I got on a role writing. Thank you again to everyone who reads, favors, and reviews. Feel free to let me know what you think. I have been trying to take more time with my writing. Can be a good thing and bad. Thanks for hanging in there.
Zahra stood waiting for Seth to change. She heard Seth and Isabella talking when she walked up. It was only about music. But it was his tone something in his voice. It was light and happy, he didn't talk to her like that. "So you thinking room service," Seth came out carrying a garment bag. Zahra nodded in response, she watched him. He seemed nervous, like she had walked in on something.
"I thought they got a new girl for men's," Zahra smiled.
"They do but today was her first day I guess," Seth tossed the bag over his shoulder. "So Isabella was showing her."
"Wonder what they said to her about her night with Roman," Zahra cast a glance to Seth to see his reaction. "I thought her and Dean were together. Guess she is running through the shield," she laughed. Seth's brow frowned.
"She is friends with Dean," he started, "Roman wouldn't cheat on his wife and Isabella wouldn't." Zahra's mouth fall open, and her eyebrows raised. "You know Internet stuff," Seth cleared his throat.
"Yeah, I do," Seth could hear her sarcasm.
"So you ready for tomorrow night," he changed the subject.
"Yeah, I mean I really want a match," Zahra answered.
"It will come," Seth took her hand. He understood her fustian. To feel you are at a level, and it not be recognized. That was something he loved about Zahra, like him she wanted more. She was learning this bussiness, it was more than bussiness, a career, it truly was a lifestyle. You had to be willing to give everything. Zahra understood that, Seth didn't have to explain it to her. She knew what it took to make it. She wouldn't be the girlfriend crying you missed their birthday, you couldn't be there for your anniversary. You had to train, eat and sleep this. She understood.
Maybe a night away from everything would be good. But it seemed it was always just the two of them. They didn't get invited out with the other couples. Zahra wasn't friends with a lot of the other wives or girlfriends. Or even the other woman's talent. Seth hoped in time that would change. Maybe when people saw they were truly a serious couple. When they saw Zahra's drive and desire to be here. Maybe.
…
"Yes mom," Roman smiled, "I will, yeah," Roman looked over at Dean who waited for Roman to end his phone call. "Love you too, tell dad I love him, ok bye." Roman pushed his phone in the front pocket of his jeans. "Sorry," he looked up at Dean. "My mom says hello, and you are welcome to stay at the house when we are in Florida."
"I know she texted me," Dean smiled. "Ready to eat?"
"Yes," Roman answered wide eyed.
"There is that pub around the corner, out of the way," Dean suggested.
"Sounds good," Roman nodded.
…
Roman and Dean took a tall table in the back. There was maybe ten people in the place. No one seemed to know or care who they were. "I could eat a horse," Roman moaned eyeing the menu.
"Fell like a beer," Dean asked, "we could split Potato skins?" Roman gave a nod, glancing around looking for a server. A young man made eye contact, smiled and started over to their table.
"Hi, I am Mark, can I start you with a drink?"
"Two Guinness,"Dean showed two fingers, "and potato skins."
"Great," Mark smiled, " I will put that in." Both man watch the young man walk away.
"Isabella ok," Roman asked, " I felt bad she was really upset."
"Yeah," Dean starched his arms out, "she just takes stuff to heart."
"You two seem like you are close," Roman sat up as Mark returned with their drinks.
"Potato skins should be right out," a Mark smiled.
"I kinda find it funny," Roman pulled his glass closer to him. "I mean you are part of the reason her and Seth met. And now."
"You know how you grew up with Jay and Jimmy," Dean asked randomly taking a long drink from his beer. "You were family but there was something else. They understood what it was like to have a dad who wrestled. When you were with them you didn't have to explain. You didn't feel different, it was normal. You had that unspoken thing, and you got each other." Dean's finger circled the rim of the glass.
"Yeah, I guess, I mean I never thought of it that way," Roman was not sure why Dean was bringing this up.
