A week. It has been exactly a week since Sam has been called any of the following: Moose, Samsquatch, Sambo, Sammich, Gigantor, and/or Samantha. Most people would be thrilled by this aspect. Sam could not be less thrilled if he tried. Honestly, he's going slightly insane about it. Gabriel barely speaks two words to him at a time, Dean won't tell him what's going on, and as far as Sam is aware Castiel is just as clueless as him.

"Sam! Hey, you still saying over tonight?" Castiel asks, panting slightly from literally sprinting to try and catch up with Sam.

"Uh, yeah, of course. I'll have Dean bring my stuff when he comes to pick us up." Sam had honestly forgotten he was supposed to be staying at Castiel's tonight. Considering Castiel has never been to a dance, let alone any school-related function where attendance was optional, Sam offered to help him get ready before they meet up with the rest of the group. Before Sam had to meet up with Jess. For some reason, that statement settled wrongly in his gut but he shook it off. He likes Jess, she is pretty and intelligent and she-she um…

"You guys coming to the Roadhouse after homecoming? We're all gonna hang out and play some board games. Mom said if anyone drinks though they're staying over." Jo clears her throat, narrowing her eyes before pulling off her best Ellen imitation, "None of those dumbasses are dying on my watch." Sam chuckles a bit at the impersonation, once again shaking away that lingering feeling of wrong before a smirk hits his lips.

"Sure, sounds fun. Hey maybe if we get Kevin and Chuck drunk enough those two will final- ow!" Sam gasps as a small, pointy elbow jabs him in the rib.

"His Chuck senses must have been tingling," Jo laughs before quickly ducking out of the conversation and into her math class.

"Are you guys ever going to give that thing a rest?" Kevin huffs dramatically, narrowing his eyes at the remaining pair.

"Yes. When you two finally get together. Which is when exactly?"

"Long after you and Gabriel." That statement actually threw Sam off a bit as he sputtered over his next sentence. Where had that even come from?

"Me? And Gabe? Phhht, like that, would ever happen," Sam chuckles but he feels his face heat. Sure, Gabriel is attractive to some people, maybe one of those people is Sam but Gabriel is Gabriel. He is obnoxious and hyperactive and… and he's funny, sure, but lately, he's just been so damn quiet it-

"Hello? Sam? Earth to Sammy-boy, ya in there?" Kevin's voice snaps him back and he looks up, his face flushing when he realizes how his mind had wandered. "Yeah, sure, not interested in Gabriel. Of course. It's completely normal for people to run off to la-la land whenever-"

"Point made, Kevin. You're wrong though."

"Yeah, okay," Kevin laughs, splitting off to his classroom.

"If it makes you feel better Gabriel has a thing for you too." That sentence was not what Sam was expecting when he looked back at Castiel.

"W-what? Cas I don't- he doesn't- what? Did he tell you this?"

"Not exactly in those words but Sam I know Gabriel. I've lived with him my whole life. I've seen him go through boyfriends and girlfriends alike. I know how Gabriel acts when he's… interested. He's not exactly subtle, Sam." Sam pauses, unsure how to respond. That had not been what he was expecting in the slightest. "Anyways, see ya at lunch." With that said Castiel slips off down a separate hall toward his Financial Literacy class.

Sam feels flustered for the rest of the day. Not that he exactly believes Cas but it would explain at least some of Gabriel's actions. However, it still leaves the most recent ones a riddle, the way Gabriel has been ignoring him. Like Sam had done something. What had he done? He could just ask Gabriel but somehow he feels that wouldn't go over well.

"So, did we have fun today? Tell me all about it. How's the poor girl Sammy tricked into going to homecoming?"

"You're hilarious Dean," Sam deadpans as he hops into the passenger's seat.

"That's why the ladies love me."

"But you're gay?" Cas adds with slight confusion.

"And that is why I'm still single," Dean laughs at his own joke before revving out of the parking lot and turning up the radio. Hot Blooded blasts through the speakers and Sam rolls his eyes, turning the dial down half-way. "You ruin my fun, Sammy."

Ten minutes later they pull into Gabriel's driveway and the boys hop out, schoolbags in hand and Sam has his duffle that has his dress clothes in it as well as a few necessities for sleeping away from one's home. Dean peels out of the driveway, toward work where he picked up another shift considering Sammy wasn't going to be home that night. When they enter the house Gabriel is nowhere to be seen which has become the annoying new norm. Whenever Sam is involved Gabriel hides away in a separate part of the house which has slowly been taking its toll on Dean as well because wherever Gabriel goes, Dean goes, but Cas stays with Sam and more time away from Castiel is the exact opposite of what Dean wants. "Gabe! I'm home! And I brought the tree with me!" It was sweet that Castiel was trying but it just wasn't the same, Sam was missing the words from the source apparently more than he realized if Cas had begun to pick up on it.

