June 2nd, 2014.
I couldn't believe it... not one bit. I was gobsmacked just like the rest of the world. I watched Seth stare at me from outside the ring; I kneeled down to comfort Dean and Roman, not once taking my eyes off of Seth.
'I'm Sorry, Ariel.' He mouthed from outside. The crowd went ballistic at him and to be honest? I wanted to go ballistic at him too... but I couldn't.
I watched Randy and Hunter pat him on the back, proudly. He slowly turned away to walk with them backstage... I could read him; guilt. All across his face. It wasn't just that - it was his body language too. I knew a lot about how he felt. He knew things about me that Dean nor Roman knew...
The medical team came rushing over towards the three of us. I was fine. Dean and Roman weren't - Roman the most.
Dean waved them away from him in anger and I helped him up. Their main focus was Roman. Mine was getting Dean backstage and hoping he didn't kill Seth in the process. I knew I wasn't ready for any of this to happen.
Soon after we got backstage, Dean immediately shot up. You could sense, let alone feel his anger start to burn up again as soon as he saw Seth.
Hunter and Randy left Seth alone with his thoughts... but not for long... not until Dean barged over to him in a big huff.
He grabbed him up onto his feet and got directly in his face... I never thought I'd see the day.
"What the fuck was that?! What the fuck?!" Dean yelled at him. Seth's attention was on me.
"I'm sorry," He began to speak softly. Dean grabbed his face so Seth's attention was on him.
"Don't fucking apologise to her when you should be apologising to me and Roman." He growled at him. He wouldn't let Seth get a word in edgewise... and I knew Seth needed to talk.
"Dean! That is enough!" I raised my voice at him as I stood in between the two men.
"Ariel, move out of the way, please." Dean looked me in the eyes, they were begging but I couldn't care less. I wasn't going to allow them to tear each other's throats out if they didn't even know each other's sides of the story.
"No, Dean. Shut up." I turned to face Seth, "You go."
He let out a big sigh as he ran his hand through his hair, "It was a last minute decision. Nothing else."
"Liar." Dean mumbled.
"Alright, Ambrose. You wanna know the truth? I despised the way you and Roman made me feel. You both made me feel like a fucking underdog, I didn't feel good enough. Unwanted. Ariel was the only person to make me feel like I was worth something in this group." Dean just stood there... speechless.
"We're brothers... why didn't you talk to us about it? We could've fixed it." Dean remained calm... at least that was better than beating each other senseless.
"I did try to talk to you both multiple times, and the only one to listen to me was Ariel." He shook his head at Dean before looking into my eyes, "You have to tell him, Ariel."
I knew what he was talking about... I never once thought I'd see the day where he turned his back on the boys and me... only to single me out at the same time about what I was hiding.
It was all going to be too much for the both of them... especially Dean. He had just been betrayed by one of his brothers... one of his closest friends and he wasn't going to like what I was just about to say.
"Seth... please. Not now." I was barely loud when I spoke but Dean heard me, and I knew he didn't like it.
"Tell me what?" He said, his voice stern, his eyes... unrecognisable.
"I-I..." I stuttered. I couldn't get my words out. Everything was too much to handle in the space of fifteen minutes.
"She's leaving." Seth responded quickly and Dean's eyes widened.
"So, you stab me in the fucking back... and you... you leave me too? After everything we've been through... you just..." Dean trailed off. This wasn't anger anymore... this wasn't anything but hurt and betrayal. I placed my hand on his arm, but he moved it away from me.
"I'm not going far... I've been sent down to NXT... so I'm still here, just not with you. I'd never lose contact with any of you." I tried to be as reassuring as possible but he didn't want to hear it. He turned to walk away from me. He helped Roman to the medical room and I lost sight of him.
I was alone with Seth. I turned my direction at him. I couldn't control myself any longer.
"Why would you do that? Why the fuck would you betray them like this? Me? You didn't even tell anyone aboutit, not even me, after everything I've done for you," I burst out into anger at him. I'd never in my life - ever been this upset with him before, not once. "I was helping you find a way to talk about how you feel... and you go ahead and you do this. And you make me tell Dean I was leaving when you knew he couldn't cope with these two major issues."
He couldn't look at me anymore. He was disappointed in himself as much as the boys were disappointed in him, too. I couldn't handle this conversation any longer. I walked away from him. I didn't look back.
-
1:20am.
I was in my hotel room eating a pizza I grabbed from one of the pizza places nearby. I couldn't deal with room service food, it was fucking grim.
Roman Holiday was on the TV and I was trying my hardest not to sob at the heartfelt performances played by Audrey Hepburn.
I heard a quiet knock on my door. I swallowed my pizza, wiped my eyes and headed toward the door. I opened my door and it was Seth. Holding up a bunch of beautiful flowers.
"Peace offering." He said before making his way uninvited to my room. I shut my door, rolled my eyes and stood there staring at him.
"It's not really me you need to give a peace offering to." I folded my arms when he turned around to look at me. He gave me a cheeky grin.
"Come on, I needed to apologise to you too." He placed the flowers on my bed.
"You know it's okay. I needed to tell him sooner rather than disappear one day." I made my way over to my bed and he sat with me.
"I'm sorry." He placed his hand on mine.
"We could've spoken to them about it and then you could've told them about the storyline... but now they think you hate them. Now Dean thinks I knew all about it and he won't talk to me." I sighed heavily. They were all my best friends. Roman was my brother. Seth and Dean were my best friends.
"I don't... I don't hate them. I just hated the way they treated me." I pulled him into a hug. I understood what he meant. I was the only one to consider listening to him. I gave him advice and guidance but the boys didn't listento him.
I knew Roman would've been okay within a few weeks over it. Dean on the other hand, wouldn't be.
He's the type of person to take ages to let someone in. You have to be really trustworthy because of his past. He's been through a lot... doesn't have many people. So the ones really close to him; he loves more than anything.
"I'm gonna miss you, you know." He broke the silence after a short while, whilst I was stuck with my thoughts. I smiled at him. I wasn't angry anymore. It still hurt because it was the end of all of us together, but I wasn't angry.
"I'm gonna miss you too. I'm not too far away, I'm still with the company... it's just that these upcoming three shows are gonna be my last with Raw and Smackdown... and traveling with you guys."
"Yeah, it just won't be the same without my little mermaid princess." He smiled at me which caused me to giggle. I loved his little puns towards me. "I love you, okay?"
"Me too, Seth." I loved my boys more than anything in the world and this killed me.
We remained silent for a while and we moved to the head of the bed and leaned our backs against the pillows.
Roman Holiday was nearly finished. I heard Seth clear his throat, but my eyes were glued to the TV. He layed on his side, his elbow supporting his head up. I glanced at him slightly.
"What?" I asked him softly as I looked into his eyes. He just shook his head. With a quick move, his hand was on my cheek and he pulled me closer to him... our lips connected. He was kissing me so hungrily as if he craved it for so long. It felt... I wasn't even sure. I didn't hesitate to kiss him back. After a moment, he pulled away for a breath.
"I need to go."