Bye Bye

11

Click.

Just as Dean opened the package the dorm door swung open. On instinct, Dean pulled the package underneath the desk and sat down on the chair. He wasn't exactly sure why he was hiding, but for some reason the package felt a little ominous and secretive, like he shouldn't let anyone know about it.

"Hey," Dean watched as his roommate walked into the room, oblivious, his head down.

Roy glanced over at him for a split second, but said nothing as he walked over to one of the shelves and started searching among the books.

As he waited for Roy to make his leave, Dean couldn't help staring. This was his first time actually observing his roommate. There was something about him...he was so...interesting.

His hair was straight, but messy. Like he had brushed it but then decided to ruffle it up afterwards. He was wearing a navy sweatshirt and a pair of black shorts that had a few holes up and down the legs, his feet were bare except a pair of flip flops. His blue eyes were intense as they searched the spines of the books. He was so engaged and focused...it was as if he was enchanted.

With a sudden jolt, his eyes locked into one of the books. He pulled it out, stood up and flipped through the pages. He seemed content and made his way for the door.

"Is that for a class?" Dean suddenly found himself saying out loud.

Roy paused at the door and turned to look at Dean. "I guess you're just a nosy bastard like John after all." He mumbled, like he didn't really care if Dean happened to hear it or not.

Roy left the dorm and closed the door roughly behind him.

"Damn, what's his problem..." Dean mumbled as he pulled the package back onto the top of the desk. He wouldn't let it get to him, he wouldn't be here for too long hopefully anyways.

He pulled the lid off and peered inside. There was a yellow envelope laying on the bottom and a cassette tape in a plastic bag on top of it.

"What the hell?" Dean pulled the bag with the cassette tape out and opened it. "Did he make me a mixtape?" He tossed it aside and pulled out the yellow envelope.

Dean tore open the top and pulled the contents out. There was a slip of paper with some numbers on it...and a picture. 

Dean flipped the picture over and his heart stopped.

In the picture his mother and stepfather were sitting in the kitchen, his mother holding a cup of tea or coffee and his stepfather sitting at the table, both engaged in conversation. The picture was grainy and low quality, taken hastily through a window at night. There were a few leaves blocking the view so Dean guessed it was taken from behind the shrubbery in the front yard.

Dean gulped as his fingers traced over the red X mark that was drawn over his mother's face.

So it wasn't an apology after all.