After class, Castiel hurried out, silently hoping the boy who'd been looking at him would follow. He mentally cursed himself- why'd he have to be so shy? Why couldn't he be more like that boy, openly showing his emotions, hell, openly talking to people. He sighed, his pace slowing as he navigated the crowded halls.
"Wait up!" a voice called behind him. He slowed even more, recognizing the sexy, deep voice of the boy. He allowed a smile to grace his lips before the boy caught up.
"Do you need something?" Dammit! His 'people skills' were a little rusty. Okay, screw rusty. Someone had taken them and thrown them deep into the ocean, never to be found again. They were virtually non-exsistent. The boy chuckled.
"Don't want me to look at you anymore?" the boy asked. Castiel felt his cheeks heat and he ducked his head, clutching his books to his chest and shoving his glasses up his nose with a finger. "Hey, m'just kidding," the boy said, smiling warmly at him, patting his back. Castiel would be lying if he said he didn't lean into the touch, just a bit.
"So," the boy said. "My names Dean." The boy- Dean- smiled widely at him. Cas smiled a small smile back.
"Well, I guess you already know who I am," he mumbled. Dean sighed.
"You're definitely gonna have to start talkin' louder, if were gonna be hangin' out," Dean said. Cas looked over so fast he was dizzy.
"Who say's were going to 'hang out'?" he asked. Dean looked around, then raised a brow.
"Doesn't seem like anyone else has been talkin' to you. Dunno why. You're kinda cute," he said with a smile. Castiel really didn't want to be hooked this easy, but damn it was hard, especially with those big muddy green eyes and soft lips that Castiel could think of one hundred ways to kiss. He cleared his throat and looked away from Dean's mouth, instead looking back at the ground.
"I don't need to hang out with anyone," he said, just as quietly as before. Dean frowned at him, examining him for a minute. God, he was so glad his father didn't know he still liked guys. If Castiel thought it was bad before, if his father figured out, it would be a helluva lot worse. Castiel sighed and shook his head, looking down. Dean suddenly stopped, and Castiel stumbled to a stop next to him, eyes wide as he looked at the other boy. His chin was suddenly in strong fingers, his head being turned to the side where a nasty bruise was forming over his left cheekbone.
"Who did this to you?" Dean demanded. Castiel shrank away from the harsh tone and Dean yanked his hand back like he'd been burned, and then asked again. "Who. Did. This?" Castiel was shocked. Why was Dean, a boy he'd met no more than an hour ago, being so...protective?
"S'nothing," he protested. But Dean's stare was unrelenting, leaving no choice but for him to answer.
"Dex," he mumbled. Dean suddenly looked furious. Castiel watched as the boy's face went from beautiful and pissed in 0.05 seconds.
"Look at me," Dean said when Castiel dropped his eyes to the floor again. He complied, and was more than a little surprised to see Dean's face much softer than before, his eyes sad. "Don't let those guy's do this to you, okay, Castiel? You're better than them. Don't let them hurt you." His voice was just as soft as the mask he had up on his face. Castiel nodded. Dean smiled, reached out and squeezed his shoulder, and then turned and bolted down the hall. Castiel watched him go, silently curious but not asking. Even though he was well out of range, Castiel murmured,
"Thank you, Dean."