Rekindling the Fires and Sparking New Flames: Ch2
Banner Credit to clex_monkie89
Title: Rekindling the Fires and Sparking New Flames
Author: jenniferkaos
Fandom: Supernatural
Summary:A nightmare vision of an old friend takes Sam and Dean back to Lawrence, Kansas against Dean's better judgement. The murder of a college girl, and a series of inexplicable events following convince the Winchesters that they may have a case after all.
Pairings/Characters: Dean, Sam, OFC, OMC
Ratings: T (M in the future)
Chapter Two
“Jennifer…where are you?”
The voice sounded so close to her ears, it almost felt like she was in her head. Somehow, it seemed the person had implanted themselves into her mind. If they were able to get inside her head so easy, what else could they do?
Jennifer shielded her eyes from the bright fluorescent lights above each door that lined the length of the hallway. A few of the bulbs flickered, making a low humming sound. As she walked further down the hall, she could hear people conversing with each other. She listened closely - the voices were muffled.
“Sandra, I’m here! Where are you?” she called out, increasing her speed down the hall.
Turning to each door, she wiggled the door knobs but each one was locked.
“I’m here! Hurry! I don’t have much time,” Sandra yelled.
Jennifer could feel her heart racing. It felt like she had a stopwatch on her. Failing her once, she wouldn’t do it again. Each second as she struggled to find the right door stole time away from finding Sandra.
Coming to the last door, Jennifer peered up at the three-digit brass numbers, reading one-twelve. Reaching for the knob, she startled as it unlatched, swinging back slowly. In spite of the hallway lighting, pitch-black darkness filled the room. Sensing a presence in the room, she felt against the wall for the light switch.
Flipping the light on, Jennifer gasped at the sight of Sandra, who stood in the center of the room. Jennifer couldn’t make herself move. She stayed frozen in her spot between the door frames. She desperately wanted to wrap her arms around Sandra and tell her she wasn’t going anywhere this time.
“Why didn’t you find me, Jennifer? I called out to you,” Sandra questioned, sadness in her voice.
“Sandy, I didn’t know where you were,” Jennifer replied, reaching for her.
Jennifer felt her heart break when Sandra stepped back. She followed Sandra’s forlorn eyes to her stomach. Watching a red stain form along Sandra’s stomach, Jennifer kept her eyes on the spot.
Sandra rubbed her stomach lightly, blood wet on her hand. Glancing up, she asked, “Why?”
Before Jennifer could open her mouth to reply, Sandra let out a shrill scream. Jennifer stumbled back in shock.
Jennifer bolted upright in her bed, heart beating incredibly fast. Bringing her hand to her chest, she tried to calm her breathing. This had been the second time that night that she had tried sleeping and both times she had had the same nightmare.
She rested her back against the headboard and closed her eyes, letting out a breath. Somehow, she needed to calm herself down. She looked around the room, panic building inside her as the darkness closed in on her. Reaching toward her night table, she turned her lamp on.
Resting her head back against the mahogany wood, she squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the soothing breeze against her arm. The familiar feeling brought her back to her teenage years of requiring the soft blow of her fan in her face to sleep. Unlike tonight, the comforting breeze normally relaxed her, allowing her to slip into a slumber quickly.
A glance at the digital clock told her it was five-eighteen a.m. She groaned, rolling her head back against the bed again. Staying awake in Lit class is going to be a bitch, she thought to herself.
Sensing movement across the room, Jennifer watched Liz roll over in her bed. Her mind replayed the earlier conversation between the two friends. Who was this Sam guy and how had he and his brother impacted Liz’s life? She had never mentioned them once during their nine years of friendship. Was there a possibility she was hiding something?
Pulling the comforter aside, she crawled out of bed, tip-toeing across the room. The girls shared a mutual agreement of privacy. Jennifer didn’t mess with Liz’s possessions and vice versa. Jennifer had to be very quiet. If Liz woke up and saw her take the note, she would freak out on her. Jennifer didn’t need this especially with the little sleep she had.
Jennifer glanced down at her friend. Liz was lying on her stomach, one hand under her pillow, her curly hair splayed over her face. Being careful not to wake her, Jennifer’s eyes scanned the night table, spotting the crumbled napkin, peeking out from under Liz’s datebook.
