Chapter 38

Dean checked himself out in the mirror one last time before he headed downstairs. He looked good. Really good.

Seth had done a great job picking out his prom suit. The jacket and pants were black with a slim cut that complimented his lean frame. His inside shirt was a dark royal blue topped off with a silky black tie. His shoes had been buffed and polished to a brilliant shine. His hair had been trimmed and he slicked it back from his forehead. He had to admit that this was probably the most handsome that he had looked in his entire life.

He sprayed his only bottle of cologne around his neck smiling as the light woodsy scent filled the room. It had been his birthday gift from his mom last year. She said that he was now a man and that he needed to smell like one. He chuckled to himself as he turned off the light in his room and headed downstairs.

" Oh honey!" His mother cooed as he came down the stairs. " You look so handsome. I can't believe that you're going to prom. Let me ..."

Dean heard nothing else that his mother said because he saw Roman waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs and all his thoughts took flight to make room for the image in front of him.

Roman was clean shaven save for his moustache that was closely cropped between his nose and his lips. His hair was slicked back in a neat low bun that grazed the collar of his black jacket. His suit was the same as his except that his pants had a more relaxed cut to them. His inside shirt was black and his tie a deep royal blue to match Dean's shirt.

Roman was smiling at him as he came down the stairs. Dean felt as if he was in a trance. Like a strong current was pulling him towards the other man.

" You look good."

Roman smiled even harder. " So do you."

" You guys looks so handsome." Dean's mother gushed. She held up her cellular phone. " Smile!"

Before he could get into position properly, Roman had his arm around his waist and was smiling brightly as his mom snapped away.

" Never thought that I would get a picture of you going to prom." His mom said as she reviewed the pictures on her phone.

" Mom!"

However, his mother remained unphased. " It's true. It's not as if people were breaking down the door to ask you out."

Roman chuckled.

" Okay, we're leaving." Dean grabbed Roman's hand and lead him towards the front door. He had enough of his mother embarrassing him.

" Have fun!" His mother called out as they walked down the garden path to Roman's car.

" I like your mom." Roman said as he unlocked the car doors.

Dean shot him a look over the roof of the car before he got in. " You would."

"So have you told Seth?"

" No I thought you did."

" Me? I haven't seen him for the week. I thought you would since you spent all last night with him celebrating the big win."

Roman sighed as he turned his car down Seth's street. " Well last night really was more of a brag fest of becoming state champs. We got pretty caught up in that."

" I could imagine." Dean rolled his eyes.

" You still should have come to the game." Roman pushed as he stopped in front of Seth's gates so that he could buzz them in.

" You know that I can't stand football. Besides I caught some of it on the tv when my mom was watching it."

" You aren't a very supportive boyfriend." Roman chided him playfully as the gates opened in front of them.

Dean groaned. " I'll make it up to him."

" How about me?" Roman pouted.

" My ass already made it up to you four times this week."

Roman laughed as he parked his car on the side of the large driveway.

" I don't see what the big deal is anyway." Dean said as he got out of the car.

" It isn't a big deal really," Roman said as he adjusted his jacket. " Just think it's the right to do to let him know when we have sex."

" Why?" Dean straightened his tie as he pressed the doorbell.

" You know how he hates being left out of things." Roman reminded him.

Dean sighed. " Fine. The next time we fuck, I'll send him a text."

" I wish I did not hear that."

Roman was promptly embarrassed when he heard Seth's dad's voice on the other side of the door. " I'm sorry you heard that sir."

" Not as sorry as I am." He said as he ushered the two of them into the foyer.

" How's it going Mr. Rollins?" Dean grinned cheekily at Seth's dad.

The man dramatically rolled his eyes and Dean's mind immediately flash forward to what Seth would look like in twenty years. " It's going Mr. Ambrose, it's going."

" Surprised to see you here." Dean was never one for much tact and he knew it got under Mr. Rollins' skin but he did it anyway.

" I'm surprised myself. But I had to see this folly for myself." He crossed his arms and looked up the stairs.

" Should we go and get Seth?" Roman asked.

" Oh he knows that you're here. He said something about making an entrance." He shook his head as if he couldn't shake the disappointment that he felt.

