"Can you please, for the love of god, shut up for once?!" Castiel shouts at his insistent, blue haired friend.
"But Casssyyyyy, I know we go this way! Just trust my instincts for once!" She slurs her words as she stumble over her own feet.
"Sydney, no offense, but you don't even know where your own hands are. I mean, how could I possibly trust your instincts when you're 3 times over the legal limit for alcohol consumption..?" Castiel looks around the shady neighborhood as he pulls Sydney closer to him. "Just. Stay close. You've taken us into the ghetto and I don't want to have to encounter large thugs while you're drunk."
Sydney hiccups before protesting Castiel's assumptions. "Cassy, I s-swear to you that I-I-I am not drunk-k. I'm juuuust having some f-fun. Lay off, ma-an. There aren't any lar-rge thugs 'round here. Maybe just some angry biker du-udes, but none of them 'thugs'."
Castiel notices a dark figure in the distance. "Sydney. I think we should just turn around and run. Like run and not question any of this later." The dark figure gets closer and closer while Sydney still refuses to take Castiel's suggestions seriously. As the figure nears, Castiel can feel his heart thumping away in his chest in fear he might be pummeled into a bloody pulp.
The figure comes close enough into view that they can make out his clothing; leather and denim. "Oh god, Sydney he's a biker." Castiel turns to run but realizes Sydney is still standing there with a death grip on his wrist. Castiel tries to shake free of her hold, but she only tightens her grasp. "Sydney, I love you and all, but if you want to stand here and get killed more power to you, just keep me out of it."
Sydney shushes Castiel and pulls him toward the figure. Only then could they make out his facial features. Eyes greener than any Emerald found in Colombia. Freckles that danced across his cheeks and down the bridge of his nose. Hair that resembled chocolate Mousse, in color and in style. Castiel looks over him once more, taking in his appearance. The man was donned in a light green button up shirt, light denim jeans, and a brown leather jacket that was slightly large on his body. Castiel realizes that this face is all too familiar, but he's certain he's never met this man since they just moved here.
Sydney stumbles forward, nearly into the man. "-'scuse me, mister. Can you-ou help me and m-y friend out here. We seem to be lo-ost and we just moved here and 69th Avenue and Fangboner Road seem to n-ot exist and I'm sure you wouldn't let my lo-nesome self and my pre-e-etty friend be left vulner-a-able." The man looks from Sydney to Castiel, he contemplates it and decides it won't kill him to give them directions; and she was right, her friend was pretty.
"Um, yeah, sure. You said you're going to 69th and Fangboner , correct?" Castiel nods. "Well, you guys are headed in the wrong direction...you're going to need to go down Main Street and then South Washington Street...Actually, I'm sort of heading that direction, so I can escort you two home." He looks at Sydney with a concerned look, then makes eye contact with Castiel who feels his cheeks grow hotter at that second. "I'm sure you're going to need a hand helping her home. Don't worry, I'm not going to try anything funny to either of you. I'm Dean by the way." Dean extends his hand to Castiel, whose cheeks are on fire by this point.
"Dean?" Castiel repeats and Dean nods. "Hm. I'm Castiel and this is my very drunk friend, Sydney." Dean's cheeks turn candy apple red and his eyes gross in disbelief. He shakes his head and mouths 'no' repeatedly. Castiel just stares at Dean trying to figure out what's going on in his mind. "Is something wrong?"
"Castiel?! Oh my god! I can't believe it's actually you!" Castiel still stares at him confused. "Cas, it's me, Dean Winchester. Remember that time you stood your ground when little Sammy was getting pushed around?" Dean laughs. "You ended up with a black eye and I never got the chance to thank you for helping my little brother out...Is this the Sydney? Your sister, or rather best friend? Gosh, you guys are still hanging out. Some things never change."
It dawns on Castiel that he's talking to his high school crush. Mr. Captain of the Football Team, the school bad boy who secretly had a soft side to him, easily the biggest womanizer Castiel has ever known and yet somehow he couldn't draw his attraction away. "Dean. It's been so long, I'm surprised you actually remembered us." Cas feels his heart race when he thinks about how his crush remembered him this long.
Sydney cuts into the conversation, slurring her words a little less this time. "Okay, lover boys. Who's going to get mama to bed because she needs her beauty sleep." Sydney laughs to herself.
