A/N: Your reviews have been awesome! Thank you all so much and I do take the time to read every single one of them so thank you so much again! There's a lot more exciting stuff coming up so buckle up and enjoy the next chapter :) #swerve
Without A Word
Punk showed up at Nico's restaurant extra early the next door because he knew Cliff was on cleanup duty. He stepped inside and found him behind the bar with a clipboard in his hands and took a seat on the stool.
"Tried to talk to you last night." Punk said trying to get his attention.
"I was busy." Cliff replied not even looking at him and writing something down.
"Come on man." Punk sighed. "I also know you blew April off last night too and you shouldn't be mad at her just be mad at me. Not that I can even understand why you're so mad."
"Why would I be mad?" Cliff asked mockingly. "For starters you were kissing April, a girl we've known for almost ten years and looked out for like a little sister, you're cheating on Amy- another friend of mine and I could only assume you're here right now to beg me not to rat you out to Nico."
"Ok I get it." Punk admitted.
"I asked you weeks ago if you had a thing for her and lied to me." Cliff argued. "Why the fuck did you lie?"
"Because what was I supposed to say?" Punk asked. "That I've been dreaming about April? A girl you look at as a sister but I don't. Should have told you that we share a bond that I don't share with any of you?" he asked. "It was just a stupid fucking kiss and it's not going past that."
"So you two just snuck out back to make out? It was a random moment?" Cliff asked. "I'm not buying that shit."
"The other night she came to the comic shop to hang out and we got locked in the stock room." Punk told him and Cliff winced knowing all about Punk's claustrophobia. "I thought I was going to lose my mind but she talked me down and we ended up kissing that was the first time, last night was the second and last time."
"Why did you two have to kiss last night?" Cliff asked him. "Couldn't you have both just left alone? I mean she's probably still really hung up on her boss."
"No." Punk said shaking his head. "This had nothing to do with him."
"And what really happened with him?" Cliff asked him. "I heard her talking about drinking a lot and him getting her alone-"
"I can't talk to you about something private she shared with me." Punk shrugged. "I wouldn't do that to her."
"If he hurt her-" Cliff started.
"Do you think if he raped April that I wouldn't have killed him already?" Punk asked casually.
"You really like her don't you?" Cliff asked.
"I do." Punk admitted. "But it would never work between us so we would both appreciate if you kept it to yourself. Don't make a big thing out of nothing."
"You want me to lie to both Amy and Nico?" Cliff asked him.
"No. But I doubt they're going to walk up to you and randomly ask if my tongue was down Ape's throat." Punk mocked. "Just don't bring it up- leave it alone."
"This is bad." Cliff warned him. "Not just because Amy adores you but Nico-"
"We don't have to worry about any of that." Punk reminded him. "Because they're never going to know and if it was something I felt I had to tell them I would. April has enough shit going at work she didn't need any extra stuff on her plate right now."
"I won't say a word." Cliff assured him. "But you have to promise me this is over."
"It's over." Punk said surely. "It has to be."
"You don't sound so confidant in that." Cliff scoffed. "Look if you really like her and she likes you break it off with Amy, talk to Nico and do this the right way."
"I'm not good enough for April." Punk said to him. "I'm the little orphan boy." he reminded him. "I work in a fucking comic book shop and try to wrestle at night."
"I think that's a bullshit excuse." Cliff said to him. "You're much better than the Prince of publishing." He mocked.
"Amy would probably disagree with that if she knew the full story." Punk said to him.
"And rightfully so." Cliff agreed. "If you're still feeling things for her it's not just going to go away because you want it to."
"It'll go away because I'm going away." Punk informed him.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Cliff demanded.
"I'm taking off for a little bit." Punk told him. "I'm leaving in a few hours actually."
"Where the hell are you going?" Cliff asked. "Were you planning on telling everyone?"
"I'm telling you and you can tell everyone else. Amy and I are going to drive to Atlanta to spend Thanksgiving with her family then we're going to sight see."
"I thought that was trip for training purposes?" Cliff asked again.
"It was supposed to be but I have to clear my head first. This is a good way to do it." Punk said to him.