" That's our Sethie." Dean chuckled and clapped his hands. He wondered how much longer would he have to make nice with Seth's dad who was clearly still uncomfortable with the idea of Seth dating men.

A noise on the landing made Dean and Roman look up.

" Wow." Was all that Roman managed to say as Seth came down the stairs.

Seth was a vision in a crisply tailored all white suit that contoured his silhouette to perfection. He wore a black inside shirt with the first two buttons undone which gave a hint of the well developed chest that laid underneath. The chrome of the Hermès belt buckle flashed when the jacket moved. His shoes were as white as the suit. His hair looked as if it had been blown out to perfection. It hung in a soft, silky black cloud framing his face.

After a few moments of silence, Seth's smile disappeared. " Well aren't you guys going to say something?"

" Uh … um ..." Roman cleared his throat seemingly in the hopes that it would help him find some words. " You look … really look ..."

" Hot." Dean finished for him. " Really hot."

Seth smiled triumphantly. " I guess I rendered Romie speechless huh?"

The quarterback glanced away embarrassed.

Seth smiled and stepped between them to hold each of their hands. " Well dad." His father had been quietly still since Seth came down stairs. " Your gay son is off to the prom with his two boyfriends to have a gay old time." Dean could see from the way how tightly Mr. Rollins jaw was clenched and how he narrowed his eyes at Seth that he was still far from accepting of Seth and whom he chose to love.

" Don't wait up." Seth called out as he gripped their hands firmly and led them out the front door.

" Seth do you think it's wise to rile your dad up like that?" Dean asked concerned.

Seth shrugged as they walked across the well manicured lawn to his car. " I've honestly stopped caring Dean. I am who I am. After college I don't have to return here." He released Roman's hand so that he could fish his keys out of the pocket and hand it to Roman. " You're driving us to the prom."

" Why me?" Roman asked as he pressed the button to unlock the doors of the Mercedes.

" Cause everyone wants a sexy guy to drive them to the prom." Seth explained. " Dean, you ride shot gun. I'll sit in the back. I don't want my suit wrinkled."

They entered the school gym under an arch of black and gold balloons. Gold iridescent streamers hung from the ceiling along with with more balloons and banners of black and gold cloths stretched across the ceiling. A huge banner hung across the stage where the DJ was playing. It was black and in large gold block letters it read " State Champions". The Titans were state champions and Dean had to admit that he felt lots of pride seeing that even though he didn't watch the game. He gently squeezed Seth's hand because he knew that he was staring at the sign as well. Roman was next to Seth also holding Seth's hand. Dean could hearing the talking and whisperings around them. He was certain that cellphones were being whipped up and pictures taken. But he didn't care. Not anymore. Not after the last semester that he had. Graduation was in two weeks. He was leaving all of these people behind and concentrating only on the two people that mattered to him. He didn't know how it was going to work between them after the summer, but he knew that somehow it will all work out for the best.

Half an hour later Seth was milling around the food table. He didn't really want anything but Dean was talking to Xavier and Big E about some video game that he wasn't interested in and Roman was talking to Daniel and Kevin and even though for a few more weeks he was vice captain of the football team, he was over it. He was officially a legacy at his high school. Cementing his way into the history books as being one of the ones that lead their high school to State Championship. The first in their history. His picture along with the team will forever be in the display case outside of the principal's office. He made his mark … along with Randy.

" Guess you're disappointed that you won't be prom queen huh?"

Seth sighed exasperatedly without even looking up. He knew who the voice belonged to. " I guess you will be too." He looked up and gave Nikki the biggest fake smile that he could muster. " Because no one voted for you. No one likes you." He felt quite satisfied when he saw the scowl that crossed her face. " I think everyone voted for Becky Lynch."

Nikki scoffed. " That band geek? As if! I'm head cheerleader. I'm the most popular girl in school. And I'm dating the captain of the football team." Nikki flipped her silky dark brown hair over her shoulder. " Everyone wants to be me."

Seth rolled his eyes. " I'm glad that my leftovers satisfy you." Before Nikki could respond, Seth strolled away.

Xavier and Big E were looking quite dapper. They were both wearing dark forest green suits with burgundy ties and black shoes. In Xavier's hand was his trombone that gleamed a brilliant gold under the auditorium's lights.

