Part 1

Nothing is perfect. I think I'm more aware of that than most people. After my seemingly perfect ex turned into a demon from the lower reaches of the underworld the idea of anyone being perfect or even close is repellent to me. I don't trust the perfection because it tends to hide the flaws deep inside.

Castiel is nowhere near perfect. He's a moody, antisocial, short tempered, grumpy, sarcastic smoker. He doesn't freely offer information about anything, especially himself. He's rude to most everyone, especially people with authority (coughNATHANIELcough) or delusions of self-importance (coughAMBERcough). He's stubborn, bossy and sometimes a little bit neurotic.

Frankly, I wouldn't change a thing about him. Because he's also sweet in his own way, deeply passionate about the things he cares about, patient with me and my complete inability to do math problems without being walked through them step by step the first dozen times, and isn't pushy. At all. He lets me set the pace with our relationship. Even now, three weeks later, he isn't pushing for more than a kiss or two and a hug when we're alone. We only hold hands in public, neither of us being fond of PDA. We've worked up to cuddling during study period. I don't know what it is that hurt him before but I'm strangely grateful because it lets us go as slow as we need. And I'm rather fond of slow right now.

As soon as we returned to the main group after the fireworks on Halloween, everyone seemed to know what had changed. They looked from my smudged makeup to our intertwined hands and just smiled. Luke had even clapped Castiel on the back with a loud "Congrats, dude!" I had thought Castiel would punch Luke or go into shock. But after a moment of startled silence he just smiled and nodded his thanks. That was Kim's cue to start wailing about the mess we had made of her masterful makeup. I didn't bother to tell her it was Ken that had caused the initial damage, saving the news for later. We spent the rest of the fair with them, holding hands most of the time. I made a point to cling to his arm for a moment when Amber showed up again. She looked like a frog about to explode when she saw us together. Not going to lie, the memory of that expression is almost as good as the one of our first kiss. Once she had tottered away on her ridiculous heels Castiel had sighed and rolled his eyes dramatically at me. I just smiled back and nibbled on a piece of chocolate. Semisweet.

I haven't seen Ken since that night. Rumor is that his dad had to move suddenly and took Ken with him. Can't say I'm really upset about this after what the nasty little worm called me. And my locker has never looked cleaner!

Right now I am sitting next to Castiel on the roof. The sky is a stormy grey that promises snow. We are huddled under a thick blanket, his arm around my shoulders as we stare at the sky. We don't study during the second half of the period anymore after he's helped me with math. We just hang out, look at the view. Once he even brought up his guitar and played for me but since he got busted carrying it around after he hasn't done it since. I like watching him play. He becomes a completely different person, very focused on the music coming from his fingers. I've been coming to the practices he and Lysander have in that abandoned classroom, even backing them up with some electric piano when they ask. Lysander surprises me. He's so reserved when we're hanging out but as soon as you give that boy a microphone he becomes a charismatic rock god.

"Hey," Castiel says, pointing up. "It's starting to snow." I follow his finger to see small, fluffy flakes of white descending from the heavens. I shudder and pull my knit hat down farther onto my head. I hate the cold. Snow is fine to look at but I don't like being out in it.

"Ick," I say, huddling closer to him. "Spare me the wet and fluffy doom from above." He chuckles softly, his fingers playing with the ends of my hair (still bleached and now streaked red and brown) that stick out of my hat. I'm growing it out to protect my neck and ears from the coming cold.

"Don't worry, I'll keep you warm," he murmurs. We're quiet again, giving me time to fret more about the question I wanted to ask him today. He had mentioned a few days ago that he would be alone for Thanksgiving; his parents were on yet another long business trip. Since he doesn't have any close relatives he would probably be alone. So I gather up my courage to ask-

Just as the bell goes off to signal the end of the period. I sigh and start to collect my things. I'll have to ask him after school since Thanksgiving is three days away. He stands and offers me a hand, pulling me up with no effort. He pulls me in for a quick hug before neatly folding up both the blankets (one for keeping our butts off the cold floor and one to cuddle under) and putting them in his bag. "I'll see you after school, ok?"