"Dude if you're into April that much-" Cliff began.
"I'm not. I just need to distance myself from her and this entire place for a few weeks." Punk told him. "I'm not sleeping and when I do I have these wacky dreams, I'm way too unfocused- I just need some space."
"You're not going to spend Thanksgiving with us this year?" Cliff frowned. "It won't be the same."
"I promised Amy." Punk said to him. "I've got to try with her."
"What about April? Did you tell her you're going?" Cliff asked.
"No. She'll figure it out." Punk said to him. "Like I said I really need space from her."
"You make her sound so bad." Cliff noted narrowing his eyes at her.
"It's the opposite actually." Punk said to him. "I can't get into this again. Look, can you say goodbye to everyone for me. And if you really need to reach me call Amy because I'm going off the grid."
"Alright man." Cliff said shaking his hand. "Have a safe trip."
"One favor." Punk began.
"Anything." Cliff said to him.
"Look out for April. She's still having problems at work and this guy is a real piece of shit." Punk said to him.
"You know I always look out for her." Cliff assured him.
April realized Punk was gone four hours after he left with Amy. Celeste had told her about the trip and was surprised that Punk hadn't even said goodbye to her. He was gone a week now and she missed him more than she cared to admit. The minute he left she felt like everything was going wrong and it was only going to get worse. She was now going through a huge crisis and she couldn't discuss it with Nico and her best friend was nowhere to be found.
April was at her desk starring at Daren Prince's office door. She was pale and nervous as she waited for his meeting to be over so she could go in there and talk to him. This was the worst thing that could have happened to her. She realized three days ago that she was late and took a pregnancy test that tested positive. There was only one man who could have done this to her. After the men Daren was meeting with walked out of his office she stepped right in and locked the door behind her.
"Hello April." Daren grinned. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I'm pregnant." She blurted out and his face dropped. "Or I think I am." she rambled nervously. "I took two tests and the coloring wasn't exact but it was closer to a positive-"
"April if this is a joke it's not very funny." Daren warned her.
"It's not." April assured him.
"Are you sure it's even mine?" Daren asked her.
"Of course!" she shouted. "I was a virgin before you and haven't been with anyone since."
"You need to take another test." Daren said with a wave of his hand. "I assumed you were on birth control."
"Well I wasn't. I took the morning after pill after the first time we were together but I didn't even think of it the second time." she admitted.
"Well that a pretty stupid fucking thing to forget!" He hissed standing up.
"What about you?" April argued. "Why didn't you use a condom?"
"I don't have time to debate this April." He snapped annoyed with her. "You need to take care of this."
"I'm making a doctors appointment." She told him.
"No you're going to take a more accurate test first and you're going to take it with me there." Daren informed her grabbing his jacket.
"No I am not." She snorted.
"Yes you are. Do you think this is the first time a woman has tried to extort from me?" Daren asked her.
"Are you serious?" April asked offended. "I'm not trying to extort anything from you!"
"Oh give me a break." He scoffed. "I know how you women work but I never thought you'd stoop this low. I thought you actually had a brain."
"You know what? Forget I even said anything." she said to him. "I'll take another test at home and then I'll go to the doctor. Don't worry you won't be bothered anymore." she then stormed out of the office and grabbed her jacket and headed to the elevator.
Once April walked in her door someone was banging at her door and she swung it open already knowing it was Daren.
"You can't be here." April warned him. "My family will be home soon and they don't like you very much."
"I don't give a shit." he said pushing in. "You're taking that test in front of me." he said to her.
"No way." She said pulling out the pregnancy test box and walking up the small narrow spiral stair case.
"Yes way!" he yelled following her.
"I'm not letting you watch me go to the bathroom." April said walking into her bedroom and he followed her right in.
"Look I'm trying to remain calm here." Daren said taking a breath. "This isn't the first time that a woman has claimed to be pregnant with my child."
"It's not a random claim. And I wouldn't take your money anyway." She said to him.
"How else would you pay to have it taken care of?" Daren asked her.
