A Cinderella Story

The first week after the, ahem, incident, was particularly hard for Castiel. School was never a place he felt happy, but now he felt unsafe, alienated, despised. Scared.

Walking through hallways he was followed by cat-calls, shouts, grunts, shoving and elbowing.

Like he had done something awful, something to be ashamed of.

While the bad guys were celebrated, adored.

Lisa and company walked by him giggling, laughing, like they felt accomplished.

Like crushing Castiel was all they ever dreamt off.

He could take them.

He could take it all without crying.

But watching Dean walk by him without a single glance is what made him cry himself to sleep every night.

Dean, who he thought was wonderful, loving and caring had left him like a used rag.

He was so sure Dean would have accepted him.

He couldn't fathom the idea of being so, so wrong about someone.

Hunched on the floor of the diner he srubbed mercilessly at a big, black stain.

He thought of himself as that black void imprinted on the floor, how he wished he could just disappear as the cosmological mistake he was.

How he wanted to make himself gone.

"What are you doing boy?" –Gabriel's voice snapped him out of his dark thoughts.

"Trying to get the floors clean." –He replied somberly.

"I meant, what are you doing with your life?" –Gabe said forlornly.

This made Castiel straighten his depressed form, turning to Gabriel with a furrowed brow.

"Get up." –He said as he caught Castiel by the armpits, pulling him up.

"Now tell me, what's going on?"

"Nothing's going on. I'm just being me; Dinerboy. This is what Dinerboy's do." –Castiel said bitterly.

This statement of defeat made Gabriel cup the boy's head in his hands, a look of sympathy in his eyes.

"Stop it, Cas. This is not you talking. This is those fuckers who go to school with you. Don't tell me they got to you."

And he was right.

He wasn't being himself.

He had molded into what everybody wanted him to be.

Crushed, defeated, sad, ashamed, alone.

He grasped Gabriel by the shoulders, hugging him with his trembling form.

"It's alright, baby, t'salright. You're strong, Cas, you know this." –Gabriel whispered words of comfort in his ear, soothing his back with his hands.

And in the end this is what he needed.

Sam's long discussions on their feelings couldn't do right to a simple hug.

Shaking in Gabriel's arms felt like redemption to him.

But their moment was cut short as the slam of a door opening shook the diner's walls. In that effort one of the ugly pin up pictures fell from the wall, causing the bright pink wallpaper to shred.

"Dad! Castiel ruined your wall!" –Ruby said as she smiled slyly at him.

But behind the wallpaper he saw one of the quotes his dad had written, in the time when this was his diner, in the time Castiel had a father.

"No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." –Castiel voiced the words that were written in baby blue, the color his father had told him, of his eyes.

And it was like he was enlightened, like an epiphany.

"Oh, wow, that's gonna come out of your pay-check, sweetie." –Lucifer said with a mock smile of sympathy.

"Fix it. Oh, and while you're at it you can just redo all the walls, I had this really nice fluorescent green with pink wallpaper shipped in just yesterday and-"

"No."

"Excuse me?" –Lucifer looked taken-aback as he stopped mid speech.

"I said no." –And it felt like taking that gulp of breath after being submerged under water for too long.

"What are saying?" –Lucifer said puzzled, like he really couldn't understand the meaning of the word 'no'.

"What I'm saying is I will not be doing your orders from now on. I'm saying I quit. I quit this!" –He said as he threw the rag in his hands at the floor.- "I'm saying I quit this job, I quit your family, and I quit your life! " –Castiel finished fearlessly, flushed from adrenalin.

"Oh but, honey, who do you think want's you in theirs?" –Lucifer said spitefully in triumph.

"I do." –Gabriel voiced from behind him, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"He'll be moving in with me." –Gabriel said assuringly, and Castiel clasped the hand on his shoulder with his own.

"You say one more word, and you're fired." –Lucifer said in a hostile manner, but he too knew he was losing this battle.

"Oh, that wont be necessary, cause I quit too, sweet-cheeks." –Gabriel said smiling cheekily.

"Come on, Gabe, let's get the hell out of here." –Castiel said decisively walking towards the door.

