How could a simple phone call fuck up an entire week? No, maybe her entire life.
AJ's entire reality shattered into a million pieces like a mirror being hit with a wrecking ball. Something in her mind wanted her to light the building on fire and take out the survivors. The other part, the more in-control part, made her scream and cry and fall to the floor in a weeping mess.
"FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU!" AJ screamed at the ceiling, cursing the god she was more sure now than ever couldn't possibly be there.
Why? Why like this? Why did it have to be like this? AJ's throat burned from her screams and cries. Her cheeks red with anger and wet with bitter sadness. Nothing would ever improve after today.
Losing Dana, missing the chance to be an aunt, losing Alexa… and now this.
"Dana… DANA!" AJ screamed but she knew no one would come. She stayed flat on her back in her bedroom, knowing there was nothing she could ever do to make this hurt go away.
Molly wouldn't help. AJ took so much over the course of the last few weeks that she was starting to build an immunity to it. Booze would help, but she was scared of what she might do to herself if she got drunk.
"Please wake up… PLEASE!" AJ pulled at her hair and writhed around on the floor, trying to wake up from this reality that she was almost certain was a fucked up nightmare.
AJ curled up with her stuffed animal and wept endlessly into its fur.
"Please come back…" She whispered sadly, clutching to the tattered animal for dear life.
Sasha Banks was hung over. There was no other way around it. And, to be fair, it was a feeling well-earned. She'd stayed at her sorority's party well after Becky's leaving, mostly because she didn't want to hear any of the sickening sex noises emanating from the red-haired beauty's room. She'd seen enough of Natalya and Becky pawing each other to have a pretty fair idea of what kind of acts the two were going to engage in, and she wanted no part of even being in the same building. But she became so intoxicated during the festivities that she knew she could sleep through about anything. Sasha made Xavier take her home around two in the morning. She did apologize for acting like a jerk throughout the night and gave him a kiss on the cheek for putting up with her and being a gentleman.
Her bedroom lights were the first thing to blinden Sasha's eyesight the following morning. There wasn't a thing in hell or Earth that could cause such physical pain as the artificial light producing from the demonic bulbs in the center of the ceiling. Sasha shut her eyes and blindly shuffled over to the wall to shut the torture off.
After the light had gone, and Sasha was able to focus for a minute, she sat back down on her bed and checked her texts. She did this just to make sure she didn't make a complete ass of herself while she was drunk. Nothing this time, except a goodnight text to Xavier and an unread text from her coach reminding her of off-season workouts during the summer.
"Well, at least you didn't have to listen to Nattie and Becky," Sasha mumbled to herself and set her phone back on the bedside table to be charged.
Though she heard no noise coming from either the other side of her wall or the living room, Sasha still peeked her head out the door before stepping outside her bedroom. Her first thought was to chug a bottle of Gatorade to help ease her into soberness and cook up some hashbrowns and eggs. Then she'd have the energy back to hate whoever she wanted.
Sasha pulled all of her desired food items from the fridge. Unfortunately, as she started to sip the ice cold dark blue remedy from its bottle, Becky ventured from her room in the shirt she was wearing the night before and her underwear.
Sasha didn't say anything right away. She was momentarily transfixed on the bare, muscular legs of her ex.
"Oh, sorry," Becky said, breaking Sasha from her trance. "I was getting some breakfast for us."
"Us?" Sasha echoed, feeling her stomach sink.
Right behind Becky, Natalya left her bedroom and embraced the redhead from behind. Natalya began whispering in Becky's ear, but quickly let go of the woman upon seeing Sasha from across the room.
"Oh, hi," Natalya said with a nervous chuckle. "Uh, hey… Sasha."
Sasha scoffed. "Well… don't let me interrupt fun time. I thought I told you not to have girls over when I'm home?"
Becky pulled her gaze away from the clearly upset woman. "I didn't 'ear you come home."
"What? Were your ears blocked by her thighs?"
"Sasha-"
"Leave it, Becky," Natalya took Becky by the hand. "I'll leave in a second. It's ok."
Sasha rolled her eyes as her roommate and her apparent lover turned back into her bedroom and shut the door. Deciding it wasn't worth further addressing, Sasha went back to her breakfast prep.
"I'm so sorry about her," Becky told Natalya, sitting with her on the edge of her bed. "She can't learn to let things go and insists on making life hell for other people."
Natalya shrugged. "It's fine, Becky. Really. I get where she's coming from. I wouldn't want to see my ex with another person… especially one as attractive and sexy as you."
Becky was always a sucker for cheesy compliments. She turned her head away and chuckled under her breath. Natalya turned Becky back gently with her fingertips and planted a soft kiss to her lips.
Becky broke the kiss after only a few seconds. "Look, Natalya, you're a fantastic girl. Very sweet and you know what to say when I'm feeling down, but-"
"You don't want a relationship so soon?" Natalya cut in.
Becky paused a moment and nodded. "It's really not you, Nattie. It's just so much after just breaking things off with Sasha."
Natalya rubbed Becky's back. "It's fine. I totally get where you're coming from. I was kinda hoping you would say something like that, actually."
"Really?"
"Yeah… my last boyfriend, his name is Tyson. He's on the hockey team. I don't know if you know him?" Becky shrugged. Natalya continued. "Anyway, we dated for about a year and a half. I was stupid and fell in love. He told me I was smothering him and wanted to broaden his horizons. I have no idea what that means but he shut me out of his life after and I was completely heartbroken. So, as much as I liked last night, I wouldn't want to just jump into a relationship either."
Becky sighed in relief. "Good. Good. I'm glad that's out of t'e way. But it doesn't mean we still can' hang out. Like, if you wanna go get breakfast at Vega's instead of sittin' in 'ere and gettin' glared at by Sasha."
Natalya grinned. "I would like that, Becky. We'll just have to run over to my apartment so I can change. I live in Flair just up the street."
Becky nodded. "Sure. And with this formal t'ing comin' up, maybe we go together since we're a couple of 'eartbroken losers."
Natalya smiled again. "That sounds really great, but I already agreed to go with Jason Jordan. He's trying to make some girl and his buddy jealous. I don't really care what he's doing. So I decided to let him take me just because I hadn't been to a Greek formal before."
Becky smiled and nodded, though she was a bit disappointed that she still didn't have a date. Hopefully she wouldn't have to make a last minute ditch effort to bring someone from her soccer team or a random lady from the bar. Even attending by herself seemed better at this point, but Becky didn't want her to be shown up by Sasha if she had a didn't while Becky didn't.
"But," Natalya cooed with a seductive grin. "We can have today. And tomorrow, if you want. And whenever you feel lonely..." The blonde woman's left hand gently slid up Becky's leg. Her fingertips carefully entered her panties and Becky's breath hitched in her throat.
"Not with 'er 'ere," Becky whispered, nodding at the door. "She'd 'ave a fit if she heard us. I'll take you up on that shower at your place though."
