You're An Amazing Artist

Chapter Two

        “Hey.”

        Castiel looks up from his drawing. It’s after school in the library, of course Sam would be here.

        “Hey Sam.” He drops his gaze back to his paper.

        “How’s your day been?” Sam pulls up a chair.

        “Fine. Nothing to report.” He adds more shading.

        “What’s that?” Sam asks, sliding his chair closer to his sketching friend.

        Blushing, Castiel quickly flips his page to the essay he started earlier. “Nothing.”

        “Oh c’mon,” Sam chides. “Please?”

        “I-It’s too embarrassing, Sam. I’m sorry…”

        “Totally fine, Cas,” Sam pauses. “You don’t mind that nickname, do you?”

        “No, not at all. Even Gabriel calls me that sometimes.” Castiel says.

        “Gabriel?”

        “My older brother,” He hangs his head. “It’s just the two of us.”

        Sam smiles sadly, placing his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Honestly? Me too.”

        Cas looks up. “What do you mean?”

        “My dad died two years ago. It’s just my brother and I now, also.” He smiles wider. “I try not to let it get me down too much. And hey, we’ve got something in common.”

        Castiel smiles as well, before turning back to his paper. He stops, contemplating something, he seems to go through a series of complicated thoughts, and then turns to Sam.

        “Do you really want to see it?” He asks cautiously.

        Sam nods enthusiastically. “Yeah!”

        Castiel takes a breath, stabilizing himself. Slowly, he slides the notebook over to his friend. Sam takes a small breath. The detail is immaculate: the eyes seem to glow from their dull pencil shading. The jawline is sharp and soft at the same time. There’s a small smattering of freckles across the nose and cheekbones. The lips have a slight smirk to them. In the bottom left-hand corner of the paper, in Castiel’s perfect cursive, are two words; Dean Winchester.

        “Wow.”

        Castiel can feel his face grow hot. “I know… it’s terrible.” He reaches for the notebook.

        “No,” Sam says, still staring at the drawing. “It’s amazing. It really is. This is the best thing I’ve seen in a while.”

        Castiel allows himself a small smile.

        “We should show it to him.”

        It’s a moment before Cas realises what his friend said. His eyes go as wide as they can.

        “NO!” He almost yells. The librarian gives him a stern look. He mouths an apology to her. “All I meant was that I don’t want him to see it.”

        Sam gives a confused look. “Why not?”

        “I just don’t want him to know… how much I admire him.” Castiel feels like he’s about to cry.

        Sam nods, handing the notebook back. He sits in thought before an idea dawns on him.

        “We don’t have to show it to him, but,” he pauses for dramatic effect. “How would you like to meet him?”

        He watches as the dark-haired boy’s eyes light up. “You mean it?”

        “Oh yeah. I’ll be right back.” With that, Sam sprints from the library, leaving his friend stunned to silence.

~+~

        Castiel can hardly contain his excitement. Every time the door to the library opens, he snaps his head up. After the fifth time, he’s sure he’ll give himself whiplash. He grabs a book, trying to calm himself down.

        “Cas?”

        He almost leaps out of his seat. Looking up, he sees Sam standing with the largest grin he’s ever seen. Stepping to the side, he motions to… Dean Winchester.

        “I’d like you meet my older brother, Dean. Dean, this is my friend, Castiel. Cas wants to be an artist, he’s already one of the best I’ve seen.”

        Dean holds out his hand to the shorter boy. “Awesome to meet you, Cas.”

        Castiel takes his hand, his brain a constant stream of OHMYLORDIMTOUCHINGHIM.

        “Great to meet you, too.” He’s surprised at his ability to form a coherent sentence.

        Dean pulls up a chair to the table. “Sorry about knocking into you yesterday. I wasn’t paying attention.”

        “It’s totally fine.” Castiel says, rather breathlessly. “I’ve already forgotten about it.”

        “So, you’re an artist?”

        “Umm… yeah. I-I like to draw.”

        “Really?” Says Dean. “Do you have anything here?”

        Castiel’s eyes go wide. “Yeah…”

        “Can I see?” Dean asks. “Or is it too embarrassing?”

        “Not at all. I actually drew one of you.” The words tumble past his lips before he can stop them.

        “You’re kidding.”

        “No… I probably sound like a creep, but I saw you and I thought you would be fun to draw.”

        “Can I see?”

        Castiel nods, handing his notebook over to the other boy.

        “Wow.” Dean says.

        “That’s what Sam said.”

        Dean stares at it for another moment. “It’s amazing.” He hands the notebook back. “I’ve gotta go. Can I give you a ride or something?”

        Castiel glances at Sam who nods. “Sure. I don’t want to be a bother, though.”

        “It’s no trouble. I’ll meet you outside.” Dean's smile as he stands seems to make his eyes sparkle even more.