"Just a minute, Cas, I'm not done here." –Castiel stopped mid stride to look back at Lucifer looking positively pissed, as the girls eyed the situation with fear, the whole diner monitoring them.

"You know, the only reason I stayed here was because of that boy. And now that he's through there's nothing stopping me from kicking your ass to next Friday." –He said fiercely as he took a step towards Lucifer.

"Not in the face, not in the face, go for the girls, its much newer than the girls!" –Lucifer exclaimed in fear as he cowered behind Ruby and Meg.

"Gabe. Gabe!" –Castiel raised his voice to get Gabriel's attention who was set on beating the lights out of Lucifer's eyes.

"He's lower than the scum on this floor's dinner. Come on." –Castiel said with a smile, reaching out a hand for Gabriel to take.

Gabriel shook a finger in warning to Lucifer, and took the offered hand.

"You know what, I quit too!" –Ellen said from behind, throwing her apron to the floor.

"Me too! Ellen wait up I need a ride!" –Balthazar quickly scrambled away from the kitchen and to the forming group.

Castiel stood hand in hand with Gabriel, watching as the row of employees walked out, stating their dismiss, followed by the customers.

Once the diner was empty Castiel smiled in triumph.

"Guess nobody want's you in their life, too." –He said to Lucifer's flushed form as he and Gabriel left the dinner for the last time.

-/-

"I can't believe you were totally gonna beat up Lucifer." –Castiel said chuckling as he folded his clothing in Gabriel's house.

"Oh I would have burned his face off, if I had the chance. Actually that's a pretty reasonable idea, I'm gonna write that down on my 'Ways to kill Lucifer' list." –And Castiel couldn't help but laugh at that. He had laughed and smiled more in the 1 hour he was at Gabriel's place than he had in the years living with Lucifer.

"I had no idea you were that tough." –Castiel admitted.

"Yeah, but I always knew you were." –Gabriel said strongly.

Castiel glanced back at him, receiving a reassuring nod from Gabriel.

He smiled in thanks, as he flopped himself on the sofa behind.

"I can't believe I haven't felt so at home in such a long time. Thank you, Gabriel. For everything." –Castiel thanked him sincerely, for the hundredth time since they left the diner.

"Oh I didn't do anything. It was all you. I always knew you had it in you." –Gabriel said perched on the arm-rest next to Castiel.

"Now come on. I have a full jar of Nutella, and I need all the help I can get to make it spotless." –They laughed as Gabriel set foot towards the kitchen.

Everything was slowly falling into place.

Only a few more things to take care of.

-/-

Castiel rushed through the empty halls of the school, his sight set on the gym.

He had a few things to get of his mind.

Once inside he trailed past the football players, some naked, some dressing. They began shouting for him, whistling as he walked past.

But it didn't matter. Not any more it did.

He spotted Dean as he sat in his rugby uniform talking with Andy, who upon seeing him nudged Dean on the shoulder.

Dean looked into his direction eyes widening as he saw Castiel. He quickly stood up as Castiel grew to a stop.

"Look, Cas, I know what happened was-"

"Mean, cruel, evil?" –Castiel stopped him not really up for his bullshit excuses.

"I know that Lisa is-"

"A demented whore? Lisa is not the issue here, Dean. She is not your excuse." –Castiel shouted over Dean's words.

"What I'm trying to say is-" –And Dean even sounded pained as he spoke again.

"I didn't come here to listen to you. I came here so you will listen to me, for once." –And Dean stopped trying to speak, his form straightening, a look of apology in his eyes.

"I, I don't hate you, Dean. I feel sorry for you. I might not have a family, a job, friends... But I always had me. The real me. Not the one you try to pull off in front of your friends. I never once pretended to be someone, or something I'm not." –Castiel sighed as he ran a hand over his face.

"I know that, that guy I spoke to with on chat is somewhere deep inside of you. But I can't reach that deep. I can't grasp a hand that's closing." –He stressed the words loudly.

"I didn't come here to yell at you. I just, I hope you grow up, and put this macho crap behind you. I hope you get what you've always wanted. But not like this." –Castiel finished quietly and turned his back on Dean's face full of sorrow.

