Fun fact: Cassie was not supposed to be a regular in this story. She appeared randomly and randomly she was supposed to leave. But since I don't like when you can predict what's gonna happen, I changed it. She's still in the story thanks to one comment.

FYI: I had an ending in mind. Recently I've changed it. I'm gonna be honest with you; I might change it again. Several times. I still can't decide if I'd prefer a happy or not-so-happy ending (not sad though - I'm not gonna kill off anyone - God, I hope so :P). What would you prefer?

"I feel bad for you," Dean admitted. "But it's funny, when you think about it." At that point Seth wasn't sure if Dean's empathy could be trusted. He was a master liar, for one thing. "When The Shield was still together, people thought that after we break up you'd be forgotten. They sympathized with you, Seth. And now . . . when you listen to the crowd you know that they –"

Seth knew where he was going. "They hate me."

"They hate you," Dean repeated, as if he didn't hear Seth say it a second ago.

"It's even stranger that they root for you. But don't feel bad for me; I'm actually enjoying this. All the hate that I get . . . in a way it's better than being cheered."

Sure, at this stage when Seth was the one who betrayed his "brothers" he was far from being a favorite of the WWE Universe. But he had at least one fan. Well, he probably still had a lot of fans that loved him no matter what he did, but Dean knew one specific person who actually preferred Seth to both Roman and Dean, even thought he was portrayed as a heel. Cassie. It was the acrobatism of Seth that she admired the most. She, as a fan of all kind of sports, saw Seth as the living proof that wrestling isn't fake; that it deserves to be taken seriously and called a sport. What a pity that Seth's view of Dean's ex was the opposite; Seth was to Cassie a hero while she was to him Dean's ex, therefore a threat. Seth was on a good way to hate her, although possibly only abstractly. But Dean never told this to Cassie. Still, she probably knew.

As if Seth could read Dean's mind, he changed the subject to the girl that was a thorn in his eye. "By the way, how's your love triangle working out for you?" There was easily recognizable sarcasm and condemnation in Seth's way of asking.

But Dean didn't get mad. No; he smiled. Or grinned, actually.

"What are you so happy about?"

Dean laughed. "I'm an asshole; still everybody loves me." It wasn't really hilarious. It wasn't even funny. Seth didn't know how to perceive this information. It was concerning, but so was Dean's psychological state. All right; that sentence that Dean said was an exaggeration. No doubt about that. Dean put it rather extremely; the truth was milder. To being an asshole . . . it could always be worse; he could be a thug, criminal, or a cheater. He was none of those things. And as for everybody loving him, even if he had on mind only the two girls he had special relationships with, it wasn't true. Renee maybe, hopefully did still love him. Although there was a good chance that affection would end in the moment when she finds out about the other girl occupying his mind, if not his heart, too. But Cassie didn't love him. If only what had been spoken is the truth, then she never loved him. But Dean needed much less to be happy, as he was right now. Moreover, this complicated thinking was unfamiliar to him. His implication came from the fact that both Renee and Cassie were not openly mad at him and didn't ignore him. The person who had the right to be angry, when considering what she actually knew, was Cassie. But although Dean still hadn't talked to her, he knew it wasn't because of how he decided to end things between them few days, or weeks, ago. Anyway, it felt like a really long time; probably because he was used to talk to her on the phone or chat with her on some social site very frequently. When he was so desperate after days of not receiving any information about her that he used all the sources to find out what she was doing – he even called their common friend who lived in Vegas to check up on her – Twitter showed him the way. He found a picture submitted by Levi; it was possibly a holiday photo of them two from when they were just teenagers. Cassie and Levi were standing on a cliff, spreading their arms as to embrace the sky, below them only the ocean. It was a clear day, really sunny, but none of them was wearing sunglasses. They were in their swimming suits. They were looking ahead of them. Cassie had her long ginger-reddish hair loose. There was a smile on both Cassie's and Levi's faces; they looked really happy. Cassie was holding her hat with her hand. Despite the happiness, she seemed a little terrified. Posting the photo, Levi added a question, addressing his sister: "Do you remember what you said to me?" Dean found a response, too. She said, "One day I'll dare to jump." Few days later there was another photo posted, this time by Cassie. She was standing on the same spot, alone this time. She looked older but there was the same child-like happiness. She looked excited. She wrote, "Guess what's gonna happen now . . ." It was like a story to Dean. A story that he hoped to have a happy ending. He was worried; it was amazing height. But unlike in the previous picture, in this one there was no fear in her eyes; instead there was pure determination. And really, she did jump. Another picture was a proof of it. What came through Dean's mind was the wish to be there with her. He knew that would never happen but he desired to experience that carefreeness. Cassie was the epitome of everything's possible. She was the ultimate daredevil.

