Constellations

Law School

It had been two days since Sam had left and the next day was Monday, Dean's first day of classes with Castiel.

He tried sleeping that night, but it really was no use. He was too nervous. The moment he was about to drift off, the phone rang.

"Hello?" Dean asked groggily.

"Dean, hey, it's Sam."

"What do you want Sam? It's four in the morning."

"Come on, it's not like you were sleeping. Listen, have you studied anything for tomorrow?" Sam said slightly excited.

"Studied? Sam, the only thing I'm studying is Cas, I mean, you know what I mean," said Dean suddenly awake and up.

"Dean I hate to break it to you, but law school is pretty difficult; you're not just gonna get by on your charm. Now, I looked up your lesson plan for tomorrow and I summarized it for you. I'm sending you the link now. It's actually a really interesting topic," Sam said chuckling. Dean could hear Sam's smile through the phone.

Dean grinned, "You're such a nerd."

"Whatever, you should look it over. Call me if you have any questions."

"Yeah okay, Sammy, I'll do that."

"Read it Dean!" Sam warned.

"Goodnight!"

Dean hung up the phone before Sam could protest anymore.

He got out his laptop and opened the link Sam sent him.

It was eight pages long and there were so many foreign words, he wasn't entirely sure Sam didn't write it in another language. Frustrated, he put the laptop away after five minutes.

"Screw that," Dean grumbled.

-----------------

The next day, Dean saw Castiel walk into the lecture hall where the class was taking place and paused. He was talking and laughing with some guy and they entered the class together. Dean couldn't help but feeling jealous and angry, but he managed to control the strong and sudden urge to punch the guy in the face and walked in. He took a seat in the back row where he could see everyone, but most importantly, the teacher couldn't see him.

Dean tried very hard to stay awake, but he failed miserably.

"I'm sorry am I boring you?" said a voice that woke Dean up. The teacher was standing over him looking very annoyed.

"No, not at all, very interesting class, and you're a great teacher." Dean gave him a thumbs up and the class chuckled. 

"Ah, I see, well if you find my class and my teaching so interesting then you shouldn't have a problem answering this question!"

"Uh-"

"Twenty years ago," Professor Topez began. "Flowers Incorporated built a large greenhouse facility in a rural area twenty miles outside of the city of Urbania at a cost of $20 million. Flowers employs 20 workers. Because many of the plants grown in the greenhouse require more light than is naturally available, Flowers installed a system to provide needed light during normally dark periods. The light was extremely bright, casting a glow far beyond Flowers’ property. Flowers was successful in its business, but became concerned as the suburban area around Urbania expanded and as houses were built closer and closer to its greenhouse. Flowers decided to put up signs all around its property warning prospective residents of the light created by the business. Harry saw Flowers’ signs when he was thinking about buying one of the nearby residences, but figured that the light could not be that bad. He subsequently purchased and moved into an expensive new home, much like all the others in the area, on the street directly facing Flowers’ greenhouse. After having lived there three months, Harry decided that he could not tolerate the light coming in his windows 24 hours a day. He has asked Flowers to turn off the lights, and Flowers has refused, arguing that its facility is completely up to industry standards, that there is no way to continue the business without the light, and that Harry knew about the issue when he bought the house.... What tort claims can Harry reasonably bring against Flowers?"

Dean was shocked and his face went blank. He started in a fit of "um"s and "uhhhh"s until the professor smirked and started to lecture Dean on the importance of paying attention in class, but he was interrupted by a student. 

"Professor-"

Professor Topez turned around to face Castiel. "Yes?" he said angrily. 

"The tort claims that Harry can make are a private nuisance, a public nuisance, trespass, and an intentional infliction of emotional distress. Harry has a valid claim of private nuisance against Flowers although it is likely that he will not prevail in obtaining injunctive relief. However, he does not have a claim for public nuisance, trespass, or intentional infliction of emotional distress."

Dean grinned and Topez sucked in a breathe. 

"That's correct." He looked at Dean one last time and turned around. "Moving forward, the reason Harry does not have a claim for public nuisance is because a nuisance that is a public detriment and usually violates an ordinance and as such affects the public at large..."

Professor Topez continued talking, but Dean could only stare at Castiel for the rest of the class and he had no trouble keeping his eyes open after that. 

The class was dismissed and Dean was the first to leave, but he stayed outside waiting for Cas. 

When he came out, Cas was alone. Their eyes met, and they both grinned kindly. 

This was Dean's chance, his chance to go up to Cas, talk to him, maybe ask him out, but Dean was frozen. 

He just stood there smiling at this guy who didn't even recognize him. To Cas, Dean was just a stranger, and to Dean, Castiel was so much more. How could Dean just go up to him and start over when there was so much history between them? 

Castiel was the one person Dean could bear his soul to. Dean told him things he hadn't even told Sam. Castiel was the one who guarded all Dean's secrets and now he knew none of them. How was Dean supposed to face this stranger who looked exactly like his soul mate?

But then Dean saw it, Castiel's tie... It wasn't straight. Maybe there was still hope after all. 

Cas had started walking away and Dean caught up to him. 

"Hey," said Dean. 

"Hi," said Cas.

"Listen, I just wanted to thank you for saving my ass back there in the classroom."

"Yeah, hopefully next time I won't have to if you stay awake."

"Yeah, I just had a late night I guess."

"We've all been there. Plus, Topez is a dick."

Dean laughed. "Yeah, I sensed that."

"I'm Castiel, but everyone calls me Cas," he said.

"I'm Dean," he said slightly upset that he had to introduce himself. 

Cas looked at him and smiled. "Listen, I was just heading to get some lunch, uh- do you maybe wanna join me?" asked Castiel. 

Dean was suddenly flustered. "Um- uh- I mean-"

"Oh I-I'm sorry are you not uh, you know, gay?"Cas asked looking down, his cheeks reddening. 

"I-" Dean's eyes widened. "I mean- I am, I guess."

"Do you have a boyfriend or something or are you busy? Cause that's totally- totally fine, I completely understand and you know if it's me or- wow I'm- I'm just- I'm gonna stop now. You know, I'll just catch you later or not- I'll see you around." Cas said nervously and quickly started to walk away. 

Dean grabbed his arm smiling. "No, no I'm single and I'm not busy and I'd love to go out to lunch with you." 

Castiel smiled. "Great, I know this really good burger place just around the corner."

"Great!"

"Great."

They were both smiling like idiots and started to walk down the path together talking and laughing nervously and being normal... and it felt good.