"Veronica."

Seth entered the room just in time to hear that one name. But he had no idea who she was. As a matter of fact, he had no idea what the guys had been talking about. "Who's Veronica?" he asked immediately.

Dean looked at Seth, and there was a bit of resentment, or at least a sign of repugnance and him being offended, in his eyes.

When it seemed that Dean considered the conversation to be over, Seth looked at Roman with hope of finding something from his other, maybe more consistent, friend.

Roman was smiling, but his lips were sealed as well.

"Some chick you banged?" Seth guessed as a final resort. There should have been some unspoken reaction, and maybe there was, but Seth couldn't tell whether the guess was right or not.

After a minute, Dean turned to Roman. "No."

"She isn't?" Seth asked.

With a similar expression of negative confusion in his face, Dean said, "I'm talking to Roman."

Now Seth was the one who was offended. "Are you mad at me or something?"

Dean kept ignoring him, but while he could leave the room because Seth's presence seemed to be irritating him, he stayed. He kept sitting on the couch, as did Roman, who was still smiling. Maybe he was amused by the tension between the two guys. He certainly knew more than Seth, and that was maybe why he found it funny.

"Or is it just that you two are talking about something I shouldn't know anything about?"

This time Dean did say something. "Yeah, we're plotting to take down the champ."

As Roman giggled, Seth frowned and considered leaving.

In the end, Seth remained in the room, and Roman again turned to Dean with his attention. "So not her, huh?"

"Nope."

"Plan B or plan C?"

"What the hell are you two talking about?"

Dean decided to keep Seth out of it. "Hmm, I think B."

"Tonight?"

"Wait, I can't," Dean suddenly realized. "Tomorrow?"

"Doesn't work for me, sorry," Roman replied.

"Alright. Plan C, then."

A nod from Roman was followed by verbal reassurance. "You'll have it by 5." Then he hesitated. "But . . . You sure?"

Dean shared the lack of assurance. "Maybe it's not the best idea. Yeah, I mean," he reflected. "You know what? I'm in."

"Okay. I'm on it." Roman quickly got up. It seemed like he got his mission.

Seth watched him leaving and closing the door, then he bitterly looked at Dean who now took Roman's role in being the cheerful one. "Care to explain?" Seth asked.

"You really wanna know?"

"Yeah. But you're not gonna tell me anyway, are you?"

Dean gave an impression of considering his next more. As he put his legs up on the coffee table in front of him, Dean sighed, and then he returned to smiling. He licked his lower lip and, watching somewhat nervous Seth, chuckled. "I can tell you, but you're not gonna like it."

"Okay. What is it?"

"Roman's setting me up on a date."

"What?" Seth almost shouted. "So . . . you're dating now?"

"I'm considering it."

"You . . ." Seth was speechless.

"I said you wouldn't like it. But you know, as much as I love carefree sex, no strings attached, I kinda miss being in a relationship. Maybe I should –"

Seth arrogantly interrupted Dean in his reflecting. "Maybe I should punch you in the throat. What was the reason you broke up with Renee again?" Nobody needed to be reminded because they both knew by now. Therefore, Sent went on trying to make Dean see the stupidity of his decision. "And now you miss," Seth sarcastically stressed, "having a girlfriend? Hey, here's an idea. Get back together with her."

"That's not an option, Seth."

"So you'll start dating this Veronica, or what her name is?"

"No. The competition is pretty much open." Dean refused to talk on a level of seriousness that Seth requested. "I'll see what's on the market. Or you know, I can ask out one of the lovely coworkers we have here, or visit a neighbor. The options are immense." Of course, Dean wasn't set on the kind of looking for a girlfriend described to Seth in a rather asshole-like way. But Seth's attitude made him exaggerate because it was always fun to tease him.

But the anger that initially prevailed was gradually turning into fear. "Don't," Seth told him. He wanted to say more, but he didn't. He couldn't.

Dean didn't notice the real Seth's reaction. Just the superficial speechlessness. Dean understood it Seth surrendered to his superiority. He missed the sign of panic and hopelessness that became familiar to Seth.

Seth left at that point, without saying anything. He was truly desperate because he became a witness to the scenario that his mind offered him and made him believe was more possible than he initially thought. Scenario that he feared.

He knew he could try to arrange the way that would help him avoid the worrisome situation. But even though he knew where he would find Renee, disclosing to her Dean's plans was not an option he would choose. On the other hand, he wasn't ready to confront Dean either. Everything was so scary. But he had to do something, or the worrying would eat him alive.

Seth followed Roman. He knew where Roman would go and he found him there. Alone. That was convenient. Actually, it was necessary.

Roman noticed him even before Seth let him know of his presence. He put down his cup of coffee and briefly focused on Seth. "I'm not gonna tell you all of Dean's secrets," he just said, speaking in general. That was all Seth needed to hear. At least Roman thought so.

Seth poured himself a cup of coffee but never got to drinking it. His face looked tired, but it certainly wasn't that way the last time Roman saw him, which was only a couple minutes ago.

"He told you? That's why you're so terrified?"

Seth remained silent. He had to think this through.

"I was shocked at first too. But maybe him dating is for the best. You should stop shipping him and Renee so much. Renee's with someone else and Dean's best option is to follow suit," said Roman. He believed that would change something about Seth's attitude, but it didn't.

