Chapter Text
Sam was bursting at the seams with barely controlled excitement about the upcoming events. He swore he could feel his skin crawling and every muscle in his body buzzing as he walked through the large department store with his older brother Dean. It was prom season and the mannequins all displayed colorful ruffled shirts and flowing chiffon dresses. Sam was a senior at East Lawrence High School- A SENIOR! This year had been his best year yet, just as most seniors would tell you. He was still on the honor roll and he was student body Historian. He had been accepted into his #1 pick of four different Universities, Stanford University. He was on the basketball team, sure he wasn't the best shot but he pulled his weight when they needed him, and at 6'4" that came easy for him. The senior prom, themed Time After Time, was quickly approaching. The best part, the part that made his cheeks hurt from the permanent grin that spread across his face from sun up to sun down, was love. Sam Winchester was blissfully head over heels in love with a boy named Castiel Novak. Cas was smart, and wanted to be a doctor because he cared about everyone. It didn’t take Sam much time to notice how beautiful Cas was, a head perfectly cut of dark brown hair and sapphire blue eyes that set Sam’s entire being on fire. It all started freshman year when the two became best friends, studying together, sharing a lunch table, but over the last three years it had blossomed into so much more.
-Freshman Year-
At least ten more minutes ticked by before she finally called “Last but not least, Winchester!” Sam moved past the teacher, “Welcome to homeroom Samuel,” she gushed. “Oh, it’s just Sam- ma’am. Everyone calls me Sam,” Sam said as he felt his cheeks start to flush. “Well, Sam it is!” Her voice sounded almost sing song like, as if this were all a fairy tale and her prince would be bursting through the door to whisk her away at any moment. Sam dropped his book bag at his feet and took his seat. The boy with the blue eyes sat in the assigned seat to his left. Sam tried to sneak a look from the corner of his eye and was slightly startled to see that Castiel was looking directly at him. He looked over and shot a dimpled smile in the boy’s direction. “Hey. I’m Sam,” he said with the charm he could have only learned from his big brother. He wanted to make friends and this seemed a good place to start. “Castiel,” the boy extended his hand towards Sam. Sam chuckled a little, he’d never had a kid give him a hand shake, but accepted the greeting.
They compared schedules and saw that they had most of their classes together, except Phys. Ed. and Art. They talked to a lot of students that day but they always ended up talking and laughing with each other by the end of each period. It only took a month for them to start their study group. Sam, who wanted to be a lawyer or maybe judge, would lead for Social Studies and (his favorite) History courses. Castiel, who wanted to be a doctor, would lead with when it came to Science and Math. Just like that, they were inseparable.
-xXx-
He and Castiel were best friends, everyone knew that. But no one knew the whole truth. His father, just like everyone else, was oblivious and often just yelled at him to get his head out of the clouds, but honestly, as long as Sam continued to bring home A's John Winchester could careless how his moods changed. Things were not so easy with Dean because his older brother knew him inside and out, even after living on his own for almost a year now. Dean had moved into the studio apartment over the garage that he worked at. He paid a small rent for the whole place with the cars he fixed up. It wasn’t anything fancy but it was cheap because the owner needed someone to keep an eye out for the old cars that were parked in the large lot that surrounded the place. Dean was often busy but he came to check up on Sam at least once a week, occasionally taking him out for burgers and a couple of cheap flavorless beers. Dean knew something was going on, Sam could tell, but he hadn’t brought it up so Sam didn’t either. “Earth to Sammy…” his brother’s voice cut into his thoughts “hey kid, I said what color is your date wearing?” Dean cocked an eyebrow at him. “Uh- yea, uh, blue- light blue,” Like an angel Sam thought, just barely keeping the words from escaping his mouth
A female clerk appeared suddenly, her voice and personality taking up far more room than her small 5’2” frame needed. She fussed over the brothers like a mother would, her peach colored tweed dress and blazer adding to her motherly authority. She had completed her waist and inseam measurements before Sam realized what was happening. A stepping stool materialized from seemingly nowhere and she was suddenly face to face with Sam, whipping her measuring tape about and going on about how proud their mother must be to have such handsome boys. “Alright young man! Give me just a moment and I be back with some selections- blue, did you say?” and without waiting for the answer she was lost among the racks.
“So…” the drawn out syllable made Sam cringe. The jig was up. Sam ducked his head which made his hair fall forward around his face. “You gonna cut that before prom night right?” Dean finished quickly, not even trying to hide the toothy grin that always made Sam laugh. Sam laughed, releasing a breath he had been holding “I think I will keep it Dean. It’s kind of… me. If you know what I mean.” Dean rolled his eyes dramatically, “Okay Samantha. Just try not to outshine your date, the ladies hate that…” his brother trailed off as he watched a large rack of suits rolling in their direction, the small lady clerk hidden somewhere within. The rack stopped in front of the dressing rooms and like a genie the peach colored clerk appeared and whisked Sam into the first changing room with a gray suit. Sam stared at his reflection for a moment and took a deep breath. Alright, time to get to work.
-xXx-
“At least tell me what she’s like,” Dean bargained.
“What do you want to know Dean?”
“Keep it simple. Hair color.” Dean shrugged.
“Really dark brown… with some reddish streaks here and there…”
“Nice Sammy, brunette. Okay, eyes?” he continued.
“Oh man… they’re the deepest blue, like sapphires. They turn down a little and you could say they look a little sad… if you don’t know – her – well...” his voice trailed off.
“Damn Sammy. You are stuck aren't you?” Dean laughed.
Sam just shook his head. “I knew you wouldn't understand…”
“Who the hell said I didn't understand? I get it… that’s why it’s funny.” Dean trailed off. The tailor and the clerk had melted into the surroundings again leaving the brothers alone. Dean looked down at his shoes. “No, I get it Sam… sometimes… it’s like- their laugh is the only air in your lungs… or their smile might be the only sunshine you see all day... The one person that can take your shitty day and make it disappear.”
Sam’s eyes were wide with awe at what he was hearing from his big brother's mouth. It was like he had taken words that Sam didn't know he needed and handed them to him for future reference. Dean looked up at Sam’s face. “Alright, alright! Enough with the lovesick talk. Go get out of that so they can get to work on it.” Sam grinned and went back into the dressing room to pull off the suit. Maybe this plan wouldn't turn out so bad after all.