A/N: Wow, that was a really good response! I didn't think anyone was that interested in this story, sorry to make you wait so long, I didn't abandon \it and I don't think I ever will so if I do PM me and remind me of this promise and I'll find a way to make it work Who else wanted to punch Gabriel and co in the last chapter for interrupting? Anyway, enjoy.

He really hoped him and Castiel could stay friends.

Dean drove home and found John and Mary waiting for him, John was sat in his armchair and Mary was straightening family photos on the mantelpiece.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Dean, hi, sit down," John gestured to the couch. Dean sat down shooting them both suspicious looks.

"What's going on?"

"Well, I know we've had this conversation before and you were right, you're almost 18, and you totally have the right to pick your own friends but-" Dean rolled his eyes. They had had this conversation before, John and Mary thought that Dean's friends were 'no good' and a 'bad influence'.

"Okay," Dean interrupted. "I see where you're coming from, I really do. To other people they probably look pretty bad but I've made a new friend," He said without thinking.

"Oh yeah?" John said skeptically.

"Yeah, I'm still friends with Crowley, Meg, Alastair and the others-" Mary cringed when he mentioned Alastair, she always mistrusted him "But I think if you met him you'd see my choice in friends isn't too horrible," Where the hell is this coming from?

"Oh, okay, well, bring him home after school on Monday and he can stay for lunch," John nodded encouragingly.

"Oh, is he a vegetarian? Does he have any allergies? Any specific diet?" Mary started rambling, already mentally planning what she'd cook.

"Mom," She stopped. "I don't even know if he'd be aloud, his brothers are kind of protective over him," He shrugged.

"Brothers? What about his parents?"

"I don't know, they don't talk about them," Dean shrugged again.

John and Mary exchanged a look before 'dismissing' Dean.

Sunday passed uneventfully; Dean and Castiel hadn't text each other since the almost-kiss. When Monday came round Dean found himself stood in front of his wardrobe, extremely nervous. He was so nervous he didn't notice Sam come in and stand next to the wardrobe, leaning against it and watching him with a small smirk on his lips.

"Gah!" Dean jumped when he noticed his brother. He clasped a hand over his heart and glared to Sam. "What the hell! You trying to kill me?"

"Nope, just wondered if you're almost ready… but I see you're having difficulties with what to wear… which is a first," The floppy haired boy pointed out, smirking again.

"I'm just trying to make an effort today," Dean replied casually, turning back to the row of clothes in front of him.

"Oh yeah? Any specific reason?" Sam asked, equally as casually.

"Nope, why what're you implying?"

"Oh I'm not implying anything!" Sam raised his hands in mock surrender. "Why? Is there something you'd like to tell me?"

Dean was starting to worry Sam might be on to him, he loved his brother and he'd probably end up telling him he was gay at some point but just… not right away, also, he didn't know how Sam would react. Would he be disgusted? Worried? Would he ignore him or refuse to talk to him? Sam was a very understanding, open-minded kid; the most open-minded Dean had ever met. He never had a problem with gay people, he actually helped one kid in his year, David, come out. But David wasn't Sam's brother and Sam didn't share a house with David…

"Nope, just want to look nice for a change," Dean shrugged it off, trying to discretely wipe his sweaty palms on his plaid pajama bottoms.

"So… it wouldn't have anything to do with a certain black hair, blue eyed someone… would it?" The smirk was back. Dean's heart sped up slightly and his palms got even sweatier. He quickly scanned his mind for any girl with black hair and blue eyes that Sam could be talking about instead. There was a girl called Jennifer with black hair and blue eyes that Dean was flirting with last week!

"Who? Jennifer?" Dean asked heedlessly.

Sam watched him for a second. "I have no idea who what is," He replied bluntly.

"Then who?"

"You know who,"

"No I don't,"

Sam sighed, "I'll give you more clues. In your year, kinda short about my height, kind of quiet…" Dean just carried on staring at him with a blank expression. "The new kid!"

"There are no new girls," If you're going to feign ignorance, really go for it.

"I never said new girl," Sam grinned slyly again.

"What? Cas?" Dean laughed uncomfortably. "What? You, you think I'm- what?"

Sam just smiled again and pointed to one of Dean's shirts. It was a dark green, tight-fitted one with long sleeves.

"That one makes you eyes stand out, and makes you look slim but muscled," Sam grinned and turned to leave without a word.

Dean stared after him before looking back to the shirt and back at the still-open door. He went over and closed it before pulling out the top and a pair of black jeans.

He came downstairs ten minutes later, hair styled slightly with some jell his dad used to use before he decided it was too much effort in the mornings. He slipped his sneakers on and laced them up before grabbing his leather jacket and backpack and going into the kitchen.

Mary was busying herself with random jobs here and there as usual and Sam was cramming some last minute revision in for another test he had today. Biology, Dean thought.

"Hey Mom, hey Sammy," He greeted, dumping his bag next to his chair as he sat down. Sam waved vaguely in Dean's direction, concentrating on a diagram of the human digestive system. How could he eat toast and look at that?

