Aria's Shield
I was nervous about meeting Charlie.
"Hey-" I heard from behind me. I turned around to see Dean jogging towards me.
"Dean, I told you, I can't-" As I was about to lecture Dean about all the times he had gone out without me, he held up my phone.
"You forgot this." He took a step closer and began tucking it in my cleavage. "How did you-"
"I've seen you do a few times." He rolled his eyes playfully.
"Thanks." I smiled at him. I tried ordering myself to keep on walking, but I found myself not wanting to leave him. Dean didn't move either, maybe he was having the same thoughts. "I don't want to go."
"Then don't." He looked down at me, hoping that I would change my mind.
"I don't like that you're against this." I told him softly. "It's making it harder to go."
"I'm not against you going out." Dean explained, "I just don't like the idea of no one looking out for you. You're a pretty girl, Aria."
"You're biased." I poked his chest.
His large hand wrapped around my finger that poked him. "I'm serious." My smile faded and I nodded. "Any trouble, you give me a call."
"How about if I just miss you?" I teased and leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Was that too mushy for you?"
"A little bit." He winked.
"Sorry." I smirked at him. "But I like mushy."
"I know you do."
"We all know you're a secret mushy monster."
"Alright, you're pushing it, kid." He warned. I half smiled and started walking away. "Hey-" He called out sharply. I turned my head. "You uh-" He scratched the back of his head. "You look beautiful, Aria."
It was hard not to break down and start being giddy. "Thanks mushy monster." I winked and quickly left his sight to get away with it. I giggled knowing what I had left Dean with. I hadn't been out without him by my side in a long time. It was a comfort having him around, but I knew I couldn't bring him tonight despite being tempted. I would be careful and I would try not to give Dean anything to worry about. I didn't know what to expect for tonight or even what Charlie's goals were. She was vulnerable right now and I didn't know how far she would be going to test that.
Dean wanted to be there to protect me, but I had to be here to protect Charlie.
She was coming out of the hotel room when I reached her. She smiled seeing me and I plastered on a smile upon seeing her. She was definitely dressed to impress tonight, not leaving too much to the imagination.
I had a really bad feeling about tonight.
"Hey-" She stepped towards me. "You are supposed to be my wingman not trying to upstage me!" Charlie laughed. "Although nice touch with the cardigan."
"Dean." I shook my head with a smile. I just wanted to be back with him.
"Right." She nodded. "So, do you like my dress?" She gave me a twirl.
Now here's the tricky bit, should I be honest? "Yeah, it looks great." She beamed at me. In the great words of Ted Dibiase. "How much do you charge?" She placed her hands on her hips and gave me a stern look. "I'm kidding!" I so was not kidding. "Relax!"
She sighed and looked down. "Is it too much?" She asked me. "I've already forgotten how to pick up men."
"Well then you're lucky you have this smooth operator with you tonight." She rolled her eyes at me. "You look fine, c'mon." I linked my arm through hers and we started making our way downstairs. "Besides looking like that, it's the man's job to pick you up." I nudged her.
"At least you'll be here to help me." Charlie replied.
"So am I playing wingman tonight?" I asked Charlie as we walked through the hotel's bar. I could tell she was already scanning for potentially suitors.
"I'll give you a trial." She laughed as she slid onto one of the stools.
"Is that really the best thing to do tonight?" I asked her.
Her eyes lingered on me for a moment before nodding. "I need this." Charlie told me firmly. "If Seth wants to move on and see other people, fine, then I'm going to do the same."
"But you shouldn't force it."
She shrugged. My words meant nothing. Her mind was made up. At least I should be the girl to advise her which guys were a waste of time. From looking around the bar, most of them were. She turned to the bar and ordered our first round of shots. "Tonight... I don't even want to remember my name." Charlie spoke as she watched the bartender grab our drinks. "Let alone...Seth's." For a moment, she looked hesitant to do anything, like it would suddenly come to her that this was a bad idea. That look quickly passed as the shots were placed in front of us. She slid two in front of me. "It still doesn't feel real." Her eyes were glued to her glass. "I should have seen it coming. He's been distance ever since he got back."
"Got back?" My brows furrowed in confusion.
"From London." Charlie answered, her eyes lifting to meet mine. "He didn't...I mean, you didn't see him with anyone there, did you?"
Maybe I should have told her the truth. "No."
She accepted this. "He wouldn't give me a name."
"Do you think that would have helped?" I asked her.
"I guess not." Charlie sighed. "As soon as word gets round we've split up, the girls will be lining up."
"Ah, just tell everyone he's gay." I dismissed.
"Not a bad idea." Charlie laughed. "Thank you for coming out with me. I really needed this." I smiled and nodded at her. "But not as badly as I need this-" She held up her shot. Damnit. "You ready?" I lied and nodded, lifting the shot to my mouth. "Here's to...getting completely wasted." She clinked my glass against hers and downed it.
Here goes... I already cringed before I took it. I shook my head at the taste. How Dean did that often, I had no idea. We took our second one and it tasted equally as awful, but it was making Charlie happier. "No more talk about Seth-" She declared. "Any talk of Seth results in one shot!" She then smirked at me and spun round on her stool. Her eyes scanning the bar. I pushed the shot glass away from me and pulled a face at the taste it had left behind in my mouth. "He cleans up good." I looked over my shoulder to see who she was looking at.
