Part II: Catching up
"…so what's really going on?" Punk asked AJ again she plastered on a smile and changed the subject
"You already know" she reminded him "I'm working with Dean and we have our personal issues but it's nothing I can't get over. Better question is how are you doing?"
"Better than ever" Punk told her tilting his head trying to get a read on her. AJ could have sworn he was trying to read her mind.
"That's it? Nothing exciting happened while you were away?" AJ questioned nervously
"Not really" Punk shrugged "I went to some games"
"I know" AJ said giving him half a smile "My fans tweeted to me everything you were doing" it was no secret that AJ's fans (well most of them for that matter) where big supporters of her and Punk.
"So you know about Amy?" Punk asked and AJ just nodded "It's fine"
"Are you sure?" AJ asked "I know how much you cared about her"
"We just weren't meant to be together" Punk told her brushing off her statement "She agreed and we ended on decent terms. I miss McKenzie though" that was the one downfall of leaving Amy, his shared dog with her that he had told her she could keep. It wasn't fair for him to keep the dog when he traveled as much as he did.
"And you don't have a new girlfriend yet?" AJ mocked lightly "I've known you for three years and have never seen you single before"
"Maybe I need this time" Punk simply shrugged "Obviously my relationships aren't working out for some reason besides I'm enjoying myself"
"Yes I'm sure it's not difficult for you to find company at night" AJ smirked "As long as you're happy I'm not going to say a thing"
"Good" Punk smirked "And I am happy but what about you?"
"You know me with dating" AJ giggled slightly "I can't keep a guy I work to much"
"That's a shame" Punk told her honestly. AJ would be the perfect woman for any man; he had always thought it was insane that she never dated consistently since breaking up with Trent. "You'll find someone"
"I'm not looking" AJ admitted leaning back on the couch "I just want to work"
"I'm not going to argue with you but you also need to find your own happiness kiddo" Punk insisted "What's up with Kaitlyn? You two don't travel at all together anymore?"
"When I started this story with Dean he was furious because he wanted to be taken seriously and thought having a 'girlfriend' would mess up the character he was building for himself so obviously we clashed" AJ told him as he listened intently "Anytime we weren't in the ring we were arguing so Hunter pulled us aside and told us to make it work and insisted on his traveling together"
"And you don't like it obviously" Punk pointed out and she nodded
"Like I said Seth and Roman are awesome but Dean and I just can't get on the same page. He's night and I'm day, oil and water-"
"-I get it" Punk smirked cutting her off "I just can't understand how anyone couldn't like you" he was being a hundred percent truthful. Once people got to know AJ they fell in love with her. Daniel and her got along well, obviously Punk and her did, Kane adored AJ and even though Dolph didn't think he would like her they ended up becoming close friends.
"It is what it is" AJ told him simply "I'm not worried about it"
"So why does he care who you travel with?" Punk asked. He had wanted to ask her this earlier but didn't want to press too much.
"What is this twenty questions?" AJ laughed
"I'm sorry I'm just curious" Punk told her giving her a grin
"He cares because we have to look like a real couple" AJ told him "Inside the ring and out. He doesn't want any distractions 'if we're going to do this, we're doing this the right way' he told me"
"That's ridiculous" Punk scuffed "The fans know the difference between storyline and reality, well most of them do anyway" he just wasn't letting this go AJ thought to herself. There was so much she wanted to tell him but just didn't want to discuss with him at the moment. She didn't want to burden him with her true issues with Dean so she had to divert off the topic quickly.
"Yea well he's very into his story" was all AJ said "How about a game?" she asked grabbing his xbox controller "Please?" she asked giving him the saddest face that she knew he could never say no to.
"Fine" Punk sighed grabbing his other controller and turning on the console.
