That One Summer

Dean Winchester was not a dating sort of dude. He was used to the wham bam thank you ma’am sort of thing that one night stands afforded. An actual date with actual conversation with a girl he actually liked was way out of his comfort zone. And it was totally obvious.

“Dean, you’ve changed like 10 times,” Sam popped the top off his beer, secretly loving the fact that his brother was so flustered. “Are you turning into a chick or something?”

“Shut your cakehole, Sammy,” Dean growled, pulling yet another shirt over his head. “I gotta pick her up shortly and I have no clue what the fuck I am doing. I asked you here to help, not to be the peanut gallery.”

“It’s just so funny to see you like this,” Sam grinned. “All up in knots over some chick. It takes me back, man. You haven’t been this strung out since Cassie way back in the day.”

“I am so regretting telling you about this,” Dean pulled on his patent leather jacket, finally satisfied with his outfit choice. “It’s not a big deal, okay?”

“It’s the biggest of deals,” Sam countered. “You’re taking December Rae Harwood on a date. The girl you swore you hated, the girl you denied having any attraction to. Shit, if only everyone else knew…”

“You are not to mention this to anyone,” Dean pointed a finger at his younger brother. “Tell a soul and I will beat your ass into the ground, got it?”

“Dude, relax,” Sam rolled his eyes, taking a swig of beer. “I won’t tell, boy scouts honor.” He raised his hand in mock salute. “Now, did you get the flowers?”

Dean picked up the bouquet from the coffee table. “Right here. Lilies, just like you said.”

“Overheard her telling Meg they were her favorite,” Sam affirmed. “You got the basket Mom packed? A couple of blankets? A condom and some breath mints?”

“Shut up,” Dean reached over to shove his brother. “The basket and blankets are in Baby’s trunk. Breath mints in my pocket. If I brought condoms she might kick me in the balls.”

“Well here’s hoping second base comes without a kick or punch,” Sam teased, saluting Dean with his beer.

“Okay, enough of you,” Dean headed towards the door. “I’m out. Uh,” he paused, his features arranging into a look of nervous anticipation, “uh, wish me luck?”

“It’ll be fine,” Sam gave him a reassuring smile. “Hey, she wouldn’t have agreed to it if she didn’t want to, right?”

Dean squared his shoulders. “Right. Well, here I go then. Don’t wait up, Sammy.”

The short drive to her house felt like an eternity. He could feel his palms getting sweaty against the steering wheel. A muscle jumped subtly underneath his eye. Fuck, since when did Dean Winchester get nervous? It was just a date, for Pete’s sake! He’d done this before. He was Mr Suave Ladies Man. He could do this.

She was waiting for him on the curb, her arms wrapped round her legs as she rocked gently back and forth on the grass. Upon hearing the purr of his Baby’s engine, she jumped up, frantically smoothing down her outfit like a panicky rabbit. He couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle. At least he wasn’t the only one who was nervous.

He killed the engine and climbed out of the car, using the time to simultaneously calm his nerves and give her a good once over. She looked just as fucking pretty as the night before, this time her curves hidden by a white summer dress that made her look like some sort of angel. Her hair was all down and loose, just the way he liked it. She’d managed to cover up her forehead scrape nicely. He could barely even see it. He clutched the flowers in his hand tightly, swallowing loudly as he made his way over to her.

“Hi,” he said, and because he didn’t know what else to do, he stuck the flowers out in front of him. “These are for you.”

“Oh, lilies, my favorite,” her eyes lit up, and he felt relief wash over him. She liked the flowers. That was a good start. “Thank you Dean. They’re lovely.”

“Not as lovely as you,” Dean blurted out, immediately cringing afterward. “I’m sorry. That was so fucking corny.”

December Rae giggled. “It was. But nice, nonetheless. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Dean mumbled, feeling his cheeks reddening. “Um, we should get going, uh, don’t wanna lose the warmth, or light…”

“I’ll just run and put these in water,” December Rae pressed her noses into the flowers. “They smell so nice. Give me a minute.”

After she’d gone and put the flowers in the house, they climbed into the car and got on their way. It was a silent ride. Dean couldn’t help but sneak glances at her as they drove along. She kept her eyes straight ahead, her hands twisting together in her lap. He had the overwhelming urge to reach over and take them in his. He gripped the steering wheel tighter, resisting. No touching, he chided himself. You are doing this right. Do not touch her anywhere until she’s ready.

He was lucky Sam had some notion about how to be romantic. His brother had told him about a quiet spot just where a little wood met with farmland, perfect for spreading out a blanket on the hood of one’s car and watching the sunset. He said he’d taken an old girlfriend there a few times, and it had always been a hit. December Rae didn’t seem like she’d be into all that super girl romantic crap, but he was hoping that a pretty country sunset would be up her alley. If not, well at least nobody would be around to hear her ream him out.

