Chapter 2! Here it is! The plot thickens! And thanks to everyone who gave me such a positive response and so quickly! XD And in case you notice, each chapter is a song title (it helps set the tone of the chapter)

Reminder: If it's in italics, it's CM Punk's thoughts.


Chapter 2: Face Down


Punk arrived at the arena the following week to find that John would not be in attendance this week. A string of guilt played in Punk's mind, knowing that his new group was responsible for this. Even if it was from afar, Punk enjoyed his weekly (occasionally twice a week) time where he could look at John's face and wish that he would look at him the same way. In his heart, he knew that the less time Cena was around, the better. Emotions that could not be controlled were dangerous. He couldn't afford to jeopardize his career. He had worked too hard for too long to get where he was now. He was the well needed change for the WWE. Nothing was gonna stop him, not even John Cena.

"But if looks could kill…I'd like to be hit by that car please."

He cursed his mind. He was always thinking of his attraction to Cena's physique. He longed for the feeling of being over powered by the man. To feel his lips on his, moving with passion and lust while his hands roamed Punk's body. If there was a God, he must hate him right now. His mind was plague with less than civil thoughts about what he would do to John Cena if he ever got him alone. Sadness loomed in as Punk realized it would never happen. It couldn't. End of story. Right now, he had to focus on his address to the WWE Universe about his actions last week.

The internet was buzzing with talk about "Why would Punk do this," "He needs to have lackeys," and "the future of the WWE." Not that he cared much about what people thought about him. He was going to tell them for his own entertainment, not because he felt he owed them anything. He called for his music to be queued up so he could get this over with. He honestly didn't feel like doing anything but that paycheck wasn't going to create itself magically…although that would have been cool. He entered the arena to a sea of boos and yelling. A few people were cheering for him but that just proved that some people agreed with his brand of change.

He started off by explaining that their (and secretly his) precious John Cena would not be in attendance tonight. He recalled the actions from the week before and asked the audio visual people to cue up the clip from the week before. It hurt Punk a bit to see his Nexus group attacking John. Even worse, he felt more remorse when he saw his own actions against Cena. That GTS looked vicious. And then he saw it. The look on his own face as he looked at John's. It was one thing to feel it but it was a whole different experience to actually see your own face feeling the emotions. Punk turned away from the titantron. It seemed obvious what that look stated and he could only hope that no one else knew that look. It was a farfetched hope because he knew people fell in love all of the time. He'd like to think he wasn't like other people but under that uniquely tattooed skin was still a heart.

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed throughout the arena. Punk looked towards the stage to see the former Nexus leader, Wade Barrett walking towards him. "Allow me to correct you on two things." Wade spat, seeming more irritated than usual. And the fact that Punk had supposedly been wrong about not one, but two things was irritating as well. "The reason John Cena isn't here tonight has nothing to do with you." Punk cocked his head to the side and pointed at the titantron. He was pretty sure that replay wasn't in his mind. "I just showed it." Punk countered. Wade didn't seem to hear him as he walked up the stairs and entered the ring. The former Nexus leader stood face to face with the new Nexus leader.

"John Cena isn't here because I destroyed him in our match this past week in Pennsylvania."

Punk sighed a bit of internal relief. Maybe it wasn't his fault after all and he could be a little easier on himself.

"And Number 2..."

"Ha! He said Number 2..."

"…you're not the leader of the Nexus. I am."

Punk had heard just about enough, amusing as it was. "Wade, Wade. I can understand you being confused. John Cena bounced…what? 23 chairs on your head at TLC? WAKE UP, WADE!" Punk looked around at all the fans who seemed just about annoyed with this as he was. "Nexus needs new management." Wade just looked into Punk's eyes. For a second, Punk thought he saw a smirk. Something didn't feel right.

"Punk…I see you as a hypocritical, manipulative waist of skin."

"Ouch? This isn't going anywhere good any time soon…"

"Under my leadership, the Nexus has dominated Raw. It has changed the nature of this show. You're not a leader! You're a liar! You lie about your lifestyle. You lie about being straight edge and you lie to all these John Cena flag waiving morons."

That smirk re-appeared in the corner of Wade's mouth. It made Punk feel vulnerable for some reason.

"I'm a liar?"

Punk couldn't believe what he was hearing. Not only was he insulting his integrity as a straight edge, but his lifestyle? "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Wade's eyes said it all. He knew something. Punk knew he would have to confront Wade about it later but not in front of millions and millions of people.

"I'm a liar? You're gonna stand here and tell me that I'm the one that's lying?"

Punk let out an uncomfortable laugh. He felt like he was back on Raw the week before when he froze up in the ring. He needed another scapegoat and fast. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the black and yellow of his Nexus armband. For the second week in a row, he had an idea.

