Chapter Text
“What about the Drama Club?”
Dean looked at his friend in disbelief. Why did he sound serious, when he must be joking? When Dean went to ask his friends for help, after being told he needed to join an additional Club at the school, to get enough credits to graduate, he didn’t expect to hear that. He expected to get some unserious answers, but somehow Benny’s suggestion seemed genuine.
“You’re joking, right?”
“No, I’m serious. My brother had the same issue back in High School. He somehow messed up with the courses he took, thought football would be enough and it wasn’t. Because he has no other talents whatsoever, he joined the drama club and ended up just playing a tree and that was it.”, Benny explained and to Dean’s surprise, it actually made sense.
“I think you’d be an excellent tree.”, Crowley now joked, obviously thinking it was hilarious that Dean was about to fail his senior year.
“Well it beats Chess Club, I guess.”, Dean shrugged.
“And it doesn’t clash with football practice, so you won’t have problems doing both.”, Benny went further, being at least one friend that was actually trying to help.
“Football Player and Drama Diva Dean Winchester. Sounds good, I’d say.”, Alastair joined in on the teasing.
Dean rolled his eyes and sighed. “Drama Club it is then.”
The next week, after Dean had enrolled in the Drama Club, he made his way to the small theater they had in the basement of the school. He sometimes asked what it actually was that got him to the point in his life where he had to join the Drama Club, in a school, he only just stopped being the “new Kid” at and now had this risk of losing his newly established “football guy” status. Being forced to spend his Thursday afternoon with some nerds that actually enjoy being embarrassing in front of people and while probably being primarily girls, surely not the type of girls he liked. He saw a few students waiting in front of the backdoor, which was where he was told to go as well. He recognized some of them from his classes and even thinks one or two were friends with his brother, but he didn’t take the time to look at all of them carefully.
He was caught off guard a bit when a girl suddenly approached him. She was short, had bright red hair and looked at him with a friendly smile. Great, people talking to him was the last thing he wanted.
“Hey there, new guy. I’m Charlie.”, she excitedly stretched out her hand for him to shake it but Dean couldn’t be bothered.
“Well, I’m only here to get some extra credits, so.” He finished that sentence with waving at her ironically, before turning away and finding a quiet corner to stand in and look at his phone while waiting for the teacher. He really couldn’t wait for this to be over.
After Dean suffered through what was a very uncomfortable, but luckily short, drama club session, he was finally free to go to football practice and afterwards walk home with his little brother Sam.
“So, how was Drama Club?”, Sam asked only half joking.
He didn’t know if Sam had talked to his friends from there or not.
“Just as horrible as I thought. Only nerds and we had to play these stupid games and somehow they were actually enjoying it.”
“Just because it’s not what you like, doesn’t mean it’s stupid and not enjoyable for others.”, Sam said, making sense as always, but that’s not what Dean was gonna admit.
“Of course, you’d think that. You’re a nerd as well.”, Dean teased his little brother and gave him a little shoulder bump. “Anyway, this one girl actually tried introducing herself and talking to me. Are they all really that desperate to make friends?”
Sam shook his head.
“You know, maybe this whole thing would be a bit more enjoyable for you if you actually got along with some of them. Maybe even made friends. I am sure she only tried to be nice. But of course that’s not something you’d consider. Just get off your high horse, it’s no one’s but your fault that you have to go there. At least try and make the best of it.”
The following week, having reflected on what Sam had said, Dean decided to follow his brother’s advice. He doesn’t need to make friends, but he should at least apologize. Having people not like him there was probably not helpful either.
So when it came to the next meeting, Dean tried to arrive a bit earlier than he normally would, which means actually on time. He was lucky though, that he meeting hadn’t started yet. The red haired girl wasn’t here waiting yet, either.
But as soon as she arrived he approached her.
“Hey, Charlie?”, he said, hoping he got her name right, after only having had that one encounter with her.
“What?”, she said and raised her eyebrows. A cold attitude, that Dean probably deserved.
“I just want to apologize for being a bit harsh last week. I’m not too happy about being here, but I shouldn’t have let it out on you. You just tried to be nice and I really appreciate that.”, he apologized and tried to give her a small smile.
She nodded sympathetically, “Okay. I get it, pretty boy. I accept your apology.”
“Thanks, I really just wanna make the best of … all this.”, he said and wildly gestured around him, which he immediately regret and wondered how stupid he must have looked.
Charlie smiled, “Come on, I’ll introduce you to the gang.”, without waiting for a reply, she grabbed Dean by the arm and approached a small group of people standing not too far away from them.
“This is Dean. He’s new here. He’s an idiot and doesn’t take this club seriously.”, She introduced him and Dean realized he was probably not gonna hear the end of this. Fair enough.
He looked at two people in front of him. There was a tall, but very thin guy, wearing a funny hat. He was the first one to nod “hello”, and introduce himself as “Garth”. Next to him stood a blonde girl named “Bess”, who Dean knew from his english class. Judging by them holding hands, he assumed they were a couple. Dean and her awkwardly shook hands before falling into a short minute of silence.
“Only one is missing now.”, Charlie said and looked around until something seemed to have caught her eyes.
Dean followed her gaze and oh dear was it eye catching.
“Cas!”, she exclaimed and signaled the boy, who captured Dean’s gaze, to join them.
Dean was shaken for a moment. When he saw the dark haired boy his heart suddenly did this thing that he couldn’t really explain and his eyes just didn’t want to move. Why was he so affected by his appearance? And how had he never noticed him before?
“Cas, this is Dean, he just joined the Drama Club. Dean, this is Castiel, the last one of our group. He’s a bit awkward but you’ll get used to it.”, she introduced the two.
