CHAPTER 4

Dean had a nice break but he was looking forward to going back to university. Maybe he could even find an opportunity to go and see Castiel.

One day, shortly after he got back, he saw Castiel walking hand in hand with a younger looking guy. Dean stopped dead in his tracks. Cas had found a boyfriend? The tears welled up in his eyes. He felt betrayed, even though he knew he had no right to. He quickly ran home and fell down on the bed. The tears were coming fast now. He couldn't stop and he cried himself to sleep.

The next day he went to see Castiel at the library. He really didn't want to but he had to know what was going on. Castiel's face fell when he heard Dean had seen him.

"I'm sorry, Dean. I wanted to tell you myself. I went away during the break and met Harris. He's really nice and...well..."

"Not a student here." Dean said quietly.

"I'm sorry." Castiel said again and Dean knew he meant it. He couldn't expect a man like Castiel to stay single, waiting for him forever.

Dean walked home slowly and he didn't sleep much that night. He kept thinking about Castiel with that guy. What the hell kind of name was Harris anyway? Now he would be on the receiving end of Cas' slow love making, the great blow jobs and the occasional quickies when Cas could be convinced. Dean almost couldn't bare it! He got up and made some coffee. If he was to survive this he would have to put his attention on something else and his studies were a perfect candidate.

A few months later Dean graduated among the best in his class. His parents came for graduation and soon after Dean left to start work at a small university an hour's drive away from Greychurch. He had debated whether or not he should say goodbye to Castiel, but he still felt a pang in his heart when he thought about him so he decided not to. Anyway, their contact had been more than sporadic since the Harris incident. Dean still pined for him, but he didn't want to cause problems for Castiel. He loved him enough for that.

Dean had been at Unison University for two years and he'd been happy there. He'd made friends and had had a couple of boyfriends. These days it seemed he was always the man in the relationship. He smiled when he thought about that. Being the man. The guys he dated were nice. Sometimes, when he was in bed with them, taking them while they were lying on their back, he thought about the first time he had taken Castiel. As soon as the image flashed before his eyes he felt a sharp pain in his heart. He had to push it aside again. It wasn't fair for the guys and he really had to forget about Cas.

One day, he received a phone call from one of his old professors who offered him a job. They were going to start a classs about mythology in litterature and the professor wanted Dean to teach it. He had all the right qualifications; teaching experience, he knew about litterature and mythology. Dean asked for time to think.

This was a great honour. To be the first teacher of a new class. He could design it just the way he wanted. And to be hand-picked was fantastic. But, he thought, Castiel was still working at the library. Would he be able to live in a place where he could run into him and his boyfriend at any given time?

He called his mother and told her about everything. The job offer, Castiel, Harris and how much he really wanted to take the job. His mother was a little surprised to hear about Castiel but Dean had been 22 at the time so there was nothing criminal in it. His mother said she thought he should take the job. Why let his dream job go because he might run into a certain person.

Dean thought about it for another day, then called his old professor and accepted the job. His professor was thrilled and said he could have a flat on campus and if he moved there during the Summer months he would have ample time to prepare. He also had to meet with the university administration to have the class content and materials approved. After they'd said goodbye Dean felt exhilirated. He was sure he'd made the right decision. He still had three weeks of this semester to go and the next day he handed in his resignation. The university was sad to see him go but they understood why he had accepted the other job. That made him feel better about quitting. After all, they had been willing to give him his first chance. He couldn't wait to get started and when he moved back to Greychurch he had already made the class outline. He had decided to rent a small flat in town. He'd rather walk a short distance than risk bumping into you-know-who.

Dean had a couple of week holiday before the semester started. He spent them in his new flat, looking through books he wanted to use for his new class. He was so thrilled every time he thought about it. His very own class designed by himself.

After a few meetings before the semester started, everything was ready and Dean spent the last few days preparing, reading through the material and planning what his first lecture should be about. He had both lectures and seminars so he would get a week with variety. The first day came and Dean still hadn't seen Cas. But a couple of weeks into the semester at one of the teachers' barbeque, there he suddenly was. He was standing talking to Dean's old professor; the one who had offered him the job. He thought that now would be as good a time as any to meet Castiel again so he went over and said hello.

"Dean, good to see you. You remember Castiel who works at the library. He's the one who recommended you for the job." the professor said.

Dean looked at Castiel who smiled at him. Castiel's eyes looked calm, as if nothing had ever happened between them but Dean wasn't as cool and he felt his heart beat faster.

"Yes, Hi Castiel. How are you." Dean said managing to stay calm.

"Hello Dean. Good to see you again." Castiel said.

It wasn't until later that Dean had the chance to talk alone with Castiel.

"Did you really recommend me for the job?" he asked.

"Yes, well I knew you liked mythology."

"That was very nice of you. Is your boyfriend with you tonight?" Dean couldn't help asking, though he hadn't seen him. Castiel looked puzzled then he said "Oh, Harris! No we were only together for two weeks."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Dean said, but he felt somewhat relieved at hearing that.

"Well, I realized that I didn't really care for him that way. He was only compensation because I couldn't be with you." Castiel gave him a quick look, then focused his eyes on the crowd.

Dean's cheeks started burning. He wondered if they were bright red but as it was getting dark it hardly mattered.

"So, do you have a flat on campus?" Castiel asked as if he hadn't just almost told Dean he loved him.

"No, I've rented a small place in town." Dean said.

"Oh, is it nice?"

"It's alright."

"Can I see it?"

"Sure."

Dean looked at him and when Cas met his gaze it was all Dean could do not to jump him righ there.

This is now on hiatus. I need some more inspiration for this coz I'm not really feeling it right now, so I don't know when I'll continue it.