Aria's Shield
I couldn't move.
I couldn't stop praying that Seth's large frame would budge and I would be able to see that it was Charlie.
As Seth's body pressed itself closer to this woman, I was able to see a flock of curly brown hair. Definitely not Charlie. I gulped and just stared at the back of his head. Neither had seen nor heard me.
What the hell am I suppose to do?
Do I break it up? Jump between them? Pretend it never happened? Karate chop my hand between their lips, what?!
I looked around, no one else was here to witness this, no one was here to break this up apart from me, but I just couldn't do it. Once Seth knew that I knew, I would have to make a decision about what I should do and I needed time to think.
I started to slowly back away. That was until... "Uh, Seth...you're so hard-" The girl moaned, wrapping her fingers round the back of Seth's head and pulling him in closer.
It was the shock of it, but the tiniest gasp combined with a squeak released itself from my mouth as soon as she groaned those words. I saw Seth's frame pause, my hand quickly covered my mouth and swung round the wall, pressing myself hard against it and praying that they wouldn't see me.
"Did you hear that?" I heard Seth ask her. His voice was slightly louder, I was guessing his head had now turned in my direction.
I squeezed my eyes shut and increased the pressure my hand had over my mouth, trying to muffle any sounds of my breathing.
"Hear what?" The girl responded.
Seth was silent for a while. If he took a few steps, it would be revealed that I was here and saw everything. I desperately wanted to look round the corner and see who was so special to ruin his relationship with Charlie for, but I resisted. "I've got to go." Seth told her and I heard his footsteps get fainter and fainter.
"Seth-" Whoever it was tried to call after him.
Whatever he had heard scared him off. Good.
I heard the girl sigh and start walking...in my direction. I quickly took a step back and got my phone out, like I was casually just walking down the corridor. As she was about to walk past, I glanced up at her to see who this girl was.
She wore a black t-shirt, one that the crew members wore. She had a badge necklace round her neck, but I couldn't get close enough to see her name or what she did. "Oh my god-" She stopped and looked at me.
Oh oh! Caught!
"I'm a huge fan!" She broke out into a smile. Yeah, well I'm not. "I've only been here two weeks and I was hoping to run into you at some point!"
"Hi-" I stuck my hand out with a false smile. I was about to go undercover...sort of. "What's your name?"
"Odette." She answered with a fan girl smile on her face. Let's just hope she's not a fan of Dean's!
"Like in Swan Lake?" I asked her.
"Yep, my mom was a huge fan." She smiled awkwardly and pulled some hair behind her ears. "I've always been told I look like you!"
I may have stayed silent for too long then so I let out a small laugh. I hadn't noticed it and I'm not sure I still saw it completely. As I stared at her, maybe I saw it a little. The brown long curly hair...the eyes... but you can never fully see yourself in someone else like others could.
"Not the worst person to be compared to, you're gorgeous!" She continued when I didn't reply.
It then hit me...was Seth one of those people that compared me to her? Is that why he...I couldn't think about it any longer. I had finally gotten over my fear that Seth had feelings for me. I didn't need to start that up again. "It was nice to meet you Odette-" I tried to end the conversation.
"You too." She smiled and I quickly walked past her.
It was not nice meeting her! Didn't she know Seth had a girlfriend? It should be common knowledge around here! I guess she was still new here...no excuse! I was going back and forth like this when I bumped into a large frame which wasn't hard to avoid around here.
My head tilted up to meet the eyes of one...Cesaro.
"I'm from Chicago Illinois, I swear!" I blurted out with my hands raised in defence.
The friendliest of smiles came across Cesaro's face followed by a loud laugh. I was unsure what to do. "I'm sorry, Aria-" His Swiss accent came through. "Has Zeb been giving you a hard time?"
I was a little taken back. I was expecting all these deportation threats to come out of his mouth. "Yeah, kind of." I answered, lowering my hands. "He has sent a few immigration officers my way..."
Cesaro laughed again. "I'll have words with him, get him to back off." He smiled.
Wow... this guy was really nice! "So...you're not going to give me the swing?" I asked.
"No...I mean, unless you want it." He grinned.
"Well...I have always wanted to try it-" I stroked my chin. "I'll let you know."