Natalya pressed her lips against Becky's neck. "And Vega's afterwards?"
"Yes, lass," Becky shivered as Natalya took her hand back.
Natalya stood up and waited while Becky threw on a pair of pajama bottoms and collected an outfit for the day. They shared one more steamy kiss before leaving the room again. Sasha stared daggers at both women when they moved past her position, but her hateful gaze softened and nearly filled with tears when she saw the outfit tucked under Becky's arm.
Sasha swallowed hard and bitterly chuckled to herself when the front door shut.
"Fucking bitch…" Sasha whispered under her breath.
How dare Becky get over her that fast? After she was the one that broke Sasha's heart too?
"Fuck you, Bex," Sasha stormed into her room and picked up her phone. She dialed a number… a BOY'S number and quietly recited what she was going to tell him.
"Yello?"
"Hey, Xavier, what's up?" Sasha spoke to the boy she met up with the night before. "Hope I wasn't too much of a bitch last night."
"Hey, girl. No, it's cool. Everyone gets a little crazy when they've been drinking. I'm a little bummed out I didn't get some but it is what it is."
Sasha chuckled. "Well, I was hoping you'd still tolerate me long enough to take me to the BPO/ZBZ formal thing? I don't really have a date and you were a sweetheart last night. I'll pay for dinner to make up for me acting like a jerk."
Xavier snickered. "Again, girl, you ain't gotta apologize. But I will accept the honor to take you to the formal. Me and the boys have suits we've been waiting to show off to the rest of the SU universe and it wouldn't hurt if I had some eye candy on my arm."
"I'll more than happily be your eye candy, Woods. Just don't get too handsy like you were last night. Maybe a little handsy, but that's all."
"Was I… Oh, I see you, Sash. Don't worry, I'll be a perfect gentleman for you. Can't wait to see what you wear."
Sasha hung up the phone after saying goodbye. She smiled, both for securing a date to the formal and possibly moving forward in her plan to get over her ex.
Sasha went to put her phone down, but she unlocked it after getting a text notification.
"'Hey, Sash,'" Sasha read the latest text from Chad Gable. "'If I take you to formal, can I have that sweet ass again?' Are you fucking kidding me, Chad?"
Sasha typed back a fiery rejection and set her phone down. Breakfast was her next concern, regardless of how many people were trying to get with her.
Alexa had known for weeks that she owed Molly Holly a return visit to Barnum to set up the next "after school program" preview day. She'd known since the last event, as a matter of fact. But the events of the last couple of weeks had driven that appointment to the back of the tiny blonde's overworked mind.
She'd never traded her dad his Ford Ranger back. She smiled wryly at the notion that as a result, that he was still driving her tiny sports car around Columbus, Ohio. Her heart fluttered slightly as she thought of her mom and dad back home. They texted back and forth often, and had even begun talking on the phone on Sunday evenings, but Alexa would've been lying if she said there wasn't a void in her life that could only be filled by a visit from her parents.
For now, the tiny forlorn pixie was content to eat up the horizon in front of her, four wheels humming gently on the newly re-paved roads leading across Stamford. She missed the kids. She did. Especially Hadleigh, who Alexa had imprinted as something of a little sister. She was just dreading the slow, relentless melancholy that came with spending any substantial time with children since she'd lost her sweet Alofa.
The next few minutes seemed to disappear. Alexa had no recollection of driving for several miles before finally arriving at her destination. P.T. Barnum Elementary had been such a source of joy in the past. Her connection with Ms. Holly and the children in her class was one of the most important things in her life. Until she'd lost her own child. For whatever reason, the first visit after the miscarriage carried more numbness than pain. If Alexa had to guess, it was because her grief hadn't fully sunken in yet.
She checked in at the school's front office, as was policy, and slowly trudged her way down to the oasis of utter joy that housed Ms. Holly's class. Filled to the brim with friendly, exuberant 6 and 7 year olds, all twenty-plus of them turned their heads to the door in unison, bright grins springing from their faces in unison upon the sight of their favorite visitor.
"Miss Alexa!" They cried, almost in unison. A few kids started to spring to their feet, ready to bum-rush their guest, but the vigilant Ms. Holly firmly reminded them of a talk they must've had earlier in the day. Instead, they simply waited for the "go ahead" from their teacher, who rolled her eyes at how "extra" her students were being.
"Okay," Ms. Holly, "everyone break into your partners. I want you to look at your worksheet and write down the correct time based on where the hands are on your clock pictures. Does everyone understand?"
"Yes Ms. Holly," was the almost unanimous answer. The tiny humans began working with the student directly across from them. After observing for a minute or two, Ms. Holly gestured quickly for Alexa to meet her at her desk.
"Hi!" Molly greeted, quietly but excitedly. "How are you?"
Alexa shrugged. "Okay. I've hit a 'down' cycle with my depression, I think. I didn't really notice it until today. I guess because I was in paradise last week for spring break and I've been super busy since we got back. I think I'm just tired. A little sad." Alexa rubbed her hand over her brow briefly and re-composed herself. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ramble. How are you?"
Ms. Holly offered a comforting pat to Alexa's shoulder. It almost unnerved Alexa how reassuring she found the woman's presence. "I'm fine, Alexa. Overworked and underpaid, but that's what I signed up for, right?"
Alexa gave off a wry snicker. "Yeah. I guess. Me too, one day."
Ms. Holly nodded. "You're going to be a fantastic teacher. You really connected with these kids almost instantly. That's actually why I asked you to come out here."
Alexa tilted her head, confused. "I thought you called me out here to talk about the After School Program kickoff for April?"
Molly nodded. "I did, and we can talk about that, too, but I really needed you to come out here and maybe talk to Hadleigh a bit."
The tiny blonde's face washed over with concern. "Is she okay?"
Molly shrugged. "Physically she's fine. Her foster mom…" She trailed off, lowering the volume of her voice. "Her foster mom just found out she has cancer. It's not life-threatening, yet, but Hadleigh seems to be convinced that her 'new mom' is gonna die and leave her just like her birth mom did."
The pit of Alexa's stomach fell into her shoe. "That's the saddest thing I've ever heard."
Ms. Holly nodded again, a sad half smile betraying her concern. "I know." The teacher glanced back into the room, making sure her pupils were staying atop their assigned tasks. Turning back toward Alexa, she continued. "She's such a sweet kid, and she's already been through so much..." Molly paused to wipe a stray tear from her eye. "Do you mind just talking to her for a bit?"
Alexa shook her head, tearing up herself. "Not even a little bit. Should I go back in there, or-"
Molly cut her off gently, raising a hand. "I'll go get her. When she gets out here, take her down the hall that way-" Molly pointed toward the opposite end of the hallway as Alexa had come down. "There's a corner area where the hall expands and kind of becomes this little room. There's couches, kleenex, whatever. We call it our 'bad day corner'."
