The Muse

Chapter 10

Dean Winchester looked at Charlie as she glared daggers into him.

"So you still haven't talked to him," She nagged. Her eyes narrowed into slits, "Why not, Dean Winchester?"

He shook his head and shrugged. "I don't know, Charlie, maybe because I'm scared, maybe because I'm a wimp, or maybe it's because he rejected me."

She sighed, "Dean, the way you have been talking about this guy clearly there is something going on between you two. I mean I'm no love guru but if someone was to call and text me that much I would hear the person out."

"That's the thing, Charlie, it's been days. He's not going to want to hear what I have to say now." He slammed his hands on the table in frustration and everyone in class looked at him. Ignoring them he continued to talk to Charlie, "I mean, what exactly am I supposed to say? Cas your hot I want to make out with you and I can't control my hormones around you."

"Maybe," She said with a shrug. "I told you to take it slow."

He let out a groan and ran his hands through his hair, "I know, and I didn't I messed up and,"

"It's not too late to fix it, Dean, just talk to the guy okay."

"Yeah," He sounded defeated, "I guess I can but…" He shrugged. "I'll do it after work. Bobby needs me at the shop since dad is off."

She sighed, "Dean," She started.

"No, I'll do it on my lunch break. It'll get done don't worry."

They stopped talking once the teacher came into the classroom. Dean had to admit he had been distracted in class. His notes where terrible, he could barely focus his mind kept drifting back to Castiel. He missed Castiel's company. He was a good friend, he was interesting and different. Castiel drew Dean in like a moth to a flame. He had wanted to know him. Get to know him in every single sense. He wanted to touch him, kiss him, caress him, and screw him until his voice grew hoarse from screaming his name. Dean had suspected he had overreacted. Charlie had suggested that perhaps he caught Castiel off guard and he was starting to think that was correct but, that scared look on his face. If Cas felt the way Dean did then why did he look so scared? He knew Castiel didn't have many friends and he assumed that the man had never had a partner before. Was that the problem? Or did he have some sort of religious hang-ups that Dean didn't know about?

Dean was startled back into his senses when he heard the slamming of books being closed. He looked up from his book and saw that people were getting up. He frowned.

"Weren't you paying attention? The professor dismissed us early so we can study for the test." Charlie said

"Oh, okay," Dean got up from his chair. "Guess I'm off to work."

"Dean, you need to,"

"I'll do it when I'm ready okay, Charlie."

Dean left the classroom in a hurry. He wanted to get away from Charlie. He knew deep down she was right. He should talk to Cas but he just couldn't. He made it to his car and got in. He sent a text to Bobby and told him he was on his way. He stared at the other messages that were left by Cas the days before.

Dean I'm sorry

Please let me explain

Sorry

He never heard from him again after that. He opened the messager and his fingers hovered over the keyboard but he backed out and put it away. No, at this point he should talk to him in person. Maybe he should have a meal with him or something.

Dean drove to Bobby's garage. His mind focused on the AC/DC blaring from the radio as he pulled up. Not only had his school work suffered from the Castiel incident so did his work. The last time he worked he made so many mistakes. He forgot to put a pan under a car when he drained the oil, got the wrong tools, and almost didn't tighten down a tire well enough. His mistakes were starting to get dangerous so his father sent him home. He didn't blame John he would have sent himself home if he was in his father's shoes. They had a business to run and Dean making rookie mistakes were not going to help especially if something horrible happened and he got a someone hurt or damaged their car.

He got out of his car and was greeted by Bobby who was sitting in the lawn chair outside of the garage.

"Hey Dean," He waved. "Hope you brought you're a game today."

"I'm going to try, Bobby."

He gave him a nod. "So," He reached into the cooler and got himself a soda and handed one to Dean. "Since your daddy ain't around are we going to talk about what happened?"

Dean sighed as he opened the soda. "I mean, I'd,"

"Son, it's clear something happened. John told me he's worried about you. You've been distant and distracted since the last time you modeled for that boy so I figure it's got something to do with him."

Dean sat in the lawn chair beside Bobby. "Yeah, well, when I was modeling I was… Cas was just so damn sexy. I kept thinking about kissing him and you know that type of stuff. He got close to me when he went to adjust my face and I thought why the hell not and my body reacted faster than my brain. I grabbed him and was going to kiss him but, he freaked out. He jumped away from me like I was made of fire and… well being rejected sucks you know. I got upset told him we clearly want different things and took off. He's tried to call me a bunch and text me but I didn't have the courage to answer him."

"Dean, if you're that upset you should at least talk to the man. How else you going to solve anything?"

He shrugged. "I'm scared, Bobby, what if he tells me that he actually doesn't like me and then what? I'll be heartbroken."

"Dean, he isn't the only person in the world. If it doesn't work then you just move on."

He gave a nod. "I guess, but, I really like this guy I mean, he's so interesting and,"

"Dean, stop gushing over your man crush."

A car pulled in and Dean decided to get to work. Dean's work day went on uneventful him and Bobby were both working hard as many people were getting regular maintenance done today. Dean did his best to focus and he did a good job on it. Time ticked by and Dean wrapped up the last car he was working on. Their day was almost at an end, his cell phone felt heavy in his pocket as he was deciding to call Cas or not. He looked up to see a blue Camry pull onto the lot. It looked a lot like Castiel's car but Camrys were pretty common so there was a chance it was just some local.