"See you," I say with a smile. I give him a kiss on the cheek before skipping down the stairs in front of him, shedding cold weather gear as the warmth of the entire student body envelops me. And the smell. Who knew a building with all its windows closed mixed with the thousands of smells from hundreds of students could be so noxious? It's the main reason we keep going to the roof during study even though I'm usually frozen halfway through. Soon the whole place will be snow-bound and we won't be able to go outside at all without sitting in snow. So I'll be outside as long as I can.

Iris smiles at me as soon as I walk into the home ec room. "Did you ask him?"

I shake my head and put all my things under the table. "Over thought it and ran out of time."

She sighs with sympathy. "Don't worry. You can ask him after school."

"I better. If I don't tell Mom if he's coming or not by tonight she may skin me. She's worried about having enough pies."

"I'm sure it will be fine," she says just as Mr. Houle walks in and starts lecturing about soups. We make a yummy carrot and miso soup that I pour into a thermos to give to Castiel. I worry about his eating habits, which consist of devouring whatever is in his cupboards at home and school cafeteria food at lunch. Or he eats out using the money his parents give him. The one real date we've been on, he paid for everything using a shiny silver credit card. I pay him back by giving him most of the food we make in home ec. Though if this keeps up through next semester when I don't have home ec I'll have to start bringing him food from home so he doesn't die of hypertension or clogged arteries. Not that you can see it on him. He's very...fit.

I squash that thought down quick as I can. I don't want to think like that just yet. It makes everything too complicated. Once the bell rings I say goodbye to Iris and head for my locker. I switch out books, grab things I may need, and head out as quick as I can with all the bodies milling around in the hallway. But when I pass the student council room, a voice yelling loud enough to hear through the door makes me pause.

"Young man, I don't think you quite understand the gravity of this situation! If you don't resolve this issue immediately, I will have no choice but to expel you!" The door opens quickly and the stout pink figure of the principal rushes by me, knocking me off balance and almost making me drop my thermos of soup. I curse quietly and regain my footing only to look into the sweet baby blues of Nathaniel. Whose face is redder than a summer tomato.

"Nico!" he hisses. "Were you listening in on that?"

"No, I just caught the last part when I was walking by before I almost got knocked on my keister."

"Oh," he says, his anger deflating. He tugs at the knot of his tie, something I've noticed he does when he's nervous. "Sorry about that. The principal is a little... Agitated right now."

"Mmhmm. Tell me something I don't know," I say dryly.

He sighs and says quietly so only I can hear "Some of the junior classes' finals have been stolen. And since I'm the only student with a copy of the key to teacher's lounge the principal thinks I had something to do with it."

"Oh snap," I whisper. "You don't, do you?"

"Of course not," he says, irritated. "Like I would do something like that? Besides, my key went missing a few days ago."

"Fine," I say. "But what about someone... Close to you? Someone who could take your copy of the key without you noticing? Someone who isn't doing very well in their classes?"

Nathaniel's eyes widen as he realizes who I'm talking about. "Amber wouldn't do that."

"You also said she wouldn't fake being hurt or try to choke me," I say, trying really hard to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. He shrugs, acknowledging my point without responding to it. I think for a moment. No point in telling him about Castiel's key. It would just cause more trouble. "So you just need to find the missing key and the tests and you're home free?"

"Basically," he says, hope flooding into his eyes. "Will you help?"

"Um, I'm supposed to meet Castiel..." I say. All the hope just drains away and he looks sad. I've been avoiding talking about Castiel in front of Nathaniel. Likewise, I avoid talking about Nathaniel in front of Castiel. But Nathaniel and I are still friends so I will keep talking to him. Not that Castiel asked me to stop. And not that I would even if he asked me. Because I'm through letting boys tell me what to do. Not that Castiel would. He's a good guy. Even if he is grumpy. But sweet. And a good guitar player. And... And I'm rambling in my own head. Fantastic. I sigh. "Let me talk to him real quick. Maybe he can help."

