"You're what!?" Seth nearly lost control of the car, shock spreading through his body like a disease. He gripped tighter on the wheel, his knuckles turning white, doing his best to not drive them off the road.
"I'm leaving the WWE," Sasha said, firmly. She felt in the back of her mind this was the decision she had to make, but up until the words spilled from her mouth, she was unsure. However, now that they were out in the open, they didn't just sound right, but felt good.
"You can't be serious right now," Seth began, nervously laughing. "You have to be joking again, right? Sasha? Tell me you're joking."
Sasha could only offer a head shake. She saw the hurt and disbelief in Seth's eyes. The news shattering him like a piece of glass, it hurt Sasha, but he had to understand, she had to take herself into consideration.
Seth tried to speak, but the words felt like they were locked behind his lips. He took in the road before him for a second, trying to catch his bearings. It hurt and stung him. First he was losing Dean, someone who'd been by his side way back to the FCW days. A man, a friend, and a brother who he had tagged with, and faced in the ring. A man who always had his back. Thick and thin. Highs and lows. Dean was there, and now he wouldn't be. Sasha now too, though. Seth couldn't believe it. WWE had it's flaws, he knew better than most, but to throw it to the side like trash?
"Don't you think you're throwing everything away?" Seth asked, finally able to muster some words from his mouth.
"Throwing what away, Seth?" Sasha asked, turning to him. "It's not like I'm at the top of the card. Hell, I'm not even on the damn card!" Seth turned to her, the emotion ripping through her words.
"I gave everything," Sasha continued, "Everything I had to that company, to my matches, each and every night. Where did it get me? Month long reigns? I'm one of the best wrestlers, wouldn't you agree?"
"Of course, you're great. You steal the show," Seth spoke, a little calmer than before, tuned in to every word Sasha said.
"Yet I'm not good enough to be on the show. Not good enough to carry the division. Charlotte can hold the title 8 times, always being featured, but I can't make it on the card," Sasha huffed, sinking back into the passenger seat. She turned her gaze out to the window once more.
"We can work to get you on the card. We can do something to point you out," Seth said, looking over to Sasha before quickly turning back to the road.
"No, Seth, it's not that easy.."
"Who told you that? Dean?"
"Seth, you have to understand, if WWE doesn't want you to be somewhere, you're not going to get somewhere."
Seth shook his head, frustration slightly growing within him. He knew how she felt, and yet Sasha acted like he didn't. They'd been in the same situation together months prior.
"Sash, what about me? They didn't want me as champion, they wanted Roman. But look at me now!" Seth smiled at her, hoping he had turned her mind to solving the problem, not running from it.
"You don't get it, Seth. It's not that simple. It never is."
"What do you mean," Seth spoke. He couldn't help but feel Sasha was trying to escape from the situation she found herself in. Abandoning him before even thinking of what they could do to move things in the right direction. "Sounds pretty simple to me, Sash. I think you're making things seem harder."
"What? You think I'm running?!"
"I don't think your looking for solutions."
Sasha turned to Seth, hurt and anger on her face. He was suppose to have her back. He was suppose to understand, and here he was, making her out to be a quitter. "How dare you!" Sasha began, raising her voice. "How dare you, Seth Rollins! For months I stood by your side, watching you rise as I fell farther and farther out of importance. I held your hand, I had your back. You won the Universal Championship, and I did nothing. I thought of solutions, but I'm afraid I don't have Triple H watching my back and wiping my ass like he does yours!" Sasha let out a great breath. She couldn't quite exactly recall what she had all just burst out, but she suddenly wished she could take it all back.
"What do you mean about Hunter watching my back?"
"It's nothing, forget it."
"You said it, it can't be nothing. You didn't say it because you felt like it."
"Seth, just please leave it alone."
Seth bit his lip and silence filled the car. He looked over at Sasha, her attention elsewhere. He wanted her to succeed. He wanted her to live up to her dreams, but weren't her dreams in WWE? That was the place. Like any job or business, it wasn't perfect. But it was at the top of the food chain. There is nothing like stepping out to 100,000 people at a Wrestlemania cheering. And here was Sasha, giving up on it all.
