Making Do, 3/3, PG13, Dean/Gabriel, 15000
Anna looks pretty when Dean picks her up, but that’s hardly anything new. She’s only wearing faded jeans and a slim sweater, but Dean thinks it’s her eyes that always make her stand out, because Castiel has the same eyes, only they’re creepy and intense on him. Her eyes and her red hair. “Hello, Dean,” she says, smiling sweetly when she slides into his car. “I figured you wouldn’t want to see my father.”
Dean really appreciates that, and he has no problems telling Anna as much. He likes the way she smiles at him, rolling her eyes and brushing her hair over her shoulder. “So it’s not too late to see a different movie…”
There’s a pointed look directed his way, Dean doesn’t have to look over at her to see it. “I should apologize,” she says vaguely, looking out of the passenger’s side window.
”For what?” Dean asks, and he’s trying to ignore the nervous roll in his stomach. Apologizing is never a good sign.
”Well, Pamela originally cancelled on me because - well, it isn’t important why,” Anna huffs out, smiling over at Dean. “The point is, she has a date, too. We’ll meet her at the movie theater. This won’t be a problem, will it?”
It’s something Dean has to think about, run through his head. If Pamela has a date, too, that means that it is a date between him and Anna. Which means he will probably end up at least making out with Anna, even if she won’t put out because she’s known Dean for years and she knows he’s kind of an asshole. That’s a good thing, at least. “I don’t think so,” Dean says after a moment, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel. “Who is she going out with?”
Anna ‘hmm’s thoughtfully, but she doesn’t say specifically. “Pamela wouldn’t say,” she shrugs, after a bit of hedging. “It’s Pamela though, so plan for the best and expect the worst.”
Dean knows when he’s being lied to, but he doesn’t push the issue. There’s probably a good reason Anna won’t tell him, and Dean can only hope it’s because she’s embarrassed or something and that it won’t affect Dean in a seriously negative manner.
”I hate you so much right now,” Dean tells Anna, scowling at her over the popcorn. “You could have told me Pamela’s date was Gabriel.”
”You know I can hear you, right?” Gabriel asks, leaning forward in his seat to stick out his tongue.
”I didn’t want you to change your mind,” Anna replies softly, though the look she’s giving Dean is scolding. “I know how skittish you can be when things don’t always go as planned.”
”I’m not skittish!” Dean snaps, and it’s an honest effort not to turn red, even in the dark of the theatre. He’s not skittish, he’s not a colt or something. He just expects things to happen a certain way, it’s not his fault if he’s sometimes hesitant when he’s floored.
”Don’t be such a baby, Dean,” Pamela laughs, reaching in front of Anna to punch Dean in the thigh. “It’s just movie and a dinner. It’s not like you have to hang around for the extracurricular activities.”
”Pffft,” Gabriel snorts. “I know you, Pamela. You’d be completely okay if Dean and Anna stuck around.”
Pamela waggles her eyebrows, causing Anna to flush an unhealthy shade of red. “I’m not going to scar both of our best friends for life just because you asked me to.”
”Sorry, Dean-o,” Gabriel grins. “Guess you’re on your own tonight.”
Dean gives Anna a pointed look. “I hate you so much,” he says again.
”I’m hating myself a little bit right now, to be honest,” Anna admits, sighing heavily and slumping back in her seat. “It’s just a movie and dinner, Dean. I’m sure we’ll both survive.”
Dean’s not sure he believes her, not with the way Pamela and Gabriel are laughing conspiratorially on the other side of Anna, but he’s willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, just this once. Anna’s not the type to outright lie to Dean, in any case.
The movie isn’t as bad as Dean thought it would be. It’s cliché and colorful and painfully adorable, but he doesn’t want to kill himself by the end of it. He’s more focused on the way Anna’s knee feels pressed against his and the fact she doesn’t want to hold his hand and he doesn’t really want to hold hers, either, more than anything else though.
