The Professor was just packing up her laptop and class notes when he walked in. Professor Moseley was probably the scariest and most intimidating teacher any freshman would ever met, but Castiel had already had two other classes with her last year and knew she was really a reasonable, sharp woman with an acrid, yet loving tongue.
"Boy, I think this is the first class you've ever missed. What happened? You oversleep?" Professor Moseley took in his slightly disheveled appearance, and plopped back into her chair. Castiel took the one opposite her. He set her cup on the desk, shifting some papers to make room.
"Yes. The lack of sleep finally caught up with me I suppose. What did I miss?" Castiel pulled out the last week's homework that was due, setting it on the pile with all the rest.
"Well, while you were sleeping, we went over the next essay, due in two weeks, comparing contemporary and historical biblical literature. I expect this to be a full testimonio with a minimum of 4 primary sources, and at least 2 secondary sources, in text citations, whole nine yards. Length ranging from 'I spent all week plus three all nighters finishing this' to 'please god kill me now'. Due in two weeks." Missouri handed him a sheet detailing the assignment, gathered her bag and coffee and stood.
"Wow, Missouri, look at you going light on us this time. Not going soft are you?" Castiel made sure he sounded sarcastic, but Moseley knew him well enough to know he was probably genuinely excited to write this paper.
"Well, you better get started. Late is not an option." She sipped her coffee. "Mmm. Perfect. And it's Professor Moseley to you." She seemed pleased, and not the least surprised. Castiel stood, and they walked to the door together. Castiel knew now was the time, he had to ask before the probation period ended and the classes were finalized.
"So, Professor, I know I was at the top of your class last year, and I have quite a bit of free time this year, and I know that your TA for your freshman Religious Studies 101 class has backed out recently... I was wondering if the position was still open?" Castiel stopped in the hallway. Missouri locked the door and started towards her office. She seemed to be thinking it over.
"Say, boy, what do you have going on now? Any classes to get to this afternoon?" She turned a corner sharply, expecting Castiel to keep up with her brisk pace, which he was by now quite used to. Castiel began to worry. He had been really hoping to TA for Moseley. No other teacher was as good as she was. He hadn't actually really considered her turning him down. He was the best and he knew it.
"No. Nothing at all." Castiel kept his face and voice neutral, a clean slate.
"Well, good, I have to get you caught up on the last week. Also, you should meet your own TA. I introduced him today to your class, butsomeone was getting his beauty rest. We're having lunch together today to discuss those essays. I sent him off halfway through class to struggle with the tech guys over my printer for me." Missouri was really laying on the sass now, but she knew Castiel could take it.
"Okay. Sounds good." Castiel trailed along behind her. After stopping at her office to drop off her extra things, and pick up the materials Castiel would need, they proceeded to the cafe on the north campus. Along the way, Missouri began telling Castiel all about his TA.
"He's from Kansas, so he's got quite the southern drawl, and he's a pretty boy no question about that, but I think you'll like him. He has raw intelligence. He's a bit older, a grad student, but he'll do just fine. I think I'll need to keep him in line though. Troublemaker type he is. But sharp as a tack. Doesn't take any sass from me; I like that. He gives it right back. Like you." She patted Castiel's cheek, a gesture not meant to be patronizing, but mothering. She somehow knew Castiel was lacking in that department, despite how he never told anyone and desperately tried to hide it.
As a freshman, Castiel had been awkward, naive, and fragile, basically a complete loner. He had thrown himself into his studies, not doing much else. Being a Religious Studies Major, with a minor in Literature, Missouri had been his professor for both his first and second semesters, being one of only two Religious Studies teachers at their little city university. She had bonded with Castiel, her top student; she brought him out of his shell a bit more. He was initially surprised when she had asked him to come by, just to talk. They talked about classes, religion, human nature, and the non-understandable complexities of people that Castiel struggled with so much.
She had never pressured him to talk about things he wasn't comfortable with, though. Whenever they broached the topic of family, Castiel would change the subject, and although the Professor saw right through him, she never said a word about it. Her wit and sharp eye had helped Castiel come out of his shell. He made some friends among the religious studies department, and had found a job to help take up his time and provide some extra money. Scholarships only go so far.
They reached the cafe around noon, and grabbed a table by the window. Castiel removed his coat, and sat across from Missouri. Her other TA wasn't here yet. After getting drinks, and being updated on Missouri's freshman classes, the other TA finally showed.
"Hey Professor Moseley. Turns out your instructions for how to get here weren't exactly crystal clear." They guy plopped into the chair next to Castiel. Castiel stiffened. He knew that drawl. It was that guy. That guy he had hit on last weekend at the club. Oh shit. He turned and met the green eyes. Bad idea, now I'm stuck.
"Heyyy... Cas? Nice to see ya again, man." Castiel blinked. Cas? What? Green. Whoa, freckle alert. Greeeeeen. Apparently he had been staring, slack jawed for a few minutes too long, because Dean shifted awkwardly, and his eyes flicked to Moseley and then back.
"Yes... um, hello, Dean. It is good to see you again. But you did not text me." He frowned and finally broke away, turning to glare at his water, as if the bendy straw, bent to a perfect right angle, had personally offended him. That was why he had been grumpy all week. The cute guy hadn't texted him. The bad mood had messed with his sleep, too. He was just starting to feel better, and now here Dean was, in his stupid attractive Henley and stupid attractive dark denim jeans with stupid biker boots and his stupid perfect hair and stupid freckles and his...
