Chapter Twenty

With Rhonda officially banished to the back of the class, homeroom became a lot more bearable for Dean. He laughed more and paid more attention to the people around him, especially Cas. No matter how much Dean tried to tell himself it was just a crush, his feelings for Cas only deepened further. He could hardly stand it, yet couldn't bring himself to say anything either. All he could do was try to be content with spending time with Cas, and risk being caught staring at him more and more frequently.

As the state championship approached, Cas grew more and more nervous, as he always did before a big race. Dean caught him pacing their room on several occasions, and started sleeping with his coat again the week before the races. He wore his headphones and sunglasses more often as his nerves frayed. Dean did his best to distract him, but it wasn't until they were on their way to pick up Charlie that Cas finally thought about something else.

They had finished setting up the airbed on Cas's side of the room and Cas was the first out to the car, waiting impatiently for Dean to get in and drive.

'You excited to see her?' Dean said, putting the Impala into gear.

Cas nodded. 'It's been a while. She started college last year and my last place wouldn't let her visit when she had time.'

Dean grinned. 'I guess we'd better hurry up then.'

Cas smiled, his legs bouncing excitedly and his phone clutched tightly in his hand.

Dean had never seen him so excited, and found one more thing about Cas that gave him butterflies.

Once at the airport, Cas led the way, hurrying ahead into the terminal and standing on his toes to try and see Charlie.

'She's here somewhere,' he said, craning his neck over the heads of the crowd.

Then a girl with fiery orange hair appeared and barrelled into Cas, wrapping her arms around him. Her head barely came up to his chin but Cas winced as she squeezed.

'Charlie - you're suffocating me,' he said, voice strained.

Charlie let go, grinning sheepishly, and lightly punched his arm. 'You look great!' she said enthusiastically.

'Thanks, so do you,' Cas said. 'College suits you.'

'And you must be Dean,' Charlie said excitedly before giving Dean an equally tight squeeze.

'Ah, okay, we're hugging,' Dean said awkwardly.

Charlie let go. 'Sorry, you're not a hugging kinda guy?'

'No, Dean wuvs hugs,' Cas teased.

Dean was slightly taken aback, not used to such overt teasing from Cas, but he laughed. 'Yeah, he's right. Come on, let's get you back to our place.'

Dean walked them back to the car, Charlie and Cas chatting excitedly a few steps behind him. Cas sat in usual seat next to Dean, and Charlie climbed into the back, leaning forward to carry on her conversation.

'Sweet ride, dude,' Charlie said to Dean, and Dean grinned.

'Yeah, she is. My dad's though, I just drive her.'

'She's a she?' Charlie sniggered.

'Of course,' Dean said, fondly stroking the wheel.

'He calls her Baby,' Cas told Charlie.

Dean blushed furiously. 'I didn't know you knew that,' Dean mumbled and Cas chuckled.

'Don't be embarrassed, I think it's endearing,' Cas said lightly. 'He's going into engineering,' he told Charlie.

'Oh cool, you picked a school yet?' Charlie asked.

'Probably whichever will take me,' Dean said nervously. 'Are you interrogating me?'

'Sure I am,' Charlie grinned. 'I vet anyone who spends time with my Cas.'

'Your Cas, huh?' Dean sniggered, and it was Cas's turn to blush.

'That's right.'

Cas shook his head. 'Look, we're home,' he said, quickly changing the subject.

Dean snorted and pulled into the drive, where Mary was waiting for them.

'Is that your mom?' Charlie asked.

'Sure is,' said Dean.

Charlie hopped out of the car and lightly stepped over to Mary.

'Nice to meet you,' she grinned. 'Thanks so much for letting me stay, I never get to watch Cas race.'

'Oh, no problem, honey,' Mary smiled. 'Do you need help with your bags?'

'Don't worry, I got it,' Dean said, already hoisting Charlie's bag from the trunk of the car.

'Wow, a gentleman,' Charlie laughed.

Dean put Charlie's things down on Cas's side of the room, but left them to talk together.

'He seems more relaxed already,' Mary beamed, as Dean joined her in the kitchen.

Dean nodded. 'I hope it tides him over til the race,' he said.

'Hmm… Do you think Charlie will want something homecooked, or do you think she'll want pizza?'

Dean shrugged. 'You could just ask her, but she strikes me as a pizza kind of person.'

'Pizza it is then,' Mary smiled.

A couple of hours later, Charlie, Cas, Sam and Dean were all eating slices in the living room, while Mary and John stayed tactfully out of the way in the kitchen.