They share a soda with the familiarity of two people who’ve been comfortable around each other for years, and there’s something about that that sits warm and heavy in Dean’s stomach. Dean likes Anna, he likes her a lot, he just isn’t sure if he likes her enough or in the right way. This thing they’re doing, going to the movies and dinner, picking on each other and fighting stubbornly before calling it quits and giving in - it’s no different than how Dean treats Sam, and the thought should probably scare Dean, but it doesn’t.
Dean’s known Anna for four years. She’s the only female friend he’s honestly ever had, and the most consistent one, and while he sometimes thinks he’d like to have sex with her, he knows she doesn’t want to have sex with him. Not anymore, anyways, he missed that boat Freshman year when he kissed a different girl at the Military Ball she invited him to. And Dean can’t bring himself to be upset about this.
He finds himself thinking, unbidden and unwanted, that maybe Gabriel might be right. He tries to imagine Gabriel half naked, tangled together with Dean in the backseat of the Impala and one deft hand plucking at Dean’s zipper, and Dean can only flush and thank God for the darkness in the theatre. The thought terrifies him more than anything, but there’s a low hum of something just below the surface, too.
Gabriel’s the only person who can ever really, truly get under Dean’s skin. He doesn’t have to try, most of the time, and he drives Dean absolutely insane with anger and worry and confusion. When he’s not around, Dean’s more irritable and difficult to deal with and when he is, Dean’s happier.
The final straw that lead Dean to join the Marines was because Gabriel was going off to some Ivy League school and he wasn’t going to be home to miss Dean. Gabriel wasn’t going to be home, and he was going to be too busy with school and sex and the real world to even notice Dean was gone.
As loathe as Dean is to admit it, Dean thinks Gabriel might actually have a point. Which is just peachy with a side of keen, as far as Dean’s concerned. He has no idea what he’s supposed to do with this knowledge, but he knows it isn’t going to do him any good. In less than three months, Dean’s joining the Marines. He can’t afford to have a homosexual freak out.
He can feel Anna’s eyes on him, concern obvious even in the dark, and he flashes her a tired smile. “I need to pee,” he tells her, standing up suddenly. “I’ll be right back.”
”Okay,” Anna says, pursing her lips, but she lets him go. “Don’t take too long.”
Dean ignores the whispered confusion between Pamela and Anna and Gabriel. He doesn’t have to pee, not really, but suddenly the thought of staying in a darkened movie theatre with Gabriel so close is too much. He brushes past the bored workers in favor of stepping outside, and the cold night air hits him like a ton of bricks.
”Jesus Christ,” Dean mutters, slumping against the brick wall of the theatre and staring out at the dimly lit parking lot. “Jesus fucking Christ, what the fuck is happening to me?” Or, more importantly, why now?
He lets his head thump back against the wall, and tries to banish the unwanted thoughts of Gabriel as anything other than completely clothed and Dean’s best friend. The more he tries to hold onto the purely platonic and decidedly heterosexual image though, the harder it becomes.
Because Gabriel always sits too close, always invades Dean’s space. He cocks his head to the side and looks up at Dean when he talks, rolls his eyes and smirks when he’s amused. The angry huffs of annoyance, and the way he looks at Dean from under his hair when he’s soaking wet. The way Gabriel looks when he’s sleeping, those moments where he’s quiet and peaceful and he doesn’t have older brothers to compete with or a father he’s desperate for approval from.
The way he makes Dean feel warm and safe, like he belongs and that he was never going to be alone.
Gabriel’s voice cuts sharp through the night, even over the hum from the building at Dean’s back and the rush of cars on the motorway. “What’s your damage, Winchester?”
Dean closes his eyes, because he really can’t deal with this right now. Gabriel is the absolute last person he wants to talk to. If he didn’t think Anna would officially hate and never forgive him for it, he would just go home right now and leave her alone in the dark with Pamela. “Not now, Gabriel.”
”When are you ever going to learn I’m not going to leave you alone until you give me what I want?” Gabriel asks. He leans back against the wall at Dean’s side, his thigh bumping against Dean’s shoulder. It’s hot where they’re touching, even through Gabriel’s jeans and Dean’s leather jacket, and Dean can’t bring himself to shove Gabriel away.
