Sorry it's taken me so long to update! Four days! Gasp! Anyway, lol, sorry...I planned out the whole story a while ago while in school (...I get bored...) and then just...lost motivation, haha. I can tell you that later, the story is going to take a dark turn ;) But anyway, hope you are enjoying the story so far! Thank you all so much for your reviews! They really make me continue this story, so pat yourselves on the back! I didn't even have a word of this chapter typed until about an hour ago...I looked through some of my reviews and got motivated again ;) So thank you so much! I hope I can do your wonderful reviews justice.
Also, my email/messaging has been messed up lately. On my email, it rarely shows me updates for people's stories or if people have reviewed or anything,, or if they have sent me a message. And in the inbox on this site, it says there's nothing while my email said there were some...so...yeah. I don't know why it's not working, but is anyone else having this problem or am I just that lucky? heh Anyway.
Tonight's episode of Superntural...Well...let's just it was part awesome and part GRRR! First off, Vamp!Dean is awesome! I love him like that! Second of all...Sam is really getting on my nerves. But enough about that! (Though that's partially what motivated me to write more again...)
Sorry if this chapter sucks...I'm sick at the moment with a head cold and my medicine makes me really sleepy...so...hehe yeah I'm a little out of it, I guess you could say. So, sorry for any mistakes/typos/errors/bad characterizations...yeah...anything like that...anyway...
You're probably tired of me talking...and most of you have probably skipped over this beginning section, hehe, so...
Onward!
Chapter Ten
It was actually a fun night, but it was coming to a close. Dean was smiling all the while, even as they took off the vests and turned in the gear. Castiel liked seeing Dean smile like he was, like he didn't have a care in the world. But he took notice of the looks Sam was sending their way, the strange little grin on the youngest Winchester's face. His good time was about to be ruined, and maybe even his new life as Dean's friend and not just an outcast. Swallowing, Castiel followed Dean and Sam toward the car. They were ahead of him a few steps, joking about who they had managed to shoot and what had happened whilst in the foggy laser tag room.
They climbed into the Impala and pulled out the parking lot and back onto the road. While they were stopped at a red light, Dean glanced at Cas, who was positioned in the passenger seat. "Have fun?" Dean asked with a grin.
Castiel nodded. Really, he'd had a lot of fun. It had been one of the best times of his life, in all honesty, but it was coming to and end and he wasn't sure how this night was going to wind up. He wasn't sure if Sam was going to say something or not. As it was, Sam was in the backseat, watching the two of them with that strange little grin plastered on his face. "I had a great time, actually," he told Dean, trying to ignore the weight of Sam's gaze.
Dean looked back at his brother. "What are you so smiley about, Samantha?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Nothing, Deana," Sam retorted with a smirk of his own.
Dean scowled. "Whatever. You can call me a girl only when you ask out Jess."
"Dean!" Sam groaned in the backseat, causing Castiel to chuckle faintly. Maybe things would be okay after all. Maybe Sam wouldn't say anything, which was what Castiel was hoping for. Hopefully Sam didn't mind that Castiel…liked…his big brother. It was wrong, though, wasn't it? So why wasn't Sam doing something about it? Like telling Dean?
Not that Castiel wanted him to. It was just…why wasn't he? He shifted nervously in his seat and Dean frowned at him, coasting through the light when it turned green finally.
Green. Like the color of Dean's eyes…
Gah! Stop that, Castiel mentally chided himself, feeling himself start to flush. Thankfully Dean was paying attention to the road and not him, so he didn't notice. Sam, on the other hand, looked like he was about to burst out laughing. Castiel sent him a look and Sam sobered quickly, even though he was still smirking like he'd just heard the world's funniest joke.
"Everything okay, Cas?" Dean asked, flipping on the radio and making sure the volume was down low enough that the two could talk.
"Yeah…everything's fine, Dean. I had a great time," Castiel said again, sighing. He didn't want Dean thinking he hadn't had fun tonight simply because he couldn't sit still at the moment.
"You sure?"
"Yes. I'm sure."
