Chapter Text
“Hi, everybody, this is your Cousin Brucie. Whoa! Our summer romances are in full bloom, and everybody, but everybody's in love. So cousins, here's a great song from The Four Seasons…”
Big Girls Don’t Cry boomed out of the radio, filling the family car with a spark of excitement as the Novak family got closer to their destination, the tension of a long journey was starting to melt away. It was the summer of 1963, before Kennedy was assassinated, before the Beatles came and Castiel Novak could not wait to join the Peace Corps.
He tapped his foot to the music rolling his eyes at his sister Anna beside who was making sure her make-up was ok for the one millionth time since they left home, his father bit back a snort from the front and caught his son’s gaze from the rear view mirror and Castiel grinned, he would never find a greater man that his father, he was sure of it, he was 18 years old and his father was his hero.
He may have been called Castiel but the whole family called him Angel, it did not occur to him to mind or correct them, his mind was peaceful, looking forward to a family holiday, and the summer was full of promise just as the disc jockey had said.
But that was the summer everything changed, that was the summer the Novak family went to Kellermans.
Zachariah Kellerman, the manager of the whole holiday camp was waiting for the family when they arrived, “Chuck!” he greeted, his suit of the highest standard “It is so good to see you,”
Castiel tried to ignore his sister throwing a tantrum over the number of shoes that she had brought and looked around the lake in front of him and the milling of people who were doing different activities, he could not help but smile and turned his attention back to his father “Zach nice to see you doing so well, how is your blood pressure? I’d like you to meet my daughter Anna and that’s my son Angel,”
“It’s a delight to meet you,” Zachariah said silkily, “If it were not for your father, I would be standing here dead,” he turned his attention to a tall young lad beside him, “Sam get the bags don’t just stand there!”
The young man who Castiel was the tallest person he had ever seen jumped to attention, going to the back of the car and Castiel followed, pulling out his father’s medical bag, hearing Zachariah telling his father that he had kept aside the best cabin and telling him that there was an ex rockette doing a dancing class much to his mother’s chagrin that she wanted her husband to rest on his first holiday in years.
“Hey!” the tall boy grinned, “Thanks a lot, you want a job here!”
Castiel grinned, he didn’t mind helping, he just found company really awkward, he knew his family got him, but he wasn’t really interested in appearances like everyone else, all he knew was that he wanted to change the world and the world was all ready for him to step into it.
Instead he then found himself being roped with the rest of his family into a merenge dance class on the gazebo being taught by a very graceful young woman with blonde hair and a gorgeous figure by the name of Jo. Castiel was trying lord knows he was trying but he didn’t really get it, his feet were either getting stamped on by someone else or he was doing the stamping.
But seeing how relaxed his father was on his first holiday in six years, he couldn’t help but throw his head back and laugh at himself, he was kind of enjoying himself.
Because of Anna getting taking an age to get ready that evening for dinner, something about making her hair just so, Castiel now found himself walking up to the big house, where dinner was served. He couldn’t be more different to his sister if he tried, Anna had one goal in life, to get a husband, a perfect one at that and become a housewife, with a perfect home and family. He didn’t scorn at his sister’s vanity, if that was what made her happy then who was he to judge, but it meant that they did not really get on.
Mainly because Castiel wanted to think the best of everyone, he did, maybe a bit naive but he wanted to believe that everyone could make a difference, even the smallest person. Civil rights, Kennedy, human rights in Asia, all were prominent in his mind and he could not wait to help to make a small difference in a way. He dreamed of a utopia, where everyone was counted equal and he was going to work his way to that world. Despite the fact he was the son of a well-established doctor with plenty of money, he knew those less fortunate than him would look at him and think he was stupid, ignorant perhaps.
He found himself standing on the veranda outside the restaurant, watching Zachariah Kellerman lecturing the male waiters, telling them to keep their hands out of the water, telling them to romance all the daughters of the guests, even the dogs and Castiel bit his tongue as he felt a bit of protectiveness towards Anna but then a tall well-built man in tight jeans, a black t-shirt with a black leather jacket slung over his shoulder and wearing sunglasses walked in “Got that guys?” he drawled. Several guys including Sam the guy who helped with the baggage this morning followed him laughing at what he had said.
Castiel felt himself take a breath at the sight of the guy and wasn’t quite sure why, perhaps it was the electricity that charged in the air when he walked into the room, like he was something, the attitude in the jut of his jar, the defiance in his toned shoulders. “Hey Hold it Hold it!” Zachariah yelled and the group of men stopped, including the sunglasses man, “Well if it isn’t the entertainment staff,” Zach sneered, the guy still did not take his sunglasses off but folded his arms in defiance, Castiel could imagine the glare behind those sunglasses.
