It was the summer before 4th grade, and Kansas was hella hot.

Dean Winchester and Castiel Novak sat on the swings at the park down the street from their houses.

"Dean?" asked Cas as he slowed his swing to a stop.

"Yeah Cas?"

"What do you think 4th grade'll be like?"

Dean shrugged, "Like 3th grade but harder," he said with a grin.

Cas shook his head, trying to suppress a smile. "No, you dummy. I mean, do you think that will affect our friendship?"

"Nah," said Dean dismissively.

Cas kicked the gravel under the swing set. "Yeah okay," he said in a small voice.

"Cas, buddy, you're probably the most important thing in my life, besides Sammy. Don't worry." 

Cas smiled at him. "You're important to me too, Dean."

~~~

On the first day of school they spent the entire day together.

On the second day, Dean found other people to eat lunch with, and they didn't want Cas around.

Later that day Dean said that they should both try to make other friends besides each other.

By the end of the first month, Dean and Cas no longer hung out together at school.

Then Dean said he didn't want to be friends with Cas anymore.

Cas spent a lot of time crying over Dean.

But Dean never seemed to notice.