Dean starts his senior year on a high note. Charlie started that LARPing club and had asked Dean to be her Vice-President, to which he happily agreed. Sam was dating Jess, much to Dean's happiness. He didn't know her all that well, but he knew she loved Sam more than anything, so he wished them all of the happiness in the world. Jo and Ash had started dating as well, but that really only freaked everyone out a bit. Charlie and Dean were both single and loving it. Both had had girlfriends before, but they knew dating wasn't for them (for the time being of course). Dean isn't behind on credits, neither is Sam, who's a sophomore this year because Sam was insanely smart and skipped eighth grade.
Dean only had two required classes; English and Government/Econ. So the rest of his schedule is filled with electives and Dean couldn't be happier. He got RoP Auto shop (which is two periods long and twice the credits), Band with Garth and Ash, and Theater with Charlie and Jo. After school, if he doesn't hang out with his friends, he either helps his uncle in the salvage yard working on Junkers or he's at the Roadhouse bartending/cooking with Ellen. He's close to all of his friends and he's even gotten closer to Adam, who is starting to hang out with them after school. Dean is happy like he hasn't been since his mom was alive. And he tries to not think about Cas, but he does cross his mind. It's a bit hard when Sam occasionally goes to Cas' Park with Jess to 'hang out' but Dean knows he's still waiting. Dean pretends like he doesn't though. He's touched that Sam cares that much.
It's about three weeks in when Dean hears a commotion in the hallway. A bunch of Jocks are bullying a student even though it's against the rules. It starts off verbal (one sided but still) before the captain of the football team pushes the boy to the floor. Dean walks closer to the fight, hoping someone closer will interfere in time, but the jerk –Dirk, he thinks is his name- pushes the kid again before he can even get up completely. Dean is standing between Dirk and his victim and Dean has no idea what he's doing. He's never stood up to anyone before, not really. There's never been an incident where he's had to. Dirk yells at him to mind his own business and Dean smirks and replies that he's making it his business. Dirk takes a swing at Deans' head and it's like second nature to pull his body back out of the way. That only makes Dirk madder than he was. He swings again but this time Dean ducks and skirts away to the side. Dirk is pissed now, paying more attention to Dean than the kid on the floor. Dirk swings again, but this time Dean doesn't dodge. He grabs Dirks arm mid swing and knee's him in the gut, dropping him like a sack of potatoes. That's when Dirks friends get involved. They come after Dean and right as one is about to grab him Sam tackles him from out of nowhere. Another goes to grab him and Adam socks him right in the jaw. Dean see's Garth checking on the kids on the floor while Ash is keeping Jo from joining the fray. But he's paid attention to his friends too long and one of the assholes on the football team has punched him in the jaw. It hurts, but it'll only bruise. He drops the guy with a punch to his solar plexus.
All of the guys attacking are down for the count, and Dean feels a wave of guilt come over him. They're all going to get in trouble even if it was only in self-defense. Well, maybe not self-defense, but they started it. The Winchesters finished it. Before the teachers arrive, Dean walks over to the kids and asks him if he's alright. The kid looks at him and Dean feels like he's been thrown out to sea. He can't breathe and everything sounds like it's coming through a wall of water. He knows the kid is thanking him and he knows he's alright, but he can't focus on the words. He's thin, but not bony. He's tall, but shorter than Dean. He has wild black hair and bright blue eyes. Dean's heart beat triples as he looks at him. He starts sweating. He can't swallow through the lump in his throat. He opens his mouth to talk but that's when Jess rounds the corner with the football coach. Mr. Hendrickson is livid, sending everyone involved to the principal's office.
His brothers walk over to Dean to see if he's alright. Adam has barely got the question out of his mouth when they see Dean's condition. He's done it before. He's started to silently hyperventilate, and he's going to pass out if he doesn't calm down. They ask him what's wrong and Mr. Hendrickson hears it. The coach is next to Dean right before his legs give out and he faints. Mr. Hendrickson freaks out, thinking one of his players has given Dean a concussion, but Dean's friends convince him it's normal and he just needs to rest. Mr. Hendrickson tells Ash and Jo to get Dean to the nurses office and call his guardian. They agree while Sam, Adam, the unknown kid, and half of the football team head to the principal's office.