" Come on Dean," Xavier was saying. " I'm sure if you try Madden you would get some appreciation for football."

Dean scratched the back of his head. " I'm not to sure about that."

" Well think about it." Xavier raised his hand holding the trombone. " Well if you don't mind, I'm going to take my girl Francesca for a spin."

" Where is she?" Dean looked around. " You've been talking about her all year but I've never met her."

Xavier and Big E exchanged a look and then bursted out laughing. They were literally bent over holding on to their stomachs crying tears of laughter and Dean felt that somehow a huge joke went over his head.

" Woods, you know you wrong for this." Big E wheezed out. His eyes red from how hard he was laughing. " You need to tell that boy the truth."

" What is it? What am I missing?" Dean was completely baffled.

Xavier's laugh sounded like a cartoon's villain's. All maniacal with perfect 'ha ha ha' all spaced out. He was resting his free arm on Big E's shoulder and crooked his index finger towards Dean calling him to come closer.

" Dean you know you're my boy and all." It seemed as if Xavier was going to attempt to prop on Dean's shoulder but then realized that he was significantly taller than Big E and gave that up. " But I have to say that I've been keep a secret from you."

" What?" Dean's nerves were teetering over the edge at this point. " What is it?"

Xavier held up his trombone and the light bounced off the edge of its polished surface. " This is Francesca."

" Your trombone?" Dean's mind tried to put the pieces together. " After all this time you were talking about a trombone? But you made it seem as if you guys used to do stuff together."

" Dean," Big E clapped his hand down on Dean's shoulder. " Let's be real. What girl do you know is willing to go out with Xavier Woods? Band geek and video game nerd extraordinaire?"

" Excuse me sir," Xavier interrupted. " I would have you know that the lovely Naomi has granted me not one but two dances this evening." Xavier cleared his throat and adjusted his tie with such self importance that Dean couldn't help but to chuckle.

" Naomi?" Big E repeated as he stroked his closely cropped beard. " You mean that Naomi who is currently heading through the door with Jimmy Uso?"

Both Dean and Xavier looked towards the gym doors just in time to see a shapely silhouette incased in silver exiting the prom while holding the hand of the school's basketball captain.

" That Naomi?" Big E rubbed in. " You sure bro?"

" But she promised!" Xavier whined.

Dean was laughing at Xavier's predicament when he felt a familiar hand lock fingers with him.

" Hi Dean," Seth smiled at everyone politely. " Can I talk to you for a minute?"

" Yeah sure." He agreed. " See you guys around."

Xavier and Big E gave their farewells and then Seth led them out of the gym and down the dimly lit corridors.

The sound of their shoes hitting the tiles was the only noise made as they walked down the dark hallways. Seth then turned and started walking up a staircase and it was then that Dean knew where they were headed.

The third floor where the abandoned chemistry labs resided was empty as usual. Moonlight streamed through the windows, pooling right underneath not reaching the far wall. One side of the corridor was in light and the other in darkness.

Seth leaned up on a wall between two windows. The moonlight making slanted lines across his handsome face and body. Dean stepped forward and slipped his arm around Seth's back and slightly tilted his head downwards.

Seth's lips were still as soft as he remembered. His mouth as warm and welcoming. Their tongues gliding unhurriedly next to each other as if they had all the time in the world and they did. The kiss was warm and heady. Satisfying both of them as Dean ended it with little pecks to Seth's swollen lips.

Seth had his arms locked around Dean's neck. His eyes studying his face. Dean dipped in to get another kiss but Seth spoke.

" What's going on Dean?"

" What do you mean?"

Large brown eyes framed by long silky lashes radiated a feeling of being hurt that Dean did not understand.

" I barely saw you at school all week and when I asked you to come over you always had excuses." Seth nervously bit his bottom lip. " What's going on?"

' I just wanted you to concentrate on the game that's all. No distractions."

It didn't look as if Seth believed him.

" I saw Roman." His fingers gently combing through Dean's hair. " We took care of each other."

Dean knew what Seth was implying and glanced down at the floor. He knew what was coming next.

" We haven't had sex in weeks Dean." Seth kept his voice even but Dean could tell that he was hurt. " It's not like you to go so long without."

