Strings Attached

Chapter 32

Dean and Castiel are alone in the living room later that day when Castiel finally brings it up.

"Dean?" he says hesitantly.

"Yeah?"

"I don't think this friendship thing is working out."

"What? Why?" Dean asks quickly.

"Because I don't know you," Castiel replies. "Like, I know what you've told me, but I don't really know who you are." It's not really true; Castiel has a lot of his memories with Dean back. It makes this even harder to do, but he knows he has to.

"I'm sure you'll remember me soon," Dean replies. "Until then, just pretend I'm a new friend of yours."

"I can't. I'm sorry, Dean."

Castiel avoids looking at him, not wanting to see the broken expression he wears. "Cas, don't do this. Please."
"I'm sorry."

And that is the end of their friendship.

~

The next day, Lucifer drives Gabriel and Castiel to school. Almost immediately, Charlie finds them, and she bounds up to the younger boy excitedly.

"Hey, Castiel! And, uh, you."

Gabriel laughs. "Don't worry. I'll get lost for ya." He walks away, making Castiel jealous that he can do that.

"So, what's new, Castiel?" Charlie asks.

Castiel frowns. He really doesn't want to have friends, but he likes Charlie. Sure, he's barely spoken to her, but he's already decided she's one of the nicest people out there. Maybe he'll let himself have one friend. Just one.

"Nothing," Castiel lies, as if he didn't remember some life changing facts last night. "How about you?"

"Same," Charlie replies. "Life is too boring. Can I bring you to class again today?"

She sounds so excited, he can't say no.

"Sure," Castiel agrees.

"Yay!"

She wheels him over to his first class, and they chat for a while outside of their rooms. Finally, people begin to show up, and Castiel rolls himself to his seat. Charlie tries to help him, but Castiel brushes her offer off. He can do this much.

Charlie goes to her class as well, and Castiel is stuck in the lonely back corner that he loves so much. Everything is nice and quiet for him. That is, until Sam Winchester sits down next to him.

"Hey," Sam says quietly.

Castiel looks up at him in surprise. He forgot Sam said he was in this class.

"Hi?" he replies uncertainly. Why is Sam talking to him?

"I know we aren't really best friends or anything, but I've got to ask. What happened with you and Dean?"

Castiel frowns. He should have known that was what this is about.

"That's none of your business," Castiel replies.

"It's my brother," Sam reminds him. "That makes it my business. He's been sulking around since last night, and it's getting really annoying."

"He'll live," Castiel replies simply. "And so will you."

"Yeah, but seriously, what's going on?" Sam asks. "He looks like a lost puppy. Like, it looks like you found a little puppy on the streets, brought it to Nebraska, kicked it in the gut, and left it there. You can't just go around kicking little puppies in the gut in places far away."