A/N: aahhh i feel like it's been forever since i posted a chapter, way longer than i meant for it to be! idk i just had writers block or something, this chapter was harder to write than it should've been. for once i'm not just making the plot up as i go, though! i'm excited to write the next few chapters! i've got three more chapters planned out after this one. i don't know if that's going to be the end of this story, though? i think it will be but i'm not sure. anyway, hope you like this chapter :)
The time came for school on Monday, after a long weekend of Dean swearing he'd really kick Alastair's ass and Cas having to calm Dean down and make him promise to not kick anyone's ass. Dean didn't really want to admit it, but he was nervous about going to school. Whenever there was the least bit of drama, the whole school always knew about it, and what happened at Anna's party was definitely some drama.
Dean took a deep breath as he held Cas's hand and stepped inside the school. They didn't have the same first class, so Dean and Cas parted way at the front door. Dean felt everyone's eyes on him as he walked to physics, and he knew it wasn't all in his head. As soon as he took his seat in the classroom, Jo was bombarding him with questions.
"You did think I was worth calling? Why did I have to find out from Ash that you beat up two kids in Anna's backyard and that someone found Alastair blacked out in a dark room right after you dragged Castiel out of the place? What the fuck happened?"
Dean sighed. He should've known Jo wouldn't be happy that Dean hadn't called her right after the fact. "Well, I don't know where you disappeared to during the party, but those two assholes pulled me outside and started throwing punches so I had to, uh, take care of them. Then Alastair jumped Cas and left him lying on the floor, so I had to make sure Alastair wouldn't try that shit again. Cas has some nasty bruises."
"What about you?" Jo asked, concerned.
Dean shook his head. "Those guys might have looked tough, but they can't fight worth shit."
"Damn," Jo mumbled. "Well, the whole school knows now."
Dean scoffed. "Yeah, I can tell." Constantly throughout the lesson, kids turned their heads and glanced at Dean. He could only imagine how everybody was treating Cas, what with the evidence of a fight all over his face. The left side of Cas's face was slightly swollen and sporting a lovely group of blue and purple splotches. Not to mention the ugly black eye. Dean sighed and rested his head in his hands. He really wanted to forget this whole thing ever happened, but unfortunately the rest of school probably wouldn't be so willing.
In math, Castiel was being fawned over by Anna and Sam, and he wasn't too pleased about it. He honestly just wanted to do his work.
Anna put her hand on the side of Castiel's head and pulled him towards her so she could lightly touch the bruises on the side of his face. "Castiel...I am so sorry this happened. At my house, of all places. I didn't even invite those people that did this to you..."
Cas pulled away. "It's fine, Anna. Don't worry about it. It's really not your fault." Despite Cas's reassurances that he didn't have any bad feelings towards Anna, she didn't look satisfied. "Really, Anna. Don't blame yourself. At least after this, maybe Alastair will leave me alone."
Sam turned to Castiel. "Dean totally saved you, right? He like, beat up Alastair, right? Was it cool? It sounds so-" Sam stopped himself. Of course this incident wasn't cool.
Cas smiled sympathetically. "It's okay, Sam. But I couldn't really see what was happening." Sam nodded disappointedly. "It sounded cool, however." Cas could tell Sam was trying to suppress a grin. Cas thought it was sweet how much Sam looked up to Dean.
Castiel noticed throughout class that his friends weren't the only ones taking notice of him. There were a lot of people turning to look at him, whispering about him. He didn't mind, but if Dean was getting the same looks people were giving Cas, then he knew that was not going to go over well with Dean.
Dean walked to meet Cas outside the math room. Next they had english, together. On the way to Castiel's classroom, Dean tried to ignore the glances thrown his way, and the whispers that were obviously involving him. After all, he was Dean Winchester, right? He was used to some attention. But this was a different kind of attention. And he didn't like it.
Dean got to Cas's class just as Cas was walking out. Dean smiled and fell in step next to Cas. "Hey."
Cas looked up at Dean. "Hello, Dean."
Dean's hand wavered next to Castiel's as they walked. Dean nervously moved his fingers to lace with Cas's. Cas looked down at their interlocking hands and smiled almost imperceptibly, but Dean noticed the grin sneaking its way across Cas's face. Dean tried to distract himself from everyone else in the hallway staring as Castiel's bruises by thinking about just how damn lucky he was that he was holding hands with Castiel Novak.
But as hard as he tried, Dean just couldn't forget how much this extra attention was bothering him.
After english, Dean took Cas's hand and led him underneath a stairwell, the same place that, less than a week ago, Dean and Cas were confessing their attraction to each other. Dean inhaled shakily and looked into Castiel's eyes. "Cas, I think it's my fault that this happened." Cas tilted his head to the side, like he did when he was confused. Dean continued, "I mean, if I hadn't left you with Jo at that party, then this wouldn't have happened...if I had just stayed with you, then we wouldn't be in this situation. Cas, I'm so sorry. We can't go anywhere without the whole school staring at us. I can't take it, Cas."
"Dean." Cas put a hand on Dean's shoulder. "It's alright. It's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault." Cas wrapped his hands around Dean's waist and leaned into him. "It doesn't matter if people stare at us," he said softly.
Dean shook his head. "No, Cas, it matters. You shouldn't have to go through this!"
Cas sighed. "Dean, I've been getting a lot of attention this past week. Today's no different, except that before, people looked at me because I was the new kid. Now they're looking at me because of the events that happened at Anna's party."
Dean took a step back, away from Cas. "Well, I've never had people whisper about me and stare at me like this! I'm glad you're used to it, but I'm not." Dean tried not to let it show, but he was angry. He didn't quite think he had the right to be angry, but whether or not it was justified, he was angry, about Alastair, about the fact that he was the new topic on everyone's minds, and about the fact that Cas didn't understand. Dean thought Cas would be one to empathize with him, but here Cas was, basically saying that he didn't mind! "Cas, if I hadn't left you at that party, this wouldn't have happened...if you hadn't been invited to that party, this wouldn't happened..." Dean felt his anger escalating, and he gave up on trying to stop it. "Cas, if you never came to this school, then this wouldn't have happened!"
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Dean regretted it. Cas looked up at him, shocked. Dean froze. He couldn't look away from Cas; he couldn't focus on anything but the hurt in Cas's eyes. Dean knew he could say all he wanted that he didn't mean it, but it wouldn't fix what just happened.
The trust that had built up so quickly the past seven days shattered in a matter of two seconds. Cas didn't know what to do; he didn't know what to think. If Dean really felt this way, then where did that leave Cas? All he could do was turn around and leave. He didn't say a word to Dean. Cas just walked straight out from under the stairs, down the hall, and out the building. He didn't know where he was going, but Castiel had to get away, leaving Dean standing alone back inside the school, secluded away from the rest of the students. Dean fought back the tears that threatened to drip down his face, meanwhile Cas let the tears come, sliding fast down his bruised cheek.