Author's Note:

Thanks for all the support guys :) I'm glad so many of you do trust me when I say I still keep logic in mind lol

Now for the parts that we've been waiting for, right? Here we go guys :D

Grade twelve. Finally. Dean ran a hand up through his hair to keep the spikes upright. Tomorrow was the first day of his grade twelve year, his last year of high school and then he was free to do whatever he wanted. Not that he knew exactly what he wanted but he was working it out. He adjusted the collar of his leather jacket, his dad's leather jacket, and strolled out of his room and to the front door. "I'm gonna run to the store for some stuff!" He hollered to the rest of the house though he waited for a second, listening to the hurried steps of his brother.

"Wait! Wait I'm coming with!" Sam skidded to a stop next to him, throwing on his shoes. Sam had grown a lot in the last year and yet was still pretty small. He'd taken part in as many of John's training things as he could though Sam wasn't always up for listening to what his dad wanted, the little brat was growing more and more independent as time went on. Though normally John had things planned for them he had decided to give them the day off, it was the day before school, after all. They needed to be ready, well rested... Though mostly it was because Mary insisted they take a day.

"Figured you would," Dean grinned and headed out the door, "Come on Sammy!"

Sam dashed to the Impala's passenger door and hopped in before Dean could even close his, "What're you getting?" Sam asked as he belted himself in.

"Snacks and stuff for tonight, Jet's coming down to watch movies later." Dean shrugged as he started the car up and smiled, loving the sound of her engine. "Why'd you want to come?"

"I figured that's what you were getting," Sam smirked, "I wanted to get some for myself, too."

"I'm not buying it for you."

"I've got my own money from the summer, Dean." Sam said matter-of-factly, an annoying tone that Dean hated. That 'I can do it myself' attitude that Sam had was so difficult to work with sometimes.

"Alright, so long as you know then." Dean shrugged and pulled up to the nearest convenience store. Sam went in first, Dean took the time to check the Impala's tires and everything else, he promised his dad that he'd take care of her every time he drove her and this short trip should be no different. He still couldn't believe the man had given her to him. John had been so against everything Dean was starting to get into, though slowly John came to realize that no matter who Dean wanted to bring to bed, Dean was still his son. Dean was always the same guy when he woke up as when he went to bed and why should it matter so much? Granted John still didn't ever want to know who Dean was dating, ever, so he could at least keep that part a secret from himself. Regardless, Dean was very happy with how things were going, John had at least accepted him, maybe whoever he brought home in the future would have some difficulties but for now his dad accepted him and that was good enough.

Just then a cherry red mustang pulled up next to him, parked perfectly in the stall over. Loud dance music was cut as soon as the engine was and the driver's door opened, Dean couldn't help but look to see what kind of douche listened to that music.

Dean felt his mouth go dry as he watched the most beautiful face he'd ever seen emerge from the car; sunglasses were tipped down briefly as the guy winked bright blue eyes at him before strolling into the store. Dean swallowed and did a double take, his eyes shifting down to one hell of a fine ass wrapped perfectly in a set of dark jeans, his shirt riding up briefly to show off a little skin on his lower back and possibly even a tattoo. Dean cleared his throat and walked in after the stranger, an odd word in itself in a small town. He knew most of the guys in town, especially the ones his age. Who was this guy?

He couldn't help but look at the new comer again, watching the way he squatted down to inspect the store's magazine selection, the way his jeans clung to his thighs like a second layer of skin. A quick glance told him that yep, there was definitely a tattoo on the guy's lower back though he couldn't make out what it was without being too obvious. Dean decidedly gave and walked to the snack aisle and found Sam deciding between a rather large lollipop or a chocolate bar. Dean's grin couldn't have been wider to see Sam's choices, "If you're trying to please that guy, I'd go with the lollipop."

Sam's face flushed and he dropped the chocolate bar, "Shut up, Dean." He looked around to make sure no one had heard that, "I'm not even sure if he swings that way..."

"Well, never know until you try." Dean shrugged and smiled down at Sam, "Never hurts, you know."

The stranger let out a laugh, a beautiful sound though a little bitter. Dean looked up to find the guy was in the same aisle, his sunglasses folded down and hooked into the front of his undershirt, a tightly fitting thing that defined his shape nicely. Slender but toned, Dean could see the definition of the guy's hips and part of him just wanted to touch them.

"Something funny?" Dean asked after regaining his mental-self from ogling this guy.

"Yeah, it's really funny to hear you of all people saying that." Those blue eyes shifted and stared at him and Dean could swear he felt something in him get pierced right through.

"Cas?" Sam beamed, "No way! You look amazing!"

'Cas?' Dean thought as the stranger smiled down at Sam.

