Somehow Sam and Dean managed to get themselves ready on time and arrive just as the first bell was ringing. The brothers went their separate ways. On the walk over Sam was excitedly telling his brother about a kid named Alfie.

Sam had already made a friend on his first day and Dean was happy for him but a little jealous. People just naturally took to Sam. He was an easy kid to like.

Dean felt even more like a fish out of water the second day when the kids from his home room started questioning the new kid like where was he from, where did he live and the usual mundane questions. Then things took a turn for the worse.

The class was a mixed bag of fourteen and fifteen year olds. There were plenty of Alphas and a few Omegas whose parents allowed them to go to school. The Beta girls were all middle of the road, nothing special looking to Dean.

It seemed almost everyone was either attracted to or jealous of Dean and he had barely spoken a word to any of them. He figured it was because of his unknown status. The social construct inside a mixed high school made for plenty of drama.

At the moment the Alphas had their hungry eyes on Dean hoping his sweet little ass would turn out to be an Omega treat. The Omegas were hoping Dean would turn out to be an Alpha, someone that gorgeous and strong would make the perfect boyfriend and protector. As for the girls they saw Dean as an enigma to be figured out and then won over before the boys got a hold of him.

He felt like a piece of prime meat on display. Confident he could hold his own in a fight Dean let them all look but didn't allow any touching. Dean spent his time ignoring everyone since he hadn't yet figured out the players in this new game. Watch and take mental notes, he was good at that and had plenty of practice.

….

Lunch time rolled around and Dean swiped an unattended sack lunch then headed outside to eat whatever was inside. With the type of life the Winchester brothers had they both learned not to be picky when it came to food. Dean especially could eat just about anything. Sam was a little harder to please.

He sat beneath a canopy of colors supplied by a sturdy maple tree and watched the other teens lazing around in groups talking and laughing. A little part of Dean wanted to join in but he didn't like to get attached. They moved too much. John had promised that this time the kids could finish out an entire school year in this town. Dean didn't attach much hope to that. His dad changed directions with the wind.

Dean opened up the bag and found two pieces of cold pizza wrapped up in tinfoil and a candy bar, "Score!"

He chewed slowly savoring the cold greasy goodness. Someone soon caught Dean's attention. Mr. Novak was jogging to the teachers parking lot and stopped at a ridiculous little lime green car. It looked like something the Impala would have crapped out after a bad meal. Dean chuckled to himself, "Nice frickin' car teacher man."

Castiel pulled out a brown paper lunch bag from the passenger seat then headed over to an empty bench to eat alone. The man took out a sandwich and opened the baggie, he frowned deeply then dumped it in the trash can. Next he took out a pudding cup, peeled the top back and realizing he didn't have a spoon Castiel scooped the goop out with his finger and sucked it off.

The teenager was mesmerized by the actions. Teacher dips a finger into the vanilla pudding then runs his tongue over a long finger and repeat. Dean felt his ass clench then relax and the crotch of his jeans got uncomfortably tight. It was the most erotic thing the boy had ever seen to date.

Dean felt a fist connect with his shoulder and he fell to the side. "Son of a…what the hell dude?!" He jumped to his feet and stood face to face with a very pissed off looking guy with a crew cut and a tree stump for a neck.

No Neck grabbed Dean by the front of the shirt, "That was my lunch asshole."

Dean tried to prevent a fight with a disarming smile, "Sorry, didn't know it was yours. Great pizza though."

No Neck took a swing and Dean easily ducked then shoved the guy on his back landing him on the grass. "Look I said I was sorry. No hard feelings."

No Neck roared like a demented bull and struggled to his feet but before he could do anything the kid was jerked back by the collar of his letterman's jacket. A deep rumbling voice stopped the bully in his tracks.

"Devon I suggest you unclench your fists and go back to school."

"B-but Mr. Novak he stole my lunch!"

Dean growled, "Crybaby squealer."

Castiel let go of Devon, "I'll take care of Dean, you go back inside."

Devon shot Dean a dirty look then stomped off.

"Hey thanks Mr. Novak. I can hold my own but that dude was pretty big and pissed o…"

"Save it Dean. I'm taking you to the principal's office."

