The Man (A Seth Rollins Story) (Reupload)

Chapter 19- Secrets Unlocked

"You want to do what now?" Paul asked me as I sat across from him in his office.

"I want to extend my time."

"Are you sure? I thought you wanted to wrestle?"

"I do but with the guys, sir."

"Are you sure about this? Once a storyline starts, it will be very hard to change it."

"I'm sure."

"Alright. I'll let Creative know."

I nodded and walked out of the office. I can't believe I was doing this. Every part of my brain was saying to go back and tell him I changed my mind but my heart wasn't listening. This is what my heart wanted and I would see it through.

"So, you're not leaving The Shield?" Joe asked, surprised.

I shook my head. I was sitting across from Mercedes, Jon and Joe.

"What made you change your mind?"

"I don't know. I just decided to stay. You aren't angry, are you?"

"No, I am excited that you're staying. I bet Colby will be too."

"Speaking of Colby, where is he?"

"Why are you so curious?" Jon said as he wiggled his eyebrows.

"I just thought he should know too. Don't read into things, Jon."

He smirked. "All right."

I shook my head. "Well, I'm going to try and find him."

Mercedes got up from her seat. "I'll go with you."

"Ok."

Mercedes and I walked out of the room to try and find Colby.

"So, now that the boys aren't here, why are you actually curious where Colby is?"

"Can I not be curious where one of my partners are?"

"I mean, you can but you seem different today and now you're worried about Colby. Did something happen?"

I stopped and sighed. "I talked to one of my friends today and I have realized that I have been an idiot. I have tried so hard to make myself perfect but that is impossible so I am just going to try and enjoy my life as much as I can."

Mercedes smiled. "Well, I am happy that you have decided that. You seem happier than you usually are. Now, go find Colby."

Mercedes hugged me before walking away. I took a deep breath and continued on.

I found Colby hanging out in a darkened gym. He was sitting in front of a treadmill. He seemed almost sad. I flipped on the lights and he looked up at me.

"Oh, hey."

I went over and sat down next to him.

"What are you doing sitting in a dark gym?"

"Thinking."

"About what?"

"Just some stuff."

"Care to clue me in on what that is?"

He sighed. "Do you really have to leave The Shield?"

"You don't want me to leave?"

He looked scared by that question. "U-um, I don't care. Joe and Jon were saying that they didn't want you to go."

I tried to stifle my laughter. I turned my head and looked at the wall in front of me. "Really? Because they seemed pretty ok either way. But I guess you're right. They were a bit happier when I told them I asked Paul to keep with The Shield a while longer."

I saw out of the corner of my eye his head quickly turn to look at me.

"You're staying?" He asked with urgency.

I looked at him and he turned his head away.

"Oh, that's cool."

Ok, Colby, don't tell me what is up. Just act all calm.

"What is the matter, Colby? Where is the cocky attitude that I know by heart?"

"Maybe I don't want to be like that anymore."

"You don't want to be like that? But isn't that how you get all the ladies?"

He sighed. "Can I share something with you?"

He sounded serious.

"Yeah, sure."

He looked down at the floor and started twiddling his thumbs.

"I dated a girl named Cameron. I thought she was the only one for me and we were going to be together forever. We dated for almost a year and I was ready to propose to her. The night I was going to pop the question, she doesn't come home. I'm worried that something has happened to her so I'm calling her friends, her family, the cops. She shows up at around four in the morning. She tells me that we have to talk. She sits me down and tells me the reason she was late was because she was out with a man named Derek. She says that she had been seeing Derek for the past four months. Four months. She cheated on me for four months. Ever since that day, I decided that I would be better off never getting in a relationship again. It's just easier than going through heartbreak again. I put on this cocky attitude because I know that if I do, people won't want to get close, you know?"

I was surprised he was opening up like this to me. I gave me courage to do the same. "Yeah, I get it. I kind of do the same thing. I spent my entire life pushing people away too. Made sure my clothes were very conservative so guys wouldn't be attracted to my body, didn't date anyone, broke off many friendships once they got too close. I guess that is another thing we have in common."

He let out an exasperated laugh. "I guess so."

We sat in silence for a few moments.

"I'm curious."

"Hmm?"

"What is your reason for pushing people away?"

Now it was my turn to look at the ground. "My brothers liked to cause trouble a lot and a lot of places we went to treated our family like a disease. To avoid all the stares, I tried to be perfect. Had nothing to distract me but I wasn't happy and the looks didn't go away. And then my friend got pregnant in high school and the father left her. I knew then and there that avoiding dating anyone was better. I wouldn't have to deal with heartbreak and I could continue trying to achieve perfection. But I failed. Guess I'm another failure to my family."

"You're not a failure. You're the most dedicated person I know. You have achieved what most people only dream about. If that is failure then the human race is doomed."

I looked at him and for the first time in my life, I looked at this person in front of me and he wasn't lying. There wasn't a fake smile, lies didn't pour out of his mouth. He was sincere about what he was saying. I never had that reaction before, not from anyone. Everyone I ever talked to seem to be putting off some sort of fake persona but he wasn't. He wasn't lying to me. He was telling me the truth. I wrapped my arms around him and he seemed surprised at first but then I felt his arms wrap around me. I tried to hold back the tears but emotions, true emotions that I held back for the longest time poured out and I cried. But they weren't sad, they were happy tears. Happy that I found someone who could look me in the eye and tell me the honest truth. Someone who I could bare my soul too. Who knew it would have been Colby Lopez.

"So, uh, question. You want to, I don't know, go out with me? Like, on a date?"

I laughed and nodded. I heard him release the breath he had been holding in. A date? And I agreed to it? Oh, no...