Alexa giggled. "That's a good idea."
Molly smiled. "Yeah, we use it a lot. These are all great kids, but they all have days when their emotions get the better of them. They can go, and a counselor can meet them down there."
With that, Ms. Holly excused herself from the conversation, before returning to her classroom. A few seconds later, Hadleigh came bounding from her class, her serious expression springing into a bright smile when she saw that Alexa was waiting just for her.
"Miss Alexa!" Hadleigh exclaimed, though she quickly checked the volume of her voice.
"Hi, sweetpea!" Alexa greeted in response. In spite of the depression she'd been wallowing in, Hadleigh's abject joy at seeing her did slightly lift Alexa's spirits.
"Did you come to see me?"
Alexa put on her brightest grin and nodded. "Well, I came to see everyone, but-" she stooped down to Hadleigh's eye level, shielding her lips with her hand as though she were letting the tiny girl in on a big secret. "I came to see you the most."
Hadleigh grinned, a big, genuine, toothy grin. Alexa noticed that one of her front teeth was missing, which only added to the cuteness factor.
"Sweetpea," Alexa continued, offering Hadleigh her hand. "Miss Holly said you might be sad and want to talk about your feelings. Would it be okay if you talked with me?"
Hadleigh nodded, though she didn't respond audibly. Alexa quietly led the little girl down the hallway to the area designated as the "bad day corner." Sure enough, there was an open area in the hallway with two couches, a small table with kleenex, children's magazines, and a few coloring books.
Alexa took a seat beside Hadleigh on one of the sofas. Hadleigh didn't say anything for the longest time. Alexa wanted her to talk, but she knew how little kids worked. If they were pressured into talking about something that happened, they were going to be less than willing to discuss what's on their minds.
Instead of diving straight away into her troubles, Alexa turned the conversation away from home life. "So, how's school going? I can see you already lost a baby tooth."
The tiny child's face lit up. "I did, Miss Alexa! It finally fell out two days ago! The tooth fairy gave me ten dollars."
"Oh, wow," Alexa stated with a chuckle. "The tooth fairy must love you."
Hadleigh nodded proudly. "Yep. That's what my foster mommy said…" As the words left her mouth, her bright smile quickly faded and her bottom lip quivered.
Alexa's heart split in half. Seeing the bundle of joy that was usually so upbeat and happy to be alive so distraught over something, anything really, was just so much to handle.
"Miss Holly told me about your mom," Alexa said, scooching closer to the child. "I'm so sorry that's happening. But you know she'll be ok, right? Doctors can help her get better."
Hadleigh's eyes started to water, which only made Alexa feel ten times worse. "But sometimes they don't. Cancer is scary, Miss Alexa."
"It really is, hun, but that's why you have to stay positive. Your foster mom needs a lot of love and support. Especially from you. You need to stay happy and make her laugh and give her lots of hugs."
Hadleigh looked to Alexa, her curious eyes searching for answers in the older girl that she didn't have. "Can you be my new mommy?"
Alexa's breath hitched. "What?"
Hadleigh hugged Alexa's arm. "I don't want my mommy to go away, but can you be my mommy if she does?"
Alexa's heart imploded. Her eyes immediately filled with tears. All things regarding the miscarriage had been tucked deep inside the entire day, but this little girl asking her to be her mom finally broke the levey on the river of dread and dispair. Alexa should've seen this coming the minute she saw the little girl hurry for her and smile as though nothing could be wrong in the world.
"Can you?" Hadleigh repeated.
Alexa covered her mouth to silence a sob. Just as she was on the verge of losing it, Miss Holly rounded the corner to join them. Alexa stood up from the couch, keeping her mouth covered and her breathing as normal as possible.
"Is everything ok?" Miss Holly asked.
Alexa shook her head. "I gotta go. I'm sorry, but I need to leave."
Leaving both little Hadleigh and Miss Holly in a world of confusion of worry, Alexa hurried for the nearest exit. In fact, she didn't stop to say anything or watch the little ones interact with one another. Alexa just made a beeline for her car and didn't stop for air until she was sitting behind the steering wheel.
Alexa gasped, taking in a deep intake of oxygen and letting her tears fall as much as they needed to. That tiny voice and that tiny frame wrapped around her arm just reminded Alexa of how close she was at being a little girl's mommy before it was crudely ripped from her. It wasn't Hadleigh's fault and Alexa hated to think that the little girl somehow blamed herself for anything awful in this world, whether or not it was her fault.
"I'm sorry," Alexa cried, resting a hand over her stomach before remembering December and pulling it away.
Taking a second to regain her composure, Alexa mustered up enough strength and courage to start the car and pull out of the driveway. She was going back to Dean's. What she was going to do there, Alexa didn't know yet, but she needed to get these horrible thoughts out of her head as quickly as possible.
By early afternoon, Roman was starting to think that Ronda didn't want to speak to him at all after the events of the night prior.
Roman texted and tried calling Ronda all day, but she didn't reply or answer his calls. Roman tried his best, but it was to no avail.
Leaving his last class for the day, Roman couldn't shake the feeling that Ronda was furious at him. It was his fault that they kissed last night. Granted, he didn't hate that it happened. He'd been thinking about it for most of the day. Then again, maybe he did something else and she wasn't even worried about the kiss and Roman actually did something bad.
Sighing heavily, Roman decided to make one more call.
Six rings and voicemail. This time, Roman left a message. "Hey, Ronda, it's Roman. Just wanted to see if you could talk. Last night was a little awkward… not in a bad way. I just think we should discuss some things. Maybe I'll see you later."
Shaking his head at his own lack of casual capabilities when making phone calls, Roman tucked his phone away and headed to Roadie's, where he figured Ronda would be if she wasn't on campus.
AJ wouldn't sit still. She needed someone to talk to if she was going to make it out of today. Her eyes were all but dried out at this point from how much she cried. Her lungs burned, her voice was shot, and her cheeks were now a deep maroon.
"Please pick up, Lexi," AJ begged the phone as it kept ringing. "Please… PLEASE…"
Alexa, for her own part, was downing her third bottle of beer as she drunkenly swayed to the pop music blaring through the television speakers. High off her rocker on Molly and slowly succumbing to the effects of Dean's alcohol supply was surely the cure she needed for her sudden sadness when she was at Barnum Elementary earlier in the day.
In one hand was her beer, the other was her phone. Alexa flipped through photos of the ultrasound images when she was still pregnant with Alofa. Alexa's chemical and alcohol induced state refused to let the sadness and anger bubble to the surface. She was as happy as she could be at the moment, but it was really thanks to AJ's supply of drugs.
"AJ, you would've been beautiful," Alexa slurred, staring at the still image of her baby's photo. "Dean's handsomeness and my… goddessness would've made you the most visually stunning person to ever exist." She chuckled to herself. "But is that how things work in the world? Of fucking course not! They just get shittier and shittier!"