The very man I had run into earlier. "Zeb?" I decided to tease her.
"No!" She scowled and pushed me. "Cesaro!"
It was funny that she would think so when I had the same thought earlier. He did look pretty good out. Cesaro was a guy I wouldn't mind her being with, he seemed friendly enough earlier. As if sensing our staring, Cesaro's head turned. When he spotted us, an instant smile came over his face and he waved. "Oh my god..." Charlie let out. "Is he waving at us? Aria, do you know him?"
"Oh yeah, we're cool." I answered as I waved back. When did this guy suddenly get hot?! Why hadn't I noticed it before?! "I wouldn't mind being swung by that if you know what I mean..." I nudged Charlie.
"He's coming over!" Charlie half squealed. "How do I look?"
"Like a slut."
"Awesome." She grinned.
"Hello ladies." Cesaro smiled as he stood between us.
That accent...swoon.
"Hi." I almost forgot to answer. Why the hell did I find him attractive all of a sudden!? "He's not going to give me deportation threats, is he?" I said, breaking the ice, gesturing to Zeb.
Cesaro laughed loudly as he looked back at Jack and Zeb who were sitting at his table. "He's convinced you're from Bulgaria."
"The guy is good." I replied. "My family is from there, but I was born here. Making me an AMERICAN CITIZEN." I said loudly over in Zeb's direction.
"Classic illegal behaviour." I heard Zeb say to Jack.
"I give up." I laughed and turned my attention back on Cesaro.
Charlie just sat there practically drooling over him, not that I blamed her. "I just wanted to come over and say how beautiful you ladies look tonight." He leaned over and placed some money on the counter. "Let my beautiful friends have a drink on me." He gave us a wink and headed off back to his table.
I liked him even more. He was so lovely!
Charlie let out a breath she probably didn't know she was holding. "I think I love him."
"Easy tiger." I laughed. "I had no idea he was so nice."
"I'm such an idiot! I couldn't say anything!" She swung back on her chair. "I definitely need more alcohol." She passed me one of the drinks Cesaro brought. "And then call him back over!"
"How am I supposed to do that?!"
"I don't know...yell some immigration taunts at Zeb." Charlie shrugged and took her drink. "Go on." She encouraged me to take mine which I reluctantly did.
Cesaro was definitely a candidate I approved of for Charlie to focus her attention on. He seemed like a good guy who wouldn't take advantage of a situation like that. I continued my search around the bar. "Well, I think there is an obvious contender here."
"Really?" Charlie spun her head in different directions. "Who?"
"Damien Sandow."
"You're kidding, right?"
"Nope." I swung on my stool and faced Damien who was getting his table some drinks. "Well hello there, handsome." I looked over at Charlie. "Smooth operator or what?"
Damien's head turned to look at me and Charlie. His lips tugged down into a frown as his eyes trailed down us disapprovingly. Clearly there was no approval of our outfits. Unless we were covered head to toe, I didn't think we would be getting any. "...Who let you in here?" He was dressed very smartly in a suit and his beard was trimmed nicely. Definitely a tame contender for Charlie. He may not have liked me, but hey, he might take a liking to Charlie!
"Oh Damien, you are so funny!" I hit his arm playfully. He looked down at where I touched him in disgust. "How about you take up a stool and join us? Buy two foxy ladies a drink, ay." Whoa, I am already proving my skills as a wingman. The horrified look on Charlie's face showed she disagreed.
"Ignore her, she's drunk!" Charlie blurted out.
Good cop, bad cop. I liked it.
As I turned round to argue with her that I was not drunk, Damien spoke up first. "At what point, did you lose all self respect?" This seemed to be the way my conversation with Damien always went.
"Why don't you take a seat and explain what you mean?" I pulled out a stool for him.
"Aria, give it up!" Charlie hissed to me. "It's not going to happen! Retreat!"
"The only reason I would spend my valuable time with you is to give you the enlightenment you so desperately need." I blinked back in response.
I leaned slightly back towards Charlie, but my eyes stayed firmly on Damien. "Is that hot or what?"
The bartender placed a bottle of wine in front of Damien. "Thank you, sir." The bartender nodded at him.
"You're welcome and here's a tip-" The bartender smiled and held out his hand. "Try to look less like an ignoramus." The bartender frowned.
I slammed my hands on the bar, "Ha, ha! That's a good one Dame!"
Damien then turned towards me. "That goes for you too." His eyes lifted to Charlie, but he didn't insult her, he just picked up his wine and walked back over to his table.
"Did you hear that?" I asked her.
"Yeah, he called you a-"
"You are so in!" I nudged her and smiled. "Send him over a screaming orgasm!"
"WHAT! No!" Charlie protested.
"Excuse me, can you send that man over there a screaming orgasm? The one with the beard?" I handed another bartender some money. "And it's from her."
"Aria!" Charlie slapped my arm. "I don't want a screaming orgasm from Damien!"
