2. A Blast From the Past

"No," I gasped, feeling hyped. "No way. Sam Winchester?"

"The one and only." He said it a bit reluctantly, but I didn't read too much into it.

"Wow. Small world. What are you doing here?"

"I'm in town for a few days, nothing major."

I felt heat rush into my cheeks as my stomach yelled at me. "Sorry, it's obnoxious."

"That I do remember. You were always hungry."

"Some things never change." I pulled my arms tighter around my stomach.

"Have you not eaten, Dakota?"

"Not recently."

"Define 'recently.'"

"I can't remember when."

"Here, let's head inside and get you something."

"Oh, no, Sam, you don't have to," I waved him off. "Really, I can make it until I get home."

"No, no, seriously. I'm not in a rush to get back to the motel. Come on. Nobody's going to bite you in there."

Pft, you're not aware of what could possibly be in this town, I wanted to say. After a coaxing stare from Sam, I followed him inside the diner. The smells kept my panic at bay. We got settled in a booth and got our drinks taken care of. My eyes scanned the menu. Everything sounded so delicious.

I flinched when my menu was touched. I looked up at Sam with a scowl. He failed at a smile, which only made me curious about his intentions of being here more.

"You starve yourself?" he asked.

"I try not to. I have a big appetite. You remember that too, I'm sure. I always ate whatever leftovers you gave me at lunch."

"I never gave you anything; you snuck food off my tray."

"You never complained." I cleared my throat. "Anyway, last I heard from you, you had plans for college. I think you mentioned Stanford."

"Yeah, I ended up there."

"Good for you! Did you graduate?"

"Unfortunately, no."

"Why not?"

"Family issues."

Right. I remembered Sam slipping me details about his family. How his dad was always on jobs, bringing his two sons cross-country with him. How his brother, Dean, had to step in as his father figure since their real dad wasn't around most of the time. I also remembered what other details he mentioned, especially about the "family business" he desperately wanted to stay out of. He'd told me that was the big reason why he wanted to head to college so badly.

"I'm guessing you never went back," I mused.

"Couldn't."

"I see."

A waitress interrupted my thinking long enough to take our orders. My fingers rapped against the table as I sipped on the Pepsi in front of me.

"What are you doing out here? Walking home?" He nodded to my backpack.

"Oh, yeah," I lied. "I like to go on long walks, admire what Maryland has to offer. You know, the things a usual twenty-five-year-old would do." I usually got a rouse out of Sam when I joked, but I didn't even get a twinkle in his eyes. I pursed my lips. "Something wrong?"

"Hmm? Oh, no, everything's fine."

"Sam." I got stern with him. "We didn't know each other long, but I know when you're lying. You look like you need an ear." I hissed, cursing at my hungry stomach.

"It can't wait, can it?"

"No." I felt almost ashamed to be in a public place with a loud stomach.

"Seriously, Dakota, what are you doing out here?"

"I told you-"

"The truth would be nice."

I looked at him, offended. "Really? Is the truth ever really nice, Sam?"

He looked down at his clasped hands on the table. "I thought you deserved to know."

"Believe me, I was grateful that you told me. I was just-"

"What?"

"Well, I was hoping you hung around long enough so I could talk to you about it properly." I rested my face in my hand. "But you left me with questions."

"I know. I am sorry about that."

I snorted. "It's strange, running into you of all people. Did the business bring you here?" I leaned back in the booth, arms folded under my chest. "I find it hard to believe anything else did."

Before I could goad Sam further into discussing his real reason for being in Maryland, our food arrived. I dug right in, all while being mindful I was in the presence of other people. I wasn't about to make a slob of myself.

If it weren't for the food being so good, I would have started conversation. The diner food sated my hunger than most food had in the recent weeks. I almost felt normal, eating in the diner with one of the people I'd known back in senior year. I watched Sam as he picked at his food.

Something was definitely bothering him. I knew it wasn't my place to pry, but I couldn't help but be curious. I should tell him what's happened recently. I don't have anyone. Though we lost touch, he's still a friend. He's probably the only friend I've got in this world now. Maybe he could point me in the right direction out of this mess.