"Hey, Sam. Nice to see you again." He ran a hand through perfectly mussy dark hair, "And thanks, that's really sweet of you." He sashayed past Dean and leaned to kiss Sam on the cheek, earning a deep blush from the younger Winchester and a rush of jealousy from the older one.

Dean turned to stare at the gorgeous beast that was Castiel, the last time he remembered seeing him was on TV, bruised and injured. A scrawny, dorky little thing. This was Castiel? No way. No freaking way something like that could turn into something like this. "Hi... Cas." Dean said simply, dumbstruck and at a loss for words.

Castiel gave him a friendly smile though Dean could tell there was absolutely no love there, just a social thing to be nice in public. "Hi." Cas said curtly though he still sounded sweet, and yet there was a rumble in his voice.

"You sound different." Was all Dean managed to say, still at a loss for words. He felt pretty stupid after it came out.

Cas raised an eyebrow but nodded, "Yeah, that's what puberty does, big boy." He pat Dean on the shoulder as he passed by again, a bag of chips in his hand as well as a fashion magazine tucked under his arm. "See you later, Sam." He called back over his shoulder and by the gods what an ass; Dean just couldn't stop staring at it.

"Bye, Cas! Glad you came back." Sam smiled and glanced up at Dean's completely awestruck expression, "Maybe he'd like to know you like guys now?" He asked.

Dean shook his head, "No, I doubt he wants to know anything about me." He grabbed a few things and followed Cas to the counter, listening to the gravelly tone he'd picked up and staring at the obvious and perfect stubble grown on the most adorable cheeks. He remembered when Castiel's face was sunken with wide cheekbones, not enough meat on him to fill them out. He filled them out now, though. Damn, did he ever. And those full lips, the ones he remembered looked a little strange on such a tiny person, were downright kissable now. He wondered how many guy's Castiel had been with by now, how many other people had treated him right where so many had treated him wrong.

The timing was perfect, they ended up walking to their cars at the same time and Dean got at least one more good look at Castiel's backside before going home. "Dean," Cas sounded as sweet as honey as he leaned on the roof of his car, a smile on his lips as he slowly lifted the sunglasses back over his eyes, "Next time just take a picture, it'd be more subtle than staring."

Dean stood like a deer caught in the headlights and couldn't even stutter a response.

Castiel gave a little wave of his fingers and hopped into his car, "Later, baby." He called before starting his car and likewise resuming the music. Dean recognized it to be one of those songs from the Trespassing album by Adam Lambert, Sam had gotten into the music at one point.

"Pop that lock, not bad." Sam nodded his head to the song as Castiel drove away, "Suits him."

Dean ran a hand down his face, "I can't believe it..."

"No kidding," Sam laughed, "He looks good."

"Good!" Dean exclaimed, "He's better than good, he's gorgeous!" Dean looked himself over and made a mental note to thank his dad for forcing him to work labour jobs for so long. He was built really well and always had a handsome face but none of that mattered with Castiel, Cas would see him for what he had been in grade 9.

"It's nice to know that a few years can make that much of a difference." Sam poked Dean's shoulder playfully, "I'm gonna be taller than you."

Dean scoffed, "As much as people can change in a few years I still don't think that'll ever happen, short stuff."

Sam stuck his tongue out but buckled up. "Well let's go home, should be an interesting day tomorrow."

"Yeah..." Dean muttered, driving back to their house though his mind continually drifted back to those blue eyes and that beautiful smile. Even if it had been sarcastic and angry with him, that had still been the only smile he'd ever seen that made him stop and stare.

Later that evening he dropped back on the couch with Jet, his long standing friend since middle school. Some horror movie had been put in though Dean still couldn't get Castiel out of his mind, so he decided to bring it up. "Novak's are back." He said as the opening sequences of the movie started.

"You don't say?" Jet smirked, "Wonder if Cas is coming back to school."

"Probably," Dean tried to sound casual about it though he was really, really hoping that Cas did go back to school with them. "I saw Cas at the convenience store earlier today, actually." He glanced at his friend's face and got the 'go on' vibe, "...He's hot." Was all Dean could say after the long stare they exchanged.

"What kind of hot?" Jet raised an eyebrow, "Like your kind of hot or my kind?"

"Dude, since you're straight you should just assume my kind if I'm the one who said it." Dean smacked Jet's shoulder, "Dumb ass."

"Hey, I had to ask." Jet chuckled, "Though honestly I still can't believe your dad let you get away with it."

