"You can't just wear jeans to a meeting that could possibly shape your entire future!" Anna protests.

"But I don't want to wear a suit!" Castiel whines.

"Too bad! You have to look presentable. This is your first impression."

"Exactly!" Castiel replies. "And I don't want their first impression of me to be someone that wears suits all the time!"

"But you want them to think you're all formal and fancy and cool and stuff!" Anna insists.

"Not really," Castiel replies. "Suits make you look unapproachable and boring. Not exactly the look I'm going for. I'll stick with jeans and a hoodie."

Anna groans. "Oh my god, Castiel! Just put on a suit!"

"No," Castiel repeats.

"I'm telling you, the suit would look way better."

"I don't care," Castiel replies. "I am not wearing a suit."

"I'm gonna go get Gabriel and Lucifer to convince you to," Anna announces.

After at least five minutes, they decide it's not worth it. Castiel has a feeling that's mostly because they don't really care.

"Okay, fine, be difficult!" Anna gives in finally. "You don't have to wear a suit. But it would make this go way better. Seriously."

Castiel rolls his eyes. "Yeah, well, I'm still going in this, so..."

"Sure, whatever. Just don't blame me when they don't like you."

~~

"Castiel Novak?" a voice calls.

Castiel gets up hesitantly. Well, here he goes. He's about to pitch his songs.

"Good luck," Lucifer whispers. "And if you purposely screw this up..."

"I won't," Castiel assures him. Knowing him, he'll screw it up by accident, but he's used to that.

He follows the man that called his name into a smaller office room instead of that opening area he was waiting in. The man takes a seat behind a desk, and gestures for Castiel to sit in the seat across from him. Castiel obliges, sitting up tall because he's too nervous to sit like a normal person.

"Alright, I'm Jim Michaels," he introduces himself. "So, this is how this is going to go, just so you know what to expect. I'll take a look at what you brought, maybe have you sing a little of it so I can get a feel for it, and we probably won't get back to you for a week or two, maybe longer. That sound good?"

Castiel nods. "Yep." He's proud of how composed he seems right now, because he's a mess on the inside. He didn't realize he'd have to sing. He has absolutely no idea what his voice sounds like, or if it's any good. Here's hoping he isn't a colossal failure.

"But first," Jim adds, "a couple questions. I just want to make sure your parents are okay with this, because we can't do anything without their consent."

"My dad's fine with it," Castiel tells him. Chuck wouldn't get in the way of his chance to shine. Not that he's really looking forward to shining, and he's sort of hoping he doesn't. Now that he's here, though, the idea of succeeding isn't as dreadful as it had been.

"Great," Jim replies. "And how old are you?"

"Fifteen."

"Wow," Jim says, appearing impressed. "And how long have you been writing music?"

Castiel shrugs. "Sixth grade, maybe?"

"Wow," he repeats. "That's pretty young."

"Well, I grew up fast," Castiel replies. He sort of had to, with his crazy life.

"And what type of music do you like?"

"Rock," he replies. "The classics."

"Is that the type of music you brought today?"

"Depends," Castiel says. "The only instrument I've got at home is a guitar, so that's what I wrote them with, but the genre really depends on how you play it."

Jim nods thoughtfully. "Good answer. Alright, let's take a look at what you brought."

Castiel hands him the pages with the songs on them. It was Gabriel's idea to photocopy the pages instead of bringing in the whole notebook. Jim scans them wth apparent interest before looking up at a nervous Castiel again.

"You wrote these?"

Castiel nods. "Yes."

Jim doesn't say anything for a moment, creating a very suspenseful and nerve wrecking couple seconds for Castiel. Finally, he says, "These are... Wow. Just from the lyrics, these are amazing. But, obviously, songs are about more than lyrics. Would you mind singing a part for me, so I can get a feel for it? I won't be judging on your voice or anything."

Castiel takes a deep breath. "Sure," he answers, as if he weren't dreading this. He really doesn't want to sing. He has absolutely no idea what he sounds like, and, knowing him, he'll screw up majorly. But he does it anyway, and though the expression on Jim's face in surprised, Castiel can't tell if it's a positive or negative reaction.

"Wow," the older man says finally. "You're good. There's definitely more to you than writing, that's for sure. Hey, would you mind singing one of these — the whole thing — and letting me record it, so I can show it to Kripke?"

"Sure?"

So he does, and Jim seems satisfied with it. When it's done, he tells Castiel, "So, I can't make any promises, but I'm thinking you're in. I'll have to talk to Kripke, of course, but I can't see him saying no to you. I'm just gonna keep these songs if you don't mind, but you'll get them back later if you want them. I'll bet you'll get a call by the end of next week. Until then, just sit tight and I hope to see you again. Thanks for coming."

