Same Mistakes – One Direction

Circles, we're going in circles
Dizzy's all it makes us
We know where it takes us
We've been before
Closer, maybe looking closer
There's more to discover
Find out what went wrong without blaming each other
Think that we got more time
When we're falling behind
Gotta make up our minds
Or else we'll play, play, play all the same old games
And we wait, wait, wait for the end to change
And we take, take, take it for granted that we'll be the same
But we're making all the same mistakes

A few hours in the reception and after the family chaos, Castiel finally managed to have time to focus on Danielle. He'd looked for her during the wedding ceremony as he marched down the aisle and he saw her smiling broadly at the passing wedding party, even managing a small wave at Dean. He gave her a tentative smile as her gaze met his. He had hoped she'd give him a sign to let him know how she was feeling. He was hoping she'd smile back. But her eyes got a squinty look he didn't recognize and she turned away. No smile. No wave. He got his answer. Yep, she was mad.

Yes, when Bela's parents made a scene, he was happy to have a distraction. Something that bought him some time, but now he knew what he had to do. After cake and toasts, he stood and unbuttoned the cuffs on shirt. He rolled up his sleeves and headed to the bar for a courage building drink. . While his gaze scanned the crowd, searching for a certain brunette, he spotted his brothers and his cousin talking to a very meticulously groomed young man and pointing in his direction.

The man nodded in Castiel's direction and smiled. He began walking towards Castiel while Gabriel and Balthazar cracked up laughing.

"Hi" the man said over the music as he approached. Castiel glanced at him as the man extended his hand. "I'm Andy. Your brothers over there suggested that I introduce myself to you."

Castiel knew what they were doing for a laugh but he decided to nip it in the bud "Yeah? Well I'm not gay."

"That's a shame," Andy teased "I've never been with a handsome blue eyed stranger before."

Castiel raised his Budweiser to his lips. "Well that makes two of us."

Andy laughed "I knew but your brother's seemed to think it was humorous so I played along."

Castiel shook his head "They tend to do things like that. So how do you know them?"

"Actually," Andy replied "My sister is dating Raphael. And he and I actually play basketball together on Tuesdays and Thursdays."

"Rachel is really nice," Castiel nodded.

"She's okay as big sisters go," Andy shrugged and asked "So why do your brothers seem to think me coming on to you would be hilarious?"

Castiel took another pull of his beer as he shook his head "They used to think I was in love with my best friend."

The other man's eyebrow raised in question and Castiel laughed "I wasn't. Just my brothers being…older brothers."

"So you like women?"

"Yep, just women." Castiel took a drink and spotted Danielle over the bottom of the bottle. She'd managed to drag Dean out on the dance floor two stepping to whatever lame country song that was playing. Sam and Jo were laughing at Dean's obvious discomfort as they swooped around the room easily, despite her small frame being a mismatch for Sam's height. Castiel managed half a smile at the sight. He noticed Danielle had on a beautiful dress. Red and really short, very different thank her every day or onstage attire. From halfway across the room, he watched her weave in and out of the crowd of dancers. He got a flash of leg and desire curled in his stomach. "I'm into that girl actually," he said as he lowered his bottle.

Andy turned to see Dean stumble and Dani laugh. "That her boyfriend?"

"Nope, that's my best friend."

"The best friend you're supposedly in love with?"

"The very one," Castiel nodded.

"And he's dating the girl you want? Some friend."

"No, he's not. He's in love with Jo," Castiel replied.

"Joe? So he's gay?"

Castiel pointed "See the tall moose over there."

"That's Joe?" Andy asked.

Castiel shook his head furiously "No, Jo is the girl he's dancing with."

Andy scanned the room and nodded as he found them "And that's the moose's girlfriend?"

"No, Ruby is his girlfriend. Jo is just his best friend."

Andy shook his head as if to clear the confusion "I do know Ruby but the rest…well that's not confusing at all."

Castiel chuckled "Sorry..information overload."

"Just a bit," Andy agreed with a smile.

"So what do you do, Andy?" he asked politely.

"I'm a female impersonator."

"Is there a lot of demand for that here in Kansas?" Castiel asked casually not sure if he was serious but not taking his eyes off of Dani and Dean.

The music ended and he watched them maneuver from dance floor to a small group of people that included their friends.

"No I'm kidding," Andy laughed as he watch Castiel watch the girl "I was just checking to see if you were listening. I work in an antique shop."

Castiel's brain was still focused on Danielle's dress. As Andy rambled on about his day job, Castiel took a drink of his beer as he watched. He watched her laugh at something Ruby whispered in her ear. He wanted to be near her but he knew she was not happy with him. What he should have done that night was demand that she see him. Make her understand that Meg wasn't what he wanted. Let her know it was her he wanted to be with. It was a conversation that should have taken place as soon as disaster struck but to be honest, he really didn't know what to say. He still didn't. "I'm sorry my psycho ex-girlfriend who tends to pop in and out of my life made you serenade me in an attempt to make you go away" would have been a good start but it didn't sound right. What would he want to hear if he were her? Maybe some begging or pleading, but Castiel had never done that before. If he could just find the right words…"Jesus Christ" he muttered.