" I haven't." Dean exhaled softly. He might as well come clean. He locked eyes with Seth. " Me and Roman have been hooking up."

It tugged at Dean's heartstrings when he saw Seth's expression fall. " So I guess only Roman is good enough for you."

" Seth that's not true." He brushed some strands out of Seth's face. " I love you. You know that."

" Then why is it that you don't want me anymore?" Seth's voice was breaking. Dean knew that sound. Seth was on the verge of tears and he didn't know how to fix it.

" I do want you Seth." Dean held him tightly in his arms. " I really don't have a good excuse, I really don't. I know it looks bad." He pressed a kiss against Seth's temple. " I love you." The words sounded futile coming from him but he did. In all of his heart he did.

" Let me make it up to you." Dean suggested. " Tomorrow just me and you on a date. Would you like that?"

Seth just took a step back and looked at him. " Roman was always your true love wasn't he?"

The question caught him off guard and he didn't know how to respond to that so he didn't.

A lone tear ran down Seth's cheek. " I just kinda interrupted what you guys had going on. Tried to insert myself into it because I wanted what you guys had. But I still don't fit do I?"

It finally dawned on Dean what Seth was doing. Why he picked out matching suits for him and Roman and why his was different. Why he wanted to talk to him alone. What he was actually saying.

He wiped Seth's tear away with the back of his hand. " Don't you fucking dare." Seth looked a bit startled and even he was surprised at the deep growl in his voice. " You don't get to fucking dump me Seth Rollins." Dean used his body to press Seth against the wall. Then he grabbed Seth by the hips and lifted him up so that his strong thighs wrapped around his waist.

He nipped Seth's bottom lip with the edge of his teeth. Not hard enough to hurt but just enough to make sure that had Seth's attention. " You don't get to make me fall in love with your bratty ass and then walk away. That's not how it works." Dean thrusted his groin against Seth's and his boyfriend whimpered. " I can admit that I'm not the best boyfriend in the world but don't ever think that I don't want to fuck you."

" But you can't answer the question." Seth finally responded. " Roman's your true love."

Dean rested his forehead against Seth's. " Yeah I was in love with him before we became a thing but that doesn't mean that he's my true love."

" But it also doesn't mean that he isn't." Seth pushed at his shoulders. " Let me down Dean."

The auburn haired man allowed Seth to disengage from him and to put his feet back on the ground. He watched quietly as Seth fixed himself.

When he was finished preening he looked back at Dean. " I love you Dean." Seth inhaled a big breath as if he was trying to keep himself calm. " And because I love you I want you to be happy." He tried to smile but failed miserably as only one side of his mouth barely lifted. " Just think about what I said okay?"

Dean nodded. A heavy weight had suddenly appeared in his chest and he didn't know how to get rid of it. He wanted to reach out and pull Seth against him and kiss him senseless but he knew that would not work. Seth wanted him to be happy. He was happy. With Roman. And Seth. He watched as Seth walked away down the half lit corridor. He spent a few more minutes looking out the window at the tree where he and Seth had spent numerous lunches before returning to the gym.

Seth didn't head back to the gym. He just walked aimlessly around the empty corridors thinking. He loved Dean so freaking much. It had hurt him so much to attempt to break up with him but he could feel that Dean was not as in to him as he said that he was. He could feel it in his bones. It did surprise him how possessive Dean got when he realized what was going on. In that moment he felt Dean's passion for him but as always, passion was fleeting. He really wished that he could stay with both Dean and Roman because really no great love story has ever been written about three persons. He just loved both of them so much that he wanted them to be happy even if he wasn't.

" Hi."

Seth mentally groaned. That was the one person who's voice he did not want to hear.

He looked up to see Randy leaning against a locker. He was wearing a black tuxedo with a white shirt and bow tie. He could admit that Randy looked handsome in the get up but he wasn't persuaded by it.

" What do you want? You were waiting for your chance to tackle me again with no one around?"

Randy's sharp white teeth flashed when he smiled. " I guess I deserve that." He raised up off the locker. " No. But I was looking for you?"

" Why? Shouldn't you be celebrating with your prom queen?"

Randy chuckled. " Actually Becky Lynch won that and Nikki is somewhere demanding a recount."

Seth shrugged nonchalantly. " She always was a sore loser."

