Castiel Novak wanders through the halls of his new school, Edlund Academy for Gifted Students. His twin, Hannah Novak, has already walked off in search of her own first class of the day. They were recruited to the school a couple of months ago, after both of them presented psychic abilities.

Cas squares his shoulders. He refuses to lay down and die just because he and Hannah don't share class now that they've transferred here.

"Castiel?"

Cas turns at someone calling his name. Upon seeing the source, he notes the familiar face, but doesn't immediately recognize who it is. The other boy seems to see the question in Cas's eyes.

"It's me. Balthazar. Seriously, Cas, how many Brits do you know?" the boys laughs.

Cas grins. "Balthazar? How long has it been?"

Balthazar waves a hand in dismissal. "Far too long, old friend," he uses his most posh diction.

Cas laughs easily. Perhaps he can ask his childhood friend for help. "I'm supposed to be in a…mental exercise class? But I don't know what 3CTYD means. It's on my schedule."

Balthazar hums. "Third section of the courtyard. I know where that is, if you'd like me to show you."

Cas smiles. "Thanks."

Arm around Cas's shoulders, Balthazar steers him toward the courtyard. Maybe it will be like old times between them. Partners in crime.

~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~

"Who's the new guy?" Dean Winchester asks, looking at a raven across the courtyard. He's with two of his friends, Crowley and Alastair. The question, though, is for Crowley specifically, since he's the eyes and ears around school.

"That's right. He hasn't been at school long enough to have hooked Casanova's full attention, now, has he?" Crowley drawls in that wicked accent. It both irritates Dean and still makes him hot and bothered. (Though, that train has long since left the station.)

Crowley's now smirking as if he's clued in on a joke Dean hasn't heard.

"Crowley…" he warns.

"Castiel Novak. That's what I hear around the school anyway." Crowley shrugs. Though, the breath he lets out sounds suspiciously like a chuckle.

Alistair's eyes light up. "Novak? I've heard the name before…"

Crowley sighs. "Seriously, guys, am I the only one who pays attention during the morning assemblies? He and his twin were brought in for psychic abilities. And his are supposed to be pretty powerful with the right education."

Dean nods more to himself than to let Crowley know he understands. "So, Castiel's only one of the siblings? There's a twin?"

Crowley really does laugh this time. "Hannah, I think. They're supposedly upset, too, according to my people this morning. They wanted at least one class together. Can't get everything you want, though, I'm afraid."

Dean doesn't really care about some pissant little issues of siblings. Sam and Eve are hard enough for him to keep track of. All he cares about right now is introducing himself to this pretty new boy.

"I think I'll talk to him after class," Dean smiles.

Something in his expression causes Crowley's brow to raise. "Might not go for squirrels, Dean."

Dean shakes his head. "What's the harm in talking to him? Maybe he's the one."

Alastair laughs while Crowley frowns. Dean, however, can't be bothered with the two idiots.

There's a magnetism in Castiel Novak's eyes just begging to break Dean's curse.