Alexa cackled wildly and polished off her beer. She hurried to the fridge and quickly put away a fourth. Alexa almost threw up in the sink, but she caught herself and took a fifth ice cold bottle from the fridge and smartly decided to drink this one slower.
AJ hung up and tried again; She was sent to voicemail right away. AJ tried calling Alexa again; Still nothing.
"Please," AJ begged with tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry about everything, Lexi. Just please talk to me!"
Alexa had already set her phone to "do not disturb" mode so all calls would be sent straight to voicemail. She had absolutely no idea that her best friend was having a mental breakdown and trying to get her attention. Alexa's only focus was a home movie of her walking around in her underwear with her stomach stuck out for her future husband to admire.
"Damn, babe," Dean said behind the camera. "You two look great. I love your ass in those panties."
Alexa flipped him off playfully with a laugh. "Get it out while you can, baby. You can't say that in front of Alofa when she gets here."
"When she gets here?" Alexa laughed as she stumbled into the kitchen counter.
The atmosphere of the situation finally hit Alexa so hard that it broke through the ecstasy and beer. She dropped her phone and covered her mouth as the tears finally started to trickle down her cheeks. She fell to her knees, leaning against the island for support.
"When she gets here," Alexa repeated, shaking her head. "When… when… WHEN she gets here…"
Alexa laughed mockingly at herself. She swigged more beer and tried to get herself back to her feet to dance, but the video continued playing and made her stop.
"Fuck you for wanting something in life," Alexa yelled at her past self with her words slurring and stumbling off her lips. "You wanted to be a mom? TOO FUCKING BAD!"
Alexa shut the screen off and carelessly tossed her phone on the counter. While AJ screamed at the top of her lungs, Alexa inhaled more beer and turned the music up louder.
Roman stepped into Roadie's finally. He inhaled deeply through his nose, taking in the scent of fryer grease and vodka. Across the room, serving a drink to a lone woman, was the girl he'd been trying to get ahold of all day. Ronda was too consumed in her work to notice the towering man enter the bar, or even cross the floor and take a seat.
Ronda moved in his direction while cleaning off a glass. "Hi, what can I get…" She looked up and her voice died in her throat.
"Hey," Roman replied with a slight smirk.
"Roman…" Ronda said. She cleared her throat and tried to make it less obvious how flustered she was. "Uh, hey. What can I do for you?"
"Do you normally ignore guys after you kiss them?"
Ronda dropped her head. "I've read your texts. I'm sorry, I just… I got caught up in the moment…"
Roman leaned across the bar. "Ronda. Relax. It's ok. I'm not mad at you. I just honestly didn't see that coming."
Ronda sighed. "I do really need to get an order from you. Road Dogg is cracking down a little during the day. I guess numbers are down or something."
"How about a blowjob? And a rootbeer," Roman smirked when Ronda gave him a half-serious dirty look.
"You're such a charmer," Ronda kidded, prepping the drink for her friend.
"Anyway," Roman said, taking the conversation back. "Don't worry. It's no big deal. You don't need to be embarrassed."
Ronda shook her head. "Still. That wasn't really the time to do it."
"Would you feel better if I said I wanted to kiss you back?"
Ronda nearly dropped the can of whipped cream but she luckily caught it before it hit the floor.
"Really?" She asked.
Roman nodded. "Last night, when we were talking about formal, I thought about doing it. But I didn't because we were at a party with a bunch of drunk people. Didn't feel like the time."
Ronda smirked. "When would be the time then?"
"Formal. Dancing. When we have a moment to ourselves."
Ronda rolled her eyes. "You're too much. Not every first kiss has to have the Disney touch to it. I'm not a girly girl in case you haven't noticed."
"I have. And I that's one of the reasons why I like you."
Ronda handed Roman his shot and started to fill a glass with his requested soda. "I like you too, Roman. Clearly. You're really sweet and I like tall guys with tattoos. I wouldn't hate it if we hung out more after the formal thing."
"Would you be ok with taking things slow at first?" Roman asked. "I don't want to jump into things. I know I like you, but Charlotte-"
"Dude, now you're making it weird," Ronda chuckled. "If the night of formal is too weird then we don't have to date. I'm fine with that. I just think we should at least go together and see what happens. Maybe you'll get laid and realize I'm not as cool as you think I am."
"Maybe you'll fall in love with me," Roman replied coolly.
Ronda chuckled. "Good luck getting me to do that. I, unlike someone, don't fall that easily."
"Ouch. But, just to be clear, everything's ok?"
Ronda nodded. "Sure. If you don't make things weirder than they need to be, then yeah. I'll be your date to formal. I still gotta buy a dress, which I suck at… do you think Dean's fiancee and that Bayley girl can take me dress shopping?"
"I don't see why not," Roman stated. "Bayley would drop anything to do that. Alexa too, if you asked. Plus Bayley is gushing over her wedding in July, so she'll probably talk about that nonstop, fair warning."
Ronda smirked. "That doesn't sound too awful… Thanks for not making things weird."
"Thanks for the blowjob," Roman joked, taking the shot.
"Be a gentleman and there will be more in your future," Ronda joked, making Roman smile.
"I will take another though. Had a test today and it sucked hard."
Ronda nodded and started prepping another drink. She blushed, but angled herself away from Roman so he didn't see.
Dean didn't put two and two together at first when he heard the music of Kane Brown blaring down the hall the second he stepped off the elevator onto his floor. But it started to dawn on him that Alexa may be having a bad day when the music only got louder as he neared room six-oh-four.
"What the hell?" Was Dean's first impression of seeing his wife-to-be dancing wildly in the living room with a bottle of beer being used as a microphone.
The blonde pixie hadn't noticed her fiance enter the room and close the door. She was too far into her own little world to really notice anything. She continued dancing around the room, using her newest beer as a makeshift mic.
"Babe?" Dean tried yelling over the music. No dice. He simply shrugged and checked Alexa's phone. "That explains why you didn't read any of my texts or answer when I called," he commented to himself, seeing the 'do not disturb' logo at the top of her phone. Dean reactivated the phone and set it aside for a minute.
"Fuck, I love this song!" Alexa yelled. She tilted her head back and chugged the remainder of her bottle. She giggled as some of the ice cold beverage foamed and spilled down her chin. Alexa wiped herself with the back of her hand.
Dean felt Alexa's phone rumble on the countertop. Her phone screen lit up with at least three dozen unread calls and texts from both himself and AJ.
"AJ?" Dean thought to himself. He took out his own phone and messaged Seth.
Can you check on AJ? She's being weird.
Why me?
Because she's not my concern right now and you're my bitch
Fuck you, dude
Seriously. Check on her.
Fine. Whatever
"Baby!" Alexa exclaimed at her fiance. She stumbled over to Dean's spot in the kitchen and threw her arms around his shoulders. "I'm so happy you're here! I'm having a one-person karaoke party and it sucks with just me!"
