Chapter 3.
Seth sped out of the rental place and began his race towards the Strip. With everyone staying at the Planet Hollywood, he knew Dylan would no doubt be booked in a suite using an alias.
He sat at a machine in the direct eye-line of the elevator leading to the VIP Suite floors. After what seemed like forever, Seth almost shot up when he saw Dylan getting off the elevator, alone. He watched her as she wandered out onto the casino floor, sipping on a large frozen cocktail. He marched over to her making sure his glasses and hat concealed enough of him under his hoodie.
To a stranger, it almost looked like the Unabomber was trying to kidnap a young woman. Seth tugged on her arm, pulling her out of the way of the foot traffic.
"What are you doing down here alone and what are you drinking?" he asked trying to grab the cup. She yanked her arm away and almost stumbled back a bit before she replied.
"What do you care?" She sarcastically mocked him as she walked away. She didn't get very far, as he settled for walking the Strip with her. At least this way he could make sure she wouldn't get in any trouble.
"That's not fair, Dylan. Look, I don't know what Dolph or Sami said to you, but I swear- I'm not lying when I say I don't know what 'the bet' is."
Dylan took a shaky breath before looking away from him embarrassed.
"Th-they said that you… you bet them 5 grand each that you could get me to sleep with you".
Seth stopped and shook his head angrily. He had to get his hands on Dolph. He had it coming.
He pulled her close to him and gently cradled her head. He kissed the top of her head before he looked back down at her.
"Listen dummie, does that even sound like me? You know I wouldn't be so crude… especially when it comes to you." He wiped the fresh tears from her eyes and vowed she'd never have sad tears again.
"I know… but- but- but then Sami-"
"Shhh. It's ok, alright? I'm here… and I'm not going anywhere."
Dylan pulled him down and Seth smiled against her lips before capturing them in a sweet kiss.
"Dude… dude… dude..." Dylan repeated over and over. Only it wasn't her voice; it's was Roman's.
"Dude, get your ass up, we gotta get to the arena." Roman chucked a pillow at Seth whose eyes were beginning to adjust to the light in the room. As he sat up, the realization began to sink in: he was just dreaming.
A week had passed and she was still gone.
Seth tumbled around the ring distracted as Roman growled.
"Snap out of it man, we need to work on this spot for tonight. Where's your head at?!"
Seth rolled out the ring and grabbed a bottle of water. He didn't want to whine about Dylan anymore; lately, it seemed like it was all he had been doing. He decided to push it out of his head for tonight. They'd have a few days off after tonight and right now all he wanted was just to get through tonight's taping.
"Did you see the ring he got her?" Seth overheard a few women chatting at the table next to him. Apparently, someone was engaged. His ears perked up a bit.
"Oh, I saw the ring. And there's no way he actually got it." Alexa Bliss popped a grape in her mouth, smirking as she continued.
"Either she picked it or Vince or Shane gave him the money for it." Seth tried not to make himself seem too obvious and he turned his head to eavesdrop. He knew they couldn't be talking about who he thought they were.
"But I mean, come on! She's only 19! That's like, way too young" Alicia Fox replied as she dipped a carrot stick in some dip and took a bite.
"Please, she gets every little thing she wants, she's way more spoiled than Steph. She's his first granddaughter, his precious angel." Sarcasm dripped from Alexa's voice as she rolled her eyes.
Seth couldn't take anymore. He had to get out of catering before he ripped someone's head off.
He made his way down the hall, taking deep breaths as he counted backward from 10.
Renee Young rolled her eyes, listening to an obliterated Seth Rollins sing "Careless Whisper" for the third time in a row. She hopped up and took the microphone from him before he could restart the song.
"Ok, buddy, why don't we give somebody else a shot, ok?"
"Shots? Fuck yea, shots! Shots! Shots!" He began chanting the popular song.
"Everybody!" he shouted as he made his way into the kitchen to begin pouring shots of vodka.
Renee looked over to Dean with a pleading look as he stepped across their shared living room and followed Seth into the kitchen.
"I'm guessing you don't really wanna talk about it." Dean grabbed the bottle from Seth and made sure to pour him a very small shot. He knew his friend could hold his alcohol, but he also knew Seth could be an idiot.