"You're not getting a screaming orgasm from Damien." I told her sternly. "He's getting one from you." I giggled as I watched the bartender make his way over with the drink. "It's too late now! My hands are tied!"
She brought her hands up to her face in embarrassment. Hopefully next time she'd decide to not bring me out! "I don't know if I can watch this." Charlie moaned. "You are the worst wingman ever!"
"Oh what?" I exclaimed in disbelief.
"You're not getting me with guys I actually like!"
"You mean to tell me...you don't like Damien Sandow?" She responded with a deathly glare. "Alright, alright, let's just see how this unfolds." Maybe tonight wasn't going to be all bad. I could have a lot of fun with this! "I can't wait to see his face..." I giggled as the bartender got closer. He was almost there when...he walked straight past Damien's table. "What the hell is he doing?!" Instead, he stopped at the table next to Damien's where...Ryback and Curtis Axel were sitting. "Oh dear god, no."
"Hmm." Charlie said, a small smile forming on her face as the bartender placed the drink in front of Curtis. "You know he asked me out a couple of weeks ago...he didn't know I was with Seth. He's quite cute."
I looked at her in disgust. "Curtis Axel? Cute?" I gagged. I watched as the bartender than pointed over at where Charlie and I were sitting. "This can't be good."
Ryback didn't look pleased, but Axel smirked when his eyes landed on us. It wasn't a very comforting smirk. It was one that showed off how slimy he could be. Unfortunately, Charlie didn't see it that way. "Maybe you aren't bad at this after all." She told me as she flashed a smile over at him.
"No, no-" I waved my hand in front of her face, trying to distract her from Curtis. "Remember Cesaro?"
"He's coming over here!"
"Cesaro?!"
"No! Curtis!" I groaned as I saw him coming over. Curtis Axel was definitely not a contender in my mind. He would take advantage of Charlie in a second. Along with Curtis came the reluctant Ryback. Charlie quickly took another shot before he got here. "Hi." She smiled flirtatiously as Curtis reached us.
"I hope I'm not the first to tell you how beautiful you look tonight." Curtis took her hand and placed a kiss on it. I rolled my eyes.
Ryback stood in front of me, frowning. "Looking saucy, Ryback, someone's out to meet a lady friend tonight." Needlessly to say, there was no compliment returned. "You know, if you need a wingman...I've been told I'm pretty awesome. I got your friend here over to Charlie, didn't I?"
"I don't need your help with the ladies." Ryback pulled out the stool next to me and tried to get the attention of the bartender. "Watch and learn, moron." He said sternly as the bartender came over. "Right, I need you to send her-" Ryback pointed to a group of women, "-the one with the big tits, give her a buttery nipple on me."
"Well... an unusual method." I spoke to him, he glared at me. "But I'll keep an open mind."
His eyes squinted at me. "I'm not finished."
"Alright-" I put my hands up in defence. "Go on, impress me."
"That one there-" Ryback went on, pointing to another woman. "Not the fat one, that one-" I stared at him in disbelief, what an idiot! "Send her a...between the sheets, heh heh heh." That's how his laugh actually sounded. "And lastly-" He scanned for another woman. "Ah what the hell, I'll go for a ginger...send that one a deep throat." He grinned and leaned back to watch his flirting plan go down.
"Do you really think that will work?" I asked him.
"Didn't Dean get you with a screaming orgasm?" Charlie interrupted our conversation with a grin on her face.
"That's not how it sounds." I said to Ryback.
"Whatever." Ryback dismissed and grinned as the drinks finally reached each girl. The drinks actually went down...well? Each girl smiled over at him. What the hell?! If a stranger did that to me, I'd find that insulting!
Screaming orgasm...Dean... that was different!
"And that seriously works?" I asked him suspiciously.
He shrugged. "It's enough to get me a blowy."
My face cringed in disgust. "Classy." Nothing happened. "What do you do now?" I asked Ryback.
"Now, I wait." He turned away from the women. "You just learned a valuable lesson. You're welcome."
"Alright, Damien Sandow." I rolled my eyes. Charlie passed me down a drink that Curtis had brought for us. This evening was going downhill, I needed this. I took the shot. "Has anyone ever told you, you look like one of the Vikings from Tangled?" Ryback gave me an odd look. "I'll get a picture up on my phone." I held a finger up to him. "Bare with...bare with...bare with...here-" I showed him the picture.
"I don't look anything like that guy, moron."
"Whoa, no need for name calling." I held up my hand to him. "I've just uploaded it to Instagram, we will see whether they make the connection." I turned my head when I saw Charlie giggling, I doubt whatever Curtis said was funny.
"Aren't you and your friend still banging the Shield?"
"Dating, I prefer the term dating." I told him sternly. "I'm still with Dean, but Charlie and Seth have decided to end the-"
"Banging?"
"Relationship." I corrected. "You know Ryback, I think you've got the wrong technique here. You may think you 'rule'-" I put in finger quotations. "-but the art of seduction isn't that easy." His brows furrowed at me. "You can't just send a lady over a drink like a deep throat and expect to get laid. Women aren't stupid like that... We have self respect. We need to be wooed, caressed, loved and I don't appreciate you thinking that us women are so-"
"Hi."
