Dean sat back in a chair in catering, chewing on a shiny, green apple when Xavier and Spencer entered. He almost choked on the bite of apple in his mouth as the thought of her spending the night with Xavier entered his mind. He knew she hadn't. Not without somehow letting him know first. That didn't mean the thought wasn't there though since he knew that was where this was heading.

"Uh, pancakes!" Xavier said cheerfully.

Dean watched as Xavier went straight for the pancakes while Spencer grabbed a yoghurt drink. He didn't need to look at the label to know she had taken one with strawberry flavour. He knew her too well.

"I'm gonna run out and find Nia," she said.

She leaned in a kissed Xavier's cheek, her eyes landing on Dean as she did so. There wasn't any amusement in her eyes. Just a look he had seen many times. The same look that had been in her eyes that morning when he had caught up with her outside after she had caught him in bed with another girl. That look that kept everything hidden deep within.

He sighed as she started walking out of the room. His eyes followed her every step and too soon she was gone and he was left with nothing but that shiny, green apple in his hand and a feeling of emptiness inside.

"Dean," Xavier sat down next to him. "I need to ask you something."
"Fire away," Dean said.
"Spencer talked a little about you in the car yesterday," Xavier said.
"Yeah?" Dean asked.

He felt a bit of hope in his heart. She had talked about him to a complete stranger and he could only hope she had good things to say.

"She didn't go into specifics but she mentioned you have a past," Xavier said.
"We do," Dean said.
"She also said that you won't care about it but since we work together and I don't wanna make you mad, I just wanna make sure you're okay with it if I ask her out on a date," Xavier said.

It took a lot in Dean to keep a straight face and not blow up in front of Xavier. He wasn't sure what made him most angry. That Xavier wanted to date her or the fact that she had told Xavier he wouldn't care about it. He did care. He cared a lot.

"You wanna take her out on a date?" He managed to ask.
"Yeah, if it's alright with you," Xavier smiled. "I like her, Dean, and I wanna get to know her. She seems sweet."
"She is sweet," Dean forced a smile. "But as far as I know, she doesn't date."

He had never heard about her dating or having another boyfriend after him. Of course months went by without them seeing each other and she could be in relationships in those time periods but never once when he had been around her had she done anything besides hooking up with others just to end up with him in the end.

"Is that a no?" Xavier asked.
"No, all I'm saying is..." Dean sighed. "Fuck it! I don't know what I'm saying. If you wanna date her, ask her out. What the fuck do I care, right?"

He stood up fast, threw his half finished apple in the trash can and walked out of catering. He had to get out before he would take his anger out on Xavier. Xavier didn't deserve it. He was just a man finding a woman interesting. And not any woman. Dean's woman. He was about to go down the rabbit hole once again and come back up with a broken heart all over again. Maybe Roman was right. Maybe it was time to be an adult about it and stop playing this stupid game.

"Uce, you coming?" Roman's voice reached him.

He looked up and saw Roman and Dean waiting for him. He had spaced out and completely forgotten they were supposed to train in the ring.

"Yeah, I'm coming," he said.

He walked over to join them and soon after found himself inside the ring where they went over some moves.

"So if we do this triple tag with a couple of dropkicks from you two and a clothesline from me, the audience will lose it. They always do," Roman said.
"And then end with the triple power bomb as always," Seth said.
"Sounds good," Roman said. "Dean?"

Dean wasn't listening. He was watching Spencer, Nia and Xavier walking down the ramp together. Nia was laughing at something Xavier said but Spencer didn't seem all that interested. Dean knew she wasn't. Xavier was just another pawn in the game they had been playing for years.

"Dean?" Roman asked. "Hey uce, are you with us?"
"Spencer," Seth said lowly.

Dean felt a hand on his shoulder and turned his head to look at Roman.

"Are you okay there, little brother?" Roman asked.
"I'm fine," Dean answered.
"I didn't ask if you're fine. I asked if you're okay," Roman said.
"No," Dean sighed.
"You wanna get out of here?" Roman asked.
"Yes," Dean answered.

All three men rolled out of the ring and walked up the ramp. Just as they passed the three people walking down, the back of Dean's hand touched Spencer's and it felt like electricity shot through him. Without thinking he grabbed her hand and they both stopped and stared at each other. For a few seconds it was like the four other people around them disappeared.

"Hedgehog," he whispered.

The word brought her back to reality.

"No!" She hissed and pulled her hand away.
"Sorry, sorry," he mumbled.

He hurried up the ramp without looking back at her.

"Hedgehog? Why did he call you that?" Nia asked.
"Probably because he thinks I have spikes and that I sting," Spencer shrugged. "How the fuck should I know what goes on inside his head?"
"Yeah, he's always a bit weird," Nia said. "You're staying to watch us train, Xavier?"
"If it's okay with both of you," Xavier said.

Dean headed back to catering with Roman and Seth right behind him. He loaded up on chicken wings and sat down at a table in the corner. He stared at the wings and pushed the plate out in the middle of the table. Seth grabbed a wing and slowly ate it while looking at Dean.

"I think you were right yesterday, Roman," Dean finally said.
"About what?" Roman asked.
"The whole growing up thing," Dean answered.
"So you're finally gonna tell her?" Seth asked.
"I don't know," Dean sighed. "Maybe I should just let her go, you know. Xavier is a kind man and maybe he can make her feel something. I just wanna see her happy."
"And what about your happiness?" Roman asked.
"It doesn't matter," Dean said.

He hung his head low but quickly felt Roman's grip on his jaw. His head was forced back up and Roman gave him one of his well known looks that demanded respect and attention.

"Dean," Roman said firmly. "It matters. You matter. I can't tell you what to do or not to do but I will not allow you to make yourself feel even more miserable. If you wanna let her go, then fine, but then you work towards your own happiness without her."
"I don't think that's possible," Dean said.
"Then you tell her," Roman said.
"I..." Dean started.
"No!" Roman cut him off. "You tell her!"
"Maybe we should lock the both of them inside a room together," Seth said.
"I might just do that," Roman said.
"Tomorrow at the party," Seth chuckled. "Let's get them drunk and leave them in a hotel room together."

Dean groaned at the mention of the party. With her suddenly being in the same company, he had completely forgotten about the party.

"Fuck the party!" He spat.
"Not in the mood to get drunk?" Seth asked.
"Parties with me and Spencer always end up in pain," Dean said. "One way or another."
"Then don't go," Roman said.
"I have to. It's what we do," Dean said.
"The stupid game again?" Roman asked.
"Yeah," Dean sighed. "I don't know how to quit. I just wanna be with her even with all the pain that comes along with it. I love her, Roman. I love her so fucking much."