"It is kinda the same with Isabella," Dean took another drink emptying his glass. "You know my childhood was not story book. And I will always be grateful to your family. They really treat me like one of their own." Roman smiled, his family gave him a lot of pride. And while he didn't know all of Dean's past, he knew it was rough. Roman's mother always made sure Dean had somewhere to go for the holidays. She asked about him checked in on him, and even sent care packages. "But the truth is," Dean stopped," I am not."
"Dean," Roman held a hand up,"you are a brother to me. I mean that. You have to know my whole family cares about you."
"I do," Dean, "I like I said I am grateful. All of you mean the world to me." Dean fought to explain himself. "Even though your dad wrestled and may have not been there a lot. You had a family. Your mom was home, she cooked, cleaned, took care of you. They are still in the house you grew up in." Roman leaned in placing both hands on his glass, he noticed Mark walking toward to table.
"Here, you are," Mark appeared before them again, placing two small plate in front of both of them. "Are you ready to order," he placed another plate in the middle of the table.
"Yeah," Dean read out his order, glancing at Roman. Mark scribbled on his pad. "Can I get you another," he point to Dean's empty glass.
"When the food comes," Dean smiled.
"Dean, I wouldn't want you to feel like," Roman watched to make sure Mark was gone.
"Roman, it is just how it is. I do feel welcomed, but it is weird. I didn't grow up where your mom took care of you. Hell my mom wasn't home half the time. She didn't cook breakfast and dinner, pack my lunch. Make sure I had clean clothes. Hell, when I signed with WWE that was my first physical in," Dean's hand came up, "I can't tell ya. But that was my normal, I thought that how life was. And than one day you find out that is not normal, not ok. And you have to explain why you ever thought that it was. And then comes that look."
"What look," Roman asked.
"The look of wow, or pity," Dean answered," and then you realize, you not like everyone. You don't know how to act, you don't remember birthdays, cause no one remembered yours. You don't go to the dentist every six months, you don't how to act at a family dinner. So you sit back and just watch. You know to say thank you when someone gives you a gift, but you can't help but wonder why or what they want. You just know you are different. And you don't want people to know why." Dean head fall to the side, "walls get built because you are embraced and ashamed."
"You were a kid," Roman couldn't help but feel sorry for his friend, " none of that was on you."
"And part of me knows that," Dean responses," but it is just that feeling of out of place. You have a secret. I mean who wants to talk about their drug addict mother, you don't really know your dad. It makes people uncomfortable." Without even noticed Roman shifted in his chair. It was uncomfortable, he didn't know what to say. He was raised in a loving family. He had that security, knowing he was lived and supported. He didn't knew and really couldn't relate to the things Dean had been through.
"Remember I said with Jay and Jimmy, you feel comfortable. You all got it, you know what it is to have family on this business. You both know what is like for kids to ask stupid questions about your dad. Make fun of it," Dean said, "and you don't have to talk about it explain it. They just know. It's the same with Isabella. She just knows." Roman sat processing all Dean had said. He was right, growing up with a father who wrestled was not always easy. And not many people understood. Roman didn't know much about Isabella's past. But he got the feeling it was not filled with white picket fences and sunshine. Maybe in Dean she found comfort. He didn't ask questions, because he knew the answers. She didn't have to explain things because Dean had been through them. They came from the same place, and understood it.
"Here we are," Mark's voice seemed to snap both man out of their thoughts.
"Thanks," Roman helped move plates around. Again waiting for Mark to leave before resuming their conversation. It was silent for a minute, what Dean was saying started to make sense. There was an attraction, but not what people or even he assumed. They found safety in each other. They knew neither would ask questions, there were no expectations, and they could let those walls down. They didn't have to explain anything to each other. Or wonder if they were acting, saying or doing the right things.
Roman looked up at Dean, who had already started eating. It was as if they hadn't just had this deep conversation. He shook his head, grabbing the hamburger in front of him. He has always felt Dean needed looking after, he needed to be saved in a sense. But Dean didn't want that, he just wanted to be normal, no one trying to fix you, make things right for you.
"What," Dean said with a mouth full of food. "Quite looking at me like that." Dean wiped his mouth. "People will be writing shit about us.