Chapter 8: Weirdness


The next day April woke up in her apartment at around 9:30 in the morning. She couldn't remember the last time she slept until 9:30. She climbed off her couch and glanced out the window and saw the sun shinning outside. As she was enjoying the free day already her mind was already drifting back to the previous night. After Punk had called her beautiful he took her home and the car ride was actually awkward and she didn't want to leave things off with him like that. She quickly reached for her phone and searched for Punk's number and called it.

"Hello?" his groggy voice asked

"I'm sorry did I wake you?" April asked him

"No, not at all" Punk lied trying to sound more alert "Everything ok?"

"Yea it's just-" April started as she tried to find that right words.

"Just what?" Punk asked her

"I owe you that dinner still" April said quickly

"Yea I remember" Punk chuckled "It's a little early for dinner, no?"

"Of course I just wanted to make sure you didn't make any plans" April said to him

"Are you sure you're ok?" Punk asked her

"Yea" April said to him

"So what are we doing for dinner?" Punk asked her

"It's a surprise" April said to him happily "I'll text you an address and you can meet me there"

"I can just pick you up" Punk offered

"Yea you could but this is more fun" April teased "I'll see you tonight"

"Ok" Punk said to her "I'm looking forward to it"

"Me too" April agreed then quickly hung up.


"So your first date with CM Punk" Jewel beamed "Are you finally going to do it?"

"Stop" April warmed "First of all it's not a date it's just a thank you dinner and I invited you here to help me with my hair"

"Why do you care about your hair if it's not a date?" Jewel asked her

"Because I don't want to look like a mess" April sighed "It's not a date he's CM Punk I'm sure he has ten girlfriends waiting for him back at his hotel"

"Doubt it" Jewel smirked as she worked on April's hair "Does he know that you're still…"

"It's not his business!" April said shushing her

"I mean you're going out on a date with him and I'm sure a man like CM Punk is expecting a little action" Jewel joked

"Maybe I should cancel" April said more to herself

"No you are not going to cancel" Jewel warned "You're going to go and have fun"

"Punk is my friend" April reminded her "We have a bond"

"That I agree on" Jewel said to her "He really does seem to like you"

"Why do you keep saying that?" April asked annoyed

"Because he's been spending all of his limited free time here with you in Tampa instead of his own home" Jewel said to her

"I don't know why you're trying to make me nervous" April said to her "You're making more of this than there really is"

"It's a date kid" Jewel laughed

"Exactly kid" April pointed out "Punk just sees me as a kid"

"No he doesn't" Jewel smirked as she curled April's hair

"He called me a kid" April confided "He told me I wasn't his type and I accept that"

"Whatever you say" Jewel said to her defeated "But I really doubt he keeps coming to Tampa because of the diner food"

"I'm not his type" April pointed out again "And even if I was he wouldn't want to be with someone like me"

"You mean a hot flexible wrestler?" Jewel asked seriously "Yea you're right what red blooded male would want that?"

"I'm not experienced enough for a man like Punk" April said to her

"So go out and get laid" Jewel insisted "Get a few practice runs"

"We're not going to have sex!" April yelled

"I'm not telling you to marry the man" Jewel said seriously "But clearly there's an attraction there and you should for once in your life go and have fun"

"Are you almost done?" April asked annoyed

"Yea, yea" Jewel said finishing up on her wavy hair "A little early for dinner isn't it?"

"I have to stop by and see Jason first" April said to her

"He still hounding you for cash?" Jewel frowned

"Yea" April sighed "I still don't have it for him but I want to talk this out or my mind is going to be distracted"

"Well take it from someone who has rolled around with Jason more than once he's your perfect test run" Jewel insisted and April just rolled her eyes "Or are you saving yourself for marriage?"

"No" April huffed "I just have never been in a relationship. Why would I just have random sex?"

"Because it's fun" Jewel said seriously

"I don't even enjoy kissing someone that I don't have a connection with" April said to her

"All the years you worked with Jason you don't think you two have a connection by now?" Jewel questioned

"Not a good one" April said as Jewel finished her hair. She walked over to the mirror and smiled, it was wavy and more importantly looked natural "Thanks Jewel I love it"

"Anytime kid" Jewel said unplugging the curling iron "So I spend all this time on your hair and you're going to wear a weird anime shirt and jeans?"

