High School Memories

Chapter Eight: Crowley's Coming Over

When I'm late to school I don't even rush, I just stop to make breakfast.
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Cas trudged to his next class when someone from behind wrapped their arm around his shoulder. He looked up surprised by the sudden contact, he looked up at the taller person only to see Dean grinning down at him. He couldn't help but blush as they continued to walk down the hall with Dean's arm wrapped around his shoulder.

"Hey." Castiel practically melted in his embrace.

"Heya." Dean smiled his green eyes glowing.

"So about that date." Castiel whispered knowing well enough that Dean had heard him, "Can it be after school Friday?"

"Uh, I can't." Dean frowned, "I have football practice."

"Really?" Cas's eyebrows shot up.

"Yeah, I honestly think that's the only thing I have going for me." Dean sighed noting how tightly Cas was clutching his books to his chest.

"That's not the only thing you have going for you Dean." Cas scolded him, "you're smart, good looking-"

"You think I'm good looking?" Dean smirked down as Cas.

"You know what I mean." Cas bit his lip his cheeks tinting pink.

Dean hummed looking at Cas with an almost smug grin. They walked to the lunchroom in a comforting silence. Dean enjoyed the warmth coming from Cas, and Cas just enjoyed the contact. Dean took his arm away from Cas before they walked into the lunchroom, Castiel was grateful for that even though he didn't want to get out of Dean's embrace. Balthazar was trying to figure out who the guy was and Cas thought it was better if Dean wasn't threatened until after their first date.

Castiel grabbed his tray and food then made his way towards their table. Everyone including Balthazar was there. Castiel took a seat by his brother who gave him a wink before going back to his conversation. Dean sat on Cas's other side, Cas could tell he was confused by Balthazar but then again who wouldn't be. A foreign exchange student, if you could even call him that, was not very common in Kansas for some reason.

"This is my older brother Balthazar." Castiel introduced him to Dean, "And this is Dean my friend."

"Pleasure." Balthazar shook Dean's hand with a polite smile.

Dean also smiled, "I didn't know you had an English brother."

"Yup, you've met all my siblings except for Hannah she's in college." Castiel half smiled.

"How old are you, Dean?" Balthazar looked between the two and Cas knew he'd have to change the subject before his brother suspected anything.

"I'm-" Dean started.

"Er, Balthazar can you pass me the ranch?" Cas interjected hoping that would spare some time for him.

"For your pizza?" Balthazar looked up at him disgusted.

"It's surprisingly good." Cas tried to keep the conversation going, "wanna try some?"

"I'll pass on the stomach ache." Balthazar shook his head forgetting that he had asked Dean a question.

Cas sighed as Balthazar looked the other way starting a conversation with Gabriel. Dean raised an eyebrow at the sophomore but Cas only smiled at him. Conversations flourished throughout the group and Cas honestly couldn't help but notice that Sam was blushing the entire time he was talking to Gabriel. Could they be more obvious, Castiel shook his head and smiled.

"Just an FYI," Anna spoke up. "Meg and Crowley are coming over the house after school."

All the boys groaned except for Cas who stood frozen in his spot. He didn't know what to think, say, or do. He was stuck just staring down at his milk his heart pounding so loud he couldn't hear anything else but it's beating.

"Cas?" Dean murmured breaking Cas out of his trance.

"Huh?" Cas felt his cheeks burn.

"Are you okay?" Dean studied Cas's face his green eyes filled with concern.

"Yeah, absolutely." Cas nodded a little too furiously and spoke too quickly.

"Want to talk about it?" Dean whispered not truly buying his answer.

"There's nothing to talk about." Castiel shrugged looking away from the older boy.

He could hear Dean sigh without saying another word. Cas felt awful, he honestly did want to talk about it, but he just couldn't. Cas was about to turn and talk to Dean once again when someone clapped their hand on his shoulder a little too rough. Castiel jumped under the touch his cheeks heating up.

"Hey, Crowley." Anna gave him a warm smile which he returned.

Castiel felt the pressure grow on his shoulder more and more pain shooting through him. Crowley had started a legitimate conversation with the entire table not including Dean who was watching Cas intently under Crowley's hand. Cas kept his face composed but it felt as if Crowley was really trying to break his shoulder.

"Crowley,I think you're hurting him." Dean spoke up his tone gruff.

Crowley played innocent, "my bad Castiel I didn't mean to lean on you so hard."

"No problem." Castiel didn't even try to make eye contact with his bully.

Crowley smirked down at Cas before going back to his conversation now pulling up a chair. This had to be Cas's worst nightmare. His bully getting along with his family. Castiel looked over at Dean who was staring at him with curious eyes Cas smiled standing up to throw out his food.

He decided to make a break for it and leave the cafeteria before anyone noticed. He was lucky he left his bag on so that no one would truly noticed his escape. He rushed to the library and slipped into his favorite spot on the floor clutching his bag to his chest. Castiel could feel his heart beating faster than it's ever had before. He sucked in a deep breath hoping to calm his nerves.

"Castiel?" He looked up to see Charlie with a stack of books in her arms, "are you okay?"

"I-yeah I'm fine." Castiel shook his head but Charlie frowned setting her books down and sat beside him.

"No you're not." Charlie placed a comforting hand on Cas's shoulder her eyes gentle, "you can talk to me after all you're one of my best friends."

"Maybe another time, Charlie." Castiel sighed and she nodded.

"I'm here if you need me." She patted his shoulder and stood back up.

"Uh-Charlie th-thank you." Castiel smiled.

"Of course." She grabbed her books and walked off.

Castiel sighed and rubbed at his face he had no idea what he was going to do about Crowley especially once they all got home. He would assume it'd be worse there. He'd have to make an excuse to get out of the house and as far away from Crowley as possible.