She walked into the arena two days later, not knowing exactly how to feel. Seth hadn't reached out to her at all. She had expected, he would text her like usual, but nothing came from him. Somehow that hurt.
She had felt like, they had been getting close again. He had finally admitted to what he had done. She knew, she had acted wrong, when she had sex with him, but she couldn't stop herself. She needed to take back control over what they once were.
She walked through the hallways of the arena and down to the ramp. Inside the ring Roman and Seth were going at it, practising with each other. She was almost all the way down the ramp, when she noticed Seth's black eye.
"What happened?" She asked.
Roman jumped out of the ring, while Seth stayed back.
"Let's go," he said.
He placed a hand on her back and escorted her back up the ramp. She stopped on the top, not willing to go further. She took a look back to see Seth was still inside the ring, watching them.
"What happened to him, Roman?" She asked.
"I punched him," he answered.
"You what?" She asked shocked.
"After you left the party, he told me what he had done to you," he said.
"And you took it upon yourself to avenge that? What the hell is wrong with you?" She was getting angry.
"I didn't think, okay?" He was getting angry too.
"So why are you inside the ring with him now?" She asked.
"He's still my friend. I figured, if you can forgive him, so can I," he said.
She looked down at Seth again. He had a hand on the top rope, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot, as if he was debating with himself whether to stay in the ring or go to her.
"Juliette?" Roman touched her upper arm.
"You had no right!" She hissed. "I guess, it's true, what they say. Violence begets violence."
"He deserved it," he said.
"Maybe. But that wasn't your call to make," she started crying. "We were getting somewhere. We were talking and moving towards each other again, but you fucked that up, Roman. Now I know why, I haven't heard a word from him since your stupid party."
"I'm sorry," he said.
"I bet you are," she said.
She spun around and walked away. Seth jumped out of the ring and ran up to Roman.
"She's mad at me," Roman sighed.
"Why?" Seth asked.
"For punching you," Roman chuckled a bit. "I'll never understand women."
"What else did she say?" Seth asked hopefully.
"Let's go grab a cup of coffee and talk," Roman said.
As soon as Roman had told him, what she had said, Seth sent a text to her. She still wanted him in her life. That was for sure. He had been a fool for staying away. Her answers were the same as before, they slept together. She was still keeping him at an arm's length. He didn't blame her one bit. What had happened to the party was a one time deal. He wasn't sure, what had caused it, but it was a memory that filled him with both joy and sadness.
Another week went by like that. They were texting and talking, and he even called her a couple of times. They were becoming friends, and he accepted, that was probably all, he would ever be to her. A friend. He would take it. Anything to be as close to her as possible.
It was RAW again. Bayley and Juliette were moving on with their feud, now being joined with a friend on each side. Sasha and Alicia. It was a standard classic feud, but at least they got air time. That meant a lot to Seth. He and Roman were still feuding. The company had chosen to bring back Seth as a heel. They were closing this RAW with a falls count anywhere, ending with Roman pinning Seth on top of the broken commentator table, he had just speared Seth through.
The four women stood waiting in gorilla, when Roman and Seth came back out all sweaty and beaten. Seth didn't even think twice about it. He walked straight to Juliette and wrapped his arms around her. Just like in the good, old times.
"Are you coming out with us tonight?" He asked.
"I already agreed to the girls," she answered.
"Great," he released her from the hug. "I'll go shower and be right back."
All six of them found themselves in a little Italian restaurant a little while later. Since it was late at night, the place was abandoned, and they had it all to themselves. Seth watched as Juliette ate her favourite pasta dish from that place. Her food choices still hadn't changed.
"So Finn asked me out," Bayley said.
"What did you say?" Alicia asked.
"Yes, of course," Bayley grinned.
"He's so hot," Sasha said.
"Don't be eyeing my man," Bayley said.
"All I'm saying is, you better be giving it to him fast, or he might look elsewhere," Sasha pointed her thumbs inwards. "And I might not say no."
"Slut!" Bayley laughed.
"It takes one to know one," Sasha laughed back.
Their laughter died down, and they looked across the table at Juliette.
"What about you?" Bayley asked.
"What about me?" Juliette asked.
"Are you and Seth gonna start dating again?" Bayley asked.
Seth choked on his food and started coughing. It made sense, they asked. Only two people besides himself around the table knew the real reason, he had been gone. The other three thought, it was his knee too.
"We haven't discussed that, and I would appreciate, if you would let it be," he said.
"Sorry," Bayley mumbled.
"It's alright. I just think, it's something, that should be between me and Juliette, if it ever was to happen," he said.
"Of course," Alicia tried easing the mood. "And I don't wanna get rid of my roommate just yet. Unlike my last one, she actually pays rent on time."
They finished their food within the next half hour, and then went back out to their cars. Juliette looked at Alicia, since she had been driving with her to the restaurant.
"You know what, Alicia, why don't you take off without me? I'll ride with Seth home," she said.
"Are you sure?" Alicia asked.
"Positive," Juliette answered. "I'll see you at home."
"Guess I'll swing by Jinder and see, if he's still up," Alicia said.
Seth didn't say anything. He was happy, that she trusted him enough to get into his car, where they would be alone.
"Are they dating? Alicia and Jinder?" He asked.
"A little," she answered. "I don't think, they're comfortable with anyone finding out yet, but she can't stop grinning each time, she's been at his place."
He chuckled at that information and started the car. They drove back in silence, and too soon they were in front of her home. He killed the engine and looked at her.
"So would you consider it?" He asked.
"Consider what?" She asked.
"Dating me again," he answered.
"I don't know, Seth," she sighed. "Too much shit has passed between us."
"Yeah, too much shit," he agreed sadly.
He placed a hand behind her neck, leaned over and kissed her temple.
"I'll always love you, sweetheart," he said.
"Seth," she said.
"I just want you to know," he managed to smile. "Always. No matter if you'll only be my friend, or even if you choose to walk away from me entirely. Nothing will ever change that."