After a few confusing turns, they find themselves at the front door to an apartment building. Dean looks up at the towering building. "Here, let me help you get her up the front steps and to your door." Dean helps Castiel lug Sydney up the stairs and through the front door, laughing when she starts passing out and almost falls flat on her face. He throws her over his shoulder as Castiel smirks at her drunkenness.
They step off the elevator and Castiel searches through his pockets trying to find the house key. When he does, he unlocks the door and swings it open so Dean can carry Sydney through the doorway. "You can just put her in her bed." Dean opens the first door he comes across. Castiel hurriedly closes the door in Dean's face. "No! That's my room! It's the next door." Dean lays Sydney down in her bed and Castiel tucks her in before they leave her sleep it off while those words linger in his mind.
Dean stops in the living room and turns to Castiel. "She's going to have a killer hangover tomorrow." Dean laughs as Castiel passes him to the kitchen. "Does she always do this? I know she always smuggled alcohol into school, but I didn't know she'd actually get this hammered."
Castiel huffs. "This isn't even her worst. She'll just power through that hangover like it's a papercut. I'm surprised she even passed out. Anyway, would you like a drink?" Castiel looks through the little window that leads to the living room and Dean nods. "It's just ordinary beer, I hope that's fine. It's all she lives on anymore." Castiel hands Dean the beer as he sits beside him on the couch.
Dean takes a swig of beer. "You know, this is a really pretty place." Castiel nods in agreeance. "So, why did you nearly break my neck when I opened your bedroom door? Got some hidden secret in there? A dead body maybe?" Dean laughs nervously and Castiel stays silent. "Oh god, there's not a dead body in your room is there? I'd expect that out of Sy-"
Castiel cuts him off before he can finish his sentence. "No, there isn't a body in there. But you still can't see what it is." Dean gives him puppy dog eyes, the one thing that never failed to work on anyone Dean had ever known. "Sorry, Dean. I'm not going to fall for your puppy dog eyes. That trick won't work on me."
They hear a crash that startles them both. Dean stands up like he's ready for a fight. Castiel notices his defensive stance. He stands and puts his hand on Dean's shoulder. "Dean, it's nothing to worry about. I know what caused it." Dean starts down the hallway. Castiel grab his hand to stop him, but Dean just keeps going. "Dean, please. Don't open the door." Dean opens Cas' door and a hellacious dog jumps on Dean causing him to knock down Cas. Dean quickly gets up, giving Cas a hand. The large, white dog barks at them. Cas expeditiously opens his bedroom door. Shoving Dean in, he closes the door on the dog.
Dean turns around to face Cas. "Cas, what the hell was that?" Dean puts his hand on his hip. "A huge glacier just smashed into me, I feel like the Titanic right now." Cas laughs to himself as he turns on the light.
"I believe that's called a dog. Amusingly enough, his name is Glacier." Cas laughs again and Dean just stares at him completely dumbfounded. "Trust me, he's nothing to worry about. He's just a big klutz that knocks everything over and barks at it like someone's chasing him." Cas notices a broken vase by the bed. "Well, that's what broke; my vase." Cas picks up the flowers with a sad look on his face. "I don't have anything to put them in, now they're going to die and they're just so beautiful." Cas goes to open the door when Dean stops him.
"You think it's a good idea to go out there while that monster is parading around? You must have a death wish." Cas chuckles and opens the door. Glacier is laying in front of the door with a pitiful look on his face. Cas gives Dean a 'what did I tell you' look. "He's just going to rip your throat out when you're sleeping."
"Yeah, I can see that happening. He's just so ferocious." Cas laughs as he steps over Glacier. Dean stares down at the fluffy, white dog. "I'm going to just go find something to put these in." He holds up the flowers as he enters the kitchen.
"I know what you're up to. Your cute face won't convince me otherwise." Glacier sits up and wags his tail. "Oh no you don't. I'm not falling for that." Dean hops over him and darts to the kitchen where he finds Cas rummaging through the cabinets. "Have you found something to put your flowers in?" Cas turns and shakes his head. Dean nods and goes to the living room. He returns with his beer bottle and dumps the remaining alcohol down the kitchen sink before rinsing it out. He turns to Cas, holding out the bottle. "Here, this will work. It'll even keep them perkier longer...kinda like my breasts."
Cas laughs and takes the bottle. "That's really cute and creative, actually. Thank you, Dean." Dean nods. Cas smiles down at the bottle before walking back to the bedroom with Dean trailing behind. He places the flowers on the nightstand and chuckles. "Remember when you threw that tater tot and it hit Christie Mathis and her parents threatened to sue?"
