That One Summer

She ran fast and hard. Through the gate, down the driveway and out into the twilight. Tears blurred her vision, but she did not stop to wipe them. Fuck, she was so stupid. She was so, so, stupid. How could she have believed that Dean would feel anything for her? He felt nothing. She had gone out on a limb, and it had been a big mistake. His mother had been wrong. There was no second chance.

She knew she shouldn’t even be this upset. She knew it shouldn’t hurt this much. But it did. She’d managed to convince herself that there was something there, that the two of them had some sort of weird attraction, and to have it all thrown back in her face felt like a stab in the heart. His words echoed in her head. I hate you. The fire in his beautiful eyes, the anger in his face was something she wouldn’t be able to forget for a very long time. She wished she’d never come here. She wished she was back at home in Chicago, where all she needed was Kitty and her books. She wished she’d never laid eyes on Dean Winchester.

In her anger, she tried to run faster. Instead, her ankle caught on a rift in the sidewalk and she went sprawling face first down onto the pavement. She could feel the hard cement tear into her knees, her hands, and her face. She didn’t even try to get up. She simply lay there, face down, the blood from the scrape on her head mingling with the salty tears leaking from her eyes. That was it. She was going to get in her car, put Lawrence in her rearview mirror, and never look back.

Imagine her surprise when suddenly behind her there came a loud curse, and a set of heavy footsteps shuffling quickly towards her. A pair of warm hand settled themselves on her shoulders, and she felt herself being pulled into a sitting position.

“Oh shit, you’re bleeding.”

Her muscles tensed. He wouldn’t dare.

But when she lifted her tear streaked face, she found he really would dare. Dean Winchester’s green eyes gazed anxiously down into her own, his hands keeping a steadying grasp on her shoulders. She scowled.

“Let me go!” she choked out, trying to tear herself from his grip. Dean simply shook his head.

“No,” he said simply, his face setting into a determined look.

She wrenched harder, tears flying as she tried to wriggle free. “Dean, let me go!”

“No,” he said more firmly, and his grip became so tight it was almost painful. “No, I am not letting you go. Not here, and not back to Chicago.”

That stunned her for a moment, and she stopped wiggling. He took the opportunity to most a hand from her shoulder to her face, examining the gash on her forehead. Her eyes flitted over his face. It wasn’t the same hardened face she’d seen moments before. It was different. Kinder. Softer.

“You told me to go back to Chicago,” she whispered, her whole body shaking with pain, fear and confusion. “You told me you hated me.”

Dean’s hand stopped its inspection of her wounds. It slid slowly down her face, until it was all but cupping her cheek. His thumb rubbed gently across her skin, and she couldn’t help but lean into his touch. Her brain swirled with a mess of questions. What was going on?

“I don’t want you to go back to Chicago,” Dean’s voice had gotten low. “I’d never forgive myself if you did. Not with you thinking that,” he stopped, swallowing hard, “not with you thinking that I hate you.”

December Rae felt her heart give a spastic thump. She blinked slowly at him, trying to comprehend what he was saying.

“It’s not you I hate, it’s myself,” Dean continued, looking away from her as if embarrassed. “Every time I touch something, it turns to shit. I can’t get anything right. I hurt people. I don’t mean to, but I do.”

Mary’s words ran though December Rae’s head. Sometimes I think he thinks it was him we should have buried. She could see it inside of him. The hate, the self loathing. He was not the confident, cocky man he made himself out to be. That was all just a façade. She could feel her anger slowly leaving her.

“Dean,” she said softly. He shook his head, stopping her from saying anything else.

“No, let me say this,” he set his mouth in a determined line. “I’m not one for chick flick moments, but I need to say this. I am 90% crap, December Rae. You had every right to slap me when we first met, you have every right to push me away now. But please, let me say first that you are the single most infuriating woman I have ever met in my life. You wormed your way under my skin, despite my determination not to let you in. But,” he took a deep, steadying breath. “But I can’t fight it anymore. Fuck, Crazy Bitch, you’ve grabbed a hold of me and I don’t think I want you to let go.”

December Rae sucked in a hard breath. Holy shit. He was basically saying everything she was trying to tell him at the party. You are maddening. I shouldn’t like you but I do. We can’t ignore this anymore. Her heart ached to believe him, but her brain held her in check.

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?” she whispered, her eyes betraying her fear/

Dean’s face hardened. Without warning, he yanked her so she was practically on his lap. She gasped in surprise, her hands flying up instinctively to grasp at his worn leather jacket.

“You know because I’m going to do what I’ve been dying to do all night,” he growled, and before she could even blink, he kissed her.

She forgot everything. She forgot her pain, she forgot she was still bleeding, she may even have forgot her own name. The push of his lips was all that there was. They slid over hers, warm and full and slightly chapped. His large hand was still on her face, anchoring her to him. The other hand slid into her hair, just like it had back at the Roadhouse. But it was not the same sort of kiss. It was a kiss meant to convey a message. And she got it, loud and clear.

I’m telling the truth.