Dean flinched at the sheer smell of Alexa's breath. "Wow, you are super fucking drunk. How many beers have you had?"
Alexa giggled. "Eight… I think."
"Eight? It's Thursday, babe. That's a bit much, don't you think? And that's coming from me."
Alexa slapped Dean on the chest. "Don't be such a party pooper, babe. Grab a beer and have fun with me."
Dean turned the volume down on the TV. "How about we relax for a second and not get evicted from my dorm, huh?"
Alexa leaned over the counter. "Oh? Would you rather do something else? I am feeling a little feisty today."
Dean took note of the size of Alexa's pupils and frowned. "Uh, you mentioned going to Barnum today. How was that?"
Alexa rolled her eyes. "Don't even want to talk about that. That's the reason I'm throwing a party."
"Did something happen?"
Alexa chuckled dryly. "What do you mean? Surrounding myself with small children, little girls especially, was the perfect idea after losing mine. Right?"
"Babe-"
"No, it's fine," Alexa started tearing up. "Everything's fine. My life is great. I love going every day without feeling my daughter inside me. It's awesome. I didn't want to be a mom anyway. Checkups and buying baby clothes and being up all night with cramps and throwing up just to have it thrown away because my ex decided to show up and fuck my life up one more time. Totally worth it, babe."
Dean cleared his throat, trying to stay level headed and not succumbing to his own tears. "Look, Lex. Just take a second-"
"I know what you're gonna say, Dean. And yeah, getting high as the fucking moon probably isn't the best way to help with what goes through my head but it's better than being fucking sad all the time. Do you know what it's like to have someone that you carried around inside you fucking die? Do you? Because I don't think you do!"
Dean dropped his head but kept silent.
"I actually thought this was going to be the happy ending everyone was talking about. After I was beaten, and berated endlessly, and raped by my ex, everyone told me that this big, awesome happy ending was coming for me. Well, where the fuck is it? I meet the guy of my dreams, he proposes, we're going to be parents and everything seemed like it was going to be just fine. But then we just had to get a fucking cake for a girl I don't even like half the time and what happens? Adam shows up and pushes me down and Alofa fucking dies."
Dean scratched his chin, inhaling deeply through his nose as tears finally fell.
Alexa chuckled. "You wanna know the best part, babe? That was it. That was the only fucking chance I had at being a mom. I didn't want to tell you because I couldn't look at you and figure out a way to not break your heart… the miscarriage took a lot out of me. Because of what Adam did, both times, I literally cannot bear a child. It'll take a fucking miracle at this point. But I can't have your kids, Dean."
Dean's brow furrowed. "What? When did you find that out?"
"Right before I got on the plane to Cabo. That's why I got fucked up all week. I didn't want to think about having to tell you. I had no idea how to do it. How am I supposed to go from, 'I can't wait to be a mom' to, 'I have to bury my unborn daughter' to, 'wait, fuck, now I can't have kids because God has it out for me'."
"Babe, God doesn't have it out for y-"
"Then how do you explain it?!" Alexa exclaimed, slamming her beer bottle on the kitchen island but not breaking it. "How else do you explain the bullshit? The fucking bullshit I've put up with since I was fifteen. I almost die, then I come here and, oh look, almost fucking die again. And now I can't even have your kids, Dean. What's the point of even living?"
Dean rounded the counter. "Stop talking like that."
Alexa backpedaled away from Dean. "Don't you fucking come near me."
"Babe, come here."
"No!"
Alexa threw her beer at Dean but missed. Dean grabbed the small woman and held her tight against his chest. Alexa wildly thrashed against his grip, slapping and hitting his arms and back as she tried fighting away from him.
"Let me go, you fucking asshole!" Alexa screamed.
"Alexa, stop," Dean begged, holding her as tightly as humanly possible. "Please stop."
Alexa threw a weaker punch into Dean's side. She burst into tears and loud sobs and buried her face in Dean's chest.
"I got you," Dean whispered. "We'll be ok, Lex. You know better than saying that shit."
"Why do you still want me, Dean?" Alexa whimpered. "I'm so fucking broken and-and-and…"
Dean hushed his beloved. "It's ok, Lex. Just breathe. I'm not going anywhere. Goddammit, I told you hell or high water a thousand times. I mean that. Babies or no babies."
"But I want to have your babies," Alexa cried.
"I know you do, and I want you to have my babies." The boy began rubbing Alexa's back slowly. "We'll figure something out," he stepped back. He cradled Alexa's teary cheeks in his hands softly. "I told you, you're stuck with me like herpes."
Alexa chuckled tearfully. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't let it get to me anymore. It's stupid to get so emotional."
"You're allowed to be emotional about this," Dean assured. "We lost our daughter. It still keeps me up at night that I didn't crush Adam's head in with my boot."
Alexa clung to Dean again. "No! Then I wouldn't have you around. I definitely couldn't make it if you went away."
Dean planted a kiss on the top of her head. "I'm staying right here. Forever."
Alexa wiped her eyes as the hug disbanded. "You sure you don't want to get fucked up with me?"
Dean chuckled. "How about some more beer, less Molly, and some of the 'good shit' I bought from Bray?"
Alexa shrugged. "I guess that works."
Dean wiped the tears away from Alexa's eyes with his thumbs. "Please don't make me sing."
Alexa grinned. "You are now!" Her smile suddenly faded and she sighed. "What the hell are we going to do about kids?"
Dean placed the gentlest of kisses to Alexa's lips. "We'll figure it out. Whether we adopt or try that thing where they take your stuff and mix it with mine in a petri dish and hope for the best."
"Dr Sinclair says that may not work," Alexa said.
"It's worth a shot, right?" Dean figured. "We can't try every other option and skip this one thing because of how much it'll cost or whatever. As long as you're willing to try, I'll keep trying to shoot kids in you like you're a high school and I'm a-"
"Don't. Just don't," Alexa rolled her eyes as Dean laughed. "You're for sure singing now, jackass. Whether you like it or not."
Alexa picked a song while Dean popped open himself a fresh beer. He put two away in quick order and opened a third. Alexa smiled and clapped with glee when Dean pulled out her baby blue bong from under the sink and shook his head slowly.
"Thank you for putting up with me," Alexa said with a sad laugh.
"Ditto," Dean sighed, chugging his beer and joining the blonde pixie in the living room.
AJ was on the phone with the last person she wanted to talk to right now. Of all the people in the world, why did it have to be this person?
"AJ, slow down," Seth spoke into the phone as he pulled up outside AJ's apartment building. "Dude, chill. Tell me what's going on."
"It doesn't matter, Seth," AJ cried. "Nothing fucking matters anymore."
Seth hurried behind someone entering the apartment to get in without a key. "Ok. At least tell me where you are."
"Don't worry about where I am."
