Callie wiped the table down, she watched the clock. Seth had been walking her home most nights. She had never met someone with a mind like his. It never stopped and jumped from one idea to the next. It wasn't a bad thing he just had a lot of passion about things. He wanted you to see how great what ever he loved was.
Callie knew too he was ready to move on. He wanted to move up, as far as she could tell he had talent. But could see how his own mouth and attitude held him back. She wondered what he saw in her at times. Maybe it was because she would sit and listen to him, and agree. She didn't judge or try to talk him down or out of anything.
The door chimed and Callie looked toward the door. Seth stood, she smiled and he returned a head nod. She finished up and met him outside. "Hey," she smiled.
"Hey," he said.
"You sound tiered," Callie smiled, hoping she could change his mood.
"Long day." Callie knew they were meeting with Paul again.
"Meeting didn't go well?"
"I mean they have an idea, for us" Seth looked down as he talked.
"Us," Callie asked.
"Roman, Dean and me," Seth let out a long breathe.
"Really," Callie beamed, "you would be together."
"Looks like it." She could tell he wasn't thrilled with the thought.
"That would be great, I mean you guys seem to work well together. You know each other."
"Yeah but," Seth shook his head, "teams don't work, they don't least."
"But you haven't even started," Callie didn't like that Seth thought her brother would hold him back.
"I just know how this ends," Seth raised his eyebrows.
"We can talk and walk," Callie said, she tried to hide how annoyed she was. "I am sure Dean wants to talk to me."
"Yeah they are up, Roman called his family."
"You call yours," Callie asked.
"No," Seth huffed, "it is not like I am head lining Wrestlemania."
"Well," Callie slipped her hand in his, "I am sure you are on your way."
...
Dean was sitting up waiting, Seth went to his room. "He tell you," Dean asked.
"Yeah congrats," Callie smiled.
"They are trying it out this month and hope by fall we hit the main roster."
"You nervous," Callie asked. Dean knew what she might. Main roster might T.V. Posters action figures.
"It has been a long time," Dean said. "Plus I am really good at being Dean Ambrose." He smiled, hoping she believed him. "So you and Seth." Callie rolled her eyes. "I just want to know if things are all good?" Callie laughed.
"Yeah."
"Ok," Dean put his hands up, "I was told to stay out of it."
"Really," Callie tilted her head.
"Yes, Roman said drop the big brother bit."
"Did he now," Callie laughed.
"So I am," Dean sat back.
"I am proud of you, of all of you," Callie said. "You ever think this was possible? I mean through everything?"
"No," Dean swallowed hard, "but we are here. With a lot of help we are here."
"I wonder how they are," Callie said quietly.
"They would be up there in years," Dean said. "If I ever make any real money, I am finding a way to send them some."
"That would be nice," Callie smiled.
...
Callie watched her watch. It was quite, "hey Debbie." Debbie was the shift manager, and Callie hoped not her future. Debbie had to be in her late forties. Her face told you she had a rough life. Callie wondered how she made her bills working here. "Would it be ok to leave earlier?" Callie wanted to surprise Seth. They really hadn't be able to celebrate and she honestly felt he was distant.
"Yeah," Debbie nodded giving a look around. "Just make sure your side work is done."
Callie walked home smiling pizza in hand. Seth loved pizza, and even though he saw it as a cheat meal, he never turned it down. She went the back steps, letting herself in. She heard the T.V, the living room was dark. She turned the corner and stopped. Seth sat on the couch with his arm around some orange haired girl. They were watching T.V., Seth kissing the top of her head. Callie couldn't move or speak. Either feeling someone was there or he smell of pizza caused Seth to turn his head. "Callie," he jumped up. "You," he stopped.
"I brought Dean a pizza." She lifted the box, trying not go cry.
"He stayed late," Seth looked toward his friend. "This is Becky."
"Hi," she smiled.
"Sorry, I will just leave this, call him later." Callie rushed past them back to the door.
"Callie," Seth called, he followed her to the door. "Wait," he stopped her. "I."
"Don't," Callie pulled away from him.
"I am sorry," Seth said, "we just started spending time together. I needed someone who understands."
"Right," Callie shook her head. "You have company."
"I wanted to tell you. It's is just we don't see each other, and." Callie walked out the door. Seth went back to the living room. Becky sat in the couch.
"Everything ok," Becky asked.
"Yeah," Seth sat down.
"She Dean's girlfriend?"
"No," Seth shook his head. "His sister." He smiled sitting back down next to Becky. He wonder how long before Dean kicked a door in. He wanted to tell Callie. He just didn't know how and things started up with Becky. At first he wasn't sure if Becky was interested that way. And why end a relationship for a maybe?
...
Roman came home, finding Seth and Becky in the kitchen. He stopped staring Seth down. He had seen them in the gym, even in training. Roman heard Seth laughing and joking on the phone, making plans. "Dean home," Roman voice was dull.
"No," Seth shook his head not making eye contact.
"Hey, Becky," Roman smiled. "Well, I am going to shower."
Seth watched Roman walk down the hall to his room.
"I am going to take off," Becky pointed toward the door. She could tell something was off, and more and more left it had something to so with her.