The next morning Punk woke up due to the sun beaming into his bus and let out a slight groan. He sat up and looked over to his left and saw AJ was snuggly sleeping at his side. He had almost forgotten how after the game they stopped to eat and then called it a night. It was only ten minutes that he was in bed when he heard the door open and saw AJ wrapped up in a heavy blanket, he didn't say a word when she came in but she did have a message for him 'I just wanted you to know I've really missed you' she told him and he waved her over and they talked more about what he did while he was away until she had fallen asleep.
"Morning" AJ yawned coming to a few minutes after him "Are we here?"
"Yea" Punk told her looking over at her then smiled
"What?" AJ asked alarmed
"Your hair is something else" he laughed as she felt her and could feel the knots
"Ugh" she groaned. She wasn't embarrassed to have 'messy hair' in front of Punk because he was such a good friend and he certainly had seen her worse. "My hair never does this when I'm anywhere else" she said annoyed "It has to be your bed sheets or something" she mumbled before getting out of the bed and heading into the bathroom. Truth was Punk had played with her hair while she was sleeping, he had always done that and he truly missed it while he was gone. He used to do it because when she'd wake up and it would be knotted it would drive her crazy and make him laugh but last night he had simply just missed her.
"AJ?" He asked knocking at the bathroom door "You want to hit the gym with me?"
"Yes!" she yelled happily from the other side. Just one night back with Punk and was like she morphed back to her happy go lucky self and Punk loved hearing the extra pep in her voice again.
As soon as they arrived at the local gym there were a ton of superstars there warming up for Raw. Punk decided to catch up with a few of the guys while AJ headed to the cardio machines.
"Hey man I didn't catch you last night" Daniel Bryan said walking over to Punk and shaking his hand "Welcome back"
"Thanks" Punk said to his former ROH opponent "How have you been?"
"Just waiting for that promised push" Daniel admitted with a grin
"Yea well if the fans keep it up Vince will have to hear them" Punk told him
"You just get in?" Daniel asked
"Yea I bought AJ with me" he said nodding towards AJ who was on an elliptical machine.
"How's she doing?" Daniel asked Punk catching him by surprise. Wouldn't Daniel who has been working with her know how she's doing?
"What do you mean?" Punk asked him "You see her every night, don't you?"
"Yea but she just kind of keeps to herself" Daniel admitted "Don't get me wrong she's still friendly and all but as soon as they pulled her from Dolph she's been kind of quiet. I thought it was because they pulled her title run from her but Brie told me she was fine with it"
"Maybe it is that" Punk told him "That sucks to be promised something big and having it snatched from you last minute"
"You would know" Daniel said obviously referring to his streak match "Last week Brie told me AJ was in the locker room at a house show and she just started crying out of nowhere"
"Really?" Punk questioned glancing over to AJ who seemed happy and content at the moment "She didn't ask why?"
"Yea and AJ said it was because she was just tired" Daniel shrugged "Brie asked me to talk to her but I got the same story"
"You didn't buy that?" Punk asked growing slightly alarmed
"Come on man you've known AJ longer than I have" Daniel told him "She's gone days without sleeping and hasn't missed a beat let alone cry about it."
"You've been working with the Shield right?" Punk asked and Daniel nodded "What's your thoughts on them?"
"Good workers" Daniel told her "Seth and Roman are great"
"What about the one AJ works with?" Punk asked
"Don't know him that well. He doesn't like to go over matches or stay around the back and chat but he seems all right. He's very driven as far as I could tell" Daniel told him honestly
"AJ doesn't like him" Punk told him bluntly
"Yea I picked up on that" Daniel laughed "She's worked some matches that I've been in with him. Why all the questions?"
"I just want to make sure she's ok" Punk shrugged
"How's Amy?" Daniel asked and Punk couldn't help but groan. Anytime he mentioned AJ the other person would automatically bring up Amy.
