The sixth chapter! Holy cow! So I'm trying to post a chapter a day. Mondays and Wednesdays I might not post because I don't have access to a laptop at night (which is when I'm doing a lot of this writing), so we will see on those days. I feel like if I write a chapter everyday it will keep me on track, and keep me writing so I don't just give up and leave you guys hanging for weeks on end.
The chapters keep getting longer, but I added a few characters so there is a lot more dialogue this chapter. ^.^
Dean entered Sweetie Swirls, the go-to ice-cream place in town. It was currently empty, not many goers wanting ice-cream so early in the day. He went to the counter and stood there for a moment waiting for a server to come and take his order. A short boy with a name tag pinned to his pink Sweetie Swirls hat with 'Hello my name is: Gabriel' on it came up to the other side of the open window.
"And what will you be having?" Gabriel asked.
"I'll have a medium vanilla soft serve in a cone please," Dean told him.
"Would you like any toppings on that?"
"No, just the ice cream."
"Really?" asked Gabriel, looking at him as if he were committing a crime.
"Yes..." Dean said slowly.
"You don't want any chocolate or gummies? Not even sprinkles?" asked the boy.
"No," said Dean again. "I just want the ice-cream."
Gabriel's shoulders slumped in exaggerated defeat.
"Okay," he half-whined.
Dean waited by the window while the boy went further into the back to make up the cone. He heard the bell of the ice-cream parlor sound and heard the ringing laughter of two boys as they stepped inside. He looked up and saw Cass standing with another boy; the boy looked older than Cass by a couple years. Dean didn't recognize him though.
"Cass," said Dean, then faltered.
"Dean," said Cass, looking past his friend. He stopped laughing but the smile on his face widened. "How are you?"
"I'm good," said Dean, coming over to them.
They looked at each other for a moment before Cass turned suddenly to his companion and said, "This is Balthazar."
Wow, thought Dean. That's a strange name.
"I'm Dean."
Balthazar nodded. "Castiel has told us about you."
"Us?" asked Dean glancing from Balthazar to Cass.
"Gabe and I," Balthazar replied, as if that cleared it up.
Dean stood confused for a moment then glanced back at the counter. "You mean the server?"
"Yes, these are my friends," said Cass.
Dean nodded in understanding, then a thought passed in his mind.
"Are these the same guys that made you ride that roller coaster when you didn't want to?" he asked Cass.
Balthazar laughed. "That was Gabe's handiwork, not mine. I just liked watching Castiel be all girlish and nervous."
Cass shoved Balthazars shoulder playfully. Dean didn't look so happily at Balthazar though.
"Well," Dean stated. "It was really cruel to do that."
Cass placed his hand on Dean's shoulder, as if to hold him back. "Dean. It's all right. It's in the past."
Dean looked down at Cass' hand.
"Hey, kid! Your icecream is done, and melting!" called Gabriel, he waved the cone to emphasize his point.
"Oh," said Dean, looking up and walking over. "Thanks." Dean took it from the boys hand then noticed the other side that had been hidden from him. "What the-" The other side of the ice-cream was coated in a mix of gummy bears, sprinkles, and oreo bits.
"Gabe, what did you do?" asked Cass.
"I promise you'll love it!" Gabe exclaimed. He turned to Castiel and Balthazar saying, " He ordered a plain cone! It was killing me."
"Gabe," they both groaned.
"Seriously?" added Balthazar.
"Don't seriously me, Balthazar," said Gabriel.
"Can I just pay?" asked Dean, shaking his head at this weird kid.
"Yes, sir," said Gabriel, grinning.
"How much?" asked Dean, taking a small bite of the top of the ice-cream then taking out his wallet.
"That will be three dollars and forty-nine cents," said Gabriel.
"What? A medium cone is only two forty-nine," said Dean, looking up from his wallet.
"Three toppings is an additional dollar," explained Gabriel with a straight face.
"But -I - I didn't order them," sputtered Dean. He voice was elevating, but Gabriel just stayed completely calm.
"If you would like to return your cone because of an issue, you can do that now."
"Ya, take it," said Dean, shoving the cone back at the kid.
"I'm sorry sir, we here at Sweetie Swirls cannot take anything that has been partially
consumed by the customer. You will have to pay for what you have. If you would like to fill out a complaint form you can do that now," said Gabriel, motioning to the top of the ice-cream Dean had bitten off.
"Are you kidding me!" exclaimed Dean.
"Ya, he is. Gabe, give the kid a break," said Balthazar. Both him and Cass barely holding back smiles from their faces.
"But that was entertaining," whined Gabriel.
Dean was red in the face from frustration. He was vaguely aware that he should be glad no one was in the shop with them to see him like this. He also noticed someone guiding him away from the counter and pulling him to a small booth.
"Don't let Gabe get under your skin," Cass explained in his calm, soft voice.
"I swear. I could kill that kid," said Dean, but he took Cass' words to heart.
