Disclaimer: I own none of the WWE Superstars in this story, only the OC Characters and my story idea.
A/N: Thank you for all your wonderful little reviews. angelshavetheirwickedschemes, yes Miz would remind you of Joey because that's what I based it off. I watched that episode a few days before I wrote the chapter, and I knew immediately that's how Miz should react! Enjoy this new chapter!
Monday, 19th September
"MARYSE!"
The French Canadian paused, from filing her nails and glanced at her boyfriend, "Que?"
"EMMA! PUNK!"
Maryse blinked. There was no way Michael figured it out. She recovered quickly, rolling her eyes at her dramatic boyfriend, "What are you talking about, Miz?"
"Punk and that actress! Something is going on!"
Keeping her word to Punk, Maryse patted her boyfriend's arm gently in an attempt to calm him down. She ducked to avoid a flailing arm and slapped his shoulder, "Michael!" She narrowed her eyes at him, holding up the nail file, "Sit." A smile came to her face when he sat obediantly, and she stepped in front of him, "Now, calmly, tell me." He opened his mouth, and she snapped, "Calmly!"
The former WWE Champion swallowed. Restraining himself from flinging his arms about, he looked at his girlfriend, and recounted what he saw. From the finding of the gum in Punk's bag to the moment when Emma realised her gum was missing. At his girlfriend's skeptical gaze, he stopped her, "C'mon Maryse. He's always on his phone and he's happy. CM Punk is always grumpy. Never happy. Just grumpy."
Maryse scoffed, "He's not that grumpy."
"He looked like he got laid when I saw him this morning- OUCH! Dammit, Maryse!" Her hand had reached out to slap her boyfriend upside the head, and he rubbed his head, scowling at his girlfriend, "Seriously, Maryse, something is going on. And remember when he acted wierd when you said her and Zac Efron were going out?"
The French-Canadian had to admit her boyfriend had put it together well. She'd give him some credit. However, the more pressing issue was to get him to think he was wrong. She loved Michael, but she knew, if he found out, everyone would find out about Punk and Emma. Hesitantly, she came to the conclusion that she would put her friend's happiness first, and lie to her man. Biting her lip, she tried to convince him, "Mike, je t'aime. I really do, but I don't think-"
"You didn't see how he was looking at her, Maryse! It's how I looked at you when we first started going out. Like I was undressing you with my -"
"Oh my god, Michael, stop." groaned Maryse, running a hand through her hair. She bit back a laugh at him, stepping forward to sit on his lap. "Mike," She started quietly, "This is all based on gum and a look, d'accord? Just leave it, and if you can prove to me otherwise, then maybe he really is seeing her."
Mike eyed the pretty woman on his lap, his arms tightening their grip around her, "$50 bucks." She raised an eyebrow at him, and he rolled his eyes, "Fine, if I lose, then I'll buy you a new pair of Louboutins. And if I win, you have to come to a Cleveland game."
Maryse blanched at the thought of going to a game.
Punk and Emma better keep their hands to themselves in the meantime.
Tuesday, 27th September
"I've set up a lunch date with you and Alex Pettyfer this afternoon."
Normally, Emma Stevens would tune out of her agent's ramblings about media appearances, and today was no different as she distracted herself with texting Punk on her phone. But this, she most definitely heard. Her head shot up from her phone, and she looked at Anna Meares curiously, "Huh?"
Anna rolled her eyes. Clearly, those media training classes were going so well. "Pardon?"
Emma made a face, "Pardon?"
Anna paused, staring at her client, "You have a lunch date with Alex Pettyfer this afternoon."
As new as Emma was to the acting business, the wheels were definitely turning in her head, and she had a feeling she knew that there was an ulterior motive to this lunch date that her agent had organised. With a small smirk on her face, she leaned back in her chair, "Where at?"
Her agent hesitated for a moment, "The Ivy."
Emma pursed her lips, and arched an eyebrow at the older woman, "A lunch date with one of the hottest actors at the moment, who is also newly single... And at one of the biggest paparazzi stakeouts." She chuckled, standing up out of her chair, "Really Anna, do you honestly take me for an idiot?"
The older woman folded her arms over her chest, "I'm just looking out for your best interests."
"My best interests are not to be set up on dates without my knowledge." Emma took a step closer to Anna, clenching her jaw, "You are my agent. You are to organise my media appearances. You are to get me roles on film or on television. You organise all other aspects of my work, but you do not, and I repeat, do not organise my social life."
"Oh sweetie," started Anna, patronisingly, "I am your agent. I do all of those things, but I also create an image for you. Your social life is your media appearances. Every time you appear in public, you are advertising yourself. People want to see celebrities date each other. It gets them interested. I gets them to remember your name. It gets you published in magazines week after week. It will get you noticed." The older woman leaned back against her desk, folding her arms over her chest, "I told you this last time. I'm looking out for you. Your frequent trips to Chicago, and that wonderful surprise trip to Buffalo concerned me - "
"How do you know about Chicago?"