"So, you two know each other already? Great. You're gonna be spending a lot of time together now. You two are my only help this semester. You okay, Castiel? Drink some water, boy before you pass out." Cas obeyed, feeling slightly overwhelmed. Dean wasn't helping, sitting very close by in the crowded cafe. Cas pushed his glasses further up his nose, a nervous habit. Missouri's sharp eyes picked up Castiel's discomfort right away, but she knew better to than to ask, and launched right into her curriculum overview.
After Moseley had finished eating and gone over everything she needed to with both of her new TA's she packed up and left, eyeing them both, and being deliberately cryptic and suggestive.
"Well, Cas, it was nice seeing you. I guess I'll see you on Wednesday then?" Dean seemed like he was in a hurry to leave. He hadn't even finished his burger. He was already standing, and Cas wasn't sure what exactly to do about it. So he might have mumbled a 'goodbye, Dean' and he thinks he shook Deans hand? Maybe. It's all just a daze, and then Castiel was in the library, hiding in his corner, the place he always goes to work, and forcing himself to put Dean Green-Eyed Winchester out of his mind.
Tuesday night, the next night, Anna and Gabriel both come over. Castiel wasn't sure whether he should be happy or scared, so he's a little of both. They barged through his dorm room door, and thankfully his roommate, Chuck was already gone for the night. Come to think about it, Chuck was nearly always gone so it wasn't much of a surprise. Gabriel jumps on his bed while sucking a lollipop, and Anna goes over to his wardrobe, and started pulling out blazers and jeans. When he saw her pull out his nicer stuff, he knew why they were here.
"No. NO, NO, NO! NO! I won't go. You can't make me. I already work there; I don't need to be there any more than necessary. Please." Castiel's phone buzzed, so he pulled it out and flipped it open. Reading the text he froze, barely listening to Gabe as he wheedled.
"Awww but baby bro, you need to get laid. Like yesterday. But today will have to do. Please? For me? I want to find you your knight in shining armor." Gabriel's eyes twinkled as he teased, but Castiel knew how stubborn Gabe could be.
"You will owe me. Until the end of time. Forever. I hate that place and you know it. Actually, no, I won't not even for you. Nope." Castiel turned and intensely stared at his textbook without actually reading anything. A pale hand pulled his arm away.
"Please? Castiel, we don't have to go to the club if you don't want to. We can go other places. But we need to do something. We miss you. We never see you anymore." Goddamnit. Castiel never could say no to Anna. He gave her one last pleading glance before sliding off the bed. He replied to the text with a frown on his face, and felt irritated at the injustice of fate. But family came first, and he so rarely saw them.
"Where did you have in mind?" He sighed in resignation. Resistance was futile.
"I know this cute bookstore in the city that's having an event tonight with some famous author, and we can get dinner after if you want." That was much more Castiel's style, so he smiled, and picked out his favorite blue sweater. It matched his eyes, or so he had been told.
The bookstore also happened to be a coffee shop, with ratty couches and love seats scattered between the aisles of books, and a small stage over by the Baristas bar with tables scattered about. The walls were wallpapered in graffiti and posters of various bands. Castiel, as somewhat of a musical expert, was pleased to find a wide variety, including his personal favorites. He spotted Kansas, Floyd, The Beatles, Del Ray, The Xx, and even Lorde, The Neighborhood, and Empire of the Sun. Unfortunately he also saw Katy Perry, Miike Snow, and the tip of AC/DC peeking out. The clearing in front of the stage was filled with people. This must be a pretty decent author to have such a large turnout, he supposed.
Castiel grabbed a book, and squeezed past people to an empty couch. He started reading, and found the author not to be too terrible. Just as he was getting into the action, a warm body plopped down beside him, legs brushing together due to the tiny size of the couch. Castiel smelled a pleasant musk, and turned to find himself inches away from one Dean Winchester.
"Thought you said you were busy tonight? Just didn't wanna come here with me, huh?" Dean smirked, and drawled. Castiel blinked in surprise (he seemed to do that an awful lot lately) and put a bookmark in the book to hold his place.
"No, it wasn't that, I was simply invited here by my brother and sister first. It had nothing to do with you. Although, why are you here? Did you follow me?" He squinted at Dean suspiciously, subconsciously shifting away from Dean and pushing his glasses back to the bridge of his nose. Dean just laughed, a full throated, head tipped back, gleeful laugh.
"Nah... Man, I was just teasin ya. Actually, this is where I was gonna bring you tonight. My brother happens to be... uh, a huge fan of the guest of honor here, so I was obligated to come, and I thought you might like to join us." Dean looked right at him, and Castiel relaxed, sensing he was being genuine.
Eventually, they fell to talking about books, not a very safe topic for Castiel, because he was very strongly opinionated. He hoped he didn't scare Dean away. He liked to think he was simply passionate, but many people had been offended by his critical bashing of their favorite books before. Before he knew it, a tall, handsome man was hopping up onto the stage, and welcoming everyone. The lights dimmed slightly and Castiel focused on listening to Samuel Wesson talk about how he wrote his books and what inspired him to go into the crime/horror genre.
Castiel tried. He tried valiantly to focus on the speaker. But Dean was pressed so close, and the scent and warmth he felt through his jeans was overwhelming. His senses were hyper aware of Dean beside him. Before he knew it the hour was up, and he released the breath he had been holding. Jumping up, he hastily muttered goodbye and nearly sprinted out of the store.