Sure, he came close to leaving. He thought about it. But would he ever really do it? Probably not. Ever since Seth was 15, he set it out to prove wrestling was what he wanted to do. He wasn't going to give that up. He didn't want to be wrong.
Seth and Sasha had enough for one night. They left it at that. Like it or not, Seth understood there was no changing Sasha's mind. He only hoped Vince and Hunter could do something about it. See the error of her ways.
Seth slept on the floor that night. Something felt off between them. They weren't clicking like they always had before. They didn't speak the next morning either. It was if a barrier had been placed between them. Seth didn't know what to expect anymore. The times were changing.
...
"You want to quit?" Vince asked Sasha as she stood opposite side of the desk across from the creator himself and Triple H.
"Yes, Mr. McMahon," Sasha respectfully said, nodding her head. "As hard as I worked to get here, I'm afraid I'm just not where I want to be, and I don't see things changing."
Vince folded his arms, leaning forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his desk while Triple H looked on, a sadden look on his face. He wanted nothing more than NXT grads to flourish on the main roster, however that wasn't the trend. "We can't push everyone at the same time, Sasha." Vince started. "There's no need to see that as reason or cause to leave."
"I understand, sir, it's just, I no longer feel I fit here. It's been far too long since I've been used, and even when I do, I feel I could do more and do it better."
"I see," Vince stared at his desk, falling back into his chair and shaking his head. "I'm afraid I can't grant your release, Sasha. You'll have to wait until you contract is up."
"But, you don't plan to use me for anything. Why would I stay?"
"You can make an appearance on tonight's SmackDown," Vince said.
"Thank you, but no. I'm heading to Boston first thing. Goodbye."
Sasha extended her hand, Vince taking it, but not exiting his chair. He seemed disappointed, but what did Vince care at the end of the day. He still had plenty of people to fill Sasha's spot, it wasn't like it was the end of the word for him.
Sasha exited the office, closing the door behind her, only to hear Triple H join her out in the hallway. She offered a smile to him. He was the mentor, the father figure to all the NXT call ups, new and old. She felt almost like she was letting him down, but she didn't want any handouts. She decided she didn't want to do it like that.
"I wish you'd change your mind," Triple H spoke, standing next to Sasha as they both looked at each other, a near loss for words between the two. "I'd offer more money, but I doubt that's what you want."
Sasha smiled, reaching out and pulling Triple H into a hug. It was the end of a chapter for Sasha. Although still under contract, she considered herself apart of the WWE no more.
...
Seth and Sasha saw each other around the arena, but didn't say much, or basically anything. It was a rough patch to say the least. Seth didn't know what to do. He was at a loss for words. They bonded over their love for the business and their wish to do something in the WWE, and here she was, leaving.
Seth tried not to think about it. He always tried to not think about that comment she had made. Instead, his thoughts were on his friend, Dean Ambrose, who's last night was approaching. They'd be tagging one last time as the Shield on a WWE network special. It would be bitter sweet. The end of an era, in more ways than one. Where would Seth be without two of the most important people in his life.
Seth pondered this as he sat up in the highest seats of the arena. He wouldn't be on the show, it being a SmackDown episode and all, but he showed up anyway, wanting to soak up as much as he could before everything would change. He was also hoping Kevin Owens might be around, but just his luck, Owens was off that night. That's when he felt a presence join him. He thought maybe Dean made his way up there, or perhaps Sasha wanted to talk, but instead he found The Man standing a few feet from him.
"Hey, Becky, What's up?"
Becky smiled, slowly approaching Seth before sitting beside him in a seat. "I was actually going to ask you that," Becky smiled, patting Seth's arm as she relaxed into the chair. "You seem a little down. The guilt for cheating with that heart rate monitor finally getting to you?" Becky laughed and Seth smiled widely.
"I wish it were that simple."
Becky reached, taking Seth's folded hands into her own, gently rubbing the back of his hand with her thumb. "I'm all ears, Rollins."
