed to say ‘take yourself out to dinner tonight,’ but really just comes out sounding amused.

“So can we sing for you or not? Because we have eight more of these to knock out today.”

Jensen decides to be a good sport and sits himself on the stool of humiliation. “Please do. I wouldn’t want Anonymous to have wasted his or her $5.”

As soon as the kids have all left for lunch, Jensen sits on the desk Jared’s been using and looks down sternly.

“I could kill you right now, and I don’t even think Genevieve would take your side.”

“Oh, come on. You kind of liked it.”

“You can’t prove that, so until you do, you’re an idiot.”

“You love me.”

Jensen doesn’t say anything. Jared realizes his mistake and sighs.

“Not even on Valentine’s Day? Fine. You really, really like me a lot. Can we agree on that?”

“Yes. I really, really like you a lot, Jared.”

“That’s good. I’m kind of fond of you, myself.”

Jared makes up for the singing Valentine later that night after dinner, and Jensen doesn’t remember a better Valentine’s Day in his life.



There’s a sharp knocking at Jensen’s door. He’s not surprised that it’s Jared waiting when he opens up.

“No singing and dancing this time?” Jared asks.

“Bite me,” Jensen says. “You’ve ruined planning days for me forever. I hope you’re happy.”

“I’m not happy at all,” Jared says, shaking the smile off his face and making a dismal attempt at looking stern. “I have a bone to pick with you.”

“By all means, sir, pick away.”

“I have just been talking to the teacher who runs the yearbook.” Jared shoves a sheet of paper into Jensen’s hands. “I am supposed to be a shoo-in for that every year, Jensen.”

“Seriously?” Jensen looks up at Jared arching his eyebrow.

“How dare you try to steal the Hottest Teacher Award from me?”

“You’re still winning, Jared.”

“By 7%! And I’m pretty sure that’s just because I’ve taught more students here than you have and they all feel guilty not voting for me.”

“That’s probably exactly it.”

Jared smirks and enters the room, closing the door behind him. “I even have to be mad at myself, because I would have voted for you, too.”

“Everyone’s a traitor,” Jensen says, leaning against his desk.

Jared nods and takes a few steps towards him.

“It’s probably a conspiracy,” Jensen continues.

Jared smiles and nods again, this time into a kiss. He puts his hands on either side of Jensen and pulls himself close to the desk. Jensen makes room for him, opening his legs a little so Jared can step in between them. Jared wraps his fingers around Jensen’s tie and tugs him forward.

They kiss for a long time until Jared’s other hand lands on Jensen’s thigh and Jensen has to pull away.

Jared buries his face in Jensen’s neck. “Wish I could get on my knees for you right now.”

Jensen’s dick gives an interested twitch and Jensen shoves at him. “Fuck, Jared. Not cool.”

Jared smirks. “That was my way of inviting you over after you’re done here.”

“You couldn’t call? You had to come give me blue balls?”

“I would’ve called, but you’re not into phone sex.”

Jensen laughs a little despite himself. “You know, I was doing my job before you showed up.”

“And now you’re making out. Good thing I came along to save you.”

Jensen smiles and pulls Jared in for another kiss. This time, Jared is less insistent, kisses softly.

“We shouldn’t do this at work, Jay,” Jensen says once he’s mustered up the will to push Jared away. “Not even when the room is empty. What if someone walks in?”

Jared gasps. “Yeah, God forbid. They might think we’re-”

In love hangs unsaid between them. In the three months since New Year’s, Jared has stayed true to his promise not to make Jensen say it, not even on Valentine’s Day, and has for the most part resisted the urge to say it very often himself. His lips turn down now, though, and he doesn’t finish his thought.

“Happy?” Jensen offers.

“We are, aren’t we?”

“Yeah, Jared. We are.”

Jared nods but doesn’t smile, and Jensen takes his hand, threading their fingers. He aches seeing Jared’s expression and realizes there’s no risk involved in being honest, especially not if it’ll make Jared smile again.

“I do, you know. Love you.”

Jared looks up, his lips parted. Jensen smiles and offers a half shrug. Somehow, it really is that easy.



“Where are you?”

Jensen clicks mute on the TV and settles into the couch. “Sitting in the living room, bored out of my skull.”

“I see.”

“Why do you ask?”

“Just curious.”

