The blistering sun hung in the sky directly overhead, its form encompassed in a gorgeous sea of blue. There was not a single cloud in sight, allowing the bright, unobstructed rays to illuminate the University of Kansas campus below. Students bustled back and forth between the buildings in search of their new classes, the sizzling, late summer heat causing beads of sweat to form across their skin. The only relief from the heat came in the form of an occasional cool breeze, sweeping through the air around them and causing the green grass and blooming flowers to stir.

Castiel sat alone on a small wooden bench shielded by the bulk of a huge maple tree, glasses pushed up on the bridge of his nose and Psychology book in hand, as usual. While the other freshman had spent their first weekend of college partying, he had been preparing himself for his classes. Cas had always been more of the studying type – a fact which his grades greatly reflected – and he planned to keep it that way.

"Hey, Cas."

Castiel looked up, adjusting his glasses before focusing his bright blue eyes on those of a pretty, dark haired girl standing before him.

"Hi, Lisa." He smiled softly at the only friend he had managed to make over move-in weekend. He didn't particularly mind not having any friends – it was something he had become accustomed to over the years. Being social just really wasn't his thing, mostly due to his awkwardness around others. He didn't really talk to anyone, and no one ever really talked to him; unless, of course, it was to call him a "four-eyed freak", "cock sucker", or various other offensive terms. Except for Lisa. She was the only person that had ever actually tried to become his friend, and for that he was grateful.

Lisa smiled and sat next to him. "I thought I'd find you here." She chimed as she ruffled his messy black hair.

Cas frowned, earning a humorous laugh from his friend.

"I brought lunch." Lisa grinned as she pulled two sandwiches out of her backpack, along with a bottle of water for each of them. "I figured you'd be too busy reading to remember to eat some food before class."

"Thanks." Cas smiled awkwardly as he took the sandwich and began removing the plastic wrap encasing it.

Castiel ate in silence as he listened to Lisa recount the events of her day in between bites of her food. She had been late to her first class that morning, which Cas greatly disapproved of but didn't comment. An attractive sophomore that sat next to her had apparently saved her usual seat. She went on to report the course of their conversation during her professor's lecture and how she was pretty sure that this boy had had a massive crush on her since their freshman year of high school.

Cas looked up from his food when he noticed Lisa had paused her story.

"Oh, that was… nice of him." He said awkwardly, realizing that she was waiting for a reaction. "For saving your seat, I mean."

"Yeah, I guess it was." Lisa agreed, disappointment evident in her voice.

Cas frowned, guessing that wasn't the reaction she had wanted. "If he likes you, why don't you date him?" He tried again.

She perked up a little at his question. "Oh, I don't know…" She answered nonchalantly, "I guess I'm just not that interested. And at the time I had a boyfriend… He's a nice guy, though."

"You should give him a chance, then." Cas suggested with a small, encouraging smile.

"Oh. Well, maybe I will… It might be nice, I suppose." She said softly, her eyes falling to the grass around her feet.

"Yeah." Cas agreed awkwardly, not sure what else to say.

"Well, anyway…" Lisa looked up and carried on with her story, slightly less enthusiastic than before. Something seemed to have bothered her, but Cas wasn't entirely sure what it was. He didn't have much time to ponder the possibilities, however, because Lisa had a bit of wonderful news for him.

"I aced my calculus quiz." Lisa grinned, eyes gleaming with pride. She had been struggling in her course for the first few days of class, so Cas had offered to tutor her for her upcoming quiz. His instruction had apparently been successful.

"That's wonderful, Lisa!" Cas grinned, "You're doing great."

"Yeah, I guess I am." She beamed at his praise, "I couldn't have done it without your help, though. Thanks, Cas."

Cas felt heat rising to his cheeks. No one had ever expressed their appreciation to him before for anything. "You're welcome." He gave her a small smile, "It was nothing really. If you ever need help, just ask."

Lisa opened her mouth to respond, but a glimpse at something over Cas' shoulder sent a scowl rippling over her usually cheerful features.

"You have got to be kidding me." She growled, eyes narrowing.

"What?" Cas asked, narrowing his eyes and cocking his head to the side in question.

"M-"

"Hey, Lise." A deep voice Cas did not recognize interrupted, cutting off her explanation.

"Hey." She said coldly.

Cas turned towards the origin of the sound, curious as to who Lisa would treat so rudely, and was taken aback by what – or rather who – he saw. Leaning against the base of the maple tree was a muscular young man around six feet tall, handsome enough to rival a good majority of the other men Cas had seen around campus. His hair was a sandy light brown and his skin lightly tanned as if the sun had kissed every inch of his body. His facial features, from his chiseled jaw to his high cheek bones, were perfect and angular as if they had been sculpted by an artist. However, most striking of all was the stranger's gorgeous emerald green eyes.

"I was afraid you would end up here, too." Lisa added, rolling her eyes.

Cas snapped out of his stupor and glanced at Lisa, grateful to find that she didn't seem to have noticed his reaction to this stranger. He wasn't entirely open with his sexuality - not since the excessive bullying he suffered in his hometown. College was supposed to be a fresh start for him and he wasn't ready to ruin that just yet.

The man let out a single, humorless laugh. "Nice to see you, too." He scoffed. Although he appeared to brush off her rejection, Cas noticed the subtle change in his features that indicated the hurt that her words had caused. To his surprise, Cas found himself feeling sorry for this man who he didn't even know.

Lisa sighed. "What do you want?"

He shrugged. "I saw you and thought I'd come say hi."

"Well I believe you've accomplished that." Lisa said, eyes narrowing.

"Yes." The man agreed before flashing her a gorgeous grin, "and I also wanted to ask if you'd like to have dinner with me Saturday night. The usual place."

"No." Lisa shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. "Not a chance."

"Alright, alright." He held up his hands defensively. "Just thought I'd give it a shot." He looked down at Castiel who had been quietly watching the two of them converse back and forth.

"You two a thing?" He asked as he returned his attention to Lisa.

Lisa blushed. "What? Cas and I? No, of course not!" She squeaked defensively.

"No?" Cas stated, eyebrows knitting together in confusion. This wasn't the first time someone had thought the two of them were a couple. He wasn't really sure why everyone seemed to get that impression, but it had happened on numerous occasions. However, he had concluded that the constant assumptions were better than everyone knowing the truth, so it didn't bother him in the slightest.

The stranger let out a low chuckle and shook his head. "Okay then, sweetheart. I'll be here when you decide you still want me." He winked at her before turning and strolling away towards a nearby building.

"Who was that?" Cas asked after he was out of earshot, his eyes still following the retreating figure.

"My ex-boyfriend." Lisa growled, the words spilling off her tongue like foul venom. "Dean Winchester."