* This is for LunaticLover142 and anyone in particular who doesn't mind an AJ Styles fic :) I'd like to point out that everything in italics is the past, beginning with Scarlett and John's relationship. This will be three parts long. Hope you enjoy and as usual I do not own a thing! Scarlett is LunaticLover142's doing :) *
/
"What're you looking at?"
AJ didn't say a peep no matter how much Scarlett pressed. He just kept grinning, pulling Scarlett closer in his arms and swirling a piece of her long red hair between his fingers. He wasn't much for public displays of affection at work but he couldn't hold back.
Scarlett rested her head against his shoulder, only to have him lift her chin to stare him dead in the eye- that smile still plastered on his face.
"What're you smiling at?" She asked this time, her cheeks flushed and fiery, feeling his eyes burn a hole right through her.
"You," he finally answered, as sweet and simple as that.
"Why?" She breathed, her stomach fluttering.
"'Cause I'm looking at the most beautiful girl in the entire arena," the southerner whispered. She melted like butter with every touch and word he spoke- whether it was simplest of remarks or romantic sweet talk that just felt right. Whatever it was, AJ had a wicked effect on the young woman ever since their very first encounter. Since then, Scarlet had been head over heels, crazy in love with the man who proved there was such a thing as love after loss.
Scarlett went to hide her face but AJ stopped her. Instead he grabbed her hands with his own, resting his forehead against hers- nothing else mattered but the two of them, in the busiest of areas before the madness of Smackdown Live of all places.
"You don't need to hide whenever I compliment ya, Scar... It's nothing but the truth."
"You just make me feel like it's the first time I've ever heard anything so sweet... And it damn well feels like it."
His hands slithered their way up her arms, fingers gracing her bare skin. He cradled her cheeks, his thumb stroking the side of her mouth as he gazed into her eyes. She waited and waited for his lips to press against hers but AJ had other plans. You know what?" He asked.
"What?" She whispered, lost inside those baby blues. He smiled again, about to open his mouth before an interruption halted his thought process.
"Whatever you two are doing, get it over with, fast," John remarked as he approached the couple, "Sorry Scarlett... I'm here to steal AJ. We have a meeting with creative before the show starts."
"You really know how to spoil a good moment, don't ya?" AJ chuckled his arms slowly retracting from Scarlett.
"You know, John... They should really call you 'The face that ruins moments' instead," Scarlett added, holding back laughter.
John shook his head but no matter how much he tried, he couldn't contain even a chuckle. "That is marketing gold right there."
"You're gonna need something if I snatch that nickname of yours away, right?" AJ teased.
John actually found it humorous, his lips cracking into a full on smile. "We'll see, rookie... We gotta make it to that meeting first. So can I steal AJ from you, Scar?"
She nodded, AJ's hand slipping into hers as John walked by, continuing down the hall slowly. "I'll see you after the show, beautiful," AJ whispered, "And good luck out there tonight. I'll be watching."
"Thanks... Have fun," Scarlet said, almost on her knees once AJ kissed the top of her hand. She was left with a fluttering stomach and shivers running up and down her spine as she watched her man catch up to John, turning the corner to the make shift creative office for the night.
"How long you two been together?" John asked, attempting a bit of small talk.
"A few months," AJ answered, "About five to be exact."
"You like her?"
"Of course... She's gotten me out of a bad rut. She means a lot to me."
"No," John said, stopping abruptly. AJ was left eyeing the guy in absolute confusion- why did Cena sound as sternly as he did?
"Umm... What?"
"Be real with me. You have something special with Scarlett, I can tell," John explained, "I can't see her go through hell again... So just tell me, do you really, really like her?"
"Look, I appreciate you lookin' out for her and all but the last thing I'm gonna do is put her through hell... And yes, I really like the girl," AJ explained. God, the thought alone made his stomach turn. Scarlett was everything good in his life- his shinning sun, another reason aside from his kids to wake up in the morning and absolutely love life again.
"You give me your word?" John asked, extending his hand to seal the deal- reassurance all he needed.
AJ was still as confused as ever but shook John's hand anyway. He still wanted some kind of explanation though for John's over the top behaviour. "Why you so concerned about how I treat her? Didn't know you two were friends..." AJ pondered.
John sighed something deep. He sounded pained, even the look on his face seemed to project that. "A couple months back... I was the one who put her through hell," John answered honestly and freely. It wasn't hard talking about his relationship with Scarlett since it was still so fresh.
"I lost something really, really great in my life... I lost Scarlet. She helped me through a lot too and I loved her."
