If not later, when?

Chapter 3 [waiting for summer to end]

I was awoken the next morning by the beating sun shining through my window onto my face. I heaved myself out of bed and yawned; as I walked over to my closet. I put on a red collard tee and some shorts. I trotted down my stairs and walked outside where my parents and Dean were already up and sat at the table. Dean looked up at me and gave me a soft smile. I smiled back and sat down, digging straight into my breakfast.

As I carefully cracked my egg, I looked over to Dean who just scooped the egg out, without taking off the whole shell. I cringed at the fact that he would probably be eating a little eggshell on accident. Although, he didn't seem to mind, because he devoured the whole egg in about five seconds. I looked up at him in amazement and so did my parents. He finally became aware that we were staring at him. His face became flushed with color as he looks down in embarrassment. I let out a sudden laugh which caused Dean to look up and blush even more.

"Have another, Dean." My mother said, reaching over the table to go get him another egg.
"No, no, " he said, " I know myself, if I have another, then I'll  have another one and another and then eventually, you'll have to roll me out of here," I smirked at Dean's words and continued to eat my breakfast. "Very well then," my mother said with a smile, also returning to her food. We ate in silence for a few minutes before I spoke up. " I can show you around, Dean. You know, it will be easier if you got to know the city." I say becoming more awkward, surprised by my sudden confidence. Dean looks up at me, meeting my gaze. We stared at each other for a second before he responded. "That would be great!" He says in excitement. "I'll get the bikes ready for you guys." My father said smiling. He walked over to go get the bikes out of the shed, where they had been stored over the winter.
-
We leave through the gates on our bikes. An overwhelming feeling of happiness floods my body. I love riding my bike around the city. I really did miss this. "Where are you taking me?" Dean says with a charming voice. My face begins to flush with color. "You'll see," I respond with a slight smirk on my face. He nods, "Lead the way." With that, I push off my foot and begin pedaling towards town.

After 15 minutes of silent biking, we finally reach my favorite cafe in the city. I practically jump off my bike to go lock it up. Dean slides off his bike with grace and follows me to go lock up his bike. I run to go get my usual table before anyone else sits down. I heard Dean chuckle at me as he sat down. I got out my book I had just started reading. Dean doesn't have a book, which is surprising because he has to study a manuscript for the summer. He just takes in the scenery, admiring the buildings and landscape. He has a soft smile on his face. My heart flutters at the sight. No, Cas, this is your dads' student. It's completely inappropriate. It won't happen. I distract myself by diving into my book.

I'm so engulfed in my reading I jump when Dean speaks after 20 minutes of silence. "So what is there to do around here?" He asks with wanderlust. I can't think of a good answer. "Wait for summer to end," I say, still staring at my book. Dean scoffs. "What do YOU do around here?" Dean asks me, leaning back in his seat. "Transcribe music, read books, swim in the river and go out at night." I say, eyes still on my books pages. He doesn't say anything so I look up and meet his gaze on me. I can feel my cheeks start to burn. He looks almost.. impressed. He turns his body to left as he stretches out in his chair, his shirt spreading to reveal more skin. Yet, Dean's chest isn't what catches my interest. The sunlight glimmers off his silver cross around his neck. "Christian?" I ask. Dean looks at me with confusion, then looks down at his necklace, putting the intent of my question together. "Oh haha." He chuckles. "Yes, I am." I smile at him."My family and I are too." I respond. He smiles at me, showing a glimpse of his pearly teeth. "Glad we have something in common." He says, standing up. I raise my eyebrow at him as he walks over to the bikes. He hops on and smirks at me. "Later." He says with a loose wave, pushing off to pedal away.

"Later." What kind of goodbye is that? "lAtEr." Maybe I did something to upset him? I shake off the somewhat rude and sudden depart of Dean and collect my things. I switch out my book and my sunglasses in my backpack. I slip the glasses on my face and swing the bag over my shoulders. I get my bike and start back to my house, trying to ignore the fact that I wished Dean was biking beside me.
-
I sit in my fathers' study, reading my book as perusal. Dean and my father sort through the books in his study, carefully separating them into different piles. Dean and my father are making small talk, although I don't really know what they're talking about, most of my attention on my book. I suddenly tune in when Dean says " I may have to disagree with you there professor."

My father does this to each student that comes every summer. It's like his test. He makes an argument that is false and the student must correct him with the truth. If not, they don't pass. I wrack my brain, trying to remember what the two of them were talking about before I zoned back in. What was it.. apricots. My father tried to hide his smile. "Ah?" He asks. "Bear with me but, you're making the argument that most words find their roots in Greek words, however with "apricot" it's a more of a complicated journey." Dean finishes, bringing his attention back to sorting my fathers letters. "How so?" My father asks him. Dean straightens up with confidence. "With the word "apricot" the Greek takes over from the Latin." He says with full confidence and relaxation, not even stopping sorting my fathers' mail. He walks and sits down on the couch in the study.

My eyes follow his movements. I'm trying so hard not to smile so wide right now. I only let a little smirk show through. Dean finally looks up from his papers and my fathers nods at him, indicating his accuracy. My father speaks up again."You passed, Dean." Dean looks at me with confusion. "He does this every year," I say smirking at my father and rolling my eyes at his cleverness. Dean smiles at me and then my father. "With flying colors." He says smiling at Dean. Damn, he corrected my father, his professor, without any second-guessing or hesitation. Dean knew his stuff. I mentally smacked my self on the forehead. I thought there was no way for him to get more attractive, but I guess I was wrong. I shake my head and go back to reading my book.