"Let's settle it right now. In front of the whole world, let's see who the liar is and who is telling the truth. Why don't we ask the members of Nexus, Wade?"

Wade agreed and called for the Nexus to come to the ring. It was at that point that Punk went into auto-pilot. His mind was racing with thoughts as he observed Wade looking at him more than David Otunga who was going on and on about something Punk didn't really care about. He cared about that look. He had seen that look before. It meant that Wade knew something that Punk didn't want him to know.

"What's going on? He wasn't here last week so it had to be before that…or maybe after? Maybe he's that mad I took Nexus? It was his only real claim to fame…And why am I a liar? Me? A fucking liar? As if! He has some kind of angle and I need to figure out what it is…especially if it involves my personal life…"

Punk suddenly felt a need to see John. It always made him feel better just to see that smile, even if it was once. But he'd have to settle for mental images and right now he was picturing those steel chairs John had pulled down on top of Wade. It was quite hilarious. A sudden flashing of lights and a bleeping noise brought him out of autopilot mode.

"About time the GM said something..."

He turned to see Michael Cole getting up and giving his 'pay attention to me' speech before starting to read the e-mail. Apparently the GM didn't care about the inner feuding of the Nexus but gave the two leaders an opportunity to become Number 1 contender in a Steel Cage match. Punk looked up as the crowd cheered over the participants. There was indeed a steel cage.

"I was wondering what that was doing there..."

The decision that needed to be made was which of the two leaders would be facing the likes of Randy Orton and Sheamus. Punk wouldn't mind kicking their asses but he had a better idea in mind. Turning back to Wade, he smiled before bringing the microphone back to his mouth.

"Take it."

Everyone seemed shocked, including Wade. There was a catch however. Punk wasn't someone to pass over an opportunity so easily. "I'm a talker, I wanna talk things out."

"Except when it comes to feelings..."

"But if you lose tonight...you're out! Now, can we shake hands as gentlemen? A gentleman's agreement."

Punk extended his hand, waiting for Wade to grasp it. Wade seemed to be studying him, trying to find out what Punk's agenda was. There wasn't one. He just wanted Wade out of his business and his life. The Englishman took Punk's hand in his own and shook it. But he didn't let go right away. He held firm and his eyes burned into Punk's. It made Punk uncomfortable but he knew that he and the man holding onto him had much more to talk about. Punk lowered his voice and whispered, "We need to talk." Wade smirked, and shook his head. "No, we don't...liar..." and with that, he left the ring and headed back stage. Punk wasn't through with him. Not by a long shot.


"Hey, Barrett!"

Wade turned to see Punk charging after him. The Nexus members turned, ready for the confrontation. They were ready for a throw down. Punk was less than pleased about the allegations that had been made against him and the fact that Wade had called him a 'liar' again while they had been shaking hands. "Maybe you didn't hear me. I said we need to fucking talk!" The Nexus looked towards the face of the Englishman. Wade smirked at Punk and made a hand motion, signaling them to let them be alone. Wade motioned to a nearby locker room. He entered with Punk close behind, his eyes burning into the back of the Englishman's head. Once inside, Punk slammed the door shut.

"Listen up, asshole! I have a few problems with what you said out there. I may be a lot of things but a liar isn't goddamn one of them! Now I'm demanding a fucking apology right now!"

Wade just laughed, pissing off Punk even more. "But it's true. You do lie about your lifestyle." Wade smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. Enraged, Punk grabbed the collar of the taller man's shirt. The Englishman didn't move. "I am straight edge! That isn't some goddamn gimmick!" Punk yelled.

"Maybe. But that's not what I meant."
"Then what?"

Wade laughed a bit before he replied, "Your emotional attachment to John Cena."

Punk's eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. There was no way the man could have known anything about it. "I-I don't know what you're talking about..." Punk replied as he looked to the side. His grip loosened a bit. "You're so full of shit." Wade commented. Punk tightened his grip once more and growled at the man, trying to regain his composure and think rationally.

"This is not the time to lose it! Think, Punk, think! Wade wasn't even here last week. He's bluffing...making a joke because I froze up. That has to be it! It has to be!"

"Oh ha ha. You're funny. A regular fucking comedian. Because I froze up last week? Somehow that means I care about John Cena? If you don't seem to remember, I cracked two chairs over him before which is a hell of a lot less than what he dropped on you."

Wade laughed even more, finally breaking the smaller man's grip and taking a step back. "The great CM Punk is backed into a corner now?" Punk narrowed his eyes. "I'm not backed into anything." He needed to find out what Barrett meant before he lost his temper and beat it out of him. Wade could sense Punk's growing frustration. It was time he laid the cards on the table.

"So I didn't see you confessing your love and kissing an unconscious John Cena in the trainer's office last week?"