Anna rolled her eyes again, "My point exactly. You don't get how this business works. Airport personnel recognised you, and it got back to me, hence I'm doing what you called a fuckload of covering up, so people don't get the wrong idea about you. You are for Hollywood my dear, and you will be seen in Hollywood with other actors. This is where you belong, and I'd like to see you rise on top, understood?"
The young Australian ran a hand through her long dark hair. Her grasp of the business was not great. She was still coming to terms with the whole thing. Movies offers were being sent to her left, right and centre. Anna had a point, but Emma was going to prove that she could be happy both ways. That this thing with Punk could work with her world. They weren't much different, were they? She gripped her phone tightly, stepping closer to her agent, "I'm going to be who I want to be, Anna. I'll let this slide, but stop trying to control my every movement. I'm 23 years old. I don't need to be told what to do every moment of my life. Pull another stunt like this, and you're going to lose a very valuable client. Now excuse me, I have a lunch date at The Ivy."
As she stormed out of Anna's office, she heard a yell, "Wait, you're still going?"
"Of course I am," smiled Emma, "Your shout right? Just give us Alex's number and I'll be on my way." Upon receiving her date's number, she spun around, leaving the office.
And that's when Anna knew she shouldn't trust that smirk on her young client's face. This was not going to be good.
"I'll have the steak and a glass of.." Emma peered at the menu, still deciding.
"Wine?"
Emma chewed her lip, raising her eyes over the menu to glance at her companion, "I wasn't going to, because you're probably going to preach to me."
"No, it's alright. Get the wine. I won't preach.. Now. Maybe later, when you're stumbling over your words."
Her slim eyebrow rose, "You're not going to be one of those passive aggressive boyfriends are you?"
A smirk curled the lips of CM Punk, "Oh so now I'm a boyfriend?"
There was an amused chuckle and the two turned to realise their waiter was still there with a smile on his face. "Oh, don't mind me, carry on. It's always good to know that you people are just like us."
Punk growled for a second, "What do you mean, you people?"
Emma swatted the WWE Superstar with her menu, "Punk, behave!" She smiled at the now nervous looking waiter, "I'll just grab a glass of coke." As the waiter turned to put through their orders, she pushed her tongue into her cheek, watching Punk as he looked confused.
"Were you ever going to get the wine?"
She looked at him, incredulously, "With ribs? No chance."
He chuckled, his eyes scanning the restaurant they were in. He had flown back to LA with Emma after the next week's Raw, choosing to stay with her for a few days before the PPV. He was amused by the establishment they were in. And also very uneasy. When Emma had called him fuming, he knew he was in for it. She'd cancelled her date with Alex, and continued to go to The Ivy, but with Punk in tow. Due to Anna's need for Emma to be photographed with Alex, the table they were seated at was on the patio. Punk had pulled his hat further down, and refused to remove his sunglasses. Emma had apologised profusely but he grinned at her reassuringly. His sunglasses and hat were disguising him, and his jumper covered his tattoos. Leaning forward, resting his elbows on the table, he smirked at her, "So this is riskier than Navy Pier."
"Scared?"
Punk wiggled his eyebrows over the top of his sunglasses, "Excited."
Emma rolled her eyes, "Speaking of scared, I think you made that waiter piss his pants." At Punk's smirk, she rolled her eyes again, shaking her head laughing at the older man.
Their food arrived, and Punk was amused by the dining antics of his companion. He snorted as she wiped the sauce that had collected on the side of her mouth, and she eyed him wierdly, "You're amazing."
Emma's eyes widened, "Huh?"
"The women I work with are so self conscious with what they eat, it's refreshing to see someone eat like you do."
"And how do I eat?"
"Like a man."
Sunday, 2nd October
"MARYSE OUELLET I WIN!"
Eve Torres looked heavenward as she sat in the Divas Locker Room for the Hell in a Cell PPV. Shooting an exasperated look at her friend, Maryse, she gestured at the door, where the booming voice was coming from. "Does he not have a mute button?"
Maryse glanced up from the magazine she was flicking through, "I'm sorry, what?" At Eve's gesturing, Maryse sighed, standing up to answer the door. She raised an eyebrow at the flushed appearance of her boyfriend as he stood at the door to the locker room. "Michael?"
Mike Mizanin grinned, leaning forward to peck his girlfriend, "Bonjour." Pushing past her, he shook a magazine in the air, a triumphant grin on his face. "I win."
Maryse folded her arms over her chest, and eyed the Awesome one, "Win what?"
"The bet!"
Eve stood up, snatching the magazine from Mike's hands and bit back a laugh, "Why do you have Ok! Magazine?"
Mike snatched it back, glaring at the former Divas Champion. Flicking it open, he turned the pages and held it up, pointing at a series of pictures, "I TOLD YOU!"