"We broke up" Punk told him but Daniel just nodded and didn't over any opinions on the matter which he was grateful for
"Well AJ's single" Daniel told him casually
"So?" Punk asked
"So?" Daniel mocked "You have to be kidding me, you two have been dancing around each other for years"
"That's not true" Punk told him "We're friends"
"So were Brie and I" Daniel told him "Everyone thinks you two would be good fit together"
"Have you been hanging around the cast of Total Divas too much?" Punk smirked "Is that what the ladies think"
"I'll have you know I'm considered a cast member of that show" Daniel laughed "But yea they say it, the fans say it- everyone can see it and clearly you're very concerned about her"
"Of course I am she's one of my best friends" Punk told him "I know this is a hard concept for a lot of people to understand but I can be just friends with some women"
"Alright" Daniel laughed "Anyway I'll let you get back to working out"
"Thanks" Punk said as Daniel walked away. Punk looked over again and glanced at AJ who was still working out; he shook the thoughts out of his head and headed to the back of the gym.
After working out at the gym for a few hours and grabbing lunch Punk and AJ headed into Raw together.
"Too bad you're not working Smackdown" AJ told him with a frown
"Going to miss me?" Punk teased as they walked the halls together
"Yea I just got you back!" AJ told him "What if you decide you don't want to come back?"
"Well for starters I'm under contract so that won't happen" Punk said "Besides you think I'd really leave you behind?"
"You did before" AJ told him rather coldly which caught him by surprise
"I'm sorry" Punk said stopping his movement causing her to as well "I know I kind of just took off and didn't stay in touch it won't happen again"
"I was just kidding" AJ assured him "You have your own life I get it"
"I should have kept in touch" Punk told her again shaking his slightly "I thought I needed the time away from everyone but as it turned out that might not have been the best idea"
"What do you mean?" AJ asked folding her arms slightly
"I cut everyone out for weeks and expected to come back and for it all to be the same, obviously that's not the case" Punk said to her "I should have reached out to you"
"Nothing happened to me" AJ smiled "And I seriously get it Punk besides you can go away for ten years and show back up and we'd pick up right where we left off. Thanks for the ride" she said reaching up and giving him a kiss on his scruffy cheek
"Anytime" he promised as she pulled away and started to head down the hall. "AJ wait!" he shouted causing her turn around and saw him jogging up to her. "I'm going to be in Tampa next week I promised Vince I'd check out the performance center they're building out there and I could use a place to crash at"
"You're always welcome with me" AJ smiled "I have Smackdown tomorrow but I'm flying out right after and I don't have a house show until Friday"
"I'll be there Wednesday then, as long as you don't mind" Punk said but she just waved her hand
"Are you crazy? You let me travel with you all the time!" she reminded him "Just remember Nacho only likes you if you bring him treats" she said referring to her small dog
"I always bring that dog treats whenever I'm staying with you" Punk sighed "Aren't I permanently on his good side yet?"
"You know Nacho doesn't like to share me" AJ teased
"I won't show up empty handed" Punk promised
"Good, I'll see you Wednesday than" she smiled then headed off towards the Diva's locker room.
As Punk was heading out for his main-event match with Alberto Del-Rio he passed by the three members of The Shield. Both Seth and Roman gave respectful nods towards the former champion while Dean quickly turned to not face Punk. He wasn't sure if Dean was being disrespectful, truly just happened to turn his head or was afraid of Punk saying something to him. He just couldn't place it but something about Ambrose truly rubbed him the wrong way but he had no choice but to brush it off and get back to the task at hand.
After the surprise attack from Brock Lesnar went off perfectly he showered quick and grabbed his bag and was ready to get back home. He was also going to have to get in touch with Vince about visiting the Performance Center because he had never asked Punk to check it out. He wasn't sure why he lied to AJ but spending time with her had made his time back much more bearable. He also didn't want to have to sit at home alone in his house that was filled with all the memories he shared with his last girlfriend. The biggest reason he lied though was because AJ was still holding back from him and that was driving him crazy. As he headed towards the exit and entered the parking lot he spotted AJ and Dean who also had a seamless spot together tonight. They were truly the Joker and Harley Quinn of the WWE and you would never have guessed that the two hated each other so much.
