Dean's heart was at the bottom of his stomach from the second you called him crying to now, sitting in a nice outfit at dinner with your grandparents while they cheered for Rory getting into Harvard. They'd rejected you. Unceremoniously. Dean knew you wanted to go to Princeton or Yale anyways, but you were spiraling after that first letter came in. You hadn't heard back yet from anywhere else, and Dean had consoled you. It's only been a week. He'd promised.

"What about you, My Persona? Have you gotten your acceptance letter yet?"

Your grandma asks, turning her attention to you. Dean watches you with hazel eyes, noticing how your chewing had stilled and you'd swallowed slowly.

"Uhm…no I haven't."

You murmur, starting to pick at your mashed potatoes.

"Oh."

She frowns, a bit disappointed.

"Well, I'm sure it will arrive soon. And quit picking at those. The maid can come take it if you're done."

Dean's fingers brush your knee under the table, giving you a reassuring squeeze. God, he hated all of this. How much pressure you felt from your family, from Chilton, from Rory. Just being related to her was like a weight on your shoulders that Dean saw every day. He leans over to your ear, knowing your grandma would snap at him for being 'improper' but what the hell? He wanted you to smile.

"I think your mashed potato art is gorgeous."

Dean whispers.