My wonderful lecture to Ryback was interrupted. Mine and Ryback's head both turned to see a woman. It was the ginger he sent the deep throat drink to.
Please do not tell me his damn technique actually worked...
"What can I do for you, sweetheart?" Ryback asked her, smirking over at me.
Don't do it...
"Is this your girlfriend?"
"That depends on you, sugar."
"Oh brother." I shook my head and took another shot. Well Ryback was getting lucky today. As my head turned to Charlie and Curtis, I noticed he wasn't the only one. It was disgusting watching them. Curtis was being pretty hansy and whispering probably dirtier things than Ryback's drinks in her ear.
"Need a drink?" The bartender asked me.
"Could you tell?" I replied and smiled gratefully as he put one in front of me. This was going to be a long night. Going over to sit with Cesaro, Zeb and Jack was preferable at this point, even tempting. I sat and drank as I watched Curtis whisk Charlie away to play some snooker. Even using the classic move of teaching her how to play. I really should have tried harder to get her with Cesaro!
Can this night get any longer?
I tried to have a little fun. I asked the bartender to send Cesaro a drink from me and to pretend the drink is called the 'Swing King'.
He sent back a 'Shield banger'
I sent him a 'Swagger Jagger'
He returned with a 'Deportation notice'
I sent over a 'Switzerland screw'
He countered with a 'Bend over Zeb'
I won with Cesaro's nipples'.
I could hear him laughing for a long time over that one.
It was the only fun I was having, but it was also getting me incredibly drunk.
"ARIA!"
"Oh no!" I blurted out. "Hide me!" I asked the bartender.
I didn't need to turn my head to tell who the screeching was coming from. Seconds later, I was surrounded by Bellas, a Bryan and a Cena. "We didn't know you were coming out tonight!" Brie nudged me and I almost fell off my stool. She took a place next to me where Ryback previously was.
"I'm not really out…just having a quiet drink." I could already feel the drink getting to me, but tried to pass it off as if I was 100% sober. "Cena." I cleared my throat and gave him a manly nod.
He looked around the bar. "I'm surprised Dean let you come out on your own." John spoke disapprovingly. Anything to take a shot at Dean.
"I'm not alone." He raised a brow in disbelief. "See the blonde who Curtis Axel's bending over at the snooker table? I'm with her."
"Isn't she with Seth?" Nikki gasped.
"Broke up."
"That doesn't surprise me." Cena said. I really did not like him.
"Why doesn't it surprise you?"
John Cena tried to give me one of his good guy smiles. "I didn't mean to offend you, Aria."
"Believe in the Shield, Cena." I blamed that one on the drink.
"So much for that quiet drink, ay Aria." Daniel grinned at me.
"She's going to get totally Brie mode with us!" Nikki swung her arm around me and ordered all of us some shots.
"I'm getting totally what?" Ok that couldn't be the drink.
"You don't want to know." Bryan shook his head laughing. "Go easy on her girls."
"Five Southern Screws please." Nikki asked the bartender, teasing him with a wink.
"Who comes up with these?" I asked.
"Make that six." Charlie slumped back next to us.
I looked around. "Where's Axel?"
She shrugged. "He was disgusting."
"I could have saved you the time and told you that an hour ago." I scoffed. "What happened?"
"He wanted me to come upstairs with him."
I looked at her suspiciously. "Isn't that what you wanted?"
"He wanted you to come too…"
My suspicious look turned into one of disgust. "Oh that is nasty, what a dirty boy!" She nodded in agreement. "I am disturbed. That is disgusting!"
"We heard about Seth." The Bellas hugged Charlie in the cliché friends hugging friends after a break up style.
"Women." Daniel and I said at the same time. Realising our common thought, we both looked at each other and laughed.
Nikki released Charlie and slid on John's lap. "How are you enjoying your Southern Screw, John?" She giggled as she teased him.
"Yeah Mr PG." I joined in.
Nikki, Brie, Daniel and John stayed for awhile before heading out to go to the better clubs in town. I made Charlie stick to her promise that we would stay in the hotel bar. I should have let her go off with them, allowed myself to go home.
Two drinks were placed in front of us and I smiled thinking that they were joke ones from Cesaro. "That's from those two gentlemen." The bartender pointed to across the bar.
I was disappointed and uncomfortable that it wasn't Cesaro. There's my fun gone. "They're cute." Charlie commented and waved over at them. "We should go over there."
"No."
"Aria!"
"We don't know them!"
"So?"
"Dean told me I can't talk to strangers!"
She giggled. "Aria, you're drunk."
I held up my finger. "I'm not...I'm drunk, I mean, I'm not drunk! Stop trying to mess with my brain, it's not going to work." I said sternly. "I am a lady and a lady does not... I don't know where I'm going with this."
"C'mon!" She tried to pull me with her.
I gripped onto the bar. "Nope! I am staying here! I'm like a tree, I cannot be moved."
"Nice." The bartender nodded his head at me, appreciating my metaphor.
"Aria!"
"Nope, not moving." She kept pulling. "If you make me go over there, I will start singing, really loudly." I threatened.
Charlie sighed and placed her hands on her hips. "I knew Ted would be a better wingman."