Now Sam really did start to laugh. Dean frowned at his little brother in the rearview mirror. "Someone stuff happy pills in your drink or what? What's got you so giggly, Samantha?"
Sam laughed all the more, shaking his head. "Nothing, Dean, nothing," he guffawed.
"Right…" Dean looked skeptical but let it go, sharing a confused look with Castiel, who also couldn't seem to find out what was so hilarious to the younger Winchester. "So…Sam, are you staying at Josh's house tonight?"
"Yeah," Sam replied, his tone somber all of a sudden, his expression serious. Castiel frowned at the sudden change. Then he glanced at Dean to see that his friend's jaw was tense.
"Good. I'll drop you off there, 'kay?"
"Alright."
Castiel wanted to ask why they both seemed so incredibly tense at the moment but figured they obviously didn't want him to know. He didn't want to tread where he was not wanted. He didn't want to cross any lines. Surely they would tell him if they wanted to, right?
Dean dropped Sam off at his friend's house first and waited until he was sure Sam got inside before he drove off. Then he and Castiel went to get something to drink and some tacos through a drive through and ate in the car on the way back to Castiel's. Castiel had to admit, it was fun. He liked spending time with Dean, after all, especially when it was just the two of them. Maybe Sam was right…maybe he really did like Dean like that. The thought kind of scared him a little, though, because surely it was one-sided. There was no way Dean would ever or could over return those feelings.
When Dean pulled up outside of Castiel's house, he looked as though there was something he wanted to say. He was biting down on his bottom lip in that way that meant he was thinking hard about something, Castiel had learned after watching him in class or in stressful situations. Castiel frowned and waited patiently in the passenger seat, vowing to be ready whenever Dean opened his mouth to talk.
Dean finally just shook his head. "I guess I'll see you Monday, Cas." He smiled faintly and Castiel knew it wasn't what Dean had originally been about to say.
He nodded slowly. "Okay…I'll see you then, Dean." He got out of the car and walked up the porch steps and toward his front door. He could feel Dean's eyes on him as he did so, making sure he got in just like he had with Sam. Dean was so caring. No one probably ever saw that, either. Dean didn't seem, initially, to the type who would care, but that was just the rough exterior. Castiel knew him differently, though.
The thought made him smile as he entered his house.
Monday.
Finally, it was Monday. Time for Drama Club, too, but Dean was nowhere in sight. He had been there throughout the school day, though, and Castiel had seen him just after the final bell, so where was he? He located Anna and asked her.
"Oh, he got a phone call from Sam. He should be back soon, though," she told him with a faint smile. "I'm pretty sure Sam will be with him."
Castiel nodded, happy that Dean was coming back, but confused still. The last time Sam had called during Drama Club, Dean had gone home and wound up missing school for a few days afterward. Of course, he was probably just jumping to conclusions. Maybe Sam didn't have Academic Club today, or he just wanted to come to Drama Club or something. Yeah, that was probably it.
A few minutes later, Dean returned, Sam in tow as he entered the room, smiling when his gaze landed on Castiel. He joined him at one of the long tables. "Sorry I'm late," he said, "had to pick up the squirt over here."
Sam rolled his eyes. "One of these days I'm going to be taller than you," he vowed.
Castiel smirked. Dean was pretty damn tall. A few inches taller than himself, anyway.
"In your dreams, kiddo," Dean told him.
"Whatever."
Sam ran off when he spotted Anna, hurrying toward her to strike up a conversation. Dean sat in one of the chairs next to Castiel, combing his fingers through his hair, giving into a small sigh.
"So how goes Drama Club so far?" Dean asked.
Castiel shrugged. "Anna and Ash are planning something but Hunter's not talking."
Dean smirked and looked at Castiel in the eyes. "We can take him," he said. "Make him talk."
Castiel smirked, looking into Dean's eyes. It was surprisingly hard to look away.
Stop it, Cas, he thought to himself. Snap out of it. Now!
He tore his gaze away and sighed, looking down at the table.
"Dean!" Sam called from somewhere behind them. "Can you and Cas do something for me?"
