"What the hell was that?" Crowley demands, looking between the two boys.

"That was none of your business," Dean replies.

"Are you —Are you dating him?"
Dean glances at Castiel for help, but Castiel doesn't respond. He feels that familiar feeling of dread whenever he sees Crowley, but this time, it's worse. If Crowley flips out like he did with Sam, Dean may not be able to stay on the team, doing what he loves. That's worse to Castiel than what Crowley usually does to him.

"Yes," Dean says when it becomes clear Castiel won't help him out. "Cas is my boyfriend. Is there a problem?"

"Yes, there is! You're dating Castiel freaking Novak!"

Dean nods. "Yes, I am. Your point?"

"Why the hell are you dating Castiel?"

Dean shrugs. "Why not?"

"Because he's -- Because he's Castiel!"

"He's actually pretty cool," Dean tells him. "Not that I really care what you think anyway. So, the real question is, what are you going to do? You gonna try to get me to leave the team? Keep up the whole 'straights only' thing? Or do you want to win?"

Crowley hesitates, and it's clear that he doesn't want that double standard. Finally, he says, "You can stay. You're pretty cool anyway."

"What, so Sam wasn't cool?" Dean demands.

"No, I mean — Never mind," Crowley replies, evidently deciding it's not worth pursuing. "What I'm trying to say is that you're still in. We'll still hang with you."

"Good choice," Dean tells him. "And leave Castiel alone, or I swear I will personally beat your ass until you're the one in the hospital. And you know I can do that, too. Got it?"

Crowley chuckles dryly. "You're such a tease, Squirrel. Can hurt me? Sure. Will hurt me? Not so much."

"Wanna test that theory?" Dean asks, cracking his knuckles.

Crowley studies Dean for a moment, searching for any signs that he's bluffing. Finally, he says, "We're waiting for you. Don't take too long."

Dean watches with a satisfied smirk as Crowley walks away before turning back to Castiel. "See? It all worked out."

"That was too easy," Castiel observes. "You really think that's it?"

Dean nods. "Yeah, pretty sure. They need me on the team. They wouldn't risk losing me just to beat you up."

"I'm gonna take your word for it," Castiel replies hesitantly. "And thanks for that. Now I'm really glad I came."

"Me too," Dean adds. "Cuz now I can talk to you at school and we don't have to worry about them being idiots."

"That's always a plus," Castiel agrees. "But now I've got a question, and I have no idea if this is something personal, and if so, you don't have to answer." He makes sure to add this disclaimer, because he knows it would have made his life easier if people gave it to him.

"Shoot," Dean replies.

"Sam told me on Monday that you had to stay on the team. Like, you needed it. Is there, like, an actual reason for that?"

Dean hesitates, and Castiel realizes that this is, in fact, a personal question.
"Don't let word get around, because I've got my badass reputation to uphold," Dean jokes. "Yeah, there's a reason. Sammy's always wanted to be a lawyer, and he's been talking about going to Stanford for years. He's a smart kid; he may get a scholarship, but probably not a full one, and we aren't the richest family in the world. If I want to go to college, I'm going to need a sports scholarship because I'm not taking his chance to go to Stanford from him."

"That's nice of you," Castiel replies. "I didn't realize that. You're sweeter than I thought."

"Well, don't tell anyone. Don't want word getting out," he jokes.

"Don't worry," Castiel assures him with a slight laugh. "Your secret's safe with me."

"Alright, I've gotta go," Dean tells him.

"I'm gonna go, too, then," Castiel replies. "Good luck with them, and I'll see you soon."

"Are you walking home?" Dean inquires.

"Yeah, why?"

"You're not anymore," Dean tells him. "Go find Sam and Gabriel, and I'll drive you home in a few."

"I'll pass," Castiel replies. "I've missed walking to and from school. But thanks anyway."

"You're going to be getting home way later," Dean warns him.

"I know. Bye."

After a quick kiss, Castiel walks out of the school and begins his journey home. Dean is right; they get home long before Castiel does. He doesn't care. He can deal with being later than them. It's Friday; it's all fine.

Castiel looks around, but by the time he's home, everyone else is in bed. It makes sense; walking home from a game that late was not his brightest idea. He quietly walks up to the room he and Gabriel share, and he sees the light on from under the crack of the door.

He opens it quickly but softly to see Gabriel lying in his stomach with a large notebook in his hands. His eyes that were previously skimming the pages dart up to see Castiel standing in the doorway, and Gabriel quickly puts the notebook under his pillow.

"Oh, you're home," Gabriel observes in a whisper so he doesn't wake anyone up.

Castiel marches up to Gabriel and pulls the notebook out from under his pillow. He can tell just by the handwriting what it is. It's his song notebook — the one he threw out not even a week ago.

"What the hell, Gabriel?" Castiel demands.

"Shh, people are sleeping," Gabriel whispers.

"I told you not to read this," Castiel hisses.

"I know, but it's so good!" Gabriel tells him softly. "I couldn't just let you throw it out."

"That's not your decision," Castiel tells him. "My book. I choose, and I threw it out. Leave it."

"But why?" Gabriel whines.

"Because it's mine," Castiel repeats.

"I know it's yours. That's why I'm reading it."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm reading it because you wrote it," Gabriel explains. "Because even though you've started talking to me, you never tell me anything important, like what's going on with you or how you feel. This is the only way I get to see what goes on in your head, even if it is super cryptic."

"That doesn't mean you can just take it," Castiel replies. "It's mine, and it belongs in the trash."

"No, it doesn't," Gabriel insists. "One day, you're going to wish you still had it to look back on."

"I doubt that very much," Castiel replies. "I'm not the sentimental type. I'm throwing this out, for real this time, and you're going to leave it in there."

Gabriel quickly jumps out of bed and grabs the notebook from Castiel before he can throw it out. "Don't do that. This is amazing. It's too good to throw out. Like — like this line here. I like this line." Gabriel show the open page to Castiel and points to a line.

"His eyes burned threw me like the fires in hell. I should've known that it wouldn't end well. But I was captivated and I thought he loved me 'til I all broke down,'" Gabriel reads aloud in a hushed voice. "That right there is award winning material. No joke. This is amazing. You could sell these songs to freaking Carrie Underwood or something, they're that awesome."

Castiel doesn't question his choice of a country artist. "I'm not selling these. I'm getting rid of them, and you can't stop me. Hell, I'll shred it if I have to, but I'm done with it. The end."

Gabriel clutches the notebook to his chest. "Nope, you're not. Just trust me. I'll get people to agree with me and convince you to keep it tomorrow. Lord knows Lucifer will help. He's all for that. Until then, you're leaving it alone."

Castiel hesitates. Is it worth pursuing this, when he likely won't be able to pry the book from Gabriel grasp anyway? Or should he just give up now and save himself the trouble? He opts for the latter and sighs. "Fine. But you can keep it for the night. Only for the night. Then I'm throwing it out, whether you want me to or not. And no reading it."
Gabriel nods. "Of course. Whatever you say, Castiel."

That should have been the hint that he needed that it wouldn't be that easy, but Castiel doesn't put it together until the next morning.