'So, Dean,' Charlie began, gearing up for another interrogation. 'I got a look at your transcript-'

'How?' Dean frowned.

'That's not important,' Charlie said smoothly. 'Anyway, I had a look, and I noticed some… inconsistency-'

'There's a good reason for that,' Cas interrupted firmly.

'Which is?'

'None of your business,' Dean said shortly.

'But-'

'It's fine, Charlie,' Cas insisted.

Charlie shrugged. 'All right, I just wanted to make sure you're not a bad influence, or something.'

Sam inhaled and choked on a bite of his pizza. 'Dean? A bad influence?' he laughed, eyes watering. 'Yeah right.'

Cas sniggered and Dean blushed.

'I guess that's settled then,' Charlie laughed, grabbing herself another.

'I could be a bad influence,' Dean muttered.

'Of course you could,' Sam laughed, patting Dean's knee.

They finished their food and lounged around the living room for a while longer.

'You know, Charlie plays dungeons and dragons too,' Cas said casually, and Sam's face lit up.

'Really?' he said. 'Will you play with us?'

Charlie grinned. 'Only if Cas is DM.'

'Yeah, Cas is the best DM,' Sam said excitedly. 'I'll set it up with the guys.' He scrambled up and ran up to his room.

With Sam gone, the rest of them dispersed as well. Cas and Charlie went upstairs, and Dean carried the pizza boxes to the kitchen, where Mary was wiping down the counters and John had fallen asleep at the table.

'You want any help?' Dean asked quietly, stuffing the boxes into the trash.

'No thanks, honey,' Mary whispered back.

'All right, I'm gonna head up. 'Night, Mom.'

'Goodnight.'

Dean walked up the stairs, but stopped just short of his bedroom door. It was still slightly open and he heard his own name.

'Okay, but is he straight?' Charlie was asking.

Dean's stomach flipped.

'I'm pretty sure he is,' Cas said, sounding uncomfortable.

'Yeah, well, you were pretty sure Alfie was too.'

'Charlie!'

Charlie laughed. 'I'm just saying, you aren't the best at figuring these things out.'

'Either way, it's none of my business,' Cas said. 'You can't just ask people if they're straight, I haven't known him that long.'

Dean didn't want to hear them speculating anymore, and walked into the bedroom. 'Hey,' he smiled, pretending he hadn't heard anything.

The curtain was open, and Charlie and Cas were both sitting on Cas's bed.

'You need any more pillows, or blankets, or anything?' Dean asked, pointing down at the airbed.

'Nah, you're good,' Charlie smiled.

Dean glanced at Cas, who had turned pink and was looking anywhere but at him. 'Cool, do you guys mind if I close this?' Dean asked, pointing at the curtain.

'Go ahead,' Cas mumbled, still not looking at him.

Dean drew the curtain across and heard Charlie whisper, 'It was nice of him to put that up.'

'Yes,' Cas whispered back. 'He's a nice person.'

Dean's stomach flipped again and he forced himself to change and go to bed, doing his best to ignore any further whispered conversation.

The morning of the race arrived, and Cas got on the bus already dressed in his running gear. He looked slightly queasy, and sat down with his hands tightly clasped in his lap. He'd only eaten breakfast at Charlie's encouragement, and reluctantly left her to get a ride to the race with Mary and John.

'Hey, guys,' said Jo, sitting in her usual seat behind Cas and Dean. 'How's it going?'

Dean shrugged and Cas didn't answer.

'Oh, race nerves?'

Cas nodded.

'Don't worry, you'll do great,' Jo said, patting Cas on the shoulder.

The team minibus was already waiting for them. Cas hesitated as they approached it.

'You got this,' Dean said quietly, and Cas gave him a small smile.

Cas hurried over to the minibus, glancing back at Dean and Jo.

'Yeah, go Cas!' Jo whooped. 'Kick their butts!'

Cas boarded the bus and one of his teammates winked at Jo before they went on their way.

The morning's classes were uneventful, and when they got to lunch, they found Kevin already at their table looking unusually awake.

'Guys, check this out,' he said excitedly, waving them over.

'What's going on?' Jo asked.

He showed them his laptop. 'They're live streaming the races, and if I… do this…' He pressed some keys, and the image of a crowded field came on the large screen on the wall, that was usually reserved for school announcements.

'We've missed a couple of the relays, I think,' Kevin said, his eyes flicking back and forth across his laptop screen. 'But we should still be able to catch Cas's solo races.'

'Yes, Kevin!' Dean grinned, slapping him on the back.

They watched the crowd disperse and the racers begin to line up.

