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chapter 10

You ever watch those movies where the Hero is told something that is important to the whole story and everything just suddenly clicks into place. The scene slows down as the camera zooms in to show the reaction of the hero as they go from shock, to denial, to hurt, and finally, anger. Then everything explodes.

This is exactly what was going on right now. I mean, I wouldn't exactly call Punk the Hero of my story, and I'm pretty sure time didn't slow down and it was only in my mind but my eyes zeroed right in on Punk's face as everything I just told him processed through his brain and everything suddenly made sense.

Then it all exploded into chaos.

Punk couldn't believe it and had no problem telling us that. My cousin began to yell at Punk again for ruining my life and almost killing me. And I was yelling at them both to shut up but was being ignored. The guys got right up into each others faces and I knew it was only moments before they began trading blows again and I quickly interjected myself in between them, slapping a hand over both of their mouths. Ki immediately pulled away and I shut him up with a look, just daring him to say more. Punk, on the other hand, licked my hand. Not even kidding, he fricking licked my hand and I pulled it away, a look of disgust on my face.

"Ew, gross." I exclaimed, wiping my hand off on my skirt.

He shrugged but I didn't let him comment, holding up a hand to both of them so I can speak.

"Before anyone kills anyone else, we really need to talk everything over, properly, preferably not here."

"I ain't going anywhere he is." Ki sneered and I turned the infamous Silvestry glare on him. He wasn't the only one who knew how to use it.

"Fine, then you and I are going to talk alone because I have questions for you. Like why you made me think that this was all Punks fault."

"Because it is."

"It was not." Punk countered. "And you fucking know that."

"No, I fucking know you found my cousin annoying so intentionally let her get hurt."

"I did not." Punk yelled.

"Shut up." I cried. "the both of you, just shut the fuck up before I knock both of you upside of the head."

I turned to Punk first. "I know this is a lot. Can we talk later?"

"But-"

I held up a hand to cut him off. "You have a match. Let me talk to my cousin and then we can talk later tonight."

"Is it really you though?" He asked, his eyes boring into me. "You look nothing like what I remember."

"I've grown up, I matured and I dyed my hair blonde, so yeah, I look different. I'll explain it all later. First I need to have a talk with my cousin and figure some of this out."

"I did try to see you." Punk told me.

"I didn't know that, I really didn't, later ok?"

I turned to my cousin and with a scowl, pointed to the door, "Let's go,"

"But Carrie-"

"No buts, out now and then you have some questions to answer."

"Fine." He grumbled, moving towards the door with one last glare at Punk. My cousin was a badass. Actually our whole family consisted of badasses but the women were far more scarier than any of the men and I'm pretty sure Ki knew that as his shoulders were slumped as he exited.

I was almost out the door when Punk called me back and I turned to him, with a look of curiosity.

"When did you become champion?"

I grew confused. "Never, you know I can't wrestle."

He winced at that but pointed to the floor near my feet and I looked down, laughter bubbling out of my lips as I saw Kelly's belt there.

"Oh, that. Yeah, I Kind of stole it."

Both Ki and Punk looked at me, their mouths open in shock.

"How the fuck you do that?" Ki asked.

"Easy." I replied. "Want. Take. Have."

He gave a small smile at my Buffy reference. I couldn't even tell you how many times him and I used to just sit around and watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We were both so hooked on that show.

"But seriously." I continued. "The belts are left beside me, I saw it and I took it as revenge. Go me."

"She's only going to come looking for payback." Ki told me.

"yes, but we're better prepared this time. I'll like, hold it for ransom."

Punk shook his head. "You're kind of evil and I kind of like that."

"Of course, now you notice." I grumbled. I picked up the belt and shot Punk a small smile. 'Later.' I mouthed and he nodded as I pushed my cousin out the door and down the hall to an empty room.

"You are in, like, soooooo much trouble." I told him.