It took another minute for Seth to finally say something. "This is wrong."

"Here we go."

Seth looked at Roman. He opened his mouth and then he closed it again. He changed his mind. He wasn't ready. This couldn't be plan A. He had to talk to Renee.

That was where his next steps led. He couldn't talk to Dean. He couldn't talk to Roman. Maybe he'd be more successful talking to Renee.

He found her talking to Summer. They looked cheerful, laughing over something they were discussing. Seth knew it was in his power to change that euphoric mood into something resembling more the way he was feeling.

"Why are you so sad?" Summer asked him when he entered the room.

"I'm not sad," Seth defended himself.

"What's up, Seth?" Renee asked. "You're feeling a little blue?" she asked, in a way teasingly.

Seth simply stood there, not saying anything. Now he was doubting coming here was a good idea. It wasn't just that Renee was not alone. Telling her . . . first of all, he didn't have the right to tell her what Dean was doing. Surely, Dean didn't appear to be keeping his dating status a secret, at least he didn't seem to plan to hide it from anybody once it happens, but it would be wrong to gossip. It didn't matter that Seth was going to reveal the new information with peaceful purposes. And second of all, there was more to it. And those other things couldn't be solved by telling Renee that Dean was back on market. He wished he didn't care so much. Maybe it'd be best to let them go their separate ways. Renee with Nate . . . and Dean with . . . No. Seth realized he couldn't leave it like that. That was too dangerous.

Suddenly Roman appeared in the hallway and looked inside at Renee and Summer. He looked mad. "Is Seth he-" He noticed him hiding, maybe unintentionally, by the door. "No!" Roman authoritatively said to him.

"What's going on?" the girls were asking.

"Nothing," Roman said to them, and then he looked at Seth again. "Let's go," he commanded him.

Seth, seeing no other solution, did as asked. He turned to leave, with that defeated expression in his face. He kept walking and Roman followed him.

Roman stopped him in the hallway where he angrily pushed him toward the wall. Hands throwing in the air, he shouted, "What's the matter with you?" He lowered his voice. "I know what you were gonna do. But, Seth, you can't just tell Renee and think that will solve the situation." These words were more tender, as if Seth was a kid that lost his way. It wasn't really his fault; he was trying to help. Roman understood this, as a good parent would. "What's the problem?"

As Roman did not want to talk in a public place, their entered a nearby office, which was fortunately empty. Roman even locked the door. "Sit," he ordered. When Seth did, Roman continued. "You need to understand that this doesn't involve you. Sometimes things doesn't work out the way we want them to. I know Dean was gonna marry Renee, but they're not together anymore. If they decide that's the way they want it to be, you respect that, understood?"

"You know what's gonna happen now?"

"Now you go back to minding your own business."

"I mean with the two of them."

Roman sighed. "You still don't understand?"

"Roman, stop telling me not to care."

Roman resentfully looked at him, but accepted that Seth would continue sticking his nose into the affairs of Dean and Renee. There was no other way than for him to capitulate. "What's gonna happen?"

Seth shook his head. "You know Renee isn't Dean's only ex that he's still in touch with?"

Roman rolled his eyes. "Oh my god! Not this again."

"Wait. Just think about it. They're friends. They have that understanding for each other," Seth said mockingly. "Now, she lives in Denver, sure. But do you know she wants to move back to Las Vegas?"

"If you know that, you care too much, Seth."

"If that happens, they will spend more time with each other and . . ."

"And?"

"Something might happen."

"No, Seth. I mean, and?"

Seth did not get why Roman did not consider it serious. Actually, maybe he did, but still . . . "You remember why they broke up in the first place?"

"I'm not sure," Roman replied, uninterested.

"Because of Renee. Now she's out of the way. Timing's almost perfect."

"I have no idea where do you get that assurance that this is what's gonna happen, but even if. I don't give a damn. And you shouldn't either. Just let them be happy."

"What if he wants to get back together with her? Or just to sleep with her?"

"She wouldn't be the first one."

"They haven't seen each other in months. After so long, there's got to be tension." Seth was unstoppable. He kept on talking, without giving Roman a chance to interrupt. "Imagine you haven't seen someone for several months, someone you once had feelings for. What is the first thing you do when you see them?"

Now Roman finally got the chance to ask. "You know how long it's been seen their last meeting? Do you stalk his phone or something?" Roman asked.

"No. I know it from her."

Roman chuckled. "I can't believe you go to these lengths! And what for? To keep her away from Dean? You really hate her, don't you?"

"Actually, I love her. . . I'm dating her," Seth said.

Roman wasn't sure if that was a joke. "What?"

"She's my girlfriend."

"What?! Now, what the fuck is wrong with you?" Roman, failing to believe this, shook his head. Confused, he stared at Seth, giving him a judgmental look. There was, however, still a sign that he didn't believe this information to be true.

Seth gave him a minute to take it in, understand it really isn't a joke but reality, but even then, Roman did not seem to be ready to face this situation.

"Is this true?"

"Yeah," Seth replied, nodding. "It star-"

Seth was interrupted by Roman. "I don't wanna know." He clearly wasn't okay with the new information. He kept shaking his head. "I'll just pretend this is not happening."