My Greatest Mistake

8. Lunch

Why. Why, oh why, oh why, did Cas agree to this insanity.

The cafeteria was packed. Tables were overflowing with kids and trays and backpacks and binders and notes and pencils and books and it was loud. People were talking and laughing and shouting and screaming and Cas hadn't heard anything so cacophonous since he lunch-monitored a kindergarten class for volunteer hours in seventh grade.

How do people do this every day?  Cas asked himself as Dean weaved through the tables to an as-yet invisible destination.

"It's really not that bad," Dean said, once they cleared the first forest of tables free of twisted ankles. He must have noticed the expression on Cas's face. Dean laughed, "You'll get used to it, promise."

Cas's first thought was an agonized there's going to be more? which quickly faded away to be replaced by the implications of what Dean had said - there would be more lunches together. Cas quickly shoved down the glowing thing that had taken up residence in his stomach.

They finally reached a table - Cas wasn't sure exactly how Dean had found this table, considering everyone in the cafeteria was practically begging for him to sit down with them, and it was near impossible to pick out individual faces amongst the sea of students (whether or not that was just Cas's anxiety had yet to be tested). Dean sat down, sliding in far enough that Cas had room to sit on the end of the bench.

"Hey guys, this is Cas Novak, s'alright if he eats with us?" Dean glanced around the table. When he received a chorus of 'yes' and 'alright' and even an enthusiastic 'sure, bruh!' he began introductions.

First there was Jo Harvelle - blond, petite, and pretty, she was someone who Cas could tell would earn his respect. She had an aura about her, a vibe that said she would not only kick your ass physically, but that she would intellectually drag you across the football field. Cas liked that. She smiled at him when Dean introduced her, and her eyes were warm. 

Then there was Anna, who Cas already knew, and who excitedly waved at him, almost knocking over Jo's drink. 

Charlie Bradbury was next. Cas wasn't sure exactly how her and Dean had met, but he knew in an instant why they were friends when she smiled at him. Her and Dean had the same smile. 

Kevin Tran was beside Charlie. He glanced up at Cas and the corners of his lips lifted up, but he didn't spare much more time before putting his head back down to do whatever schoolwork was open on the table. 

There was Garth, who, lanky and relaxed, gave Cas a smile which made him feel instantly at ease. This wasn't hard for him to do - the guy exuded friendliness. 

Finally there was Benny. Cas knew him as a linebacker on the football team, and while his and Dean's interactions seemed stunted and gruff at times, Cas could sense a deep-seated friendship between them.

Introductions made, Dean wasted no time in wolfing down his lunch. He was halfway through his sandwich when he saw Cas wasn't eating, just nervously twisting the hem of his sweater between his fingers.

"Cas," Dean asked quietly, "do you have a lunch?"

"Um, well, not exactly?" Cas blushed, something he seemed to be doing a lot of today. "I was running late this morning, and it was either catch the bus or pack a lunch, and I think you can guess the option I went for."

Dean sighed, and Cas's blush deepened into what he was sure was a nice shade of magenta. Dean reached into his backpack, pulled out a plastic container of salad, and handed it to Cas with a fork.

"Here," he said, "take it. Sammy and I trade off lunch duty and the weirdo always packs me a salad." Cas hesitated, and Dean nudged it into his hands. "It won't get eaten otherwise and really, you're doing me a favour. Sam'd chew me out into next week if I took it home uneaten."

"You're sure?" Cas asked, but he was already opening the container.

"Positive," Dean replied with a smile, turning back to his sandwich.

"So, Cas, how did you and Dean meet?" Charlie asked him just as he took a bite of salad. Hand covering his mouth, Cas desperately tried to chew fast enough to answer within a socially acceptable amount of time. Seeming to sense his distress, Dean stepped in.

"He got in a bind with Singer - texting someone about the answers to a question or something - and I stepped up to the plate. Did the responsible thing. Helped out someone in need." He shrugged in a self-satisfied way. "Just doing my duty as a good citizen."

"Bullshit," Jo deadpanned. The whole table - minus Kevin, whose head was still buried in his work - laughed.

"What really happened," Anna clarified, "was that Dean didn't understand why I was talking to someone he didn't know, and refused to stop until he figured out who had stolen my heart away from you all." 

"You'll never get away from us, sweetheart," Benny laughed. "We'll hunt you down every time." 

Anna shrugged, "So long as you keep bringing cute guys to the table, I can't say I mind."

Cas choked on his salad. 

***

Lunch passed quickly, and by the time the bell rang, Cas found himself hoping he would be invited back tomorrow. Now that he knew what it was like to have friends, to be a part of a group, he found he didn't want to give it up. His hope wasn't wasted.

"Cas," Garth asked as they all packed up their bags, "we'll see you tomorrow?"

"If you'll have me," Cas answered quietly, but with the chorus of 'of course!' and 'why wouldn't we have you back?' that followed, he soon realized he may not have to resign himself to eating lunch in the library for the rest of the year after all.

||A/N: For the record, the "sure, bruh!" was Garth.

Also for the record, Dean is definitely the type of person to say y'all'd've. That boy doesn't give a shit about grammatically correct contractions he contracts freaking everything and it definitely annoys the shit out of Cas.

Sorry this chapter was a bit late! I had tests, and band concerts, and rehearsals, and I had to memorize a viola piece in about four days. Not a lot of time for writing....

But don't worry, actual plot coming up soon! I've finally figured out where I can take this story and I am ecstatic about it so stay tuned folks!

Thanks for reading!