Chapter 10
The November wind slapped hard at his face when he stepped outside. His hair blew into his eyes as he jingled the keys out of his pocket. Brushing it back behind his ears he heard a sound behind him and turned to see Alyssa getting into her car. His chest tightened at the sight of her, just as it always did.
As she got into her car she looked up to see him. The look of utter despair crossed her face and was quickly masked with one of anger. Sighing he walked down the steps and headed to his own car praying they were able to get through the show that night and make their on screen romance believable. He wasn't sure it was possible with the anger she so outwardly showed towards him.
Alyssa drove to the arena, wondering how she was going to get through the show that night. Kissing him, having his hands all over her body as they normally played up to the crowd. She bit back a moan as she pulled into the parking lot to find Mickie standing outside. From the way she sprinted towards her she knew something was up.
Shutting off the engine Alyssa got out of the car. Reaching into the back seat she grabbed her bag. "Hey Mick what's got you so excited?" She asked smiling at her friend.
Mickie bit her lip "Well it's good news and bad." She murmured. Fresh out of a meeting with Paul E. she knew this was going to be hard on her friends.
"Okay well give me the good news first... feel free to leave out the bad." She teased as they walked toward the building.
Mickie glanced over "I got called up." She said with a smile.
Alyssa squealed and grabbed her in a bear hug "That's awesome babe!" She said sincerely. "When do you start?"
"Next week...and they are not abandoning our storyline...simply replacing me." She murmured as she stepped back.
The tone of her friends voice made Alyssa's blood run cold "Please don't tell me..." She whispered.
"I'm sorry baby...they are using her." She murmured as she heard another car pull in. They both turned to see Punk park a few spaces from Alyssa.
Alyssa took a deep breath. "I'm a professional. I can get through this." She whispered.
Mickie gave her an encouraging smile. "I know you can...Just know that even though I'm going up I'm always there for you and I have your back." She whispered hugging her again.
"Thanks Mickie." She whispered back as she heard his footsteps on the stairs behind them.
Mickie looked behind them to see Punk. "Talk to him Lyss...what can it hurt?" She whispered in her ear.
Alyssa sighed it could hurt, just the thought of him made her heart ache let alone the sound of his voice.
Turning Mickie walked into the building knowing her friend would follow her without saying a word to Punk. She hated seeing them both hurting. They were her two closest friends and if she could fix their problems she would but she couldn't all she could do was be there for them.
Alyssa stood rooted to the spot her heart and head arguing over whether or not to take Mickie's advice. A part of her wanted to throw herself in his arms and love him all over again. The other part wanted to drop kick him off the landing.
Punk was surprised when Alyssa didn't immediately follow Mickie into the building. Stopping in front of her he ached to reach out and touch her beautiful face. "Hey..." He said tentatively.
"Hey." She muttered looking down at her feet as she scuffed the toe of her new boots across the concrete.
"We going to be okay tonight... Our storyline I mean." he asked gently.
"Yeah." She whispered glancing up at him. That was a mistake, looking into his bottomless green eyes she felt as if she could no longer use oxygen properly.
"I just wanted to make sure because I don't want you to do anything your uncomfortable with or that might hurt you." he murmured softly.
She shrugged, it was too late for that she hurt already. "We got a job to do, we'll get through it."
Punk nodded in agreement. The pain that was showing in her eyes was nearly his undoing. He longed to pull her into his arms and make the pain go away. Instead he simply reached out and pulled the door open. "After you." he said with a sigh.
Daffney walked in the other door, she'd seen Punk and Alyssa standing at the other one talking and hoped things were getting better between them. It was the first time she'd seen them alone together in a week.
Walking through the hallway she made her way to the women's locker room. Stepping inside she set her stuff down. Hearing the door open she looked up to see Tracy walk in. Groaning she ignored her and went back to unloading her gear.
Tracy rolled her eyes at the look and took a seat next to one of the amateurs. Stretching over exaggeratedly she sighed "God I am so tired."
"Why are you so tired?" Scarlet asked smiling at Tracy.
Tracy gave her a knowing smile "A certain man, keeping me up way too late." she batted her eyelashes.
"Tracy... you can cut the crap, I've talked to him and know the truth I don't know who your trying to impress." Daffney said seriously as she turned towards Tracy.
Tracy's eyebrows arced "I have no idea what you are talking about." She said innocently as the door opened.
