Dean was confused. The moment Sam had started gushing his love for Castiel and his books, the author had transformed into a shining, confident- if somewhat self depreciating- presence. He spoke beautifully, discussing his books with Sam- in normal volumes, no less. Dean didn't know why, but he though Cas seemed sad, under the smiles and the laughter. Evidently, Mary Winchester thought so too. Almost immediately upon entering the Winchester home Castiel was taken to the kitchen. Dean and Sam waited in the living room- they may have just moved in a week ago, but they knew the kitchen was their mother's domain and you only entered if you were invited. When he emerged about 10 minutes later, he refused to tell the brothers what had been said. The brothers- though Sam was still slightly star-struck- teamed up against Cas in their first game of Call of Duty. Cas and Dean joined forces in the second, and finally Sam and Cas by the fifth. Throughout the entire encounter Castiel was largely silent, even though the other two shouted insults or instructions back and forth. Cas declined staying for dinner, and though Dean tried to insist, would not let Dean drive him home simply shaking his head at everything Dean said until

"Do you have a cellphone?" to which he finally nodded. Dean held out his own phone impatiently. "Gimme your number. I'm texting you in ten minutes, and if you're not home by then I'm driving you. Capicie?" the other nodded again and typed his number carefully into the phone. Dean wouldn't let him leave until he confirmed that Cas had, in fat, given him the right number- showing Dean he received the text he sent. Right before he left the house he finally met Dean's eyes and spoke very softly.

"Thank you, for inviting me over." here his gaze returned to it's normal place- his shoes. "I... had fun." Dean smiled, lapping the other boy's arm.

"Me too. Are you sure you don't want a ride?" Cas nodded and hurried away, down the darkened street. "Be careful!" Dean shouted after him.

8:43 'Are you home yet?' Dean anxiously awaited the response.

8:44 'It has not been 10 minutes.' Dean snorted.

8: 45 'Close enough. Are you home?' For a long times, there was no answer. Dean took a shower, glanced at his homework, and had been on the internet for some time before he finally got a text.

9:33 'Yes.' Dean rolled his eyes but responded eagerly.

9:33 'Did you forget to answer?' The answering text came quickly, so Dean felt slightly less like a loser for his enthusiasm.

9:34 'No.' Dean was confused.

9:35 '?'

9:35 'I arrived home approximately 10 minutes ago.'

9:37 'It's been almost an hour. Why didn't you just let me drive you?" Dean went back to browsing the internet while he waited- and if he Googled Cas it wasn't any creepier than checking out someone's Facebook... Nor was watching some of his interviews on Youtube, where the boy seemed confidant and had a way of putting himself that had everyone rooting for him while they laughed. Dean didn't understand why he was so quiet around him. "Am I that scary?" Dean mused aloud to himself.

10:01 'I did not wish to go home.' Dean was surprised when his phone rang, and not just because he had been so wrapped up in his thoughts that his phone seemed WAY too loud.

10:02 'Why?'

10:03 'Goodnight, Dean." He tried not to get offended. He had only met the guy a few hours ago, after all. It's not like he needed to spill his life story or anything...

10:05 'Night, Cas.'

The next few days went much like the first. Cas and Dean sat silently next to each other in English, and Dean ate lunch alone. Cas went to Dean's house every afternoon- sometimes they played video games with Sammy, sometimes they went up to Dean's room ans listened to music. Sometimes Dean talked- he liked the feeling that someone was actually listening. Once Cas even let Dean drive him home. Slowly, he started talking to Dean, and by extent, the rest of the Winchesters. It started one afternoon when they were locked in Dean's room, ostensibly doing their homework. Really, they sat side-by-side on the floor, leaning against Dean's bed, eyes closed. Quite suddenly, Cas plopped his hean onto Dean's cracked open one of his eyes to peek at Castiel.

"I like this song." Cas murmured it softly, sleepily. Dean smiled and closed his eye again.

"Me too." After that day, Dean and Cas became Dean-and-Cas. Castiel showed Dean where he ate lunch the very next day- ironically enough, in Mr. Cann's English classroom. Dean took his lunch there from then on. It's not like he had any other friends to miss him. Dean took to draping his arm over Cas's shoulders whenever they walked together. When they sat in the Impala or in Dean's room, Cas would lace their fingers together, or lay his head on the other boy's shoulder when they watched a movie. Eventually- it really took longer than it should have- Dean realized he wasn't scary. Cas was shy.