”What exactly is it you want from me anyways, Gabriel?” Dean asks tiredly, letting his head fall back against the brick wall and ignoring the jar of pain. “Because I’m going to be honest, I probably can’t give it to you if it’s what I think it is.”
”You’re so self-centered,” Gabriel says, and it almost sounds fond. He touches the top of Dean’s head with the pads of his fingers, barely skimming through Dean’s hair in a simple caress, an infantilizing head pat. “What makes you think you know the first thing about me?”
”We’ve known each other for four years,” Dean replies. “I’d like to think I know something about you.”
”You’re not known for doing a lot of thinking,” Gabriel counters. It’s harsh, but not really cruel, and Dean tugs at Gabriel’s jeans until the smaller male is crouched down next to him. “You going to tell me what your problem is?”
Dean can’t do this, he can’t want to do this, not anymore. Dean sold his soul away, he’s not allowed to look at Gabriel and think this is my best friend and I’ve fallen in love with him without even noticing. Never again. “I need to buy you dinner first,” he says instead, because he’s not going to admit these things, ever.
Gabriel is silent for a long time, his face unreadable as he stares out into the parking lot. Dean follows his gaze, but he doesn’t see anything beyond some crappy hybrid cars, so he focuses instead on Gabriel’s face, on the slope of his nose and the curve of his lips. “We can’t do this, Dean,” Gabriel says softly, licking his lips. “You know why.”
”Then we’re at least on the same page?” Dean asks, and there’s something like relief and heartache rushing through his system. “Because - even if we can’t - I have to know. I’m not saying that - I’m not saying anything, I can’t - but - “
Scoffing, Gabriel shakes his head and flashes Dean a tired look. “Yeah, we’re on the same page.”
Dean feels like he should be relieved, that now that he knows he should be able to put all of this behind him. That feeling isn’t coming to him though. Not as strongly as the urge to catch Gabriel’s hand in his own is, and even though Dean knows he shouldn’t, that they can’t, he tugs at Gabriel’s wrist until they can tangle their fingers together. The giddy rush of warmth is everything Dean wasn’t feeling with Anna, and Dean should let go now, before they get in over their heads, but he isn’t letting go.
”You know this technically still falls under the category of things we’re not ever allowed to do together, right?” Gabriel asks, his voice soft and distant. He doesn’t pull his hand away from Dean’s though, instead twitching and squeezing his fingers between Dean’s.
”Just shut up, Gabriel,” Dean says. “Just, for once in your life - “ He has to stop to suck in a sharp breath, shaking his head and smiling despite himself. “Just shut up and let it be.”
”I’m just saying that this is a bad idea,” Gabriel replies casually. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this. There were pretty elaborate plans that involve the backseat of your Impala. Four years’ worth of sexually repressed and increasingly desperate plans.”
Clenching his eyes shut, Dean fights back a groan. He doesn’t need to let his mind wander in the direction Gabriel is less-than-subtly trying to lead it. “Just shut up, Gabriel, before I’m forced to - “ he means to say gag you, but he gets the feeling Gabriel might actually like that a little bit too much, so he bites his tongue on the thought. “I’m in for four years. You’ll be in college. If you’re as lovesick as you claim to be, we can - “
”I’m not lovesick,” Gabriel snorts derisively. “I had every intention of getting my dick wet with Pamela tonight. In fact, I’m not entirely sure I won’t.”
Dean ignores the sudden flare of jealousy at Gabriel’s words, but he won’t hold them against him. Dean really shouldn’t be surprised that Gabriel wants to get laid, and he doesn’t doubt that Pamela would be more than willing to oblige. She’s awesome and freethinking like that. “I was just saying that it isn’t the end of the world.”
”It’s always the end of the world someplace,” Gabriel replies, squeezing Dean’s fingers in his own. “I’m not apologizing.”
