AJ grimaces when Miz announces her match at Summerslam is going to be a mixed tag match instead. Completely throwing out the Layla vs AJ verdict. AJ was frustrated, needless to say. She didn't want to have to share the spotlight with Big E. Not to mention she was going against Kaitlyn again, and her ex boyfriend.
"You're upset." Big E observes, looking up at her from his muscle magazine.
AJ shakes her head, placing her finger delicately in between her lips, biting the nail, "I just had my heart set on that much, that's all, E." The lie slides out easily, Big E accepts her answer and goes back to his magazine.
Not only was she trying to manipulate CM Punk, but now she had to deal with her ex boyfriend in a match. Who would also steal her spotlight.
If there was one thing AJ loved, it was the spotlight.
"I'm going to go grab some Chinese, want anything?" AJ asks, standing up abruptly.
"Egg rolls, as always." Big E doesn't look up, flipping the page with a delicate finger, his lips pursing.
"Got it." AJ reaches over and grabs her keys, then abruptly exits the room.
As she shuts her hotel room door, she sees down the hallway, CM Punk and Kofi talking. To her luck, they were in the direction she had to go in. So she joyfully walked past them, chin held up high.
CM Punk excuses himself from the conversation to chase down AJ as she walks down the hallway to the elevator.
"Hey! Lee!"
AJ whips around, her ponytail following her, she gives him a curious look, "Were you following me again?" Raising an eyebrow.
"You know I love the chase."
AJ rolls her eyes, "I was just going to pick up Chinese food for E and I."
"Yeah? I'll drive you."
AJ holds up her keys, "I think I have that portion of the trip covered, actually." She says with a soft smile, "Ya know, hence the keys." She dangles them to add emphasis.
Punk dryly laughs, putting his hand through his hair, "Yeah, just thought we could hang out for a bit."
He's becoming easier to manipulate. AJ realizes, he was pretty much dancing right into her hands, right into her sharp hands. Ready to snap around him and leave him wounded and broken. She resists the urge to smirk.
"Well, you have my number, use it." AJ says, backing away from him slowly, "See if I answer." She turns on her heel and walks away from him, a slow grin making it's way to her face.
"I've got you just where I want you, puddin'." She says quietly, throwing back her head and laughing.
She sits on the couch, idly letting her eyes drift to the Iron Man movie on the screen. She takes a bite of her rice as Tony Stark spits out another one of his clever remarks. AJ couldn't keep her thoughts off of CM Punk, which was a terrible sign. She couldn't afford to get attached, not again.
"Summerslam is tomorrow." Big E says after he's done chewing an egg roll, "You pumped?"
AJ shrugs, clicking her chopsticks together, "Sort of. I've faced Kaitlyn dozens of times, so I'm certain I can crush her." AJ says with a small laugh, "Dolph is the wild card here."
Big E gasps, "Did you just.. did you just use Dolph's name instead of Ziggy? Shit, you've really moved on."
AJ licks her lips, "Hmm, I did." She shrugs again, "Eh, matter of time."
"Who did you sink your talons into this time?"
The name CM Punk flashes through AJ's mind so quickly it takes her back a small bit. She bites the inside of her cheek, angry at herself for the thought, "No one. Sorry to disappoint you, E."
AJ feels guilty because she's doing it again. She can't help it, her addictive personality is always five steps ahead of her. Clinging itself to anyone who seems vaguely interested.
She didn't want repeats.
She didn't want to have her heart shattered again by CM Punk. She had enough of that pain.
She wanted to win this time.
Just this once.
She puts her hair into ponytails for Summerslam. She applies lip gloss and grabs her championship, smiling like an idiot. "At least you won't leave me." She says, placing a chaste kiss on the top of the emblazoned butterfly.
She skips over to the curtain to see Dolph, stretching.
He looks her up and down, his gaze not lingering for a moment, filled with disinterest, "Hey babe, ready to lose tonight?"
AJ gives him a little smile, "Mmm, not quite, how about you? I hope you've emotionally prepared yourself to be crushed, twice, if I may add."
"Tell me AJ, how's it feel to have the only guy who gave a shit about you, wrestling against you in a match?" Dolph leans down to AJ's height, his eyes pressing into hers.
AJ smirks at him, "It feels like he's going to get his ass kicked, in more ways than one. Trust me, Ziggler, I wouldn't underestimate me if I were you."
Dolph looks at her curiously, "What do you have up your sleeve?"
"I bet you'd love to know."
"Where did my sweet little AJ go?"
"That little AJ left the minute she got a hold of this." She taps her Divas championship, "Don't be upset that I'm a champion, and you're.. well, lets just say, you're definitely not up to my level anymore, Ziggy."
Dolph stares at her in amusement. He hears his music and quickly rips himself away from her, visibly shaken by her words. He exits through the curtain.
"I don't know what game you're playing, but it has to stop." Kaitlyn is in front of her then, looking angry.
AJ gives her a smirk, "Don't tell me man arms is scared."
"I'm never scared."
"Then you have nothing to worry about. Lead the way." AJ says as Kaitlyn's music hits.
In a few short moments, everyone is in the ring. Big E is flanked by AJ, who's conniving smirk is leaving everyone uneasy. Leaving knots in stomachs. Halfway through the match, Dolph has dominated Big E and Kaitlyn has speared AJ more than once.
AJ decides to pull out her ace.
She hurriedly whispers to Big E, who does exactly as she says. AJ hops down from her corner and grabs her Divas championship. As Big E distracts the ref, AJ rips Kaitlyn off the turnbuckle and throws her into the stairs. Then she slides into the ring, and pelts Ziggy - Dolph, with her championship, square in the face. She slides out and Big E goes for the pin. The bell rings and they've won.
Kaitlyn spears AJ.
AJ grovels in pain, getting very irritated by Kaitlyn's incompetence and poor sportsmanship. She gets up after a few moments, holding her title up, triumphant. She crawls into the ring, leaning over Ziggy.
"Definitely not up to my level." She says evilly, blowing him a kiss.
She skips backstage, completely amused by her quick thinking. She spots Punk and skips over to him.
"Now who's following who?" Punk teases with a smirk, "Great job out there, quick thinking, I like it."
AJ shrugs, though a smile comes to her lips, "What can I say, I'm just five steps ahead of everyone."
"Obviously." Punk says with a smile, "Definitely my favorite Diva right now. In case you didn't know, I sort of have a thing for crazy chicks."
"Hmm, what a coincidence, I tend to fit right in that category." AJ tilts her head to the side, her white teeth flashing, "I do have a shirt for that, I do take credit for."
"As you should."
AJ licks her lips, "I should probably go hit the showers. I'm sure you're tired of having to stare at me in all my sweaty-mess-ness." She takes a few steps away from him.
"How about going out for ice cream after the show?"
AJ purses her lips, considering, "Are you asking me out, Punk?"
"Would it be bad if I was?"
AJ smirks, "I'm sort of into bad.. we'll see."
"We'll see?"
"We'll see." She affirms, skipping back to the locker room.
Oh shit, she was doing it, she was falling for him all over again. She had to keep the crazy in check or she'd lose it. She gets back into the locker room and throws a chair, the other Divas stare at her questioningly. But they blame it on her character and move on.
AJ paces when she's in the shower, letting the cold water fall against her, she bites her lip, thinking.
She couldn't let herself fall for him.
Not again.
She doesn't do repeats.
She's been paying attention to these stories, needless to say, none of them have a happy ending. She wasn't going to be the stupid female protagonist who went right along to her doom.