Jennifer heard the rustle of bedcovers, startling her. Frozen, she stared down at Liz as she lifted a hand and scratched her nose. Jennifer held her breath, watching as Liz’s hand dropped back to her pillow. Her breathing softened and steadied, drifting further into sleep again.
Jennifer released the air she had held in. Close one, she thought, grabbing the napkin from the table. Checking Liz was still asleep, Jennifer smiled deviously, hurrying back to her bed. She unplugged her phone from the charger and snuck out into the hallway for privacy.
At that time of morning, the hallway was pretty much desolate, giving Jennifer ample opportunity to call this Sam guy. There were benefits to being awake at this early hour. Students were busy sleeping, anxious and dreading what college would bring to them next.
She pressed the side switch on her cell phone, lighting the screen up. Looking at the napkin in her hand, she dialed the number. After the fourth ring, someone answered.
"Hello?"
Hearing the half-asleep voice on the phone, she wondered if calling someone that early in the morning was a good idea. What had she been thinking when she decided to call? Oh, that’s right. She wasn’t thinking. A mix between the nightmare and lack of sleep was beginning to mess with her head.
"Um…hi. I'm calling for a friend of mine,” she said, leaning her back against the wall. “Liz Lange? I think you may have left her a note with your number on it.”
"Liz, yeah,” the groggy, male voice confirmed. “Is she there?”
Sliding down the wall, Jennifer sat on the floor, legs crossed Indian-style.
“Actually, no. She’s asleep right now but I had to call because if I didn’t she wouldn’t. There’s no way I could pass up the opportunity,” she told him, resting her head back against the wall.
“What time is it?” he asked, followed by a groan. “It’s five in the morning. How come you’re calling this early?”
“Liz wasn’t going to call you guys so I had to do it when I knew she wouldn’t be able to stop me. I figured if you didn’t answer then I would’ve tried later,” she said, her eyes getting heavier. "So, are you Sam?”
Opening her mouth, she allowed a yawn to escape, her eyes watering. She wondered if she would be able to sleep after she got off the phone. By that time, daylight would have made an appearance and things were safer in the light. But what if she closed her eyes again and Sandra’s bloody body reappeared?
“No, not at all. I’m Dean,” he said, a yawn escaping his lips. “I’m Sam’s brother. Who are you?”
Hearing his name, Jennifer realized who she was speaking to. “Liz mentioned you,” she pointed out. “I’m Jennifer, her roommate.”
Stretching her legs out in front of her, she shivered slightly from the breeze circulating through the hallway. She should’ve grabbed a robe, she thought, running her fingers gently across the goose bumps sprouted on her bare arm.
“I’m sorry I woke you. I really wasn’t thinking about the time when I called. I could call back sometime later, if you want…?” she said suddenly, hearing the silence stretch out on the other end of the line.
“Nah. I’m up now. I couldn’t get back to sleep if I tried,” Dean interrupted. “Jennifer. It’s Jennifer, right?”
“Yeah,” she said, contemplating what to say next. He didn’t sound annoyed anymore, giving her confidence to keep with their conversation. “So how do you and your brother know Liz?” Jennifer asked.
A faint pain throbbed in her head, a dull ache behind her eyes, causing her to close them. Lack of sleep, she wondered, getting to her feet slowly. Placing her thumb and index finger against her eyelids, she leaned her hip against the wall, concentrating on the voice in her ear.
“About ten or so years ago, Sammy and I lived for a short period of time in Kansas. She would come over and hang out with my brother. That’s how I know her,” he stated. “She was closer to Sam than me.”
“I guess because of the age thing,” Jennifer replied.
“That and I think little Sammy was a bit sweet on her, but if you ask him that, he’ll deny it,” he said.
She nodded her head in understanding, though he couldn’t see her.
“I’m sure the feeling was mutual,” she agreed. “I think I met her right after that. I’ve known her for almost ten years now. I met her at the beginning of high school,” Jennifer said, rubbing the area beside her eyes to relieve the pain that still lingered.
A warmth spread over her, thinking about their teenage years - their late night talks of boys, the countless amounts of football games they’d attended, and the trouble they’d gotten into for staying out too late. There wasn’t a thing that Jennifer wouldn’t do for Liz and vice versa.