'Look, there he is!' Jo exclaimed, pointing at Cas on the screen.

By then, most people in the room had noticed the races were on the screen and had turned their attention to it.

As Cas took off, the students in the room banged on the table, urging Cas on, and cheered loudly when he crossed the finish line with a wide lead. Kevin tapped some more on his laptop and the team scores appeared on screen. They were a close second, and the more races they ran, the more they gained on first place. By the final race, it was a tie, and Cas lined up at the starting line, stretching and jogging lightly on the spot.

'Come on, Cas,' Dean murmured, staring at the screen.

He was first off the block, as always, but the boy in second quickly caught up. Everyone in the room held their breath as the boy ran the two hundred meters close at Cas's heels, but during the last ten, Cas found a burst of energy and pushed himself just slightly further ahead, crossing the finish line and taking the title.

The cafeteria burst into shouts and cheers, celebrating the team's, and Cas's, win.

Kevin grinned and disconnected the races from the screen, but no one noticed.

Just then, Dean's phone rang and he saw that Mary was trying to video call him.

'Guys, guys,' Dean said, trying to shush Jo and Crowley, who were still stamping their feet and cheering for Cas. 'Hey, Mom,' he said, raising his voice above the din, and Kevin, Jo and Crowley gathered around.

Mary's face was bright and smiling, with Charlie and John beside her with the school colours painted on their faces. 'Look!' she shouted, switching her camera so it was pointed at Cas down on the field. 'They're giving him his letter jacket!'

The team had surrounded Cas, but they parted to let the coach through. Cas looked confused at first, but beamed when he realised the jacket was for him. The coach put it on him and the captain of the team handed him the trophy.

'Aw, how cute,' came Mary's voice.

Cas held up the trophy to more cheering and applause.

'Okay, gotta go,' Mary said, and ended the call without waiting for a response.

'That was pretty cute,' Jo said, sitting back down.

'Positively adorable,' said Crowley, attempting to be nonchalant, but unable to keep the smile off his face.

Too excited to see Cas again, Dean struggled to pay attention to his classes, and was the first outside to the parking lot. A small crowd gathered and the minibus carrying the team finally returned. The cheering picked up again as the team got out, all grinning and jumping around in excitement. Dean's heart leapt as Cas finally climbed out, still carrying the trophy and grinning from ear to ear.

The captain shouted, 'Who wants to put the trophy in the case?'

The crowd whooped and followed the team back inside, Cas and the captain at the front. The coach came with them and unlocked the glass trophy case in reception. Cas held up the trophy for them all one more time, before ceremoniously placing the trophy in the case. There was more applause and the coach locked up the case.

'State champions!' the captain whooped, and led the crowd back outside, jumping and shouting the whole way.

Dean couldn't stop himself from putting an arm around Cas as they walked out, but Cas didn't protest.

'Good job,' Dean said, quietly so only Cas could hear.

Mary pulled up in her car, with John, Charlie and Sam already in their seats. Dean leaned in as Mary rolled down the window.

'Burgers for dinner!' she beamed, waving a flag in one hand, and Sam and Charlie whooped and cheered.

Dean grinned. 'That's sweet, Mom, but we won't all fit in there.'

'Good thing we dropped the other one off for you, then,' said John, throwing the keys to the Impala through the window.

'Sweet.' Dean caught the keys and peered around the parking lot for the Impala.

'We'll meet you at the diner,' Mary said, swinging her car around, while Sam and Charlie poked their heads out of their windows and pulling party poppers, scattering confetti everywhere as they drove away.

Dean chuckled. 'Come on,' he said, spotting the Impala and leading Cas over to it.

As soon as they sat down and closed the doors, Cas let out a huge sigh of relief and closed his eyes.

'Hey, are you okay?' Dean said in concern.

Cas nodded, but pulled out his noise cancelling headphones. 'I just need some quiet for a moment,' he said, putting them on and leaning back in his seat.

Dean nodded, and drove them the long way around to the diner. Cas kept his eyes closed the whole time, but the movement of the car seemed to soothe him. Dean parked, but made no move to get up until Cas hesitantly removed his headphones.

'Ready?' Dean asked, smiling kindly.

'I think so,' Cas said, smiling back and stretching his arms.

Dean grinned. 'All right then, let's go, State Champ.'

Cas rolled his eyes. 'I'm not the only one on the team, you know.'

'Yeah, yeah, but we're proud of you.' Dean insisted. 'Come on, you must be hungry after all that running.'

'Starving,' Cas smiled.

Welcome back everyone :) Things are starting to settle down now so hopefully I'll be around a bit more often.