A/N: Ok here's another story simply because I'm enjoying writing it so much! Thanks for all the reviews and tweets!
Part II: Pinky Promises
AJ applied more lip-gloss to her already glossy lips and closely examined her face to make sure it looked perfect. She wasn't big on makeup and she wasn't wearing much today either but she wanted to look perfect for him. She knew he wouldn't mind if she married him with her hair in a bun and zero makeup but today was far too important for that. These pictures would be around forever and they would be the photos they would show their children one day and she wanted to feel confidant. Again her mind wandered off to when they slowly started to progress into something more and how difficult that was with prying of eyes of not only the public but their co-workers as well.
"Hey shorty" Punk said jogging up to AJ who was heading down the hall with her Diva's butterfly belt safely nestled on her shoulder.
"Hey there" AJ grinned. Once Punk returned they had fallen back into their familiar and completely platonic friendly ways and the two didn't really ever mention the one night they shared. "How's the head?" she asked referring to the stitches he received he previous night at Money In The Bank.
"Hurts" Punk admitted lightly "But I'll live"
"Good" AJ smirked "What's up?"
"So I got a call from Chris Hardwick earlier today you know who that is?" Punk asked as AJ just rolled her eyes
"Of course" she said with a laugh "So what did he want?"
"You know how they do celebrity charity bowling-" Punk started but AJ held up her hand and stopped him from speaking
"Don't even waste your breath I am not doing it" AJ said seriously
"Why not?" Punk frowned "It'll be fun Kofi is already in"
"I can't bowl" AJ said to him seriously
"Oh come on" Punk groaned "I'll tell them to edit out all the bad shots you take"
"That'll be all of them" AJ said placing her hands on her hips "Look if you want to win you should ask someone else"
"We'll win because I'm playing" Punk said to her smugly "But I want you there regardless"
"Why not ask Amy?" AJ suggested
"Because Amy doesn't work for WWE" Punk said to her "Please?" he asked pouting his lip
"That doesn't work on girls" AJ said with smirk
"You're already breaking" Punk pointed out "Come on it'll be fun, we'll eat, hang out and I'll even let you pick one of the charities. I mean you do support helping charities?"
"Wow that was low" AJ said "But you win I'm in on two conditions!" she said pointing at him "First is one charity has to be an animal charity"
"Deal" Punk agreed "Next"
"Second is you don't blame when we lose because you've been warned about how bad I suck" AJ said with wide eyes to get her point across "This isn't going to be one of those things that you mock me for over and over again"
"I promise" Punk said to her "Thank you, we're going to have a great time"
Of course after her horrible showing at bowling Punk had gone back on his word and made fun of her constantly. It drove her insane and almost made her regret agreeing to do it to begin with but if she hadn't agreed then they wouldn't have been one step closer to finally being together. She often wondered if she would be here today if she hadn't agreed to go bowling because what happened that night was a major step forward for the two.
"You promised me you wouldn't make fun of me!" AJ said pointing at him. It was about nine at night and they were sitting in a pizzeria across from their hotel.
"I lied" Punk admitted "But in all fairness you didn't say you were that bad" he laughed as he took a big bite out of his pizza
"I told you" she frowned "You're such a sore loser"
"There's no such thing as a good loser. A loser is a loser and you should never be proud of a loss" Punk said to her causing her to roll her eyes
"You must have been fun to play sports with when you were a kid" AJ muttered sipping on her drink
"I never lost" Punk grinned confidently
"Ugh" AJ muttered
"Is that all you're going to eat?" Punk asked nodding to her half eaten slice
"Oh unlike you I need to weigh a certain amount" AJ laughed "When you're a Diva and have to weigh in every other week you can comment on how much I eat"
"You're going to get sick" He said more seriously "You weigh about what 90lbs?"
"I'm not going to discuss my weight with you" she warned
"Finish your pizza and you won't have to" Punk shot back seriously nodding towards her plate "you have a match on Sunday and I'm sure you passing out a ringside isn't the way you imagined your night"
"Who passes out during a match anymore?" AJ mocked but he just glared "Fine" she said picking up the pizza "Happy?" she mocked with a full mouth swallowing the pizza
"Very" Punk said happily "So are you going to the Summer Slam red carpet crap show their throwing tomorrow night?" he asked. They were already in LA for the show they arrived early to film the bowling segment and tomorrow would be a full day of events for most of the stars
"I'm not attending" she informed him
"No way do I have to go to that you're not even showing up" Punk said seriously "How'd you get out of it?"