“Liz is a good girl,” Dean stated. “Our dad used to go away a lot on business trips and I...I was always out doing whatever - getting in trouble. But Liz…she was there to keep him company. To watch over him in some sense. She was a really good friend to him.”
“Dude, who are you talking to? Its six in the morning,” Jennifer heard on the other end.
“How do you suppose we reunite these two?” Jennifer asked, hastily, pushing off from the wall.
From the silence on the other end, Jennifer thought interference had occurred during their call.
“Hello?” she asked, pressing the phone closer to her ear, as if by chance, the volume was lost on the call.
“I’m here. Sorry. I had to wait for Sam to get in the bathroom. I didn’t want him to know that we were plotting to reunite him with Liz,” he told her. “I’ll fill him in later.”
Hearing movement in her dorm room, Jennifer said, “I think Liz is up, so I gotta get off here, but listen. There’s a party on KU’s campus tonight. It’s at the Alpha Kappa Lambda Fraternity House. Can you meet us there? I’ll be sure to get Liz there if you can bring Sam.”
“I’m in. I’ll be sure Sam’s there. See you tonight,” he said, ending the call.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dean flung his cell phone on the circular table sitting beside the window. Standing from his seat, he walked to the small, wooden desk. Grabbing one of the clear, plastic cups, he poured hot coffee from the maker into it.
Pursing his lips, he blew on the hot liquid, before bringing it to his mouth. He closed his eyes, relishing in the warm, smooth, rich taste sliding down his throat. Opening his eyes, his attention went to the double queen size beds that stood in front of him. The multi-colored comforter set made him question why motels decorated the rooms the way they did. Did they really think visitors would feel so at home with the cheap motel décor they would want to return?
Sam exited the bathroom, walking back to his bed. He hadn’t combed his hair, leaving it in a disheveled state. Falling back against his mattress, he glanced to the clock on the night table, sitting between the two beds. It read six-thirty. Who in their right minds would be calling a person that early in the morning? Unless it was an emergency, but from the sound of Dean’s voice that wasn’t the case.
“Who was on the phone?” Sam asked, his eyes going to Dean.
Dean pulled the wooden chair from the table, sitting down. Placing his coffee cup on the flat surface, he ran his fingers around the rim of the cup.
“Liz’s roommate,” he stated, bluntly glancing at his brother for a reaction.
Sam bolted upright in his bed, wide-eyed. She’d called. It may not have been her, but her roommate was a start, at least.
“She got her roommate to call?” he asked, careful to hide the buzz of excitement rising in him from his brother and casually resting his elbow on his thigh as he yawned deliberately.
”Not exactly,” Dean explained, propping his legs on the chair opposite him. “Jennifer seems to have figured out that like you, Liz would be too chicken shit to actually call, so she took it upon herself to do it for her. That’s an awesome friend if you ask me.”
Scowling, Sam replied, “I’m not talking about this.”
There was no doubt in Sam’s mind Dean still viewed him as his little kid brother, but so much went into seeing Liz again. Her friendship was a link to his past he hadn’t thought about in years.
Dean leaned his head back, swallowing the last bit of coffee. “Oh, come on, Sammy! It’s alright to be scared sometimes,” he joked, standing up.
Watching his brother pour himself another cup of coffee, Sam said, “So, where’re we going tonight? I heard you say we’d be there.”
Dean walked to his queen-size bed. Placing his cup on the table, he fell back onto the mattress. “We, Sammy, are going to a college party,” he said, closing his eyes and sighing.
Rolling his eyes, Sam walked over to the table and retrieved his laptop. “Dean, we don’t have time to waste right now,” he said, concern written on his face.
Dean stared at the ceiling and said, “It’s about time we have a little bit of fun, don’t you think? You need to loosen up a bit and this is just the thing that’ll do it.”
Taking his laptop out of his book bag, Sam sat the device on the table. He sat down, opening the computer screen, booting it up. Covering his mouth, he swallowed the yawn, his eyes watering.
“Dean, we’re on a case right now. We should be focusing on that,” he said, logging into his computer.
Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, he groaned.
“Come on, Sam!” he grumbled, propping himself on his elbows. Looking in Sam’s direction, he said, “Let’s just hold off for one night. Mingle with the locals. Then tomorrow we’ll pick up where we left off.”
Sam didn’t bother acknowledging his brother. Instead, he typed in the address to the local newspaper, searching for any unusual activities within the last week or two.