"Hey Dean. Oh, don't forget to ask that new friend of yours to dinner tonight," She reminded. Dean didn't miss the self-satisfied smile he got off Sam – who was just closing his book – out of the corner of his eye, but chose instead to address Mary.

"Yeah Mom, I'll remember,"

"Okay sweetie, text me when you have an answer at break or lunch or something so I can get everything ready. Oh and ask him if he has any allergies or any specific requests,"

"Will do, Mom," Dean rolled his eyes to Sam as Mary was facing away, earning a snigger off the other boy.

"And don't mock me,"

"What, how did- never mind, I know, a Mother knows," He rolled his eyes again.

"Well, actually I was going to say I saw it in the reflection of the glass cabinet,"

Dean looked up and saw the refection of Mary watching him from the glass, a small smile on her lips.

"Damnit," Dean muttered, he glanced at his watch and stood up, snatching up his bag again and slinging it over one shoulder.

"Come on Brain-Box, we need to leave or we'll be late,"

"Since when do you care if we're late," That smirk was back, Dean really wanted to wipe it off his face but that would imply there was something to smirk about.

"Since if I carry on getting lates Mrs. Dragon-Lady will have my guts for lunch," Mrs. Dragon-Lady – or Mrs. Visyak – was in charge of Reception, she was actually really nice usually, but lates really got to her.

"If you say so," Sam muttered, shoving his books into his bag.

Dean grabbed his keys on the way out and him and Sam gave Mary a quick kiss as they left.

When they got to school everything was pretty much back to the way it was before the Novaks joined only there was one extra car than usual.

Dean quickly scanned the parking lot for one of the cars he saw in the garage the other day, not sure if Michael would bring them all the time or if it was just that once as it was their first day. He spotted the dark blue Nissan GT-R, which he remembered as Castiel's, with Balthazar, Uriel and Raphael stood round the back of it. He unconsciously started walking towards them, Sam following behind as his friends weren't here yet.

"Hey," He said as he got within a few paces of them, stopping next to Balthazar. Then he saw Castiel. He was stood in between Raphael and Uriel so them, and Balthazar, must have blocked him from view.

"Hi Dean," Balthazar greeted. "Hey Sam," He smiled behind Dean at the younger boy, who smiled back.

"Hey Balthazar,"

Dean was surprised they knew each other's names; they'd only met briefly.

"Hi Cas. Uriel, Raphael," He added the other two out of politeness and nodded to them, to which they nodded back with a weak smile.

"Hey Dean," Castiel looked at the floor. Raphael and Uriel both leant in to whisper in each of his ears at the same time, supposedly saying the same thing although Dean couldn't hear what they said.

Castiel shook his head no to whatever it was they said.

Their first lesson was Biology, which Dean and Castiel had together with none of the others.

When they sat down and pulled out their exercise books Dean turned to Castiel. They hadn't exchanged a word since the hellos and Dean could sense this was going to be awkward.

"Listen, Cas, about Saturday-" Dean started but Castiel interrupted him.

"No, Dean, it's okay, lets just forget about it, okay?"

"Um, sure. I guess," Dean didn't bother covering the disappointment in his voice. Castiel gave him a strange look. Dean turned his attention to his still closed book.

"Unless," He started, causing Dean's head to shoot up again. "You, um," He cleared his throat before continuing. "You don't want to… forget about it?" He ended with a question. Dean leaned in closer and was about to reply when Alastair and Ruby cut them off.

"Yo! Dean!" Ruby yelled as they entered the classroom. As they made their way over Dean muttered Damnit! Under his breath so just Castiel could hear. Castiel smirked before opening his book and concentrating on what the teacher had written on the board for them to copy. He dug his pen out of his bag and got on with it.

Ruby sat opposite Dean while Alastair sat opposite Castiel as the desk had four seats, two on each side, facing inwards.

"How was your weekend, Dean?" Alastair asked as he got his pen out. He hadn't brought his book as usual.

"Fine, how was yours?" Dean didn't go in to any detail.

"Great, I slept with Rachel for the sixth time this month and it's only the 15th!" He announced excitedly.

"Oh good, you been tested lately?" Ruby asked, digging out a nail file and running them over her talon-like nails. "And don't act as if that's a big accomplishment that only you could achieve because the whole male population on Kansas has had her at least twice,"

Dean sniggered as Alastair shot death glares at her.

"Alright then, what did you get up to this weekend?" He challenged her. Dean leant forward; this was going to be interesting.

"I earned $500 for giving some woman a make-over," She announced proudly.

"$500, wow!" Dean whistled in appreciation. "Impressive,"

"Yep, her husband paid me… I may have thrown in something extra for him," She hinted, licking her dark red lips. Alastair and Dean laughed.

"So Dean, what did you get up to?" Ruby asked, sitting back and drawing her attention back to her nails.

"Oh nothing much," Dean sensed Castiel stop writing and guessed he was listening to his response. "Just hung out with a friend," He shrugged.

"Who?" Alastair asked, smirking as the teacher's assistant dropped a sheet of paper in front of his with a glare. Their actual teacher wasn't here yet.