"Do." He placed his hand on my shoulder. "It was nice talking with you, Aria."
I never knew how much I would enjoy a Swiss accent before...and he wasn't bad on the eye... I liked this guy. Dean had mentioned him a few times. He was impressed with how Cesaro was in the ring and I knew they talked quite regularly. I just assumed it was heel evil talk. How I was mistaken.
Cesaro walked past me and I smiled after him, thinking I had made a nice new friend, when the moment was ruined.
"Aria Hayden, you bad girl." I groaned and turned around to see the grinning Bellas. I thought I had escaped from this. "Look at you getting your flirt on!"
"Could be a love triangle in this season of Total Divas, Nikki." Brie nudged her sister.
"That was not flirting-" I told them sternly. "That was friendly conversation, something you ladies need to work on!"
"That was saucy, Aria!" Nikki giggled. "He wants to swing you!"
"In the ring!" I protested.
"In the ring?!" Brie and Nikki exchanged looks of shock before bursting into giggles. "Didn't know you were that kind of girl, Aria!"
"Dean Ambrose is definitely rubbing off on you!" Nikki pushed my shoulder playfully. "We can't wait to welcome you on the show. The three amigos!"
Oh god, no.
I closed my eyes, dreading the start of the filming. "When does it start?"
"Couple of weeks." Brie answered. "We're going to make this one better than ever now that we have Aria on our team!"
"Yey..." I let out.
"You'll get used to it, Ria." Nikki attempted to reassure me. "Once you do, it's like the cameras aren't even there!"
"I doubt-" I was about to finish when a certain person passing caught my eye. The Bellas also stopped and watched as Randy walked by. They felt incredibly uncomfortable around him ever since he started his feud with Daniel Bryan. Randy's eyes met mine as he went past, his eyes brushing over me and they remained doing so until he was out of sight.
The Bellas turned back to me with their mouths open in shock. I looked at them weirdly. "...What?"
"He was totally checking you out!" Nikki gasped, leaning over to see where Randy had gone.
"He was not!"
"Aria, we get checked out all the time around here, we know what it looks like." Brie said sternly. "He wasn't looking at us, he was looking at you."
"I knew he had a thing for you!" Nikki shook her head. "I should listen to my gut more often. I've been told I have a really good instinct."
"Ladies, you aren't harassing Aria, are you?" Daniel Bryan appeared and placed his arm around his fiancé, Brie.
"No!" Brie and Nikki answered in union.
"Yes." I answered solo.
Sierra
Hotel
India
Echo
Lima
Delta
The SHIELD
I looked down at my boot when my ringtone went off and slid my phone out. Dean was callling. "Aw, that's your ringtone? That is so cute. They are so cute!"
"You are such a girl." Bryan laughed. "That is so cute-" He mimicked their girliness.
"I better take this!" I told them as I turned away. "Hey." I answered.
"Where the hell did you get to, kiddo? Did you find Punk?" Dean asked.
"No." I replied. "I ran into a few people on the way...you know, being this popular and all." I teased.
"Right, ok. Seth and Roman have already gone, uh-" Dean paused. "I've got your stuff. I'll meet you by my car. Don't take hours getting there, kid."
"I'll go there now." I spoke. "See you in a minute." I turned around to see the Bellas were still there, making 'Aw' faces at me. "Stop that." I warned. Total Divas is going to be such an embarrassment with them!
"Look at her, she's so in love!" Brie gushed.
"It won't be long until there is a ring on that finger!" Nikki teased. "I mean, it seems like everyone apart from me is getting one."
"Let it go." Daniel told her.
And that was my queue to leave. "See you guys."
"Bye Mrs Ambrose!" The Bellas chimed after me. I waved my hand back without looking to dismiss their taunt.
As I walked out to the parking lot, I could see Dean leaning against his car with a cigarette in his hand. I managed to get behind him without him seeing or hearing me. "My lungs!" He took it out of his mouth, turned around and smirked down at me. I then smacked it out of his hand. "Whoops." I then proceeded to stub it out with my foot. "Whoa, accidents happen."
"What trouble did you get into this time?" Dean asked me, placing his hands on my waist.
"The Bellas." I told him.
"Now that I can believe."
