Chapter 2: Being Friends
Punk made back up to his hotel room that he was sharing with his girlfriend Beth and tossed his gym bag to the corner of the room.
"Where have you been?" Beth asked walking out of the bathroom
"The gym" he said quietly
"You didn't want company?" Beth questioned
"Nah I wasn't there long" Punk shrugged taking off his t-shirt and kicking off his shoes
"So what was up with you and AJ earlier?" Beth asked
"What do you mean?" Punk asked "You were being a little harsh with her, don't you think?"
"Maybe but I didn't realize she was a friend of yours" Beth said to him "I never would have jumped all over her if I had known"
"Really?" Punk snorted with a laugh
"Ok I would have been slightly nicer" Beth smiled "Seriously what's up with you two?"
"I barely know her but I found out she used to train with Jay Lethal" Punk told her
"Really?" Beth asked "So what? She couldn't hack it?"
"From what I heard she was one of the best students he had ever had" Punk informed her "And she just quit one day"
"So now you're intrigued" Beth smirked
"Something like that" Punk shrugged "Have you heard anything about her backstage?"
"We don't really gossip about the lower level employees" Beth informed Punk "But if she quit wrestling and refuses to go back maybe it has to do with Christian"
"Christian?" Punk asked surprised "What does he have to do with it?"
"Not Christian the wrestler you nerd" Beth laughed "Christian Scott- her boyfriend"
"Am I supposed to know him?" Punk questioned
"You really do live in a bubble" Beth frowned "He's a billionaire business mogul"
"Never heard of him" Punk shrugged simply "So what does he have to do with her not wrestling?"
"I'm assuming Mr. Billionaire doesn't want his arm candy showing up for charity events with black eyes" Beth said to him "As a matter of fact I've heard your new friend AJ telling people he doesn't want her working at all. I mean I don't see why she still works. Clearly this man wants to take care of her, why she continues to travel around with us and cut up clothes is beyond me"
"Maybe she has a little pride" Punk mocked "Or maybe she really loves the business"
"Or maybe she wants to be away from him" Beth shot at him "I hear he could be very suffocating but regardless of her reasons it's really not your business"
"When has that ever stopped me before?" Punk smirked
"Never but I suggest you leave it alone. She's a big girl who clearly can take care of herself, if she truly wanted to wrestle she would" Beth insisted "Now can we stop talking about her and move on to more important things?" she questioned as Punk walked over to her and pulled her into a kiss "You're all sweaty" she said scrunching her face up
"You like me sweaty" he reminded her as he started to kiss down her neck
"No I like making you sweaty" Beth reminded him
"So shower with me" Punk muttered against her skin
"I just showered…." She sighed feeling his lips against her neck "…but I suppose I can use another one"
"That's right baby" Punk grinned pulling her into the bathroom
AJ woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing she glanced at the time and saw it was only six in the morning.
"Hello?" she asked in a groggy voice
"Good morning my beautiful goddess" a sweet but strong voice responded
"I can get used to waking up like that" AJ smiled into the phone
"I'll wake you up like that every morning- in person if you take me up on my offer" Christian said to her
"We've talked about this" AJ groaned rolling onto her back and glancing over to the other bed to make sure Celeste was still asleep
"No you've talked about it. You won't even hear me out" Christian reminded her
"I like it here" AJ said to him "You said you would support me" she reminded him
"When we get married this ends" Christian told her "I need you at my side not on the road with a bunch of juiced up men"
"Well will worry about that when we and if we get married" AJ muttered
"If?" Christian laughed arrogantly "April I need to get into a meeting but I'll send someone to collect you from the airport tonight"
"I don't know Christian" she grumbled "I'm so tired I was thinking of staying tonight as well and flying out tomorrow morning"
"I booked your flight already" Christian reminded her "Your flight leaves at midnight"
"You do know the company pays for my flights" AJ reminded him
"I don't need Vince McMahon to pay for you to travel" Christian scuffed
"Ahh a billionaire pissing contest" AJ mocked "I love those"
"Don't be late for your flight and I love you" Christian said and before she could respond he hung up
AJ always arrived long before the talent at events so she could get everyone's attire set for the night. First thing she pulled out of her bag was Beth's skirt and rolled her eyes remembering her encounter with the glamazon last night and her equally annoying boyfriend.
"Stupid skirt" AJ muttered pulling some thread out "I didn't even make it" she muttered as she roughly stitched the skirt "My stuff doesn't rip" she said to herself
"Do you always talk to yourself?" Punk asked coming up behind AJ effectively scaring the crap out of her and causing her to stick her needle into her finger
"Crap!" AJ shouted shaking her finger
"Sorry" Punk chuckled
"You should be" AJ shot at him "I may have gotten blood on your girlfriends outfit"
"She won't notice" Punk said brushing it off "Let me see" he said grabbing her hand
"No it's fine-" she started but Punk took her hand into his own and closely inspected her finger
"I don't think you'll need stitches" he teased but in a serious voice
"Gee thanks doctor" AJ retorted jerking her hand out of his "Why are you here so early?"