"I'd figure it out." She shrugged. "I mean babies are a lot of money-"
"No, no I meant for the abortion." Daren clarified. "Insurance doesn't really cover that and it's not cheap."
"Abortion?" April asked disgusted. "Why would I have an abortion?"
"You're not keeping it." Daren said to her.
"It's my child if I am pregnant." April argued.
"Yea wonderful a kid that will show up on my doorstep looking for a handout. No fucking way." Daren said shaking his head.
"How could you be so cruel?" April asked disgusted.
"If I wanted kids I'd be married and have kids." Daren informed her coldly. "Take the fucking test!"
"No." April said folding her arms.
Downstairs the door swung open and Nico, Colt, Cliff and Celeste walked inside.
"That was a good movie." Celeste said happily.
"Of course you liked it." Colt snorted. "It was chick flick."
"It was not." Celeste said rolling her eyes and removing her jacket.
"Has anyone heard from Punk?" Nico asked them.
"Nah man." Cliff said shaking his head.
"I know he had been distant but to leave like that without even saying goodbye is so unlike him." Nico said to them.
"He just wanted to get away with Amy for a little bit." Celeste shrugged.
"Still not like him. I'm worried." Nico told them. "I was thinking of-" he stopped when he heard muffled yelling coming from the small upstairs.
"April is home?" Colt asked hearing it as well.
"Who the fuck is she yelling yet?" Nico asked walking right up the stairs.
"...you're a poor Puerto Rican bitch who just wants my money!" Daren yelled pointing his finger in his face. "You're not taking that test because you're a goddamn liar!"
"You need to leave right now." she warned.
"You're fucking trash you know that?" Daren spat. "Fucking disgusting trash! Putting my dick in you was the worst fucking mistake and I will not let you blow up my life you thieving little bitch!"
Nico had heard enough and April's face dropped in horror when he stalked into the room and grabbed Daren from behind by his shoulders and threw him onto the floor.
"Nico no!" April screamed.
"What did you say to my sister?" Nico demanded hitting the man.
"No stop!" she screamed louder trying to pry her brother off of her boss. "He's my boss Nico! Just stop!"
Colt and Cliff ran up the stairs and even though there wasn't a lot of room they did their best to pry Nico off of the bleeding millionaire.
"You disrespect my sister in my house?" Nico hissed hitting him one more time before Colt and Cliff dragged him off of Daren.
"I don't know who you are but you're going to jail." Daren warned sitting up holding his bloody nose.
"Daren please-" She pleaded dropping to her knees to inspect his face. "He was just-"
"Don't fucking touch me!" Daren snapped pulling away from her. "You weren't worth all of this trouble." he said slowly standing up.
"Get him out of my fucking house or I'll kill him." Nico warned still being restrained.
"Just leave." April said pushing him out of her room and towards the stairs.
"I'm pressing charges." He informed April as she tried to help him down the stairs. "I'll sue him for the entire $300 he's worth."
"Please he was just protecting me." April begged crying. "Don't do this! I'll do anything!"
"It's too fucking late for that shit. You're damaged goods." He hissed.
"Woah." Celeste said walking next to April.
"If you're pregnant and you insist on keeping this kid don't expect shit from me either. I'll pay for the abortion other than that you can go fuck yourself too." he said walking out the door.
"Daren don't call the cops!" April begged racing after him but Cliff grabbed her by the waist.
"Stop." Cliff said as Celeste quickly closed the door.
"He's going to press charges!" She cried.
"What the hell is going on?" Celeste asked her.
"That was your boss?" Nico asked April angrily as he stomped down the stairs. "This was the great man that you were so into? You're pregnant?"
"I don't know." April cried running her hands through her hair.
"You let that rich son of a bitch touch you and knock you up?" Nico asked disgusted. "You're smarter than that!" he screamed in her face.
"I don't know." April said feeling overwhelmed. "I don't even know for sure if I am-"
"You better pray that you aren't because that guy is going to do nothing for you." Nico hissed at her. "The things he said to you sounded like the kind of shit dad would say to mom, is that what you left home for? To end up with a man like dad? You like the feeling of being verbally abused?"