Punk felt his heart stop for a minute. "What...did he just say..." His worst fear had become a reality. Someone did see and worst of all, that person had been Wade Barrett. Of everyone it had to be him. "I-I-I..." Punk mumbled, starting to shake a little. This couldn't be happening. Wade noticed the man's discomfort. He had him now. Punk looked like a child who had been caught stealing from the cookie jar. Except this cookie was special and would have many more repercussions.

"I'd heard the rumors but I never thought they'd be true."
"What r-rumors?"
"About you. Rumor had it that you were interested in men a little more than women. I heard you tried to confess your love to Jeff Hardy while ECW was going on but he rejected you instantly."

Punk felt a stab of pain as Jeff's name was brought up. Sadly, that rumor was true. He had confessed to Jeff and he was instantly rejected. Jeff said Punk was too emotionally unstable and coming from the crazier of the Hardy brothers that statement really hurt. It was then that Punk knew he could never completely fall for anyone in the WWE ever again. The pain was too great. And yet somehow...he had fallen for John Cena. Wade took a step closer, causing Punk to take a few steps back. But it wasn't too long before he hit the wall.

There was nowhere to go.

"You're pathetic." Wade smirked, placing a hand on the wall to the left of Punk's head. Punk said nothing. It was true. He did find his own feelings and actions to be rather pathetic. All because he couldn't deal with the fear or rejection. "I'll bet you dream about your first real kiss. And I'm not talking about that grandma's kiss you did on Cena. The kind of making out you deeply desire. I doubt anyone would be that bloody sad but hey, all you have are your dreams." Wade continued his torture on the smaller man who looked like he was about to break.

"Shut up..."
"Excuse me? Did you actually speak again?"

Punk looked at the floor, "I told you to be quiet. You don't know anything about me. No one fucking does. You're nothing but a bully. You think you can break me down...but it won't work." Punk clenched his fist, "I didn't make it this far because of rumors, sleeping around, or half assing my life. I worked for it. And as far as my dreaming of certain interactions goes...well you can go fuck yourself because I'm saving that for a special guy. Not that it's any of your business."

Punk had said all he had needed to. He pushed past Wade and headed towards the door. This conversation was done.

"Punk..."

Punk let his shoulders sink. "What no-" Punk was cut off. In one fluid motion, he was spun around and Wade's lips came crashing into his. Punk tried to push away but the man was too much for him. And as much as Punk was mentally trying to fight off the advance, his body was melting into the kiss. It had been sometime since he had gotten to make out with anyone. The Brit moved his lips in passionate, slow movements before forcing his tongue into Punk's protesting mouth. Punk pushed and knocked his fists into the former leader's chest. Finally, Wade released him and he hit the floor.

Punk's hand instantly went up to cover his mouth from any further intrusion. He couldn't believe what he had just been a victim of. "He...took my first real kiss..." He could hear the man above him laugh. "Consider us even for you trying to take Nexus from me." And with that, he left Punk alone. Punk kept his eyes connected to the floor, unable to lift them. He felt tears welling up. His first real kiss that he wanted to give to a man he loved...was gone. And there was nothing he could do about it. He finally lifted his eyes to see a poster that had Wade's picture on it as well as the Nexus. His green eyes glared. He may not have been able to do anything about it...but he could get even.


The match had been a constant back and forth between the three men. With so much on the line, the men had been dishing out hard hitting moves left and right. At the moment, Wade was the only man standing. This was his chance. To climb the cage and escape. He'd reclaim the Nexus, Punk would become his bitch, and he would have a shot at the WWE Championship. A winning combination. He turned and reached for the steel, gripping it hard. He placed his feet into the grating and started to climb. With every step he could feel his goals coming closer and closer. It sent an excitement through him even more powerful that what he had felt by dominating Punk. He was almost there. Suddenly, there seemed to be a roar of a reaction from the crowd.

Punk ran towards the cage as fast as he could and began to climb with all of the agility of a monkey. Once he reached the top, he sat there and looked down into Wade's confused eyes. He extended his hand to the Brit, confusing him even more. A smirk crossed Wade's face - a look that said he had won over Punk after just one kiss. Wade took the Straightedge's hand and continued his climb. Punk's look of concern wiped off instantly. That same smug smile he was known for crossed his face. Punk's hand shot down and ripped the Nexus armband from Barrett. The Englishman looked up, stunned.

"Now we're even, you kiss stealing asshole."

And with that, Punk's boot connected with Wade's face - sending him back to the ring below. As he climbed down, his eyes never left the man lying in the ring. Revenge was sweet indeed. Now, he could focus on other things. As he walked back up the entrance way, he couldn't help but feel proud of himself. Barrett didn't win. Punk now had the Nexus and soon enough, he would forget about John Cena. Or so, he hoped.


~And there you have it! Be sure to check out my profile and follow me on various stuff =D I'll try to update ASAP~