A bit of shock overcame AJ. He was still slightly new to the company and all but never had he heard anything about Scarlett and John's past relationship... Not even from her. To say he wasn't a bit intimidated was an understatement... Cena was the guy, literally The Face That Runs The Place! He could have his pick at any of the women on Smackdown and RAW combined. He could easily scoop Scarlett off her feet again if he wanted... That alone was enough to squash any and all of AJ's fragile confidence.
But who was he to question AJ's morals when it came to treating women? It pissed him off and rightfully so. John knew nothing about their relationship so there was no room for assumption.
"I just want to make sure she's being treated right."
"She is," AJ declared, "Not to be disrespectful, John, but I'm not about to go and repeat your mistakes."
John had that look in his eyes as he stared at AJ, as if he were trying to intimidate the man. Yeah he messed up and made mistakes but the last thing he wanted was some one like AJ Styles reminding him he did just that... Fucked up.
But he bit his tongue. Work place conflict wasn't his thing, being new and all which John seemed to understand. "So we have an understanding?" He asked, ready to put the subject of Scarlett and his own misfortune behind him.
AJ slowly nodded just as Mark and Stephanie walked out to greet the two. "Yeah... I won't make the same mistakes as you did... Guaranteed," he mumbled, dead set on the notion he wouldn't end up like Cena.
X
"You told me you wouldn't kiss me... Remember?"
"It sounds like you don't want me to."
"I'm-I'm just repeating what you said."
"So you want me to kiss you?"
"I never said no..."
It was an open invitation and John didn't resist any longer. He pressed his lips against Scarlett's, kissing her slowly in fear she'd push him away. But to his surprise, she kissed him back just as hungrily and passionately as he secretively hoped for.
The divorce from his ex-wife had taken a hell of a toll on John, kicking him senseless without remorse. Emotions of every sort filled John, making it easy than ever to sign on the doted line. It seemed like the divorce was over as fast as the marriage began...
It had only been a month since Liz officially denounce herself as the former Mrs. Cena, moved out completely and taken her rightful amount money wise- leaving John utterly alone. He was depressed, especially having to show boat and perform for crowds five days a week like he was still living on cloud nine.
Till he met the girl pressed against his body in heated fashion... Her arms wrapped around his neck as he scooped her up with ease, letting his lips explore her delicate neck- skin burning and red hot.
The fiery woman, Scarlett, was like his savior. She was a real angel in John's eyes.
If it weren't for those late night conversations and coffee dates, he was sure he'd still feel like the pile of shit his divorce forced him to feel like.
"John?" She mumbled, completely overcome with ecstasy- his teeth grazing her skin perfectly. "You're breaking your rule..."
"There's something I wanna do, but I can't... At least not yet," he'd said a few nights back. Scarlett knew exactly what he was talking about... He wanted to kiss her and his body language nearly roared the fact. But he couldn't- swearing off any contact with the opposite sex in order to heal his broken heart.
"I'm not stopping now," John more or less confirmed. And he did just that... He didn't stop and more than one rule had been broken that night.
He lay Scarlett across his bed with absolutely no reservations at all. John had gone weeks without doing what he pleased- a simple kiss let alone touching the girl.
"John?" She whispered, cradling his head in her hands. He paused, his hands in hovering over her body just incase. It was obvious they were rushing things- the night not exactly what either envisioned. Maybe she was having second thoughts and John would be left at square one again.
"Touch me," she whispered, grabbing his hand in hers and placing it over top her breast. John didn't need to think twice nor did he want to. With a gentle squeeze of his hand, he obliged, enjoying the sweet sounding moan from her lips.
John's senses ran wild as his hands explored her flesh without regret. He needed the contact after having gone so long without anything at all.
It drove him mad as Scarlett quivered underneath him that he could no longer hold back. "I need you," he said, "I want you."
Clouded by lust, Scarlett grabbed his hand again- this time placing him underneath her skirt to explore. She could have sworn she heard him growl and in an instant John was tugging on her clothing to come off.
They lost themselves within one another that night- John going against everything he stood for. But he didn't care. The look on her face while basking in the intimacy they shared was rewarding enough.
John didn't know what to think of next.
Was it a one time thing?
No... John wanted more. As the night went on, with Scarlett laying asleep in his arms, he fought the urge to indulge once more.
Did it mean a lot more than rebound sex?
Of course. Scarlett wasn't just some ring rat or broad he picked up from the bar. She was a friend from the get go.