"I'm talking about your little game here where you want everyone to think that you and Punk are back together...well guess what it isn't working I know the truth. I've talked to him and happen to know he happens to be very much in love with Alyssa. If you even think I'm going to let you screw her relationship up with Punk the way you did mine...you better think twice bitch." Daffney said having enough of Tracy's shit.
Tracy shot to her feet "That is such bullshit! He wants nothing to do with that little teenage witch! It didn't take him long to realize he needs a real woman!"
"Pfft...I don't know why he'd choose you if that were the case." One of the amateurs said standing up ready to back up Daffney if the need arose.
Tracy glared at the girl "Mind your own fucking business bitch!"
"How about I mind my business?" Alyssa hissed from the doorway.
Tracy spun around seeing Alyssa she burst out laughing. "And what are you going to do? You can't even keep your man."
"I think it's time everyone heard the truth. You, me and everyone else in this room." Alyssa growled. She leaned back and glanced down the hall. Seeing Chris Cage at the door to the men's locker room she called to him. "Hey Chris, get Punk for me."
"You got it Lyss." Cage said opening the door and hollering for Punk.
Punk looked up from the bench where he sat taping his wrists. "What?"
"Lyss wants you." Cage said with a grin.
Punk looked surprised but got up and went out into the hall. "What's up Lyssa?" He said seeing her standing with her foot holding the door to the women's locker room open.
With her finger she beckoned him down the hall. He went willingly, had he known what was going on he might have thought twice.
When he stopped next to her she grabbed his hand and pulled him inside.
Punk looked around the room, filled with angry women who could easily kick his ass. Three of them his exes he wondered if this was that nightmare come true.
He glanced around nervously "Hey ladies...what's up."
Alyssa crossed her arms over her chest in the doorway. Taking a deep breath she knew the next words out of her mouth would either break her heart or make her the happiest woman in the world.
"Punk...there seems to be some confusion here and I thought we would clear it up by going straight to the horses mouth as it were."
Punk looked around the room. He saw the angry look on Tracy's face and noticed that Daffney was standing near Alyssa glaring at Tracy as if she'd like to kill her. "Ask what ever you like...I'm an open book." he said nervously.
"If you had the choice, who would you chose? Tracy or me?" She said bluntly. There it was, the question was on the table. At least now she'd know the truth.
Without missing a beat Punk answered. "You! I've been trying to tell you that." he said seriously.
Alyssa smiled wickedly and held her hand out to him. "Up yours bitch!" She hissed.
Punk took her hand in his.
"I guess she proved you're a lying cunt." Daffney snickered happily.
Tracy stood looking horrified her mouth hanging open as Alyssa wrapped her arm around his waist.
He did likewise and escorted her from the room. They needed to talk.
Alyssa went along willingly she still couldn't believe that he had chosen her. She had really believed he had decided Tracy was really what he wanted. Punk didn't say a word until the two of them were outside and had walked behind the building where they couldn't be found.
When he stopped and pulled her into his arms she didn't resist. The fight had gone out of her and she rested her forehead against his exposed chest.
"I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am babe." He whispered into her hair. "I love you." he whispered his voice catching as he said the words he hadn't uttered to her.
That got her attention, her head shot up to meet his eyes "Excuse me?" She said incredulously.
"I love you... I know I haven't said it before, lord knows I've wanted to... It just never seemed to be the right time and I was afraid if I said it you wouldn't believe me." he said capturing her face in his hands.
"Punk...I..." She stammered, never before so afraid in her life. The pain was still too fresh in her heart.
Punk gently put his finger to her lips. "You don't have to say anything...I know you still are angry with me and you have every right to be... I acted like a jackass and I hurt you. I've got a lot of making up to do... but if you'll give me a second chance I swear you'll never regret it." He whispered tenderly.
"I'll think about it." She whispered as she heard Al bellowing her name. "We better get to work."
Punk nodded as he let her go and followed her around the side of the building. All he could do now was pray he hadn't caused too much damage.
Alyssa ducked her head and muttered an apology to Al as she squeezed past him. "It's all right baby girl. Go get in gear." He murmured.
When Punk appeared he put his arm across the door and glared at the younger man. "Hurt her again and you'll answer to me." He said, his voice low.
"It'll never happen again that much you can count on." Punk said looking him in the eye.
"Se that it doesn't." Al returned before dropping his arm.
Punk walked in just in time to see Alyssa walk into the locker room sighing he headed into the men's locker room to finish getting ready.
Half an hour later he joined her behind the curtain and took her hand. She noticed her name written on his wrist tape and smiled. The last thing she said to him before they stepped through the curtain was "I love you Punk."