"Wait, Cas! Castiel! Cas!" –He ignored Dean's loud cries for him, and walked out of the gym, missing the echo of a loud punch Dean gave to his locker.

-/-

Exiting the gym, Castiel shivered with relief. It felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from his back.

It felt exhilarating, breathtaking, awesome, and well, scary as hell.

As he was catching his breath he spotted a tall figure walking towards him, in the empty dark hallway.

"Sam?" –Castiel asked wearily.

"Hey, Cas." –Sam sounded out of breath, like he was running all the way here.

"What are you doing here? How'd you find me?"

"I, uh, I asked Gabe where were you and I, I guess I had a pretty good idea what you'd be up to, thought you'd use a friend. Come here." –He said in a rush as he was quick to wrap his arms around Castiel who gave into the hug with content.

"Come on Cas, Lucifer, Dean, all in one day. You're really something." –Sam laughed as he pulled back, his hands still on Castiel.

"You know what, I did what was right, and I really need to calm down. Let's just go and, do something." –Castiel felt that a nice, relaxed evening with Sam lounging in the park would do him some good.

"Um, actually, I uh, I wanted to go watch the game, but I totally understand if you don't want to I mean, yeah..." –Sam said awkwardly, but Castiel saw that Sam really did want to go.

So why not?

He was over Dean, wasn't he?

"We should go." –He said with a decisive nod.

"Really?"

"Yeah, come on. I'll let you explain the game to me." –Sam laughed as he and Cas both trailed away through the hallways, and out in the stadium.

-/-

The bleachers were absolutely full.

People were shouting and cheering and the game hadn't even started yet.

The cheerleaders ( Lisa ; head whore leading them ) were dancing and throwing themselves around below on the field.

Castiel couldn't stand to look at her, and that wide fake smile.

Sam was also cheering from next to him, obviously caught up in the frenzy.

It was strange how alone you could feel in a crowd of people.

And then they announced the team. The players rushed through the stadium, breaking through the flag of paper in tradition.

Time seemed to drag on as he watched the ball switch from player to player, touchdown after touchdown, yells and cheers boring holes into his ears, stray popcorn landing on him, around him, over him.

He felt like suffocating.

And then as the game was ending, all their team needed was one last touchdown.

He watched somberly as Dean's father approached him, telling him something with a powerful shake of the other's shoulders. Dean merely nodded with a scowl.

He then lowered himself on his knee, ball in hand as they got ready for one last play.

Everyone around him started chanting 'Go Dean! Go Dean! Go Dean! Go Dean!'.

Castiel started reliving the 'Dinerboy' moment and he felt nauseated, ready to puke his guts.

He thought he could handle this.

He thought he could watch Dean play and not feel longing or lost.

Instead he wished that he could be cheering for him, that he could give him that kiss that will give him the energy to win the game.

Admitting this to himself is what pushed him to the edge.

He had to leave here now.

"Hey, Sam, I-I thought I could do this but, I'm sorry." –He shouted over to Sam who gave him a long look of sympathy.

"Look, you go, and I'll call you later, tell you how it went. Okay?" –Sam finally said with a look of question in his eyes.

"Yeah, okay." –Castiel smiled weakly, and started rushing through the crowd, to just leave already. He bumped and fought through the people, earning himself a few choice words in his efforts. He closed his eyes and went rushing through the crowd, not really caring who he stepped on, or who he pushed. He really didn't want to be crying here. The tears were already prickling at his eyes, when suddenly he felt himself push straight into a body.

Oh, hell, he really wasn't up for a fight, but he opened his eyes and saw...

"Dean?" –Castiel rasped, as he saw through his glossy eyes the face of Dean Winchester. They were standing on the middle of the stairs, the crowd suddenly gone quiet.

"Castiel." –Dean sounded strangled, his green eyes full of dull pain.

"Can you, will you listen to me, for a second, please?" –Dean practically begged him, and Castiel caught on that.

"Dean, you, you have e game to-"

"I don't care about the game. I don't care about working for my dad, I don't care about Lisa, I don't care for any of that. I care about you." –He said passionately, cupping Castiel's face in both his strong, rough hands. Castiel could only hold still his mouth agape in bewilderment.