Realizing Sam was ignoring him, Dean fell back onto his pillow, closing his eyes.
“Whatever, man. I’m going to get some shut eye. We’ll head to the sheriff’s office in a couple hours,” he said, turning on his side.
Sam peeked at his brother and then, back at his laptop. There wasn’t anything that popped out at him. Just the usual events. “YOUNG RESIDENTS ATTEND LAWRENCE POLICE CAMP”, “LAWRENCE HEALTH OFFICIALS TEST WATERS AT LOCAL POOL”, and “LAWRENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROVIDE FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS”. One news heading caught his eye. “KU student murdered; killer still at large”.
“Kansas University student, Sandra Grimm, was found dead inside a local fraternity building. Coroner confirms cause of death to be from multiple knife wounds. At the current moment, the killer is still loose. University officials warn students to be careful and walk in groups,” he read to himself.
Running his fingers through his bangs, he leaned back against the chair. His hazel eyes scanned through the article again. Grabbing his backpack, he pulled out a small notepad and pen. He scribbled down the university’s name and the cause of the accident.
Was it merely a coincidence this murder occurred on campus around the time of his nightmare? His conscience wouldn’t give him peace of mind until he ensured it didn’t have anything to do with Liz.
Shutting his laptop, Sam stood from his seat and walked back to his bed. He fell back on the mattress, staring at the ceiling. Finally closing his eyes, he fell back to sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jennifer opened the door to her dorm room gently, trying not to wake her friend. Seeing the glow from under the bathroom door, she realized Liz was awake. She placed the napkin back on Liz’s night table. She didn’t want her to have any reason to be suspicious.
She hurried back to her bed and crawled under the blankets. Her mind worked overtime, playing over and over again Sandra’s death. It wouldn’t allow her to sleep which led her to wonder how long a person could go without sleep before they began to feel the effects.
Hearing the low beep of her cell phone, Jennifer glanced at it. Who on earth could be texting her this early in the morning? For a moment she stared at the blinking blue light on the front of the phone.
Pressing the power button, the screen lit up, showing she had a new text message.
Oct 31 @ midnight.
Furrowing her brows, she asked, “What the hell does that mean?”
Seeing there was no callback number, she brushed the message off. Someone must have sent the text in mistake. The date didn’t sound familiar to her. Ignoring the message, she placed her phone on her night table. Resting her head against her headboard, she waited for her seven a.m alarm to sound, indicating it was time for class.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Man, do we really have to wear these suits? I feel like a frickin’ attorney or something,” Dean scowled, tugging on his tie.
Opening the glove compartment, Sam grabbed two FBI badges, handing one to Dean. He placed his badge inside his jacket.
“We gotta look the part, Dean,” Sam replied, stepping out of the car.
Looking over top of the car at his brother, Dean replied, “Yeah, whatever.”
Sam walked around the Impala, taking his notepad and pen out of his jacket pocket. Flipping the cover, he skimmed the pen across his notes.
“A girl was murdered inside the Alpha Kappa Lambda chapter house. Her murderer is still out there. At the moment, there aren’t any leads,” he informed Dean, opening the door, allowing his brother to enter.
The two walked into the small police station. Grey-cushioned chairs lined one side of the wall. A thickened glass panel protected a blonde with shoulder-length hair, who sat, taking calls.
Dean walked up to the counter, tapping his knuckle against the glass panel. The woman looked up, opening the door that separated her from the room.
“Yes? Can I help you?” she asked.
Pulling their badges from their jackets, Dean said, “Hi, I’m Special Agent Tyler and this here is my partner Special Agent Perry.” He motioned toward his brother, gazing over his shoulder. “We’re here to speak to Officer…” he started, realizing he didn’t know any of the officers’ names.
Speaking up, Sam interrupted, “Yes. We’re here to speak to Officer Staley about a murder investigation on the Kansas University campus.”
Motioning toward the chairs, she said, “Have a seat. Let me go see if he’s free to see you.”
Dean nodded his head. Turning around, he followed Sam to the chairs and sat down.
Turning to his brother, Dean exhaled. “I gotta hand it to you. You really helped me out with that officer’s name. I don’t know what happened. I blanked,” Dean explained.
“I just guessed,” Sam said, interlocking his hands, placing them in his lap. “I remember reading his name from the newspaper article.”
