A/N: Chapter two: so soon? Yes indeedy. I have a love for Destiel bigger than my love for anything else. It's absorbing me! Taking over my life! Help!

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Have a nice day my lovelies. ~Bee~

Chapter Two: Firsts

Week's passed. Dean's fear of Castiel touching him without warning faded into a subdued anxiety. He made a regular appearance to every class, not pretending it was just for Sam anymore – he was actually enjoying school. For the first time since he was little, Dean didn't dread waking up in the morning. He still sat in the back of the class, still forgot about homework until the last minute, and it still took him a couple weeks to get out of the habit of sitting alone in his car at lunch. Castiel had, during one straining long English Lit class, pointed out that the park was public property.

"Yeah? So?" Dean muttered back, annoyed by both the droning voice of their teacher, and the slightly condescending tone in Castiel's deep octave. He pulled himself, hands curling into fists. Castiel reached across the aisle, soothing out one hand with his long fingers, not retracting when he jumped slightly.

"So, I was thinking," murmured Castiel quietly, softly running his fingers up and down Dean's hand and wrist. "Why don't you come and sit with us today?" The benefits of sitting in the back were that absolutely no one paid any attention to them. Dean was pretty sure the only way to get it was to ram his tongue down Castiel's throat. He shrugged, smiling to himself at the thought. It was so obvious that Castiel was sweet on him, but he couldn't risk jumping in blind. He needed to know him.

So Dean joined Cas, Meg, and Sam at lunch. A young, blonde freshman named Jessica Moore followed Sam around a few days later. He started a personal tradition of figuring out what everyone loved to eat and bringing it for them to have on Friday's. He watched Cas and Meg play Frisbee and smoked too many cigarette, giving too many to Meg. She was a junior, beautiful and soft tempered, easy to get along with. Dean liked Meg, feeling closer to her every day.

But the weather only stayed nice for so long. Soon, the rain came, bringing with it the promises of blistering cold. Dean, with Sammy's approval, huddled in his car with Meg and Castiel daily at lunch. He shared a cigarette with Meg, silently wishing she wasn't there. Castiel always passed when a cigarette was offered to him, a promise of 'one day' crossing his lips each time. Meg smiled some secret smile – Dean faltered. She knew him like the back of her hand while he was just beginning to learn.

Dean hurried into the school, late for algebra. He'd been hoping to catch Castiel for just a moment before class, but now his hands busied in his scarf and wool coat He realized his breath smelled like cigarettes and hoped he had gum in his locker. He hurried to find it, checking his hair in the mirror that hung there. He checked his locker, and grabbed a piece of gum from the top shelf, slamming the door shut.

"Jesus Christ, Cas!" yelped Dean in surprise. He'd been standing behind his locker door, leaning against the bay. "Don't," he pointed a finger, jabbing Castiel's nose softly, "do that." Castiel let out a small laugh, grabbing Dean's hand. "Why aren't you in class?" Dean asked confusedly, pulling his hand away from Cas'. They walked quickly down the hall to Dean's algebra classroom; it lay on the other side of the building from Dean's locker.

"You weren't in class when I checked on Meg, so I came to look for you. Actually, I was about to call you, but then I saw you standing at your locker and…" Castiel shrugged the question away. "I am but a… simple man, really." Dean laughed, looking at Castiel's smile. His eyes lingered for a moment on his lips, hesitating. Castiel leaned forward, hugging him, then sauntered across the hall to his classroom. Dean shuffled his feet for a moment, smiling to himself.

At 12:15, after Dean's agonizing double math Wednesday, Castiel met him with a smile and can of Coca-Cola. Dean rolled his eyes, taking it with a crooked grin. Their fingers brushed and Dean pulled away quickly, eyes cast away. He took a small sip from the can, thanking Cas wordlessly. They walked down the hall, Dean shifting his bag uncomfortably on his shoulder. He glanced down at Castiel, a gentle smile touching his face; there was a practically uncontrollable want – need – inside him to throw Castiel against the wall and kiss him hard. He shuddered at the feeling. Castiel and he were only friends; Dean didn't want to complicate what in his mind was already perfect.

