Boisterous laughter echoed throughout Harvelle's Roadhouse. A group of friends, so close they were practically family, were gathered around the town's cutest couple, Dean and Cas.
"So, wait, he just walked right into you? And you both fell on your asses and your stuff went flying?" Jo is saying, snorting into a mug of beer. "That's the kind of shit you see in romantic comedies, not real life!"
"I believe the funniest part was that Dean was going to tell me all the ways my mother could be fucked until he saw my face." Castiel replied.
Dean shot him a playfully sour look.
"What can I say, I have a thing for blue eyes." Dean leaned in and kissed Cas.
The group 'awwed', and when the couple parted, Cas's face was the color of the cherry atop his Shirley Temple.
"You're so cute when you blush," Dean tells him, and the color deepens to a scarlet.
"Blushing bride aside, who wants to play some pool?!" a posh British voice crowed, and Dean rolled his eyes.
Crowley was, in five words or less, king of Lawrence, and not in the municipal or governmental way.
He ran the mob out of his seedy establishment just on the edge of the town's underbelly. The full name of the pub was Hell's Gate, but it was better known as Hell. So, Crowley was the King of Hell. (no pun intended)
"No illegal activity in my bar!" Ellen called, though it was to no avail.
"You know you ain't gonna stop 'em." Bobby rolled up next to Ellen and she took his hand.
"At least when the cops come to shut me down I can say I tried." Ellen said with a sigh, looking lovingly down at her wheelchair-bound fiancé.
Bobby had promised to be standing at their wedding, and Bobby Singer never broke a promise. He regularly went to physical therapy and counseling, dedicated to being better for his soon-to-be-wife.
Didn't mean he had to like it, though, and he consistently told people how much he hated it, but those that knew him best knew it was just a façade.
Dean whispered something in Cas's ear that made the latter blush so violently Ellen thought that he might pass out.
"Would you two get a room already?" She joked.
Dean grinned.
"Gladly." He took Cas's hand and they left the bar without a goodbye – or paying their tab.
They didn't make it to a room. The backseat of the Impala was never the same.
Damned overheated engine.
Dean was halfway under the Jacksons' minivan; the coolant tank had sprung a leak. However, since Mrs. Jackson was as preoccupied as a wolf at a sheep convention, she hadn't noticed until the alert had flashed on her dashboard.
Repeatedly.
She was lucky her car hadn't exploded. With her and her brats inside.
A black polished shoe kicked at the tread of Dean's shoe, and he rolled out from under the car to face Crowley, King of Hell.
"You follow me to work now, Crowley?" Dean asked, standing up and dabbing at his sweaty face with his shirt.
"I go where my money is, Squirrel," Crowley replied in his typical arrogant way. "Speaking of which…" Crowley rubbed his fingers together.
Dean groaned.
"I need more time."
"You don't have much more." Crowley said, the threat evident in his voice. "I gave you that money out of the goodness of my heart, Dean. Wouldn't want your mum to be homeless, now would you?"
Dean slammed Crowley against the side of the minivan.
"You stay the hell away from my mom, you hear me, you prick? You'll get your money."
"I'd better." Crowley shoved Dean away and dusted invisible dirt from his suit. "One more month, Winchester. Or I collect your debt myself."
Dean closed his eyes, and by the time he opened them again, the mob boss was gone.
He was about to go back to the Jacksons' minivan when a royal blue pamphlet caught his eye right by his toolbox. Going over to it against his better judgment, Dean saw it was a brochure for KU.
Dammit, Sammy.
Apply to the University of Kansas's brand new automatic engineering program!
Do you have a passion for all engine-based vehicles? Well then this major is the right one for you!
So gimmicky; but Dean kept reading.
Are you a former KU student that wishes to return to school? Simply turn in a returning form and apply for our new scholarship opportunity while you're at it!
Scholarship?
If you are accepted back to our fine institution, you will be eligible for the Centennial Scholarship, an exciting chance for all students!
Open to any major, you will receive the full cost of your tuition for four years so long as you maintain a 3.5 grade point average and are in good behavioral standing with the university. Along with that, you must be able to show experience within the major of your choice.
For more information on the Centennial Scholarship, or any other opportunity, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Dean nearly stumbled backward. A full ride? He marveled at the papers before him, almost not daring to believe it.
"Bobby, I'm taking my lunch!" He shouted back in the general direction of the office. He didn't wait for a response as he leaped onto Baby 2 and went for home.
Mary was sitting on their porch with a glass of sweet tea when Baby 2 rumbled up. She smiled when Dean pulled off his helmet and approached her. He took the brochure from his back pocket and gave it to her without a word.
"Oh, Dean. This is wonderful!" Mary said enthusiastically, setting down her glass as she examined the paperwork.
Dean sat down on the wicker bench near here, resting his elbows on his knees and forehead to his fists.
"Is it, mom? You know what happened. Why I…" he swallowed hard. "Dropped out."
"In your final semester." Mary added, meeting her son's gaze. "I'm still so sorry I couldn't-"
"Don't, mom. It wasn't your fault." Dean cut her off. Mary opened her mouth to argue, but then closed it again. "Dad spent the last of my college fund on booze."
"I could've – should've – stopped him." Mary sniffled, and Dean could see tears gleaming in her eyes. "I just…I didn't want him to hurt you. Or Sam."
"I know, mom." Dean said, and he stood up to hug his mother, accidentally knocking over the glass of sweet tea.
"Oh, crap. Sorry." He said as he knelt down to pick it up. "I'll get you another one."