“Listen wise ass, you got your own rules,” Zach said firmly, “Dance with the daughters, teach them the mambo, the cha cha, anything they pay for. That’s it. That’s where it ends”
The air suddenly grew a little cooler as Castiel saw the guy with the sunglasses jaw clench as he looked at the floor, the guy was angry but trying his best not to show it, “No funny business, no conversations and keep your hands off!” Zach yelled pointing his finger at all of the entertainment staff but never taking his cold eyes of the guy in front of him.
Zachariah stalked off back to the waiters, when one of the entertainment guys sighed “It’s the same at all these places, some ass in the woods but no conversation!”
“Watch it ASH!” Zachariah yelled before walking away leaving the entertainment staff and the waiters mingling, Castiel knew he should not be really be watching this, he should go in search of his father but he kept watching as one of the waiters “You think you can keep that straight Dean? What you can’t lay your hands on?” one of the waiters taunted the guy in the sunglasses. Dean so that was his name, Castiel noted and watched as Dean smirked, the sunglasses still on despite the fact it was almost dark outside as he stalked over the table the waiter was setting “You just put your pickle on everybody’s plate, college boy and leave the hard stuff to me.” He drawled before swiping his hand through all the perfectly folded napkins that the waiter had just finished folding before stalking off.
Castiel was still thinking of it when the Novak family were being shown to their table by Zach Kellerman, she recognised the waiter who pulled out a chair for Anna as the waiter who had been taunting Dean, “This is Dr and Mrs Novak, Angel, Lisa, and this is your waiter, Alistair Gould. Yale Medical School,” Zach introduced, earning an impressive smile from Castiel’s father, Castiel could not help but think how Zach wanted it to work, Alastair was specially picked for his medical school and also so that he could romance Anna clearly, “Alistair these people are my most special guests, get them anything they want.”
Castiel watched as Zach walked away then turned his glance to Alistair, he was handsome, dark hair and green eyes, his movements graceful and fluid, he watched him throughout the meal as his serving was perfect, he was polite his eyes never roved over Anna but there were subtle little brushes, polite little brushes that were innocent and Anna blushed.
Alistair was as a good as his word, he got the family whatever they wanted and Castiel smiled as his mother looked forlornly at the amount of leftover food on the table, “Look at all this leftover food, are they still starving children in Europe?” his mother asked.
“Try South East Asia, Ma.” Castiel replied, shaking his head, he had talked about Asia all the time; this was just another example of how much his mother really took in.
“Alastair, Angel wants to remains of his leftover pot roast to South East Asia,” Chuck Novak drawled sarcastically, “So anything you don’t finish, wrap up.”
Zachariah had appeared at the table as Alistair gave a little laugh, “Zach our angel’s gonna change the world,” Chuck said proudly and Castiel could not help but beam at the pride in his father’s voice.
Zachariah smiled indulgently then turned to Anna, who was sitting primly watching Alistair form beneath her coy lashes, “What are you going to do Missy?”
“Oh Anna’s going to decorate it,” Castiel drawled earning a glare from his sister
“She already does,” Alastair said quickly, earning a blush from Anna and a look from Mr Novak.
Zachariah had missed that comment because he had been trying to get someone’s attention, furiously clicking his fingers, Castiel noticed a young woman quickly walk to Zachariah’s side, she seemed plain enough, in a simple dress and cardigan “Doc I would like to introduce you to my only grandchild, Hester, goes to Cornell School of Hotel Management.”
Castiel wasn’t surprised at that, Kellerman’s was a family business, but for a young woman to be going into Hotel Management, it showed how much times were changing and Castiel admired it, but then thought if Zach had a grandson it would be better, seemed he was making the best of what fate had thrown at him, a granddaughter and he would still pass down the business.
Chuck Novak smiled nodding his hello in Hester’s direction, “Angel’s starting Mount Holyoke in the fall,”
Castiel grimaced as he could see where this was going, Hester smiled a big beaming smile which revealed white teeth and made her hazel eyes sparkle, Castiel supposed she was pretty, “Oh great,” she cooed. Castiel looked to Zach and her parents who were making happy smiles.
If he had any suspicions he was being thrust upon Hester, they were fully fledged theories by the time they were on the dance floor after dinner, Castiel feeling tense as he really wasn’t the best dancer in the world, Hester with an expectant smile on her face, “Are you going to major in English?” she asked.
Castiel shook his head, she was being polite, polite conversation he could do that and hope to god he didn’t stamp on her poor feet, “No, Economics of underdeveloped countries, I am going into the Peace Corps.”
Hester nodded and Castiel wondered if he had really taken it in, but yes she had as she came back with “After the final show, I am going to Mississippi with a couple of busboys, for a freedom ride.”
Castiel bit back his sardonic smile and nodded politely, because as much as he was pleased that Hester was doing her bit for Civil Rights, he knew that she was just saying it to impress her. They had been dancing all evening and Castiel had got the impression that Hester had a very good opinion of herself and fished for compliments that as an only grandchild she had always received.