There’s a knock at the door and Jensen sighs. “Hey, Jare, can I call you back in a few? I gotta get the door.”

“Yeah. No problem.”

Jensen opens the door to find Jared standing there, duffel over one shoulder and a paper bag in each hand.

“Uh?”

“Hey!”

“Dude, what are you doing here?”

“Being amazing?”

“No. Seriously. What the hell are you doing here?”

“You gave me the address.”

“You said you were going to send my mother flowers, Jared.”

Jared smirks and maneuvers his things onto the floor so that he can reach into one of the paper bags. He pulls out a bouquet of all kinds of flowers, twenty colors clashing together-a little ugly, but endearing in how hard it’s trying. Jared grins like it’s the best thing he’s ever seen and Jensen’s heart flips over in his chest.

“I drove a long way to give these to your momma.”

There are a million and one things Jensen should do in response-send Jared back on his way with a hearty lecture at the top of the list-but instead he flings his arms around his boyfriend’s neck and kisses Jared with all the energy he’s got.

“Wow, I didn’t even realize we got this channel in Texas,” an amused voice says.

Jensen breaks away from Jared when he hears his little sister’s voice and suddenly remembers where he is.

“Either you’re Jared, or Jensen deserves a lot more credit than I’ve been giving him.”

Jared grins and puts an arm around Jensen’s waist. “I see my reputation has preceded me.”

Mackenzie holds a hand out to Jared. “Mac,” she says.

Jared shoves the bouquet of flowers into Jensen’s hands and takes Mackenzie’s, kissing it. “Enchanté,” he says. “If Jensen had told me how pretty his sister is, I would’ve saved that kiss.”

Mackenzie turns tomato red and stammers over some attempt at a response, but Jared just laughs, used to having that kind of effect on teenage girls.

She shifts her attention back to Jensen, recovering the power of speech. “This was a bad idea.”

“Agreed!”

“Dad is not going to be happy.”

“Also agreed.”

“All right. As long as we’re clear on that. Move out of the doorway. I’m going out.”

“You’re abandoning me at a time like this?”

“Hell yeah. Nuclear fallout is so not my scene.” Mackenzie moves past Jared, giggling slightly when he tells her to have fun, and makes a quick break for the car waiting out front for her.

Jensen turns his attention back to the very serious situation at hand. “Jared, really though,” he says.

Jared shrugs. “You’re not actually mad at me, right? Because I can go back if you’re mad at me.”

“No, I’m not, I’m just…shit, you know how my parents feel about this. I didn’t even give them fair warning.”

“Jen, they’re going to have to get used to me someday, because I’m here to stay.”

“I know,” Jensen says warmly. “But I…they’re going to be awful to you. I didn’t want you to have to deal with that until…”

“Until what? Look, if they don’t like me, we’ll find a way to deal. But they’ll probably like me. And then they’ll see that this is fine and dandy and all problems will be solved and I won’t have to worry about you sitting here being treated like…” Jared bites his lip. “I just can’t stand hearing the way you sound when you’re over here anymore.”

Jensen is pretty sure no one’s ever disliked Jared before and doesn’t really think he’ll know how to take it. So he feels more nervous than he should at the thought of introducing him. Still, it’s not like he has much of an option now, so he wraps an arm around Jared’s neck and nods. “Okay. We’ll, uh. I guess we’re gonna try this out, huh?”

Jared just smiles.



Jared sits across the table from Jensen’s dad, both staring defiantly at each other, no one saying anything. It’s maybe the least comfortable family dinner of Jensen’s entire life, but there’s no blood yet, so there’s a silver lining.

“So, Jared. Tell us about yourself,” Mom tries awkwardly.

Jared smiles, not his usual easy smile, this one’s aimed at his dad and seems to say ‘I’m not going to let you put me in a bad mood.’ “Not much to tell, ma’am. I work with Jensen, as I’m sure he’s told you. We’ve been seeing each other for about six months now.”

“Does your family not celebrate Easter?” Alan asks, smiling like a knife.

“Dad,” Jensen says in warning.

Jared ignores the tone and soldiers on admirably. “Yes we do, sir. Every year. And if you’re wondering why I’m here instead of with them, it’s because I’m in love with your son. I hope that’s not a problem.”

Both of Jensen’s parent’s eyes go wide, Mackenzie chokes on her steak, and Jensen has to bring his wineglass to his lips to cover up his smirk.