"Dean," Seth addressed him again. "Sort it out."

"I already have."

"Really?" Seth was skeptical. "So what's the result?"

"You'll see."

Seth sighed. "I don't wanna."

"What? Why?" Dean's enthusiasm was gone. Did Seth know something that he didn't?

"Because I already know how this story ends."

"Oh, really? Tell me, please."

"You'll end up alone." Dean's expression froze. He could have expected Seth to say something like that but he couldn't react differently. He was no longer able to comment sarcastically or any other way at all. That weakness surprised him. He felt a little terrified when he imagined Seth's scenario coming true. And Seth had more to say, to Dean's displeasure. "Your strategy sucks. Tell me, why all the lies and overcomplicated maneuvers? Keep it simple. Let go of what's of no use to you anymore. I don't want to see you and Renee break up; but you're balancing on thin ice, Dean, and one day, and it'll be rather sooner than later, it'll come back to you. Cassie will be gone; god I wish she never came into your life. Renee'll leave you as well. If you don't change your attitude, you'll really end up by yourself, with nobody by your side."

"Still waiting for the I told you so moment, huh, Seth? You think that just because you're in a stable relationship for so long it won't turn against you? You're on the road for most of the year; what do you know what your girlfriend does when you're away? She can be cheating on you, for all you know. Or maybe you will. Or you already have."

Seth couldn't take that provocation; he slapped Dean. Afterwards came regret; but the reaction had been asked for. There was no apology on either side; just a concerned look.

Dean was the first to speak: "Maybe we shouldn't talk about our personal lives."

"That would probably save us a couple of disputes . . . I just . . ." Seth looked away to sort out his thoughts. "I just can't watch you screwing up your life like that. Hate me as much as you want for interfering, but I think that's what a friend should do; try to open up your eyes."

Since Seth refused to give this topic a break, Dean got ready for attack. At least the atmosphere was much calmer and there was no evidence of possible upcoming physical fight. "You know what I think of your friendly interference? You do it to make me feel guilty; you can't stand seeing someone reaching happiness an unconventional way."

"I just wanna be a good friend," Seth objected. Dean's explanation was illogical and far from reality to him.

"Then you have failed. Roman's a better friend because he doesn't consistently remind me of the mistakes," Dean made it clear that those mistakes were not really mistakes according to him, "that I do."

"Roman doesn't know what's happening. If he did, he'd –"

"He knows enough. But he doesn't care. Why should he? It's my life, not his."

"But . . ."

"Cassie's a better friend than you are. She puts my mind off all the problems. Sure, she gives me advice, but it's fucking advice, Seth, not an order."

"If she's so prefect, why aren't you with her, then?" Seth asked.

"Because I want Renee. Does that answer suffice? Or do I need to prepare an exhausting philosophical explanation? Give me two minutes."

"She deserves better than this asshole that she's dating."

"Jealous?"

Seth shook his head in disbelief; there was nothing else to say. It was hard to win a fight with Dean. At the end you leave with the thought never again; never again you'll try to help him.