"He means well."
"Means well?" asked Dean, his eyebrows raised, glancing at the counter where Balthazar seemed to be telling Gabriel what he wanted before Gabriel rushed off to make it.
"Hey Balthazar, when he comes back will you tell him to make me my usual? asked
Cass.
"Sure."
"Yes he means well," continued Cass. "Gabe has a bit of a sweet tooth. He thinks sharing this love is his gift to the world" Dean nodded. "So Dean. How are you?" asked Cass, changing the subject.
"I'm good. How are you?" answered Dean.
"I'm good."
"Was everything okay?" Dean asked, then explained. "I mean, about Tuesday. You having to go home."
Cass' eyes widened in understanding.
"Yes, it was just a minor misunderstanding with my father. He thought I was going to be at home."
"You didn't get in trouble did you?" asked Dean.
"No, nothing like that."
"Oh, okay. Good. I was worried."
"I'm sorry you were worried."
"Why are we worried?" interjected Balthazar.
"No reason," said Cass.
"Are you guys talking about me?" yelled Gabriel from the kitchen.
"Yes, Gabe," Cass and Balthazar answered together.
"Well keep at it!" came the reply.
Cass and Balthazar chuckled.
"So, I've not seen either of you two before. How do you know each other?" asked Dean.
"We were all homeschooled," said Balthazar.
"Is there like a colony of you guys?" Dean jokingly asked.
"No," said Balthazar, grinning at the question. "I mean. Gabe and I go to private school now. Cass is the only one left that I know who still is homeschooled."
"Balthazar your frappes are almost done," came the cry of Gabriel from the kitchen.
Balthazar got up and walked to the counter. Cass' gaze turned towards Dean stuffing the top of his ice-cream into his mouth. Dean stared at Cass.
"Dean," Cass said, trying to hold back a fit of laughter. "What are you doing?"
Dean couldn't really not take the bite, so he bit off a full mouthful of ice-cream and just
shrugged his shoulders. "I drernkno."
"What?"
Dean swallowed the ice-cream, and then began to wiggle a little in his chair uncomfortably.
"Ugh, brain freeze!" he cried in discomfort.
"Press your tongue against the roof of your mouth," said Balthazar.
"Press your thumb against the roof of your mouth," said Gabe.
"No, that doesn't work," said Balthazar, turning to Gabriel.
"It works for me," justified Gabriel.
"Just because it works for you doesn't mean it will work for everyone," Balthazar countered.
"Well then...that's just stupid," said Gabriel.
"Stupid? Why is using your tongue stupid?" asked Balthazar.
"Your tongue is already cold because you just ate the ice-cream. A thumb is still warm," explained Gabriel.
"Are you being factual with me?" asked Balthazar.
"Guys! Shut up. I'm fine!" cried Dean, after struggling through the mind tingling discomfort of the brain freeze.
Cass' laughter broke through the whole scene. It was warm and deep, and it made his shoulders relax; his body slid down the pink seats and his knee bumped Dean's under the table. Dean felt a warm rush, and knew that he must be blushing. When Cass began to stare at his face he felt even more embarrassed.
"Dean, you have ice-cream all over your face."
"Oh, really?" said Dean, fumbling with his hands to wipe it off, not having a napkin with him.
"No, there's still," said Cass once Dean stopped, thinking it was all gone. "Here, let me-"
Cass stood up slightly, bending over the table and wiped the small bit of white ice-cream lingering on the bottom Dean's chin. Dean could see his reflection in Cass' eyes. When Cass' eyes lifted to even out with Dean's he must have realized how close they were and pulled back quickly. They both sat there with rosey cheeks. Dean ran his hand through his hair.
"I have to go," said Dean quickly, getting up and walking over to hte door before any of them could say anything.
"I'll see you," Cass tried to get it. Dean turned back to them.
"It was nice to meet you," he said.
"Bye Dean-o!" called Gabriel.
Dean walked out of the little shop, the soft bell sounding his exit. He rubbed his chin, breathing in and out slowly. He felt the urge to skip joyfully, but he held it back. He settled for just glancing left and right before crossing the street, only partially noticing that the remainder of his ice-cream was melting all down his cone and onto his hand.
So I had so much fun writing Gabe and Balthazar. I also had a really nice time writing Cass WITH Gabe and Balthazar. I wanted him to act differently with them. Do you like this more relaxed Cass?
Also, I really need help with a couple of things from you guys, so if you have suggestions on the following two questions please, I'd love 3 your ideas.
1. Who do you think should be Dean's closest friends? I want there to be a girl (there are so many male Supernatural characters...seriously).
2. What other things do guys do when they're nervous or embarrassed? I'm pretty sure I have mentioned the boys blushing in EVERY chapter, and it's kind of getting dry for me.. I mean, if you think it is fine, then I'll keep how it's been, but I feel like there has to be something more uniquely linked to male characteristics.
Sorry for this long end note. Thank you so much for reading!