"Ok," Seth said, "sorry I think we are all just nervous, a lot going on." Seth felt relieved, he knew Callie would be back, Dean would come home. "I will see you tomorrow." Tomorrow he could just act like everything was fine, and if she asked he would have a story.
Seth tapped on Roman's door. Roman opened it, "where is Callie?"
"She came home early, and left," Seth answered.
"Left where," Roman raised his voice.
"I don't know she left the pizza and left," Seth shrugged. Roman pushed past him. "Maybe she went back to the dinner. Are you going to tell Dean?" Roman stopped.
"Are you kidding," Roman yelled in disbelief. "You are unreal!" Roman stormed past him.
...
Callie sat on a bunch, she walked back toward her work. She didn't want to go in there and she had no where else to go. She wiped her face, her mood switched from mad, sad and embarrassed. How could she be so stupid? How long had that been going on? She wished she had just moved out. But Seth made her feel like he needed her. And she was happy with him. But now what? How could she live with him after this? And Dean would find out, he would be mad at Seth. "Hey," Callie looked up seeing Roman. Part of her wanted him to go away. He had to know, "you ok?"
"Yeah," Callie wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her shirt. Roman sat next to her.
"Sorry." Roman only shrugged.
"How long did you know," she asked.
"I wasn't sure," Roman voice couldn't hide his shame. "I didn't think he would do this." Callie almost laughed.
It was easy to do. Callie virtually did not exist. No one knew about her, so no girl would question. And what was Callie really going to do? Start a fight, bring attention to her?
"It doesn't matter," Callie kicked her feet.
"It does," Roman voice raised, "he didn't have the right to do this. To you or Dean."
"Don't say anything," Callie held a finger up.
"I won't," Roman raised his hands. "Look come back with me. Becky left and Dean went straight to bed. You can't be out here all night." Callie let a breathe out and stood.
They waliked in silence. Roman made sure Seth was in his room, and on the way to his room, recommended he stay there.
...
Seth stood in the ring trying to listen. Dean hadn't said anything last night, that morning. Callie was asleep when they left. "Alright Roman, Seth," Seth jumped. "Ok, easy enough." Seth wasn't sure what they were doing. He stepped forward facing Roman.
"Off the ropes," Roman said, he knew Seth's head wasn't on training. Seth gave a nod, he noticed a smirk coming to Roman's face. As he came off the ropes he saw Roman come for him in a spare. Than he hit the mat falling the air leaving him. He knew Roman went hard on him. "Looked good, again," the trainer called. Seth pulled himself up. Now Roman had a full smile on his face. Seth was slammed again.
"I get it," Seth managed to get out. This was for Callie.
"Hey," the trainer yelled. It was clear Seth was going to need a minute. "Rollins take a minute." Seth rolled out holding his stomach.
Dean stood outside waiting for Roman. "Hey," Roman smiled seeing Dean.
"So," Dean dragged his word out. "You and Seth cool." Roman smiled.
"Yeah," Roman nodded.
"You slammed him pretty hard."
"Yeah," Roman rubbed the back of his neck. "I am still working on it. Not like football."
"Right," Dean nodded, "wouldn't have anything to do with Seth seeing Becky behind my sisters back?"
"You knew," Roman stopped.
"I saw them," Dean answered. "But I was hoping I was wrong."
"I am surprised you didn't go after him."
"No," Dean shook his head, "it would just upset Callie." Dean wanted to take Seth's head off. Callie had been through enough, things no one could understand. Dean knew if he started with Seth it would much worse than just knocking the air out of him. And Callie would blame herself. "But thanks."
"So now what," Roman asked.
"Callie found a small place," Dean tried to hide the disappointment in his voice. "She is out this weekend." They both walked in silence.
"It will be quite with out her," Roman finally said.
"Yeah, a little," Dean agreed.
"But she is close," Roman said, "if she needed anything."
"Yeah, Hey we won't all live together forever." Dean laughed. At some point this would end. Where ever their careers took them they would not always be together.
...
Seth stood in the kitchen, he was sent home early. Roman's spare was hard enough he had thrown up twice. Dean only glared and went to his room. Roman stopped facing Seth arms crossed. "You, ok?"
"No thanks to you," Seth winced. Roman only raised his eyebrows turning away from Seth.
"You know I did care about her," Seth wasn't sure if a Roman hear him. "And I didn't mean to hurt anyone."
"Well you did," Roman turned back to him, "you lied to her to Dean."
"And you," Seth almost narrowed just eyes.
"She is a nice person, she is in a hard spot. You took advantage of it." Roman tried to keep his voice down. The whole time Seth only stood watching him. "If you weren't interested."
"You like her," Seth cut him off.
"Yeah she is nice I said that," Roman huffed taking off guard by Seth's comment.
"No," Seth raised a finger, "you like her," he gave a laugh.
"No," Roman could feel the heat in his cheeks. "Not like that."
"I just got there first." Roman was in Seth's face before Seth could move.
"Shut your mouth," Roman said through clutched teeth. "She is not a toy, or something to pass the time." Seth raised both hands up backing away.
"Won't say a word." Roman backed off headed to the bathroom. He rinsed his face taking a few deep breathes. He wished he had spared Seth a little harder.