Dean laughs as he sits on the bed. "I know. Or that time I got caught in the supply closet with Sara Richards and her dad tried to shoot me?" He laughs again until he realizes Cas didn't find that one funny. "Anyway, Cas, how have things been for you guys lately? I mean, we had that argument and then after graduation, I had no way to contact you." He looks up at Cas who shrugs.
"I don't know. I guess you could say things have been hectic...but...I came out to Uncle Metty." This catches Dean's attention.
"Oh yeah? How'd that go?" Cas sighs. "I take that as a bad." Dean pats the bed next to him. "Why don't you sit down and we can talk about it? I know you're really close, or at least you guys were..." Cas sits next to him.
"Well, he was talking about introducing me to this girl he thought I would be interested in. I kept dropping hints that I just wasn't interested. So, I just straight out told him I'm gay and don't wish to be involved with any girls." Cas looks down and Dean puts his hand on his shoulder. "Do you mind if I put some music on? The air is a bit thick in here." Cas' attempts to make things less awkward isn't working.
"No, go ahead." Cas nods before standing. He opens the cabinet and flips through various records before deciding on one. "Is that...a record...?" Cas smirks and nods.
"Sure is." He opens his record player and puts the record on. Lowering the needle into place, he turns to Dean. "It's one of my favorite songs, December, 1963 by The Four Seasons. Frankie Valli just has the loveliest voice I've ever heard." Dean stares at Cas with a confused look on his face.
"They still make records and record players..?" Cas laughs as Dean just tries piecing this information together. He can't comprehend how records are still around in 2015. "Wasn't that like a pre-60's thing?"
"Yes, they still make records and record players as you can see. This one's pretty old though, but they do make modern versions. I just like the old stuff, you know?" Dean nods. "Okay, I'll finish now. After I told him, he thought the only logical thing to do was to, as he said, beat the gay out of me."
Dean shakes his head. "He didn't. Tell me he didn't, Cas." Cas lowers his head. "Fucking shit. Cas, I'm sorry. If I see him again, I'll break every bone in his body." Cas smiles up at Dean.
"No Dean, don't apologize. It's not your fault. It's better to just cut his negativity out of my life entirely. It's kind of the reason why Sydney and I moved out here in the first place. We probably never would've left Maine if it hadn't been for that incident. If we hadn't left, you and I never would have met up again and what fun would that be?" Cas feels his cheeks getting hot for the thousandth time since he's been near Dean.
Dean nods. "You're right. The reason you came here is shitty, but at least you know someone here." Dean catches himself blushing. "Anyway, there's something I've been meaning to tell you. After the argument and everything, there was never an appropriate time." Cas feels his heart rate increase rapidly. What could Dean possibly want to say that he hasn't already? "The truth is, the reason I was acting so selfishly and acting like a complete moron was..." Dean takes a deep breath."..because I was, and kinda still am, head over heels for you."
Dean looks over to see Cas' reaction. Cas' mouth is wide open and his face is completely flushed red. His heart is beyond beating out of his chest. Did Dean really just say that? The Dean Winchester just admitted that he had, and still has feelings for Castiel Parker? But how could that be possible when Dean's always been a womanizer?
"Uh - I – Wh – Looking at the time! It's nearly two am! I have to get to bed. I'm sorry, Dean, but can we talk some other time?" Cas quickly stands up, Dean mimicking his actions. "I wouldn't do this unless it was absolutely necessary, but I truly need to get up early, tomorrow." Cas leads him back through the apartment and to the front door.
"Oh no, I totally get it. We can talk some other time. Hopefully soon, I've missed talking to you about everything." Cas can feel a lump in his throat which he assumes is his heart because
Dean turns to Castiel and smiles. "You know, this was really fun. Reminiscing, getting an earful of your music taste, helping you escort your drunken lady friend home. We should do this again, soon." Dean gives Cas a hug and Cas can feel his cheeks getting warm. "See you."
Cas smiles. "Bye, Dean." Dean steps on the elevator and with a final wave, the doors close. Cas can't help but smile. He heads back to the apartment and climbs into bed. He lets out a content sigh. "Wow. Sydney missed so much. I have to tell her it all." He rolls over and looks at the makeshift beer bottle vase sitting on his nightstand. There's no doubt he'll forget this night.