"How can I put this?" AJ asked taping her chin "When you turn down a horribly scripted reality show then maybe you won't be invited to these sort of events either"
"You weren't invited?" Punk asked surprised
"It was more like 'most of the divas are going to be filming the show if you want to be apart of it, if not eh' sort of thing" AJ said with a shrug "I don't mind and I don't have any signings tomorrow since Total Diva's are taking over that as well so I get the day off"
"I'm jealous" Punk said with a smirk
"Besides you won't miss there you can drag Amy with you" AJ said to him
"Yea she's not flying down" Punk said awkwardly
"Why?" AJ frowned. She was sure they were back in a good place
"We're trying to give each other space. She'll be in on Sunday for the show though and then we'll sit down and talk things over" Punk admitted
"Want to talk about it?" AJ asked
"Not really" Punk said cutely "What are your plans for tomorrow?"
"I should be going to the gym but I'm thinking about blowing it off and hitting the beach" AJ said to him "Want to tag along? You're looking kind of pale" she said seriously
"Yea actually I do" Punk said to her "You don't mind?"
"No besides you can help me build a sand castle" AJ said happily
"I'm not building a sand castle" Punk said quickly
"It's the beach!" AJ said practically shouted "What else would you do there?"
"I don't know lay out? Swim in the ocean?" Punk asked causally
"Swing in the ocean? With the sharks, jellyfish and crabs?" AJ asked almost stunned
"Seriously you're afraid of the ocean?" Punk laughed at her expression
"I'm not afraid of the ocean I just-" AJ started then stopped
"What?" Punk asked still smiling "Bad experience?"
"When I was a kid my parents took us to the beach all of the time because it was free and fun" AJ started "One time we went I was about knee deep and I felt something pinch my toe and I looked down there was crab attached to my toe!"
"A little crab scared you off?" Punk laughed
"No it gets worse" AJ said to him seriously "As I'm thrashing around screaming trying to get the crab off of my toe I got stung by a jell fish at the same exact time"
"You're kidding?" Punk asked still laughing
"It's not funny" AJ pouted "It hurt and after that I said I will not go into any ocean that I can't see the floor clearly"
"I'll tell you what I'll help you look for shells if you come in the ocean with me" Punk offered but she seemed hesitant "I promise to protect you with my life in that ocean. I will rip any crab off of you and jump in front of any jelly fish you have my word"
"Pinky promise?" she asked seriously extending her pinky. Punk just eyed her extended pinky then met her eyes and saw she was serious so he extended his pinky and captured her smaller one with his
"Pinky promise" Punk said then lightly kissed their joined pinkies "And a kiss to seal the deal ok?"
"Ok" AJ said pulling her hand away and smiling lightly
AJ smiled at the memory and when he said 'I promise to protect you with my life' it gave her butterflies, butterflies she wasn't sure even existed anymore. Even though he was referring to something silly she knew he meant what he was saying and that's when she felt the feelings she had kept buried deep inside start to resurface. He was still with Amy somewhat during that time and she didn't want to push him but that didn't mean she wouldn't want to spend time with him. And after the beach trip she knew she was in deep.
"I thought we were building a sand castle" Punk groaned as AJ was perched on her beach table watching Punk play in the sand as if he was some sort of a child. She was lying on her stomach and using her hands to hold her head up. "Not just me building the sand castle"
"You're so much better than I am" AJ said simply "Don't forget the mot"
"Oh of course" Punk mocked digging around the castle "We have to protect the princess"
"Come on you've seen Mario" AJ said seriously "I want it to look just like that"
"I'm hot" Punk said placing his hands on his things while his knees were buried in the sand
"You're full of yourself" she said seriously causing him to laugh
"I meant it's like a hundred degrees I want to cool off" Punk said standing up and extended his hand to AJ "You promised, actually you pinky promised"
"Ok" AJ said taking her sunglasses off and removed her bathing suit cover and placing it on her towel. She wasn't wearing a skimpy bikini and Punk could tell she wasn't entirely comfortable in it but she looked amazing to him. Punk in turn pulled his shirt off and thankfully he didn't catch AJ eyeing him, once he turned around she turned around to face the ocean
"Ready shorty?" Punk asked as he they headed towards the shoreline
"Yup just remember what you promised" AJ said seriously pointing at him as the waves hit their feet first
As soon as they hit the water it was freezing causing AJ to flinch
"This feels so great" Punk said enjoying the waves as they headed in deeper
"Wait for me" AJ said as one wave knocked her under the water. Punk quickly stepped over to her and grabbed her hand pulling her back up
"You ok?" he laughed
"Great" she said and that's when Punk grabbed her other hand and pulled her further into the water "How deep are we going?" she asked
"I've got you" Punk promised and pulled her out even further where he was about hip deep in the water and because of the height difference the water came up to about her chest "Not so bad right?" he asked her
"No so far so-" AJ stopped as her eyes widened
"What?" he asked alarmed and was knocked over when AJ jumped into his arms
"I felt something brush up against my leg!" she shouted wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist
"You're ok" He laughed regaining his balance
"I felt it" she told him in such a scared face that he couldn't help but smile
"I told you I'd protect you" Punk reminded her "You're ok"
"I'm not crazy" AJ said seriously
"It was probably seaweed" Punk said to her "Do you want to get down?" he asked her
"Am I making you uncomfortable?" AJ asked tilting her head slightly offering him a smile
"Not at all" He said tightening his grip. And in that moment there eyes were locked and they both knew what the other wanted.