"That's enough!" Celeste yelled putting a comforting arm around April. "Look at her!" she yelled at Nico.
April's face was beat red and her face was soaked from her tears, her body was shaking and she was now wobbly on her feet. This was a lot to happen in such a short matter of time.
"That's how she's going to look and feel everyday." Nico said shaking his head.
"What is wrong with you?" Celeste asked stunned and ushered April to the stairs and up to her bedroom.
"You better call a lawyer." Colt suggested.
"Fuck him he was in my house." Nico said to him.
"I think you broke his nose." Cliff added.
"I should have broken his neck." Nico spat. "Did you two know about this?"
"About April being pregnant?" Colt asked. "Absolutely not."
"No about this boss she was fawning over like a lovesick teenager. Did you know he was a total asshole and just not tell me because you knew this would happen?" Nico demanded.
"She didn't talk about him much." Cliff said to him. "You really lost it up there."
"He sounded like my father." Nico said to them. "The way he was belittling her and shouting at her-" he said cringing. "I promised her no one would do that to her again."
"You just did it yourself." Colt pointed out.
"Yea you were harsh." Cliff agreed.
"She's not your sister." Nico reminded them. "You would have done the same thing."
"I consider her my sister and I wanted to hug her not scream at her." Colt said to him. "She's fucking scared."
"Terrified." Cliff clarified. "And what you need to do right now is call a lawyer because he'll lock you up for this."
"I don't care." Nico said to them trying to calm down. "How could she be so stupid? How was she not safe having sex with this guy?"
"She's young and not experienced." Cliff reasoned.
"What do you mean by that?" Nico asked and Cliff's face dropped.
"I mean I'm just guessing-" Cliff began.
"No that's not what you meant." Nico said slowly.
"At the bar I heard April talking about him and she was a virgin." Cliff admitted. "But please don't tell her I said anything."
"I don't know if I'm relieved or sad." Nico said shaking his head.
"Go talk to her." Colt suggested nodding to the stairs. "Be her brother not her father."
"I've been her father her entire life. I've pulled double duty her whole life." Nico noted.
"Turn off 'dad' mode and be big brother for a change." Cliff suggested.
"Ok." Nico nodded.
An hour later April went to Daren's office since she knew the workaholic would go straight there. She stepped into his office without nodding and saw he was still icing his face.
"Get out." Daren said to her.
"I'm not pregnant." April informed him. She had never thought she'd be so happy to get her period in her entire life. She almost did a back flip as a matter of fact.
"Are you sure?" Daren asked her and she nodded.
"Yea I was just late." April said to him. "Did you call the police on my brother?"
"Not yet." He said to her. "I plan on it though."
"Please don't." April said to him. "Let's just forget this entire mess."
"It's not ok to just attack people." Daren said to her. "Your brother is a big boy and knows better."
"Fine if you press chargers against him I'll sue you for sexual harassment." She said to him.
"You're kidding right?" Daren asked laughing.
"I am not." She said shaking her head.
"My word against yours?" Daren mocked.
"It would still generate a lot of press and maybe I'll contact a few of those assistants of yours that were here before me that 'quit' without warning." April said to him. "Don't make this messy Daren just let it go."
"Now you're blackmailing me." Daren chuckled. "I really did underestimate you. Fine April I won't call the police."
"Thank you." she said to him.
"But you can't come back here." Daren said to her. "Quit."
"You want me to quit?" she asked.
"I think we could both agree it's for the best. If you do it quietly than I'll write you an excellent recommendation and we can part on good terms. I think that's fair." Daren reasoned.
"Fine." She said feeling defeated and beat up. "I quit. You win."
"I always win April." Daren smiled almost sadly. "You're a good worker April you'll find a new job easily."
"Thanks for the experience." She stated bitterly and turned and walked out of the office.
"You ok?" Cliff asked as he was sitting at her desk waiting for her.
"Yea just help me pack up my desk?" April asked holding back tears.
"He fired you?" he asked.
"Do you really think it's wise I work here anymore?" April laughed.
"I suppose not. I'm sorry." he frowned.