The driver's side door opened and stepped out was a man with unruly black hair. He looked at him and those blue captured him. It was Castiel.

"Cas?" Dean breathed. His heart pounded in his chest.

"Hello Dean," Castiel said. He shut the door to his car. He looked at Dean than looked away. He rubbed the back of his head remaining silent leaving the ball in Dean's court.

Dean had a million and one thoughts running through his head; he could grab Cas and kiss him senseless, he could punch him for suddenly showing up, or he could very well talk. He opened his mouth and his response came out, "Hello Dean? That's what you have to say after what happened?"

"I," He looked down at his shoes and sighed. "Please, Dean, don't make this any harder than it needs to be."

"I'm the one making this hard? You're the one who jumped away like I tried to bite you!" He snapped. Dean had worked really hard at controlling his anger. He was not doing very well today, however.

Castiel frowned. "Well, you are the one who ignored my messages." He stuck his hands in his pockets, "Listen, Dean, I… I really had planned out what I was going to say. Then you, well you didn't react like I expected."

"Well, I'm sorry I didn't follow your script." He snapped

He rolled his eyes, "Clearly I have made a mistake. I thought we could talk about this like adults." He grabbed the door handle. "But, you don't seem ready to talk." He opened the door.

"Wait! No, don't go please!" Dean begged. He hated to hear himself beg. It made him recall all those times he begged Lisa not to leave him. "Please, no don't go. I'm sorry I'll do better." He bit his lip and frowned. "Look," He pointed to the lawn chairs. "Let's just talk." He got out a soda out of the cooler and offered it to Castiel who took it.

They sat down together; Bobby remained in the office to give them privacy. "I'm sorry." Dean started.

"No, I'm sorry I…" Castiel sighed. "I was so focused on work I didn't notice what you were doing and when you grabbed me, I," He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed, "Didn't know what to do."

He frowned. "Haven't you ever been kissed before?" He asked

He shook his head, "No, Dean, I've never been kissed." His face reddened

Dean reached out to him and hesitated. Maybe this was the problem? "Cas, is it okay if I touch you?"

He blushed and gave a nod.

Dean took his hand and squeezed it. "I can't believe you've never been kissed."

"There's a lot you don't know about me. I, I'm not ready to tell you everything yet but… Listen, Dean, I like you a lot."

Dean felt his face burn hot. "You like me?"

He nodded and squeezed his hand. He looked him in the eye and Dean thought his heart stopped. "I didn't act the way I did because I didn't want to, I acted that way because… well…"

"You don't like to be touched?" Dean suggested. He studied Castiel's face as he gave a nod.

"Well, not just that it's… I don't mind I just don't like being touched suddenly."

"So, you want me to ask you first?" He remembered when he hugged him in the car. Castiel was a little stiff and when he laid his hand on his knee he jumped, had Cas been physically abused?

"Yes, but," He blushed, "Can we, well, if we date can we take it slow? I want to be sure… you know before we… physically,"

Dean gave a nod. "Is holding hands and hugging okay?"

"Yeah, I'd like that. Just, you know give me time to warm up to the idea of kissing okay?"

"I can respect that. Sorry, I tried to make a move on you. I wasn't thinking."

"It's okay. I'm just glad we talked about it." Castiel got up from his chair. "I have to head home though; I got projects to finish for class and papers to write."

Dean took his hand again and stood up. "Ummm, I have a dumb question," He rubbed the back of his head and chuckled, "Uh, Cas, are we dating now?"

He looked at him and blinked, "I, I'm unsure. I've never 'dated' anyone so are we dating?"

This was going to be harder than he thought. Seriously how was the guy this clueless at times? He laughed, "Do you want to date me, Cas?"

Castiel looked thoughtful then he focused his blue eyes on his green ones. "Yes, I believe so Dean. I missed your company so I would like to try dating." He blushed, "If you want to that is…"

He smiled, "Yeah, Cas, I would. And so you know usually when someone tries to kiss someone else they tend to like them."

He nodded, "I had my suspicions. I'm a pretty likable guy." He winked, "But I do have to go, I'll see you tomorrow? Is that okay?"

"Yeah, Cas, I'd like that. Maybe we can have dinner?"

"Sounds good, Dean, see you tomorrow." And with that, Castiel left.

Dean sunk back into the lawn chair. His mind was spinning. He pinched his arm nope he wasn't dreaming. He heard a sound behind him as Bobby walked back outside.

"How did it go?" Bobby asked

"I think me and him are dating." He said with a laugh, "Yeah we are dating now."

Bobby sat beside him. "So, how are you going to break it to your folks?"

He shook his head. "No, not yet, I'll see how this goes first. No sense in shaking up the status quo then we break up." He shrugged

Bobby gave a smile and patted Dean on the shoulder, "I feel like this thing between you two is going to last a long, long time. Man only gets a stupid look like that on his face when he's in love."

"I wouldn't call it love yet." Dean said.

The day at the garage ended and they headed home. Dean's mind was still racing on his way back to his place. He was dating Cas. It was official. He finally did it, he asked Cas out. Well kind of. He smiled to himself he was looking forward to seeing where their relationship would go. He wondered what awaited them next. Happiness flowed from his heart happiness he hadn't felt in years.