"Pfff." I scoffed and dismissed her with my hand. "Whatever." I watched as Charlie went over there, shaking my head in disapproval. "She'll be back." I told the bartender.
...
"Hey-"
"Huh?" I lifted my head.
"You fell asleep." The bartender laughed. "Or passed out...I'm not really sure."
"How long?"
"Not long, uh, you're friend wanted me to tell you she was leaving."
"What?!" I sat up straight. "She left?"
"With a guy." My eyes widened and I turned around to try and find her. "It was ten minutes ago, she's long gone."
"She...what?" She left me?! "What guy?"
Mr Bartender shrugged. "He brought her a drink and not long after...they both left together."
"Was she ok?"
"She was fine. Are you ok?"
"I'm ok."
"Cool."
"Yeah, cool." I nodded my head. How the hell did I fall asleep?! That's so embarrassing!
"You sing in your sleep, by the way."
"...Taylor Swift?"
"Yes actually."
"Thought so." I patted my hands on the bar. "Drunken habit."
"Right." He laughed. "That's a new one." He poured a drink and placed it in front of me. "This is from the guys over there. You are a popular lady tonight."
"I was purely the wingman." I replied and pushed the drink away. "I've had enough time, can I just have some water?"
"Sure thing." He nodded. I didn't even bother to look over at the guys who sent me the drink. I sat there for awhile trying sobering up.
I thought Charlie would come back after having some cheap fling with this guy. I couldn't leave here without her. I was already slightly panicking. I knew I was rambling on to the bartender, but I found it hard to control my drunken mouth, hence why I didn't want to go back upstairs to Dean yet.
Time had passed and I wasn't getting any better. The dizziness was still there, the urge to get on the table Ryback was at and dance was still there. It was a slow process getting sober.
And there was still no sign of Charlie...
"Lonely?"
I turned my head to see a total stranger. He slid on the stool next to me, leaning towards me. I could smell the alcohol coming off him. I hoped I wasn't stinky like that. "No, I'm alone, not lonely." I replied shortly, resisting the urge to break out into the 'lonely' song whilst looking for the bartender who was my safe point.
"Let's change that, how about I buy you a drink?"
I could see his mates all cheering him on, but this guy picked the wrong girl to try and pick up. "Nope." I used Dean's phrase. "I'm fine, thank you."
"A pretty little thing like you shouldn't be at bar by your lonesome." This guy wasn't taking the hint.
"I'm not on my own. My friend is around here-" I started to move off my stool.
"And who's your friend?" He raised a brow.
"That guy." I pointed at Ryback.
"He looks busy. I'm sure he won't miss you."
"Not gonna happen, buddy."
"One drink, c'mon." I shook my head. "I'll let you have the dirtiest drink you can find."
"I don't think so." Yep, it was time to go. As I turned away, I felt this guy wrap his fingers around my arm, keeping me in place. I looked at him warily, "What are you doing?"
"Relax-"
"Can you get off me?"
"Stay for one drink. C'mon, humour me."
I was fed up and just wanted to be back with Dean. "No." I shook my head and tried to pull away from him.
He let my arm go. "You don't need to get upset-"
My hand went to my head, I felt like the drink was taking over me. I was feeling dizzy and paranoid; I just needed to get out of here. "Are you alright, Aria?" Cesaro stepped in between me and the guy, his eyes were stern as he looked over the guy. "Are you bothering my friend?" Yey, we were friends!
"Just buying her a drink, man." The guy responded, shrugging his shoulders.
"I don't want a drink. I have water." Which whilst trying to show I had water, I split it all over the ground. "Whoops...well, I had water."
"Hey Mack, what's going on?" One of the guys who I had now learned was called 'Mack' came up behind him. He stood up straight as if starting to square up to Cesaro.
What a stupid name...Mack.
"You need to leave." Cesaro ordered.
"Oh really?" The friend scoffed.
I started to worry for Cesaro until I felt myself being pulled back slightly. I short gasp escaped me when I saw Dean stepped forward, standing in line with Cesaro and squaring up to these two guys. He looked pissed. His eyes glowered darkly at the two men and easily towered over them. "You need to leave." Dean repeated lowly. "You're making my girlfriend upset...and you...need...to leave." His mouth snarled as he warned these two guys.
They nodded and headed back to the table. They could tell Dean was serious. Dean watched them walk away until they were completely gone. Dean continued to frown as he looked at me. "Thanks, I owe you one." Dean spoke to Cesaro.
I looked between them...what was that about?
"Anytime. Get her home, yeah?" Cesaro nodded and started backing away.
"Have you got your things?" Dean asked me, his face showed he wasn't in the mood to mess around. I nodded. "Where's your friend, Aria?" I looked around hoping she would suddenly turn up. Dean would kill me knowing I had just sat here alone for an hour. "Hey, I'm talking to you." Dean raised his voice.
"I don't know." I quickly answered. "I don't know."
"What do you mean, you don't know?"
"Is everything ok?" The nice bartender asked. He probably thought Dean was some jerk picking on me.
"She's fine." Dean snapped. "Do you mind?"