”I’m not asking you to,” Dean huffs, because he’s not stupid enough to expect Gabriel to suddenly change his ways. Not because of this thing that can’t be between them but still kind of is. Dean’s only just accepted that he even wants this, wants Gabriel, within the last hour. It’s too soon to be jumping into anything, anyway. “We should probably get back inside.”
”The movie is almost over,” Gabriel counters. “We’re not exactly hiding, Pamela and Anna will be able to find us.”
It means Dean doesn’t have to let go of Gabriel’s hand, not yet, and for that he’s grateful. This might be the one chance he gets for this, might be the only chance he’ll ever allow himself to act on it, and Dean doubts there will be any way to let go without thinking it’s too soon, that they haven’t had enough time. “You’re right,” Dean says, more to kill the silence than anything.
Gabriel scoffs again, rolling his eyes at Dean before grinning. “Seriously, Winchester? Of course I am.”
They go to dinner, because they said they would. Dean pays for Anna, because he’s a gentleman, and because she doesn’t ask what was wrong or why he and Gabriel didn’t go back into the theatre after clearing his head or why he was even outside in the first place. The look she gives Dean is knowing and soft, and Dean’s not surprised that his desire to make out with her has all but vanished in the wake of everything else.
Pamela doesn’t press the matter, either, but Dean figures that has more to do with the fact that she rode in the car with Gabriel and has already had the chance to question and demand her fill of answers. She grins over at Dean, rolling her eyes and smirking at all of Gabriel’s lewd jokes, and Dean wonders why he’s not better friends with this girl.
”What now?” Gabriel asks, after they’ve paid their tabs and are standing out in the cold, hesitant to part ways. “You guys heading home?”
Anna glances at her watch, making a soft surprised sound as she does so and sending Dean an apologetic look. “It’s really late, you wouldn’t mind taking me home, would you?”
”I’m sure he wouldn’t,” Pamela says innocently.
Anna gives her a dirty look.
”It’s fine,” Dean says, shrugging as casually as he can manage. “I’ve got to get home soon, too. Important things to do and all.”
”It was fun,” Pamela says. She hugs Anna easily, with a familiarity Dean never realized the two girls had, before dragging Dean down into a rough hug and slapping his ass. “You make sure Anna gets home safe, you hear me?”
”Jeez, you sound like my father,” Dean scoffs. “He’s convinced he’ll be dead if I do anything to make you cry again, or worse.” He’s looking at Anna, and she’s smiling up at him. “I’ll see you guys later.”
”I’ll text you,” Gabriel offers, shoving his hands in his pockets before turning on his heels. “Come on, Pamela. The night’s still young.”
Dean looks at Anna. “You ready for me to take you home?”
”Please do,” Anna says, nodding her head. She loops her elbow through Dean’s as he leads the way to the car, smiling softly to herself the entire time.
John’s still awake when Dean gets home, even though it’s after 2200. Tomorrow is Sunday though, so it’s not like his father has anywhere particularly important to be. Dean watches his father watch TV for a moment, not saying anything until John looks up at him and says, “Hey.”
”Hey,” Dean replies, leaning against the archway leading to the living room and crossing his arms over his chest. “I got Anna home without hurting her, making her cry, or deflowering her. Your job should continue to be safe.”
John scoffs, because safe is relative, and he gestures for Dean to join him on the couch. He shrugs when Dean declines with a shake of his head, taking a sip from a beer bottle lazily and turning his attention back to the Star Trek reruns. “Did you have fun?”
”Yeah,” Dean says, because it’s easier than actually explaining what happened. Dean wonders when he stopped telling his father everything that went on in his life, and he misses that open feeling he used to have. He used to be close with his father and now they’re just - Dean doesn’t know what they are, and while it’s not bad, it’s not what it used to be, either. “Hey, Dad?”
”Yeah, Dean?” John asks, glancing over at Dean and quirking an eyebrow.
”I joined the Marines,” Dean admits, ducking his head to hide the flush of his cheeks and because he can’t look at his father’s face, not right now. “I - I’ve thought about it for months, but it’s the only thing I want to do. I joined the Marines, and I leave the day after graduation.”