"Yep" April said happily


April arrived at Jason's gym and found him behind the counter working on some paperwork.

"Jason" April said causing him to look up "You have a few minutes?"

"Yea" Jason said standing up and leading her into the back "You have something for me?"

"Nope" April said remaining friendly "I'm sorry it's come to this"

"You have enough money to go and get your hair done" Jason noted

"Jewel did this" April said running her hand over her hair gently

"She did a good job you look good" Jason said to her then folded his arms "So why are you here than?"

"I don't have the money for you Jason" April said to him

"So did you get all dolled up and come here to pay me back another way?" Jason questioned curiously

"No" April said to him "I was hoping we could work out some sort of payment plan. I don't want you to think I'm trying to rip you off. I want to pay you back" she insisted

"I'm sure you do" Jason said annoyed

"I can give you a hundred and twenty week starting next week" April offered

"Fine" Jason said surprising her "Interest is going to keep piling on"

"Can't you get me some slack?" April sighed

"Isn't that what you hate?" Jason mocked taking a step towards her "You don't want help you want to do everything on your own- this is a life lesson April"

"You're right" April agreed

"But I bet it's tiring" Jason noted "Running around working two jobs, living in a shit hole- I bet just once you'd like to the easy way out"

"Nope" April said firmly "I'll pay you back even if it takes a while"

"I'll cut it in half" Jason offered "Just one time" he said running his finger down her cheek. April flashed to her earlier conversation with Jewel and closed her eyes slightly as she actually considered it. She didn't even see his lips coming. His lips were over hers in an instant and she quickly jerked away

"What are you doing?" April asked wiping her lips dramatically

"You closed your eyes!" Jason defended

"And that means to kiss me!" April yelled back "Are you insane!"

"Would you stop being such a fucking prude" Jason laughed

"I came here today so I could work something out with you and I hoped we could still be friends" April said to him holding back tears "Obviously that's not going to happen"

"Get out April and don't come back until you've got some cash" Jason said annoyed pointing to the door. She turned on her heel and stormed out of the back room.

As soon as April made it outside the gym she kept her head down so no one would spot her crying. She was just overly emotionally today she wasn't sure if it was because of Jason, her 'date' with Punk or the fact that she was so tired.

"April" a voice said grabbing her arm. She looked up and saw it was Punk to her surprise.

"Punk what are you doing here?" April asked surprised "What are you doing here?"

"What happened?" he asked ignoring her question "What's wrong?" he noted the few tear stains on her cheek

"It's nothing" April insisted "Why are you at Jason's gym?"

"I was just going for a walk" Punk said to her

"In your car?" April asked nodding towards his rental

"I just wanted to check out the gym" Punk added

"You're lying to me" April said sadly

"I figured since you were to lying to me we were even" Punk retorted

"Can we just get out of here?" April asked. Punk looked towards the gym and desperately wanted to go in and have a conversation with Jason, one he had been thinking about since April told him about his visit last night

"Did he do something to you?" Punk asked first

"No" April sighed shaking her head.

"Alright let's go" Punk said walking her to his car


Punk took April back to his hotel so they could talk in quiet.

"This room is bigger than three of my apartments put together" April said as she stepped into the room.

"Yea I like a lot of space" Punk smirked closing the door behind him "So why are you crying?"

"I'm not crying" April defended

"You were" Punk pointed out "You went to see Jason and he made you cry" he said to her slowly

"I just hate losing people that's all" April said to him "But why were you there?"

"I told you I wanted to check out the gym maybe work out for a little" he said to her with a shrug

"In your jeans?" April smirked

"Honestly?" Punk asked and she nodded "I wanted to talk to Jason about your bill"

"Tell me you didn't go there to try and pay my bill" April said lowly

"No of course not" Punk laughed nervously "I would never do that. I just wanted to look over the bill to make sure he wasn't trying to get more money than what he was owed that's all"

"I can handle it" April said to him

"So I told you and now you tell me" Punk said to her "What did he say?"

