Pieces of Time
04. Bittersweet
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Karen nearly fell over on her face as she skidded to a stop, staring with her mouth hanging open at the sight before her. AJ didn't even look up when she called him. And who the hell was the woman who was hanging all over him? Karen had never seen AJ with a woman before, especially not like this. He was never in a relationship, yet he wasn't a playboy. Once, she'd taken the chance and asked him if he was gay to which he'd replied with a hearty laugh and a smile and said he was just "waiting for the right woman to come along". Karen's hopes had soared and she'd wished to God she could be that woman.
From the looks of the scene unfolding before her, that was very unlikely. In a huff, Karen stormed past AJ and the mystery brunette, heels clanking on the concrete floor as she made her way back to her dressing room.
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Still reeling from the kiss with Kurt earlier, Melony managed to regain her composure long enough to cut the promo she was scheduled for and then find her way to the bar after the show to meet up Christian. He had already arrived and was waiting for her in a booth in the back, dressed in a simple black suit jacket over a striped shirt and blue jeans. He looked so suave, she thought, and so grown up compared to the goofy kid he'd seemed to be when she first met him back when WWE had been WWF. He stood up when she approached and gave her a quick hug before they both sat down, and Christian beckoned the waiter over so they could order their drinks. He settled on a beer and she went with a margarita, and then they settled down to catch up.
Mostly they reminisced. Flashing back to old times and when they'd first met, how it was like a romantic comedy. They couldn't stand each other until Edge tricked them into riding together and the rest was history. Melony laughed at the thought, "His ass was always up to something."
Christian shook his head, "You remember when we all chipped in and rented that house on the beach and Edge set Kurt's milk out so it would spoil, and then Kurt poured himself a huge glass and started gulping it down?"
Melony burst out laughing, "And he was sitting at the table across from Trish and he spit it out all over her face!"
Christian was laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes, "Oh man! That was priceless!"
"I don't think she ever forgave him for that, either!" Melony shook her head, stifling a giggle as she took a sip of her drink, "Our past is full of stuff like that."
"We should write a book or make a movie, or something. We'd be rich!" Christian finished off his beer and motioned to the waiter that he wanted another, "Oh, I almost forgot. I wanted to give you something."
Melony raised an eyebrow, "Give me something?"
He nodded as he reached into his jacket pocket, "Yeah. And I don't want you to think I'm trying to damper the mood or anything. It's just something I think you should have."
Mel felt her heart sink as Christian set the black velvet box in the middle of the table. "You kept it?"
He shrugged as he stared at it for a moment and then locked eyes with her, "I couldn't throw it away, Mel. I couldn't pawn it or sell it. You wore it on your finger for a year. It was yours. I had to keep it." He smiled bittersweetly, "It's just been in a box in the closet. I figure it's your turn now." He winked.
Melony reached over and picked it up, opening it to admire the four-carat diamond engagement ring with a sapphire outline. She quickly shut it and held it tightly in her hand, "Christian...I owe you so many apologies. There's so much that I need to explain, so much I need to atone for."
Christian shook his head, leaning across the table and taking her hand in both of his and squeezing tightly, "I've already said it, Mel, it was a long time ago. And it would be childish for either of us to hold anything against one another. Looking back on it now, I know I probably screwed up along the way..."
"No, you didn't."
"Yeah I did. I'm sure I did." He smiled at her, "It's all behind us, Mel. Now let's just have a drink and celebrate your newfound glory with TNA, alright?"
She laughed and nodded, choking back tears as she slipped the velvet box into her purse and picked up her drink.
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After the initial shock(and after Autumn convinced him to get stitches), AJ cleaned himself up and threw on a t-shirt and jeans before leaving the arena to meet up with her at a local bar. He had a hell of a hard time even letting go of her, and the only reason he agreed to meet her somewhere is so he could have time to process how he felt about the entire thing. He hadn't seen her in well over ten years, and had known her since college. Their relationship was the strongest possible, through thick and thin, and there was no doubt they had always been in love. But it wasn't easy maintaining it, especially since they both had the same dreams and goals, and one of them was bound to outshine the other. In their case, it was him. Once his career started picking him, she followed him as much as she could, and eventually they just drifted apart. With him in Ring of Honor and her still working the indy scene, it was hard to stay together and eventually it just all fell apart.
AJ hadn't risked a serious relationship since Autumn, except for one which failed miserably, and only because of Autumn. She was the one he could never let go of, and couldn't move on because of it. After time, he managed to block it all out and focus on his career and enjoy the life he was leading. But now that she'd come back into his life, it all come flooding back and hit him in the face like a brick. A part of him worried as to why she had returned without a warning, but the rest of him didn't care. A part of him was so unbelievably happy she was back, and yet the rest of him was scared stiff. Basically, he was two people when it came to how he felt about her.
As he drove to the bar, a bolt of fear struck through him. What did you say to someone you hadn't seen in ten years, but knew you still loved? How was he supposed to feel about all of it? He was too damn conflicted to know exactly how he felt. And honestly, too damn afraid to even face her.
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After a few more drinks, Melony called it a night and returned to the hotel room she was staying at until she could locate an apartment to serve as her home away from home when she was taping Impact. She was dead-tired and barely changed clothes before collapsing on the bed for a good night's sleep. But something always seemed to interrupt her just as she started to doze, and tonight, it was her cell phone. Normally, she would've ignored it, but, thinking it could be Kurt, she decided to answer it. "Hello?"
"Nice job, so far. Either you're in it to win it, or you're a helluva good actress."
Melony rolled her eyes, "I'm not acting. And despite what your sick mind thinks, I'm not trying to help you. You, I couldn't care less about. You know why I agreed to this."
"Because it's better for all parties involved, blah blah. Just remember that if I don't get what I want, you don't either. There's another element to this plan, don't forget that."
"Huh, pretty good sentence structure. You got your thesaurus there beside you, or did you just make notes while you were watching General Hospital?"
"Just look out for my call tomorrow. There's something you need to take care of if you want to get what you want."
"You're not the boss here. You don't tell me what to do, you don't control me in any way whatsoever. I can be on a plane to California tomorrow and everything for you will fall through tot he ground. You need me. I'm only helping you so I can get what I want." Mel spat into the phone before ending the call, turning the phone off, and tossing it back into her bag before lying down and unsuccessfully trying to get some sleep.