My Greatest Mistake

1. The Pep Rally

Castiel Novak hated pep rallies.

It's not that he didn't have school spirit, he did, it's just that he didn't see the point when the time could be better spent studying.

For most people, pep rallies were a time to relax and let off some pent-up feelings by screaming as loud as they could. For Cas, they were a time when not only were there people sticking their various body parts into his being, but also bursting his eardrums with their voices.

So whenever a rally started, Cas slipped through the crowd of students into an empty classroom. He was thin enough that he could get away with this without any teachers noticing. Besides, even if they did notice, by the time they waded through the pile of bodies he would be long gone, disappearing into some unnoticeable spot. Then, once the hallways were clear, he would emerge from hiding and make his way to the library where he would study until the peppiness was over and he could slip back into the throng.

It worked. 

Until he got caught. 

He was dragged by the ear into the gymnasium and found a seat just in time for the cheerleaders to finish their routine. The cheers began anew, however, as the football players entered the gym. One by one they ran a lap, basking in the glory of their admirers.

Cas barely payed attention, his eyes mindlessly following the movements of the athletes as he went over in his head the material he needed to know for his quiz next block. All thoughts of that disappeared, though, the minute the quarterback entered the gym.

A huge number one on his back, the tall, muscular football player paraded around the gym, his hands held high above his head to receive the full feeling of glory emanating towards him from the crowd. The entire time, Cas could not take his eyes off of him. Every movement was graceful; he never once stumbled, nor did he show any discomfort at the fact that virtually every girl in the room was watching him rather rabidly. 

Cas had to know his name, had to know who he was. So, hesitantly, he turned to the girl sitting beside him.

"Ex-excuse me?" He stuttered, thoroughly embarrassed, and probably blushing.

"Yeah?" The girl turned to face him, tearing her eyes away from the quarterback.

"I'm sorry, but who is that?" He gestured in the vague direction of the athlete, trying to seem nonchalant.

"You don't know?" The girl sounded incredulous.

If Castiel wasn't already blushing, he was now. "I don't usually come to these things."

The girls face softened. "Oh. Too loud?"

He nodded. "Also, in my opinion, a waste of valuable time."

She shrugged. "To each his own, I guess. But I agree on the loud part, it took me some time to get used to it, too. Anyways, haven't you seem him in the halls?" 

They were back to talking about the quarterback.

"I also try to avoid the halls. Too many people. Too many variables." Cas knew all too well what those variables were.

"Huh. Well, his name's Dean Winchester. He's not only the star quarterback and best player on the team, he's the best player this school has seen in two or three decades. Every girl in the school has, or has had, a crush on him. And between you and me, some of the guys too."

A blush began to creep up Castiel's neck. The girl seemed to notice, "But, I mean, he's gorgeous. Frankly if any guy says they haven't thought that, then they're either blind, or lying."

Castiel nodded, "Okay... thanks."

"Hey, you're.... Castiel, right?" She asked.

"Yes...."

"You're in my AP math class! I knew I'd seen you somewhere!" She jumped a little at her realization. Cas involuntarily leaned backwards.

"Sorry. It was bugging me. Anyways, I'm Anna. Anna Milton." She held out her hand. Cas shook it. Anna then proceeded to grab his hand and write her phone number on it. "As friends," she clarified as she released it.

"Oh. Okay. Thanks."

"Now, give me your number, because I know you aren't gonna text me, and I will definitely need help with that homework tonight." She shoved the pen into his hand, and held out hers, which Cas carefully scribbled his number on.

"Thanks," she said, then turned back to the rally.

Cas returned his gaze there as well, and immediately found the quarterback. Dean Winchester, he thought, and for the rest of the game his eyes never left his handsome face.

|| A/N: The high school AU no one asked for but I wrote anyways.

Hello to everyone, new or old, I hope you're enjoying! 

Thanks for reading!