Roman walked into Dean's apartment. He had gotten a text a couple of hours after the blowup at Sunset that Dean was having a party since Roman was back home. Roman didn't want to go but he was hoping Channing would be there.

His eyes found her right away and he felt a huge stone drop from his heart. She knew he was coming tonight and she still chose to be there too. Only problem was that she had Dean by her side again. He didn't like to see that one bit, especially not now when he knew for sure she didn't care one bit about the man. She was playing a role that she hated because she felt lonely otherwise.

"Roman! My man!" Dean yelled.

Roman smiled and nodded back at Dean.

"Let me get you a beer," Dean said.
"That would be much appreciated," Roman said.

Roman wasn't in the mood to drink but he needed Dean out of there even if it was only for a few seconds. Knowing Dean, he would get caught up in a conversation with someone else before making it back anyway. As soon as Dean was out of the room, Roman walked straight over the Channing. He was expecting her to try and get away but she looked him in the eyes. He remembered those sad eyes. Anytime she felt like it all was too much for her to handle and she was hanging on by a thread, those eyes would appear.

"I'm sorry for earlier today," he said.
"No, I'm sorry," she said. "It wasn't fair to put all that on you."
"I'm glad you did. I needed a reality check and you sure gave me one. I just wish things were different. I wish you were happy," he said.
"Me too," she said.
"Look, I know you never fit in with this crowd. That's what made you stand out. That's what I liked about you. I never felt like I fit in either. That's why I left. I must admit I was selfish and didn't think about how that might affect you. I thought you would be okay somehow. I thought you'd move on and find someone else to connect with," he said.
"How, Roman? I don't even like myself so how can I expect anyone else to like me? For some fucked up reason you do and I've never been able to understand why but it didn't matter because I liked you too. You were the one person keeping me sane, and I liked myself when I was around you. I don't blame you for anything. I know I said some hard words earlier but it's not your fault. You went on with your life and you're supposed to," she sighed. "Sometimes I just wish..."

She didn't finish the sentence. She looked over at Dean who came walking back with a beer in his hand.

"For you, my friend," Dean said.
"Thank you," Roman said.

Roman accepted the beer and watched as Dean put his arm around Channing's shoulders and pulled her close. He leaned down for a kiss but she turned her head so he only caught her cheek.

"I gotta talk to Seth real quick," Channing said.
"Tell him hands off. You're with me tonight," Dean said.

Channing raised her middle finger at Dean and he laughed back at the gesture. She walked over to Seth, and Dean turned to Roman with a grin on his face.

"She's fucking perfect, Roman," Dean said. "She sucks my dick and then leaves again. I don't have to do anything."

Roman raised his eyebrows. That wasn't something he liked hearing.

"I thought you knew how to pleasure a woman," Roman said.

Dean's grin faded and his eyes turned hard.

"Of course I do," Dean said. "I just don't have to."
"You don't want to?" Roman asked.
"I don't have to," Dean repeated. "She never asks for anything back. She's a giver and I'm the happy receiver."
"Do you even like her?" Roman asked.
"Channing's cool," Dean shrugged. "I would never date her but I like her enough to keep her around. It's funny because she used to be so weird. It did her good that you went away. You would always be all over her as if you didn't want to share her with anyone. When you left, she became more fun. It's almost as if you held her down."

Dean gave Roman a challenging look. Roman knew this side of Dean all too well and he wasn't taking the bait. Dean had it all wrong but there was no point in starting a fight about that. Channing would never want to see Roman fight because of her. Instead he shrugged back at Dean as if he agreed with him. That was enough for Dean to find his grin again. He thought he had won.

"I gotta take a piss," Dean said.

Roman just raised his beer as if to say it was all good. The moment Dean was gone, Roman walked over to Channing and Seth.

"Excuse me, Seth, but can I borrow her for a second?" Roman asked.
"Of course," Seth said. "Come find me later, Channing."
"Can we talk outside real quick?" Roman asked.
"Sure," Channing said.

They walked outside and closed the door so no one would be eavesdropping.

"I don't like the things Dean is saying about you," he said.
"What is he saying?" She asked.
"Don't make me repeat it," he said.

She crossed her arms and stared at him. She wasn't going to give in easy.

"He doesn't pleasure you back," he said lowly.

She snorted in laughter and shook her head.

"That's because I don't want him to touch me," she said.
"But he says you suck his dick," he said.

She sighed and uncrossed her arms. There was no more fight left inside her. He could see the old Channing right in front of him. She wanted to fit in so desperately. She wanted to have friends. In that moment it finally clicked how lonely she had been without him there.

"When I'm with Dean or Seth or anyone really, it feels like someone cares about me for those short moments," she said.
"Damn it, Channing," he muttered.
"I can't go through with it. I can play this happy, flirting tease at parties. I can kiss them and have some fun. Dean gets his dick sucked sometimes when I feel extra down but only him. I don't spend the night with anyone, and I sure as hell won't let any of them fuck me. I just need to feel like someone cares for a few minutes even though I know they don't," she said.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. It hurt to hear how much she was suffering. She was giving a part of herself away for a shitty reason but he understood why she felt the need to.

"You left me," she said.
"I'm sorry," he said.

It suddenly clicked what she was about to say inside the apartment. The sentence she hadn't finished because Dean came back. He could hear it clearly inside his head.

"Sometimes I just wish you had asked me to come with you."

It had to be. It couldn't be anything else. It was the only thing that made sense.

"Would you have come with me if I had asked you to?" He asked.
"Yes," she answered without hesitation. "I would have left everything behind to follow you anywhere if you had wanted me to. Just to be near you. But you needed to start a new chapter of your life without any of us in it and I understand that. I can never be angry with you for making that choice. But I do miss you, Roman. I miss you so fucking much."

The front door opened and they broke the hug. Dean was staring at them.

"Moving in on my girl?" Dean asked.
"She's not yours," Roman said.
"Tonight she is," Dean said. "Isn't that right, Channing?"
"Leave me out of your weird fight," Channing said. "I need the bathroom."

Channing walked inside and Roman felt his heart break.

"Channing, you don't have to do this," Roman said.

Roman took a step forward but Dean placed his arm in the way to stop Roman from entering the apartment again.

"I think you should leave," Dean said.
"Are you serious right now?" Roman asked.
"Dead serious," Dean said. "It was a mistake inviting you. It's best if you leave."
"Fuck you!" Roman sneered. "Did you ever stop to wonder why she doesn't ask for anything in return? Because she fucking despises you, Dean. She can't stand the thought of you touching her. You're a fucking creep. You think you got a sweet deal going but I pity you. You have no idea how much she hates the idea of being with you. The thought of you putting your hands on her makes her sick."
"Guess I'll test that theory tonight when I fuck her for the first time," Dean smirked. "Goodbye, Roman."

Dean slammed the door in Roman's face before Roman could say anything back. He heard the lock turn and he was left alone outside.

"She's never gonna let you fuck her!" He screamed.

He had no idea if those words traveled to the other side. He wasn't welcome there anymore. He knew Dean would spin whatever version to make him look bad to everyone else at the party. He had no friends left in this town. It was time to cut ties with them all for good. Everyone but Channing. He was not leaving her behind.