“Good thinking,” Dean said, resting his palms on his thighs.
The two sat in silence briefly, waiting for the officer to see them. Shortly after, the blonde woman returned with another officer. They stood from their seats.
“Agents,” the officer acknowledged, shaking each of their hands. “I’m Officer Staley. Want to come back to my office?” he asked, though it wasn’t a question.
Dean and Sam followed the officer to his office, walking in. The office was a typical police station office. A glass window pane lined one side of the wall that separated the room from the waiting room. A bookshelf sat in the corner, holding award plaques and trophies.
Officer Staley motioned for the two to have a seat. Walking behind his desk, he sat down. He leaned back against the black roller chair, placing his locked hands on his overgrown belly.
“So, what brings the FBI to Lawrence?” he asked, alternating looks between the two men.
Sam spoke up and said, “We’re looking into the death of a university student named Sandra Grimm. We understand that the murderer is still loose, is that right?”
“Yes, that’s correct, but we’ve got several of our best men working on that case,” he replied. “It’s just so sad when young people like Sandra go too soon. She had a bright future ahead of her, that girl. She was an honor student in all her classes.”
“She was found in one of the fraternity’s rooms, is that correct?” Sam asked,
The officer nodded. “Yes, she was found in one of the rooms by some of the people who were there.”
Scribbling the notes on his notepad, not bothering to look up, Sam said, “We’re going to need the names of those students.”
“Report says she died from multiple lacerations,” Dean stated, looking up from Sam’s notepad.
“That’s what they tell me, Agent. At the time, the scene was just too bloody to tell anything. But I will say one thing. Whoever did this was one sick son-of-a-bitch,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Why do you say that?” Dean asked.
Looking down at his desk, he said, sadly, “The fact that someone would just murder an innocent girl inside a house full of people.”
Standing up from his chair, Sam closed his notepad, placing it in his jacket pocket. “I think that’s all we need, officer,” he said, extending his hand.
Shaking Sam’s hand, the officer said, “I assure you that we are doing all we can to find Sandra’s killer.”
Officer Staley led the two men to the entrance of the station. As soon as he was back in the building, Dean turned his attention to Sam and said, “Dude, this is not even our kind of case.”
“What do you mean it’s not our kind of case? It’s definitely our kind of case,” Sam argued, stepping into the black car.
Dean took his keys out of his pants pocket. Placing them in the ignition, he started the car. “Sam, it’s just a simple murder case. Nothing paranormal about it,” he stated, loosening his tie, looking straight-forward out the windshield.
“You don’t think it’s a coincidence that the murder occurred around the time of my dream,” he asked, turning his body toward his brother. “Dean, we have to investigate this some more just to be sure that it’s nothing to do with Liz,” he said.
Turning his head to his brother, Dean rolled his eyes, putting the gear shift into drive. “Fine, but dude, if this is a dead end…” was all he said, as he pulled out of the parking lot.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jennifer bolted through the double doors, gripping her book bag strap against her shoulder. She was late once again. She had no doubts that Professor Watson would once again chip in with his nasty comments and at this minute, she wasn’t sure she would be able to deal with it today. Her mind was fogged and her body dragging as if she had a hangover.
Rushing down the sloping aisle, she ignored the few curious stares she felt from the other students. Everyone else had their attention focused directly ahead, at the board.
Jennifer stopped at the end of one of the rows and looked around for a seat. The auditorium was pretty much packed. Finally spotting one, she hurried to it before she caused any more distraction.
“Excuse me,” she apologized, scooting behind a few students.
She sat down behind the desk top that stretched from one end of the row to the other. Leaning her book bag against the chair, she unzipped it, pulling her literature book out. She really had to put the little muscle she had into it.
She reached down to pull out some pens, placing them on the space in front of her. She was oblivious to the silence she had caused as everyone was staring at her.
“Are you finished, late student,” she heard, breaking her concentration.
Adjusting her attention back to the professor, she answered, “I’m sorry I’m late. I really am,” she told him, shaking her head slightly. “I tried to get here on time, but the halls were crowded. I know that’s no excuse but its all I can tell you,” she said, defending her lateness.