"You wouldn't believe that a strapping man such as Damien Sandow tried to sweep me off my feet?" I asked him as I noticed Damien heading to his car.
"Not unless he knows what's good for him." Dean's eyes followed mine to Damien. "What did they do this time?"
"Who?"
"The Bellas."
"Bye Mrs Ambrose!" I closed my eyes as I heard this. I heard Dean chuckle. I turned around and glared at the Bellas. They just waved and grinned before getting in their car.
I went back to facing Dean. "That."
"Right." He nodded. "Well, they've got it wrong." I stared up at him. I didn't know whether to be hurt or insulted..."It wouldn't be Mrs Ambrose."
"Oh."
"It'd be Mrs Good."
Dean's eyes stayed on me studying my reaction. "Your real surname." A small smile came across my lips, he nodded. "Jonathon Good." I tested the name on my mouth.
"I haven't been called that in awhile." He replied.
"Does it bother you that I don't?" I asked him.
He shook his head. "Nah, it doesn't bother me, kiddo." He shrugged. "You can call me whatever you want-"
"Like cuddle monkey?"
"Apart from that." I smirked at him, he walked right into that. "Although, I guess-" He looked around. "When you and I are-" His eyes scanned down me. "I would prefer it if you used my real name."
"Jonathon?" I teased.
"Jon." He corrected. "You sound like my mom otherwise."
"Ew, gross."
"Yeah." He raised his brows. "Ready to go?"
"Yep, let's go Senor cuddles." I said as I walked towards the passenger door, he grabbed my hand and gave me a stern look. "Ok, sorry Jon."
Dean got into the driver's side and started the car up. It was this moment to myself that the whole Seth situation dawned on me again.
I really didn't know what to do.
I hated this situation. I wish I had just stuck with Dean, not bothered to go looking for Phil. I wouldn't have been none the wiser, I wouldn't have been forced to make a decision.
I had two options.
I could tell Charlie, break her heart, but meanwhile keep my reputation as a good friend.
Or...
I could keep Seth's secret, it would keep Charlie happy, but meanwhile I'd know what a terrible friend I had been.
It was a lose-lose situation.
I had been mentally cursing Seth this whole journey back to the hotel. Stupid Seth. It was his fault. He had an amazing girlfriend and he went and did something stupid like this. It even made me question when he kissed me in London... especially as the girl he kissed claimed to be told that she looked like me.
I didn't want to think about it anymore.
I was tired of thinking about it.
"You alright?" Dean asked from the driver's seat. I tilted my head slightly to look at him.
"I'm fine." I replied.
"You don't sound it."
"Just tired."
"Aria... I was in two matches tonight. I should be the tired one."
"It's not a competition, monkey man."
Dean turned to look at me. He wasn't amused. "Keep trying me, kid. See what happens."
"You said I could call you whatever I wanted." I replied innocently.
"Within reason."
"I think Sergeant Cuddles is reasonable." I answered as I went back to looking out the window.
That led me to another question. Should I tell Dean? Did he even want to know? I was already burdened with this information, should I burden him too? Would he even care?
"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" I didn't answer, but I knew that wasn't the end of his questioning. "We should be back soon." He followed on.
I checked my phone and found a text from Becky. Brad had a concussion and would be staying over the night in hospital and she would be staying with him. Did that mean Charlie would be back? What if she was at our hotel already? With Seth? What then?
The rest of our journey was quiet. Despite me trying not to think about it...it was all I thought about. When we reached the hotel room, I was both relieved and frustrated that Seth wasn't here. "They must have stopped off somewhere." I nodded and headed into our room.
Dean followed me in and I felt his hand slip into mine, pulling me back to face him. "I'm sorry, alright?" He mumbled sheepishly, forcing his eyes to connect with mine.
"Sorry?" I repeated. "Why? What have you done?"
A look of confusion flickered across his face. "Aria...you've barely spoken to me since we left the arena. It's about what happened with Punk, isn't it?"
He looked so desperate and helpless. He was not experienced with actually dating a woman so he didn't know what to do if I was upset. He just assumed that he was the person I was upset with. He was trying to make it right. I groaned softly. "I'm sorry, Dean-" I shook my head. "I'm not mad at you, I swear." I laughed lightly. "I didn't mean to make you feel that way."