"How much crap do you have?" Dean sighed trying to close the trunk of his car
"Same amount I always have" AJ replied snidely "Maybe you should rent a bigger car next time"
"Maybe you should pack less" Dean shot back finally slamming the trunk shut.
"Will you two give it a break?" Seth sighed "I can't go two hours in the same car with you two bickering constantly"
"We're fine" Dean told him quickly. Punk watched as AJ cut Roman off and hopped into the backseat next to Seth so she wouldn't have to ride next to Dean. Punk just smirked as he saw Roman sigh but eventually opened the passenger door and slipped in. As Dean walked around to the driver's side he caught Punk's eyes as he passed walking towards his bus. They didn't say a word or even acknowledge each other; Dean just quickly opened his door and slammed it shut. Now Punk was sure that Dean simply didn't like him but what the hell did Punk care? Most people didn't like him and he understood that and accepted it but he wouldn't tolerate AJ being bullied because of it.
At Smackdown AJ was talking to Sandra about how she wanted her shirt cut up for the night when she heard loud someone clear his or her throat. She looked up and rolled her eyes are at the sight of Dean Amrbose.
"I'm busy" AJ informed him before turning back around to speak to Sandra
"Make time" Dean instructed folding his arms
"It's fine I have to get these sketches to creative anyway" Sandra said quickly. She had the unfortunate luck of being caught between one of there blow-ups before and didn't want to have to go through that again.
"Mr. Personality" AJ muttered "Now you've scared off Sandra, how am I supposed to get ready for tonight?"
"I don't care what you wear AJ" Dean told her "What I do care about is what you're telling your little pal"
"What are you talking about?" AJ asked folding her arms narrowing her eyes at him
"Punk" Dean clarified "He's been shooting me dirty looks and glaring at me since he's been back"
"He's been back for two days" AJ mocked "And that's just the way he looks at everybody"
"He doesn't look at you that way" Dean said in a slow voice "Are you trying to get me buried here?"
"He knows we don't get along but that's no secret because everyone knows it" AJ told him
"I know that but what are you saying to him?" Dean asked again
"I didn't tell him" AJ told him in a low whisper "Because if I had he would be doing a lot more than shooting you dirty looks"
"I thought we agreed to let this go and forget it?" Dean asked with a sigh "We were moving on from the incident"
"I'm trying to!" AJ shouted "You're the one that keeps bringing it up!"
"Why are you always yelling?" Dean shouted back "You want me to be nicer fine! I'm working on it! But you have to try a little bit to!"
"Sorry guys" Brie said nervously walking towards the duo "I was just looking for Sandra"
"Dean scared her away" AJ informed Brie as Dean rolled his eyes and stormed off down the hall.
"Is everyone ok AJ?" Brie asked as she watched Dean knock over a crate
"Yea he's just snippy" AJ said plastering on a smile
"You know if you ever want to talk I'm a real good listener" Brie offered with a small smile.
"That's really sweet of you" AJ told her "But I'm good I promise"
"Ok" Brie said to her
"Sandra should be back in a few minutes you should just wait for her" AJ offered grabbing her bag and heading in the opposite direction of Dean.
After Brie spoke to Sandra and gave her some thoughts on her outfit for the following week she headed to catering to meet up with Daniel.
"There she is!" Daniel smiled as Brie walked over and gave him a kiss "What's wrong?" he could tell she was upset because when Brie walked into a room she would light it up but she sported a frown instead.