Dean frowned at Castiel and sighed, getting to his feet. "Little twerp's gonna be the death of me," he muttered as he and Castiel moved toward Sam, who was standing by the door labeled 'COSTUMES'. "What?"
"Can you guys get something for me? I don't know where it's at."
"What do you want?" Castiel asked, still happy Sam hadn't said anything to Dean.
"A black cape."
"Why?" Dean asked, quirking a brow. "Decided to become Samantha Extraordinary, superior feminine male stripper of the upper east side?"
Sam frowned. "You're such a jerk."
"And you're a little bitch."
Sam rolled his eyes and looked at Castiel. "Can you guys please get it for me? I told Anna I'd get it for something Ash wants but I don't know where it'd be. You guys moved stuff around."
Dean sighed. "Fine…we'll get it. Damn. Whiney little…" He trailed off as he entered the room labeled 'COSTUMES', Castiel right behind him. He moved toward a few of the boxes at the back and Castiel was reminded of how crammed and crowded this room was, leaving them pretty close together. "Did you say black cape, Sam?" Dean asked, turned around and then glared. "Hey!"
The door slammed shut behind Castiel and he jerked in surprise, spinning around. He twisted the knob to open the door again but found it to be jammed somehow. Could this room really lock? He frowned, feeling his heart sink. Locked in a room? He didn't like this. He hated being stuck somewhere, especially in a room so crammed as this one. What if they ran out of air or something?
Think rationally, he told himself, taking in a deep breath as though to calm himself even though it didn't seem to be working.
"Damn it." Dean moved past him and pounded against the door. "Sam! This isn't funny! Open up! Hey! I'm going to kick your ass out of the house! Sam!"
Either Sam wasn't listening or he'd moved away and couldn't hear them, but they didn't seem to be getting out any time soon. The door remained locked and the room remained crammed.
Castiel swallowed thickly. Crowded places were fine, really. But being trapped in a crammed room, the door locked? With Dean, of all people? He felt himself start to hyperventilate.
Dean sighed and turned to face him, immediately frowning. "Jesus, Cas, calm down!" he said worriedly, grabbing Castiel's shoulder and shaking him slightly. "Hey? You okay, man? Cas?"
"I want to get out of here," he told Dean quietly, feeling like some kind of wuss for letting a small little room panic him this much, but he'd never liked being stuck in small, crammed places. The costumes and walls seemed to be closing in on him.
"Yeah, okay…" Dean bit down on his lower lip and hit the door again. "Sam! Cas doesn't like this! Open up! Sam!" Then he sighed. "Damn it…the door is pretty thick, Cas, I don't even know if he can hear us."
Castiel swallowed thickly, blue eyes wide.
"Take it easy, okay? It'll be okay. It's just a small room, right? Let's just talk. Take your mind off things." Dean pushed down on Castiel's shoulders. "C'mon. Sit."
Castiel nodded and sat on the ground. Dean sat next to him and for a moment, it was quiet. Castiel closed his eyes and tried to think about other things. Sure, he'd been in this room before, and had even had the door closed, but he hadn't been locked in. And it hadn't been for very long.
He was usually fine with stuff like this, but…right now, it was really making him feel nauseous. And it was just his luck that Dean was there with him and had to see how pathetic he was.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, glaring at the ground.
"For what?"
"For…" He trailed off.
Dean sighed. "For not liking small rooms? Cas, that's not your fault, man. Sam's just being an ass. I don't know what he's trying to do but he won't leave us in here for too long. He knows I'd whoop his ass to next Tuesday."
Castiel nodded slowly.
"I don't think any less of you," Dean said suddenly, causing Castiel look at him, frowning slightly. "If that's what you're worried about."
Castiel swallowed. "Thanks…"
"No problem." Dean shrugged and sighed. "It's hot in here, eh?" He pulled his shirt from his chest and let it drop back, and then he did it again, as though trying to air himself out.
Castiel nodded quietly, closing his eyes.