"I don't see why he would..." Nathaniel grumbles.

"Because he's really not a bad guy," I say before I can stop myself. Nathaniel just looks blankly at me. "Just let me ask, ok? What can it hurt." I walk out before Nathaniel can respond.

Castiel is standing by the main entrance to the school, already bundled in his thicker leather jacket. He smiles when he sees me coming but since other people are around he just gives me a hug. "Ready to go?"

"Almost," I say. "I need to ask you something first..." Well two things, but Thanksgiving can wait. I quickly explain Nathaniel's situation. I can see Castiel's face darken as I talk. I don't think he wants to help.

"Golden boy should take care of his own problems," he growls, "instead of sending people out to do it for him."

I can't help but roll my eyes. "Will you stop? Nathaniel is my friend and he needs help finding that key. Everyone needs help sometimes. And I would like to remind you I am not his groupie or flunky or whatever it is you called me last time I asked for help for him." The crowd has thinned out some so I put my arms around him, tugging on his hair to get him to look down at me. "You're my...boyfriend." I stumble a bit on the word. It's weird, but in three weeks it's the first time I've called him that. "He isn't. But I'm still going to help him because he's my friend. And it will go a lot quicker if you help."

He regards me for a moment before kissing me gently. "Ok. I'll help you, katzchen. Just because you asked."

I feel my ears start to burn. "What did you call me?"

"Something I learned in German," he says with a smirk. "You can figure out what it means on your own."

I glare at him and gently shove his shoulder. "You're a butthead, you know that?"

"So I've been told." He twines his fingers around mine. "Let's get this over with."

We go back to the student council room where Nathaniel is pacing, still tugging on his tie. He looks like he's about to choke himself with it. He looks shocked to see Castiel, who just frowns at him and leans on the wall by the door, arms crossed over his chest. Nathaniel looks like he is about to say something but I clear my throat. Loudly. So that he stops and clears his own throat, composing himself.

"Thank you for helping," he says stiffly. Castiel shrugs his shoulders and grunts in response. Charming.

Nathaniel clears his throat again. "I figured we could split up and look around the school. See if the person who took it dropped it somewhere. Ask around, see if someone has seen a key."

"That's not very specific," I say.

"I don't want it to get around that there's a master key to the school floating around. If the wrong person gets their hands on it-" I can tell he's trying really hard not to look at Castiel- "It could be trouble. They'd have free reign of the school."

"Fair enough," I say. "Does it have any distinguishing marks?"

"I, uh, have a keychain on it. Of a cartoon character."

I quirk my eyebrow at him. "That's not specific enough."

Nathaniel turns a bright shade of red. "It's of Jessica Rabbit." Castiel snorts out a laugh, trying to cover it up with his hand when Nathaniel glares at him. I just smirk at Nathaniel.

"Well. Didn't expect you to have that on a key to the school," I say. Nathaniel turns a deeper shade of red and glances away from me, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.

"It was easier to find in my bag that way."

"Have you tried looking in the teacher's lounge?" Castiel asks, surprising us both. "For clues or whatever."

Nathaniel shakes his head. "I can't get in there without a key. And I doubt they would let me in now since I'm the primary suspect." I can't help but snort at that. Primary suspect? Someone has been watching too many crime dramas.

"I may be able to help with that," I say. "I'll ask Mr. Houle. He usually lets students into the lounge to use the copier for recipes."

Nathaniel nods. "Then Castiel and I will look around the school. Meet back here in half an hour?"

