Disclaimer 1: I do not own Supernatural and am not making money by writing this story

Disclaimer 2: The title is from the song, Chasing Cars and I am not making money by using it as the title of my fanfic.

Chapter twenty-three

Beginning of November

A few months have passed by since Vic's party but Dean couldn't stop thinking about it. It wasn't like Dean was jealous. Of course not, that would be crazy. And what would he even be jealous of? That was ridiculous. No, Dean just hated that stupid bitch, Meg. Why'd she have to go and take Castiel? She could have any guy but of course, she wanted Castiel. She's probably just using him to get back at Dean. Dean's definitely convinced that's what it is.

He's not jealous. Nope. Not one bit.

Dean's too engrossed by his thoughts that he hasn't even realized that half of the class has gone by. He only notices when he sees that when he sees that Asher isn't sitting next to him and that Castiel has taken his place.

"Dean, do you want to do it at my place or yours?" Castiel said, bringing Dean out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" Dean asked. Why the heck did Castiel all of a sudden want to go to his place? And what did he mean by, 'it'?" Dean tried not to blush at the insinuation.

"The project, Dean." Castiel gave him a pointed look and suddenly Dean was reminded of the old Castiel, the one Dean used to be best friends with. "The project that we are supposed to do for this class."

At that moment, Dean couldn't help but thinking how much Castiel had changed.

"Dean!" Castiel exclaimed. "Are you even listening? This project is worth 40% our grade. Lucky for me, I somehow got partnered up with you."

"I sense some resentment in that statement." Dean smirked when he saw the tiniest bit of red tint Castiel's cheek. "Don't get your panties in a twist, we can start it today after school."

Dean couldn't help but smile at the way Castiel's face got even redder. Some things never change.

Same day (After school)

"So any ideas for the project?" Dean said as he hung up his coat and then took Castiel's to do the same thing.

"Not sure, really. What do you think we should do?" Castiel asked.

"I-um-." Truth be told, Dean didn't even know what the project was supposed to be about. He hadn't been listening and he was hoping that Castiel would tell him.

"You don't even know what we're supposed to do, do you?" Castiel narrowed his eyes.

"Um..well.." Dean stammered. Great, one conversation with Castiel and he's already a puddle.

Castiel cracked a smile. "Don't worry, I know what we have to do. I can tell you after lunch." Dean was about to tell him where the kitchen was but then he realized as he saw Castiel walk there that Castiel remembered.

He swallowed down the lump that had formed in his throat and followed Castiel.

"What do you want?" Dean said, suddenly being reminded of their sleepover years ago.

"Anything you have is fine." Castiel replied.

"No peanut butter and nutella?" Dean asked teasingly.

Castiel laughed. "God no. I don't eat that shit anymore." And wow, Castiel was cursing.

Dean doesn't remember Castiel ever being so calm and confident.

As Dean heated up the remains of the pizza, he couldn't help but glance over at Castiel. He almost gasped when he looked back. Castiel had rolled up his sleeves and holy shit. His arms looked great. There were no hints of bruises or scars that had been put there on often occasion.

Castiel caught Dean's gaze and then said, "They faded."

Dean nodded. He didn't know what else to do.

Once the microwave beeped, he got out the slices and placed them on plates.

"Here you, go it's a bit hot." Dean said as he placed the plate before Castiel. Castiel, probably not noticing that Dean was still holding the plate, reached for the slice and accidentally touched Dean's hand.

Dean withdrew his hand quickly. Castiel, muttered, "Sorry" before taking a bite.

"Do you want some iced tea?" Dean asked abruptly.

Castiel nodded and Dean got up from his stool to retrieve two iced tea bottles from the fridge. As he poured them into glasses, he tried not to think about what had just happened.

He hoped his face didn't look it like it was on fire.

A few weeks before Thanksgiving

Dean and his friends were all huddled around a table in the cafeteria. Castiel was also there. Meg had some kind of study group to attend or something. Dean didn't really care. He just liked spending time with Castiel. Over the past month, they had been working on their English project and they had started getting closer again.

"So you guys going to the Thanksgiving dance?" Alfie asked as he finished up his Chemistry homework. Well more like copied off Ash's worksheet while Ash wasn't looking.

"Nah, don't think so. What am I going to do? Dress up as a turkey?" Asher said and then yanked the worksheet farther away from Alfie and said, "And stop copying my answers, you wanker."

"We aren't British, da-arling." Theo drawled and everyone cracked up.

Jo rolled her eyes. "Only you would go to a dance dressed as a turkey."

"And I'd be the only one looking fabulous." Asher responded triumphantly.

Jo giggled.

"I'm sure you would." Theo said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"You going to the dance, Cas?" Alfie asked, ignoring his friends. He was the most serious of his friends and sometimes Dean thought that Alfie was really 80 years old deep down.

Castiel shrugged. "I dunno. I haven't talked to Meg about this."

Alfie nodded. He turned to Theo, "How about you? Managed to ask someone?"

Theo's smile vanished immediately. "No, I wish. Does Mel have any hot friends?"

Alfie whacked him up he head. "Hey! That's my girlfriend's friends you're taking about." Then he muttered quietly, "No she doesn't."

After lunch, they separated ways. He and Jo giggled when they walked down the hallway and heard Asher shouting at Alfie, "Fine I'll help you as long as you stop copying."

Before Jo went into the classroom, Dean grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to him.

"Ow-what the fuck, Winchester?" Jo rubbed her arm and narrowed her eyes at Dean, waiting for an explanation.

Dean rubbed at his neck and shifted his eyes, unsure of how to phrase this.

Jo grew impatient and barked out, "What?"

"Um.. well- I was wondering- do you want to go to the dance with me?" Dean asked hesitantly.

Jo rolled her eyes. "Is that what this was about? Sure, I'll go with you. But no funny business! And remember, Asher is technically my brother."

Like Dean could ever forget that.

A/N: Please review.
Thank you,
P.S. I have a huge pile of homework to do and I decided to update this story. I hope you're happy.
P.P.S. I don't know if some of you might be worried about Jo and Dean but destiel is endgame in this story.