He looked even more confused. "So you're not mad?"
"No...especially not about Punk. We both agreed we leave what happens in the ring, in the ring." I put my hand on his chest. "You and Punk are both big boys, you can do what you want." His large hand slid round my waist and pulled me into him. "You are too cute."
"I don't like it when you're quiet." He told me. "You're never quiet." I smiled weakly at him. "What's wrong, kiddo?" I bit my lip and looked away. Did I tell him? "Hey-" He placed one finger under my chin and pulled my gaze back to connect with his. "You're not leaving this room until you talk to me."
I pulled out of his grip and sat on the bed. Dean took his place opposite me. "Ok..." I told him. "Remember when I went to go find Punk?" He nodded. "I couldn't find him...Instead I saw Seth-"
"Right..."
"With this girl." Dean's brow went up. "They were kissing." Dean didn't say anything. I had no idea what he was thinking. "I don't know what to do. He cheated on Charlie, who knows if he has done it before." Dean still didn't say anything. "You didn't know about this, did you?"
"No, I didn't."
"You don't look surprised." He shrugged. "Is that it? Is that all you have to say?"
His brows furrowed. "Why are you getting mad at me for?"
"Do you not have any opinion on this?" I shot at him. "Do you think it's ok for him to just-"
"Aria-" Dean said loudly, stopping me from ranting on anymore. "Can you just give me a minute so I can think?" He scooted closer and placed his hand on my lower back in case I took that the wrong way. "No I don't think it's ok, but I also know their relationship wasn't exactly going anywhere."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought you'd be the relationship expert here." Dean scooted back to the headboard and placed a hand round the back of his neck. "Seth hasn't expressed anything more than wanting to have a bit of fun, Aria." I stared at him in confusion. Dean sighed. He hated talking about this stuff. "Your friend is much more into it then he is."
"He seemed so keen at first, what changed?"
"It's not going to happen to us if that's what you're thinking, Aria." I noticed he was applying more pressure around his neck.
"Are you ok?" I asked him.
"Just landed the wrong way, I'll be fine." Dean dismissed.
"Here." I crawled behind him and began massaging my hands into his shoulders. Dean's head rolled back as I hit a tense spot.
"Wow." He murmured. "You're good at this."
"What do you think I should do?" I said to him quietly as I continued to apply pressure onto his back. "Do you think I should talk to Charlie?"
"I think you should talk to Seth." Dean answered as he guided my hands to another tense spot. "Right there." He guided and then let out a moan when I did so.
"Really?" I asked him. "You think I should talk to Seth?"
"If I was your friend, I would rather hear it from him, not you." Who knew Dean would be so good at giving advice. "Why have we not done this before?"
"Girl talk?"
"No." He said sternly. "This-" He then crawled into the middle of the bed and laid down face first. He beckoned with his fingers for me to get on top. I sat on his butt and began at the top. "I'll put up with your girl talk if you keep doing this."
"Deal!" I replied. "Although don't get used to it, Roman is my girl talk buddy."
"I hope he doesn't receive the same treatment." Dean voice was muffled from the pillow.
"Do you think there has been others?" I started working down Dean's back. "Other girls I mean...how was he at the...strip club?"
"I don't know, Aria."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I spent most of it outside, remember." Dean responded.
"Seth wasn't with you?"
He paused. "I never said that he was."
"I thought you, Roman and Seth all went in the smoking area?"
"Me and Roman did...keep going, right there-" I dug my fingers deeper into his skin. I was slowly feeling him become less tense. "You didn't think all three of us went out and left Drake alone, did you?"
"Yes." I admitted.
"You're over thinking this."
"What if I'm not?"
Dean sighed heavily and begun to turn over. I lifted my hip slightly so that I still straddled him, but now he was laying on his back. "If you're not, leave it to Seth, it's his mess to deal with." Dean dismissed.
I smoothed my hands down his chest until I felt something. "How can you be hard at a time like this!?"
"Because you're sitting on my dick." Dean answered unashamedly. He slowly sat up causing me to be on his lap, my legs wrapped around his waist and my arms around his shoulder. "Don't be sad, darling."
"It will change our group."
"Not really." Dean shrugged. "It has been split for awhile."