The sun hadn’t quite started its descent yet when they pulled into Sam’s spot. Dean snuck another nervous glance over at his passenger as he killed Baby’s engine. She looked intrigued by the location, but a little bit confused.

“A cornfield?” she asked, her blue eyes darting around perceptively. “Are we building a baseball diamond or something?”

Dean couldn’t help but bark out a short laugh. “Some date that would be. No uh,” he looked at her sheepishly, cheeks tinting red. “Uh, I have a picnic supper in the back. Figured uh, we could, you know, eat and then watch the sunset. If you want.”

To his relief, her face split into a wide smile. “First flowers and now a sunset? Dean Winchester, you are spoiling me.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Dean waved his hand dismissively, feeling his blush grow. “Now come on, it ain’t gonna wait for us.”

So they spread out blankets on Baby’s hood, settling themselves down and digging into Mary’s tasty feast. To Dean’s relief, conversation flowed easily. Their nerves seemed to melt away as they exchanged stories and banter. December Rae told him all about Chicago, about adventures she’d had with Kitty (who sounded scarily like a female Sam) and her weird stepbrother Chuck. In turn, he told her stories of his childhood, about the pranks he’d pulled on Sammy and the first time he’d fixed up a car. They stayed away from touchy subjects, each seeming to know that the first date was not the time to talk about absent fathers and low self esteem.

The sun began to set after awhile, turning the Kansas sky into a myriad of golds and pinks and yellows. December Rae watched it with almost childlike fascination.

“You never see this in the big city,” she shook her head in awe, eyes glued to the sky. “It’s beautiful!”

So are you, Dean thought, his eyes instead trained on the girl beside him. And she was beautiful, all bathed in the soft glow of the sunset. He felt so at ease, so comfortable around her. There was no need to put up his front. He could be himself, and he knew she’d be okay with it. Fuck, giving into his heart had never felt so damn good. He felt like a fucking girl for thinking it, but it was true. He’d made his life so shitty for the last few years, he forgot what it was like to feel truly happy, to really smile. But he was smiling now, sitting on the hood of his car with good food and really, really good company, the sky looking like it had been set on fire.

December Rae suddenly turned her head and looked at him, catching him off guard. She was smiling wide, her big blue eyes practically dancing in the soft summer light. He wanted so badly to reach over and pull her into him, to kiss those smiling lips over and over again until they both couldn’t stand it.

“Dean, this is absolutely wonderful,” she sighed, turning her body towards him. “Thank you. Really.”

“Thank Sammy,” Dean mumbled, feeling flustered under her gaze. “It was his idea.”

“Sam didn’t actually bring me here,” December Rae said softly. “He didn’t tell me funny stories, he didn’t let me have the bigger piece of pie, and he didn’t give me an extra blanket so I wouldn’t get cold. Sam,” she shifted herself so that her chest was brushing his shoulder, the familiar scent of cherries and vanilla wafting over him, “isn’t the one I want to kiss me right now.”

Dean swallowed audibly, feeling his heart begin to pound against his ribcage. “Well that’s good,” he said huskily, reaching out to brush a finger along her jaw line. “Because he isn’t here and I’d kick his ass for even trying.”

December Rae let out a breathy laugh. “Just shut up and kiss me, Dean.”

“Fuck, finally,” Dean growled, reaching for her as she leaned towards him. Their lips crashed together, the force causing Dean to topple back into the windshield, December Rae coming with him.

“Okay, ow,” Dean muttered against her lips, shifting his body so December Rae was practically on top of him.

“Baby,” December Rae teased, nipping playfully at his bottom lip. She wriggled against him, causing him to pull back and let out a soft hiss. “Sorry, just getting comfortable,” she shrugged, eyes twinkling playfully.

“Yeah sure,” Dean reached up and trapped her face in between his hands. “Now are we gonna fucking make out or what?”

“Oh wow, that’s dreamy,” December Rae grinned down at him. “No wonder you went to Sam for help, you really suck at all this romantic shit.”

“Can we stop talking about Sam?” Dean sighed, rubbing his thumbs over her cheeks. “I just want to kiss you until you forget your name, not think about my girly as fuck brother.”

“Ooh, is that a promise?” December Rae raised an eyebrow in challenge.

Dean laughed, pulling her face down until their noses were touching.

“Cross my heart,” he smirked, before once again surging forward and claiming those soft, pink, irresistible lips.

Neither of them thought of Sammy for a very, very long time.