"You know I hate when you talk all valley girl on me." he replied with a sneer.

"And you know how much I hate it when people lie to me." I mirrored his sneer as we faced off. "You have a lot of explaining to do. What was Punk talking about? You told me he didn't give a shit what happened to me."

"He didn't." Low Ki snapped at me.

"Then why is he saying he showed up at the hospital?"

"He did. But there was no fucking way I was letting him near you."

"Why didn't you tell me?" I yelled. "All this time I thought he was that much of an asshole but he tried to come see me. He tried to explain."

"He is an asshole, and there was nothing to explain." He yelled back at me.

"Bullshit. Complete bullshit. How do you know it wasn't the girl that was lying. All this time you assumed it was Punk, but it was probably that bitch who thought she was hot shit and could do whatever we did. You know Punk, you've known him for years. You didn't know that bitch at all. How could you not even listen to your friend?"

"You are my number one priority Rissa. Not him, not anyone."

"You don't have to keep protecting me." I cried. "I'm a big girl."

"You could've died."

"It was a stupid senseless accident but it does happen. It happened and we can't change it now. I've learned to accept it, why can't you?"

"Because I wanted more for you." Ki yelled. "You should have had more. You should've gone to Japan, you could've become champion wherever you went. You could've made it here, as a wrestler, all by yourself and you would've been amazing. But instead, you're forever on the sidelines, always watching, unable to do the one thing you love the most and it kills me Rissa, It fucking kills me to see that look in your eyes when you're forced to just watch."

"It sucks, I know it sucks but I'm thankful that I'm still alive, that I'm still apart of it somehow and I've learned to accept that's all I can do." I quietly told him. "But I've carried this resentment in me for all these years. I've hated the wrong person, and it was wrong of you to let me believe it was him the whole time and he never cared."

"He doesn't."

"He did. If he didn't care, he wouldn't have tried to see me in the hospital, he wouldn't have had nightmares about it. How does someone who doesn't care have nightmares? You've let me hate him all this time, and you let him feel guilt for something that wasn't his fault. How could you do that?"

Ki shook his head in disgust. "Because I don't believe him."

"You never gave him a chance." I raised my voice again. "And he deserved that. A chance to tell us what happened. Don't you think it's time to let this go?"

"No." He sullenly replied.

"Yes." I shot back. "I'm going to Punk and I'm going to get the whole story from him."

"I don't want you alone with him." He scowled.

"you can't keep protecting me." I whispered. "Punk won't hurt me. He's had chances to and he hasn't yet."

"Because he didn't know who you were, now that he does, who knows what he'll do."

"He won't" I adamantly replied. "That was a long time ago, people change."

"Carissa, I-"

"Go home Brandon. It's time for you to leave."

"I can't just leave like this."

I sighed but I knew he was right. We may have had our spats but we never left angry, we always resolved it. I stepped forward, wrapping my arms around him laying my head against his chest. "I love you Brandon, you know that and I love that you always look out for me but it's time to right all the wrongs."

He wrapped his arms around me, placing a kiss on the top of my head. "You can't right it all, you still can't wrestle."

"No but look where I am. I'm still working for WWE. I'm on the big stage now and even though I can't wrestle, I'm still here, announcing, managing Beth and Natalya and that's enough for me."

He sighed, letting out a deep breath. "You sure you're okay with all this."

I nodded against his chest. "I'm okay Bran, you didn't have to leave your tour in Japan to check up on me."

I heard the rumbling in his chest as he laughed. "Yes, I did. All the trouble you get into Carrie, had to make sure you were okay."

"You're so protective."

"someone has to be."

"I'll be fine, go back to Japan." I leaned up on my toes to kiss him on the cheek.

"One sign of trouble..."

"I'll call you." I assured him.

He hugged me tight again before placing another kiss on the top of my head. "Stay safe."

I watched him walk out before sinking into the nearest chair, my head in my hands as I began to sob.

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