The room was restless, but it was an anticipating kind of disturbance. Dean sighed and picked up the guitar. This was it. Tonight his life would change. The people in the room were waiting for him to get on stage and perform. Just like he did last year. Lisa's co-workers would listen to him and they would never know. Lisa would, and she would know everything. She'd know that he knew, and she'd know he'd never let it slide. Last year Dean had performed 'Lady in Red' and Lisa, in her flaming red dress, had smiled at him and danced with her boss, Brady.

Cussing, Dean straightened his shoulders. 'Just get though this. Then it'll all be over.' he thought and sighed. Stepping on stage, his eyes found Lisa unerringly. Lisa smiled widely and clapped her hands. Others looked around and started applauding too. Dean sat down on the stool and let his fingers find the chords.

"It started off so well.
They said we made a perfect pair.
I clothed myself in your glory and your love.
How I loved you,
How I cried."

In his mind, Dean was back at their house. He'd left for work, but had forgotten a form he needed to give Bobby. So he came back and when he had grabbed the paper, he heard Lisa on the phone. He was about to sneak out again, when he caught his own name. Stilling, he listened.

"Yeah, I know, Lilith. Dean is just... Yeah. I just hope he never finds out. No, I like Brady. He's so much more... Yeah, adventurous is one way of putting it..."
Lisa had laughed softly, innuendo slotting in place with it. Dean's stomach had relocated around his knees, and he knew he should stop eavesdropping, but he couldn't.

"No! Don't be stupid, Lilith. We use protection, duh. I'm not sure Dean can't get me pregnant, but we have been trying for a while now... Yeah, I know. More frequent would mean more chances... Uhuh. No. Not with him. Good God, girl, use your head. Mmm. Maybe you're right. How would Dean know it's not his... I'll think about it."

Lisa's tone had told Dean the conversation was winding down, and he hightailed it out of there. Without Lisa knowing, he had started making plans. Things to do, affaires (fucking word meant too much different things) to get sorted. Bile had risen in his throat every time Lisa tried to make a move on him, and he'd pretended to sleep, or be too tired. Sometimes he gritted his teeth and played along, but most of the time he could avoid it. Weeks dragged into months. And then, she had told him, a radiant smile on her face. She was pregnant.
Dean had been violently sick in no time. Lisa had thought it was sympathy vomiting, and beamed at him. Dean didn't correct her.

Tonight, Dean had shot a text to Sam and Bobby, just before grabbing the guitar. Everything was ready.

"Years of care and loyalty,
Were nothing but a sham it seemed.
Years belie,
We lived the lie.
I'll love you, 'til I die."

By now, Lisa wasn't smiling anymore. She eyed the stage with a questioning look, but Dean smiled easily, even though his heart felt empty and cold.

Lisa shrugged slightly, and turned back to her boss, who stood too close, hands lingering on her arm, her back, her butt. Dean played and sang, his mind blissfully empty. Water under the bridge. Over and done with. Closing the door, locking it tightly too. Screw her.

"The slate will soon be cleaned.
I'll erase the memories.
To start again with somebody new.
Was it all wasted?
All that love?"

From a dark corner of the room, near the exit, Dean suddenly saw two eyes staring at him. The person itself was in the shade, but their eyes gleamed, and watched Dean without blinking. Dean licked his lips and continued.

"I hang my head,
And I advertise.
A soul for sale or rent.
I have no heart, I'm cold inside.
I have no real intent."

Dean looked back at Lisa, who had raised one eyebrow at him, but she didn't stop talking with Brady. Brady laughed and pushed her hair from her ear to whisper in it. Dean saw, but he didn't care. He ignored them and kept going. He just had to get through this, then it would all be done.

"Save me, save me.
I can't face this life alone.
Save me, save me.
I'm naked and I'm far from home..."

Lisa laughed at something someone said, head bent backwards, hair tumbling down her back. She looked ravishing, and Dean couldn't care less. Now that he'd lost his rose-coloured view, he saw how she flirted with most men, and a few women too. His mouth pulled down in a bitter frown, before he regained his composure and slipped the carefree mask back on.

The person in the corner followed Dean's gaze and a hand squeezed a paper cup until it was nothing but a crumpled up ball. Another, shorter, person got close and whispered something. A quick hug ensued and the taller person left, whilst the shorter one stepped out into the light. His eyes were a bit sad, which was unusual for him. His shoulderlength hair curled around his ears and in his neck as he slowly shook his head. "You're going to break one day, Dean-o. If not now, soon enough. You need someone to fall back on. I just hope you find the right one." He fished a piece of red rope candy out of his pocket and bit down on it.

Meanwhile, Dean was reaching the end of the song and a sadness filled him. After this, there was no turning back. Yet he would see it through, and brave whatever followed.

"Each night I cry,
I still believe the lie;
I'll love you, 'til I die.

Ohhh save me, save me, sa-ave me.
Don't let me face my life alone...
Save me, save me, ohoo-ooh..
I'm naked and I'm far from ho-ome."

His fingers stilled, his head hung and his heart broke.
Then someone started clapping, and others followed. The whole room applauded Dean, except for Gabriel, from maintenance, and Lisa who eyed Dean suspiciously. Dean stuck his carefree smile back on and bowed. That thawed Lisa out and she clapped too. Dean made his way backstage, where he unexpectedly met Gabriel. His sunshine-through-whiskey eyes were sympathetic as he took the guitar.

"Go. Scoot. I'll make up an excuse for you, Dean-o. I get the feeling you don't wanna be here any more than a vampire wants to sunbathe."
Dean's mouth quirked in a semblance of a quick smile.
"Thanks Gabe. I owe you one."

The 5'7" guy chuckled.
"Yeah yeah... and one day I'll collect. Move your gigantic butt, bucko, before she comes looking for you."
Dean dipped his head and grabbed his leather jacket. Lisa hated that thing.
"What are you? A rebel teen? A peacoat is more mature." she used to say.
Dean smirked and shrugged his shoulders into the comfortable warmth. The familiar weight and smell surrounded him like a warm hug. Dean hunched his shoulders and stepped out into the swirling snow.