Hael's birthday cake might as well be a wedding cake, looking at the size of it. Amara carries it to the table, which is huge because it has to fit as many people as possible, even though there are still going to be people in seats nearby instead.

Castiel sits down, Hannah in the seat next to him. Castiel waves Dean over, but just before he reaches them, Hael sits in what would have been his seat. She glances at Dean, but obviously doesn't care, as long as she gets to sit with the celebrity that is her cousin.

Hannah looks at Dean, who stands around awkwardly, watching the table fill up. She turns back to Castiel and offers quietly, "I'll move so you and Dean can sit together."

Castiel hesitates. He really doesn't want to ask her to move, especially because she's kept him entertained for the last hour, but he doesn't want Dean to think he's avoiding him, either. Thankfully, Dean steps in to save the day.

"You're fine," he assures her. "I'll sit with Benny." He gives her a smile before he and his football friend drag two seats together near the table, but not close enough that they're really part of the group. A few other people do the same, thanks to the lack of space at the table.

"That doesn't look like the Castiel and Dean relationship I remember from all those years ago," Hannah says quietly.

"It's not," Castiel replies.

"Aren't you two still together?" she asks.

"Yeah, but it's not high school status. It's less clingy, more realistic."

"Ah, makes sense," she replies.

He can't help but wonder if it does make sense to her. He was certainly more naïve than he is now when he was her age. It wouldn't have meant anything to him back then, at least.

"So, Castiel," Hael says with a smile, not very subtly because she obviously wants people to watch the two of them being friendly. "Having fun?"

Yes, having to sit down and do nothing is very fun.

"Yeah, definitely," he lies, biting back his sarcastic response. "Loving every second of it."

"You should come back to Maryland more often," she adds.

"Yeah."

She kicks him under the table for not being enthusiastic enough.

"Or, better yet, maybe I'll bring you to LA with me next time I go. You'd fit right in." Obviously, that's not going to happen, but whatever.

"That'll be awesome," she agrees as if it's not big deal, when he knows that she's never been to LA in her life, and it would mean the world to her.

"Why would you want to go to LA?" Hannah asks curiously.

Hael scoffs. "Because it's LA. You wouldn't understand. Not all of us dream of going to Disney World."

Her derogatory tone earns some laughter among her friends, but it's obvious how the comment hurt Hannah, not because she's embarrassed about wanting to go to Disney, but because it was her own sister that said it so rudely.

Castiel hesitates. He wants to reassure Hannah that Hael's just being a teenager, but as bitchy as Hael is acting today, he doesn't want to risk ruining her social life. He definitely knows what it's like being unpopular at school, and he wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Mind made up, he pulls out his phone, holding it underneath the table as he types something out. He sneaks a few glances at the screen every few seconds to make sure that it's not complete gibberish, but subtly enough that people don't notice.

Castiel: There's nothing wrong with Disney World,  just FYI

There's a pause, then Hannah pulls her own phone out of her hoodie pocket. When she sees who texted her, she glances at Castiel, noticing how he's holding his phone out of sight, and does the same.

"Who texted you?" Ambriel asks her. "A secret boyfriend?"

"We both know she's not getting a boyfriend any time soon," Hael replies, and once again, her friends laugh.

Castiel looks between the two girls, then says, "Actually, it was my friend Taylor in a chat I started for them a few minutes ago. Looks like she liked our cover of her song."

Hael gapes at her. "Taylor Swift?"

Hannah looks at Castiel helplessly, and he nods minutely.

"Yeah," she says finally. "Taylor Swift. We were just killing time a few minutes ago, chatting with her."

Seeing Hael's obvious envy and sensing another attack coming, this time from embarrassment because she doesn't get to talk to Taylor Swift, Castiel steps in yet again.

"Almost like that time we FaceTimed Shawn Mendes," he lies. Seeing her blank look, he adds, "Remember?"

It takes her a moment, but she figures it out. "Oh, right. I was thinking about that time we Skyped Ed Sheeran, and I got confused. But yeah, Shawn's such a sweetie."

"Yeah, really," Castiel agrees halfheartedly. Crisis averted. Granted, it was averted with lies, but it's better than the truth where Hael is concerned.

It takes a moment, but Hannah finally texts him back, still holding her phone under the table, just like he is.

Hannah: Wouldn't know. Never been.

Castiel: Well, I guess we'll have to change that :)

Hannah: Really?

Castiel: Yep. Give it a few months, though. There are some places you really want reservations for, and fast passes go quickly.

It's just as he sends that message that a text from Dean appears.

Dean: Was any of that real?

Castiel: ...

Castiel: Define real

Dean: I figured. Nicely played. You're getting better at this acting thing every day.

Castiel: You mean I'm getting better at lying? Meh. I'll take it.

"And who are you texting?" Hael asks him, trying to catch a peek at his phone. He quickly locks it, watching the screen turn to black.

"Dean," he says honestly.

"You mean... the Dean that's here?" she repeats as if it's the stupidest thing she's ever heard.

"Yep," he replies. Then, just for kicks, he adds, "We've been talking about taking a trip to Disney for a few days now."

He sees Hannah smile next to him, swiftly covering it with her hand. He glances at Dean, who gives him a quick thumbs up, not even trying to hide his smirk.

"Oh, that's — that's nice," she replies awkwardly.

"Isn't it?" he agrees with a satisfied smile.

~~

"Thanks for bailing me out like that," Hannah says quietly after they eat.

"Thanks for thanking me," he replies. "It sounds like a joke, but I think we can both agree that Hael isn't going to."

"Yeah, really," she agrees.

It's then that some high school boy cough-says, "Patriots suck!" so loudly, it can probably be heard at the end of the street. He and the group of guys he's hanging out with all laugh "subtly," as if everyone can't see it.

"Oh, really, now?" Benny replies.

"I didn't see the Ravens winning the Super Bowl these last two years," Dean adds teasingly.

The guy who said it looks embarrassed that two NFL players are talking to him like that, but his friend steps up in his honor.

"Yeah, and if we cheated, we could win, too."

"What, Deflate Gate?" Dean guesses, incredulous that he'd bring it up now.

"Brady's gone, kid," Benny adds. "And Winchester's no cheater."

"Yeah, sure you're not."

"Do I hear a challenge?" Dean asks.

Silence.

"Huh?"

Crickets.

"You don't make a claim like that if you don't intend to back it up," Benny adds.

The friends exchange a nervous glance, and it's the second friend who speaks, obviously confident in himself.

"You know what? Game on."

~~

"And boom!" Dean says proudly when the game ends, giving Benny a high five. "Nailed it! Cheaters my ass!"

"Good game," Benny adds, giving Dean a pointed look.

"Oh, right. Good game and all that." He rolls his eyes, obviously just wanting to gloat about their win.

Hannah looks over at Castiel, sitting next to her and watching the spectacle in front of them. "Your boyfriend is definitely something."

Castiel chuckles. "Don't I know it."