Mary smiled at him through her tears and he went inside the house. When he came back out, she was smiling again, and he couldn't help but smile back, even if it didn't reflect how he felt.
"I think you know what I'm going to say." Mary began. "But as your mother, I have to say it anyway. I want you to follow your heart, Dean. Whatever that means and wherever it takes you, that's what I think you should do."
It didn't matter that he hadn't voiced the question; Mary knew her boys better than anyone else.
"Thanks, mom." Dean kissed her cheek and walked down the path toward Baby 2. He offered her a wave and she waved back.
In closing, it is my educational estimation that true love does exist. It is a once in a lifetime occurrence, and one to be treasured.
Castiel leaned back, pulled off his glasses, dangling them between two fingers, and rested his wrist against his forehead. He sighed and tried to turn his brain off. Just because your first ever relationship didn't work out doesn't mean that Dean is a) your true love or b) even interested in you at all.
Since seeing Dean the day before, his brain had combed through their entire conversation ad nauseam.
Was it unhealthy?
Absolutely.
Did he hate a part of himself for it?
Yes.
Could he stop?
Unfortunately not.
Cas stood and stretched; his tea had long gotten cold so he took it to the microwave to remedy that issue. Once it was at the right temperature, he walked over to the bay window on the side of the duplex.
He had to admit, Gabriel had done well with their living accommodations.
The whole town of Lawrence opened before him, and his eyes automatically went to the glowing Harvelle's Roadhouse sign. Gabriel was already there, claiming that he was on a winning streak and needed to keep his momentum going, and part of Cas knew that Dean was there as well.
This was ridiculous.
Castiel was 25 years old now; far too old to be pining for a former flame. Things had ended between them four years ago, his body's reaction to Dean aside.
You've been counting the days since you saw him last. A voice in his head reminded him. Face it, Castiel. You're in lo-
"No." Cas said, shaking his head. "I am not. I swore I never would."
"Swore you wouldn't what?" Castiel jumped and whirled to see Anna, who was holding even more art supplies than she had the last time she'd gone shopping.
"I.." Cas started. "Nothing. What are you working on?" he asked her.
"I had a dream, and at the risk of sounding like Stephenie Meyer when she explained her travesty of a series," Cas snickered – Anna hated the Twilight franchise with a passion, and never passed up the opportunity to mock it – "it wouldn't leave me alone. So, I decided to paint it."
"What was the dream?" Cas asked, interest piqued. His laptop glowed ominously behind Anna's head, and he did his best to ignore it.
"None of your business." Anna replied, sticking her tongue out playfully. "You'll see it when it's done like everyone else."
With that, she went up to her studio/bedroom and left Castiel to puzzle out the end of his thesis.
The sky was the color of summer.
Dean leaned his head back and squinted, trying to identify the oranges, reds, and purples he saw. He'd been at the Roadhouse for a little while, but Gabriel's bragging had gotten unbearable so he'd decided to take a walk.
Baby 2 was still parked in her usual spot behind the bar, so Dean didn't go too far, just far enough to clear his head.
A few months ago he'd been a simple mechanic with an awesome mom and annoying kid brother. Sure, he had a few skeletons in his closet, but who didn't?
Now not only was Cas back in his life, but Crowley was sniffing around where he didn't belong, and Sam kept pushing him to go back to school. He'd dropped out for a reason, dammit! When would Sam see that?
Knowing Sam and his stubborn nature, probably never.
Dean sighed in frustration. The fact that he'd left those application materials at work was just this side of irritating. He knew that his brother was coming from a good place, but he just…he couldn't do it.
He couldn't really go back to school. Not now. Not after everything. He still owed Crowley; he didn't want to owe the government too.
Full scholarship. A voice sang in his head, one that sounded eerily like Sam.
"Yeah, like that's ever going to happen." Dean scoffed, and turned back for the Roadhouse.
The Psychology office was closing for the evening, but Cas knew that his advisor, Naomi Briggs, would be there well past the traditional end of the day.
In his hand he held the single most important document of his life – other than his diploma.
He'd finished his dissertation. It had taken months of writing, years of research, but he'd finally done it.
Dr. Naomi Briggs, PhD. Head of Psychology
Notoriously tough on her advisees, Dr. Briggs was firm but well-respected. Rumored to work directly with the university's chancellor – she was in the hot seat for Associate Dean of the college once the current one retired.
And she was about to hold his future in her hands.
"Ah, Castiel." Dr. Briggs said as he walked through her open door. "What brings you here?"
"I've completed my dissertation, Dr. Briggs." He told her.
"You're the first of your class to do so. Impressive." She said, putting out her hand for the envelope. "You know it will take about six weeks for it to be reviewed, correct?"
"Yes." Cas nodded. "I hope you find it satisfactory."
He gave her the envelope, and without another word, walked out.
In his pocket, his phone vibrated. Taking it out, he rolled his eyes when he saw it was a text from Gabriel.
Hey baby bro! Anna told me u turned in ur big boy paper! How about coming down to the roadhouse for a drink? My treat!
Cas's gut reaction was to say no; he was tired and should probably go home and get some sleep.
Despite that though, he really should celebrate.
I will be there.
Pocketing his phone again, Cas climbed into his car and drove down to the bar.
A/N: And there you go! Still really appreciating the feedback on this story, it's keeping me going, truthfully. Chapter 5 will again contain Sabriel but will also have plot and such. Chapter 6 is when things are finally explained in detail, so look forward to that!
Please review/comment/leave kudos! Thank you again!
-Charmy