"Thanks," Castiel replies, feeling an odd sensation of excitement. He didn't want this. He didn't want to want this. So why is he this excited to hear back from them?

He goes out to meet with Lucifer, who acts cool and composed as they leave the building. As soon as they're gone, Lucifer turns into the normal him that Castiel knows and loves.

"So? How'd it go? Did you nail it?" Lucifer asks.

"I don't know if I'd say I nailed it, but I think I did okay," Castiel replies. "And Jim Michaels seems to think so too. He said we'll probably hear back from them by the end of next week, and he thinks Kripke will like it."

Lucifer grins. "Of course he will! So, how are you feeling, Mr. I-Might-Be-The-Next-Liz-Rose?"

Castiel doesn't bother asking who that is. "I'm actually feeling sort of excited," he admits.

"Ah, see? I told you! I told you it'd be worth it! I told you you'd like it! But you didn't listen. You should listen to me more often. We should go celebrate. How about we go pick up some ice cream and have a party back at the house?"

"Sure," Castiel replies. "Just make sure we get mint."

"Deal."

~~

As soon as they get home, Castiel whips out his phone.

Castiel: Dean Dean Dean Dean Dean Dean Dean guess what! You're never gonna guess it! I'm so excited!!!!!!!

Castiel: I just realized you're probably still at your game.

Castiel: Call me soon okay? I have some awesome news!

~~~

Dean doesn't call back until over an hour later, and when he does, he's slightly out of breath. He must still be at his game, Castiel reasons.

"Cas?" Dean pants.

"Dean!" Castiel practically yells. "Dean, guess what? Lucifer made me go try to sell my songs because I lost a bet and stuff and I think they're actually interested and they might do it and I'm so excited!"

Dean chuckles. "That's awesome, Cas! But I have to admit, it's not something I thought you'd be excited for."

"Me neither, but I am!" Castiel replies. "What if they give them to someone really famous? And what if it's a huge hit? Oh my god, that would be amazing!"

Dean laughs again. "That would be awesome," Dean approves. "Now I wish I was there. I never hear you this happy."

"That's because I've never had anything like this happen before!" Castiel replies. "People actually like me! And it didn't involve me getting hurt at all!"

"Yeah, that's always a plus," Dean agrees. "And is this that secret thing you wouldn't tell me in gym yesterday?"

"Yeah," Castiel replies. "I didn't want to tell you in case it didn't work out, but it worked out! I think, anyway, but it's really looking like it did. Oh my god, I'm so happy right now!"

"I can tell," Dean laughs. "Congrats, Cas. I'm proud of you. And now in getting weird looks. Okay, I'm gonna go but I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Alright," Castiel agrees. "Bye! See ya!"
Click. Alright, now his family and his boyfriend know. Now who does Castiel tell? Oh, the group chat!

Castiel: Hey guys! Hey hey hey hey guys!

Garth: Yeah?

Donna: Hey

Charlie: I'm here what are we excited about

Kevin: What

Sam: ???

Castiel: Guys I might be able to sell my songs to a record company or something like that and it's really cool and oh my god I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Charlie: We can tell by the !!!!!!!s

Castiel: I needed to use each and every one to emphasize how excited I am right now!

Kevin: Well good for you Castiel

Garth: You write songs?

Castiel: Yeah.

Garth: Cool

Donna: How come we've never heard about that

Castiel: Because I usually don't show them to people but I made a bet with Lucifer and that never ends well.

Gabriel: You should have known that tbh

Castiel: I know but I was just fed up with the Bee Movie and I did what I could to stop it. It didn't work. It but got worse.

Gabriel: We all appreciate the effort

Garth: Gabriel you're late to the party

Gabriel: Look at me not caring

Gabriel: But to be fair I'm late to basically everything so whatever

Sam: You're not late to everything

Castiel: Only with you because he loves you

Castiel: Gabriel just hit me

Donna: Oh I forgot you two were in the same building

Castiel: Unfortunately

Castiel: Gabriel just hit me again

Gabriel: You have no proof

Dean: Idk when you guys added me to this but you text too much

Charlie: Too bad because Castiel is a special snowflake

Charlie: Did you read the beginning of the convo

Charlie: About the songs and stuff

Dean: Cas already called me. I got the news first

Kevin: Phonetically it would be spelled Cass not Cas

Dean: Well phonetics my ass because his name is definitely Cas

Kevin: No see to rhyme with ass it should end with ass so it should be Cass

Kevin: Cas would rhyme with the word as

Dean: Whatever his name is still Cas

Kevin: No it's not because...

Castiel turns off his phone. He is not sitting through that today.