Maryse's heart stopped momentarily. He'd actually found out. Stepping closer, she pulled the magazine from his grasp, and looked at the article closely. Sighing with relief, the pictures were of Emma dining with an unidentified male. But she knew it was Punk. Even with the sunglasses and the hat, she knew it was him. Emma and Punk cared too much about each other to throw a decoy lunch date with someone else. She knew she had to keep her promise to Punk, and so she handed Mike the magazine, a small smirk on her face, "Told me what?"
Mike's jaw dropped, "Are you kidding me? That's Punk and that girl!"
Eve snatched the magazine, "WHO AND WHO?" Maryse sent a pleading look from behind Mike, and Eve furrowed her brow. She looked at the pictures and gasped quietly to herself. Looking back up, she noticed the look on Maryse's face, and she sighed, "Seriously, Miz, that's not Punk. Why the hell would he be in LA? He hates LA." She swatted Mike with the magazine, "Stop starting rumours, Mike!"
The Miz looked thoroughly confused. He was so sure that that was CM Punk in the photos. He knew that homeless look from a mile away. His eyes narrowed. Something was going on here, and he had a sneaky suspicion his girlfriend knew a little more than she was letting on. He reached out to snatch his magazine back, and pouted when Eve held it out of arms reach. Stomping his foot like a child, he made his way to the door, "You'll see! You'll all see that I'm right!" He called over his shoulder, as he slammed the door, leaving the two divas with the magazine.
Eve Torres flicked the magazine open, and held it up for Maryse, "That's Philip Jack Brooks."
Maryse hesitated, "No, you just think it is, because Mike put the idea in your head."
"That's Punk, Maryse, you can't deny it." At Maryse's avoiding look, Eve shook her head, "Does Beth know?"
The French Canadian's head snapped up, her eyes widening. She had completely forgotten about Beth. The relationship between the Glamazon and Punk had ended a week after his pipe bomb. The two had gotten what they wanted from the company, and their relationship had slowly deteriorated with the two going back to being the friends they used to be, rather than the romantic couple. Their minds had been so focused on moving up in the company that they forgot how to be a couple. That being said, many believed that Beth still held a torch for the former WWE Champion. Maryse bit her lip, "Don't - "
Eve sighed, handing Maryse the magazine, "Don't get caught in the crossfire, Maryse. I'll keep my lips sealed, but be careful. Remember, she was your friend first before this girl."
"Alors, you're here!" Grabbing her wrist, Maryse hurried down the corridors of the New Orleans Arena, dragging Emma with her. Emma had arrived to surprise Phil in his hotel room, however as she watched the Pay-Per-View unfold on the television, she couldn't help but feel sick as she watched him wrestle in great pain. Maryse had called her frantically from the arena, and arranged for her to slip past security as her assistant. The two women made a left down another corridor, hurrying to the trainer's room. Maryse knew she was risking everything by bringing her here, but the two reminded her so much of her and Mike that she couldn't bring herself to stop helping them see each other. "You'll be fine, ma cheri," assured Maryse, as she pushed Emma forward to enter the room, "I'll come back soon."
Emma entered the room quietly, noticing the figure hunched over on the bench, uncomfortably, "So that's why it's called Hell in a Cell."
Phil lifted his head, instantly, "Emmy," He breathed, reaching a hand forward. As she stepped forward, he pulled her by her hand towards him, resting her between his legs. His handed rested on her lower back, and he leant forward, kissing her quickly. "What are you doing here?" He croaked, his body aching from the gruelling championship match.
"Came to surprise you," Emma's hand brushed his wayward hair from his face, "Picked a good night, didn't I?"
His face split into a small grin, and Punk leaned forward to rest his chin on her shoulder, placing a kiss there first. Emma wrapped her arms around him, before wrinkling her nose, "Ew, Punk, you stink!"
His body shook with laughter, as he leant back, pulling her with him, so she could experience all of his stench and sweat. At her disgusted squeals, he relented, placing her back on the ground. Keeping his hands on her waist, he steadied her in front of him, "So I have a surprise,"
Emma raised an eyebrow, "Please tell me it involves you having a shower soon."
Phil smirked, "No." He poked her side, chuckling, "I got a nomination at the Kid's Choice Awards in Australia."
Emma frowned, staring at Phil, "That's not a surprise, I knew that."
The Straight-Edge Superstar shrugged, looking disinterested, "It also came with a first class ticket to Australia."
CM Punk surprised himself with how relieved and happy he was once he saw that giant grin that formed on Emma's face. Forgetting about her previous displeasure at his sweaty torso, she hugged him tightly. He smiled against her neck as she clung to his body, giggling in his ear. He couldn't help but pout, as she leant back to look at him.
"When's your flight?" Emma's eyes lit up as she watched another smirk form on Phil's face, and she bit her lip, hoping it was the answer she wanted.
"Whenever your flight is, Princess."
A/N: Review, Review, REVIEW! :)
