The day had passed, and Dean had no intention of turning up to his detention. However Missouri passed him in the hall after last class and had dragged him back to her room. She allowed him five minutes to call up his family and tell them where he was, and then she took his phone and stood him at the front.

"Miss, come on! If Castiel isn't here, shouldn't I get the benefit of the doubt too?"

"No. He will be here child, now quit your whining, stand still and listen to music or something."

"But miss…"

"No buts. Listen to music."

"Miss… you have my phone."

"Yes, and?"

"That has my music."

"Well you should have thought of that before getting a detention in the first place."

"I was only supposed to have a lunch one…"

"No. You came into class late, strike one, you tried to break my back by breaking my chair, strike two, and then you disrupted my class by arguing with the nice young Novak boy, who I still don't believe should be in detention however rules and regulations are one of those things you can't go about breaking forever, and some day you will learn this."

"But miss…"

"What did I just say?"

"No buts."

"Well then shut up whilst I finish this, as soon as Castiel appears we shall get started."

"But he's not here!"

"No buts!"

"Bu…"

"Ahh…"

"Bu…"

"Ahhh…"

"Bu…"

Missouri glared at the Winchester, piercing her stare through his head. It wasn't like Dean cared or not if he was in detention, he hated going home. He loved his brother Sammy with all his heart, and his dad, however his dad was a bit of an alcoholic. He did used to sometimes beat Sam and Dean when he was drunk, however now he was over it and had been recovering from that. He still got drunk every night though. In fact, if it weren't for a family friend named Bobby, he wouldn't have been getting better at all. Bobby would come over most days, a little while after school and tutor Sam and Dean, as he did with Castiel, and then would talk to John Winchester (their dad) and help him through it. The boys knew if their dad was ever on the edge, they had Bobby on speed dial.

His dad had begun drinking a little while after his mother had died, Dean was around eight at the time and Sam was at least one. The was a fire in Sam's nursery, no one ever figured out how it was set, or why, it just caught fire taking Mary (their mum) in the flames. John had smelt the burning and grabbed Sam, Dean could still remember his dad's words exactly as he passed Sammy over to him: "Take your brother outside as fast as you can - don't look back. Now, Dean!" His father hurried him out of the room and he did exactly as he was told, running outside, not looking back until he reached the front garden. Looking up to Sam's nursery window, he could see the flames spread. He couldn't help but wonder about the orange glow taking his dad too. However his dad got out, carrying a lifeless body of Mary Winchesters with him. It was scarred and burnt. They couldn't save her. That was the reason they met Bobby actually, John went all out crazy, thinking a demon had set the fire a light, he turned to Bobby for help. But even Bobby knew that this was just a freak accident, so he stayed in town, helping the Winchesters recover.

Castiel didn't want to walk into the biology room; he was too scared to even move his feet. He could see Dean standing at the front by Miss Missouri and waiting impatiently like the ignorant idiot he was. Clearly, they were waiting for him… But did he really want to do this? The answer of course was no, but he knew he had to otherwise it could account to even worse. 'Left foot, right foot… Baby steps Castiel.' He said to himself whilst walking towards the door, it was making him feel sick just thinking about the horrors that waited inside. Bobby had understood that Castiel couldn't make it, even more so after he had explained that it was Dean's fault. This gave him something he could talk to Dean about at least, they had both known Bobby for a while, and maybe this would be how they could communicate during class. Castiel had met some of Bobby's other tutees before, but he never knew that Dean was one of them.

Knocking on the door, he waited for an answer from the other side. Dean looked a little relieved to see him, indicating that maybe… just maybe, Missouri had something awful up her sleeve.

"Castiel, so nice of you to join us." Missouri gleamed, grinning deviously at the teenager. "Come, come. Inside."

"Uh, hello Dean." Castiel whispered as he met the emerald-eyed monster in front of him, the dude was clearly happy to see him. Castiel couldn't help but wonder why he was so happy.

"Dude I'm so glad you're here." Dean stated. "She seems to have something bad planned."

"Brilliant, I had to give up my afternoon session with Robert for possibly dying or being absolutely humiliated in front of a boy I have only just spoken to."

"Dude, Robert? As in Robert Singer? As in Bobby?"

"Yes. He tutors me."

"You need a tutor?"

"Well, no not necessarily. I just prefer having a private teacher for learning myths and legends."

