Underneath The Silken Feathers

Chapter 7 - Bouquet

The shading here is too dark, and the lighting isn't right at all. Castiel thinks to himself working on the portrait of Anna he promised he would do for her 5th birthday. It wasn't for another two weeks, but Castiel thought he'd get it over with so he has it ready. Even though it took Castiel hours to do, it was not coming out as good as he thought it would. It wasn't proportioned right, and the shading wasn't detailed enough. Sometimes he wonders why he even continues drawing, or why Gabriel and Anael say he's good when he's clearly not.

Every year for her birthday, when Castiel asks Anna what she would like for a birthday present, she always asks for a drawing. Castiel would ask her if there was anything else that she wanted, and she always answers "No, just the drawing please!".

Last year, for her 4th birthday, he drew her an oil painting of her favorite Disney character, Princess Jasmine. Anna got so excited she almost made everyone within a 30 yard radius deaf she squealed so loud. Castiel was happy to see her so excited, but he never knew why she loved his drawings so much. He really wasn't that great of an artist.

It all started when she turned one. Castiel was about 12 at the time, and didn't know what kind of gift would suit his baby sister, so he simply drew her a picture. It was a colored pencil drawing of her favorite stuffed golden retriever named Benji. It wasn't much, but she would always motion to their mother (Before she was hospitalized) to go over to where it was hung up on the wall so she could look at it and touch it. She would make happy cooing noises and repeat the name "Benji Benji Benji!". It was rather cute.
So here Castiel was, drawing a portrait of her and absolutely resenting it. He couldn't give this to her, it wasn't good enough. Nothing Castiel ever did was good enough.
But just as he was about to crumple it up in frustration and throw it away, a voice from behind startled him.

"Wow. That's, like, REALLY good. That's not a photo or anything?"

Castiel jumped and dropped his pencil and sketchbook. He looked up to see none other than the boy he had flew into last period, Dean. His breath hitched in his throat and he felt his wings along with his body stiffen in place, his eyes locked on Dean. Dean stumbled to pick up the items that fell on the floor, which left Castiel rather perplexed. He handed them back to him with a crooked smile, and Castiel felt his heart flutter within his chest.

And Dean talked to him for the rest of the period, making jokes and asking questions, it was beyond Castiel why someone like Dean would want to talk to someone like... well, him. Especially given the accident that happened last period. Or should Castiel say "His stupidity in not watching where he's flying". This is the exact reason why he got made fun of at his old school. But Dean didn't mention what happened at all.

Yet here Dean was, talking to him and laughing like Castiel is actually a fun person to be around. Castiel felt something growing inside his chest, Hope.

There was something else there too, but Castiel couldn't put a finger on what.

Cas was feeling much happier by the end of the period. His nerves relaxing, body becoming less tense, wing joints loosening.
Study Hall was a lovely experience too. Castiel couldn't remember the last time he's had a free period, it was rather nice. There was no lectures or taking notes, just a free class to get your homework done in. Castiel took the opportunity and was able to finish his AP History homework in 10 minutes. Dean was in his Study hall class too, so he spent the rest of the period talking to him.

"So am I really the first Angel to ever go to this school?" Castiel asked, he was rather curious as to why him and Gabriel were the only Angels in town. Yes, it was true that Angels and Humans tend to be a little diverse, there being certain areas of the world where Angels populated more areas then some, but it was mixed for the most part, and usually there are at least one or two of the other species roaming around.