"And it means I'm stuck with you guys." A small smile came on my face as I teased him. "I'll have no moral support."
"You have Roman."
"Good point." I nodded. "I just liked the way things were, didn't you?"
"As long as you're here, Aria, I really don't care who else is." His hand smoothed up my thigh.
I gave him a look. "You should care about me and who I bring along with me." I told him. "I care about Roman and Seth."
"That's because you're that kind of person."
"I think I'm bringing out a sensitive side of you." I leaned my forehead against his. "Just look at you now, being involved in girl talk."
He shook his head in disapproval. "Don't get used to it, kiddo."
"You're pretty good for a first timer." I giggled and pressed my lips to his. As I was about to pull away from the kiss Dean's arms wrapped around me, edging my body to press against his. He threaded his fingers through my hair, bringing my face back towards him. I opened my mouth against his and allowed my tongue to trace over his lips. I gasped as I started to feel him taking control. His tongue slid into my mouth, his hand curving over my ass as he pulled me tighter against him. As the kiss went on, his touch got increasingly more possessive. His hand slid from my ass to over my thighs, drawing closer to my hot spot. I pressed my lips harder against his as his hands began tracing slow circles along my inner thigh.
His slow torture was driving me insane. I decided to get my own back. I arched my back, making my ass grind hard into his crotch. "Ugh-" Dean let out in a grunt. "You are getting me excited." He murmured into my ear.
"It feels like you already are." I whispered back, but before the games could go any further I heard the door shut outside.
I stopped any activity. "Aria-" He groaned and tried to get my attention.
I then heard Seth's voice and the mood for me was gone. I crawled off Dean's lap, but he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me back on. "Dean!" I tried to push out of his grasp. "You said I need to talk to him."
"Yes, but not when we're in the middle of something." He replied irritably.
"I swear I'll finish you off after."
He looked like he was about to snap, but he resisted and nodded. "I should have seen that coming." He shook his head. "I feel tense again."
"I'm sorry-" I giggled as he sulked. "I got caught up."
"It's alright." He murmured trying to shake himself out of it. "Did you need me to come with you?"
I shook my head. "He might act different with his homie there."
"Never use that word again." He smirked at me. "The gangster look doesn't suit you."
"It so does." I grabbed one of Dean's hats and put it on backwards. "See."
"Oh yeah, you've completely convinced me with that." Dean rolled his eyes playfully and stood up. He offered me his hand and helped me up. "Let's get this over and done with, shall we?"
"Agreed." I replied and followed him out.
"I'll be out here." Dean told me, making himself comfortable on the couch.
"Ok." I nodded and stood outside the door.
"Well?" Dean said from the couch.
"I'm building myself up for it, ok!"
"Do me a favour, leave the door open."
"What? Why? So you can eavesdrop?" I shot at him.
"No, I'd rather you not go into another guy's bedroom."
I gave him one of my looks. "That's what you're concerned about."
"You're putting this off. Just knock." Dean ordered.
"Alright, bossy." I mocked and turned back to the door. I had to force myself to knock. Part of me wanted to run away and let Dean take the blame for the knocking, but I stood tall. I knocked on the door again and looked back at Dean unsure. He had his feet prompted up on the coffee table. He gave me a nod of encouragement and then I heard the 'come in'. I still had no idea what I wanted to say, but I just needed to get this over with or I was going to go crazy.
I opened the door and stepped in, closing it behind me.
"Aria-" Seth spoke in surprise as he stood up from his bed. "I wasn't expecting you." I stood nervously with my hands fidgeting with each other. "Although I should have guessed from the knock that it wouldn't have been Dean or Roman." He chuckled. Damn, this was a bad idea. I was completely frozen. I felt incredibly awkward. I didn't know whether to mention the fact that this Odette girl looked like me. Did Seth like me or was it just a physical thing? "Hey-" He walked towards me, placing one hand on my waist. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" He asked, his eyes now full of concern. I still debated whether he used to touch me like this before and whether I was only noticing this now.
"I uh-" Spit it out! "I saw you."
He raised a brow. "What do you mean?"
I saw you cheating on your girlfriend you pig! "Odette." Was the only thing that came out from that thought bubble.
