After that day, Marcus keeps giving you the stinky eye every chance he gets. You still don't know what happened between him and Dean. Your guess is that it must have been something embarrassing or uncomfortable. To your bad luck, your boss doesn't break things off with Marcus for flirting with Dean. It would've been really dumb to do so, though it would've been nice revenge. Days pass by, and your friendship with Dean blossoms into something more than just watching TV together. You wouldn't say it's a deep friendship, but you are definitely moving past the unfounded hatred and awkwardness. Thus, when the date for the annual office party approaches, you briefly consider taking Dean along with you. I mean, why not? You're now friends, and it's not like things are going to be any more awkward than they would if you were to go alone. Your options are either asking Dean, taking a complete stranger with you, or going on your own. You really don't want to take just anybody because a work party isn't a place to have a first date. And you also rather not go on your own because then Marcus would have the opportunity to mock you in front of your coworkers. Yes, Marcus can be quite infantile sometimes.

However, when you make up your mind to invite Dean to the party, he already has plans for that day off. During dinner, he tells you that he's going to hang out with Castiel and Benny at the bar downtown. Deep down, you know what he's going to do there; maybe pick up some girl to go home with. Ever since your sex battle ended, he hasn't brought any woman home, though you guess he still sleeps with them. Perhaps he gets invited to their house instead. You're not sure why, but this discovery bothers you. You try not to dwell on it too much.

Since Dean has plans for the said night, you have to go on your own to the party. It's not the first time you've been there without a plus one, but it's definitely the first time since Marcus has been hired. For a strange reason, you feel like going to high school, and you're waiting for your bully to attack. Normally, you wouldn't think that Marcus would step so low to do something at a party, but lately, he's been a real pain in your ass. You think that maybe he has the goal to get you fired in order to take your position in the company.

When you decided to come solo, you expected some of your coworkers to comment on it, since they pretty much enjoy gossiping all the time. Marcus takes the price, though.

As soon as you enter the party, you hear your name being called. "Hey! How are you?" It's Christine, she works on the second floor, accounting. "I thought you weren't coming to the party."

You smile forcibly at her, "why would you think that?"

"Well, I've heard you recently broke up with your boyfriend. I'm sorry about that, by the way."

What the hell is she talking about? Since when do you have a boyfriend? And what does that has to do with the party?

"I- I don't know what you're talking about?"

Christine makes a dismissive gesture. "You don't need to hide anything from me, honey." She smiles fake, "Marcus saw the whole thing. What a tragedy, he's good-looking. But you're waay prettier, you deserve something better."

"Marcus... saw... what?"

"Oh, yeah, he saw you had this argument with your boyfriend at work. His name is David, Daniel, or Dean, isn't it?"

Dean? Why does Dean keep popping into your normal day-to-day conversations like that? Why does Christine think that when Dean brought you lunch, you were having an argument? Because that's the only time Dean has stepped a foot in your workplace. Foremost, you aren't even together, and now she thinks that was an argument? The only logical explanation is Marcus. She heard it from him, and he must've blown things out of proportion just for the amusement of it. He has really proven to be a real pain in your ass.

"Dean isn't my boyfriend..."

Christine gives you a sad smile, "well, of course, not anymore, sweetie." Before you can argue again, she interrupts, "don't worry! You need no man to be happy. C'mon, let's go grab a drink."

You let yourself be swiped by Christine, giving up on explaining that Dean isn't actually your boyfriend, nor he ever was. For a while, the party is actually fun and no one else mentions the supposed break-up that you just went through. You also don't see Marcus in the first two hours of being there. You guess he's too busy sucking your boss' dick or creating more false rumors around the company's employees. Even though Marcus clearly has something against you, you're aware that you're not his only target, and that he has pissed off a lot of other people. Nevertheless, the boss' favoritism over him is like a shield that protects him from any possible backlash. You remember the peacefulness that used to be working there. You drink a lot, maybe more than you should have because, by the time the clock hits 10, you're more than tipsy.

Even though no one has mentioned you breaking up with some hot dude during work hours, you can feel their lingering gazes on you, judging as you flirt with the bartender. Maybe that's the reason that you drink more than normal, or maybe it's just been an accumulated load of bullshit that is threatening to explode. Your company isn't very big, so you're not surprised that the rumor of your fake break-up has reached everyone's ears, but you expected people to have some more common sense believing the gossip than they have. First, it's none of their fucking business who you are with, and second, why would Marcus ever tell the truth? Perhaps they're just too eager for some gossip that they're willing to believe anything. Truth be told, you haven't had an amusing life. Since you started work in the company, you've kept to yourself in personal matters, so now that they think you're dating, it has become public knowledge and a source of entertainment.