" Yeah." He took a couple steps towards Seth who regarding him warily. " I want to apologize to you Seth."

Seth snorted. " Yeah I've heard that one before."

" I'm serious." Randy focused his gaze on him. " I can admit that I was a real asshole to you this semester. With the whole beach thing with John and then the tackle. I really had no excuse."

Seth crossed his arms over his chest. " It's true. You don't."

" Except for that fact that I was lashing out because I didn't know how to deal with my emotions." Randy pushed his hands into his pants pockets as his eyes roamed over Seth from head to toe. " I know you probably still won't believe me but I love you Seth." He paused waiting for Seth to say something but he didn't so he continued. " I was in love with you, well still in love with you and I honestly don't know why." Randy's laugh sounded helpless like a man who had ran out of options. " I tried to get back at you with the beach thing, football and even dating Nikki and you still don't care."

Seth nodded. " It's true I don't."

" I know that I really fucked up but I just want you to know that I'm sorry."

" I've heard that one before." Seth rolled his eyes.

" I know you don't believe me but it's true but it's okay. I just wanted you to know." Randy took a couple steps back down the corridor. " You're really special and I hope that Roman and Dean are treating you like you are."

Seth watched as Randy walked away and he thought about what he had said.

Roman nervously scanned the entire gym again. He hadn't seen Seth for about an hour. He knew Dean was over by the food table filling up his plate. But it was hard to get away since everyone seemed to want a dance with the prom king. He had danced with Becky first as the custom and then Dean but he couldn't spot Seth afterwards and he got rushed with lots of offers afterwards.

He was just about to take the crown off his head and to go look for him when he saw Seth walking back into the room looking no worse for wear. It took a couple of seconds but their eyes met and Roman was cutting a path straight through the crowd towards him.

In less than a minute he was in front of Seth and pulling him into his arms. " Where were you?"

" I just needed to think." Seth said. His voice muffled by Roman's shirt.

" Uh oh." Roman pulled back a bit but kept him in his arms. " What's wrong?"

" Nothing." Seth shook his head. " I just needed to clear my mind about somethings."

" Things like what?" Roman inquired.

" Stupid things." Seth admitted.

" Stupid things like what?" Roman's curiousity was piqued. Seth was talking in riddles.

" Like how much I love you." Seth blushed. " And how much I never want to give you up."

" You will never have to." Roman promised. He kissed Seth on the forehead. " You owe me a dance."

Seth hooked his arm around Roman's neck. " How about a kiss instead?"

Roman grinned. " I could take that."

He lowered his head and kissed Seth fully on the lips right there by the entrance to the gym. Not caring who saw and who might be taking pictures.

" Oh my god. This is disgusting! Get a room you two. Think of the children."

Seth pulled away to see Dean grinning while eating an overloaded cheese puff pastry. " Shut up. You're just jealous."

" Nope." Dean shoved the rest of the puff into his mouth and some of the cream cheese paste dropped on the lapel of his suit.

" Dean!" Seth wailed.

" What?" He picked up another puff that he had on the tiny plastic plate.

" No!" Seth snatched it out of his hand along with the plate and dumped it in a nearby garbage can.

Dean was bewildered.

" You're ruining your suit." Seth pointed at the cream cheese that was slowly sliding down the lapel. " It's Armani."

" Um okay." Dean still looked clueless. " Does that mean that it's expensive or something?"

Seth sighed exasperatedly and grabbed Dean's hand. " Come. We're going home." He started to march down the hallway. " We have to get you clean up."

Dean looked at Roman who grinned at him as they headed outside to the car. He had a feeling that everything was going to be alright between them.

" So I guess this would be a bad time to tell you that I kinda ripped the jacket on the latch in the bathroom stall?"

Seth groaned. " I can't take you anywhere."

A/N: And at long last we are done. Fini! Finito! Thank you so much for hanging in there with me. It has been one long ass ride. But we made it. With over 93,000 hits and over 900 reviews this story was a success thanks to you guys. I always said that I have the best readers. Thank you! 3

I think this might be it for me and shield stories for a while but I think a certain fashionable pair has been calling me for a while and think I might risk getting a ticket to answer that call.

Until we meet again.

*~Sparkles Blue~*