"Well when faced with 'accept our son's decision or say goodbye to your family' from my mom, he got over it pretty quick. Though I'm sure mom saying that only gave him the idea to try and work through it. He and I had a talk the other night about it, he said that though he still didn't want to know if I was going out with a guy or not, he accepted who I am because I haven't changed much other than that. He's working on it still, takes more than two years to wipe clean a life-time of homophobia when you're his age." Dean smiled, "But I couldn't really ever complain, I've been pretty lucky."

"Lucky is an understatement." Jet popped a few pieces of popcorn into his mouth, "So when are you going to come out at school? Never, I assume."

"I think I should." Dean shrugged, "I mean it's the last year, what the hell could they possibly do to me? I'm Dean freaking Winchester, they love me."

Jet shook his head, "Aw man. I'm really curious to see what happens with Cas at school now. Tomorrow's going to be an interesting day."

"Sam said that too." Dean nodded, and grabbed a few pieces for himself. "I wonder why they're back though..."

"No idea, you'd have to ask him." Jet turned the volume up, "Now shut up, movie's on."

Dean laughed but decidedly stopped talking, tonight was their last night before one more year of school, might as well enjoy it.

Dean walked into the school and he could already hear all the gossiping and muttering about 'who the new guy was' because apparently his name hadn't been tossed around much. Dean headed straight for Garth and Chuck, "So, new guy... Is it Cas?" He asked as if he didn't know though the look that Garth gave him said enough. Apparently Castiel's trip to the store was in preparation for something.

"Saw him yesterday, actually." Garth smiled despite not liking Dean, "I've never seen him so happy, apparently whatever happened in Europe agreed with him."

Dean nodded, "So... what happened in Europe, exactly?"

"Acceptance, for one." Chuck answered, "He was able to be himself there. That and growing out of ugly duckling stage helps a lot too. His confidence is way up. I think there was some guy-" He was cut short when Garth elbowed him in the gut.

"Regardless of what Cas did to feel better about himself, I'm all for it. And it's also none of your business what happened in Europe, Dean. In fact, I think you should stay away from him, he's doing well and I don't want you scaring him off."

"I just want to apologize to him," Dean said sincerely, finding that he'd never lost the urge to do just that. It still ate at him when he thought about it.

"Well you might get your chance." Chuck muttered.

Dean raised an eyebrow curiously and heard some louder mutterings behind him; he glanced over his shoulder and saw Castiel strolling down the hall, blue eyes scanning for his friends. Cas' face lit up when he narrowed in on Garth's still goofy face and waved excitedly, "Hey guys!" he trotted over and glanced at Dean briefly before giving Garth a hug, something Garth had always done but now it just seemed cute, to Dean. "Hello, Dean." Cas said after giving Chuck a hug and straightening up again, Dean noted that Cas was still shorter than himself.

"Hey... Cas." Dean mentally slapped himself for that, twice! He'd done that twice now.

"Still a poet, I see." Cas smiled a little and moved to his assigned locker, swiftly opening the new lock as if he'd owned it for years. Dean was pretty impressed with Castiel's hands; he had to wonder what else they were good at.

"So, queer-boy is back. Why not do me a favour and get on your knees?" One of the old bullies sneered and laughed though he was startled into shutting up for a second when Castiel slammed his locker shut.

"Oh, sweetheart." Cas strut up to him, nearly nose to nose (a position Dean was envious of), and grabbed the guy's junk firmly. He squeezed a few times and let go, wiping his hand on the stunned teen's shirt, "Sorry, I don't do small. Maybe when you grow a pair we'll talk." He pat the guy's cheek sweetly and walked away with a smile, not bothering to pause and enjoy everyone laughing at the asshole.

And even though Cas didn't wait to laugh, Garth certainly did. "Owned!" He pointed at the jerk and slapped his knee before trotting after his old friend. "Cas, you rock!"

Dean snickered, "Not big enough, apparently."

Jet walked over and threw his arm around the red faced and angry male, "Dude, you just got owned by a gay guy." He glanced at Dean with a grin before looking back at the other guy, "Guess it's time you stop being a judgemental ass-hat before I have to get a little more physical with you myself, get me?" Jet's voice dropped from joking to viciously angry, nearly hissing in the guy's ear. The bully nodded quickly and Jet smiled again, "Awesome." He pat the guy on the shoulder and walked over to Dean, "So that was Cas, huh?"

"Yeah." Dean said almost dreamily.

"Wow... Yeah you're in trouble." Jet smirked, "Good luck, man."

"Bah, you're no help." Dean laughed and walked into class, noticing that suddenly everyone wanted to sit around Castiel who, to his credit, had never abandoned his beliefs and still sat at the front of the room. Dean took his usual spot in the back, mentally kicking himself, wishing he could sit a bit closer.

