I couldn't wait to tell Cas about my day as I stabbed the key into the rusty lock of our crappy apartment. I lived with my 21-year-old cousin, Castiel, in a… well, a broom closet, essentially. Cas had been sleeping on the couch in my living room ever since he enrolled in Stanford last fall. Before then we hadn't talked much, but after he was disowned by his own branch of the Novaks old him he could stay with me until he was back on his feet, family disappointments united and all that. Cas was a weird, dorky, little (metaphorically considering he all but towered over me) guy who read too much and socialized too little and at first I thought he was kind of a freak, but after the first couple months, we were closer than brothers.
Only after I'd inelegantly shouldered open the stubborn door and dropped my bag on the floor did I call out to my bookish cohabitant.
"Honey, I'm hooome!" I waited a moment for a response before I heard his mumbled answer from the dinky kitchen. The whole apartment was cramped and muggy and covered in mysterious stains but I couldn't really afford anywhere else with Castiel's classes and my fundamental inability to get a decent job.
"Hey Cassie!" I beamed as I sat across from him. He looked up from whatever book he was engrossed in and squinted at me quizzically, studying my upbeat demeanor.
"Hello, Gabriel." He greeted politely as ever. "You look very pleased, you've been somewhat disconsolate since the weather's been unpleasant." He remarked pensively. The heatwave hadn't affected Cas very much because he spent all his time inside studying or in class.
"Weeeell…" I drawled nonchalantly,"I just happened to meet my soulmate today." I watched for his reaction which was, as I expected, a confused stare.
"I don't understand." He deadpanned, Somebod-" I cut him off.
"Not just anyone, Cassie. The One." I elaborated cryptically as I opened our tiny fridge and cracked open a can of Pepsi. I smirked at the puzzlement still on his face while tipping the soft drink back and gazing at my cousin out of the corner of my eye.
"He's perfect. He's so nice, and so hot! He's a lawyer, Cas, and handsome and funny and smart, and, and…" I gestured erratically trying to convey what my words couldn't. It must've worked because an understanding smile had worked its way onto his features.
"Ah, I see. What's his name?" He asked sagely.
I clutched my heart dramatically and closed my eyes for effect.
"Sam." I sighed passionately.
His smile widened a bit.
"I'm glad to see you taken with someone so… appropriate." He cautioned.
I just rolled my eyes at the comment. I'd always known Castiel disapproved of most of my usual one night stands. He was constantly badgering me about 'finding someone nice' and 'settling down' but he knew deep down it was a futile effort. Why be chained down by someone when I could be free to live my life as I pleased, I thought. I just didn't see the point of commitment.
He pursed his lips rigidly at the gesture.
"Do you at least know his last name?" he inquired patiently.
"Oh. No, didn't ask." I pondered as I sipped my drink absently. It was probably really cute like the rest of him. I didn't even fight the dreamy smile that tugged up the corners of my mouth when I thought about the charming boy.
Cas looked at me airily with his impossibly blue eyes for another moment before looking back down at his book.
"I have absolute faith it'll work out in your favor, Gabriel." He smirked.
I smiled consonantly with my companion and sighed tenderly.
"He's so nice… and pretty."
He huffed a short laugh in reply as I stood, stating my intention of sleeping for a few decades after a long shower, and patted his shoulder goodnight.