"Hello everybody." It is then that your boss decides to take the attention of the room by giving an announcement. Their outfit is pristine and clean, and you can see Marcus a few passes behind them. "Thank you so much for attending our annual party. I hope you're having a good time. I'd like to take this moment to announce some big news. As some of you might be aware, we're expanding to the coast." The audience claps, and you follow along. You knew about this, but you think it would take another year for the paperwork to go through. "Because of it, our manager, Steven, is leaving to manage that other branch." More clapping for Steven. "And we're going to need someone to take Steven's place here in Kansas." You perk up at this, technically, you're Steven's junior. His empty spot is supposed to be yours, why did no one tell you about this? "Give a big round of applause to Marcus! Your newest supervisor." What-The-Fuck?

Some people celebrate Marcus' promotion. You're stuck in between applauding and screaming in fury. Months ago, your boss told you that when they expanded, Steven's positions might become yours. Sure, he will use the word might , but come on! You were Steven's junior and Marcus' senior, that spot was to become yours! Steven trained you for it. Now, like everything else, Marcus has come to wreck it all. Around you, some people throw glances at you. They also know that Stephen's sport was yours.

You have half a mind to go in there and scream at your boss. Maybe that's not such a good idea with everyone celebrating, the alcohol in your veins, and Marcus' snakelike smile towards you. It's then that you decide you're done with it. You're so tired, the only thing you want right now is to go home. So that's what you do.

Even though you're old enough not to get yourself sucked into Marcus' bullying, you cannot help to be bothered by it. Sure, if you're a grown-ass adult that has confidence in herself, but that doesn't mean that you're going to let some nobody step all over you. However, are you going to go as low as him and create your own network of trickery and bullying? Or are you going to move past them? Like you don't care, because, in truth, you don't care about the petty office rumors. You just wish your professional image wouldn't be affected by it. Your boss has clearly proven to be completely useless in dealing with stabilizing the work environment. And most of the other coworkers you have are clearly as bad as Marcus for allowing that kind of behavior. From the moment you arrived at the company, you knew that you wouldn't last long. The salary was low, the work hours were tiring, and there was this lingering sexism that was part of the office modus operandi. Today, it's already been proven that the boss doesn't consider hard work or loyalty above a good ass and a male penis. The only reason you've stayed this long is because you thought the work environment was good. Not anymore, so you are done with that bullshit. The only thing left to do is to go on Monday and officially give your resignation letter. You don't really have a backup plan or any other job on the waiting. What you do have, though, is some savings, and hopefully the support of your trusted friends. There is certainty in the fact that you cannot stay in the poisonous company anymore. You much rather take your chances unemployed than continue working there, and now under Marcus's vigilance. It kind of feels like giving up and letting him win, but you cannot keep living like that.

You exit the building and give one last lingering look towards the place you worked in for the last two years. There's confidence in your steps as you walk to your car.

When you arrive home, Dean's Baby is ready there. The Impala looks gorgeous with its sleek black color under the moonlight. You stop for a second to admire the beautiful car. In the back of your mind, you wonder why is Dean so early after hanging out with Castiel and Benny. When you enter, you see him sitting in the living room with a magazine in his hands. It doesn't take a genius to know what kind of magazine it is.

"Having fun, are we?" He's startled by your voice, maybe he didn't hear you open the door.

"Why are you home so early?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

He shrugs, "Castiel wanted to go home to Meg, and Benny left with a girl." You don't ask him why he didn't do the same.

"I see, well, my party was ruined by Marcus's sex life. So I guess I win the lamest night today." Dean pats the seat beside himself on the sofa. You don't hesitate to take the invitation.

"Wanna talk about it?"

That's all it takes for you to open up to him in a way that you never thought you would. Perhaps it's the alcohol. You tell him about everything that has been going on with Marcus at your workplace and what happened at the party. He can see the frustration when you mention the promotion your coworker scored. Then, you tell him your resolution of resigning from the company. Once you say this, you quickly add:

"Don't worry, though, I have some savings, so I can pay for the rent... for three months." You smile at him.

He must notice that it's a fake ass smile because he shakes his head, defeated. "Don't worry about it, you can pay me when you find another job."

"What? No, no, no, I will pay you as I'm supposed to."

He makes a dismissive just to gesture. "I said before, you don't need to." Before you can insist any longer, he changes the subject: "I met Marcus at a bar, he was pretty eager to get to know me, even after I told him I wasn't gay." You perk up in your seat, story time. "And he clearly wanted more than a hook-up. I talked to him, you know, just friendly conversation, but he thought maybe it was me changing my mind because he made a move on me, and he wasn't happy when I put a stop to it. It was rather awkward. He isn't a guy you can say no to. When I went again to the same bar, he was there too, and he clearly can't take a hint. If you know what I mean. So I decided to not go there anymore. He's very... intense."

You laugh at the look on his face. When he sees you smile, he follows along with you, as if it was his purpose in the first place. The rest of the night, you spend it on the couch badmouthing Marcus, and you don't feel a tiny bit guilty about it.