"What?!"

The Alpha had no time for Dean's bullshit no matter how pretty he was. "I was going to give you a lecture until you called Devon a crybaby squealer. That told me you weren't sorry at all."

Dean was embarrassed and angry. He followed behind the teacher trying to burn holes in the man's wrinkled suit by sheer willpower and mighty heat vision but it didn't work. Then Novak made it worse by what he said next.

"You know Dean, if you need food I can arrange for you to get on a lunch ticket program. There is no shame in being hungry. No child should…"

Dean stopped dead in his tracks, "Whoa not another word, I don't need any handouts!"

Castiel stopped but didn't look back, "If that is the case why do you feel the need to steal food?"

Dean walked around and then ahead of him ending up at the principal's office door. Castiel placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, "Just answer my question and then you don't have to go inside."

Even the teacher's touch was just as Dean expected it to be, gentle but firm. He trembled from the contact then chastised himself for feeling like a little bitch. "No thanks let's get this over with."

After Dean weakly pleaded his case he ended up getting detention and had to formerly apologize to Devon.

Castiel took him to apologize to Devon and in true Dean Winchester fashion it was a backhanded apology. He offered to return the eaten pizza tomorrow morning in a baggie. The teacher had to turn away and stifle a laugh.

….

The students watched Mr. Novak slowly walk back and forth as he read a poem to the class before the bell rang.

The pearly treasures of the sea,
The lights that spatter heaven above,
More precious than these wonders are
My heart-of-hearts filled with your love.

The ocean's power, the heavenly sights
Cannot outweigh a love filled heart.
And sparkling stars or glowing pearls
Pale as love flashes, beams and darts.

So, little, youthful maiden come
Into my ample, feverish heart
For heaven and earth and sea and sky
Do melt as love has melt my heart.

The females and Omegas watched their teacher with dreamy eyes hoping the poem was just for them. Some of the Alphas ignored the teacher while others watched him with jealousy or awe.

Castiel closed the book, "That poem was by Heinrich Heine and titled, "Of Pearls and Stars".

Dean sat in the back row wondering what Mr. Novak looked like naked.

His naughty thoughts were interrupted by the bell.

….

Unfortunately detention for Dean ended up being almost like detention for Sam. The eleven year old sat on the bench in front of the high school for the hour extra Dean had to stay.

Dean was the only one in detention that day and the person stuck babysitting him was the newbie teacher Castiel.

….

Castiel ignored Dean not to be dismissive but because he figured the kid might still be embarrassed by the whole lunch incident. By the look of Dean's hand-me-down clothes and some old scars marking the teens arms and hands Castiel wondered what Dean's home life was like.

Dean kept glancing up from his homework at the blue eyed teacher to see if he was looking at him. Mr. Novak was engrossed in a stack of paperwork.

Finally Dean pushed his history book on the floor and the loud noise made Mr. Novak look up. Dean smiled sweetly, "Sorry didn't mean to disturb you."

Amused over Dean's overly sweet smile and his bid for attention Castiel took the bait, "Ok what do you want?"

Dean picked up the book and set it on the stack in front of him, "I'm bored."

"That's your fault and not my problem."

With a hint of a whine in his voice Dean asked, "Wanna talk?"

Castiel got up and went over to table his student was sitting at. The teacher dragged a chair over and sat across from him. "Alright I'll talk. Where to you live…I don't mean I want your address. A house apartment or…?"

"We live at the Pine Grove Motel on the edge of town near the gas station. By the way, I bought ice cream for me and my kid brother with that buck you gave me."

Castiel ignored the comment about the dollar. "Ah the Pine Grove…less of a motel and more of a stopping point for people with no other place to go."

Dean folded his arms and snapped, "Christ, don't sugar coat it or anything, so what, that's where we live."

Cas back pedaled, "Sorry I didn't mean to come off as judgmental. Really a house is more than four walls; it's the people that live within it that make it a home."

"Huh…you have that embroidered on a pillow somewhere?"

He again ignored the comment, "So you live with your little brother and parents?"