"Dean-" I scowled. "Boyfriend. I'm ok, thanks." I smiled at the bartender. I made a note to come down and tip him tomorrow. The bartender nodded and went over to take some more drink orders. "You don't need to be soooo rude." I emphasised each word.
"We're leaving."
"I can't, I can't." I shook my head. "Charlie's not back."
"When did she leave?"
"Awhile ago." I didn't want Dean mad at me. "She left with a guy and I don't know."
"I need to get you home, Aria." He tried to soften up, I shook my head. "I'll go get Roman down here to look for your friend, alright?"
I hesitated, but I nodded. Dean put his arm around me and led me out of the bar. He didn't say anything as we made our way to the elevator, I knew he was pissed. I hadn't meant to drink as much as I did. I just wanted the whole night to go a lot quicker and then the bloody Bellas turned up and….I didn't realise how much I had had. I felt bad for having Dean coming down and collect me, but I was glad he had turned up when he did.
I rested against him in the elevator. He placed his arm around me and held me tightly against his chest. "I should have gone with you tonight."
"You would have hated it more than I did." I mumbled as I tilted my head to look up at him. "I'm, I'm s-sorry."
He nodded. "We can talk about it tomorrow."
"Don't be mad."
He sighed and looked down at me. Stupidly, I could feel my eyes watering up. "Hey, Aria, don't-" He said sternly and wiped away any tear that was threatening to spill with his thumb. "I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at your idiot friend for leaving you."
"She's hurting."
"I don't give a fuck, Aria." He rolled his eyes. The doors opened up and Dean slipped his hand into mine and pulled me along with him. He opened up the door to our hotel room and let me in first.
Seth and Roman were sitting down on the couch when we walked in, but instantly stood up when seeing us. "Is she ok?" Seth asked, looking at Dean.
For a moment, I thought he was talking about Charlie. "She's drunk." Dean replied dryly, as if I wasn't there. I felt embarrassed, trying to keep quiet in case I said something stupid. I was drunk, but I so desperately wanted to be sober.
"Let me get you some water, baby girl." Roman offered me a friendly smile and got me a glass.
I happily accepted the water hoping that the more I consumed now, would lessen the hangover I would have in the morning. "Dean-" I was still clinging onto him. "I uh-" My mind kept going blank. "Charlie is still down there."
Dean sighed and nodded. "Roman, I couldn't see her friend. Do you think you can go have a look?"
"Of course." Roman nodded and grabbed his jacket and wallet. "How long has it been since you saw her?"
I looked down at the ground, avoiding Dean's eyes contact. "About an hour."
"Alright." Roman replied and headed out the door.
"Thank you-" I called after him.
"Let's sit you down." Dean mumbled and took me to the couch and sat me down. He didn't say anything as he sat opposite me. I shivered as I wasn't exactly covered up. Dean shrugged off his leather jacket and slid it over my bare shoulders. "Where's your cardigan?" He asked me.
"I…I-" I looked around. "I must have left it downstairs." Dean sighed. "I'm sorry."
"You don't need to keep apologising." Dean ran his hand through his hair. "I'll go get it. Do you mind-" He asked Seth, gesturing to me.
"I'll look after her." Seth nodded and moved to the place Dean was previously sitting.
"I won't be long."
It only hit me when Dean left the room that it meant I was now alone with Seth…and I was drunk. I kept repeating in my head that I needed to watch what I say. Anything I thought was a good idea to say probably wasn't.
"Don't worry about Dean." He told me softly as he rested a hand on my knee. He might think that was comforting me, but it was doing the opposite. "He's just worried about you. Hell, he spent most of tonight worrying about you."
I rolled my head back. "I wanted to prove him wrong, but I just screwed it up. I screwed everything up."
"Don't say that, sweetheart. Charlie screwed up, she shouldn't have left you." Seth said kindly.
I felt responsible for not watching over Charlie more, but Seth was right, she shouldn't have left me, especially not telling me where she was going. "She's not thinking straight." I leaned back and sighed.
Seth picked up my glass of water and gave it to me. "Here."
"Thanks." I weakly smiled at him and took a long sip. Silence fell upon us for a little while and my drunken mind was pressing for me to ask a question. "Does it bother you that she hooked up with someone?"
Seth looked at me and then down at his hands. "I care about her." He admitted. "I care about if she's hurting and her safety, but I'm not…I'm not jealous."
That wasn't what I wanted to hear. "Was it my fault?" I whispered.
"What?" Seth slipped an arm around me. "Why would you think that?" I shook my head and tried to turn away from him. "Don't be upset, sweetheart." He turned me to him so that now both arms were wrapping around me, he was hugging me.
"She said you've been different since you came back from the UK." Seth didn't react to this. My hand went to my head. "It was my fault."
"Hey-" Seth pulled my hands away with his. "It's not your fault you're beautiful." He muttered.
"What did you say?"
He shook his head. "We drifted apart, it happens."
"No-" I shook his head. "You drifted...you flew-" I didn't know where my drunken mind was going with this. "-to Odette."
"It wasn't like that."
"Was it not?" I scoffed and laughed at the same time. "You're a liar, Seth." He didn't respond. "You lied to Charlie and you lied to me!"
"I know." He nodded.