"I train in the ring before I start" Punk said to her "It's the first thing set up and I like to run through things before I have a match"
"Well you better get to it" AJ said to him as sucked on her finger that was still bleeding slightly
"I was wondering if you'd join me" Punk suggested innocently "I could use someone to work against"
"I have a lot of work to do" AJ said to him "Plus I now have to wash Beth's skirt"
"You have time" Punk said to her
"I really don't" AJ shot at him
"Ok so how about after the show?" Punk suggested
"I'm flying out tonight" AJ told him in an almost sad voice
"Don't you run on our schedules?" Punk questioned "You should be flying tomorrow"
"I should be" AJ remarked "But…I opted to get my own ticket"
"You're going to be exhausted" Punk noted
"Look I don't know what you're trying to do or why you're trying to do it" AJ said to him with a sigh "But I decided a long time ago I don't want to be in the ring and I'd really like it if you accepted that"
"Ok" Punk said seemingly giving in "I apologize if I made you uncomfortable"
"You haven't" AJ promised "I just don't like to talk about wrestling"
"What do you like to talk about?" Punk asked leaning against the wall
"I don't know" AJ laughed slightly "Hawkeye, Batman, Harley Quinn, Buffy, the new Grand theft Auto game" she shrugged slightly
"You're a nerd" Punk said with a large smile
"That's kind of rude" AJ shot at him defensively "But I won't argue it. I am admittedly a nerd"
"So am I" Punk smirked "I can engage in hour long conversations on all of those topics minus Buffy"
"You're missing out" AJ teased "Buffy was a great show"
"Maybe you could tell me about it sometime" Punk said coolly
"Won't your girlfriend mind?" AJ asked him tilting her head
"Nope. Beth and I trust each other completely" Punk said to her confidentially "I'm allowed to have girl friends as a matter of fact most of my friends are girls"
"And you want me to be your friend?" AJ asked
"Why is that so hard to believe? You think I'm just trying to get you into bed?" he asked causing her to blush and feel embarrassed "I do have a girlfriend April" he added then smiled "I'm messing with you"
"Funny" AJ choked out deadpanned
"I can see you drink coffee" Punk said nodding towards her empty coffee cup "Why don't we grab a cup together?"
"I don't think so" AJ said nervously.
"There's a starbucks down the road" Punk said causing her eyes to widen. He knew he hit a sweet spot
"I really can't" AJ said shaking the thought out of her head
"Why? Does your boyfriend not like you having male friends?" he questioned
"Something like that" AJ mumbled as she went back to sewing Beth's skirt
"Interesting" Punk said with a frown "That's a shame because I'm pretty awesome company"
"Yea I hear you're a real ball of laughs" AJ giggled
"You believe everything you hear back here?" Punk questioned and AJ just shrugged "Anyway I get it. Your boyfriend totally controls your life and every aspect of it and I am not at all judging you for it"
"He doesn't control me" AJ shot at him
"No clearly he does. It must be nice that he has such a dutiful, loyal girlfriend" Punk said seriously
"I do what I want" AJ said to him
"Except for wrestling and grabbing a coffee with a coworker" Punk added simply "I won't bother you again April" he said to her then turned and walked down the hall away leaving AJ alone and now second guessing herself.
About half an hour later AJ wandered down the ring and saw Punk running the ropes. He stopped when he saw her and waited for her to reach the ring.
"Change your mind?" Punk asked slightly out of breath
"No I just had some extra time and thought I'd see what you could do" AJ said simply causing him to smile and nod
"Ok" Punk said biting on his lower lip "But you do realize I'm the champ? I'm the best in the world."
"Yea I've read your t-shirts" She shot at him and now Punk was completely enthralled with this woman he barely knows
"Come on in" Punk insisted holding up the middle rope for her but she shook her head no "Suit yourself. I don't blame you though most women would rather sit and watch me"
"Not many of them are looking to get their hands on you, huh?" AJ shot back and Punk let out a loud laugh
"You're kind of rude, anybody ever tell you that?" Punk asked
"I've been called 'sassy'" AJ told him innocently
"I wouldn't call you sassy" Punk said fondly
"What would you call me?" AJ asked
"Well rude for one but I like that" Punk said to her "Talented would be another word oh and beautiful" AJ couldn't help but blush at the last word
"You're blushing" Punk noted leaning against the ropes and looking down at her "Mr. Moneybags doesn't think your pretty?"
"Actually he tells me every morning" AJ informed him arrogantly
"Good" Punk said to her stepping away from the ropes "Are you sure you don't want to come in?"
"No and I need to get back" she said quickly then turned on her heel and headed back her station. Punk smiled in the ring as he watched her leave
"I'm getting there" Punk said to himself happily
Smackdown had just wrapped up for the night and AJ was packing up her things. Thanks to all of Punk's pestering she was now starting to get the wrestling itch all over again. All she wanted to do was go to the gym and hit a punching bag for a few hours but she knew she had to head straight to the airport.