"Why you learning about all of that crap?"

"I, unlike you, have a mind and I intend to use it in every way possible.

"Did you just call me stupid?"

"No I was just stating the fact that intellectually, I have a greater knowledge and more brain power to take in all different possibilities, such as monsters and beings from another world."

"Why don't you just say I'm stupid and you like learning about magic and all that mumbo-jumbo?"

"Because that would be ridiculous. If you have a wider vocabulary you should use it."

"Please Bondy, just speak normal American."

"What is normal American? Technically American isn't even an official language, in fact the actual language is English."

"Shut up."

"You shut up."

"Why don't the both of you shut up, come over here and take your punishment." Missouri said, growing impatient with the two's arguing. She thought that they sounded like an old married couple; with all of the bickering… she thought they should've learnt their lesson by the fact they were in detention now because of it, but no.

"So, now boys the first thing I would like you to do is to take one of these." She said, handing them two scrapers.

"Cool! What do these do?" Asked Dean, he clearly had never seen one before.

"They scrape. Well, technically you'll be doing the scraping. Gum. Off the bottom of the desks now scat."

Looking under the desks, Dean regretted ever touching bubble gum. The tables were chop-a-block of gum, stuck underneath on the surface of the wooden tables.

"Oh come on miss? Surely you can't make us do this?"

"Technically Dean, there is nothing that says she can't make us do this. So yes, this is allowed. A cruel and very unusual punishment, but allowed." Castiel Answered to Dean, whispering as he stuck his own head underneath the tables.

"Damn it, Cas! Do you have to ruin my mood?"

Castiel stared at Dean, making Dean aware of what he had just said.

"Dude I am seriously sorry, it's just Cas is so much easier than Castiel or Bondy."

"I'd prefer it if you didn't call me anything."

"Well, how the hell am I supposed to talk to you?"

"Your not."

"Oh come on Cas."

Missouri looked at Dean; she didn't understand how hard it was for the boy to acknowledge what Castiel was saying to him. One, he had made it perfectly clear he didn't want to be called Cas, in the lesson and a couple of seconds ago. Two, he didn't want to even talk to Dean, so why was he so insistent that they talk? They weren't going to be friends; Castiel was a low-life, a geek, probably getting highly paid in the future and Dean was a jock, popular, probably going to crash and burn in a few years. Yes, Missouri had only been in the school for a day, but she could tell just by looking at them that they were completely different.

"What is your problem Mr. Winchester?" She asked, saving Castiel from having to talk any longer.

"Nothing miss."

"Sure doesn't seem like it."

"So aren't I allowed to talk to him in detention now?"

"On the contrary Dean, I would love for you to talk. However as you can see, Mr. Novak does not want to be disturbed by you."

"If I may interject miss." Castiel said, staring up at the sea of bubblegum. "I never said he couldn't talk to me, only that he wasn't supposed to me."

"Well then, what is the problem Mr. Novak?" She grew confused as Castiel defended Dean. Just a second ago, he didn't even want to talk to Dean, now he was sticking up for the guy? Maybe they were both just on the same wacky level. At least it was something they had in common.

"Nothing Miss. Missouri, just that I refuse him the right to call me by my nickname, Cas. It is reserved for the closest people to me."

"Oh come on Cas, it's so much easier!" Dean protested, yet again ignoring the rule.

Missouri glared at the boy, staring she said: "Mr. Winchester, you did it yet again."

A couple of minutes later, Castiel had finished the first desk and had begun on the second. The room had been silent since the last talk, and Castiel began to miss talking. Although he couldn't exactly say anything, what was he supposed to say? Something geeky so that he could be poked fun at? His mouth began to itch, he needed to speak. Hoping that Dean would say something soon, he kept it firmly closed. No such luck.

The boy was scared that this would be how he spent the rest of his detention, stuck in silence without his friends, only a mad biology teacher and a jock to keep him company. Glancing around the room for a second, he could see that both Missouri and Dean were hard at work. Each doing their own little thing, Dean scraping underneath the very same desk he was two minutes ago, his hips swaying side to side. Castiel couldn't help but stare at Dean's hips move to the beat of the metallica song he was humming.

"Can you sing?" Castiel blurted out, unaware that Dean had stage fright.

"N… No. I was just humming man, come on."

"Go on, sing a little."

"No, I don't like to."

"Come on, it can't be that embarrassing."