But the ultimate, break or make question went unanswered for the sake of John fearing losing Scarlett in every which way if the issue came up...
Was she expecting the budding of a serious relationship any time soon?
X
AJ paced back and forth backstage, almost burning a hole right through the floor. He was aggravated to begin with but having witnessed what he had moments ago sent him into a heated rage.
Cena and Scarlett... Side by side... John's arm around her like it was completely okay. Like AJ would be thrilled with the contact of sorts.
No. Absolutely not.
He didn't like anything about John's arm around her or the way she laughed when he said something that probably sounded stupid.
It wasn't the kinda thing AJ wanted to see or hear having been told Cena and Scarlett were a thing of the past. His lack of trust issues made it hard to see his love side by side with another man and it brought him back to a deep, dark place he was still trying to escape after a year ago.
AJ was one damaged individual- merely a broken man thanks to a divorce from a woman he shared nearly twenty years and four children with.
He was skeptical as could be to pick up the pieces and move on, maybe find love again if he were lucky.
But he was.
A couple months passed with a WWE contract signed, Scarlett just happened to land herself in his life as well and he couldn't have been happier. He struck gold- the twenty seven year old the brightest light there was to steer him out of his rut.
But his demons still lurked. He'd never been the jealous type in his life but he had his ex-wife to "thank" for that.
"So Scarlett, Nikki and John?" AJ heard, his ears burning at the sound of Scarlett's name. He snapped his head in the direction the chatter came from- realizing it must have been something to do with creative since Corano was present.
"Yeah, we'll start off the angle with a heel turn."
"Who's turning heel?"
"Nikki Bella."
Nikki Bella? AJ began to piece things together to make sense of the conversation he just so happened to be hearing.
So an angle between Nikki, Scarlett and John was happening? He wondered and then it clicked. It had to be something along the lines of romance if it involved two women... And John Cena.
AJ continued to listen in when he probably should have walked away but instead letting his blood boil with the idea that Scarlett was now deemed a love interest.
"Nikki turns on best friend Scarlett at the end of their match, crowd goes nuts and she garners enough heat as possible. Later on in the coming weeks it'll be known that Cena and Scarlett used to date which is why Nikki is jealous. This will take away John's focus once AJ challenges him for the ultimate match at SummerSlam. It'll give AJ a bit of momentum- something to bug John about."
Yeah... And maybe a black eye if he continues holding onto Scarlett like that...
"Hey," he heard her voice from behind. He composed himself the best he could before he turned around the greet the woman who was so happy to see him.
"You look oddly focused," she commented, shinning him a smile he just couldn't resist. AJ snapped out of it pretty quick, wrapping his arms around her as he stared down at John who so happened to be looking their way.
"Just getting in the zone for tonight... It's the start of something big. Not only for me, but you too," he said.
"So you heard?" She asked, resting her hands against his chest, "About the storyline they're giving John while he's going face to face with you?"
AJ nodded but he kept his composure pretty well under wraps while he fought the urge to dig a little dirt. "Yeah... It's funny, I didn't know you and him used to date."
Scarlett shrugged her shoulders like it was no big deal. "Ages ago."
AJ stretched his arms over his head, his mind playing games again. Why was she so nonchalant about it when he had just spotted the two so cozy with one another? Why was she so giddy with John while AJ looked on from the corner of the hall?
Was he overreacting? Had it been blown out of proportion.
Most definitely. But AJ couldn't grip the sense that that was the case.
"Are you comfortable with the storyline?" Scarlett felt like she needed to ask. AJ was her boyfriend and all. His opinion mattered and if something as personal as a storyline with an old ex came between the two, why not iron it out now?
"Oh yeah, yeah I'm cool with it," AJ said, convincing himself in the process. This was a huge role for everyone involved. If he had a problem with it, which he did, would he risk ruining it for everyone?
No... Even though he wanted to.
"Just don't get mad if I refer to you as the "Chick That Also Runs The Place" now," he joked, but inside he was jealous- nothing like he'd ever felt before.
Scarlett breathed a sigh of relief, stealing a kiss before she was swept away to read over the night's script. "I'll see you after, handsome."
"Handsome, huh?" AJ chuckled.
He smiled as she looked back, winking her eye at him. "Of course... And he's all mine."
"Good... See ya, beautiful. Good luck out there."
Scarlett blew him a kiss, but everything about her reassurance wasn't really reassuring at all. AJ sighed his frustrations. It hurt to see her walk away, but even worse- catching up with the man he was extremely and secretively jealous about.