"AJ" Beth said walking over to her "I just wanted to thank you for fixing my skirt" she said to her sweetly "And I'm sorry for biting your head off last night"
"It's my job and don't worry about it" AJ said brushing it off
"Seriously I was in a bad mood" Beth said to her offering her a smile "And I know being here can't be easy for you as it is"
"What do you mean?" AJ asked
"Punk told me about how you used to wrestle" Beth said to her "I get it but he doesn't. You're very small and probably wouldn't make it far here and you realized that before you embarrassed yourself and I totally respect that"
"That's not the reason" AJ said to her coldly
"Right" Beth smiled "Just do me a favor if my boyfriend comes sniffing around you again about this just shoo him off he's kind of like a dog with a bone"
"Right" AJ bit back as nicely as possible
"You're good at what you do AJ" Beth said sweetly "Stick to it." AJ didn't get a chance to respond because Punk was now making his way over
"You ready?" Punk asked his girlfriend
"Yea I was just thanking AJ for working on my attire" Beth said to her
"You're welcome" AJ choked out
"You said you're heading to the airport do you need a ride?" Punk offered causing Beth to shoot him a glare "We've got plenty of room"
"No that's ok" AJ said with a laugh as Beth just smirked towards AJ
"April" a familiar firm voice boomed she looked up and couldn't believe her eyes. Both Punk and Beth turned their heads and saw the infamous Christian Scott walking over to them.
"Christian" AJ said feeling nervous, he never showed up at work
"Hi baby" he smiled walking right over to her and cupping her face pulling her into a rough kiss
"What are you doing here?" AJ asked him still in shock
"I wanted to make sure you got on that plane" Christian said with a frown "I've missed you" AJ then noticed Punk and Beth were both still standing there. Beth had a wide smile on her face while Punk looked amused
"Christian this is Beth and Punk" she said introducing the two to her boyfriend and he shook both of their hands
"Nice to meet you" Christian smiled warmly placing his arm around AJ's shoulders "You both work backstage as well?" Punk let out a laugh while Beth slightly elbowed him in the stomach
"No Punk is the Champion and I am the Diva's champion" Beth informed him politely.
"Very nice" Christian smiled with a nod. "Well we must be going April the car is out back"
"Ok" AJ said shyly "Bye guys" AJ said to Punk and Beth who just nodded and watched as Christian grabbed AJ's bags and walked her out of the arena
"Wow" Beth laughed "He's even hotter in person!"
"Really?" Punk mocked annoyed at Beth
"He kind of reminds me of Batman" Beth said to him honestly
"You mean Bruce Wayne" Punk mumbled "And he's no Bruce Wayne"
"I don't know he seemed pretty intimidating" Beth noted
"Bruce Wayne is a jerk not intimidating" Punk noted
"What's the difference?" Beth asked
"There's a huge difference" Punk said as they grabbed their own bags and headed towards his bus
"I bet he's taking her on his private jet" Beth said to him
"He has his own jet?" Punk asked her
"He's worth more than all the McMahon's combined" Beth said to him "Don't you follow any business news?"
"Nope" Punk said as they stepped outside and Punk watched as AJ and Christian got into the backseat of a large SUV
"I don't get why she's here, I really don't" Beth mumbled as she stepped on Punk's bus.
"Why did you come?" AJ asked Christian as soon as the driver closed the door and both sat in the back seat of the SUV
"You seemed hesitant about coming home this morning" Christian told her simply "I just wanted to make sure you did"
"My word wasn't good enough?" AJ asked him in a hurt voice
"I love you and I worry about you that's all" Christian said grabbing her hand and kissing her knuckles lightly
"It was embarrassing" AJ said to him
"I embarrass you?" Christian laughed
"It was like a parent picking up their child from school" AJ frowned
"I apologize that wasn't my intention" Christian promised "I thought you'd enjoy the surprise, didn't you miss me?" AJ offered him a slight smile
"Of course" AJ said pulling him into a quick kiss "I'm just really tired"
"I know baby" Christian soothed "You can sleep on the plane"
"How did you get backstage anyway?" AJ asked
"I can get anywhere" Christian laughed "And I had a meeting with your boss"
"Vince?" AJ asked and Christian nodded "About what?"
"Just some investment opportunities" Christian shrugged simply
"You're not really into pro-wrestling" AJ noted
"I'm not but you are" Christian smiled "I thought this could be a nice way to show I support you"
"Why didn't you tell me?" AJ asked
"I like surprising you" he said running his hand over knee and all the way up her thigh
"But Christian-" AJ started but stopped when she felt him kissing her neck "…not here" she said to him
"He can't hear us" Christian assured her nodding towards the tinted glass divider that separated them from the driver
"Ok" AJ said giving in as Christian removed her jacket "But we will talk about this later" she warned as she felt his hands unbutton on her jeans
"Later baby I promise" Christian whispered into her ear