Pictures

Summer Before Sophomore Year

A few months after Lisa and Dean broke up, things got complicated between Cas and him. He started hanging out with a new group of guys and left Cas on his own. Dean got invited to a big end of the summer party and was allowed a plus one. He felt bad about leaving Cas alone all summer, so naturally, he called him.

"Dean?"

"Cas, hey. How's it going?"

"Um, fine."

"What's with the 'um'?"

"Well, you didn't call me or text me for most of the summer, and now it's 'hey'?"

"Well, I was calling to invite you to a party, but if you don't want to go..."

"Who's party is it?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes."

"It's Benny's. Look, I know you don't like him, but I miss you. You and I can go swim while they do spin the bottle or whatever they do these days."

"Fine. When is it?"

"Tonight. I'll pick you up. Make sure you have a swim suit and towel, because we are going swimming."

He groaned. "Fine, I'll go. But only for you. I like being an introvert, and this doesn't help my reputation among the other introverts." Dean chuckled. "See you tonight."

At six, they got to Benny's house. There was already a lot of people there, most of which Dean didn't recognize. Probably some of Benny's rich friends. He and Cas snuck into the back and looked for the food.

"Mmmm. Cupcakes." 

"Cas, aren't you on a diet?"

"Technically, yes. But everyone knows that once a week, you're allowed a cheat day, and this is mine." He smiled. God, Dean missed that smile.

"I'm going to find Benny. Wait here." Dean wandered off. He found Benny and they wandered back over to the food table.

"This loser is your plus one?" Benny chuckled.

"This loser? This loser happens to be my best friend." Dean shot back.

"Can we stop referring to me as 'this loser' and call me by my actual name, please? I'd appreciate it." 

"Whatever man, I ain't in charge of you." Benny smiled, shook his head, and walked away.

"Cas, you were right. I shouldn't have started hanging out with him. I just felt like he could relate to me, but I was wrong."

"It's okay, man. C'mon, let's go swimming."

They changed in separate rooms. Dean looked in the mirror and found the picture on his hip, just above the swimsuit line. It looked familiar, like one he'd seen when he was little, but he shrugged it off. It had been there for so long he never paid any mind to it.

When they got to the pool, Cas took his shirt off and crossed his arms. He'd clearly been working out. He waited until Dean jumped in to uncross his arms. After splashing him, Cas jumped after him. Dean noticed a tattoo on his left side.

"Who's tattoo is that? Do you have a secret girlfriend?"

"What? OH! No, it's- it's nothing."

"Really? You're going to hide it from me?"

"I could say the same thing about you, mister I'm-trying-to-hide-it-under-my-swimsuit." Cas grinned. His come comebacks were always so stupid.

"I honestly have no idea who's it is. I found it when I was changing."

"That's a flat-out lie," Cas said.

"Fine. Middle of last year. How about you? When did you find yours?"

"You're not going to believe me," Cas said, looking down.

"Try me."

"I've had mine since first grade..." Dean stared at Cas. For a moment, it was quiet. Then Dean spoke up.

"Mine looks familiar. Do you know it?"

"Let me see it." They jumped out of the pool Dean showed Cas his. As he looked at it, he seemed scared and relieved. Then he looked down at his own ankle.

"So, do you know who's it is?"

"I'll only tell you on one condition. If you tell me who mine is." He turned towards Dean.

Dean looked at it. It was red, blood red. It was this weird symbol. It kind of looked like a backward F. Exactly like his. To the last detail. Even the part where it dips. Dean let out a gasp.

"It's yours, isn't it. I have your tattoo."

"Well what about me, Cas. This your tattoo?" Cas looked up at Dean with is blue eyes and smiled.

"Yeah, Dean. It's mine. You love me." He laughed.

"Yeah. Guess I can't hide it anymore."

"Well, you never really did, I could always see it in your eyes."

"I could see it in your smile. You only use it around me. When you were playing with Jo, in first grade, it was a different smile. Different than the one you used not two minutes later, on me." Dean grinned. "C'mon Cas. Let's go swim."

While Benny and his friends were playing spin the bottle, Cas and Dean were swimming. They cannonballed, and when sunk to the bottom, Cas grabbed Dean and kissed him. Unfortunately for both of them, they needed air, so it only lasted a second. 

Before Cas got out of the Impala, he grabbed Dean's hand. 

"I love you. Don't ever doubt that. And don't you dare go and date another girl. I sat through that once already, I don't need to see it again." He kissed Dean's cheek and jumped out. "Talk to you tomorrow."

"Hey!" Dean shouted after him. "I love you too, you idiot."