"Did you sleep with Odette?"
He seemed taken back at first that I knew her name. His eyes lowered. "Yes."
"Why?"
"I don't know, Aria, but I do know you're drunk and upset."
"Do you think she looks like me?" I scooted away from him. "What am I supposed to think? You...you kiss me, tell me you're attracted to me, then you sleep with a woman who looks like me!"
Seth moved towards me, but I quickly stood up, staggering as I did so."Hey, calm down-" He held me still.
"I uh-" I pulled away from him. "I should get dressed." I mumbled.
Seth nodded. "Do you need any help?" My eyes hardened onto him. "I meant, getting to your room, not-" He didn't even finish.
"No." I shook my head. I slipped off my heels and chucked them to the side. My hands went round the back of my dress and tried to unzip myself. This caused me to lose balance.
"Whoa." Seth caught me. "Jeez, Aria, how much did you have tonight?"
"I can't-" Despite almost falling, my hands didn't go out to break my fall, instead they stayed on my zipper. "It's stuck."
"Let me try." Seth looked around to see what could support me up. "Hold onto the wall." He advised.
I nodded and placed both hands on the wall, leaning my weight onto it as Seth stood behind me.
I felt his warm hands radiate onto my skin. I felt him give the zip a tug. It took a few times, but finally he was able to bring the zip down. The back of his finger as he pulled the zip down, brushed against my skin…all the way down to my waist. Despite the zip being pulled down, I didn't feel the warmth of Seth's hands leave me. He didn't say anything; we just remained where we were.
Instead of pulling away, I felt the same warmth on my shoulder as my dress scraps started to slowly be pushed down. I quickly turned around, stopping Seth from going any further. He took a step back realising his actions. "I can… take it from here." I nodded almost too much at him as I slowly backed into my room. I shut the door behind me and leaned against it.
The room was spinning so badly, I wanted it to stop.
I tried to push what just happened with Seth out of my mind. What was he trying to do? Was he just helping me undress or was that something more? Did I just imagine that whole thing?
I crawled onto my bed and hunted out my pyjamas. I slipped off the dress and put on my pyjamas. It wasn't until I heard Dean come back that I came out of my room. He held up my cardigan and placed it on the table. He walked over to me and rested his hands on my waist. "You alright?" He murmured.
"Did you see Charlie?"
Seth was getting me another glass of water, but I tried not to look at him. "No." Dean shook his head. "Roman is still looking."
"Do you think he'll find her?"
"I don't know, Aria. She's not my concern right now." Dean narrowed his brows. He was angry at Charlie for leaving me. I didn't want him to say anything to her. I knew how horrible Dean could be when he was mad at you. "I'll sober her up a bit before putting her to bed." Dean told Seth who nodded in agreement. I ran my hand through my hair and sat down. I couldn't stop thinking about Charlie. If something went wrong tonight, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. Dean once again, took his spot on the table opposite me. His knees touched mine and his hands smoothed up my legs. He took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "Can you tell me what happened tonight?"
"Shouldn't you know?" I looked down at the ground. "After all, you did send Cesaro to spy on me." My thoughts were confirmed when I saw the look on Dean's face.
"You're right." Dean shrugged, showing no regret. "I did. I wanted to make sure you were safe and clearly I made the right decision. Now tell me, what happened?"
Something that had just happened seemed to leave my mind. I was confused by tonight's events, trying to put everything into order. "Charlie wanted to go out, get drunk, and meet someone. When we got there, she started ordering us drinks."
Dean nodded. "How much did you drink?"
I gave a light sad shrug. "I don't know."
"What did you drink?"
"I don't know." I looked down. "Charlie kept buying me drinks, The Bella's' did... Curtis Axel-"
Dean's faced screwed up. "Curtis Axel?" He repeated in disgusted. "What was Axel doing buying you a drink?"
"Dude,-" Seth spoke sternly. "Easy."
"No. I want to know why the fuck Axel was buying my girlfriend drinks." The sharpness of Dean's voice made me flinch.
"He was buying them for Charlie." I quickly spoke, trying to stop Dean from being so mad.
"Is it possible that's where Charlie could be?" Seth asked standing up. "He's only a few doors down."
"I don't think so." I shook my head. "He uh-" I stopped as I remembered why Charlie didn't want to go with Curtis.
"He what?" Dean asked, his voice firm, I wasn't getting away with not answering.
"He uh wanted-" I cringed. "Both Charlie and me to go upstairs with him."
Dean's jaw tightened. "What room is he in again?"
"I'll go." Seth said sternly and stood up.
"Do you think that's a good idea?" I asked Dean as Seth walked down the door. "If she is there, she's not going to want to see him, let alone come back with him."
"Trust me, its better him go than me." Dean muttered. "Axel and your friend wouldn't want to go anywhere near me right now."
"You can't say anything to her, Dean. Please don't say anything." My hands went to his lap as I looked up at him.
"You don't get to make demands right now, Aria." His mouth curled as he stood up.
"You said you weren't mad at me."
"You should have called me. Why didn't you?"
"I thought she would come back." I answered weakly. "So I was trying to sober up."