Neither of us made conversation. I didn't know where to begin, and Sam wasn't saying a word. For a while, I thought he was purposely ignoring me by looking out the window. But I knew he was feeling the awkward air in the diner just as much as I was. Well, it was a bit awkward. He and I hadn't ended on good terms in the past. I was surprised we talked so casually like we did outside. Like that conversation hadn't happened.

~*~

The laptop heated up my legs as I had it with me on my bed. I scratched my nose, my mind abuzz. There was no way to get a hold of him and talk to him about this. I wanted him to stick around just a little longer so he could really prove to me what he just told me.

His words swam in my head. It couldn't be true, could it? That monsters hid among us, sometimes in plain sight? That some of the myths and legends actually were true?

I put my head against the headboard. It sounded so ludicrous it made my head spin. Yet, at the same time, it sounded like there was a ring of truth to his words. He had sounded so serious when he told me what the "family business" was. But it was hard to imagine his father, whatever he looked like, driving state-wide hunting these...these creatures that were only depicted in books and TV.

The idea hadn't stopped coming to me. I'd been tempted for days now to research, to see if Sam's story checked out. There was a high chance that that boy had lied to me. Granted, he had in the past, right to my face, but I gave him a little more credit for coming clean to me, even if it was his last day in Maryland.

Here it goes, I told myself. I bit my lip as I began my research.

~*~

I tried to hold back the yawn that built in me, but I couldn't. I rubbed my eyes, making me feel like a little kid again.

"Better?" Sam asked.

"Much." I patted my thin stomach. "Can I ask you something, Sam?"

"Sure."

Wow, so open. It's like we never met a bitter end in our friendship. I debated, wondering what to really say. I needed to think things through before I said anything.

"Dakota?" His eyebrows scrunched together. "Is everything...okay?"

"Uh..."

"Are we going to want anything else for tonight?" the waitress asked, saving me from an already-embarrassing moment.

"I think we're good," Sam spoke on our behalf.

"All right. I'll be right back with the check."

I sat up in the booth now, feeling my palms get sweaty. Relax. There hasn't been an issue since the incident at the house. You're fine. There aren't any more running around Maryland. Chill. But why didn't I feel convinced? Why did I get the strange feeling that somehow one of them was watching me?

"Are you sure you're okay?" Sam pressed.

"Y-yeah," I squeaked. "It's just...I don't know. Social anxiety?"

"What? You were the social butterfly when I met you!"

"That was years ago. Times have changed. So have I." I put my hands under my arms.

"Are you sure you're not...bipolar, or something? There is medicine to help with that now."

I stared at him pointedly. "I'm not bipolar, Sam."

"Then what is it? You look spooked."

"Here we are," said the waitress. She set the black book on the edge of the table.

I swallowed, feeling guilty. Here Sam offered to get me food, and I had no way to repay him.

"I'll take care of it," he assured me.

"You sure?" I asked.

"It's no trouble."

"Thanks."

The waitress swung by to grab the book with the cash, so we waited patiently. I was very tempted to mutter the word to see who flinched. It's better to not let them know you're onto them, if there are any here.

Once we got everything taken care of, we exited the diner. We stood out in the May night air, unsure of what to do next.

"Well, I guess this is where we part ways," I told him.

"I guess so." Sam looked at me, waiting for me to leave. "Are you waiting for someone?"

"Oh, um, no." I looked down at the sidewalk. "I...can't go home right now. D-do you mind if I follow you back to the motel you're staying at?"

"Oh, uh, yeah, sure." He gave me a strange look. "Can I know the reason why?"

"It's better if you didn't."

"Okay then."

Thankfully he didn't ask any questions, but we could both feel the awkward air as I walked alongside him back to the motel.

**Well, they had to meet in some way. Things may seem a little slow, but don't they always, mostly always, in the beginning?

Part 1 is 'Zero to Sixty' for a reason, readers. Just keep that in mind. Remember that.**