"Well, I can hear cars in the background, and you already said you were at your apartment, so…" Seth didn't know AJ's apartment number and it didn't seem like she was going to tell him.
"I'm… why do you care?"
Seth sighed. "Because you're my friend, AJ. Dean told me something was wrong and I tried to play it cool but I was freaking the fuck out. I feel like we bonded in Cabo and I don't want to see you in pain, ok?"
AJ didn't answer for a minute. Seth held his breath waiting for her to say anything.
"We did a little more than that, lover boy," AJ said with a laugh. "Fuck… that was the last time I was happy with someone who wasn't Dana... or Lexi…"
"Right? We had some fun. Remember under the dock?"
"You got lucky once, dick face."
"Only once?"
AJ paused for a minute. "I'm on the roof."
Seth's heart dropped. "What?"
"I'm on the roof, Seth. Take the elevator to the fourth floor and take the fire escape at the back of the hall. The alarm broke, like, twenty years ago so everyone comes up here to get high."
Seth took off down the hall and rode the elevator. He bolted up the hall the second the doors parted and burst through the metal door at the end of the hallway. He quickly scaled the fire escape until he reached the roof. Seth's stomach did a somersault with his knees wobbling from seeing how far up he was, then saw the troubled small woman perched near the edge of the building.
Seth inched closer to AJ. The tiny girl looked up at him and smiled gently.
"Howdy, slim dick," AJ said. "Wanna take a seat?"
Seth chuckled uneasily and sat crossed legged next to AJ. "I'm a little scared of heights, AJ."
AJ smirked. "Me too. But I don't really care about anything right now."
Seth had to close his eyes to keep from looking down at the concrete below him. Just the thought of slipping and plummeting to his doom made his stomach sick.
"Why are you trying to get Alexa's attention?" Seth asked, turning to look at AJ.
AJ shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Nothing fucking matters."
"Did something happen?" Seth asked.
AJ scoffed. "Fucking obviously. Why else would I be three seconds from swan diving off the roof of my apartment building?"
"Please don't," Seth begged. "AJ, seriously. Don't do anything crazy like that."
"Why?" AJ snapped. "Why do you care?"
Seth shrugged. "Well, who else will make my life a living hell? Who else is going to make fun of my dick? Who else is going to eat rare steak and ice cream sundaes with me?"
AJ shook her head. "Don't sweet talk me now, Seth… but those are good points."
Seth slid closer to AJ. She gave him the dirtiest of looks he'd ever gotten, but she slid close to him and fed her fingers through his.
AJ took a deep breath. "My dad passed away this morning."
"What?" Seth asked in surprise.
"My fucking dad died," AJ spat bitterly, her eyes welling with tears again. "He had a stroke in his sleep and no one came to help him until he was late getting his meds. He was dead for hours before they even cared to check his room. My fucking father does not deserve to go out like that!"
AJ burst fully into tears. Seth, taking a chance, pulled AJ in for a hug. AJ felt like driving a blade into Seth's ribcage, but she instead clung to him tightly and cried into his shoulder.
Seth hadn't had anything tragic like death happen in his life. His parents being divorced but still living together was about as rough as it got for him, but nothing as heavy as having a loved one die.
"I'm so sorry, AJ," Seth said. "He sounded like a badass from what you told me."
AJ giggled. "He was. He was so fucking cool… I want him to come back, Seth."
"I know, AJ."
"I have to go tomorrow to claim the body and figure out what I want to do with him," AJ shook her head. "That sounds so fucking morbid. 'Figure out what to do with him'. He was my dad. There's nobody in the world that will ever compare to him. He was the only person in the world that gave a shit about me."
"I do," Seth stated, staring out over the horizon and feeling his legs shake. "Dana does. Alexa and Dean do. All of us in that fucked up group of misfits care. Becky probably does."
AJ sat up. "I'm kinda tired of crying and wanting to die. Do you just wanna head to my place and get wasted?"
Seth grinned. "If that will make you feel better, then yes."
AJ and Seth stood up and moved away from the edge of the building. AJ threw her arms around Seth again.
"Thanks for giving a shit," AJ said.
"Of course," Seth replied, adding a kiss to AJ's forehead.
The two young adults made their way back to the first floor. AJ led the way outside and around the building to the back that Seth thought was the entrance to a basement at first, but it was actually the only entrance to AJ's apartment.
"Oh, wow," Seth said, looking at the painting of Dana and AJ hung up on her wall. "That's very… wow."
AJ offered Seth a can of cheap beer. "You like it? I had two, but I sold one to buy a ticket to Italy so I could hate fuck Dana. Apparently girl-on-girl paintings go for a lot in the art world."
Seth did admit to himself that it was a sexy painting. AJ and Dana tangled up in each other with their lips locked.
"Yeah, it's nice," Seth sat on the sofa and sipped at his beer. "So, what do you want to do? Whatever you want, man. Watch a movie… play video games… make fun of me…"
AJ pulled her top over her head and dropped in on the floor behind her.
Seth swallowed hard. "Or… or that…"
AJ straddled Seth's lap. "I'm in pain," she slowly kissed his lips. "I don't know what else to do when I'm in pain."
"We could drink," Seth kissed AJ again. "Get high," he kissed her again. "I could fuck you…"
"I like that idea more…" AJ whispered, reaching her hands back to unclip her bra.
"Me too," Seth kissed the tiny minx back. "I'm sorry about your dad. Really, I am."
"Thanks, fuck face," AJ held Seth's hands and set them over her chest. "Now shut the fuck up and make me feel something."
Seth rolled AJ to the far end of the couch and planted a kiss on her lips. AJ, starting to lose focus on why she was sad, shivered at the cool air dancing across her perky chest and, with Seth pulling her jeans off her shapely legs as well.
Zack and Bayley's wedding planning was a few short decisions from finally being complete. A few final calls on color schemes and trying to explain to Bayley that it would be scientifically impossible to wheel out a giant ice cream wedding cake in the summer in sunny Orlando, Florida.
Zack sat on the couch with the wedding planner open on the coffee table. Bayley was sipping on a can of 7-Up, trying to ease a stomach ache she'd been having all morning. The sudden sickness came out of nowhere, but the couple concluded it must've been a case of undercooked food from dinner the night before.
"My dad says everything should be all ready to go by the wedding," Zack announced loud enough so Bayley could hear him. "So, if you're having second thoughts, tell me now so my dad doesn't spend all this money for nothing."
Bayley shuffled into the room, cradling her stomach, rolling her eyes. "Zack, you are one hundred percent my dream husband. I wouldn't want to marry anyone in the universe besides you."
Zack sat Bayley in his lap and kissed her cheek. "I know. I just like hearing you say it."
Bayley rested her weary head on Zack's shoulder. Her fiance fiddled with the diamond ring on her finger and offered another kiss to her cheek.
"Tummy still feeling like crap?" Zack asked.