"Ok. I need to run before Mr. Houle leaves." I move to leave, giving Castiel a quick hug. He surprises me by pulling me in for a long kiss, far longer than any of our kisses have been. When he releases me (and my bright red face) I swear he smirks at Nathaniel before pulling me out into the hall. It takes a second for me to regain my composure. I glare and smack his shoulder. "What the heck was that, Castiel?!"

"Just wanted to make Golden Boy squirm," he says with a smirk. "Don't pretend you didn't enjoy it."

I glare at him again before muttering "I didn't not enjoy it."

His smirk widens and he kisses me again. "I'll go look in the clubs. See you back here."

"Don't get too cocky, pretty boy," I grumble. "I know where you're ticklish." He laughs at that and walks down the hall, waving once at me before stuffing his hands in his pockets; his typical 'rebel without a cause' pose that I find so adorable. God love a duck that boy will drive me insane.

I find Mr. Houle still in the home ec classroom, trying to scrape Amber's attempt at soup out of the bottom of the pot. Perfect, he's distracted. "Mr. Houle, can I borrow your key for the copier? My recipe for the soup got water all over it and I need a new one."

He nods at me, glaring at the charred black mess in the pot. "Keys are in my desk drawer. Be fast, I need to get to my club meeting soon."

"Yessir," I say, grabbing the keys before he can think about it too much. Mr. Houle may be laid back but he's still a teacher and a student asking for the keys may be a little suspicious. I trot down the halls to the teacher's lounge and knock on the door once I get there. When no one answers, I unlock the door and poke my head in to make sure no one is there. The coast is clear so I duck in, carefully closing the door behind me. I survey the room, noting the bland furniture, filing cabinets, and table with coffee pot and donuts. My stomach rumbles at the sight of the donuts but I resist. Instead I look under the couches and by the filing cabinets. Something shines under one of the cabinets- a silver ring- and I try to fish it out, growling at it when it's just a little too far to reach. The sound of a key in the lock makes me momentarily panic and reach a bit farther than I am comfortable. I grab the ring and stand as quickly as possible, fiddling with the copy machine and pulling out a random piece of paper.

"Young lady, what are you-"

"Sorry, just picking up a copy for Mr. Houle!" I say brightly to the surprised teacher I don't know in the door. "Thanks so much, I'll just get out of your way now! Buh-bye!" I slip past them and up the hall before they can react, walking so quickly I almost slip and fall on a slip of paper, the ring held tight in my hand. I go back to the home ec classroom where Mr. Houle is still trying to get the char out of the pot. I toss the keys onto his desk. "Thanks Mr. Houle! See you tomorrow!" He grunts a response at me but I am out the door again before he can look up.

In the hall I, quite literally, bump into Lysander. He is wandering down the middle of the hall with a dreamy expression on his face and a pad of paper clenched in his hand. The ring slips out of my hands and I yelp and make a grab for it, knocking Lysander's pad out of his hands and sending papers flying. His astonished look shows he hadn't noticed me until this moment. But I think that's normal for Lysander.

"Nico, what on Earth have you done?" he asks, his quiet voice conveying a sense of annoyance at the mess of his papers.

"Sorry Lys," I say, getting down on my knees and scrabbling through the papers, looking for the ring.

He sighs. "I have asked you repeatedly not to call me by that diminutive. It is juvenile."

"Well your name is too long to say all the time," I reply. Plus it annoys you, I think to myself. Not going to lie, I enjoy ruffling this peacock's feathers. Just for fun, though. I do like him. As a friend. Just to clarify.

He sighs again and gets down next to me, gathering up his papers. "It is not polite to refer to people by names they do not enjoy."

"Oh come on, nicknames are fun," I say, grinning at him. "You know, fun? The enjoyment of activities?"

"I am capable of having fun," he says stiffly. "My fun does not involve mowing down innocent people in the rush to get places."

"So sorry," I mutter. I glance at the paper in my hand, finally noticing the sheet is completely covered in loopy handwriting. "What is all this, anyway?"