“I am not awkward.”, Castiel tried defending himself, but a small snort from Garth, told Dean that they didn’t really believe that. His voice was way deeper than you’d expect it to be, but it somehow still fit him. Or at least Dean thought so, after all, he had only known this Castiel for the huge amount of one minute.
The meeting was a bit different then the one last week. Instead of starting off with some games, the teacher made them sit in a circle to talk about what play they would do. Dean wasn’t really interested, all he wanted was a small part that got him the credits but no embarrassment. He was hopeful though, as there were way more students in this club than he initially thought. Surely, there wouldn’t be enough parts for everyone. Every time he tried to listen to them discussing if they should do a musical, or comedy piece or drama piece, or whatever things Dean had no clue about, he immediately drifted off. And a few more times then he’d liked, he found his mind follow his eyes, as they kept glancing to Castiel. He wasn’t someone at the front of this discussion, but he did seem invested. Which was good, because he might have caught Dean staring otherwise. He wasn’t really staring to be fair, why would he be, but something about these blue eyes, combined with that blue sweater he wore, just kept Dean feeling like an invisible force was making him look at him. Luckily, he sat diagonal in front of him, so it wasn’t too obvious.
“So it’s decided.”, Dean suddenly felt as if someone had just woken him up.
He looked at the time and realized it was already the end of the meeting. He really had no idea what they had decided on and he was actually wondering if he had fallen asleep. It went over way faster apparently while he was stuck in his thoughts.
“So, what do you think? Are you happy with this play?”, Charlie asked him as they were leaving the room.s
“Honestly? I didn’t listen. I don’t even know what you decided on. I just want to be a tree in the background and that’s it.”, he explained.
Charlie laughed, “If you don’t want to be on stage, I’m sure we can find you a job behind the scenes. There’s plenty to do, this club isn’t just about acting on stage.”
“Really? Will I still get the same credits?” he asked but quickly added, “But I won’t do make up or anything like that.”
The thought of having to paint people’s faces makes him shiver. Not just because he thinks he’d be bad at it, but because he’d have to be so close to so many different people.
“Don’t worry, pretty boy. How about stage lightning? Or taking care of the sound system? That’s always something we’re shorthanded on. We can ask the teacher together next week.”
Dean nodded in agreement. He felt a small tone of her thinking he’d be too anxious to ask the teacher himself. It was only half-true because he felt like it would make a bad impression if he went there and asked, when it was obvious he wished he didn’t have to be there at all. It annoyed him a bit that Charlie saw that and said it, but he decided to let it rest. In all honesty, he actually liked the prospect of helping with the lightning or sound. It’s something he thought could be interesting and fun to learn. He even thought he had seen a book about it at his uncle Bobby’s house once, which he could borrow.
Outside the theater, Castiel, Garth and Bess joined them.
“You wanna join us for lunch?, Garth asked very casually, which took Dean by surprise.
He knew if anyone saw him having lunch with a bunch of nerds, he’d never hear the end of it. Luckily, he already had an excuse, that he didn’t even have to make up.
“I can’t. I have football practice right after Drama club.”, he explained and pointed at the gym bag over his arm.
“So when do you eat?”, Bess asked, knowing there was only a ten minute break between last period and Drama Club.
“I get a snack on the way, it’s enough.”
It wasn’t really, but coming late to football practice wasn’t an option, so he always bought a bag of crisps at the vending machine before drama club and then ate it on the way to the football field.
The group in front of him looked at him in disapprovement, but Dean didn’t fancy talking about this when it was such a small thing. He nodded them goodbye and left for football practice. He was still close enough though, to catch a bit of their conversation.
“Why doesn’t his mum just make him lunch to take with him?”, Garth said.
“I think she died.”, Bess answered, which made Dean feel that pain in his stomach again. It was something that happened every time his mum was mentioned. He didn’t know how Bess knew about that, but at least he knew now, that he wouldn’t have to tell them in the future when the subject came up. Which it always did.
After football practice, Dean and his friends were standing outside the school. Dean was waiting for Sam while Crowley and Alastair were smoking. Dean was the only one in the group who didn’t regularly smoke. If he did, then only at parties, or before exams.
“So, how was nerd club, Dean?”, Alastair provokingly said, making Crowley laugh,
Dean knew he was gonna get teased until Sam would arrive now. He didn’t blame them, it’s not like he wouldn’t make fun of them for the same thing either. But he did wish Benny was here, at least he always tries to keep the teasing from getting too much.
“I don’t know, I think I slept through half of it.”, Dean answered, trying to not be bothered.
“Oh really? Were you auditioning for the role of sleeping beauty?”, Crowley joked.
“I think Dean would make a really pretty princess.”, Alastair tried imitating wearing a dress and twirled around, fluttering his eyelashes.
“Ooh noo. I am Princess Dean of Kansas and I got abducted by an evil, evil dragon. I need a strong prince to come and save me or I will die.”, Alastair acted with a high pitch voice and pretended to faint afterwards. Crowley of course, was laughing, but Dean only rolled his eyes. He was really tired from a long day and wished he didn’t have to endure his friend’s usual stupidity. Luckily, Sam appeared and he got to leave the idiots to themselves.
When Dean and his brother were out of reach, Sam turned to him.
“Why are you friends with them if they’re this rude to you?”, he asked his brother.
Dean was surprised by his brother’s directness. He knew he didn’t like his friends but he only ever made subtle hints.
“They were just joking.”
Dean saw that Sam was about to argue, but being tired, he tried to shut it down immediately.
“You wouldn’t get it, Sammy. It’s guy stuff, you’re only friends with girls anyway.”
He saw Sam roll his eyes and was sure he was a bit offended now, but Dean was just glad to not have to talk about it. All he wanted was get home, lie in his bed and get some fucking peace and quiet for once.