Now the surprise was really clear in Seth's face. He slowly pulled back his hand that was on my waist and turned away from me. "Oh." Was all that managed to come out of his mouth. He placed his hands around his head and walked away from me for a moment.
"I don't know what to think, Seth." He sat down on the edge of his bed and nodded. "I thought you were straying from Charlie, but..." I couldn't get anymore out, I just shrugged. He sat there in silence. "Please, say something."
"I don't have an excuse." He spoke softly, glancing up at me. "I'm sorry to have put this on you."
"I'm not the one you should be apologising to." I leaned my back against the door. I was stupid in hoping that I had gotten this all wrong.
"I know." He nodded and stood up. "Things between me and Charlie aren't great at the moment." I stayed quiet. "I've not felt it in awhile." I didn't want to hear this.
"Even in London?" I asked him quietly.
"I guess so." He replied, looking over at me.
I shook my head. "Then you do something about it, Seth. You try to make it work, you don't go around kissing other people."
"It's only been Odette, I swear." Seth said sternly to me. "And well, you." This is why I didn't want Dean to come with me.
"Not Eva Marie?"
"No." He replied firmly. "She showed me some attention, but I didn't."
I nodded and still couldn't decide what to do. I was hoping this chat with Seth would make the answer thing, but I was as confused as ever. He wasn't being a jerk about it which made it harder. "What am I suppose to do with this, Seth?"
Seth walked over to me and placed his hands on either side of my arms. "You don't have to do anything, it's ok." He said gently. "I'll tell her tonight."
"You'll tell her what?"
"I'll tell her about Odette. She doesn't need to know about London." That was a lot easier than I thought. I thought I would have to resort to blackmailing for him to tell Charlie. "I don't want you to think differently about me, Aria. I'm not a bad guy. I just did a stupid thing."
"Why Odette?"
He hesitated, he could easily say the wrong thing and he knew it. "She was just there."
"So was Eva Marie, but you didn't go after her."
"Eva isn't my type."
"And Odette is?" I think he knew what I was trying to get at, but whether he would reveal it was a different story. I didn't even know whether I wanted him to reveal anything. Anything he did reveal could ruin everything. "If you ever cheat on Charlie again, I will personally kick your ass and if I can't do it, then Roman owes me one, alright?"
"Trust me, that won't be a problem."
"It better not." I said sternly.
"I really am sorry I dragged you into this."
"At least you're going to tell her the truth." I knew Charlie would need me after. She loved Seth and although this was going to hurt her, I thought she could forgive him. Maybe this would be the stepping stone for them to start their relationship over. Get them to a place where they're both happy.
"Thank you for talking to me first instead of Charlie. It is best she heard it from me."
I decided to avoid the fact that it was Dean's idea. I nodded. "I'll see you later." I told him. He nodded, looking disappointed for not getting more of a response. I cringed as he opened the door for me and I walked out. I jerked my head towards our bedroom door when Dean saw me. He followed me in.
"So?"
"He's going to tell her." I revealed.
"Great." Dean replied and pulled me towards him. As he lowered his head to kiss me, I placed my hand between us. He moaned. "I knew this would happen."
"I'll make it up to you." I told him softly. "I think I need to be there for Charlie once she hears."
"This is going to be one hell of an evening." Dean sighed and laid back down. "I think I might sleep through it."
"You're such a guy." I told him.
"Yep." Dean replied as his eyes closed.
"...Total Divas filming will start soon."
"You're not going to let me sleep, are you?" One of his eyes opened. I shook my head. He nodded in an 'of course' way and sat up. "Are you, uh, looking forward to it?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. I've never shown myself to the fans like that before...and I know what a private guy you are. I don't want to do or say anything that upsets you."
"You worry too much, kiddo." Dean pulled me towards him and I sat in between his lap, resting my back against his chest. "The fans will love you."
"You think?"
"What's not to love?" He kissed my shoulder.
"I guess if I could make Dean Ambrose fall in love with me, then I could get anyone, right?" I teased, tilting my head round to look at him.
"It's only been done once so definit-"
Dean stopped when we heard the door of the hotel room shut and then we heard Charlie's voice. "And it begins." I sighed. "Looks like we'll be barricaded here for a while."
Dean closed his eyes in frustration. "I'm starving."
