This is a prompt from 'Daily AU' on Tumblr. "My friend was supposed to come to this concert with me but she's too sick and she said you really enjoy this band and wow you're cute do you want to come with me instead?" AU. Thank you guys for your review (Tari4078), favs, and follows! Love love love you guys!
Dean gave the woman most of the cash out of his wallet and she handed him two tickets.
"You're pretty lucky, kid. Not too many tickets left." Dean smiled.
"Yeah, I know." Dean walked out of the ticket office with the Louden Swain tickets, ready to surprise his friend Charlie with the tickets. He knew that she loved the band, but she didn't have the money for the tickets. Dean had just gotten paid so he decided that he'd get her tickets for her birthday, which was Saturday, the day of the concert. Dean jumped in his Impala and drove over to her house. He parked his car and walked up to her door. He knocked on the door, and Charlie answered.
"Hey, Dean. What's up?"
"Look what I got." Dean held out the tickets to redhead. She read them over, and her face lit up.
"No way! I can't believe you actually got them!" The redhead jumped into Dean's arms. Dean laughed and hugged her close.
"Of course I did! Happy birthday, Charlie."
"Okay, so Saturday we'll go to The Roadhouse around five thirty and have some drinks and dinner and then we'll go to the concert! Oh man, this is the best birthday EVER! I love you, Winchester." Charlie placed a short kiss to Dean's cheek. Dean set her down.
"I know." Dean smiled and Charlie smiled back.
"I have to go call Dorothy, she is going to freak out! I'll see you Saturday!" Charlie gave a squeal before Dean raised a hand in goodbye and left the porch. Dean walked to his car, excited that he had finally gotten to surprise Charlie.
Saturday morning came and Dean was woken up by his phone ringing. He reached over, not looking at who was calling him. Probably Sam wanting to know if Dean wanted to join him for his morning jog.
"Hello?"
"Dean? It's Charlie," A coughing fit dragged Dean out of his half-awake fog.
"Charlie? What's the matter? Are you okay?"
"No! I feel like absolute fucking shit and I can barely breathe! I really hope I'll make a recovery, but Dorothy had this a few weeks ago and she was sick for like a week. Deeeeeeeeeeean, I don't think I can go tonight." Charlie gave a sob.
"Char, I don't know who else would want to go with me."
"I've got a…" Charlie began to cough again. Once she stopped after a particularly wet sounding one, she began again. "I've got friend named Castiel. I recently got him into the band so I think he would love it. I don't want to see my ticket go to waste." Dean sighed. He really had wanted to go with Charlie.
"Well, I…if you really don't think you'll make it. Text him and see if he'd want to go. If he does, and you aren't better by then, tell him I'll meet him at The Roadhouse at 5:30."
"I'm sorry, I promise we'll see another concert sometime."
"Yeah yeah, just take care of yourself and get better, alright? We'll go out for your birthday drinks when you are."
"I'll hold you to that one, Dean-o."
"Bye, Charlie."
"Bye." Dean hung up and sighed. He really didn't want to go with somebody that he didn't know, but what choice did he have? He didn't want the tickets to go to waste either. He supposed since they had such a large turnout, hopefully they would come back next year for Charlie's birthday again.
Five-thirty came and Dean was waiting at The Roadhouse, talking to waitress, Jo.
"Hot date tonight?"
"Well it was supposed to be with Charlie, but now I'm waiting for a friend of hers named Castle or something like that?"
"Actually it's Castiel." A gruff voice behind him said. Dean spun around in his chair and locked eyes with a man with blue eyes. He was slightly shorter than Dean and had some scruff that Dean would not admit was sexy. He was wearing dark jeans that hugged his legs and his shirt was almost as blue as his eyes, with a picture of the band on it.
"Uh…hi. You're Charlie's friend?" Dean stood up and shook his hand.
"Yeah, the name is Castiel, not Castle, but I get that a lot." Castiel smiled. "You're Dean?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"Charlie told me to find the guy in the leather jacket and that is flirting with the waitress." Jo giggled.
"Oh trust me, honey, he isn't flirting with me." Jo walked back behind the bar.
"Um…have a seat." Dean gestured to the chair across the table from him. Castiel sat down and Jo walked back over.
"Sorry, hun, what can I get you?"
"I'll just have a burger and a water."
"Nah, come on, man. Don't make me the only one drinking." Castiel sent a look at Dean and then back to Jo.
"Fine, I supposed I'll have a beer."
"Great. Medium okay for the burger?" Castiel nodded and Jo walked away.
"So, Charlie didn't tell me a lot about you." Jo dropped the beer off and walked away again.
"Oh, well she works IT at the company I work at and we hit it off at a company picnic. How do you two know each other?"
"Charlie and I go way back. We met in high school."
"Oh that had to be fun. Charlie seems very…eccentric? That had to be fun seeing her come into the person she is today."
