Supernatural: Reincarnated into the Hunt

A few days went by quickly for James, faster than he expected. His birthday passed quietly, marked by goodbyes that left a bittersweet feeling. His friends had all left Palo Alto, moving on to new cities and adventures. They promised to stay in touch, but their absence left James feeling empty.

Emily and Thomas tried to cheer him up with a small family birthday celebration. There were balloons, a cake with his name, and heartfelt toasts that touched James but also made him miss his friends' laughter and chaos.

September came to an end, and James' new journey was about to begin. His first day at Stanford was just around the corner, filling him with both excitement and nervousness. He had worked hard for this moment, but now that it was here, the weight of it felt heavy.

When Monday, September 30th, arrived, the sun rose early, filling the sky with warm light. James woke up before his alarm, lying in bed as he let the reality of the day sink in. Today was the start of something new.

He dressed in a clean white shirt, dark jeans, and a black leather jacket. He wanted to look good but still feel like himself. Grabbing his bag, he went downstairs to find Emily waiting with pancakes and coffee.

"Big day," she said with a smile, pushing the plate toward him. "Nervous?"

"A little," James said, sitting down. "But mostly excited."

"You'll do great," Thomas said, walking in with his coffee. "Stanford is lucky to have you."

James smiled at their encouragement. After finishing breakfast, he thanked Emily, grabbed the keys to his car—a Ferrari 360 Modena, a birthday gift from Thomas—and headed out. It was a sleek silver car he had only driven a few times, but today felt like the right time to use it.

The drive to Stanford was short and thrilling. The Ferrari's engine purred smoothly as he cruised through the quiet streets of Palo Alto, the crisp morning air hinting at autumn. The trees were starting to change color, their leaves turning shades of gold and red.

As he reached the campus, excitement surged within him. Stanford was stunning, with palm trees, grand sandstone buildings, and students buzzing with energy. James felt like he belonged here.

After parking the Ferrari, he grabbed his bag and headed toward the main quad.

A large banner stretched across the quad, reading "Welcome, New Cardinal!" The place was packed with students. Upperclassmen in red Stanford T-shirts were handing out maps and schedules, guiding the newcomers. Tables lined the edges of the quad, filled with pamphlets about campus life and student organizations.

James grabbed a map and an orientation booklet from one of the tables. A senior handing out the materials greeted him with a grin.

"First year?" the senior asked.

"Yeah," James replied. "Just starting law school."

"Welcome to Stanford! You're going to love it here. If you need help finding your way around, just ask."

"Thanks," James said, glancing at the schedule. It listed activities for the day, starting with a welcome speech.

He walked closer to the stage, where students were gathering. A middle-aged man in a suit stepped up to the microphone and introduced himself as Dean Harper, head of student affairs. His speech was warm and encouraging.

"This is the beginning of a transformative chapter in your lives," Dean Harper said. "You've all worked hard to be here, and now you're part of a community that values excellence, innovation, and collaboration. Embrace the challenges, take risks, and make the most of every opportunity. Welcome to Stanford!"

The students clapped loudly, and James felt a spark of pride. For a moment, his nerves faded, replaced by excitement.

After the speech, students were divided into smaller groups for campus tours led by guides in red shirts. James joined a group heading to the law department. Their guide introduced herself as Emma, a third-year law student, and started showing them around.

"Hi, I'm Emma," she said with a friendly smile. "If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."

The tour group had just started moving when James accidentally stepped on the laces of the guy walking a bit ahead of him. The guy stumbled, nearly falling, but managed to catch himself at the last second.

"Oh man, I'm so sorry!" James blurted, stepping back. "Are you okay?"

The guy turned, brushing himself off, his shaggy brown hair falling into his eyes. He straightened up, giving James an easygoing smile. "Yeah, no harm done. Happens all the time with these stupid laces. I should really tie them tighter."

"I wasn't looking where I was going," James admitted, sheepishly.

"No big deal," the guy said, crouching to retie his shoe. "I'm Sam, by the way. Sam Winchester."

"James Bennett," James said, offering a hand as Sam stood back up.

They shook hands, the brief awkwardness fading. "First year?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, first day," James said. "You too?"

"Yup," Sam said, gesturing toward the guide at the front of the group. "Guess we're all in the same boat here. What are you studying?"

"Law. You?" James answered.

"Same," Sam said, as he adjusted his bag pack.

Sam raised an eyebrow, his expression curious as he saw James staring at him. "Is there something on my face?" he asked, running a hand over his cheek as if checking.

James quickly shook his head, laughing nervously. "Nah, I just feel like I've seen you somewhere before…but I can't quite put a finger on it."

Sam gave a small nod. "I get that a lot. People say I've got one of those faces."

"Maybe," James said, studying him for a moment.

"Well," Sam replied with a shrug, "if you figure it out, let me know. Until then, let's call it fate or something."

James smiled, "So, why law school?"

Sam adjusted his backpack as the group started walking again. "I've always wanted to help people. My dad wanted me to follow the family business, but I felt like this was a better way to make a difference."

James tilted his head, curious. "Family business? What kind of business?"

Sam hesitated. "It's…complicated. Not your usual career path."

James didn't press further, sensing it wasn't something Sam wanted to explain. "Fair enough. For me, I've wanted to be a lawyer since I was a kid. I used to read about famous court cases and watch movies about lawyers. I found it so interesting how they could fight for justice with their words and knowledge."

Sam nodded. "That's a clear goal for a kid. Most people take longer to figure that out."

"Maybe," James said with a small shrug. "But the more I learned about it, the more it seemed like the right path for me. It's hard work, but it feels meaningful. That's what I want."

Sam gave a thoughtful nod. "Sounds like you're in the right place."

"What about you? Where are you from?" James asked, changing the subject.

"Kansas," Sam said. "Coming out here is a big change. All this sunshine and palm trees—it feels kind of unreal."

James chuckled. "You'll get used to it. Just don't forget sunscreen. The California sun doesn't play around."

The two kept talking as the group moved through the campus. Their conversation felt easy, and James found himself enjoying Sam's company. By the time they reached the law department, James felt like he'd made his first real connection. They didn't forget to exchange numbers.

The rest of the day was a mix of activities—lectures, icebreaker games, and campus tours. James met a few more classmates and got a sense of what Stanford was like. It was a busy and exciting day, but by the end, he felt drained.

As the sun set, James returned to the parking lot and slid into his Ferrari. The drive home was peaceful, the streets of Palo Alto quiet under the soft glow of streetlights. As he drove, he thought about the day, replaying moments in his head. Meeting Sam, in particular, stood out. He tried his best to recall where he'd seent that guy but nothing came to mind even after thinking for quite a while.

When he got home, Emily and Thomas were waiting. Over dinner, James told them about his day, sharing stories about the campus and his classmates but leaving out the odd sense of familiarity he felt with Sam. It wasn't something he could explain, at least

Later, as he lay in bed staring at the ceiling, James felt a mix of tiredness and excitement. His first day at Stanford was done, and it felt like he was finally taking the first steps toward the future he'd dreamed of.

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