"Well have you ever seen Friends?" Dean looked at me strangely. "You know, when Ross and Rachel... were on a break?" Dean didn't commute. "When they were stuck in the room for a whole night so they started eating leg wax..." Still nothing. "How did you not watch Friends?!"
"I've been on the road since I was sixteen, Aria. If it wasn't wrestling, I weren't watching it."
"You need to be seriously TV educated." I told him.
"Eating leg wax...sounds like a hit TV show." Dean replied sarcastically.
"It was!"
Mine and Dean's heads both snapped in the direction of the door as we started to hear Charlie shouting. I stood up from the bed and pressed my ear against the door. "Oi, nosy. Get your ass back here." I pressed my finger to my lips as Dean as I tried to hear what was going on.
The yelling was muffled. I couldn't make out what she was saying. I tried to open the door a tiny bit to be able to hear better. Dean came over and sat by my side. "I can't believe I'm doing this." He mumbled.
"Shh..."
"I said I was sorry." Seth said sternly to her. "I don't know what else to say."
"You should be on the floor begging for my forgiveness that's what you should be saying, Seth." Charlie spat. "All this time, people were telling me I was just being paranoid. I feel like such an idiot, you've made me look like a complete twat!"
"Uh, sorry... I was just getting my laptop-" My hand slapped to my head when we heard Roman. He must have come out of his room oblivious to the World War 3 going on. "I'll just...yep, got it."
"Oh Roman." I shook my head. Dean couldn't help but smirk at that before I slapped his chest.
I heard Charlie cry out as soon as the sound of Roman's door shutting hit. "I think you should go." My brows furrowed together when this was coming out of Seth's mouth. Dean and I shared looks of equal confusion. What had we missed?
"Just tell me it didn't mean anything." Charlie begged. "Put me out of my misery, tell me, please."
Dean's hand went to my lower back and began to rub in small circles. "I can't do this, Charlie." Seth spoke firmly. "I need you to go."
"What? And give up?" Charlie shot back at him. "Give up on you? No, Seth, I'm not going anywhere, I'm staying."
"I'm not going to change my mind."
"Can't you see how I feel about you?"
"I'm sorry." Seth repeated. Not giving her any ammunition to go on. No hope. "You need to go."
"I never want to see you again." She cried out and then we heard the door slam.
Dean and I stayed quiet for a few minutes before my phone began to buzz. We looked at each other when we saw it was Charlie calling. "Hello?" I answered. It was hard to make out what she was saying through all the crying. Dean rolled his eyes which earned him a hit. "I'll be right there." I told her.
Dean stood up and helped me up too. "Are you coming back tonight?" He asked me.
"I don't know." I answered him. "I'll call you, later." He nodded and opened the door for me. When we walked out, Seth was sitting in one of the chairs. He didn't look great. "I'll leave you to deal with things on this end." I whispered to Dean.
I tried not to look at Seth as I left the room. I felt so angry at him for hurting my friend and stupid for not taking this serious earlier.
Although, what I found when I reached Charlie was not what I had expected. I was expecting her to be a mess on the floor, make up smudged, her eyes swollen. "Which one do you think?" She held up two dresses.
"...What's the occasion?" I asked her.
"We're going out tonight." She told me. "I think this one." She threw the other dress into her room. "I take it you heard some of that." I nodded. Her mouth curled into one where she could easily break out in tears, but she didn't. "He slept with someone else."
My eyes widened in genuine shock. "W-what?" I knew about Odette, but I thought they only kissed.
She shrugged and turned away from me. "He didn't even regret it. Didn't say it didn't mean anything, didn't do anything."
"I'm sorry, Charlie." I walked over to her and opened my arms up for a hug.
"If I hug you...I might cry and I'm about to do my make up." She backed away from me.
"Is going out really a good idea?" I asked her. "We could just go rent a movie, get a pizza, have a night in?"
"I don't need a night in, Aria. I just need to go out there and forget about Seth." She told me sternly before shaking her head. "I am such an idiot."
"He's the idiot."
"No I am." She sat down. "After what he did, I was going to forgive him. I thought we could get past this. He was the one to end it. I should have been." That explained why Seth was telling her to leave. I thought Seth was just going to admit the cheating...not end it. I was an awful friend. "I really thought he liked me." For a moment I thought she was finally going to break down which was really what she needed, but instead she got up and went to go in her room. "Go get ready, we leave in half an hour."