"Kay!" Gabriel responded, short and simple, as had most of his answers been lately. Sam sighs.

._.

When Sam finishes his shower for the night he feels refreshed and clean. He throws on his pajamas and begins his descent down the stairs when he hears hushed tones speaking fervently. He pauses, listening intently.

"-feels awful Gabriel. He's convinced he did something. You need to tell him."

"I don't know what you're talking about Cassie."

"You don't- are you being serious right now? Gabriel, you've done nothing but ignore him for the past week all because he-" Cas's voice cuts off as Sam leans forward a tad, eager to hear exactly what he had done to bring on the silence of Gabriel. As he does the stair creaks and Sam curses himself internally. He sucks in a breath before continuing down the stairs, trying his best to look like he had not just been listening in on the conversation. "Hey, Sam."

"Hey, everything okay down here? I heard some angry whispers when I was coming down."

"Yeah, uh-"

"Cassie's lecturing me about my sugar intake again. I'm just telling him that if diabetes was gonna take me it would have done so by now so if you don't mind me, I'm going to go enjoy my pixie sticks in peace," Gabriel makes a show of stomping out of the room and down the hall, slamming his door behind him. When Castiel turns to face Sam he sighs.

"So how much did you hear?"

"Enough. How long have you known and why is Gabriel mad at me?"

"He's not mad he's just… Gabriel. I already told you, Sam."

"No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did. If you would just listen. I swear you two stress me out so much," Cas huffs before walking upstairs. "Will you please for the love of everything that is holy just talk to him. Pester him until he starts talking. I do not care." Cas says nothing more as he stomps up the steps, the boards creaking loudly with each heavy footstep.

Sam sighs. He would like nothing more than to have an actual conversation with Gabriel, go back to the banter that he had grown familiar with, but he wasn't the one ignoring the other here. Still, dejectedly Sam trudges over to Gabriel's door and raps his knuckles softly against the wood. "We're done talking about it Cas," Gabriel's voice is slightly muffled by the wood as he responds and Sam sucks in a breath.

"It's uh- I'm not Cas." There is a pause behind those words and time seems to stand still. No noise is heard for a moment and then there's a hesitant shuffle before the door creaks open a crack to reveal Gabriel standing there, looking timider than Sam had ever seen. "Hey, I uh- I mean I- Can we talk?" Sam says and curses himself mentally for the phrasing because never does that ever sound good in any situation and with the way Gabriel is looking at him he does not need that sentence fraying at his nerves.

"Sure, Sam. What's up?" he asks and once again Sam almost flinches at hearing his own name fall past the man's lips.

"What did I do?" Sam stops, surprised at his tone and not sure exactly what words to use to make that sentence sound less aggressive than it had. He may feel slightly more upset at this whole situation than he even let himself think.

"I'm sorry?"

"Oh, so we're playing stupid then. Great, but listen, I'm not an idiot Gabe. From the moment we met you have never called me by my actual name, but in this last week you have called me Sam and nothing else, that is when I can get two words out of you. You've been avoiding me like the plague and I don't even know what I did! I'm sorry if I took the short jokes too far or if I offended you in any other way because I swear to God that was not my intention," Sam stops again, chest heaving from the rushed sentences spoken in a tone much louder than Sam usually carried. Normally Sam is level-headed, the one who talks through situations instead of yelling, but Gabriel brings something out of him that isn't entirely sure of how he feels about yet.

It takes a moment for Sam to realize that somewhere in his ranting he had gotten closer to Gabriel, so close that his heaving breaths moved the hair on his head ever-so-slightly. Sam did not even get a moment to gauge Gabriel's reaction before he felt hands grip his shoulders and yank him down. Just when he fears that he might have pushed Gabriel too far he feels a pair of soft lips press roughly against his own. Sam groans at the pressure and Gabriel pulls back before Sam even gets the chance to respond. "I'm so sorry- I shouldn't have- oh my god," Gabriel sputters out his half-apology before slamming his door in Sam's face.

"Gabriel!" Sam huffs because now they really need to talk. Gabriel doesn't respond though and Sam sighs, heading toward the stairs. When he reaches them he looks up and sees Castiel sitting at the top.

"Well, that could have gone better."

"Tell me about it," Sam groans, walking up the stairs and into Castiel's room. "He didn't even give me a chance to respond."

"Well, what would you have said, Sam?" Castiel asks and Sam notes very quickly the smugness in his tone. He huffs but doesn't answer, leaning against the wall and running his hands through his hair. "Fine, easier question, when are you planning on coming out to Dean?"

Sam had honestly not even given that part of this whole situation a thought.