"I think you should talk to AJ again" Brie encouraged
"Why is something wrong?" Daniel asked taking a bite of his food
"I overheard her arguing with Dean again" Brie told him
"Some people just don't get along Brie, you can't force it" Daniel told her casually
"They were talking about an 'incident'" Brie told him in a whisper
"What kind of 'incident'?" Daniel was suddenly very intrigued
"I don't know they didn't go into details" Brie told him "I offered to talk to AJ but she said she was fine"
"So maybe she is" Daniel shrugged
"No Daniel you don't get it" Brie said shaking her head slightly "Something isn't right there"
"Look I like AJ I really do and I didn't realize you two were so close all of the sudden but you can't force someone to talk to you" Daniel told her
"Do you have any idea what it's like to be a Diva?" Brie asked as Daniel remained silent "We are replaceable and believe me I remember what it was like when Nikki and I started here a lot of the guys were just plain nasty. We need to support each other back here"
"You know Punk was asking me about Dean and AJ yesterday" Daniel told her "He thinks something is fishy there as well"
"Just talk to her" Brie told him "I know you two aren't as close as you were but she does trust you"
"I'll catch her after the show" Daniel promised "But if I talk to her and she refuses to tell me what's going on there isn't much I can do"
"Thank you" Brie smiled giving him a kiss on the cheek
After the show AJ grabbed her stuff and was heading towards Kaitlyn's rental car. She was traveling with Big E & Dolph and getting to travel with friends even if it was just a quick car ride to the airport would be refreshing for AJ.
"AJ hold up!" Dean shouted jogging up to AJ who just sighed and slowly turned to face him "Where are you going?"
"The airport" AJ told him "So make it quick I don't want to miss my flight"
"I'm sorry for snapping earlier" Dean told her
"You're always sorry" AJ reminded him bitterly
"At least I'm trying" Dean said trying remain calm "I think you and I need to spend more time together so we can make this work. It's obvious that this story isn't ending anytime soon"
"The last thing I want to do is spend more time with you" AJ shot back "The fact that I have to walk out with you every night and let you touch me makes me absolutely sick to my stomach"
"Could have fooled me" Dean snorted
"You're a pig" AJ snapped before grabbing a hold of her bag and heading towards the exit doors
"Wait, stop" he said lightly grabbing her arm causing her turn around again "Sorry. What are you doing tomorrow? I'm going to be in Tampa maybe we can grab lunch or something"
"I'm going to spending time with a friend" AJ told him "A good friend who I trust and that is not you"
"Are you telling me CM Punk is flying out to Tampa to hang out with you?" Dean questioned but AJ didn't respond. "Is this a joke? We've been working on our story for weeks now and you're going to blow it over him? Really?"
"Our story is fine" AJ told him briskly "There's nothing more we can do. And who I spend my free time with isn't your business"
"Maybe you don't remember when he first left" Dean started as the memories flooded back to AJ "You hid it well but you were devastated that he didn't return your calls or texts, I was the one who gave you a shoulder to lean on"
"That was my mistake" AJ told him coldly "The biggest mistake I have made since being here was ever considering you to be my friend"
"For god sakes AJ!" Dean shouted "How many times do I have to apologize to you!?"
"It doesn't matter how many times you say it all that matters is that you mean it and you never have" AJ shot back
"Because you know me so well, right?" Dean mocked in annoyance "I really just-"
"Hey guys" Daniel smiled walking towards the duo "If you're done can I have a word with AJ?" Dean eyed Daniel then glanced back at AJ who was clearly over the conversation
"She's all yours" Dean muttered then turned and headed back to his locker room
"What's up D-Bry?" AJ asked
"I just thought you could use the save" Daniel shrugged slightly offering her a friendly smile "I heard you two arguing from down the hall"
"Thanks" AJ smiled
"Look AJ it's not my business at all but you know if you're having a problem here you could always come to me, right?" Daniel asked and she nodded
"Of course but I'm good I swear" AJ told him and he just nodded
"And I'm sure Punk would also be more than willing to help you out too, he seems worried about you" Daniel offered and he caught AJ's cheeks blush instantly at the drop of Punk's name
"I know you two are great" AJ told him "If I get in over my head you'll be my first call" she promised
"Alright well have a safe flight" Daniel offered opening the exit door for her and watching her leave. There was defiantly something going on he thought to himself.
A/N: Thoughts? What is AJ and Dean hiding?