“Jared is a champion chess player,” Jensen says after a while, looking at his dad as if they’re having a perfectly normal conversation. “You two should play a few games after dinner.”

“That won’t be-”

“Sure,” Jared says, sitting up straighter. “Sounds like fun.”

Mackenzie turns an ‘are you insane?’ look in Jensen’s direction, but Jensen just shrugs it off and sets his attention back on his dinner. He figures if anyone is going to win his dad over, it’ll have to be Jared.



Jensen may or may not be hovering just outside of his father’s study, trying desperately to overhear what’s going on inside. He tries telling himself it’s okay to be nosy right now, because if someone throws a punch, Jensen should be the one to call the ambulance. For a long time, there’s nothing but silence from inside the room.

After maybe half an hour, he finally hears one syllable ring out in his father’s voice.

“Damn,” he says, sounding frustrated. Jensen smiles to himself, knowing Jared’s winning the game.

He waits again. Jared doesn’t respond, and Jensen thinks this must be better than fighting, but he’s coiled up so tense he feels like he’ll snap any minute and he kind of just wants whatever’s going to happen to happen.

“Check,” Jared says, sounding pretty happy with himself.

“You’re very good at this,” Dad admits.

Jared laughs a little. “Checkmate.”

“What? How did?” Jensen’s dad sounds downright impressed. “Ah, I see.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” Jared replies, not sounding sorry. “Goodnight?”

“Wait. I want a rematch.”

“Oh…okay, sure.”

Jensen hears Jared’s chair sliding on the floor as he scoots back in.

“So, uh. Chess, huh? What made you like chess so much?” Alan asks.

“My uncle taught me as a kid,” says Jared. “I dunno, it just stuck.”

“Well, you’re very talented.”

“Thanks.”

More of that damnable silence. Jensen is pretty sure he’s never heard Jared stay quiet this long in his life, not even when he’s sleeping. Apparently, even Dad can’t take it anymore, because after another five minutes, he gives up on avoiding the problem.

“Now, look here. I think you’ve got a pretty rotten idea of me, but I do love my son.”

“I never said you didn’t love your son,” Jared says, all business. “But I love him, too, and you shouldn’t have a problem with that.”

“I just want what’s best for him.”

“Oh, good! We both want the best for him. Guess there’s no reason for us to butt heads, then, is there, sir?”

“I don’t like your tone.”

“I didn’t really like your tone for the first two hours I was here, so it’s about your turn.”

“That’s…fair enough,” Alan admits.

Jensen doesn’t really believe what he just heard, and he knows Jared’s face is softening inside the room.

“I’m not a confrontational person.”

“You could have fooled me,” Dad replies, actually sounding amused.

“Jensen really respects you, you know. He’s been upset since Christmas.”

“I know. I…I wish that I’d responded differently at the time. This is all new for me, and I’m working, really, I am.”

“Well, you should be.”

“I am!”

“Well, good then.”

“Fine.”

“I’m eating your queen.”

“What?” Alan asks. “Dammit!”

Jared cracks up then, and after a few seconds, Jensen’s father joins him. Jensen waits through two more games, and when the conversation inside the room only continues to grow more and more friendly, he decides to reward himself on an excellent plan by watching some mindless TV.



“Move your perfect ass, Jensen. That’s my bed.”

Jensen opens one eye slowly, realizes he drifted off in the middle of a Say Yes to the Dress marathon.

“This isn’t what it looks like,” he says, grabbing at the remote and powering off the TV.

“Sure, it’s not,” Jared says smiling. “Say Yes to the Dress, Jensen? Really?”

“Oh, and you’re so butch.”

Jared laughs and plops down on the couch.

“You gonna get me some blankets and a pillow, or am I roughing it tonight?”

“Come sleep in my room,” Jensen says, holding out a hand.

“Even I know that’s a bad idea.”

Jensen laughs, rubs a hand over his face. “I’m serious. You won’t even fit on this couch, Jare. I got a nice full mattress, complete with little baseball print sheets for you to make fun of.”

“But won’t my in-laws be scandalized?”

Jensen shrugs. “Josh and his wife share a bed when he comes home. Don’t see how it’s different.”

“Are you calling me your wife? No more bridal TV for you.”

“I’m calling you my something. Come on, it’s my last chance to try out that rebellious teenager thing everyone was so fond of.”