The kiss lasted only a minute, but to her it felt like hours. Dean was the first to pull away, his smile shy.

“Was that proof enough?” he asked quietly, his green orbs flitting nervously across her face. December Rae let a soft giggle slip, he looked like he was worried she may hit him again. Instead, she leaned forward and placed a chaste peck on his kiss stung lips.

“Yes,” she murmured, feeling a blush spread across her cheeks. “Yes, that was enough.”

Dean’s smile grew, and she couldn’t help but mimic it. Fuck, this was not how she’d pictured the evening going. But somehow, even though they were sitting in the middle of the sidewalk and she was probably still bleeding, this was way better.

As if reading her mind, Dean let his eyes flick up to the sticky mess on her forehead.

“Sorry for making you bleed,” he said, his brows furrowing slightly. “That might scar.”

December Rae shrugged. “It’s not your fault. I should have known better than to run in these shoes.”

Dean’s frowned deepened. “But if I hadn’t have made you want to run-“

December Rae shushed him with a finger to his lips. “Dean Winchester, that is enough of your I am crap talk for one night. Forget about the fact that my forehead looks like a battle field and just ask me out on a date, dammit.”

Dean looked taken aback. “Date?”

December Rae couldn’t help but roll her eyes, the soft mood they had been enjoying slipping away. Of course, something like that could never last long between the two of them. “Yes Dean. We have established that we are into each other, now the next logical step would be to ask me out, dumbass.”

Dean’s eyebrows shot up, a playful smirk crossing his features. “Back to snark, I see. Can’t keep you all soft and girly for long, can I?

“Winchester, call me girly again and I will punch you in the gonads,” December Rae tried to sound threatening, but the smile on her face betrayed her. “Now, about that date?”

“Fuck, you are pushy,” Dean’s grin was mega watt. “Fine. December Rae, would you do me the implicit honor of letting me take you to dinner tomorrow night?”

December Rae nodded satisfactorily. “I would be delighted.”

Dean let out a snort of laughter. “Okay, now that that has been settled, can we please get up off this damn pavement? My ass is asleep.”

“Oh shit! Sorry!” December Rae clambered off his lap, her cheeks flushing. She couldn’t help but let a shiver pass through her at the sudden lack of body heat. Dean was very, very warm.

“S’okay,” Dean shrugged as he pushed himself to his feet. “I was kind of enjoying the closeness.” He winked at her.

“Yes, my thigh could tell,” December Rae giggled. Dean had the decency to at least look slightly guilty.

“I’m a man-its only nat-“

“Dean, what on earth did you do?”

The pair jumped in surprise, turning to see Sam rushing down the sidewalk towards them, an angry and surprised look of his face.

“Dude, what the fuck?” Dean’s carefree look melted away in an instant. “Why do you always assume I did something?”

“December Rae are you okay?” Sam ignored his brother, hurrying over to her to check her injuries like a worried mother hen. “You’re bleeding! We were all so worried about you! It took forever to find you! We had to calm Jo down first, keep her from going after Dean to tear him apart…”

“Sam, I’m fine,” December Rae shoved his hands away, annoyed at him for both ruining their moment and insinuating Dean was the reason she was bleeding. Well, technically he was the reason she ran, but he didn’t place that stupid crack in the sidewalk. “I fell on the sidewalk. Dean had nothing to do with anything.”

“Sammy how can you even say that?” Dean crossed his arms. “I know I’m a diick, but come on man, would I really hurt a girl?”

“Sorry, just had to ask,” Sam frowned. “After what you yelled at her, I don’t know what you could be capable of.”

“Well now I’m just insulted,” Dean took a step towards his brother. “Words and actions are two very different things Sam!”

“Well you’ve been a bit off your rocker lately, Dean, can’t help me for wondering!” Sam took a step forward too.

“Quit it you two!” December Rae stomped her foot, causing both boys to look at her. “Don’t get your underwear all in knots. Sam, I’m fine. Give your brother the benefit of the doubt. Dean, pick me up at 6 tomorrow, alright? Don’t you fucking be late.” She straightened out her now dirty dress. “Alright boys, I’ll leave you to your little cock fight. Tell Jo I’m sorry for running out on a great party. Goodnight, Winchesters.”

She turned to go, her eyes landing on Dean. She winked subtly, watching the corners of his mouth twitch as she did so. She gave him a quick smile, then strode off into the night.

She managed to make it all the way home before she let out a squeal of excitement. She had a date with Dean Winchester. After all that had gone down tonight, she’d have thought it impossible. A few weeks ago, she’d have punched you in the face for even suggesting it. But now, things were different.

And she was so fucking going to like it.

“Dude, did I miss something?” Sam looked confused, watching December Rae fade into the night. “What the heck was that?”

Dean couldn’t help but smile. He wasn’t even mad at Sammy anymore. He had a fucking date with Crazy Bitch. He felt warmth blossoming throughout his chest. Giving in to his feelings had never felt so damn good. He so could not wait until tomorrow night,

“Oh Sammy,” he sighed, clapping his younger brother on the shoulder. “That right there, was progress.”