"What am I supposed to d-d-dooo?" he slurred and whined after downing the shot. "I want a girl that wants absolutely fucking nothing to do with me. Now? She's fucking engaged."
Seth shrugged sadly and hung his head. "Oh well, you lose," Seth said to himself. Dean looked up to see his friend typing on his phone. He reached over the counter and grabbed it.
"Trust me, you'll thank me later." Dean turned Seth's phone off and slipped it in his back pocket.
"You guys weren't joking. He's really going through it, isn't he?" Renee asked later that night after Seth had finally passed out in a guest bedroom. Renee plopped down next to Dean, who wrapped his arm around her and pulled her between his legs.
Roman, who lounged across them on the opposite couch shook his head. "I can't get through to him, I've been trying since he found out about them, then with all this shit since he's been back… it's fucked up."
"I can already picture once she's married..." Dean interjected.
"Wait… hold on." Renee shot up and looked back at Dean then over Roman. "She's… she's not actually going to marry him, is she? He's a monster."
Dean and Roman looked at each other for a moment before Roman nodded. Dean kissed Renee's temple.
"Don't worry Sweets, we're gonna take care of it," he said, assuring her.
"Well, whatever you two are up to, count me in" she replied. "I like Dylan, she glams me up fierce and she's a sweetheart. Seth deserves to be happy."
Dylan sat back at the vanity in her bathroom listening to her mother Marissa and Aunt Stephanie talk about different wedding venues.
"What do you think sweetie?" her mother asked entering the bathroom.
"Huh?" she asked, her voice distant.
"Did you want to have the ceremony at the church or were you thinking about something less traditional. Beach weddings are fun?" Her mother suggested full of enthusiasm. It seemed she was more excited than the bride to be. Sure, she cared for Dolph deeply, but they'd only been together for a few months. Everything was moving so fast.
"I'm not sure Mom. I mean we just got engaged, it's kinda soon to start planning something, don'tcha think?" Dylan bit her lip anxiously, hoping her mother was satisfied with her answer.
"Oh, Sweetie. It's never too early to start planning," Marissa began as Dylan closed her eyes to apply her setting spray. She took a few deep breaths as her mother continued about the benefits of planning everything early. Dylan focused on her breathing as she attempted to block her mother out.
Seriously, I'm not even 20 yet and they're marrying me off? Yeah, Dolph's amazing… but how am I the only one who thinks I might be just a little too young? A part of me thought my parents would never allow this at my age, but for them to be so excited? I just… I don't know.
"Sure Mom, sounds great," Dylan said as her mother finished. She followed her out to the suite bedroom where her Stephanie was scrolling on an iPad. After she mentioned a rustic wedding, Dylan deflected and convinced the two to wait downstairs and she'd meet them after changing quickly.
As the ladies went to the lobby to meet their husbands, Dylan changed into her dress. She quickly grabbed her trusty sock and pulled out two pills.
A few minutes later Dylan exited the bathroom reapplying her lip gloss, ready to head downstairs.
"...and she'll always be my Pickle," Vince said referring to his childhood nickname for Dylan.
She blinked slowly and smiled, watching her grandfather wiped a tear away. The normally tough Chairman rarely showed these kind of emotions, but as his first grandchild, Dylan was always a soft spot.
"So a toast to the new fiancee's as they embark on this wonderful thing we call marriage. And Nick..." Vince addressed Dolph in a serious tone, stressing his seriousness.
"If you ever hurt my angel, well you're fired." His familiar quote was followed by a cold stare, worse than any glare his character Mr. McMahon had ever displayed.
Dylan sat back as her's and Dolph's families wished them well; all the while, she was screaming on the inside for a way out.
Later that night, she and Dolph were hanging out at an underage venue on Fremont St.
Dolph had just begun to rack up for another game of pool when Dylan noticed a petite blonde followed by a taller built guy walk in. She squinted through the neon and blacklight lit nightclub as the couple made their way over to the bar.
A few minutes later she and Dolph were joined.
"So... up for a game?" the petite blonde asked the two.