Mr. Watson stood in front of his desk with his arms crossed. “Young lady, I couldn’t care less whether you complete your education. There are students in this forum who actually want to learn and make it their priority to get here on time. I will not tolerate anymore of your lateness. Consider this your warning. Next time, I will dismiss you from the class for the rest of the year,” he said, sternly.
She nodded her head, watching as he returned to his lesson.
Feeling someone’s attention, Jennifer looked around, making contact with a pair of crystal blue eyes. Jennifer felt a slight flutter in her stomach, all her thoughts disappeared.
Feeling a sense of attraction towards him, shyness overcame her. Bowing her head and lowering her eyelids, one side of her mouth curved upwards. She looked down at her book in front of her, bringing her attention back to the professor.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Explain to me again why we had to come to this college party,” Sam said, walking through the front door of the frat house.
Warmth radiated through the dark room. A white strobe light circled around randomly illuminating the few dancers in the room. Sam peered to his left, noticing a group of jocks wearing letter jackets. He felt a pained feeling inside his stomach. One of the guys was chugging a beer down while the others cheered him on.
Dean followed his brother’s gaze around the room and replied, “We’ve been over this already, Sam. This fraternity house was listed as the murder site in the file. We’re going to look around, ask some of the students some questions, and enjoy ourselves tonight.”
“And how do you suppose we do that? With a beer in one hand and your mind on the cleavage in the room?” Sam enquired, dryly.
They watched a pair of girls approach, both wearing barely-there halter tops, the only difference between them was one wore a micro mini and the other a pair of leather pants. Dean’s mouth quirked up as his gaze wandered over them, returning to look at the tall brunette as they stopped in front of him and Sam, handing each of them a cup.
“Handsome boys like you shouldn’t be at a party like this empty-handed,” the tall brunette said, dark eyes gazing into his warmly.
“It’s practically unconstitutional,” the slender strawberry-blonde added with a smile at Sam, looking him up and down in a flirtatious manner. “I’m Sara, this is Melissa, you boys need anything tonight, you come find us. Just call us the Welcome Train!”
Flashing a smile at her, Dean took the cup, bringing it to his lips. “Well, thank you, ladies,” he said, his voice a little deeper and warmer. Noticing the change, Sam sighed.
Looking at Sam, he gripped his shoulder and said, “Sam, loosen up a little. Let’s have some fun tonight.”
The two girls smiled back, leaving the guys. Dean watched them go. It had been a while since he had attended a party of any sort so he was prepared to let loose and enjoy the night. If that included taking one of these college girls back to his room, then Sammy would have to find somewhere else to sleep for the night.
Walking through a crowd of dancers, Dean let his attention travel around the room. He flashed a smile at each girl he passed.
“Hey! How ya doin’ tonight, ladies?” he asked a cluster of scantily clad twenty-somethings, grinning as they giggled and whispered to each other.
Looking over his shoulder at his younger brother, he said, "I think I'll be putting in an application to KU next year. The girls here are fine."
He couldn’t help but feel a sense of joy for his brother. After their mother’s death, his brother became a protector over him. Their father practically forced it upon him. Instead of allowing him to attend school and socialize with kids his own age, their father had him out in a field, at six years old, shooting tin cans. Seeing his brother in this environment, with college students their age, made him happy.
Sam shifted his gaze around the room. Running into the one person he had returned to Lawrence for made him nervous. His heart beat increased and his mind raced as he followed his brother through the crowd of people.
Snapping his fingers in front of Sam’s face, Dean said, “Earth to Sammy! I’m going to go ask around and see if anyone remembers anything about that night. Why don’t you go find the refreshment table and get a beer or something?” Dean scrunched his face at his brother. “You really look like you’re going to pee your pants right now.”
Sam snapped back to reality, seeing his brother standing in front of him. “What? Shut up,” he said, realizing what Dean had said. “Okay, go see what you can find out. But Dean, if someone asks what your major is, don’t you dare say Chemistry or Anatomy. It’s the worst pick-up line ever,” he said, walking towards the other room.
“What the hell, man?” Dean yelled. “I used that line once! Maybe twice,” he said, watching his brother pass the door frame to the next room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“I party,” Liz defended herself, sitting on the kitchen counter top.
Jennifer stood in front of her, bringing the cup filled with Mike’s Hard Lemonade to her lips. She was definitely not a beer drinker. To her, the substance tasted like pee. Not that she had drunk pee before but it was what she imagined it to taste like.