Punk was surprised when they stepped through the curtain to find Seth and Tracy waiting for them in the ring. Looking at Alyssa his eyes wide he whispered. "What is she doing out here?"
"Mickie got called up, they replaced her with the bimbo." She returned as they went through their normal routine.
"Be careful babe...she can be vindictive." he murmured in her ear.
Alyssa nodded. Moving to the ring she climbed in as Punk held the ropes for her.
Alyssa smiled happily at Tracy and Seth before turning to Punk and winding herself around his body as she kissed him for all she was worth. She knew she was rubbing it in Tracy's face but she didn't give a damn the bitch deserved it.
Alyssa kept to her side of the ring, yelling encouragement to Punk as the matched progressed. That is until Tracy broke the face rule and interfered in the match, grabbing Punks foot as he whipped into the ropes. All hell broke loose as Punk turned and cursed Tracy. Seth, confused by the unscripted turn of events grabbed Punk and threw him into the corner. Getting in his face and admonishing him. Neither man saw Tracy push the ring girl from her chair and grab it, heading for the ring.
Alyssa turned in time to see Tracy slide into the ring as Punk shoved Seth on his ass in a fit of anger. He looked up just in time to see Tracy coming at him and ducked. Had he known Alyssa had climbed on the apron to warn him he never would have ducked, he'd have taken the chair shot himself.
The sickening thud of the chair against Alyssa's skull reverberated through the arena. The fans were screaming their approval as Alyssa toppled from the apron. The last thing she remembered was her head hitting the steel guardrail.
Punk watched in horror as Alyssa crumpled to the ground. Sliding out of the ring he was at her side instantly as Goose also slid from the ring to check on Alyssa. Punk felt ill as he saw the small puddle of blood on the mat. "Alyssa...hang on babe." he whispered fear over taking him as Goose called for the trainer. Standing up Goose called for the bell disqualifying Seth and Tracy.
Stroking her face he felt the sheer panic overtake him as she didn't respond. Eric tried everything including smelling salts as a hush fell over the crowd. Instinctively they knew this was real. It might have had something to do with the tears running unchecked down Punks face as he prayed to anyone who would listen that she would be okay. Finally Eric called for an ambulance and Punk refused to let anyone move her until they arrived.
When the ambulance arrived Al and Chris Cage had to physically remove Punk from Alyssa's side so that the EMT's could work on her. Once they had her loaded on the stretcher and were loading her into the ambulance Punk climbed into the front of the ambulance refusing to stay behind. "I'll follow in my car. She's going to be okay." Mickie said squeezing Punks hand.
Punk could only nod "She better be or I'll kill that cunt with my bare hands." He hissed.
"I think it'll be taken care of before you ever get a chance." She murmured seeing half the women's division watching from the doorway.
"Thanks Mick." He murmured as the driver got in and turned on the lights and sirens.
The next couple of hours were a blur as Alyssa was rushed to University hospital and admitted. The only thing he could do was pray and wait. He sat next to her bed after the doctors had stitched the gash in her head closed. She was going to be wicked pissed about the bald patch in the back of her head. He held her hand, refusing to let go.
As he sat next to her bed he was overwhelmed with how much he loved this woman, she had to be okay: without her he would die. The door opened and he looked up to see Mickie and Chris in the doorway. Mickie held out his bag "I thought you might like some clothes." She murmured, seeing him sitting next to Alyssa's bed in his wrestling trunks and ring jacket.
"Thanks Mick." He whispered, his voice thick.
"How is she?" Chris asked.
Punk shrugged "The doctors aren't saying much. She still hasn't woken up and they seem...guarded."
Mickie went to him and knelt in front of him, taking his other hand in both of hers. "She'll be okay Punk, Lyss is a tough girl." She whispered. "Go get dressed, Chris and I will stay right here with her."
He nodded and stood up. Leaning over he brushed Alyssa's forehead with a soft kiss "I love you babe." He whispered before turning to go.
"I love you Punk." She murmured, her voice barely audible as she opened her eyes fighting the pain in her head.
His heart leapt in his chest as he stared down into her beautiful turquoise eyes. "Thank God." He whispered. He knew in that moment that his prayers had been answered, maybe there was a God after all.
"My head hurts." She complained.
Punk smiled down at her as he stroked her cheek with his finger. All the blood, sweat and tears had been worth it. He had thought it was about wrestling when in truth it had been about his heart, which he had found in her.
