18 Dates - Destiel High School AU

A blue that rivalled the sky

The boy the receptionist walked over was not what Dean had been expecting. He'd pictured someone very outgoing and assertive, someone possibly able to look people in the eyes while they were talking to them, but this guy was none of that.

He was quiet and shy, and even though he was only an inch or two shorter than Dean, he seemed really small where they stood together in the reception area.

It didn't take someone with a psychology degree to figure out that Castiel seemed to lack confidence, which threw Dean for a loop as the boy's clothes seemed unique enough in appearance to suggest he didn't care for other people's opinions of him.

Dean figured he was probably just less upfront with his real personality until you got to know him better.

That didn't bother Dean; he was a people person. He could make anyone open up with enough time, and they had all day.

"Well then," Dean starts in an attempt to break the very noticeable layer of ice between them. "Where to first, Cas? Oh, you don't mind me calling you that, right? Your name is a bit of a mouthful." He smiles sweetly.

Hopefully, something in there will get a decent reaction. Whether it was a 'yes' or a 'no' or a 'don't make fun of my long ass name' Dean didn't care; he just wanted some sort of real reaction from the guy.

"Cas is fine." The boy mumbles, not meeting Dean's eyes, and immediately turns to start walking down the hall. Well hell. Dean thought. He's a tough cookie.

"Hold on a moment, boys." The receptionist interrupts and stops both of them before they can get too far away. "Here are the hall passes you'll need for wandering around." She hands Cas the cards and some papers.

Dean watches her little dangly cross earrings jiggle as she pushes a few stray strands of white/grey hair that have gotten loose from her bun behind one of her ears.

"You have the morning to tour, and after that, you'll need to attend afternoon classes individually, unless you have any together, but if you can, Castiel, please meet up with Dean at the end of each period to show him to his next class. In case he loses his way." She smiles brightly and pushes her chained prescription glasses back up the bridge of her nose.

Castiel nods his acknowledgement but casts a weary look around the hallway, like he's either looking for someone he needs to speak to or doesn't want someone to see him hanging around. Dean was undecided on which one it was.

He snaps back into focus rather quickly, though, and while Dean is occupied receiving a pass and his class schedule from the boy in front of him, the receptionist leaves them standing alone in the hallway again.

A bell sounds loud enough above their heads that it makes Dean wince and Castiel jump. The blond looks around the hall to find it emptying at a fast pace.

As the remaining kids start to scatter, Castiel takes a steady breath and seems to grow taller, unhunching his shoulders and focusing his attention a little more on Dean.

"To answer your first question, we can go wherever you want to. I will leave it up to you to decide." Castiel says quietly and makes direct eye contact with Dean for the first time since they'd been introduced.

It catches Dean off guard just how blue Castiel's eyes are. He'd noticed them as they'd talked, if you could call it that, but it was just in slight glances. Now, as the guy lifted his head higher, unburdened by the gazes of other students, Dean could really see the colour of them.

A blue that rivalled the sky.

It took a lot of effort for Dean to break the eye contact.

What could he say? He liked blue.