Dean was surprised. Pleasantly so, but surprised nonetheless. His budding friendship with Jo was actually going great, and he was glad to have a close friendship that was, now, completely platonic. The sexual tension that had once lingered between them was now reduced to laughs about their utter failure at a relationship. It may have been awkward for a few weeks, but it helps that what they lacked in passion, they made up for in commonalities.

The only downside to both of them being so comfortable in talking about what they had once been, is that they talk about their breakup.

And why they broke up.

And the certain feelings that influenced said break up.

And the certain people that influenced said feelings.

But Dean knew Jo was right. They could both clearly see that Crowley was becoming more touchy-feel by the day. And Dean could clearly see that he was becoming Jo's sassy gay friend.

Now, while Dean could be quite snarky when he wanted to, and often when he didn't, he wasn't sure if he was gay, and at times he would simply deny his possible sexual orientation all together. This, however, would result in a bitch face from Jo that could easily win some awards.

"Jo, it's just... it's nothing. Alright? I was wrong. There's nothing there." He said.

"Dean..." Bitch face quickly being replaced with pity.

"Shh!" Mrs. Wilson said as she continued on her impassioned digression on the cultural significance of the Harry Potter series in England.

"One second." Dean whispered as he loudly coughed to hide the noise of ripping out a page of notebook paper.

'If I fail this class I'm blaming you' Dean wrote, and discreetly passed to his desk mate.

'You'll thank me when your big gay crush is requited' Jo responded.

'It's not a 'big gay crush'.'

'Big bisexual crush?'

'Shut up.'

'You know we don't care, right?' Jo asked. Dean could see the sincerity in her face. Regardless, he panicked.

'Jo Harvelle, if you have told ANYONE you will be sorry.'

'Don't get your panties in a twist, I'll never tell a living soul if you don't want me to'.

At least Dean was right that she'd been trustworthy.

'So are you gonna do something about it, or just sit there whining?'

'Did I or did I not tell you to shut up?' Dean concluded and shoved the scrap of paper into his notebook.

That's all they wrote before the bell rang.

And as Mrs. Wilson handed Dean the essay that Cas had helped with, he was shocked to find a large 'A' written in intimidatingly red ink. And yet, he wasn't intimidated in the slightest.

"So, do you think he's cute?" she asked as they walked into the cafeteria

"Jo!" Dean protested

"What?! I was just..." Jo stopped and stared as Cas arrived, hand-in-hand with Crowley. "Oh, no." She continued.

But Dean didn't hear her. He was too busy staring at Cas' evident discomfort being accented by Crowley's nonchalance. Jo patted him on the back in the form of a sympathetic 'I told you so' .

This time, when Crowley flirted, Dean had no escape. No way to try and make Cas jealous. All he could do was sit back and let himself feel the pain.

It seemed like he'd been doing a lot of that lately.

Dean was helping Sam with his homework and, as per usual, Sam wound up helping Dean, when he got a text.

'I'm sorry. You've both been a wonderful pain in my ass.'

The text was from the same number John had used last time. But this couldn't possibly be him. John Winchester doesn't apologize. Dean called the number and put it on speaker phone for Sam to hear.

"Hello?" came a gruff voice on the other line.

"Dad?" Dean asked, desperately.

The line went dead.

They were both silent.

"We've been doing work for a while. Huh, Sam? I think we could stand to go out."

"Sure, Dean." Sam replied, quietly.

Dean scanned his mind for potential places to go that, preferably, didn't cost him any actual money. He quickly settled on the perfect location.

Dean:

could Sam and i come over? 5:42 p.m.

Cas:

I thought you'd never ask. 5:44 p.m.

Dean parked the Impala near the curb and knocked on the red wooden door. The house was small, only one story, but it was enormous compared to their cold little room.

"Hey there!" He happily said as he opened the door.

"Hi," Dean said.

"Hey," Sam practically whispered.

"Well what's up with you then, little man?"

"Don't call me that." Sam angrily replied.

"Yeah, I'm probably gonna keep calling you that. Come on in! Castiel's been expecting you!" Gabriel said.