"Just don't think about it," Dean said. "Keep your eyes closed and imagine yourself somewhere else. At least, I think it'll work…I wouldn't really know…" He shifted and sigh. "Sorry, Cas, I'm trying to help, but…"
"You're helping," Castiel assured him quietly, keeping his eyes closed. "Thank you."
"Yeah…that's what friends are for, right?"
"I suppose."
Except a part of him wanted to be more than friends…
He opened his eyes, which was really a big mistake. The room was so crammed. His eyes darted toward the door but it was still shut, still locked, and he knew they weren't getting out of here. At least not soon, maybe not ever. What if Sam forgot about them? What if no one remembered them in here and left for the day? What if they were trapped in here all night? There probably wasn't enough air in here to last that long, he realized, which really only made him panic all the more, his breaths shaky, quick, and rapid.
"Cas, calm down," Dean ordered, gripping his shoulder firmly. "Cas! Hey! Take it easy! Breathe, man, okay? Everything's fine."
"What if they forget we're here?"
"What?"
"What if-"
"That's not gonna happen," Dean said, shaking his head. "I promise. Sam wouldn't forget. Everything's fine. Calm down, okay? I don't need you passing out on me, man."
Castiel swallowed thickly. "I'm sorry, I just-"
"I know, I get it, Cas, I do. I understand. And I don't expect you to apologize, alright? It's fine."
Castiel felt a little reassured but he still felt the urge to vomit. The air was too warm in the room, too thick and confining, just like the walls around him, the walls clad with costumes.
"I want out."
"I know," Dean murmured. "Sam won't keep us in here too long, alright? I promise."
Dean rarely made promises, and Castiel had the feeling that when he did, he intended to keep them. So he sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to stay calm.
"Thanks…" he murmured.
"No problem," Dean said casually. "We'll be out of here soon."
Castiel, in hopes of focusing his gaze on something other than the walls around him which were making him feel sick to his stomach and dizzy, looked at Dean. Dean was looking around the room as though searching for something, perhaps another key somewhere hidden, stashed away, but Castiel wasn't sure. All he knew was that the heat of the room had left a small flush to Dean's face, his freckles standing out slightly, his eyes bright. He kept looking at him, watching him, until Dean faced him again and frowned.
"Um…Cas?"
"Yes?"
"…What are you doing?" Dean asked, leaning back a little. It was then that Castiel realized he had steadily been moving closer to Dean, no doubt interrupting his 'bubble', which was something Dean had ranted about at lunch one day, his personal space bubble, which Hunter had metaphorically stabbed with a fork.
"Oh, um, I…" Castiel stammered, flushing as he quickly started to pull back. "I'm sorry, I…" But he trailed off, not knowing what to say. He just wound up staring at his friend again.
And the weird thing? Dean stared right back. For a moment, they just looked at each other, green attached to blue, and Castiel felt himself moving forward again. Dean didn't bother to move back, didn't flinch or react in the slightest, just kept watching him, staring at him in that intense way that left Castiel somewhat breathless as he stared back.
Closer and closer the two of them got. Castiel was practically leaning over him now, and Dean was beginning to smirk, leaning forward slightly as well, still watching him. Green still sought out blue and blue was forever locked on green. Castiel reached out and grabbed Dean's shoulder while Dean gripped the front of Castiel's shirt tightly, as though dragging him in a little closer, which Castiel didn't mind at all.
Leaning in a little more, Castiel felt his heart start to race. This was it…a little further and they would be kissing. He didn't even stop to think about it as he continued moving forward, so slowly that he was sure it was going to take an eternity, but he was getting there, and so was Dean.
And then Sam finally opened the door and the two jumped apart from each other.
Sam grinned. "Am I interrupting something?"
Teehee, oh, Sammy...lol...Anyway! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Hopefully motivation will kick my ass and make me write, haha, so hopefully the next chapter will be up soon ;) Next up? Well...there's going to be-
Nah, not tellin'. Anyway, thanks so much for reading! Please continue to review! You guys rock and keep the story going! Thanks again!
~Muffy the Dough Slayer~