Faded

twenty-five

November 1st, Eric's POV

Smackdown was intense. I sat in my hotel bed as I watched the replays of Adriana getting dragged away by Bray Wyatt, Randy Orton, and Luke Harper leaving Dean laying in the ring. Tonight, Alexa beat her up backstage before Bray and Luke beat the hell out of Dean while Randy forced Adriana to watch. I hope she's okay, she deserves absolutely none of that.

"Baby please turn off the tv and come to bed with me." My girlfriend Liv purrs from behind me as I wave her off and pull my phone out to see a missed call from Billy, "Hey, I think I'm just gonna go spend the night in Billy's hotel room. Addi promised she'd FaceTime Mella and us." I say and Liv groans before turning her back to me.

I sigh before grabbing my new Adriana hoodie and walking over to Billy's room, Liv's soft cries making me frown. Although Liv and Addi made up, Liv still hates her and I'm 100% sure that Addi hates her too. I run my hand through my messy hair as I knock on Billy's hotel room door, "Eric!" A squeal comes from behind the door as Carmella swings it open.

"Aye Mella." I smile before walking into the room to see Billy on FaceTime with Addi and Dean. "Is that Eric I see?" A higher pitched voice asks happily as I walk closer to see Addi and Dean on the company screen, "Addi!" I laugh and jump onto the bed beside Billy as Adriana squeals and laughs. "I missed yinz!" She exclaims with that adorable Pittsburgh slang I love, "We missed you too honey! How's the wedding prep?" Mella asks as she sits on Billy's leg.

"Amazing, Dean tell them where we're getting married." She smiles at the taller man beside her on the bed as he chuckles, "First, we're getting married in the ring a day before Survivor Series, then we're getting married in Los Angeles with our families, and we're going to Miami for our 1st honeymoon and Greece for our second honeymoon." Dean smiles down at my Adriana as she blushes and hugs him. "Eric, I see you got one of my new hoodies on." She says as I look down at the black hoodie.

It's a cartoon version of Adriana in her favorite ring gear, the camo stuff, blowing a kiss with the Smackdown Women's title belt around her waist as she stands in front of a glowing neon Italian flag. "Oh, yeah, it's great." I laugh awkwardly as Dean kisses the side of Adriana's head, "Well, I'm very glad you like it. Oh, Mella, I have a super important question." She smiles brightly as Carmella pops back into camera view.

"Since we haven't seen each other in such a long time, I'd love it if you'd be one of my bridesmaids." Adriana smiles again as Carmella squeals and covers her mouth, "Of course Addi, oh my gosh I'd love to!" She replies happily as Dean and Adriana laugh. Damn it that should be me, I should be happy with her.

I should be the one to marry her inside of a ring, I should be the one sleeping with her every night, I should be the one holding her small body close to mine as her chest rises and falls with each breath she takes, I should be the one. Tears come to my eyes as I watch her and Dean smile at each other, her eyes lit up as Dean places his hand on her cheek, "Sorry to cut this short, but I'm wiped. I think I'm gonna go to bed." I speak up as Adriana looks at me. Her beautiful eyes still lit up as she slightly frowns, "Well, I guess I won't be able to ask you a very important question then." A pout settles on her face as I stare intently at her.

"What might that question be?" I ask and grab the computer from Billy, "Well, since we were in NXT together since the beginning of our careers and since it's a friend only wedding. I was wondering if you would walk me down the ramp, or aisle. For old times sake?" She asks and my jaw drops, "Wow, wasn't expecting that, but yeah. Of course Addi." I say as my heart drops into the pit of my stomach.

"Oh good!" She exclaims as Dean gets off their bed and walks over to the door, "I'm so glad you said yes, but I've gotta go. Becky and Dolph just got here, champions movie night." She giggles and I laugh. "Anything for you, I'll see ya." I smile before she waves and ends the call, I thrust the computer back to Billy before running out of the hotel room.

I sprint down the hallway as tears escape my eyes, my heart is beating a mile a minute as I run. I throw open the door to the steps and I run down to the lobby, ignoring the shouts from Billy and Carmella as my head begins to pound. She's everything I had, she's everything I had ever wanted, and now all I am to her is just some friend. I don't want to just be her friend, I want to be Dean right now, I want to be her husband so badly.

I run out into the cold November air as my surroundings begin to spin around me, my breathing quickens as I drop my knees and put my head in my hands. "Damn it, damn it, damn it." I cry out as even more tears spill from my eyes as a hand is placed on my shoulder, I look behind me to see Liv as she frowns at me. "Honey?" She asks quietly and I sniffle, "I can't do this anymore Liv, I can't know that she's happy with someone else and I'm with someone that I barely even know." I cry as she begins to cry with me.

"You're the reason I'm like this, if it wasn't for you I'd be marrying her inside that ring! Not Dean, but me, me for gods sake!" I shout as Liv stares at me stunned, "I can't do this anymore!" I shout once more before placing my hands over my eyes and beginning to cry again.

This time last year, I was happy. I was with Adriana, I was lying in a hotel room bed with her talking about NXT and how we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with each other as I felt her heartbeat against my chest. Now, I'm a mess sitting on a sidewalk as Liv cries because I just basically dumped her for the girl that's getting married in less than a month.

This time last year, I was already planning on how to propose to that girl. Now, I'm the one watching her get married to someone that's sure as hell not me.