"These," he says, snatching the paper from my hands, "Are not your business."

"Well now I just HAVE to look," I say with a grin, snatching the paper back. "Twist back my hand and let me scream, my voice rings out for yours, please let me end this sweet misery, take me back to pleasant shores... Wow, these are pretty good! Are they lyrics?"

"Yes," he says. I swear I can see a faint blush on his cheeks. "I have been working on a new song."

"Well keep it up!" I say. "Let me know if you need help or anything. I've always wanted to try writing a song." He nods at me, a slight smile on his lips. I swear, what is it with him and his brother where they hardly show emotion? Suddenly I remember what I was doing before I was distracted by the stoic Edwardian rocker. "Anyway, have you seen a ring? I dropped it when we collided."

"This one?" he asks, holding it up in front of my face. "Not quite your style, is it?" He's right; the ring is a delicate silver circle with a turquoise stone that has gold streaks in it. I prefer my jewelry to be a little more substantial, that's for sure. But it does look familiar...

"Thanks Lys," I say, taking the ring from him. He gives me a look that makes me smile at how serious it is. "Ok, fine. Lysander."

"Thank you," he says, his two-colored eyes finally meeting mine. I constantly wonder if they are contacts.

"I gotta run. See you on Wednesday?" He nods as he gets his papers back into an orderly pile. "Sorry again for running into you."

"It is not a problem," he says. "But please try to avoid doing so in the future."

"Will do," I say. And with a casual salute, I am gone, leaving Lysander alone in the hall.

I get back to the student council room before the boys so I take a seat on top of the desk, absently kicking my feet back and forth as I examine the ring. It looks really familiar but I can't place it. Maybe it's one of the teacher's? But not many of the teachers wear a ton of jewelry. Or at least not ones that I know. Maybe it's someone's class ring? But there isn't any engraving on it. So I put the ring in my pocket for safekeeping and take out my phone. Time to look up what Castiel called me earlier. I'm so transfixed by the information on my phone I don't hear the door open.

"Nathaniel, are you ready to go yet? I'm tired of waiting for y- What are YOU doing here, freak?" I look up to see Amber framed in the door, her eyes narrowed to slits as she glares at me. I smile cheerfully and wave at her, silently cursing the heavens as I do so. Of course Amber would show up now.

"Well hi Amber. Nice to see you. How's things? Nice weather we're having, huh?"

"Shut up," she hisses. "What are you doing here? Where's Nathaniel?"

"I don't know," I say as politely as I can. "I was waiting for him too."

"Why, having Castiel isn't enough for you?" she says. "You need my brother too?"

I roll my eyes at her. "Yes, because that would end well. Since they're soooooo close." Dang it, I was trying to be civil. Stupid sarcasm reflex...

Amber smiles evilly at me. "I'm sure a lame little wannabe like you wouldn't know what to do with them. Castiel needs a real woman's touch, not some half-grown girl's." She tosses her hair and her necklace glitters in the light. It's silver with a turquoise stone. And it's a match for the ring in my hand.

"Odin's pants, I hate when I'm right," I mutter.

"What was that, freak?" she says.

"Oh nothing," I say, smiling at her again. "So tell me, where did you get your necklace? It's really pretty."

She sniffs disdainfully at me. "Like a loser like you could afford something like this."

I shrug. "Yeah, I've got better things to spend my money on. But see, I found this ring earlier in the teacher's lounge when I was making some copies..." I hold it up so she can see it. Amber goes a little pale. "And I just don't have anything gaudy enough to match it. I figured you would know where I could find something that would." With almost perfect timing, Castiel and Nathaniel come back. They stand in the open door where Amber can't see them. But I can. I subtly shake my head at them, hoping they get my meaning. Since they just wait by the door I assume they do.

"You... You little thief!" Amber sputters. "Give me back my ring!"