"Just Sam and my dad…mom died when I was four and Sammy was a baby. There was a fire."

Dean thought to himself, "A fire and so much more." How the teen wished he had someone to confide in. A person who wouldn't think he was crazy. Like John always said you can't trust regular people with these secrets. He knew his dad was right.

Taking control of the conversation Dean leaned forward and gave Mr. Novak a wicked smile, "Where do you live…let me guess, mommy's basement."

When the teacher's features tightened Dean knew he was pushing his luck. "Sorry Mr. Novak. I can be kind of an ass sometimes."

"Honestly Dean, what makes you think you can speak to a person in authority this way? Some day it will get you in a world of trouble."

Castiel straightened his accursed blue tie, "As for your rude question…no I don't live in my mother's basement. My mother is dead…cancer. After I moved back here for the teaching position I ended up back in my old room at my parent's house. I live with my dad and step-mom."

Castiel added wistfully, "I'll get my own place soon enough…and a tie."

"Wow, and I thought my life sucked."

They accidently touched feet under the table, sneaker to loafer. Neither moved for a few seconds then Cas pulled his foot away. "Go on, I see who I assume is your brother waiting on a bench like a lost puppy."

"Thanks Mr. Novak." Dean stuffed his books in his backpack and headed for the door only to pause and turn to look back at his teacher, "You know that poem you read was really nice. Romantic and…anyway I liked it."

Castiel sat there with lips slightly parted on the verge of saying something profound but the words escaped him. Then the moment was gone and so was Dean Winchester.

Castiel watched the Winchester brothers head off to their makeshift home at the Pine Grove. His heart went out to them both. He lost his own mother at twenty and even five years later it seemed to take forever replacing the loss with happy memories.

He couldn't imagine what they had gone through so far in their short lives.

….

Spencer watched as his son picked through the casserole in front of him. "Scotty worked hard on that. What seems to be the problem Cas?"

Castiel stabbed and lifted a chunk of grayish colored meat, "Is this pork or chicken?"

Scotty rolled his eyes at his step-son, "Chicken of course. What a picky poop you are Cas."

Exasperated he looked to his dad, "Can't you send him to a cooking class? I know the kid is hotter than a bottle of Tobasco sauce and he cleans a mean toilet…"

Scotty added, "And I'm a compliant mate in the bedroom always aiming to please my Spencer."

"Gross…as I was saying, send him to a cooking class."

Spencer changed the subject. "Saturday I'm having a little get together here for some people from the office. My boss is bringing his son Javier along."

Castiel shrugged, "So?"

"So Javier is eighteen and pure as the driven snow. My boss wants his son to have a smart, handsome Alpha with his shit together as an in-law. I showed him your photo, the response was favorable."

Castiel let out what sounded like an angry growl, "What were you thinking? I don't want you meddling in my personal life! Screw this; I'm going to a run."

Spencer called after his son, "I'm not a total Neanderthal. You can court him first. After all he's my boss's son."

A roar came from down the hall followed by a slamming door.

….

Sam made a point of slurping his Ramen noodles extra noisy just to bug his brother. Dean whipped a noodle at Sam smacking him on the forehead. It hung there for a moment like a wacky wall walker then fell on the tiny table.

"Jerk!"

"Bitch!"

They both broke out in giggles and then talked about their day at school. Sam started first, "Dean you gotta meet my friend Alfie. He's the nicest guy ever and smart and sorta cute."

"Jesus Sam; you're eleven what do you know about cute? Keep it in your pants Romeo."

"Sick! I don't mean like that! I'm not all hopped up on weird teenager feelings like you are." Sam added for good measure, "Gross."

Dean looked around nervously even though they were the only ones there, "Can I tell you something and you won't squeal?"

Dean got a famous Sammy eye roll.

"Yeah of course Dean."

"Today I got to talk to this guy I like. I mean we really talked and then our feet touched under the table."

Sam's eyes grew wide, "Really, is he pretty?"

"Naw…he's handsome."

Little brother gave big brother a quizzical look then let it go since he didn't really know what it all meant.

Dean's voice came softly, "I think he's pretty cool."

TBC