Strings Attached

Chapter 55

Charlie: Are we still going to Castiel's third block class for lunch

Castiel: No.

Charlie: Are you eating with us then

Castiel: Maybe. I don't know.

Charlie: You should

Castiel: We'll see.

Garth: Stop texting I'm still in class

Charlie: K

~~

When lunch finally comes, Castiel heads down to his old retreat. It's not because he needs a safe place — though he might, seeing as Dean only figured out a way to get Crowley and his friends to leave him alone as long as he was in a wheelchair. It may be wishful thinking, but he's hoping to find something more.

"Cas, hey!" Dean greets Castiel when he enters the band room.

"I was hoping I'd find you here," Castiel tells him with a grin.

"Same here," Dean replies. "I wasn't sure if you were coming. It's been months since we've met up here."

"Well, it's not like I would forget. It's the highlight of my day."

Dean grins. "Glad I'm not the only one, then. Have you run into Crowley and co. yet?"

Castiel shakes his head. "No, thankfully. But I'm sure they'll have a field day with me when I see 'em."

"Probably," Dean agrees. "But I'll see if I can talk 'em out of it."

"Here's hoping," Castiel replies.
"So, half an hour and nowhere to go. Whatcha wanna do?"

Castiel shrugs. "I don't know. I mean, we're in the band room. We could use the guitars."

"That works," Dean agrees. He gets two guitars — one for him and one for Castiel — and takes a seat across from him. "So, whatcha want to learn?"

"I don't know," Castiel replies as he tunes his guitar.

He begins playing random chords, at first because he wants to make sure it's properly tuned but soon just for the sake of playing it. After a few minutes, he looks up to see Dean watching him, a slight smile on his face.

"You're getting really good again," Dean tells him. "I don't think there's anything I can teach you anymore."

"Well, I'm figuring things out again," Castiel replies. "I'm not as good as I used to be, but I'm getting there."

"I'm going to assume it's because you already knew how to play, and not because you're a super fast learner because this took me years and you've learned this in two weeks."

Castiel chuckles. "You're probably right," he agrees. "I may pick things up fast, but not this fast."

"Thank god, because you're already better than me at everything else and it's getting really annoying."

"I'm not better than you at sports," Castiel reminds him. "From what I've heard, you're the best in the city."

"I wouldn't go that far," Dean replies. "But I'm not too bad. Have you ever seen me play at all?"

"Not since the beginning of my freshman year."

"Then you should come to my game on Friday," Dean invites him, excited at the thought. "It's at the school, so it's not outrageously far away."

"I don't think so," Castiel replies apologetically. "Sorry."

"Please?" Dean pleads. "It'll be fun. You can get candy there. Sam's coming, so Gabriel probably is, too, so you won't be alone."

Ordinarily, Castiel wouldn't give the suggestion any thought. He can tell Dean really wants him to come, though, and that's the only reason he doesn't refuse outright.

"I'll think about it," Castiel concedes. Seeing Dean's excited expression, he adds, "But I'm not making any promises. And if I do go, I'll probably leave just before the game ends."

"No, don't do that!" Dean protests. "Then I can't talk to you!"

"But I don't want to have to deal with Crowley and his friends," Castiel replies.

"I'll make sure they don't bug you," Dean assures him. "Just come, please. I need someone new to show off to," he jokes.

"Maybe," Castiel repeats. "We'll see."

"Well, it's better than a 'no,'" Dean replies. "I can drive you if you want me to. Mostly so that you can't leave. But you should definitely come."

"I said I'll think about it," Castiel reminds him. "And I'll get back to you by Friday."

"Yay!" Dean says with a big smile. "I'll be waiting!"

It's clear that Dean really wants him to go, but Castiel isn't too fond of the idea of going somewhere to celebrate the talents of people he hates. As much as he likes Dean, he isn't sure he wants to risk meeting up with them.

He's almost positive that he isn't going. It's just not his type of thing — "it" meaning being beaten to a pulp by the basketball team. If he can avoid it at all, he'll take the opportunity to make his life suck less. But he doesn't want to let Dean down, either. When it comes to his safety versus Dean's happiness, he isn't sure which to choose.