A mambo opened up and Hester bounced happily, “Mambo! Come on!”
Castiel inwardly grimaced and let himself be bounced around the dance floor when he noticed two dancers in the centre of the dance floor, Jo the graceful teacher from the merenge that afternoon and Dean the sullen man from the waiting room before. Except he wasn’t in sunglasses or tight jeans, he was in a suit and bow tie, dancing beautifully with Jo, every movement exhilarating, “Who’s that?” Castiel asked
“Oh,” Hester said, Castiel could hear the scorn and disdain in her voice, “They’re the dance people.”
Well Castiel could tell that, he watched entranced as the pair danced a mambo, both their bodies completely in alignment, each knowing what the other was doing. And Dean, without his glasses on seemed so focused and Castiel felt that electricity in the air because Dean was beautiful, his movement was beautiful and fluid and fast. Castiel could not help but stare and watch with the other people on the dance floor, someone inside of his mind he wondered what it must feel like to let yourself go like that but be in such control of your body that it almost felt like you were flying.
“They’re here to keep the guests happy,” Hester continued dampingly, Castiel continued to watch, he had never seen a better pair of dancers in his life, Dean was amazing, spinning Jo as if it was completely normal for him, his eyes alive with every beat of music, but there was a tick in his jaw as if he was holding something back.
“They shouldn’t be show off with each other, that’s not going to sell lessons,” Hester sneered, breaking off dancing with Castiel to glare at the couple, despite how entranced Castiel was, he could detect the hostility in Hester’s voice.
Castiel watched as Jo threw her leg up high being caught on Dean’s shoulder and he felt himself swallow, it looked so exhilarating and he felt a bit of jealousy, if only he could feel so exhilarated and free. But he didn’t really want to say anything to disagree with Hester; he didn’t want to cause an upset with Kellerman’s granddaughter.
Castiel watched entranced as Dean picked up Jo and threw her up in the air as she was a feather and the crowd oohed and ahhed but Castiel noticed Kellerman who was making gestures for the dancers to stop dancing so enthusiastically, immediately the pair split up and picked two members of their audience to dance with.
“Hey Kids having fun?” Chuck Novak said as he swept past with Castiel’s mother.
Castiel nodded politely as Hester beamed enough for both of them, “Yeah, Actually I’ve got to excuse myself, I am in charge of games tonight.”
Castiel felt relief in his heart, no more dancing with Hester and the constant fear that he was going to say something offensive or break her feet, but then Hester continued, “Say would you like to help me get things started?”
Before he could make her excuse, Chuck answered for her “Sure he would,” and Castiel put on his best smile. Which was why for the second time that day he had been roped in for something he really did not want to do.
Which was getting sawn in half as a magic trick, it wasn’t that he didn’t like Hester, she was harmless enough but he didn’t like how he was being thrust into her direction as Anna was being thrust in Alastair’s. He was so thankful for to be excused from the entertainment finally being able to be by himself, walking in the warm night air able to be himself and at one with his thoughts.
He found himself at the staff quarters and despite the sign that said “No Guests,” curiosity made him go past the sign and keep walking, he didn’t want to go back to the façade of the world of mambos and perfect dresses just yet. He was walking along when he saw Sam walking along struggling with three watermelons, “Hi!” he yelled running after him, he saw that Sam was walking to a building where music was blasting loudly into the summer air.
Sam turned and his eyes widened at when he saw who it was, instantly replaced by a panicked expression, “Er how did you get here?”
“I was taking a walk,” Castiel replied
“Go back,” Sam said emphatically looking over his shoulder fearfully in case anybody had seen them
“Let me help you,” Castiel said taking a watermelon, “What’s in there,” he nodded his head to the music, he so wanted to know because it wasn’t band music like up at the main buildings.
“No guests allowed, House rules,” Sam said firmly, his face red and flustered, “Why don’t you go back to the playhouse, I saw you dancing with the boss man’s granddaughter, she was making goo goo eyes at you all evening.” He said making kissing noises.
Castiel’s eyes narrowed and he sighed, practically throwing the watermelon back at Sam before turning on his foot, “Can you keep a secret?” Sam whispered, clearly struggling with the watermelons more than before, but there was something in those puppy dog eyes, his long hair nearly getting in his eyes that made Castiel take notice, Sam wanted to trust Castiel.
Castiel smiled and nodded, coming back and taking the watermelon back off Sam, “You’re parents would kill you, Zach Kellerman would kill me.”
The music got louder and louder as Sam marched in front, Castiel curiously following behind, he could hear the chords of The Contours Do you love me? blasting as they reached a door, and he could hear people yelling and cheering over the music. Sam grinned and bounced the door open with his backside and Castiel immediately felt his jaw slacken at the sight in front of him.....