"Alright, I see everyone's gotten wind that we have a returning student so I'd like you all to be kind to Castiel Novak." The teacher said as she started up the day, "And I hope you all had a great summer, what did you all do during your time off?"

"Worked," Jet spoke up first, never the one to raise a hand to be acknowledged.

"That's admirable of you Jet." She smiled at him in a strangely knowing way and he just returned it with his own, clearly a sarcastic smile that meant nothing.

"I wanna know what Cas has been up to." Someone spoke up and all eyes shifted toward Castiel who blushed and waved them off. Dean wanted to know the same though really he wanted to know what was going on in the other teen's head, why he came back to school here, why any of it really.

"No you don't," He glanced at them all and laughed a little, "Okay, maybe you do. Really?" He looked at the teacher who motioned to the front of the class.

"If you don't mind, Cas."

Castiel stood and went to the front of the room, and despite how much charisma he'd seemed to gain he did the same thing that Dean remembered every time a presentation came up, the glance down to his trembling hands that he clenched in order to calm. His gaze lingered on the floor by his feet before he looked up again and swallowed hard, knowing full well that all eyes were on him. Dean watched the way Cas worked himself up to this and had to wonder how much of this was an act, how much of this was Castiel strutting into the school as a new person and what was just him pretending.

"I don't want to bore you all so I'll keep it pretty brief," Cas said calmly after a few seconds of getting himself there. "We were living in Europe, England actually, until the end of June when I asked to take another trip." He looked at all the faces staring back at him and Dean thought he caught a glimpse of anger sparking behind those blue eyes. "My summer basically consisted of touring around different countries until we decided to come back to the US."

"Why?" Dean raised his hand when he asked and slowly lowered it again, most of the room had gone quiet and some people turned to look at him. Castiel's eyes were on him for a little bit as the teen thought about his answer carefully.

"I had requested it," Cas said finally, "It'd been a long time since I'd seen my friends and I wanted to see how things had changed around here. That, and my friend from England followed us here, he wanted to see where I grew up." His gaze had finally lifted from Dean and drifted over the others in the room, Dean was very grateful for it too because he was starting to feel a little suffocated. Castiel then bowed out to the teacher, "That's about it, floor's all yours."

She nodded, "Thank you, Castiel. I hope we get to hear more stories about your time in Europe at some point."

Cas laughed and sat down again, Dean swore he could listen to that laugh all day long. "Thanks, I'm sure it'll come up."

Jet nudged Dean, breaking him out of a strange dreamy state. "Dude, you're crushing bad."

Dean blushed and looked away, "No, just hormones..." But he smiled and couldn't help the thought of Cas, possibly with him some day, he realized that he still hadn't apologized yet. 'I've gotta tell him.' Dean decided firmly, 'He has to know I tried to apologize before he left.' With that in mind, Dean tried to work out how he'd word it in his head.

Cas could feel his limbs shaking and thought that his heart would beat right out of his chest, exploding all over the floor. He'd come back to this school to show Balthazar he could do it, to prove that he could get over the humiliation and pain that he'd been put through. And as much as he boasted, as much as he pretended he could do it, he felt every muscle in his body urging him to run, run as fast as he could and run far away. He clenched his fists again and closed his eyes. 'You're different now, you aren't that person anymore, you aren't scared of them because if they do anything you'll get them arrested, simple as that. You can do this, Castiel. You can do this.'

He kept telling himself the same thing, over and over. He can do it. He can do it. It's just a matter of will-power. It didn't matter if Dean kept staring at him, if people like that jackass in the hall made fun of him because he was stronger than that now. But then, if he was so much stronger than he used to be, why was he so scared? He was over all of it, he moved on with his life without the frightened flashbacks in a public restroom, without flinching every time someone touched his head. He was over it. He was okay.

But then, is a person really okay if they have to keep telling themselves that? Cas grabbed his pencil and started writing notes like he knew how to, decidedly not thinking about it. He'd go back home and tell Balthazar how everything went, how his first day went and they'd decide whether or not Castiel was capable of staying in this godforsaken place. The point of coming back was to help him, to help him push past that last barrier of fear he'd been feeling and then he could really say he was doing okay. But so far he wasn't sure if he could handle it. He knew it'd be tough when he walked into it, he knew that people like Dean would still be here, would still remember him.

What was with that 'hi Cas' attitude anyway? Like Dean thought he could really just say 'hi' after all of that? Like he was judging the fact that Castiel had returned in the first place. It felt like an unfriendly 'what the hell are you doing back here?' sort of greeting. Castiel curled his bottom lip into his mouth and tried to concentrate. He was done thinking about Dean Winchester, that self-preserving dick. If he would get away with it a second time Cas knew he'd break at least ten more vases on that jerk's head.