"Shall we go over and chat with her?" Andy asked, a sympathetic look on his face.

Castiel turned his attention to the man next to him. "C'mon, I'll introduce you." He definitely should apologize for Meg's actions. He'd start with that and see where it got him.

He moved through the crowd with Andy on his heels and as he reached his crowd of friends, Ruby cried "Andy, I'm so glad you're here. My mom wanted me to ask you about the Basquiat painting that came into the shop."

Castiel looked at Ruby "Oh hey, yeah this is Andy. Andy, this is my brother Gabriel and my cousin Balthazar. But I think you know them."

Gabriel and Balthazar laughed shaking Andy's hand and patting him on the back.

Ruby smiled, "Of course I know Andy. He went to my high school. Andy, this is my boyfriend, Sam and his brother Dean and my friend Dani."

Sam leaned in to shake his hand "Nice to meet you."

Andy responded "And you too." He shook Sam's hand but he was busy taking in Castiel who was openly staring at Dani. He subjected her to the up and down stare. "Love that color red. It makes your dark hair pop."

"Thank you." Dani said grinning as she subjected him to the same up and down stare. "Love your outfit too."

The DJ played a slow song Castiel didn't recognize but he leaned closer to Danielle "I need to talk to you."

"Talk," she replied stiffly.

"On the dance floor. Please," he said, his blue eyes shining with sincerity.

She gave him a phony smile and turned to look at him. "Whatever you have to say to me you can say right here."

He leaned in close and spoke next to her ear. "I think it would be best if we talked in private. That is if your date doesn't mind."

Dean who had obviously been listening replied too quickly, "Sure, Dani, go ahead."

Her mouth fell open then snapped shut as she glared at Dean.

Castiel leaned back and looked into her face. "Shall we?" He didn't wait for her answer before taking her lightly by the elbow. "Excuse me." He handed his beer to an astonished Dean and moved with her to the middle of the dance floor. He placed his palm in the middle of her back and folded her hand in his. They both took a step forward at the same time and her chest collided with his. Not that he minded. "I'm going to lead this one," he said trying to take control, like Dean would.

She let him lead but dancing with her was like holding on to a wooden cutout. "Relax," he said in a soothing tone next to her temple.

"I am," she bristled, moving her head away.

"No, you're moving like you have a stick up your butt," he blurted the first thing that popped into his head.

"Charming. Say what you have to say but make it quick. I have to get back…"

"To Dean? Why would you even agree to come to the wedding with him?"

"Is that what you want to talk about?"

Well it was one of the things he wanted to talk about. "Not if you don't want to tell me."

He moved her closer to the stage and the bright lights slid through her dark hair.

"I think I need to apologize, but I'm not sure what I should apologize for." He pulled back looking at her for some clue as to how to proceed. She didn't offer any hints.

"Are you waiting for me to tell you what you should apologize for?"

That might help, he thought. He shook his head. "No." But he was absolutely not going to admit that she'd scared the shit out of him. "I know you're mad about the other night. I think I know what Meg did but I'm not sure if you want me to apologize for her. I know she hurt you."

Her brows drew together and alarms went off in his head. Wrong thing to say, Castiel Way to go.

"She didn't hurt me."

"Oh good." He paused pulling her closer thinking maybe things would be ok. "I'm sorry that she did that..made you do that..made you think that she and I were…together."

She pushed away and put a few inches between them. "You're only saying you're sorry because you think I'm going to forgive you and things will go back to the way they were."

He shook his head. "I was sorry about it that night. I wanted to talk to you, I waited but everyone said you needed time. And then I went to your apartment and I found Dean..and…I thought…"

"Nothing happened between me and Dean," she protested. "And you should have tried…maybe I wanted to talk to you that night..you could have called me in the morning."

He nodded "You're right. I could have called but I wanted to talk to you in person."

The music stopped and she pulled out of his embrace. "And now you have."

He grasped her arm to make sure she didn't run away "Come home with me."

"Why?"

"So we can talk," his voice low and husky, his blue eyes shining.

Dani looked at him, he looked so handsome and it would be so easy to forgive him and fall back into old habits. She took a deep breath and held her ground "Cas, I don't want to talk. There is nothing to talk about."

"Excuse me." Andy said as he joined them. "I'm hoping the tart in the red dress will dance with me."

"I'd love to dance with you." Dani said giving a wide smile as she took Andy's hand, leaving a stunned Castiel to watch.

He bet if he called her a tart, she wouldn't have smiled at him like that.

He turned away and moved through the crowd toward the bar where his brothers were standing.

"Wow, Castiel, shot down twice and they're dancing together..you made a gay man go straight." Gabriel joked.

Castiel frowned at them as they all laughed at his expense.