"You can tell Nico to stop calling lawyers he's not pressing charges." April said to him.
"You want me to go beat him up too?" Cliff offered.
"No." She chuckled through the sadness. "But thanks anyway."
Nico walked into April's bedroom after everything was said and done and even though he apologized and she forgave him he still felt guilty.
"I got you your favorite." Nico smiled walking into her room with a bowl. "Chocolate chip cookie dough." he said passing her the bowl.
"I'm not hungry but thanks." She said putting it on her side table.
"How many ways can I say I'm sorry?" Nico asked her.
"You said it once and it was good enough." April said to him as she sat up in bed.
"I shouldn't have bought up dad like that." Nico frowned. "It was a low blow."
"I know what kind of man Daren Prince is now. I ended it with him weeks ago." April informed him. "I wish you'd stop treating me like a kid sometimes."
"I'll work on it." Nico said to her. "But that was a lot of information to absorb in sixty seconds."
"I also could have handled it." April said to him.
"How did you work for that man everyday?" Nico asked her. "Why didn't you come to me? Why didn't you tell me what was going on?"
"Because I was afraid you'd act like that." April said to him. "That night I slept with Daren I was so drunk I didn't even realize what I was doing."
"Some people would call that rape." Nico forced out coldly.
"I gave consent." April said shaking her head. "It was so terrible and so awful that I didn't want anyone to know."
"I'll work on my temper." Nico promised her. "I don't want you to ever be afraid to tell me something and I never want you to go through something like that alone again."
"I didn't." April admitted. "I told Punk."
"What?" Nico asked narrowing his eyes.
"Don't be mad at him." She warned Nico and his features softened.
"I'm not mad he didn't tell him I'm mad that you trusted him more than me." Nico frowned "I know you look at him like a brother-" April almost laughed in his face but kept it in. "-but I'm your real brother. You can come to me."
"I can't have you flying off the handle like that." April said to him. "Punk listened to me and he called me a doctor and really educated me. He helped me."
"Than I'm happy you had him and I definitely owe him one." Nico said relieved. "And I'm going to work on the temper." he promised. "I want you to talk to me."
"I will as long as you promise to think before you punch." April said to him. "You could have gone to jail."
"Would have been worth it." He teased. "I was just trying to protect you because I love you. You're the family I have and there's nothing I wouldn't do for you."
"You just have to be more careful that's all." April said forcing a smile.
"You too." Nico said to her and she frowned. "What would you have done if you were actually pregnant?"
"Oh my god." she let out a loud laugh. "I really have no idea." she said shaking her head. "I mean I want kids just years down the road and not with a man like that." she cringed.
"That's why you have to be extra careful." Nico warned. "There aren't many good guys out there and I'd hate to see you have to settle for anyone less than the best."
"I'll be careful and you'll work on that temper." April smiled.
"So what are you going to do about work?" Nico asked. "There's no rush either take as much time as you need."
"I'd like to find something in publishing." April shrugged. "It might take me a few weeks or if you want to hire me at restaurant."
"My baby sister is not working at my restaurant. What did I just say about settling?" Nico asked her. "Find something you love. What about writing? Celeste mentioned you've been writing a lot."
"No one is going to just publish a book I've only written ten pages of." she giggled.
"I would." Nico stated proudly.
"I know." She smiled.
"What's it about?" he asked her. April didn't want to tell Nico she was writing about their childhood because it was something he never liked to talk about and she was sure he wouldn't want people knowing the details so she'd keep that to herself for now.
"Nope. I'll tell you about it when it's done." April promised.
Later that night when he was alone Cliff tried calling Amy to get Punk but her phone was off as well. He decided to leave a voice mail for Punk.
"Hey man it's me." Cliff began. "You need to come home April is in trouble and needs you. I can't get into details but things are all fucked up and she's a mess and I told you I'd look out for her but I'm not you, none of us are. Just stop driving, get on a plane and get home to her before it's too late." he then hung up and prayed Punk would check his messages.
A/N #2 - Poor April, no Punk & no job but don't worry she'll bounce back...oh and so will Punk ;)