They walked along the tile flooring into a small, yet warm, living room where Cas was sat intently with his nose in a book.

"No way." Sam said.

"What?" Dean asked.

"I love Looking for Alaska!" Sam chirped happily.

Cas looked up.

"I do, too. I've decided to reread it." Dean could've sworn he saw a little glint in his eyes.

"I don't think they call it 'rereading' after the 20th time." Gabriel said, mockingly.

"Please, Gabriel, do let me know when you find a more suitable word, and I'll be sure to use it. Until that point, however, leave me alone. I'm rereading." Castiel said.

"Hey, Cas!" Dean said, and was confused as to why Cas blushed.

"'Cas'?" Gabriel asked.

"It's a nickname." Cas defended.

"You're on nickname status? They grow up so fast," he said proudly. "By the way, I am stealing that." Gabriel said to Dean.

"Sure, but you'll have to pay the copyright fees."

"I do like this one." Gabriel smiled.

Sam scanned the shelf next to the TV. He let out a little yelp.

"Oh, be careful. He turned into a baby bird again." Dean said.

"You have the best taste in television in the world," Sam said, unbothered by Dean's insult

Cas smiled, and Dean's heart skipped a little beat.

"30 Rock is my favorite show ever." Sam added.

"Did you watch the finale?" Cas asked, intrigued.

"It was beautiful." Sam said, pretending to cry into his hands. Luckily the crappy cable service at the motel had held out for the event.

They all watched the show for a little while. And Dean had to admit, it was kinda awesome. But he wasn't exactly sure whether it was the show he enjoyed, or the comfort of having all of them together. He kinda thought it was the latter.

Sam eventually went to help Gabriel cook dinner. While macaroni and cheese isn't the most complicated meal to make, Dean figured the kid could use all the big brothers he could get.

Dean and Cas sat in a companionable silence as they both completed their respective homework. Dean liked that. How he always wound up doing his work when Cas was around. The silence was lost when Cas searched through Dean's English notebook.

"I try not to subscribe to the concept of gossip, but it would appear that it is inevitable in a high school context." Cas said.

"What are you talking about?"

"I found something in your notebook. I wasn't looking for it, or anything even remotely akin to it, I assure you, but... I read it, Dean. I'm sorry." Cas said sincerely and handed Dean the note.

It was the one he'd been writing with Jo.

Of course it was.

Dean fell silent.

"Jo was right, though." Cas said, and took the lingering silence as a confirmation that he should keep talking "I wouldn't say I'm apathetic, but your sexual orientation, whether gay, straight, bisexual, or whatever else, doesn't change how much I care about you."

"You too." Dean finally said, glad that Cas wasn't asking about the crush.

And then their ever-intense eye contact became too chick-flicky for his liking.

"Are you screwing Crowley?" Dean blurted. Well, he could have handled that subject with more sensitivity.

"We are not yet at that point in our relationship." Cas said, as if he'd been preparing his answer.

"Are you dating?"

Cas thought for a bit "I suppose so. Yes."

Dean felt his stomach turn.

"Why?" Dean asked.

"'Why?'" Cas repeated.

It had been a stupid question.

"Have you kissed him yet?"

"Yes." Cas seemed disappointed. "Tongues feel weird, Dean."

"Was he your first kiss?" He tried not to sound angry.

"On the mouth, yes."

"What other kind of kiss is there?" Dean asked.

"Anywhere else."

"And have you had your first kiss 'anywhere else'?"

"Yes."

"With who?"

"You."

Dean remembered the day on the highway. Cas had talked to Dean, he'd listened. Really listened like no one else had. Like he had something important to say. And Dean kissed him because it was something important he'd had to do.

"And when did you have your first kiss, Dean?"

This time, Dean couldn't remember. It wasn't that he'd been at all intoxicated or out-of-it at the time. It just got shoved down under more important information. He could remember earlier ones, but they all just meshed together eventually, equal in meaninglessness.

"Well, have you had your first kiss 'anywhere else'?"

"No." Dean felt inexplicably sad.

Then Dean watched Cas lean over and let the bed's weight shift below them. He felt wet lips on his forehead, and smiled.

"Now you have."