Jared huffs a laugh. “Yeah, okay. Deal.”

“But Jay?”

“Yeah?”

“Keep your hands to yourself.”

“I don’t understand those words.”

“Seriously, it’s Easter. Jesus is watching.”

Jared cracks up hysterically and slips his hand into Jensen’s, letting him lead the way.



The rest of spring break, Jensen’s dad does his damnedest to not offend Jared or Jensen, and he does a respectable job. He makes one or two comments Jensen thinks he doesn’t even realize could be problematic, but Jared laughs them off, and tensions stay relaxed.

Mom falls in love with Jared, and they end up spending hours in the kitchen cooking together-which really just means Jared hands her things and keeps her amused, and, at the end of the day, she doesn’t realize he didn’t actually do any cooking and gives Jared all the credit.

“Mmm, Ma, this lamb looks amazing.”

“Oh, really, I didn’t do much, most of it was-”

“Donna, really, I think you’re remembering things wrong. All that boy did was stand around and run his mouth.”

“Well, it was a heck of a lot more than you do in the kitchen, Alan,” she replies, patting Jared’s hand affectionately.

Everyone at the table laughs, and then the conversation dies into sounds of silverware on plates and the occasional food compliment.

“Thank you folks for having me,” Jared says while they’re waiting for dessert to be served-as if they’d invited him.

“Thank you for coming,” Dad answers, giving Jared a curt nod. “You’re welcome here any time.” He grabs the wine and pours Jensen yet another glass. Then he puts on his nicest tone-Jensen can hear that he’s trying too hard, but it means something that he’s bothering. “A toast to Jared and Jensen. Everyone celebrate! Except you, Mac. You’re still too young.”

Mackenzie crosses her arms over her chest and Jensen sends her a wink, promising a stolen glass after their parents go to bed.



“Can I help you? ‘Cause you’ve been standing here for twenty minutes and you look like you’re gonna cry. It’s kind of bringing me down.”

Jensen backs away from the shelf he’s glaring at, secretly hoping the book he’s looking for will materialize if he stares hard enough, and turns to find Genevieve looking up at him.

“What? No. I’m fine. I just, uh…”

“Jensen, just tell me what you’re looking for already.”

Jensen sighs and acknowledges his defeat by handing over the slip of paper he’s got the book title and author written on.

“This is from Jared,” she says, looking up at him as she recognizes the handwriting.

Jensen cringes, a little unsure about how Jared’s best friend feels about their relationship, and is forced to confirm it with a nod.

“He’s making you read Joyce?” she asks with an arched eyebrow.

“I know, right? Torture.”

“I’ll say. He must really like you.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because he expects you to stick around after Finnigan’s Wake.”

Jensen laughs. “Is it really that bad?”

“Oh, honey, it’s worse.” Genevieve shakes her head. “And you’re looking for it in the wrong place entirely.”

She walks him across the library and pulls it off a shelf almost immediately. Jensen looks down at the brick in his hand and groans. “Why do you even have this in a high school library?”

Genevieve smiles. “Did you know that if a student comes in and asks for a book and the library doesn’t have it in stock, you can have it special ordered?”

“Don’t tell me.”

She opens to the back where the card listing everyone who’s checked the book out is and, sure enough, the first (and only) two names at the top are Jared Padalecki and Genevieve Cortese, dated from their junior year.

“The librarian was in love with us. I’m pretty sure she would have ordered pornography if Jared had asked for it.”

“So he made you read it, too?”

“Oh, yeah. It’s how he tortures all of his significant others, when it’s serious.”

Jensen blanches. “You and Jared dated?”

She laughs. “Yup. Back when he still wasn’t sure if he was gay or not.”

“Oh. How’d that turn out?”

“Well, let’s just say we both came out of it pretty sure he was gay.”

Jensen smiles, but still feels a little uneasy over it. “You don’t still have feelings for-?”

“Jensen, you’re adorable. You’ve totally been hiding from me for months now thinking you stole the love of my life.”

“Maybe a little,” he admits.

“I’ve got a boyfriend, too, ya know. Besides, I wasn’t ever really in love with Jared, and, even if I had been, I’d still be happy to finally see him this happy.”

Jensen blushes and looks down. “Guess it’s lucky you didn’t wanna go to that concert, then.”

“What concert?”