John’s quiet for a long moment, his eyes never leaving Dean’s the entire time as he thinks. When the silence stretches on long enough that Dean thinks his father might not have heard him, John replies with a soft, “Most people would have found a better segue.”
”You’re not mad at me?” Dean asks, blinking in confusion as he looks up at his father.
”You’re eighteen,” John replies levelly. “I wish you would have told your mother and me about this beforehand, but it’s not like I can do anything about it now, is there?” John’s surprisingly calm, and Dean will admit John raises a few points. “You might want to let me talk to your mother though. She’s going to be upset and blame this all on me.”
Dean doesn’t know what to say to that, and he shrugs casually. “I’m sorry.”
John shrugs as well, slumping back in his armchair and downing the last of his beer. “As long as you’re happy and think you made the right choice, I’ve no room to complain. It’s the only way to find yourself, sometimes. You’re only in for four years, yeah?”
”Yeah,” Dean says, nodding. “Four years. My recruiter says I could go to college after, if I wanted, or I could stay in. It doesn’t really matter right now.”
The look John gives Dean is soft and pleased, and it makes pride shimmer through Dean’s system. “You’ll do the right thing. You’re a good kid, Dean. I trust you to make the right choices.”
Dean can’t remember the last time he wanted to hug his father this badly and it’s a hard urge to quash. That’s not exactly the treatment he should show his father after announcing he’s joining the military. “Thank you,” Dean says instead, ducking his head. “For not yelling at me. And everything.”
”Go to bed, Dean,” John sighs heavily, and it’s an order that Dean doesn’t mind obeying.
Dean’s woken up by Gabriel plopping down onto Dean’s bed, half crushing Dean’s body beneath his own. “Wakey, wakey,” he coos, bouncing happily.
”What the fuck, Gabriel,” Dean groans, shoving at him halfheartedly. “How the fuck did you get into my room?” He’s ninety-nine percent sure he didn’t unlock his window last night, because he’s half afraid of burglars after that time he went to visit his dad’s parents and someone broke into the house while they were gone and because Gabriel knew he only had to knock to get in anyways.
”They have these wonderfully crazy inventions called front doors,” Gabriel replies, shoving off of the bed to move to Dean’s desk chair, collapsing on it heavily and grinning. “All I had to do was knock and your mom let me in. Pretty crazy and intense stuff.”
”You’re such an asshole,” Dean groans, rolling onto his back and glowering up at his ceiling. “It’s not even noon yet. Go away and let me sleep. Why are you in such a good mood, anyway?”
”If you really have to ask, you’re never going to know,” Gabriel shoots back.
The selfish part of Dean would like to think that it’s because Gabriel has realized he’s not been pining after someone uselessly for four years. The more realistic part thinks that Gabriel and Pamela probably really did have sex, and the thought doesn’t crush him as much as it probably should. At least Pamela is a girl, Dean thinks tiredly. If she wasn’t, Dean has no doubt that he’d probably be throwing a hissy fit in a jealous rage right now.
”Your mom asked me if I knew you enlisted in the Marines,” Gabriel says casually, leaning back in Dean’s desk chair until it’s balanced precariously on the two rear legs. “I’m going to take this to assume you finally told your parents that you sold your soul away.”
”I told my dad last night,” Dean says. He props himself up on his elbows to look at Gabriel better, furrowing his brow. “My mom knows? How did she look? Does she look upset?”
”Uh, I wasn’t really paying attention, to be honest,” Gabriel replies, shrugging casually. He lets his chair plop down on all fours again, before pinning Dean with a serious look. “I don’t have time for this, I have to go to some stupid church thing with my brothers in an hour. I only came by because I needed to know if you were serious about last night.”
”About which part?” Dean asks, sitting up all the way. He makes no move to get out of bed, because he doesn’t have to and Gabriel couldn’t care less if Dean lounges around in his boxers and a ratty Led Zeppelin tee. The influx of emotions and realizations from last night were sudden, but Dean still feels them with a steely certainty in the bottom of his stomach. “I meant every word.”
