His bus ride the next morning felt even longer than usual. His heart kept fluttering in his chest every time he thought of Dean, making him both excited and anxious. They were going to have to take this slowly, not just for Castiel's benefit, but because it was imperative they keep this quiet at school. Ironically, it didn't matter what he did because he had already been labeled. Castiel didn't want it happening to Dean.

Despite trying not to smile when he walked into homeroom, the moment Dean caught sight of him and grinned, Castiel had to grin right back. He couldn't help himself where Dean was concerned.

"What did your mom say?" Dean asked, gesturing to Castiel's red and swollen lip as he sat down. "Did she notice?"

"I believe I'm more adept at applying makeup than I thought. I don't think she realized."

"Wait, what makeup?"

"I helped myself to some of my mother's liquid foundation to hide the bruising last night before she arrived home. I kept it on through dinner."

Dean laughed. "I never would've thought of that."

"I couldn't hide the swelling, however. But she didn't say anything. Perhaps she simply didn't notice."

"Let's hope so. You've got enough problems," Dean said.

Mr. Zachariah came over to where the two of them were talking.

"Mr. Winchester, your presence is requested in the principal's office."

"Shit."

"Yep, I tend to agree with you there," Mr. Zachariah replied.

"See you later, Cas."

"Goodbye, Dean," he responded miserably.

As it turned out, Castiel didn't see him for the rest of the day. He was worried about it, wondering what had happened in Mr. Murphy's office and what kind of punishment Dean had received. Although Dean did hit Alastair first, it was partly in retaliation for what Alastair did to Castiel. He hoped Dean made it clear to the principal that lashing out wasn't without reason. He ran his fingertips over his aching lip and sighed. He felt guilty for getting Dean involved at all. He should have been the one defending himself.

Mercifully, the day passed without Castiel seeing Alastair either. He kept looking over his shoulder for signs of Tom or Brady seeking revenge, but it never came.

He barely paid attention in any of his classes, spending most of the time thinking and worrying about Dean. In auto shop, Mr. Singer was sympathetic after what had happened the day before and allowed Castiel to sit out the windshield wiper replacement instruction. Castiel had already taken notes and had a good idea how to do it, even if he hadn't gotten the practical application thanks to Alastair.

When the bus dropped him off at the end of the day, the first thing he did as he made his way through the parking lot of the apartment complex was to look for the Impala. When he didn't see it, he doubled back and checked the other lots, but it wasn't anywhere in the complex. He didn't notice it in the school lot either.

Dean's whereabouts were still on his mind when he entered his apartment.

"I'm home."

"How was your day?" his mother asked.

"Below average," Castiel answered.

"Why is that?"

"Dean was removed from homeroom this morning and had to report to the principal's office."

"Yes, I know," she said.

Castiel frowned. "I don't understand, how do you — "

"Principal Murphy called me this afternoon at work and told me what happened between you, Dean, Alastair, and a maliciously well-aimed windshield wiper arm."

"Oh."

"Yes, 'oh'. Come over here."

Castiel stood before his mother in the kitchen and she lifted her son's face into the light. "I can't believe you tried to hide this from me," she said, rubbing her thumb over his lip. "Look at this! You're all swollen! Castiel, honey...honestly, what were you thinking?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I simply didn't want to cause more trouble."

"You are not the one causing the trouble, young man. I've already explained this to you. I will not have you victimized because some other...animal in your classroom can't keep his hands to himself."

"It was nothing of consequence."

"Really? This bruised and split lip seems to say otherwise." She took a deep breath and brushed the hair back from his eyes. "I've scheduled a conference with your principal yet again to get to the bottom of this."

"Mama — "

"Don't try and dissuade me," she said, interrupting him with an outstretched hand. "From what the principal told me, Dean was trying to protect you."

"He was. Alastair was the instigator."

"You've become quite good friends with Dean, haven't you?"

He nodded.

"We can't seem to rely on the administration to take us seriously about this bullying. I wish I could pull you out of that school and sit you right back here at the kitchen table to be homeschooled again."

Castiel's heart dropped just thinking about not being able to see Dean every day. It would make everything he was going through a hundred times worse.

"Please don't do that," he begged. "Please."

"I said I wished I could. Teaching you at home isn't feasible. Moving isn't within our budget, nor is a private school. If I had another option I would take it to keep you safe, honey."

"I know, Mama."

"As it stands we've dealt with the lackadaisical response of this administration before to your bullying," she said angrily. "This time I'm going to talk to that worthless principal on Monday and get some answers."

At that, the doorbell rang. Both Castiel and his mother looked at each other, knowing they weren't expecting anyone.

"Stay here," she ordered, and went to the door.

Castiel stood behind his mother as she opened the door to Dean's smiling face. "Oh, uh, hi, Mrs. Agnus. Uh, is Cas...I mean, is Castiel around?"

"Cas? Who may I say is calling?" she asked, scowling slightly at the boy she didn't recognize.

"Dean Winchester."

"Oh, you're Dean?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at her son. "Castiel's Dean? I didn't...please come in."

She smiled at him and stepped aside, letting him into the living room.

"I can see the results of Castiel's bully all over your face, Dean. I'm terribly sorry this happened to you."

"It's okay," Dean answered, casting his eyes over to Castiel. "I was standing up for what I thought was right."

It was the same thing Castiel said to him all those weeks ago when they first met.

"He was protecting me," Castiel said.

"Yes, sweetheart, you told me. But I do hope Dean realizes that violence isn't always the answer."

"In this case, Mrs. Agnus, it sure was."

Castiel frowned and Dean raised his eyebrows at him.

"Well," his mother said, unsure how to answer that, "why don't you come in and sit down? I'm sure this is a nice surprise for Castiel."

"It's not actually a surprise, ma'am, er, Mrs. Agnus. Castiel invited me to dinner."

"I did?" Castiel wondered aloud.

Dean peered around Mrs. Agnus. "You did. Yesterday at lunch, remember?"

"With everything going on I must have...forgotten. Is it all right if Dean stays?"

She closed the front door and ushered Dean to the couch. "Well, it is Friday. I suppose you boys could order a pizza to help forget about the difficulties you've faced in school lately."

"That'd be great," Dean smiled.

"Thanks, Mama."

"I believe next time you come we'll have a proper meal, when I have some more advanced notice."

Castiel ducked his head and she smiled at him.

"All right then, gentlemen, what shall we order?"