Seth chuckled, looking down at his hands in hers. He didn't know how to feel about it. It wasn't weird or anything, was it? No, it couldn't, they were friends and that was it. Seth looked up into her eyes, the sparkle glowing bright. Her smile intoxicating. He opened his mouth, ready to get what was eating him off his chest. Becky just felt safe to him.
"Ever since I was a kid, I knew this is where I wanted to end up. I wanted to be here, holding the WWE championship, wrestling the greats. My parents, they thought it was just a phase," Seth spoke softly, Becky watching him closely. She liked hearing him talk. She loved to listen to him. She loved being around him. "They thought I'd be over it. I wanted to show them wrong. I wanted to show them it wasn't a phase, it was my life. I worked and I worked and I worked. From backyard trampoline wrestling, to indie shows, to NXT, I gave it my all. Not being here, that's something I could never imagine.
"I put so much time, so much energy. I've lost so much being here too. Birthdays, weddings, holidays. I've ruined relationships, broken hearts. All for what if I have WWE?"
Becky looked at Seth, and she saw something she had never seen in him before. Vulnerability. Seth was opening up, and Becky liked it. She liked hearing more than just jokes and small talk from Seth. She was glad to hear what made him tick. What made him work hard.
"You know, Seth," Becky began, Seth turning his attention to her. "Ever since the day we first met, I felt we hit it off. I felt we had so much in common, and that we got each other so well. I respected you from day one. Seeing how hard you worked in the ring. I looked up to you if I'm being honest. I was just a wrestler who wanted to perform for a company who was looking for divas." Becky looked at Seth, she understood it all. Giving everything you had. It was a story she knew all too well.
"Some things are worth fighting for, Seth. Some people have different things they fight for, though."
...
Tears filled Sasha's eyes as she packed up her remaining stuff in the locker room. She took one last glance at everything. Was she making the right decision? She had to take a gamble on herself. It'd be a couple of months before her contract was officially up, but she was willing to wait. She could use a trip back to Boston.
The door of the locker room opened, Sasha turning around to find Bayley standing there, her eyes red and dripping with tears. "You're really leaving, aren't you?"
Sasha couldn't muster any words. This was her best friend forever. They met in the middle, pulling each other in for a hug, gripping each other tightly, nearly squeezing the life out of each other.
Sasha rested her head on Bayley's shoulder, closing her eyes. "Don't worry, we will stay in touch." Sasha still didn't know what to say. How can a decision feel so right, but hurt so much? Tears slowly poured out of Sasha's eyes, onto her friends shoulder.
When they pulled apart, they couldn't help but smile at one another. "You will always be my best friend, you understand?" Bayley began, holding Sasha's face in her hands. "If you ever, and I mean ever, need me for something, I will find you and kill you if I'm not the first person you call."
Sasha laughed, grabbing Bayley once again for a hug. "What if this isn't the right thing to do?"
Bayley shook her head. "You won't know until it's all said and done. But trust me, I don't think you can get much more unhappy than you are here."
Sasha shrugged, Maybe Bayley had a point. But it didn't matter yet, she just wanted to hold her best friend, feeling the warmth of the hugster and the bond between the two.
...
Sasha walked through the hall, taking it all in. Maybe she'd be back one day, maybe not, but it was time for her to move on. She had reached her highest peak at that time in WWE, and she craved new sights. New challenges. She didn't want to be held down.
Sasha made her way to catering, wanting to say goodbye to anyone she might have missed.
"I don't know why people complain so much," she heard as she entered, the words coming from Drew McIntyre. "All I hear are complaints these days. Complaints coming from people who don't even give 100%. I've been there, and let me tell you, it sucks. I gained perspective a little too late. Only so few people have left, made a name for themselves, only to have WWE want you back. It's tough. People here think it's so easy. It's just as, if even more, hard out there compared to in here."
No one noticed Sasha enter. They went on talking about McIntyre's experience. Sasha understood they weren't talking about her, per se, but that it was a growing thing in the company. It didn't make Sasha feel bad, just made her wonder. Was she really making the right move?
Maybe she had to go to the one person who would tell her straight. She had to find Seth Rollins. The only question, where the hell would he be?
