Chapter One:
Dean is sitting in class, and he's trying to concentrate. Really. Totally trying, and it's a valiant effort on his part. It's not as though he doesn't appreciate the subject of modern American painting techniques, it's just that 1. He should've taken this class two years ago and 2. There's a prettier piece of art standing at the front of the class with big blue eyes, tousled black hair and five o'clock shadow. Professor Novak, the veritable God on campus, head of the art department at the young age of 34, and the man Dean can't help staring at. But, his final is the next week and as a senior about to graduate he really needs to start taking better notes or else he might fail, and if he fails he'll have to stay in school for another semester to get the credit. But Dean doesn't want to do that, as much as he'd love to stare at Professor Novak for another few months, he also really wants to graduate and find a job, somewhere near Sammy, hopefully.
"So, those are the review questions, be prepared to write a short essay on each of them, you'll have at least three on your final." The Professor says, snapping Dean out of his daydream, one of his usual fantasies including him, his Professor and the back of his impala. Shit. He's completely missed what the questions were. Whatever, he can ask Chuck after class. Chuck the teacher's pet, a great artist who is opening up a gallery in town that weekend. Dean sometimes wonders why Chuck even bothered with college. He's going to have an amazing career and it's not going to be due to his prestigious degree.
"And before everyone leaves, I want to remind you all that I'm offering extra credit for those attending Chuck Shurley's gallery this weekend. His pieces are excellent representations of what we've been studying. I hope to see some of you there for I know there are a few of you who desperately need the credit." He's talking about Dean and Dean knows it without the loaded glance in his direction. No one else in that class is anywhere as close to failing as Dean. Castiel is an excellent teacher and he knows it, Dean muses that he must take it as a personal insult that Dean's doing so poorly, if only he knew what a compliment it actually is.
Deans is walking out of the class when he catches up with Chuck.
"Hey, can you copy your notes for me? I…I wasn't paying attention." He asks.
"You're never paying attention." Chuck says, knowing very well why Dean didn't take any notes, it isn't hard to tell when they sit next to each other most of the time, and hang out relatively often.
"Yeah well, one week left, figured I'd at least study," Dean replies.
"Tell you what, I need one more painting for my gallery, I've got a space on the back wall that I need to fill, if you'll be my subject I'll help you study. Maybe even put a good word in to Castiel for you."
"Your subject? I don't know man. I think that one time was plenty, and do you even have enough time?" Dean asks. He's worried about the attention, truthfully. "What kind of painting? I don't have to pose nude, do I?" He raises an eyebrow at Chuck.
"God no. I don't need to see that again, let alone paint it. One view of Dean Winchester's drunken ass passed out on the couch was enough for a lifetime. Most of the painting is done anyway. I just need some details for a face, and you'd be great. It'll just take a couple hours."
They agree to meet up the next day since neither of them has class. Dean usually spends his Tuesdays at the main coffee shop studying with Benny or in his apartment watching Dr. Sexy MD, but if he gets extra credit out of the deal and study time with one of the best students in the department he ain't complaining.
So he poses for Chuck and the session mostly consists of Chuck staring intently at his lips and telling him to hold still. It only makes him feel slightly objectified and a little bit uncomfortable.
"Dude, you're frowning, cut it out. That's the look you get when you see Cas in public with someone." Dean glares at him.
"If you want me to hold still you should hurry up. And stop poking fun at me. I can't help it if I've got blue balls and he has the mouth of a porn star, Jesus," Dean bursts, he's been sitting in the same seat for at least an hour or two and the only time that's okay is if he's driving his baby.
"Then do something about it, I've had to sit through your bitching and moaning and pining for too long, man." Chuck says, getting back to his work, occasionally squinting and tilting his head between brush strokes. Dean doesn't reply because he honestly can't think of a valid excuse. Sure, there's the rule that professors cannot become involved with students, but Dean won't be a student in little more than a week.
"After graduation." He replies and Chuck pauses to look at him for a moment. Dean thinks the artist can't believe that Dean is actually going to do something about his profound lust for their teacher, but then Chuck leans in squinting and tells Dean to turn his head.
A while later, Dean is still sitting in Chuck's studio fidgeting, picking at the fringe of his ratty tee shirt.
"Okay I'm done, you can go. The notes are on that desk over there, let me know if you have any questions, we can go over it tomorrow once you've read it." Chuck says with a sigh, cracking his neck and rubbing his hands over his face.
"Can I see it?" Dean asks as he stands up.
"On Saturday. It's not done. I still have to add a few things."
"…Chuck. Let me see it. You painted me nude, didn't you?" Dean says, advancing on him with a raise of his eyebrows and a suggestive grin.
"You'll see it on Saturday, and NO! You're not nude, you pervert. Now get out I have a hell of a lot of work to do and not enough alcohol to do it with. Leave." Chuck pushes Dean out of the room as best he can for being a smaller, very malnourished guy against Dean-greek-god-made-of-marble-Winchester. Dean tries not to let it get to him, and it's soon forgotten as he passes Castiel on his way out.
"Hey Professor," he says as casually as he can, but for Dean casual is way closer to seductive than he plans. Regardless, if he's actually going to move his dumb I'm-a-sixteen-year-old-girl pining onto I'm-a-sexually-active-adult-who-is-very-mature romance he needs to at least be able to say hey to the guy. Cas looks up slightly startled out of staring intently at his iPhone with a glare.
"Hello," he says stopping and looking around as though he hadn't realized he'd walked so far. "Were you with Chuck?" he asks.
"Yeah, he was helping me study for your final actually." He replies, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck. Castiel looks mildly surprised and a small smile creeps onto his face and it warms Dean's insides in a way he wouldn't admit even on his most embarrassing bender, not even if tequila was involved.
"I'm glad to hear it." He says simply adding after a moment of not remotely awkward maintained eye contact. It isn't the first time Cas and Dean have interacted outside of class, not by far, but it's usually at the Roadhouse where Dean works, where there's loud music and Cas is with someone, everything is different here in the light of day, the only noise being the winter winds pushing past them. "So will I be seeing you on Saturday? It would be really good for your grade, the extra credit."
"Yeah! I'd like to thank you for that by the way. I was probably gonna be roped into it by Chuck in the end, so it's a bonus." It's at this point that he realizes the man he's talking to probably has an important place to be. "Anyway, you probably got stuff to attend to so I'll let you get to it. Thanks again for the extra credit, Cas." He says this as he begins to take some steps away but Castiel stops him.
"What…?" He says.
"I said thanks for the extra credit," Dean replies, wondering if he said something wrong and planning to mentally beat the shit out of himself if he did.
"You called me Cas." Shit. Awkward. Was he not on first name basis with Cas yet? He could've sworn that they'd reached that point. He's about to apologize but when he looks at Cas's face, the man is smiling.
"Yeah, I think we've reached that point. I am about to graduate in just over a week, ya know." Dean replies.
"Yeah... I know… See you Saturday Dean."