"Punk" She started and placed her hand on his face "Thanks" she said referring to him keeping his word. He didn't respond he just kept his eyes locked on hers and how her wet hair was no sticking to her face, makeup long gone and in that moment she had never looked more beautiful to him. He wasn't sure how she'd respond but he leaned in and captured her lips with his own. He wasn't sure if he should pull away but when he felt her tongue seeking access he quickly reciprocated and before they knew it they were engaged in a hot and heavy make-out session in the middle of the ocean while AJ still remained wrapped around his body. It wasn't until they were hit by a wave that they were pulled apart.
"Cool enough?" AJ asked as Punk helped her back up after being knocked over
"I wouldn't say that" Punk grinned sheepishly referring to the searing kiss they had just shared
"You know what I mean" AJ smirked
"Yea let's layout" Punk said to her
Once they made it back to their towels AJ took a seat on hers and Punk looked down at her from a standing position.
"AJ-" he started
"It's fine" she said cutting him off "We got caught up in the moment" she didn't want him to feel guilt because he was still working things out with Amy. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have jumped on you"
"It wasn't your fault" Punk smirked taking a seat next to her on his own towel "I really like you AJ I don't want to blow our friendship" she was far to important lose over a stupid fling no matter how badly his body wanted he knew he'd have to control himself.
"I know" AJ said forcing a smile. She had just been 'friend-zoned' for the second time by Punk "And you're also still working things out with Amy and I don't want to get in the middle of that at all. I want you to be happy with her"
"Yea" Punk said forcing a nod
"I'm not going to say anything" AJ said giving him a reassuring smile
"I know you wouldn't" Punk said seriously "But I'm not worried about her right now I just feel like I'm giving you a lot of mixed signals"
"We're two friends who slept together a long time ago" AJ started off "And we kissed just now and that's it. You're one of my best friends and sometimes our emotions get the best of us. That's it"
"We're cool?" Punk asked seriously
"Not if you don't shut up and let me rest" she giggled reaching over and grabbing her sunscreen.
"Alright" He said laying back on his towel and watched as she lathered the sunscreen on her arms, legs and chest. She was having difficulty with her back but she would never ask Punk to do it.
"Give me" Punk said sitting up extending his hand and she placed the lotion in his hand
"Yea you're going to burn" AJ smirked
"It's not for me" he said putting it on his hand "Turn around" he instructed and she did so as he carefully and slowly rubbed her back down
"Thanks" She muttered lightly and when he was finished he handed her back the lotion
"That's what friends are for" Punk said with a wink
"Are you sure you don't want sunscreen?" She asked seriously "You're seriously going to burn and you have to be at the red carpet thing tonight-" she started
"I'm good AJ" Punk said with a smug smile lying back on his towel "It's all about rotation"
"Oh excuse me" she mocked lightly lying back herself
The kiss in the ocean was defiantly one of her top favorite kisses she had ever shared with him. It was tender, sweet yet lustful and really pushed of their feelings for each other. And AJ wasn't much of a romantic but she was sure that was probably one of the most random romantic moments ever. She started to blush just remembering the moment and one of her favorite moments? The text she received from Punk later that night 'You were right I'm burnt, I got asked about it on the red carpet. I'm really looking forward to my match with Brock in a few hours…'. But again this small moment just added more fuel to the fire and she smiled remembering what happened next…