"Umm," Dean contemplated whether to say or not, they clearly didn't like Castiel, judging by the way they'd completely ignored him from as soon as they'd entered the class room. But Castiel was still listening and he didn't want him to think he was embarrassed of hanging out with him. "Cas," He answered simply, opening his book and picking up his pen.

Dean saw Ruby stopped filing her nails and look up in his peripheral vision as he concentrated on the page, writing the date and title for today's lesson. He also noticed them exchange a look with each other and look at Castiel for the first time, who had resumed writing.

"Dean, text," Ruby said sternly as she took her jeweled phone out of her purse. The jewels were those stick on stone things you can get from phone accessory shops, there were light purple ones shaped in a big flower with dark purple ones round it covering the whole back. Dean sighed and dug his phone out of his pocket.

Ruby: Why the hell r u hangin wiv dat freak? X

8:21

Dean sighed again.

Dean: He's not a freak n he's fun 2 hang wiv, ud no that if u hung wiv him sum time x

8:21

Ruby: I don't wanna, he luks weird, bet hes got a tortur room or somunck lol x

8:21

Alastair had been reading the conversation over Ruby's shoulder and laughed at them, nodding in agreement when Ruby looked up at him.

Dean: no he doesn't his house is pretty cool, it's huge nd his room is normal x

8:22

Ruby: Yu'v bin in his room? WTF hes probs queer! X

8:22

Dean: I don't fink he is n even if he is so wat? X

8:22

Ruby: So he mite rape u x

8:22

Dean rolled his eyes.

Dean: Yeah coz even if he was gonna he, he cud totally take he on n win x

8:23

Ruby: watevs, just b careful. Don't be alone wiv him 2 long. Beta yet, just stay away from him all 2geva x

8:23

Dean: No, hes my frend x

8:23

Ruby: Watevs but we're not avin owt 2 do wiv him x

8:23

Alastair nodded in agreement.

Dean: Fine x

8:23

The teacher bustled in at that moment and threatened to confiscate their phones so they reluctantly slipped them back onto their pockets. The rest of the lesson passed pretty uneventfully.

At break Dean and Castiel went down to the cafeteria and went to join Balthazar. Uriel and Raphael weren't there yet as their class had been held back which wasn't too surprising given that Crowley was in that class. They eventually came over looking very tired.

"Oh, Cas, I need to ask you something," Dean took Castiel's arm and gently dragged him away while Balthazar talked to the other boys.

"What's up?" Castiel asked, gripping the strap of his shoulder bag.

"You want to come round to mine for dinner? My mom said I could ask you and I figured since I had it at yours on Friday…" He trailed off, not quite knowing where he was going with that last bit.

"Um…" Castiel looked over at Balthazar and the others before turning back and taking a deep breath, "Sure, what time?"

"Great! Is seven okay? I can come pick you up if you want too," Dean offered.

"Yeah, seven's fine, is that okay?"

"'Course it is," Dean smiled.

"Thanks," They smiled at each other for a moment before the bell went, signaling for next lesson. They weren't in the next two lessons together as it was double geography so they met up again at dinner. Dean sat with Castiel, Balthazar, Uriel, Raphael and Kim again. Castiel texted (A/N: is that a word?) Michael to ask if he could have dinner at Dean's house and Michael had said yes as long as he takes his 'stuff' with him. Dean didn't know what that meant but he was reading the conversation over Castiel's shoulder so he couldn't really ask. Dean texted his mother, telling her Castiel could stay for dinner.

He asked Castiel if he had any allergies or requests like Mary asked. He said he was allergic to Dubstep. He had no specific requests and assured Dean that whatever Mary made would be fine with him.

Dean got home and helped Mary cook for a while until she kicked him out because he was 'cramping her style'. Dean just smiled, shook his head and went upstairs. He had told Sam Castiel was staying for dinner in the car on the way home and Sam had given him another amused look.

He told him he was happy Castiel was coming round and thought he was really cool and he was always nice to Sam, which was a first for most of Dean's friends. They didn't cause trouble with Sam, they were just mostly indifferent and ignored him, not really interested in him but Castiel had really taken an interest in what Sam liked. Dean wondered when all of this had taken place and Sam told him that when they spent the night, Castiel had came down for a glass of water and Sam was the only one still awake so they started talking. It was kind of awkward at first but soon realized they had a few things in common, they both liked the same books and shared an interest in black magic and ancient mythology.

It was 6 o'clock so he still had about forty-five minutes until he needed to set off to get Castiel. He laid on his bed and tried to deduce how the night would go. He hoped they could continue their conversation from Biology before Ruby and Alastair had interrupted.

If they did what would he say? If he told Castiel the truth that he didn't want to forget what happened – or what almost happened – how would the other boy react? Would he run away, or not want to be his friend any more? Would he tell Balthazar, or Michael, or Gabriel? Either one of them would beat the crap out of him if they knew. Or even Uriel and Raphael.

Or…would he be happy? Or want to be more than friends? Would he kiss him?

Either way, tonight, Dean was going to get answers.

A/N: Next chapter Dean will be right, he will get answers, but what will they be? Review what you think xo