"Charlie-"
"Please, Aria." She stopped me from saying anything further. "I really need this and Becky isn't here." I really didn't want to go out tonight, but I couldn't leave Charlie on her own. "Please." I really didn't want to. "We'll just stay at the hotel bar, I promise."
"Ok." I nodded. "I'll just go and get ready."
She smiled and went into her room. I headed out the door and back to the room I shared with the Shield. As I walked back in, all three men were on the couch with beers. Dean stood up when I walked back in. "You're back early."
"Yeah, uh-" I looked around the three of them, my eyes lingering slightly on Seth before looking back at Dean. "We're going out tonight." I said and went into our bedroom.
Dean followed me in. I knew he wasn't going to like this. "You're going out?" He repeated, shutting the door behind him.
"Charlie wants to." I sighed as I went through my dresses. "She wants to go out and forget about Seth." I turned to him. "We will only be downstairs in the bar."
"Alright-" Dean nodded. "But I'm coming with you."
"What?"
"What?" He shot back. "Do you really think I'd let you go to a bar on your own?"
"I won't be on my own." I said as I pulled out a dress. "Do you really think that will help Charlie? Being a third wheel?"
Dean paused. "Well then I'll sit away from you. She won't even know that I'm there."
I walked up to Dean and pressed my hands against his chest. "I'll be fine." I stressed to him. "I'll stay close to the bartender, I'll have my phone and I won't talk to any strangers." I half joked.
He stared down at me. "I don't like this, Aria." I wish he could come with us, but I knew that would only make it worse for Charlie. "You forget, I know what you're like when you're drunk."
"In the state Charlie is in, she'll be doing all the drinking. I'll just be the responsible friend." I tried to smile at him reassuringly. It wasn't working. I turned away from him and picked up the dress. I went in the bathroom and put it on. I wasn't going to make much of an effort tonight. I didn't have anyone to impress.
I came out and went to grab my makeup. "Where's the rest of it?" Dean asked, his eyes going over my dress.
"Dean-" I placed my hands on my hips. "That's not funny."
"I wasn't joking." He picked up his Shield jacket and threw it over to me. "Wear this over the top."
"No!" I threw it back at him.
"Then change the dress."
"You're going to be impossible tonight, aren't you?" I asked him. "I wore this last time we went out. You didn't have a problem with it then."
"Yes, because I was with you." He stood up and tried to pull my dress down. This only resulted in more cleavage being shown.
"Stop-" I giggled. I went over to my bag and brought out a small cardigan that luckily went well with my dress. I slid it on. "Happy?"
"No." He mumbled. "Why don't you both just come round here and get drunk?"
"Because Seth is here." I answered. "You worry too much." I mocked what he said earlier.
"I worry about you." He corrected.
"It's cute that you're worried about me." I said as I started to put my makeup on. "But I'm a big girl, I know what I'm doing." Dean wasn't happy. He spent the whole time I was getting ready trying to give me alternative clothes, plans, anything that didn't involve going to a bar.
I headed out into the main room where Seth and Roman were. "Wow-" Seth spoke. "Someone is out to impress."
"Told you."
"No." I said sternly. "I'm merely being a good friend."
"Where are you going?" Roman asked me.
"They're going to a bar." Dean answered, not impressed.
Roman and Seth exchanged looks. "You know what? I could use a drink, let me just grab my jacket." Roman said as he attempted to get up.
"We'll be fine!" I emphasised. I couldn't believe how protective they were all being. "Don't make me give you the same speech I gave Dean."
"You shouldn't be going just to the two of you." Roman replied, getting up. "We're not in the safest town."
"I know. That's why we're sticking to the hotel bar." I told him. "I appreciate you guys being concerned, but there is no need to be."
"She doesn't even have to know we're there-" Roman tried the same thing Dean did.
"You guys just enjoy yourselves up here." I said as I started making my way to the door. "I have my phone on me and I'll check in every hour."
No one looked reassured.
What happened next...it was safe to say things didn't go as planned.
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I've planned out what is going to happen in the next chapter already, but if there is anything you want to see, feel free to review!
LivHardy x