“Back in October. He took me to a concert because you guys wouldn’t go. I kind of like to think of it as our first date.”

“Boys are so stupid,” Genevieve says with a snort. “He didn’t invite me to any concert, genius. You fell for the oldest line in the book.”

Genevieve pats Jensen on the shoulder and walks off to help someone else, shaking her head fondly. Jensen carries his book to the front desk, glad there’s another librarian at the school to check him out, one who won’t laugh at him.



Jensen is packing up on the last day of school when Jared waltzes in, dressed in faculty graduation robes.

“You skipped graduation. You are a horrible person.”

“I didn’t know any of the kids. I teach freshmen, remember?”

“You could’ve been there to soothe my tears, you heartless creature. I hate watching my kids go.”

“You didn’t cry.”

“I would have if you’d been there so you would let me sob into your shoulder and maybe grope you a little. See what you missed out on?”

“Yeah, but I only have one day of finalizing grades ahead of me because I worked through today, while you’ve still got to come in and clean for the rest of the week.”

“You and your good planning make me sick.”

“That’s nice, dear.”

“So, I was thinking…”

“Lord help me, not again.”

“You know how I’m the girl in this relationship?”

Jensen doesn’t point out that Jared generally tops between them. He likes not being labeled as the girl just fine. “Yes.”

“You should come home with me.”

“I was planning to.”

“And stay.”

“I was planning to do that, too.”

“Forever.”

“What now?”

“Well, okay, wait. I have an argument. It’s a very good argument.”

Jensen leans back against his desk and raises an eyebrow. “This will be interesting.”

Jared takes a deep breath and tries to look entirely confident. “See, I have this house, right? And everyone loves houses. Who doesn’t love houses? But you live in an apartment. Boo, apartments! Everyone knows houses are better. You should come live in my house.”

“That was an argument?”

“It’s a flawless argument, Jensen. You have nothing to counter that argument, because it’s perfect. C’mon. We’ve got this big, empty summer ahead of us. All this boring free time. What on Earth will we do with all of our free time? Oh, I know. We’ll pack your things. And move them into my house. See how that works out?”

“Yes.”

“So your answer is?”

“I just gave it to you. Yes.”

“Wait, seriously? You’re not gonna string me along for four years while you crunch numbers and make sure we won’t explode once your last belongings are in place?”

“I mean, I can do all that if you want me to.”

“I’ll take the yes, actually.”

“Then yes, Jared,” Jensen says smiling. “I’m all for it.”



It’s definitely the first day of school.

Jensen sits in the library waiting for the staff meeting to begin. Jared walks back into the library holding two coffees and smiles when Jensen waves him over. They sit side-by-side, legs pressed together under the table, and exchange stories about their summer with co-workers. Jensen feels welcome and at home and happier than he’s probably supposed to feel about being at work. He remembers the way Jared’s energy had puzzled him a year ago and is amused to realize he’s probably just as obnoxiously cheerful today as Jared was then.

“Lunch at home today?” he scribbles on his pad as Kripke begins to run through all of the business that isn’t directly relevant to him and Jared.

“Can’t,” Jared writes back.

Jensen jots down a question mark. Jared replies by drawing an arrow pointing to a tall blonde at the opposite end of the table. She’s blushing and sinking into her chair and Jensen definitely sympathizes.

“Fresh meat?” Jensen scrawls excitedly across the top of the next page.

Jared nods and stifles a laugh as Jensen begins to draw a stick figure with sharp teeth and labels it “Jared.”

“Don’t get any ideas. She’s pretty,” he adds when he’s done with Jared’s portrait.

Jared kicks him under the table. “Come with me then.”

“I’m not the welcome wagon type.”

Jensen’s phone vibrates and he takes it out under the table.

There’s a text from Danneel that says, “Srsly? U guys r passing notes like teenagers now?”

Jensen meets her eyes across the table, checks to make sure Kripke’s not looking at him, and maturely sticks out his tongue.

“FOCUS” suddenly appears on the paper in front of Jensen. Jared underlines it three times, just to make his point.

“On Kripke?”

“No. On me.”

“Ok, I’ll help you torture the poor new staff member.”

Jared smiles wide, doodles hearts on the paper, and finally starts listening to whatever Kripke is talking about. Jensen traces Jared’s hearts with his fingers and thinks it’s promising to be a very good year already.