"Now Amber, how could this be yours?" I say as innocently as I can. "After all, I found it in the teacher's lounge. And you wouldn't be caught dead in there. Not unless you had a reason. Like, oh, stealing tests so you can cheat?"

Now she blushes scarlet with rage. Her manicured fingers twist into claws that I'm sure she wishes she could rake across my face. "You're lying. I wouldn't steal those."

"Oh yeah?" I say. "I'll bet my bottom dollar they're in your bag as we speak." She clutches her white leather bag to her, confirming my suspicions. I quirk a brow at the boys. They seem to get the message and come into the room right behind Amber. Castiel touches her shoulder, drawing her attention to him while Nathaniel grabs her bag. She lunges at Nathaniel but he is faster, opening her bag to reveal a bunch of manilla folders filled with paper.

"Amber," Nathaniel says, rifling through the papers. "How could you?"

"I-I didn't," she sputters. "It was Nico, she set me up, she-"

"Oh shut up," Castiel says. He comes up next to me and slings an arm around my shoulders, drawing me in close. Whether it's to protect me or annoy Amber I don't know. But I'm ok with either reason. "Nico couldn't have done that. She was with me most of the day."

"And why would she steal tests for the junior class?" Nathaniel says, shaking his head in disbelief. "Amber, why would you do this? You could be expelled!"

"So what?" she hisses. "As long as I can get away from HER, I don't care!"

"Um, I didn't do anything to you," I say.

"You did plenty!" she cries. "Ever since you came along, nothing is going the way it should! How did you do it? How did you get everyone on your side? You even took Castiel away from me!"

"Hey, Am-bam," Castiel says, his arm tightening on my shoulders. "Nico didn't take me away from you because I was never WITH you. For chrissakes, woman, I don't know how many ways I can say that I'm not interested in you before you get it."

"How can you prefer THAT to me?!" she screeches. "That... flat-chested, big-bottomed loser who looks like she gets her clothes from the Goodwill?!" I am mildly offended by this. I would be more offended but Amber looks and sounds ridiculous when she's mad so it's really more amusing than anything else.

"Because she's real," he says back. "She doesn't have to hide behind tons of makeup or fancy clothes or a bad attitude. She knows who she is and that's way more attractive than anything you could ever try to be."

I can't help but blush. I smile shyly up at him. "Aww, chiot, that's so sweet..."

He blinks at me. "Did you just call me puppy in French?"

"You called me kitten in German. Seemed fair to me." He chuckles and kisses my forehead, much to Amber's consternation.

"This isn't fair!" she wails. "This. Is. Not. FAIR!"

Nathaniel sighs and takes his sister by the arm. "Come on, Amber. Let's go tell the principal what you did."

"No!" she yells, trying to pull away. "You can't turn me in! I'll be expelled!"

"Maybe she'll go easy on you," Nathaniel says grimly. "But I know Mom and Dad won't."

Amber pales at this. "No! You're my big brother, you're supposed to protect me!"

"You've gone too far this time," he says, dragging her into the hall and towards the principals office. I can hear her screaming profanities at him the whole time.

I turn to look up at Castiel, smiling shyly. "So, want to come over to my house for Thanksgiving?"

He gives me a disbelieving look before shaking his head and smiling. "After all that, that's what you ask me?"

I shrug. "Seemed like the best time. Mom is making cherry pie."

"I'm in," he says. "So long as your dad doesn't kill me."

"I make no promises," I say with a smirk. "So, did you guys find the key?"

"Yeah, it was in the bushes by the gardening club," he says, rolling his eyes. "I don't know how no one noticed it before, that keychain is really, really... bright."

I giggle. "Yeah, Jessica Rabbit is very... bright."

He shakes his head at me. "Come on. Let's get you home." I nod in agreement and hop off the desk, leaving the ring sitting on the top where Nathaniel can find it. Despite yet another crazy shouting at me, I feel this was a productive day. Time to rush home to avoid the snow I can see blowing outside the window. I hate being cold...