"It was. So much fun." Dean smiled and took a drink of his beer.
"May I ask you something?"
"Sure, man."
"When the waitress said that you weren't flirting with her, why did she seem to think that was funny?" Dean laughed himself.
"Jo and I have known each other for way too long to date. She's also dating one of my best friends and has been since we were twelve, at least it seems like that."
"Oh." Castiel looked slightly crestfallen, as if he'd been expecting Dean to say something else. Dean was sure he was just imagining it.
"So, tell me some more about you."
"I live in an apartment next to the park with my cat, Bumblebee, and…"
"Wait, you have a cat named Bumblebee?" Why did Dean find that adorable? He hated cats. He also didn't find it cute that a small blush came to Castiel's face.
"Yeah, he's got black stripes that kind of look like a bumblebee's and he likes to watch them in the summer by the window."
"Interesting."
"How about you? Any pets?"
"Oh no, my brother is the animal lover of our family."
"So you have a brother?" The two continued discussing things in their lives, like families, their jobs, and recent books that Castiel had read. They finally left for the concert. Dean had convinced Castiel to ride with him. It was just dumb for them to drive separately, may as well save on gas. And if Castiel was slightly closer on the bench seat, then fine.
Once at the concert, the two found their seats.
"I should probably buy Charlie a shirt or something. She sounded so disappointed when she couldn't come." Castiel tilted his head and squinted, but then nodded.
"Okay, I should probably as well. I think a t-shirt would be appropriate."
"Okay?" Dean stood up and walked towards the merchandise area with Castiel in tow.
"What are you thinking about getting?" Dean nudged Castiel while they were in line. Castiel stared intently at the merchandise when a man next to them looked at Castiel with interest.
"Hey there, blue eyes." Castiel looked at him.
"I'm sorry?"
"You here with somebody?" Castiel's eyes widened and he looked nervous. Dean couldn't explain it, but it suddenly made him angry. Castiel just came out to have a good time, why would he want some guy hitting on him? There was only one thing for Dean to do.
"Yeah, buddy," Dean grabbed Castiel's hand and then held them up. "You can move along now." The man shot a glare at Dean, but took a step forward in line. Dean gave Castiel a small smile.
"Sorry about that, I just figured that it would be easier than telling him no. People can be stubborn."
"No, I…thank you. I really appreciate all of that. I always am too nice in those situations."
"Do guys hit on you a lot?" Dean offered, hoping 'no' would be the answer.
"Um…well, actually, yes. Mostly when Gabriel and I go out places together."
"Oh." Was all Dean managed to get out.
"The black shirt with the words 'She Waits' on it, by the way." Castiel said once they were almost to the front of the line. Dean smiled.
"Oh really? That's one of my favorites of theirs, but I think I'm going to get the gray one that says 'I get by with a little help from my friends' and the whole band on it. I know Charlie wants one that has their tour dates on it."
"What can I get you, cuties?" The girl behind the table asked. Castiel and Dean paid and grabbed their shirts. They were almost back to their seats when Dean saw a flash of red hair.
"I think I just saw Charlie. Charlie!" The girl spun around and her eyes grew, seeing two of her friends.
"Char, what the hell?!" Dean ran towards her, with Castiel following closely.
"H…heeeeey guys, I…I'm so sorry, Dean. I just, Dorothy bought us these tickets last night and they were down so close to the stage I just...and I had no other way to tell you. I'm sorry."
"Charlie, I would've understood. This is your favorite band. Where are your seats?" Dorothy held out the tickets. They were three rows from the stage. Dean let out a slow whistle. "Damn, I would've blown me off too. We'll see you after the show. Meet at the Roadhouse for drinks, like we were supposed to?"
"Sounds great! We'll see you guys later!" Charlie grabbed Dorothy's hand and began to walk away when Dean remembered the shirt over his shoulder.
"Wait! I bought you something." He held out the shirt to her. Guilt came across Charlie's face as she took it.
"Aw, Dean. You really didn't have to." Dean shrugged.
"Happy birthday, Red." Dean smiled when Charlie threw her arms around him and then gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"We'll see you guys later!" She waved and Castiel and Dean stood and watched her go.
"So that's why you looked at me like that when I said Charlie had wished she could come. You knew she was already here." Castiel looked down sheepishly.
"Yes. She told me that one of her friends had an extra ticket to the concert, so she had arranged for us to go on a…." Dean noticed the pink color Castiel's cheeks.
"…a date?" Dean finished. Castiel, still looking at the floor, nodded. Dean slid his index finger under Castiel's chin and gently lifted his head. "I'd be okay if this was a date, Cas." Dean smiled, earning him one in return.
"I would too."
"Well, we better get in our seats before the concert starts." Dean moved his hand down to Castiel's and took it for the second time that night, lacing their fingers together. The two men smiled at each other before entering back into the arena for the concert.
