Soldier Boy

Chapter Twenty-One

"Dean, please. We need to talk," Castiel called out, desperately trying to keep up with the slightly taller boy who was speeding down the hall. The hallway was full of students, who all looked on with confusion. The two best friends never fought like this.

"What's there to talk about, Castiel? I don't want to talk!" Dean exclaimed, turning on his heels to face the blue-eyed boy. Cas winced, not liking the harsh sound of his full name on Dean's tongue.

"Dean, I'm sorry! Can't we just forget it happened?" Castiel begged, wishing that Dean would just let it go. Castiel didn't want to forget that night, but if it meant he got to keep Dean in his life, he'd do anything.

"No, I can't just forget, Castiel! It happened, and it can't happen again. The best way I can ensure that is to stay clear the hell away from you." Dean said gruffly, his gaze accusingly on Castiel, as if the smaller boy had caused the events at the party.

"Dean, we're best friends! I promise it won't happen again! Please, just... Don't push me away," Cas begged, taking a few steps closer. Dean instantly took a few steps back.

"It doesn't matter, Castiel Novak-Shurley. You can't help who you are. No matter how hard you try, the other shoe will fall. It'll happen again, and I won't be able to help it again." Dean's words cut through Cas like a knife, and Dean turned and continued down the hall, ignoring the probing eyes and confused gazes, ignoring the need to turn and comfort the boy that had taken hold of his heart secretly, and just following his instinct to run.

Castiel stood in the hallway, frozen, for a long time. The warning bell finally awoke him from his icy state, sending him, like a zombie, to class. The rest of the day was spent in a numb haze. Balthazar and Anna ushered him away from their normal table with the others and directly to the back of the lunchroom, as far away from Dean Winchester as possible.

The rest of the group was eternally perplexed by these new developments. First, news of the fight that had spread throughout the school like wildfire in some dry underbrush. Now, the Novak-Shurley siblings were avoiding their table completely. No one knew anything. Everyone just shared glances and didn't mutter a word.

"What did you do?" Sam finally asked halfway through lunch, sighing in resignation since everyone else refused to ask the same question that had been swirling in their own minds.

"What? Why did I have to do something?" Dean asked defensively, throwing his hands up.

"Because Cas isn't talking to you, and Cas doesn't do stupid shit like you do," Sam replied easily, giving Dean one of his best bitch-faces.

"Well, this time it was Cas," Dean replied coldly, turning away from his baby brother. Everyone stared, aghast. Dean was acting like a dick- to Sam. Sure, he was a dick all the time, but this was Sam.

"Hey, douchebag, why don't you just go and makeup with your boyfriend already?" Jess hissed in defense of Sam, irritated.

"We're not dating, dammit! I'm straight!" Dean yelled, catching the whole cafeteria's attention. Anna and Balthazar glared all the way across the huge room filled with hundreds upon hundreds of students while Cas never lifted his head. Bela saw the three siblings from across the room, then looked at Dean.

"Oh," Bela murmured, a bit surprised, but not too shocked. "What?" Dean asked with annoyance.

"Well, I mean, it's obvious what happened," Bela stated, smirking just a bit.

"What's obvious? What happened?" Jo asked, confused, looking between Bela and Dean now.

"Well, I must say I'm a bit disappointed. I was hoping for a few more nights," Bela said, shaking her head slightly, but still looking amused. Dean really wanted to wipe that smirk off her face.

"What?" Charlie asked, confused also.

"Dean here just added someone new to his list of conquests. Castiel," Bela revealed, smirking. Everyone looked at Dean, shocked.

"What? That's crazy, I'm not gay!" Dean replied, laughing it off.

"Well, you're at least bisexual. I must say, I didn't need the competition for your affection. But when you pick them, you pick very well," Bela purred, looking over at Cas. Dean felt an overwhelming surge of jealousy, but buried that burning ball quickly.

"I didn't sleep with him," Dean growled, standing and storming out of the lunchroom.

"Well, that was entertaining," Bela said, and the rest of the table glared.

Lunch was soon over, and the day continued much the same. Dean drove Sam home, where they found their father's car sitting in the driveway. Dean almost wept with joy at seeing it, while Sam was filled with dread.

Dean jogged into the house, opening the door to see his dad on the couch.

"Dad, I want to join the military early. I'm ready to go," Dean said as soon as his father had looked up, stony faced and serious. John took in his son for a moment, looking him over for any signs of weakness or possible future regret. Seeing none, he nodded.

"Okay, son. I'll see what I can do if this is what you really want," John said cautiously, not expecting his son's enthusiasm. Sam just passed the threshold as Dean nodded eagerly. "Yes, sir. That'd be great." Dean smiled with relief.

"What?" Sam asked, confused.

"I'm joining the military, Sammy." Dean grinned down at his brother as Sam's eyes widened in horror for a second before faking a smile.

This wasn't good.

In fact, it was extremely bad.