Gabriel pauses to consider this, folding his arms over his chest and staring up at the ceiling. “Okay,” he says slowly. “So we’re both in agreement you need to buy me dinner, but you can’t for at least four years.”
”Yeah,” Dean says easily, because he doesn’t know what else to say.
Gabriel flashes Dean a tired smile. “And we both agree that four years is a long time, but it’s not forever?”
”That’s affirmative, Ghost Rider.”
Gabriel scoffs, the corner of his lip twitching up into a smile. Pop culture references always manage to make him smile, and while Dean isn’t sure why, it’s a fact he’s more than willing to abuse. “So I guess, assuming nothing changes in the next three months until graduation and the four years until your contract expires, we’re going to - I don’t know, we’ve got a date.”
”A date,” Dean repeats slowly, rolling the word off of his tongue. “I’ll be sure to leave my calendar open, then.”
”You better,” Gabriel replies breezily. “If I wait four years for you and you don’t even put out, we are going to be having some very serious words, Winchester.”
Dean scoffs, ducking his head to hide his grin. “You’re so full of yourself.”
”It’s because I’m awesome and you know it,” Gabriel says, shrugging casually again.
Dean has no intentions of admitting it anytime soon, but he really kind of does agree.
Mary sneaks up behind Dean and drags him into a tight hug. All he wanted was a pack of Cherry Pop Tarts and maybe some milk, but he loves his mother, and he owes her this much. “You’re in so much trouble,” she says against his cheek - and when did Dean become so much taller than her? - “My baby boy, all grown up.”
Dean puts his hands on his mother’s shoulders, and just lets her be. “Everything’s going to be okay, Mom,” he says softly, ducking his head to rest on her shoulder. “I’m not going anywhere for a couple months.”
”I know,” Mary says, but she doesn’t let go, and Dean doesn’t make her.
Time passes, because that’s what it does. Dean spends the entire time scared that he and Gabriel are going to break up again, or that Gabriel’s going to get bored with him and decide Dean isn’t worth four more years of pining. He’s probably being a needy pest, but Dean’s always needed Gabriel, he just never realized it before.
Gabriel takes the attention as well as Dean would have expected him too - lavishing in it when it suits him, trying to bite Dean’s head off when it doesn’t. Dean makes a joke about how he’s not-dating a girl, and Gabriel doesn’t talk to him for three days after, fuming and glaring the entire time.
But they’re good, they’re golden, they’re solid. Gabriel is Dean’s best friend, first and foremost, and it’s a lot easier than Dean thought it would be to ignore his sudden urges to pin Gabriel to his locker and kiss him, or cuddle with him in the cover of darkness when Gabriel crawls in Dean’s window because things at home are rough and he just needs a little safety and sanctuary and quiet, at least for a little while. Gabriel is Dean’s best friend, and once those feelings are quashed, it’s not that different from before.
”Graduation is Saturday,” Gabriel says, plopping down next to Dean in Chemistry. “That means you leave Sunday. We have some serious planning to do.”
”Planning?” Anna ask, looking up suddenly. “What kind of planning are you two talking about?” She asks, narrowing her eyes. “Because I know how you two define planning and if this issue is serious, than you should probably let someone more organized assist.”
”We’ll be fine,” Gabriel scoffs, rolling his eyes. “All that’s left to figure out, really, is whose graduation parties we’re going to, if we can score any booze for mine, and how many people we can have sex with before we send Dean-o away to be neutered by the United States Marine Corps.”
”Haha,” Dean says, glowering. “At least I’m not going to Yale to become an effeminate little bitch.”
”Hey, Dean, I’ve been practicing my Marine-iese, grunh guur grahh grhng,” Gabriel counters. “That means ‘suck my cock, bitch’. You should get familiar with that phrase, because all the officers are going to be giving you that command as long as you have those lips.”
”Why am I even friends with either of you?” Anna asks, scowling at them both.