“Whatever, Liz. You do not party. When was the last time you came out to one of these things?” Jennifer asked, leaning her hip against the counter.
Liz flashed a smile, leaning forward. Whispering in Jennifer’s ear, she said, “You aren’t even supposed to be here, remember? You said you were done with parties.”
Jennifer leaned her back against the counter, shrugging her shoulder. “Yeah, but as long as you keep me from drinking more than two of these things, then I’m fine,” she said, raising her bottle up.
Liz wasn’t sure why she was at the party. Jennifer was right. She rarely ever went to these things because she had more important things to do. Studying for one and working at the diner for two. Jennifer had told her earlier that she needed to come out and relax for a change. To help her keep Sandra off her mind. Whether that was true or not, she didn’t know.
She looked at her friend, who had her head bowed to the floor, staring mindlessly. Nudging the redhead’s arm, she said, “You’re thinking about her, aren’t you?”
“It’s hard not to,” Jennifer said, raising her head. Peering around the room, she asked, “How do I not think about her when everything in this house reminds me of her?”
Liz leaned down to Jennifer’s level, wrapping her arms around her friend’s neck. “Jennifer, it’s okay for you to feel that way. She was one of your best friends…”
“You’re my best friend,” Jennifer interrupted, smiling, leaning into Liz.
“Yeah, but she was the one you did all this stuff with,” she said, referring to college parties and social events.
Jennifer brought her cup to her lips. Feeling the liquid’s tanginess slide down her throat, she shook her head and bowed her head again. She couldn’t help but let the sadness in, thinking if she left Liz by herself the same thing would happen to her.
“Why don’t you go out and have some fun? I’ll just stay here and mingle with these folks” Liz joked, motioning towards a few random strangers who clearly were wrapped in their own conversations.
“I’m not leaving you here by yourself. Sandy went off on her own and she never came back. If that was to happen to you…” she stopped, her throat started to close.
“I’ll be fine,” her friend insisted. “Go. Have fun. If anything happens, I’ll call you.”
“I don’t know…” Jennifer contemplated, gazing at Liz for a moment.
If anything happened to her best friend, she wouldn’t be able to ever forgive herself. Liz kept her on a straight and narrow path in a world that oftentimes tempted her to stray off. Last year proved to be one of those times.
Pushing Jennifer away from the counter, Liz said, “Go.”
Taking one last glimpse, Jennifer shook her head and reluctantly walked out of the kitchen.
Liz jumped off the counter and grabbed another beer from the refrigerator. There were several other people in the room, standing around the walls, some talking, a couple filling their corner with the strong scent of illegal substances and bluish smoke, another couple who looked as if they were looking for a sanctuary from the chaos in the rest of the house.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After circling the main area, Jennifer made her way to the stairs. She sat down on the second step, glancing around the room. Sighing, she leaned her head back, closing her eyes for a brief moment. It seemed going to these parties didn’t feel much like fun anymore.
Feeling someone sit down beside her, she looked to her left. The same crystal blue eyes from the lecture hall looked into hers. The familiar shy feeling from earlier took over as she looked away quickly.
“Fancy seeing you here,” he said, nudging her arm.
In the past, Jennifer had no trouble interacting with the opposite sex, but as he sat down beside her, all her confidence dwindled away.
Jennifer noticed the way he studied her. Her heart beat increased, her breathing slowed down. Peeking at him, she took note of the black leather jacket he wore over a black t-shirt. One of his palms rested on his black jeans and the other was held out for her to shake.
“I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself today in the classroom,” he said, feeling her hand take his. “I’m Daniel.”
Feeling her grip his hand gently, his thoughts went back to earlier that day in the auditorium. The woman before him was beautiful. When she had chosen the seat beside him in class, he’d been taken aback by his sudden attraction towards her. His stomach had filled with butterflies and his ability to speak left him, only to worsen when her eyes met his briefly, looking away. Spying the faint pink flush of her cheeks, he wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or the goofy expression he no doubt had on his face. He hadn’t been sure if he could trust his feelings but looking at her now, he realized that first impression had been real, those same feelings rising again.
“Jennifer Scott,” she said, the corner of her lip curving up.
Stretching his long legs out and crossing them at the ankles, he rested them on the first step. “So now that we have a chance to talk, what do you really think of Professor Watson?” he asked, turning his head to her.
