Dean heaved a sigh staring at the inside of his locker. This was the third school he'd been transferred to this year, and it was only April, he and Sam were now living with their uncle Bobby, because their drunk of a father had lost custody of them after his fifth arrest for child endangerment.

Which, this time, meant he had left Dean alone to watch Sam while he went on a 'hunting trip', when he was actually on a bender at a cabin with his drinking buddies.

When John didn't come home Monday morning to take the boys to school, Dean ended up calling Bobby, who went into a fit and had gotten social services involved, swearing to take over as their legal guardian with more than enough proof John was an unfit parent.

Dean couldn't have cared less, but Sam was still too young to understand. Dean was grateful their uncle had taken on the burden of watching him and his little brother. It meant he didn't have to worry about where their next meal would come from and they could maybe settle into a school for once and actually make friends.

The bell for first period rang, drawing Dean from his thoughts and turning to walk away from his locker when he collided with something, a boy he didn't even notice running down the hall, the both of them collapsing to the ground with the smaller boy landing in Dean's lap.

"Shit, I'm so so sorry..." the boy squeaked, blue eyes blinking up at Dean. Dean moved to sit up, realizing the boy was straddling his lap.

"It's ok, I wasn't paying attention." Dean offered instinctively placing his hands on the boy's hip, easily lifting the both of them off the ground and setting him on his feet.

Castiel blushed, looking down at his feet as Dean removed his hands from his hips.

"I'm late for class..." Dean gestured down the hall with his thumb. "S-same... Say, you're the new kid, aren't you?" the boy answered looking up at Dean, his eyes bright with excitement. Dean winced, embarrassed. Everyone could just tell that, no matter which school he'd gone to. It was like he had a neon sign on his forehead.

"That's me... Name's Dean." he stuck his hand out towards the other boy, giving a half smile when he eagerly took it and shook it briskly before letting go all too quickly. "Castiel Novak, student president." Castiel announced happily.

"I believe we both have the same English class... That we're both late for." Castiel sighed bowing his head. He unexpectedly grabbed Dean's hand and took off down the hall, towing Dean behind him.

-_-_-_

After class, Dean was surprised to see Castiel waiting for him in the hall. "Come on, I'll show you to the cafeteria." Castiel announced as the two of them merged into the stream of students all going the same way. "Is that your way of asking me to lunch?" Dean teased jokingly, bumping his shoulder against Castiel's.

The boy flushed bright pink, a noise of surprise coming from the back of his throat as a squeak. Dean quirked an eyebrow, now embarrassed for the both of them. "I was kiddin', man..." he tried to reassure Castiel by patting him on the back.

"Oh... Yes, right. But we can sit together if you'd like to..." Castiel responded, clearing his throat. Dean couldn't help but notice he looked a bit hurt by his comment that he'd just been teasing the boy. "Yeah, that would be nice." Dean grinned, following along as they turned down another hall.

Castiel grabbed Dean's hand and pulled him to get in line with the other students, Dean couldn't stop looking at Castiel's hand intertwined with his like it was the most normal thing, like it was something they'd been doing for ages. He could only hope his hand didn't start sweating from his nerves.

They claimed their trays and got their food, Castiel led them to a table that hadn't been taken over and set his tray down as he took a seat. Dean sat down across from him, smiling faintly. Castiel was the first one who had actively spent time with him since he had started the school year.

It was nice to not sit at lunch alone. The other schools he had been to, everyone treated him like an outcast, like he was plagued or something because everyone found out one way or another who his father was. Castiel either knew and didn't care or he had no idea who he was. Which, honestly suited Dean. _-_-_-_

"Need a ride home, Castiel?" Dean questioned as he walked up to Castiel by his locker, gathering books into a canvas tote bag. Dean had a hand-me-down backpack slung over his shoulder. "Oh, you have a car?" Castiel responded, his head tilted in confusion as he closed his locker door to look at Dean.

"It's my old man's, but yeah. Come on, you'll love her." Dean answered happily, clapping Castiel on the shoulder as they moved away from the lockers to make their way down the hall towards the exit. "I don't know anyone with a car." Castiel announced quietly, eagerly following Dean into the student parking lot.

"I also don't have many friends..." he admitted with a small frown. "Well you've got me now, and I have a car." Dean smiled brightly, his grin growing wider when Castiel smiled sweetly up at him. They crossed the lot to where a shiny black '67 Chevy Impala was parked by the curb. "Oh wow, that's yours?" Castiel whispered excitedly, eyeing the muscle car.

"That's my baby, come on." Dean ushered Castiel around the front of the hood to the passenger side. He dug his keys out of his back pocket and unlocked the door, pulling it open and gestured for Castiel to climb inside. Castiel got up onto the bench seat, setting his tote bag on the floor between his feet. Dean closed the door and ran around to the driver side.

Dean settled into the seat beside Castiel, closing his door as he slid the key into the ignition, turning it as he revved the engine. The thunderous rumble of the car startled Castiel, having scooted closer to Dean. "It's okay, she sounds a little rough when she sits for a while." Dean explained with a grin, aware of how much closer Castiel had gotten.