"Well it could. There's you and Miss in the room."

Missouri gave a wave to Castiel, engrossed in her computer.

"Dean, I'm guaranteeing I am a worse singer than you. So why can't you?"

"I don't like to… It's a stupid fear really."

"Winchester, one day I will make you sing."

"I doubt that highly Cas, We don't exactly know each other that well."

"Mark my words, I will make you sing." Castiel answered, forgetting all about the fact Dean said Cas. In fact, it was kind of growing on him. The boy had said it enough times; Castiel just didn't have the energy to keep arguing about it.

"How could you, a small thing, make me, a sports champ, sing?"

"Do not under-estimate me Winchester. I do know many things you don't."

"And there you go again, you know I am a lot smarter than I seem."

"And I, a lot stronger than I seem."

"You wanna bet?"

"Don't test me."

"Bite me, Bondy."

"So we're back to Bondy now."

"You're so annoying!"

Dean climbed out from underneath the desk to chase Castiel around the room, trying to grab the boy. However Castiel was quick, almost flying as he glided in and out of the chairs.

"I'm gonna kill you Cas!"

"Not if you can't catch me!"

Castiel wasn't scared of Dean; he knew they were only messing about. Even Dean had a smile on his face running around the room like five-year olds. Somehow, the Winchester had brought out something in Castiel that nobody had ever seen before, Castiel was carefree.

"Come on you two, settle down now. Get back to scraping the desks." Missouri laughed, she was in good spirits too, seeing that the two were getting on better than they had been. Maybe this was a good thing; they could get along during her next few lessons. Although, even she knew that that wouldn't last for long, they were from two different worlds, put together by fate, assisted by herself, they couldn't be friends, they couldn't be enemies though.

"I really do want to hear you sing though." Castiel muttered as he returned to his desk.

As time went by, the Winchester boy was finishing off more and more desks. Yes, he absolutely thought that it was a cruel and unusual punishment, however it was kind of fun having Castiel there. Although he'd never say it aloud, he really liked Cas and all of his nerdy quirks like the way he talked, or the way he always wore his long coat, no matter what. Underneath the long coat was a plain white t-shirt and trousers, but it was the trench coat that made Dean think Castiel was awesome. The fact he had refused to take it off, no matter what. It made Dean wonder why on earth was a long coat so important to him.

During the next fifteen minutes, Missouri was in and out of the room, giving Dean and Castiel a chance to talk properly. They learned that they both wanted to drive a '67 Chevrolet Impala, they both had extra tutee sessions with Bobby, and they both had family that drove them to the point of insanity. Yes, maybe it wasn't the best thing that they were getting on with the popularity difference and all, but they were having so much fun just talking that it didn't seem to matter.

Missouri came back into the room for the last time and gave them the sign of relief…

"Okay boys, you may stop now."

"But miss, it's only been at least 20-25 minutes. Don't we have an hour of detention?"

"Hush Mr. Novak, as I was saying to Dean earlier… No buts."

Dean couldn't help but mimic the last part, he had heard enough in the past half an hour.

"I'm stopping you because I am now switching your punishment. There was a play on this afternoon, ended with a big snowball fight. Now the fake snow has covered the auditorium in slime. Go clean it up."

Castiel couldn't help but smile inside, he knew that if she had just sent them on their own, there was no way that they were going to go to the auditorium.

"On second thought, maybe I'll walk you there."

Dean shared a glance with Castiel, as if they had been thinking the exact same thing before, and now were probably thinking the same ridiculous idea. What if Missouri could read their minds? They knew it would be preposterous, but what if? It would explain a lot actually.

Whilst walking over the Auditorium, Castiel and Dean hung a few steps behind Missouri so they could continue their talk.

"Come on Cas! If you want me to sing, surely I'm gonna wanna hear you sing."

"That is an absolutely ridiculous idea Dean, I do not sing nor do I ever intend to."

"So, you expect me to sing. Yet, you won't yourself."

"That is correct."

"And that is selfish."

"I admit it may seem a little unfair, however I do believe you would have a great voice by the metallica song you were humming."

"What can I say man? It calms me down. How do you know who metallica is anyway?"

"Dean I'm a nerd, I haven't exactly been living under a rock these past few years."

"Well it seems you have, especially your fashion sense. A trench coat? Seriously?"

"I like it."