...
Becky and Seth sat high in the seats, staring down as the ring was put together.
"You like it up here?" Becky asked, turning to look at Seth's whose eyes were glued to the ring.
"Yeah, it's sort of my place to think." He turned to Becky who was giggling. "I know, I know, it's a little lame."
Becky smiled, instantly shaking her head. "No, that's not true. Not at all. It's not lame. It's cute."
Seth turned to Becky, still smiling at him. The bright light making her brown eyes sparkle. Her grin, he loved her grin. It made him feel a way he couldn't describe. Seth gazed at her, getting lost in the view. His mind forgetting everything it had on it. The chaos of WWE. Dean leaving at the end of the week. Sasha and...Sasha! Sasha!
Seth snapped out of it, standing up. "Woah, woah, you okay?" Becky asked as she stood up, placing her hands on Rollins' shoulder and chest making sure he didn't fall from the cramped seating.
Seth nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. I just have to go."
Becky's face filled with disappointment. "Oh, that's okay."
"Yeah, Sorry, I just remembered something." Seth, having the inside seat, slid past Becky, their bodies accidentally rubbing against each other. "Sorry, Sorry," Seth exclaimed. Their faces turned red, Becky only laughing at Seth's reaction. "Listen," Seth started, heading up the stairs to the exit. "I'll see you around, right?"
Becky nodded as she laughed. Seth chuckled back, waving as he walked off. What did Becky get herself into? Crushing on the Universal Champion Seth Rollins wasn't the worst thing in the world, the fact that Sasha Banks was in the picture is what wasn't the best.
Becky wasn't going to do anything crazy, she wasn't that type of person. But she wasn't going to let Sasha ruin her best moments of the week, hanging out with Seth. She would just have to do her best to keep her feelings in control.
...
Seth walked through the exit, running his hand through his hair. That was strange, he thought. He was feeling a lot of emotion. Becky was a good friend, and all that happened was she caught him at an off time. In fact, she kept catching him at off times. He just had to get himself in check. He needed to figure out what was going on between him and Sasha. That was the reason all this strangeness was occurring. He and Sasha reached a gray zone.
Seth continued to walk down the hall, trying to figure out what was happening. WWE seemed so easy to understand a few years back. Now it was like the Roman Empire, no pun intended. WWE was a great empire collapsing before his eyes.
Purple hair suddenly snapped him out of his funk. Sasha reached him, both of them stopping to stare at one another in the middle of the empty hallway. "What's up?" Seth asked, seeing Sasha's bloodshot eyes, but not wanting to bring it up.
"It's done. They wouldn't let me out of my contract, but I told Vince and Hunter I'm done."
Seth folded his arms, taking in a deep breath and putting his head back. He couldn't believe it. "So, What's next?"
"I guess I'm going back to Boston," Sasha softly spoke. She was glad of the idea of heading home, but doubt kept filling her mind. "I don't know, Seth. It feel so torn."
"How So? I thought this is what you want," Seth snapped, frustrations boiling over.
"Hey! What's with you? You're on the top of the world!" Sasha barked back.
"What!? How am I on the top of the world?! Not only is one of my best friends leaving, but so is my girlfriend!"
"You seem fine with Becky by your side!"
Seth angrily chuckled. "You've got to be kidding me! This has nothing to do with her! This is about you and me!"
"So you're telling me you don't want to sleep with Becky!"
"Are you crazy! You're my girlfriend! Me and Becky are just friends!" Seth took a deep breath. Calming himself down, he stepped closer to Sasha, taking her hands. "I don't want to fight you on your last day, okay? Becky is just a friend, I need more since I'm losing two of mine."
Sasha smiled at Seth, squeezing his hand. "You're not losing me, Seth. I think this is what I have to do."
"As much as I hate you see you go, as much as I don't agree with your decision, I think you do too."
Sasha nodded, pulling Seth into a hug. "We will stay in touch."
"And I'll come visit you whenever I get the chance."
Seth and Sasha stood there, holding each other tight. New chapters starting in the life. It's just too bad they didn't know the half of what's coming.