"It's not so much what he said" April admitted

"So…it's something he did" Punk said slowly

"It's not a big deal" April assured him

"We're friends" Punk laughed out taking a seat next to her on the couch "You can tell me"

"He kissed me" April admitted

"Oh" Punk said casually

"He thought I'd be willing to work my bill off that way" April confided and Punk just nodded

"He's a pig" Punk said as calmly as humanly possible "I'll talk to him"

"I don't need you to talk to him" April said to him

"We're friends and I like to help my friends" Punk insisted

"I'll make you a deal" April said looking at him "If I want your help I'll ask for it"

"Are you really going to ask?" Punk asked

"Yes I promise" April assured him

"Ok" Punk said to her "So I know you had plans for dinner but I have the Dark Knight-"

"Let's watch it!" April said eagerly

"Ok" he smirked opening the box "We can just order something up here" he suggested

"Alright" April agreed "I didn't have much of a plan anyway" Punk just smirked

"I'm still holding you to dinner one night" Punk warned

"I'm a woman of my word" April said to him

"I can see that" Punk grinned as he put on the TV

The movie was halfway through and April had fallen asleep. Punk looked down and noticed her head was snug on his shoulder in peaceful sleep. He smiled lightly down at her. He had to finally admit that he loved hanging around the young woman. Everything Colt and Paul had said to him about liking her was obviously true but she didn't need him in her life right now she had way too much going for her.

He was content for the moment just being her friend but he also couldn't deny the protective feeling that came over him where she was concerned. He wanted to run down to Jason's gym and beat the guy senseless but he knew he didn't have a right to do that and more importantly April would probably be pissed at him for doing do. He just wanted to sweep her off her feet and give her a better life. He was more than capable of doing it but she was stubborn, that was one of his favorite traits about her.

Punk hadn't even realized he had fallen asleep until he woke up. He was fully laying on the couch with April laying over him. He looked over at the time and saw it was ten pm but decided to just close his eyes and drift back off to sleep and enjoy being this close to her while he could. He wasn't asleep along though when he felt April begin to move.

"Oh" April said embarrassed looking down at Punk

"Hi" Punk smirked

"Sorry" April sighed sitting up, careful not to hurt him

"It's fine" Punk said sitting up himself

"I should go" April said reaching for her chucks and putting them on her feet

"We didn't even eat" Punk reasoned

"Yea but I have a lot to do" April said quickly "I wanted to go for a run-"

"At this time?" Punk asked as he watched her run around as if she got caught red handed doing something terrible

"Yea and I uh-" April started but stopped when she saw his confused face "This was wrong"

"We fell asleep" Punk said to her "You didn't jump my bones"

"I'm not what you're expecting" April said to him

"Excuse me?" Punk asked

"I'm not that girl" April informed him and now he was truly confused

"What the hell are you talking about?" Punk asked her

"I'm not the type of girl that you're used to" April clarified "I can't give you what you need"

"And what is it that I need?" Punk asked curiously

"To have sex" April said bluntly it caused Punk to open his eyes wide

"April-" Punk started standing up

"You're an amazing man" April said to him "You should be spending your time with someone who can give you what you deserve"

"You think I bought you back here for sex?" Punk laughed

"Great laugh at me now" April groaned

"I'm sorry" Punk said still laughing "I'm not Jason" he told her "I like hanging out with you and I'm sorry if you got the wrong idea from me"

"It's just I like hanging out with you I really like you" April said to him "I have good people in my life like Langston and Jewel but you're different you make me feel different. Maybe the feelings are one sided"

"They're not" Punk assured her "I wouldn't be here if I didn't feel the same. But I like being around you and if I tried anything on you I know our friendship would be ruined and it's not worth it to me"

"I feel the same way" April said with a relieved smile

"Good" Punk said simply "I'm glad we got all of this weirdness out of the way"

"Me too" April agreed

"So how about you hang out here for a little we'll order some food and start the movie over since we both conked out?" Punk suggested

"I'd like that" April smiled kicking her shoes off again