Jennifer rolled her eyes, looking toward the crowd of students.
“He’s an ass!” she exclaimed, meeting his eyes.
Daniel nodded, agreeing with her. "Yeah, he’s a real jerk! I don't understand why he feels the need to get his kicks out of humiliating his students, but from what I hear, he's been doing this sort of thing for years now,” he said, leaning toward Jennifer, allowing a few students to get by.
Feeling Daniel close to her, she could smell the faint scent of cologne. It was an antique smell infused with alcohol.
“So, if he’s been doing this for a long time then why doesn’t anyone do something about it?” she asked.
Shrugging his shoulders, he said, “Students need his class to graduate. It’s a required course and without it, they’re screwed.”
Looking at her hands, she laid them on her knees, shaking her head. “That’s just ridiculous,” she said, leaning toward him to allow another group of students to get by.
“So, what is your major? Tell me. What are your big plans when you graduate?” Daniel asked, smiling warmly.
Looking into his piercing blue eyes, she said, “Uh…I want to be a teacher.”
“That’s awesome,” he said, placing his hand on her arm, enthusiasm in his voice. “What do you wanna teach?”
Jennifer looked at him, relaxing as she saw his interest was genuine and sincere.
“I’d like to teach elementary kids. Like maybe kindergarteners,” she told him, crossing her arms and leaning forward on her knees.
Daniel looked toward the crowd of partygoers and laughed. “Oh, wow. Snotty noses and crying kids? I think I’ll pass,” he joked, winking an eye at her.
Laughing with him, Jennifer said, “No, it’s not like that. I’ve got a little cousin back home. His name is Braedan. He’s four-years old,” she explained, running her hand through her bangs. “I don’t get to see him that often but when I do, he brings a lot of joy to my life. He just radiates goodness and a sense of innocence and when I’m around him, I just want to be good. For him, you know? That’s why I want to teach kids. I love them.”
As she spoke, Daniel noticed the way her face lit up, seeing the pride and confidence - two of the many traits he loved in a woman.
“Kids are good. I love them too,” he said. “They have this way of taking the worst day of your life and without even realizing it, brightening it up. Just by the silly things they do.”
Jennifer laughed. “Yeah, they do. So, how about you?” she asked, turning her head, resting her chin on her shoulder. “Any siblings or little ones?”
He rested his back against the railing, smiling warmly. “I have a little sister named Cassie. She’s thirteen-years old and thinks she’s an adult,” he said, laughing. “I guess all teenagers do. But I can already tell I’m going to have to beat the boys off with a stick. She’s beautiful.”
“Thirteen,” Jennifer said, staring in the air briefly, remembering her teen years. “I remember those years of being boy-crazy and wanting to spend every moment with my friends.”
Daniel sighed. “Me too. Except I was girl-crazy,” he pointed out. “From my own experiences, I know what boys that age have on their mind and believe me, they’re not going to get it from my Cassie.”
“Cassie’s lucky to have an older brother like you in her life. I’m an only child, so I never knew what it was like to have an older or younger brother or sister. My parents divorced when I was thirteen and became too consumed in their own lives to really think about me,” she told him, pushing aside those memories as she looked down to her knees. “I surrounded myself with friends and yes, even boys,” she said, her smile returning.
“That’s why you’re close to your cousin, isn’t it? He’s almost like the sibling you never had,” he pointed out.
Jennifer nodded, looking at him. For a moment, they gazed at each other, not saying a word, both still smiling. Without realizing it, Jennifer felt something form between them - a bond, warm and sincere. Daniel got her and for that, she liked him. It surprised her and she realized she wanted to get to know him better.
Daniel looked away, realizing he was staring. It was too easy for him to get lost in her eyes and he wanted to know more about her beyond the beauty. Glancing down at her empty cup, he took it from her hand. “Hey. You’re empty. Let me go fill your cup back up and we’ll continue this conversation, when I get back,” he said, the side of his mouth curving into a smile. “What’d you have?”
Smiling, she nodded and said, “Mike’s Hard Lemonade. Thank you.”
He got to his feet and pushed himself through the crowd of students, leaving Jennifer to look after him in anticipation for his return. There was an undeniable spark beyond physical attraction between the two and she wanted to explore it more.
Continue to Part 2
Chapters: 1,