”Because I’m awesome and flexible and good in bed?” Gabriel tries, flashing Anna a brilliant grin.
Anna glares harder.
”In all seriousness, though,” Gabriel says, looking back at Dean. “How are we going to do this? You have to make sure I have your address so I can send you pictures of half-naked women while you’re at Boot Camp.”
”That’s probably against the rules,” Dean replies, glancing at Gabriel and quirking an eyebrow. “Not that I wouldn’t appreciate the effort, but I don’t want to get kicked out before I even really start.”
”Fair enough,” Gabriel concedes. “Either way, I’m getting your address. And you have to send me stuff while I’m in school, so I have proof when I threaten people and say my best friend is a Marine and will rip their throats out.”
”I want a picture of you in uniform,” Anna pipes in. “You’ll look very distinguished. Like in your Prom tux. You were very handsome.”
”Did Anna just admit she wants fap material of you?” Gabriel asks, glancing between Dean and Anna. “I know you two are supposed to be star-crossed lovers or something, but you’ve already got Prom pictures of him.”
”We’re only star-crossed lovers because you refuse to relinquish your death grip on Dean and let him have what he really wants,” Anna replies casually, but she rolls her eyes.
It’s weird, Dean thinks, that they can joke so casually about this. Especially when Anna’s made it very clear she isn’t in love with Dean. That, and Dean’s almost ninety-nine percent sure that Pamela has figured out he and Gabriel are not-dating and Pamela is Anna’s best friend. Anna probably noticed, too, long before they themselves did, but she’s too polite to mention it. “Gabriel doesn’t think it’s weird when I talk on the phone in my boxers.”
”That’s because it is weird, Dean,” Anna sighs, shaking her head. “You could have at least had the decency not to mention it to me. I will forever have that mental image burned into my mind.”
”You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Gabriel says innocently.
Anna gives Gabriel another look, but it’s less heated. “So, this must be really tough for the two of you. I mean, Gabriel going to Yale and you joining the Marines, Dean.” She leans back in her chair, brushing her hair out of her face. “I’m going to miss you both so much, I don’t know how I’m going to cope. I can only imagine how hard it will be for you two.”
”Missing Gabriel would be too chick flick,” Dean replies, shrugging. “It’s okay if I miss you, because you’re the first girl I kissed and allegedly my sweetheart or mistress, depending on who is telling the story and on whether Gabriel is involved in it.”
”Yeah,” Gabriel says, nodding. “I’m not going to miss Dean. It’s too gay.” He looks over at Dean, his bright eyes shimmering with silent laughter and the corner of his mouth twitching up into a smirk. “I’ve got a couple of months before I can start missing you, though.”
Anna nods her head slowly, mulling over these things. “Maybe. Gender stereotypes be damned, I don’t think I’m ever going to have as much fun as I did in Physical Science Freshman year. You came along at a good time, Dean. Even you two can’t deny we had good times back then.”
”That, I can agree with,” Gabriel grins. “That poor teacher had no idea what was coming to him.”
”Agreed,” Dean chimes in. It’s weird to think that this will be the last time he can chill around with these two people in science class, doing nothing and not taking notes. He met Anna and Gabriel four years ago in Physical Science, and even though they all have English 12 together in a few hours, Dean knows that right now, this last day in Chemistry, is really the end for the three of them.
It should depress him, but it doesn’t. Because Dean knows he and Anna are cool, and that she’s way too persistent to ever let him forget about her. And Gabriel - Gabriel is a whole separate box of rocks to sort through and deal with, but that persistence is still there. It’s deeper, more insistent, because it’s Gabriel, and they’ve got a date planned for four years set in the ambiguous future.
And maybe it won’t work out, maybe in four years Dean and Gabriel will decide that they’re always going to be better off just being friends. Maybe it’ll be for the best. And while thinking about it now breaks Dean’s heart in a way he doesn’t really know how to deal with, he knows when the time comes, for better or for worse, he’ll know what to do. They’re going to cross that bridge when they come to it.
Dean is, after all, a Marine. And Marines? They make do.