"Well, don't get me wrong it suits you. But, it wouldn't hurt if, you know, tried something a little more this century."

"What? Like you? Leather jacket over plaid, jeans and boots. You look like you are straight from the 80's."

"At least my look's a classic, vintage as the kids say."

"You are a child Dean Winchester."

"And you are annoying Castiel Novak."

"How does that have any relevance to our conversation?"

"It doesn't… it's just a true fact. I thought I'd add it in."

"Well it was highly illogical."

"Oh, you know what Cas? Bite me."

"Why in the world would I ever do that?"

"It's a phrase Cas, something that people just say… You're not actually supposed to bite them when they say that. And you say you haven't been living under a rock?"

"Quite."

"Oh wow."

"Oh, and just to be clear… this was my father's trench coat."

"Wait. I thought it was your mum who was, you know."

"It is. My father however is barely able to handle my siblings, what's the harm in borrowing a coat he would never use again because he cannot leave the house without them breaking something?"

"Castiel you sneaky bastard, I didn't know you could steal!"

"Borrowed."

"Whatever you want to call it."

"Do not test me."

"Oh we've been through this before, don't test me or I'll smite you, yeah. What does smite even mean? Is it supposed to be like gank?"

"Gank?"

"Hose… Torch… Kill..."

"Yes, something along the lines of kill. However I do not understand what a torch and a garden-hose have to do with killing somebody."

"Another load of phrases Castiel…"

The hall was covered in a white frosting, although it was not as sweet as the sugar-coating on cakes. Dean thought it would be a laugh to try some, only a dab on the tongue so no serious harm could come to him, but as fate would have it the substance was very bitter making him spit it out and wipe his tongue off.

Both boys were given mops and were expected to clean the room until it was finished; no matter what time it was when done. This seemed a little harsh, however they didn't seem to mind, too busy in their own little world to care. Castiel found the connector to the speakers and asked Missouri if he could use a spare laptop, he hooked them up and began playing classic hits from the eighties, mostly mullet rock, and Dean loved every second. For once he didn't have to hide behind the popular, 'I don't give a damn' wall. For once he didn't have to Lisa's constant whining. For once he didn't have to talk about sports, which in reality really didn't interest him, only dodge ball. He could be himself with Castiel.

They could slip and slide on the sludge because it wasn't sticky, just sort of let them glide, almost as if they were ice-skating on a frozen-over river. This made the job a lot more fun to do. Twirling whilst listening to the greatest hits of Black Sabbath, it just took the job from boring and hard, to fun and eventful. They had only been doing it for five minutes when they realised they only had half a room done.

" Oh I'm a cowboy!" Dean sung along, with Castiel joining in at every minute he could. " On a steel horse I ride!"

" And I'm wanted!"

" WANTEEEEDDDD"

" Dead or alive!" The sung in unison, Dean may not have been trying to sing, but dang did it sound amazing. Their voices together sounded like a choir of angels. Dean hadn't even realised that the boy whom he'd only known for a day had actually got him to sing along.

Castiel had a deep tone, hitting the low notes extremely well, whilst Dean reached for the higher notes when it came to it and they had fun. That was the most important part really, that they had fun. Dean didn't usually get time to rest and let himself go, and neither did Castiel so this gave them the chance to be free.

As the song came to a close Dean turned to Castiel, watching him fly across the muck.

"Man Cas, how did you do it?"

"The wiring of the music? Quite easily. You just connect the speakers to the laptop and…"

"Not that. How did you make me sing, when I am so against it?"

"I did, didn't I? I told you I could and I proved this to you. Now do you believe I am a miracle worker Dean Winchester?"

"No. I still think you're a dork with stupid fashion sense."

"Likewise."

"Shut up man."

Dean skated after Castiel, trying to catch the boy. As they went round in circles, they laughed. Laughing wasn't common for either of them, either. In fact, they now knew they had a lot more in common than first thought. As Dean slowed down, Castiel turned around to face him. This gave Dean the element of surprise, as he waited for Castiel to walk towards him… Then…

Pounce!

Dean landed on top of Castiel, both of them hitting the ground. Castiel didn't bump his head, however he may have bruised his back a little, as the grinning creature on top of him stared into his eyes.

"Gotcha!"

"No kidding Winchester."

"Just call me Dean for heaven's sake."

And with that, Dean leant forward a little more, until their lips were touching.