"And I'm begging you, to give me another chance. I blew my first one, and I-I regret it so much, Cas." –Dean said sounding choked, his eyes going red with tears.

"I've been the biggest jackass to let you go. I should feel lucky to have had the opportunity to meet you a-and you were willing to give me more, and I blew it, I fucking blew it." –Dean dropped his head down, as if to reconcile with himself.

"I'm asking you for another chance. I'm willing to do anything, and I mean anything, to be with you." –Dean finished with a deep tone of desperation in his voice.

"Anything?"

"Yes."-Dean said fiercely.

"Then kiss me." –Castiel said softly, feeling a smile settling on his face.

Dean looked taken-aback and slowly, his face softened in a brilliant smile, as he closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Castiel pulling him in for his first kiss.

Their lips moved in union as the whole crowd cheered for them, as they cheered for winning the game.

But in the end, none of it mattered.

All that was important was that smile on Dean's face as they held each other basking in their affection, rather than in their surroundings.

So as this fairy tale comes to an end, a happy ending is sure to follow it right?

Well, you're right, it does!

Cleaning out my room for one last time, I found Cinderella stuck under the bed. It turns out that the book held something more than a love story.

My dad's hidden will, in a blue envelope.

In it stating that the house, the diner, the cars all belonged to ( you'll never guess it ) me!

And underneath all of that stood Lucifer's signature.

Upon hiring a lawyer Lucifer was swiped of his feet and sent for a night out down-town with the nice men in uniforms.

So now Lucifer is paying out his debt to society working in the restored glory of my dad's diner.

My business associate Gabriel is making sure he does the job right. Cleaning floors is serious business.

And for my step-sisters they actually presented themselves to be of good use!

In an agreement that I let them stay in the house, they found my real acceptance letter to Princeton.

In the trashcans behind my house.

But hey, they got my old room in the attic and I get to go to Princeton.

Sam also got his acceptance letter to Stanford. And with the letter he also got the girl of his dreams.

No, not Lisa, after Dean and her were over everybody sort of forgot about her.

Guess that's how much she was worth.

No, he got Jessica!

Surprising everyone they turned out to be quite the couple.

See, everybody wins!

As for me and Dean...

"I never would have guessed I would be doing this, here." –Castiel said smiling as he looked over Dean's face in the sunny sky, propped up on his elbows over the Impala's hood.

"I never would have guessed I would be loved. But hey, life's a novel right?" –Dean said chuckling lightly as he turned a lazy hand in Castiel's hair.

"A jock and a geek. Football star and Dinerboy. U. N. Owen and Angelboy." –Castiel voiced his amazement quietly loving the feeling of Dean's hand through his hair.

"Or just Dean and Cas. Boyfriends. "- Dean laughed happily, moving towards Castiel to plant a kiss on his smile.

"Come on. It's a long day of driving ahead of us." –And Dean was right.

The road to Princeton was a long way.

Well let's just say me and Sam dropped the V-Card.

Oh, my, God, you guys its over! I can't believe myself! I don't know if I'm to feel relieved or sad or whatever! I feel a little sad and a lot extatic! I just hope I did will and that you guys liked it!

So since this is over I'm probably gonna start another long AU, the options Im taking into consideration are: Grandma's Boy ; in which Dean is a stoner who works in a gaming company, and Sam is his bestfriend/ weed dealer and Cas is the cute new supervisor who surprises Dean with every move he makes, another is Scott Pilgrim vs the world AU; in which Cas is the awkward quirky kid who's bestfriend is the flaming homosexual Gabe, and he falls in love with Dean who is ten shades of cool but also has 7 evil ex's he must defeat so they may be together.

I've been thinking of finishing up The Long Road Back but it's too angsty for me, so I don't really know.

Also note all of the other stories will be updated too, so don't you worry. x)

If you have any suggestion for another au, or whatever just say so and we'll think it through. x)

Also thank you everyone who's been reviewing, all the love goes out to your guys, I hope I did you justice with my writing. x) 3