"Swear," Bayley pecked Zack's lips. "And yeah. I have no idea what I ate that messed it up. Do you think they undercooked my chicken alfredo?"
Zack shrugged. "They might've."
"But they never do that. And it didn't seem different than usual."
"Maybe you're slowly turning into Spider-Girl and this is the first process."
Bayley giggled. "Spider-Girl? No, Zack, I'm Wonder Woman. Remember?"
Zack nodded. "How could I forget? Will she be appearing during our honeymoon?"
Bayley's cheeks tinted a light shade of rose. "That's possible. Do you think you'll remember to pack your running shorts?" As she said that, the previously purely innocent hugger groped her soon to be husband over his sweatpants.
Zack grunted. "Are you sure you're ok? Throwing up and wanting to make love all the time? Maybe you are turning into a superhero."
"I think it's the wedding," Bayley figured. "Marrying the love of my life has me so nervous that I'm getting sick, but so excited to be Bayley Ryder that I want to be around you as often as possible."
Bayley slid her tongue through Zack's lips and pulled his head close with her right hand. Her left hand untied the drawstring on his pants and freed his stiffening member.
"Jesus, babe," Zack said with a chuckle as Bayley left his lap and settled on her knees. "I can't wait to see what you'll do when we're really married."
Bayley pulled her fiance's pants down to his ankles. She burst into a fit of giggles upon seeing Zack's thingy again that week and firmly gripped it with both hands.
Bayley leaned in to begin her oral stimulation, but a sudden sick feeling filled her gut and she took off for the restroom again.
"Babe?" Zack called after Bayley. "I… I showered an hour ago."
"You're fine!" Bayley yelled between sessions of getting sick into the toilet.
Zack shrugged and pulled his pants back up. He filled a glass with water and joined his beloved in the bathroom. Bayley thanked him for his kindness and rinsed out her mouth. Zack sat beside her and cuddled with his woman, giving her a soft kiss to the top of her head.
All things considered, with all they talked about in the last few hours, being high with his fiancee was probably the happiest he'd been since December. Alexa giggled loudly at just about anything Dean had to say. That was probably the weed talking, but he was just happy to see her smile.
"And then I was like…" Dean paused for dramatic effect. "Fuck!"
Alexa rolled around on the floor, clutching at her sides. It had been the best trip Dean had ever seen his beloved on. All smiles and laughs, not a care in the world. It warmed his soul to see it, even if it was going to fade as the drugs left her system.
"I… I can't breathe!" Alexa gasped, her face beet red with her infectious laughter filling the room.
When Dean and Alexa first settled in, they discussed their past and the impending future. Alexa admitted she didn't know if she was ever going to feel fully happy again because of losing Alofa. Dean didn't blame her. The loss of their daughter was forever going to leave a hole in his heart as well. Then the conversation switched over to their eventual wedding and lives after SU. Alexa mentioned wanting to teach either back home or in Florida so they could always be close to family. Dean still hadn't fully decided what he wanted to do with his life just yet, but he assured the tiny blonde that he was thinking about his options.
"Maybe I'll be a cop," Dean wondered out loud, leaning against the front of the sofa with Alexa's head resting in his lap.
Alexa snickered. "You? A cop? No offense, babe, but you should never be allowed to carry a gun."
"Why?"
"Because of your temper? I don't want to visit my husband between six and three on weekdays because a jaywalker called him a pig."
Dean shrugged. "You could work an office job in the precinct. I could be the heartthrob detective and you can be the IA lady that's always bitching at me for breaking the rules."
Alexa rolled her eyes. "Let me guess, it ends with you fucking me on my desk?"
"Well, yeah."
Alexa giggled. "Why not a teacher like me? Or maybe a guidance counselor?"
"So I want to kill myself just as much as the students I look after?"
Alexa swatted Dean with her hand. "Hush. My grandma was a guidance counselor. Enough about this stuff. I wanna keep making bad decisions with you."
Dean smirked. "Tracking me down the night of the Labor Day party was the biggest bad decision you ever made."
Alexa sat up. "Maybe you're right. But I wouldn't have seen the kind of god you are in the sack."
Alexa leaned in for a drawn-out kiss. Dean cupped her cheeks and tasted the beer on her lips.
Alexa pecked Dean's neck. "I'll be right back, stud."
Dean watched Alexa stand and start to walk away. "Where are you goin', babe?"
Alexa shrugged and ducked into the bedroom.
Dean let his mind wander again. Luckily that didn't last long, as his phone started rumbling in his pocket. To much of his surprise, Shawn was calling him out of the blue. Dean lowered the volume on the TV and slid the green call button across the screen.
"Shawn, how are you?" Dean greeted the older man.
"Ah, well, just gettin' through some paperwork," Shawn replied. "Figured I'd give you a call to check up on ya. You keepin' out of trouble?"
Dean snickered. "As much as I can these days."
"That's good to hear at least. How's Alexa doing?"
Dean frowned. "She's… been better. We haven't gotten over Alofa yet. I don't think we should or ever will, but it's been hard. She's… coping."
"Coping?" Shawn restated. "How do you mean by that?"
Dean hesitated for a second. "Do you have to report things to the police if I tell you something?"
"No. As long as you haven't killed anyone or stole the Declaration of Independence."
Dean chuckled. "I'd prefer that, actually… No, Lex's been… taking Molly. She uses it with her antidepressants because she says she thinks about the baby too much to make it through the day. So she got high as heck in Cabo during Spring Break. She said she'd stop when we got back to the States, but I came home a bit ago and it's like she spent the day at Coachella."
"The hell is Coachella?"
"I don't actually know."
Shawn sighed. "Well, I've had my fair share of problems with illegal substances and the Devil's brew. I'm sure you've heard my stories a million times."
"Two million, but I know better than to remind you."
"At least you've been paying attention, son. Alexa is going through a terrible spot in life. Obviously that doesn't need to be said. Though I understand why she's doing it, I do think it would be a good idea to try and wean her off the pills. She needs to take the prescriptions, but the Molly needs to go. You understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Drink beer. Smoke weed if you gotta. Use your head. I just don't need to see another life thrown away because of pills and whatnot. I know ecstasy isn't as addictive as some harder things, but you never know. She might try something stronger and get hooked on that."
Dean dreaded to think something like that would happen to Alexa. He watched it happen to his mom over and over, the last thing he needed was another woman in his life to do something like that.
"I get it, Shawn. I'll talk to her. Try to get her to see things our way," Dean promised.
"Good. Well, I need to get back. Hopefully, I'll see you later today and Sunday for service." Shawn said goodbye and hung up the phone.
"Yeah, definitely don't need another Monica in my life," Dean muttered to himself, getting to his feet and heading into the kitchen.
Alexa's purse was left on the kitchen counter. On the top, resting on top of her wallet, was an orange pill bottle and a black film case. Dean took the black container, knowing full well that prescription antidepressants didn't come in film holders.