Seth slipped back in the room. Both Dean and I looked at him, but Seth shook his head confirming what I already knew. Charlie wasn't there. "I spoke to Roman, no luck on his end either."
Dean sighed heavily and stood up. "I'm going to put her to bed." He spoke as he helped me up. He picked up my glass of water and followed behind me as I stumbled along to our bedroom.
I lifted up my pyjamas top and threw it to the ground. "It's too hot." I told Dean. He didn't reply. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Dean took a step towards me and placed a finger under my chin.
"You keep me on my toes, kid." He lowered himself to my height and placed a soft kiss on my lips. My hands met his cheeks as I kept his face close to mine, allowing him to deepen the kiss. I sighed lightly into the kiss as I felt Dean hold me closer against him. I tugged on his shirt, hinting for him to take it off. He obliged leaving him in his jeans only.
"You know, I didn't have a screaming orgasm tonight." I teased as my hands slid up his bare chest.
He chuckled and captured my lips with his again.
I felt Dean pick me up and lay me down...but the second I was down...I was out.
The next thing I knew, I woke up on Dean's chest and it was morning. His warm hand was stroking down my back and playing with the ends of my hair, he was already awake. I lifted myself up slightly to look at him. I was relieved that I felt no effects on a hangover, I just felt a little hungover. "How you feeling?"
"Like an idiot."
He chuckled lowly. "I meant physically."
I smiled softly. "I feel ok."
"Good." He nodded. "Water normally does the trick."
"Thank you." I linked my hands together over his chest and rested my head on my hands. "For taking care of me last night."
He shrugged. "I'm always gonna take care of you, kiddo." His hand settled on my lower back. "Look, I'm sorry for being hard on you last night... I just...worry."
I shook my head. "Don't be, I was probably very annoying last night." I didn't remember too much of what happened after we got back to the hotel room.
"Nah." Dean dismissed. "You were cute...and horny."
I blinked at him. "You mean I didn't dream that?" I couldn't remember anything after him laying me down. "Did we-"
"You passed out." Dean frowned. "Leaving me high and dry."
"Whoops."
"Fucking bitch." Dean smirked and nudged me.
"Ouch! Meanie!"
It then hit me.
Charlie.
I suddenly remembered about Charlie leaving me.
I kept trying to remember if Roman had come back last night and if he found her. "Did Roman find Charlie?" Dean shook his head. "Oh..."
"I'm sure she's fine."
"Have you seen my phone?" I asked him, looking around for it. "I think I need to call Becky."
Dean reached over and handed me my phone. "I didn't trust you not to drop it last night."
I went to search for Becky's number but before I even got a chance, her name lit up on my phone, she was calling me. "Hello?" I answered straight away.
"Hey, Aria..." Her voice sounded unsure. I knew something was wrong. "Can you come over?"
"Is Charlie there?" I quickly asked.
"Yeah, She's...safe?" I was relieved to hear this, but I could tell there was still something up. "Can you come over?"
"I uh-" I looked at him, "I'll be there in ten." I responded and hung up. I reached for some clothes and started getting dressed. "She's with Becky." I told Dean who nodded.
"Need me to come with you?"
"Would you promise not to say anything to Charlie?"
"Nope."
"Then it's probably best you don't." I smiled over at him.
I was desperate to get myself over there. If it wasn't for being partly numbed by the drink, I would have gone out of my mind worrying where she had gone. Parts of last night still didn't seem real...there was still a lot of last night I didn't even remember fully. I don't even know if I wanted to remember.
I reached their room and Becky answered the door immediately. Any relief I had was gone when I saw the look on her face. "What?" My heart pounded. Becky didn't reply, she opened the door wider so I could come in.
Straight away I saw Charlie on the couch….in tears.
Her hair was a mess.
Her makeup was smudged.
She was still in yesterday's clothes.
I rushed towards her and put my arms around her. "Hey…" I said softly.
"Aria-" She sobbed, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry." She choked out.
I rubbed her back. "It's ok."
"No, it's not." She just kept shaking her head. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"I'm fine, there's no harm done." I was assuming she was sorry for leaving me at the bar last night, but would she really be this upset over that? "What happened to you last night? Where did you go?" Charlie continued to sob. I think it was everything with Seth coming out. "You don't have to talk about it now, if you don't want to."
"P-please d-don't h-h-hate me."
There was no calming her down. She was in a state and couldn't snap out of it. "Why would I hate you?" I laughed lightly, trying to get her to stop crying. Why was she so upset? What had happened to her last night? I looked at Becky for some support, but she just stood and watched. "Maybe you should get some sleep, you don't look like you've had any."
"Promise you won't hate me." She whispered. Why did she keep repeating that?
Her tone was serious. She wasn't just talking about last night. I swallowed hard and nodded. "Why would I hate you, Charlie?" My voice equalled her seriousness. I didn't like where this was going. "Why?"
"I…I slept with Randy."
BOOM!
Sorry for the late chapter, I had to re-write this as I didn't like it the first time round! But here it is!
What did you think of that last line twist!? I would love to hear your thoughts of it and how Aria should deal with it!
Thanks for all the reviews, they are appreciated and inspire me to keep going with this story!
LivHardy x