"Where to today, Dean?" asked Castiel softly. He looked at Dean with his doleful eyes, lips twisting upwards. Dean gazed at him, mending his chapped lips with a slide of his tongue. He shrugged clumsily, looking down at his boots. He shuffled his feet, and Castiel gripped his arm. "I know! Are you okay with skipping class?" Dean nodded, eyes wide. Cas grinned, grabbing Dean's hand and pulling him along behind him, stopping only to let Dean grab his coat and scarf from his locker. They ran through the rain, sliding into Dean's car.

"Do you know where Ellen's Diner is?" asked Cas. "Actually, it's a bar. But… It's good."

"Wait, Ellen's Diner?" Dean thought for a moment, and then looked back at Castiel. "Ellen Harvelle's Diner? That woman is a best friend to Bobby – she practically raised me as her own. Of course I know that place." Dean smacked the steering wheel, yelling in glee. He grabbed Castiel's hand, kissing the man's knuckles. "I miss that lady. Her daughter's practically a sister to me and Sam." Castiel looked startled at Dean's sudden excitement 0 the Impala squealed on the wet ground as the pulled quickly out of the school lot.

"You're wild!" Castiel laughed, still gripping Dean's hand tightly.

"Oh, you know just how to enchant a guy with those Swayze movie lines." Dean grinned crookedly at Cas, casting his eyes back to the road after a moment. He released Castiel's hand, face turning red. Cas snorted, looking out the window at the pouring rain. He glanced back at Dean for a moment, taking in his embarrassment.

"I don't know why you're so shy, Dean." whispered Cas, looking ashamedly down at his lap. They pulled into the diner parking lot, sitting in silence for a few minutes as Dean cut the engine. "I… have really enjoyed having you around these past weeks." Dean shrugged, eyes sliding shut. He chuckled for a moment, thinking. Dean leaned in, breathing in the soft smell of Castiel's aftershave. He closed his eyes, feeling Dean's nervous energy surge towards him. Their lips met in a frenzy of wild energy. Dean grabbed Castiel's face, fingers winding into his soft, dark hair. He dragged his lips away from Cas', gasping it what seemed to be pain. He shook his head quickly, eyes still closed, and practically bolted from the car into the diner.

Castiel sighed. He knew what Dean was feeling: the practically immobilizing feeling of fear: a fear that he would never be accepted. He moved out of the car, stepping to the drivers side to remove the keys from the ignition. He locked the car, stepping away. He stretched, feeling the rain pour in sheets onto his face. Cas stepped into the diner, looking around. Dean sat in a booth in the back with a blonde of about 12, smiling down at her serenely. He walked to the counter, shaking Ellen's hand and speaking with her momentarily.

"So, Castiel," said Ellen quietly, leaning forward. She glanced at Dean and Jo, smiling softly. "How is everything with you?" Cas shrugged.

"New kid in town, trying to make friends. Failing, I think," he answered. "How is everything with you?"

She smiled again. "I'm just glad my boys are okay. Raised them for as long as I can remember, what with their dad going on drinking binges every weekend." She chuckled to herself. "Then lil' Johanna came along and they started helping out more. After Dean came out to John, well… things changed. But Cas," she said, gripping his arm as he went to move away. "I can tell you're interested in him. But be careful: Dean is a real heartbreaker. And damaged." Castiel nodded, and Ellen released him. She nodded towards the kids in the back, shrugging to herself. Castiel took his soda to the table where Jo and Dean sat.

"'Ey there, Cas!" said Jo as he slid in beside her. Dean looked down at the table, ears red. "How're you doin', boy?"

"Who are you calling boy, kiddo?" asked Castiel softly, punching her lightly in the arm. She grinned, stealing his soda. "Hey!" he said, tugging it back from her.

"So what're you boys doin' way out here during the school day?" said Jo, leaning against Cas.

"Eating, what does it look like?" answered Dean sarcastically. His fingers traced around the edge of his glass; he continued to avoid Castiel's eyes. He was embarrassed, embarrassed by his behavior in the car with Cas. Jo reached across the table, grabbing Dean's hand and squeezing it.

"I'll get you guys your food." said Jo. Her voice was soft and gentle. Castiel stood to let her out. She patted his back, kissing him lightly on the cheek.