"Hello," Alexa cooed seductively from the bedroom door, dressed up in her silky lingerie nightie. "I was hoping I'd find you, my sexy… what the hell are you doing?"
Dean raised his hands in front of himself. "Babe, relax. I love you and you know I can't tell you that enough."
"Put it down," Alexa demanded. "Now, Dean. I'm not fucking kidding."
Dean started walking towards the bathroom. Alexa bolted across the room after him.
"Dean Fitafita Ambrose!" Alexa screamed, tailing her fiance. "Give me my pills now!"
"I can't, ok?" Dean popped the top of the bottle and headed for the toilet.
"NO!" Alexa jumped on Dean's back and tried with all her might to pull him back.
Dean, easily carrying Alexa, marched to the porcelain bowl and dumped the blue pills into the water.
"NO!" Alexa screamed again but to no avail. By the time she'd gotten off Dean, he'd already flushed her supply of Molly down the drain.
"Babe-"
"What the fuck is your fucking problem?" Alexa demanded, clutching her fists at her side. "You just can't handle me being happy, can you? Trying to feel better isn't good enough for you?!"
Dean threw the empty canister down. "This is poison. Alexa, you know damn well that getting high on ecstasy isn't helping anyone!"
Alexa slapped Dean across the face. Dean stared at the tiny woman in disbelief. He started to speak, but the furious Bliss rained down hard on him with stiff punches to his face and chest. Dean put up his arms to defend himself, but Alexa didn't stop trying to pummel her fiance.
"FUCK YOU!" Alexa cried, hitting Dean as hard as she could. "YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO! I HATE YOU! I FUCKING HATE YOU!"
Dean took a step back to get out of Alexa's reach, but his foot caught the bath mat and caused him to slip on the slick floor. Alexa watched in horror as Dean fell back and hit his head on the edge of the tub.
"Fuck…" Dean groaned, watching his vision fade completely for a moment before coming back all together but with the overhead lights blinding him.
"Dean?" Alexa quickly knelt beside him, checking to make sure he was ok. He wasn't, she quickly concluded when she felt the cut on the back of his head and saw the blood on her fingertips.
Alexa wasted no time calling for an ambulance. She kept Dean sitting upright against the tub until paramedics arrived to take him to a hospital.
"Were the staples necessary?" Dean asked the doctor checking up on him after he was checked into a room.
The doctor furrowed his brow. "Yes, Mr Ambrose. It was either staple the wounds closed or risk infection. Plus, it should heal well before football season begins."
"What about Spring practice?" Dean asked.
The doctor sighed. "You have a concussion, Dean. I know it's hard to accept that, but you cannot participate in any physical activity for at least two weeks with a concussion."
Dean threw his hands in the air. "Great. That's fucking great."
The doctor excused himself and left the room. Huddled in the corner of the room in a chair, wrapped in Dean's leather jacket, was the quickly sobering Alexa Bliss. Alexa watched her fiance's every move, angered or otherwise, with the extreme worry that he was going to lash out at her for basically causing his injury.
Dean found the tiny woman across the room. His heart broke upon remembering the choice words she had for him in the bathroom. He knew she was probably only saying those things in the heat of the moment, but hearing her usual loving tone using hateful words towards him broke his heart like it hadn't been broken before.
Dean inhaled deeply. "Are we still together?" He asked, taking his gaze away from his fiance because he couldn't look at her if the response was negative.
Alexa's lip quivered. "Why would I leave you?" She quickly hurried to Dean's side. She offered a hug and, shattering her heart into millions of pieces, Dean flinched when her arms reached for him.
Alexa climbed into bed with Dean. The miniature blonde locked her arms around his neck and wept silently into his chest. Dean eased his head back and sighed, trying not to cry again this day.
"You said you hate me," Dean spoke.
"I don't," Alexa mumbled through her tears. "Dean, I don't. I swear to God I love you more than anything."
Dean returned the embrace on his woman. "You tried to beat the shit out of me, Lex."
Alexa shook her head. "And I deserve so much worse for it. I'm so, so, so sorry, Dean. I have no idea how I'm going to fix this."
Dean chuckled dryly. "You could take off that jacket and show me what nature gave you."
Alexa peeked up at her lover. Dean made eye contact with the terrified pixie and gave her the softest of smiles in return. Alexa wiped her eyes on Dean's shirt and sat back on her feet between his legs.
"Do you still wanna marry me?" Alexa asked.
A few tears trickled down Dean's cheeks. "Why the heck else would I propose to you?"
Alexa shrugged. "I'm such a shitty person now."
Dean held tightly onto Alexa's hand. "In sickness and in health, darlin'. You're sick and you need help. No more 'ex', ok? I'm not fucking around about that anymore."
Alexa nodded. "I won't. I'll tell AJ I'm done and I'll just stick to my meds."
"And weed."
Alexa smiled slightly. "If Bray keeps selling, sure."
Dean thumbed away a few rogue tears from Alexa's cheeks. "You do hit like a girl."
Alexa chuckled softly. "I feel so horrible about this. I never should've tried that shit with AJ."
"Well, now you know not to do it anymore. You live and you learn."
"How can you be so forgiving?"
"I've forgiven worse, babe."
Alexa sighed. "I'm just like your-"
"Don't you even fucking dare," Dean cut in. "You are nothing like she is. She would've beaten me until I was black and blue if I flushed her pills. She would've held me down and had her dealer whip me with his belt. You are nothing like my mother."
"She really did that?" Alexa asked.
Dean stared off into the distance. After a moment of silence, he nodded. "A few times."
"Baby…"
"Which is why you're nothing like her," Dean sat up to kiss his wife to be. "You're gonna be my wife. My future baby mama. The mother to my angel baby. You're going to be the love of my life until my life is over. Then we're going to raise hell in heaven and make God wish he sent us downstairs."
Alexa ruffled her fingers through Dean's hair. She gently felt the bandage on the back of his head. Dean winced, but it didn't hurt that much. Alexa counted seven metal pieces stuck in Dean's skull.
"I love you so much," Alexa whispered with more tears spilling from her eyes.
Dean held Alexa close to his chest. "We're going to fix this shit. I promise. It's just going to take some time."
Alexa nodded but didn't respond verbally. Dean kissed the top of her blonde head and sighed deeply.
Seth watched the brunette cheerleader as she slept soundly in her bed. They'd had sex for a few hours, took a break to eat lunch, then continued on like it was Spring Break all over again. AJ mentioned wanting to have a talk with Seth after her nap but she wasn't specific in what she meant by that.
A knock came at the door. Seth hurried to keep whoever was knocking from doing it again and possibly waking AJ. The young man slipped on his jeans and shirt, then headed for the front door.
Seth opened the door. His eyes focused on the visitor and his heart nearly stopped beating in his chest.
"Seth? Hey…"
Seth cracked a grin. "Hey. You chose the craziest time to come back, Dana."