"Are you okay?" asked Castiel, sliding back into the booth. Dean shook his head wordlessly, eyes filling with silent tears. He pushed up his sleeves, pointing to the word that was carved into his arm.

"I can't be this, Cas." he said, voice shaking with emotion. "Dad tried so hard to do the best he could with the cards he was given… and I'm letting him down, by being… this… thing!" Dean practically slammed his hands on the table, relenting just before they touched the hard top. Cas shook his head, staring at his cup of soda.

"You can be whatever you want to be, Dean. Whatever makes you happy? Do it. Because after everything you've been through, you obviously deserve that." he shook his head again, anger surging through him. He was usually a calm tempered man, but this just took the pie on his patience tolerance. "You're a good man, Dean. Your father isn't around anymore, and now… darlin', you can do whatever you want to do." He reached across the table, gripping Dean's arm, covering his scar. Dean tried to shrug away, but Castiel clutched tighter. "Don't, Dean. Let me in, please." Dean shook his head vigorously, and Jo delivered their food.

"Dean…" said Jo, glancing at his arm before Dean could cover it. "Boy you must start takin' care of yourself. It don't matter to the rest of us if you're a 'faggot'," she put quotes around the word and shook her head, leaning in to kiss him gently through his hair. She walked away, waggling her fingers in farewell. Cas looked at him, eyes opening wider than before.

"I told you." Dean sighed, chuckling lightly to himself. "You can kiss me again if you want to." Dean looked around the diner. "Okay, not here. Maybe in the car." Dean smiled lightly, nodding his head.

"Cas, I… Thank you, man." Dean said to his burger. He ran a few fingers lightly through Dean's hair, trailing them his face. Dean clutched it there with one hand, moving into it. He looked up at Cas, eyes glowing with some unspoken promise. Dean moved away, grabbing up his burger and taking a huge bite. Castiel laughed loudly, sighing in appreciation before digging into his own burger. Between bites and sips of Coke, they shared "horror" stories. They laughed, and their hands met multiple times over the table, their feet bumping together under the table. Eventually, Dean checked his phone: two o'clock.

"Shit." he muttered, "we've skipped two classes, Cas." Cas nodded, unperturbed by this bit of information.

"So we've still got plenty of time, right?" said Cas, sipping his soda contently. Dean nodded slowly, looking at Cas, eyes narrowed in suspicion. Cas looked at him from the window, then laughed. "We can head back now, if you'd like." Dean nodded, scooting out of the booth and placing a twenty down on the table. "Dean," whispered Cas, looking at him. "Don't pay for me, I have money."

"And I treated you like an ass earlier. I'll pay. Please let me." Castiel consented reluctantly, watching Dean move slowly to the counter, kissing Jo on the top of the head and hugging Ellen tightly. He promised to come in again, maybe apply for a job flipping burgers, and Ellen patted him away. She winked at Cas, waving her goodbyes.

"Ready?" asked Castiel, clutching Dean's hand in his own. Their fingers intertwined, and Dean looked down at them; it was the first time he'd held someone's hand in over a year. He nodded, pulling Castiel tightly to him, placing a kiss on his relaxed forehead. They moved out the door, hand in hand, and Dean glanced around, shaking in fear. "Hey." said Cas, stopping him. "There are assholes in this town… but I will never let anything happen to you. I promise you that." Dean nodded, holding him to his chest again. They breathed for a moment, and Dean was able to calm down, shaking ceasing. He stepped away, blushing and looking down at his feet. Castiel leaned up, kissing Dean gently on the cheek. He backed away, getting into the car and out of the rain. He put his legs up on the dash, watching Dean put his face up to the sky, taking in the rain, putting his arms out, spinning in a slow circle before gazing into Castiel's eyes. He dipped out of the rain, pulling himself into the car. "Having fun?"

"Yes." said Dean, smiling at him. "I always have fun when I'm with you."

A/N: I definitely didn't mean for this chapter to be as long as it was, I apologize. For some reason, I'm getting really invested in the character development. Next chapter, you get to hear about Castiel's life with Meg. FLASHBACK TIME. All right babes, once again, if you enjoyed, please leave a review, favorite, or follow me and my stories, because I really appreciate it.

Y'all beautiful. ~Bee~