So this chapter will be coming in two parts, one from Punk's point of view (which is this one) and another from AJ's point of view. They'll join back together when they've both experienced the same event, so I hope that wont be too confusing! Enjoy.

Punk opened the doors to the bus and walked up the stairs and into the main lounge to find Kofi perched on the couch tying the laces up on his running shoes. He looked at him rather strangely but continued to walk past without breathing a word. Once Kofi saw Punk's feet move passed him he raised his head and smiled, happy to see his best friend.

"Hey man! I thought maybe I could come running with you?" Kofi asked, holding his hands out to each side of him in a suggestive way. Punk continued to walk to his bedroom and dumped his training bag on the floor.

"Sure thing man, it'd make a change to have a running buddy." He shouted back, rifling through his closet looking for his sweats. He pushed several hangers backwards and forwards rather violently before he came across what he was looking for. Making his way to the bathroom he gave Kofi thumbs up before he got changed. Usually he'd prefer to run along to some of his favourite tunes, but if there was anyone he wouldn't mind running with, it'd be Kofi.

Punk and Kofi shared a rather strange relationship when Punk thought about it properly. From day one when Punk demanded Kofi travel with him up to the current day they'd always sort of just been best friends. There was nothing else to it. Punk had never met a more loyal and fun loving dude in all his life, and sometimes he needed Kofi by his side to encourage him, or make him a better person.

He came out of the bathroom shutting the door behind him, dressed in what he liked to refer to as his 'running gear', and walked towards Kofi who was now taking up all the space in the small lounge walkway by stretching. Punk stood there watching him until Kofi raised his head and noticed, "What, don't you stretch?"

"Yeah, but I do it outside."

Kofi realised that inside the bus wasn't exactly the ideal place as he lead the way down and out of the bus doors. They spent about 10 minutes in the parking lot stretching out their legs and jogging on the spot. Then they eventually hit the road.

Although they couldn't have a conversation whilst running along, the atmosphere felt so much more different from when Punk would run alone. He had someone to match himself up against, and someone who would be matching his pace alongside him. They ran in complete sync with each other, neither one of them needing to stop for a break. They ran past skyscrapers and shops, feeling the breeze slap them in the face along with it carrying their legs to higher destinations. Every now and then Punk would look over at Kofi and they'd start laughing at each other for no reason, forcing themselves to push on and get to the top of this monstrosity of a hill. At the top there was a nature park with few brown wooden benches. It wasn't exactly well maintained as the paint was peeling off, but nonetheless they looked rather inviting. As both Punk and Kofi slowed down to a light jog they decided to take a rest for a while, sitting down on the nearest bench.

Punk leant back, hanging his head over the back of the uncomfortable seat. He breathed heavily for a while, trying to catch a normal breathing pace again.

"Man, you sure run fast!" Kofi huffed, looking over at Punk who didn't seem to be struggling to return to his normal heart rate.

"Well you know me; I could do this for a living." Punk boasted, flexing his legs out in front of him. They ached a lot, and the joints in his knees felt weak, especially as he'd always had problems with them throughout his career. He leant forward with his hands in his lap, breathing steadily now.

"So, what's the deal with you and AJ? Have you spoken to her much since she's returned?" Kofi managed to splutter out.

Punk turned his head to look at Kofi, rolling his eyes as he did. "You just don't give up do you?" He said, laughing a little.

Kofi chuckled just like he always did, "Well what can I say?" He paused for a moment. "No but seriously man, what happened in the lockers a few week ago with you and Corey, did you and AJ talk after that?"

Punk bit his lip and thought about telling Kofi what had happened in the store cupboard, or what happened in the gym the other day. He knew Kofi would get it out of him eventually, so why not just explain. But when CM Punk decides to explain something that's quite alien to his nature he tends to leave out a lot of detail, on purpose. He could be so vague but feel like he'd said too much.

"Yeah we've…spoken." He replied, looking up at the sky. There wasn't a single cloud up there and the weather wasn't too grim either.

"Na man, I'm not settling for that. I know when you don't look at me there's something on your mind, so just tell me." Kofi said, reminding Punk that he was a big player in this game he called his life. He looked back over in his direction with a clear 'not bothered' expression on his face.

"Man if you don't tell me what's going on, I'm not gonna call my guy and get your precious pepsi half price anymore." Kofi threatened, well it wasn't a big threat but still, he tried right?

Punk looked at him with a sarcastic shocked expression on his face. He clasped his hands around his mouth and blinked several times, shaking his head. "No way you wouldn't." He said melodramatically.

Kofi laughed and punched his best friend on the arm playfully. "No but seriously man what's bugging you?" he pestered.

Punk sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes. "Sometimes I wish you'd just fuck off to back where you came from." He said jokingly. "Okay, I met her a few times but not intentionally before you go getting all love stoned." Punk admitted. He was now making circle motions with his ankles, hearing them click every so often. Kofi looked down at them, and then back at Punk with a rather repulsed look on his face. "Ah, sorry" Punk said as he pressed his feet back on the ground.

"Okay so…? How'd it go?"

"Average"

"Nothing is average with you Punk, nothing. So don't use that excuse."

Punk was over this conversation. He loved Kofi to death but he didn't feel like talking, not that he ever did. He squeezed his eyes shut tight and re-opened them, everything being blurry for a few seconds.

"Can't we just get back to running?" Punk begged like a little kid, a bored and unsatisfied expression now showing on his sweat ridden face. He never usually took breaks when he ran on his own because he knew if he did he'd be too lazy to get started again.

"Not until you tell me how you really feel about AJ." Kofi said, his words catching Punk off guard. He shook his head in disbelief, surely Kofi already knew that?

"Dude, why are you asking me the same question you asked after she left? Surely that's some indication. I don't feel anything towards her, nothing." Punk lied once again. Lying to Kofi made him slightly nervous, because if Punk didn't believe in what he was saying there was no way he was convincing Kofi. Normally he'd be able to trick anyone through his words, but he travelled with this guy 24/7, and nobody knew him better than Kofi.

Kofi himself had of course picked up on Punks extension of the truth. "Look man you've gotta get over this or you're going to fall right back into the same hole you just got yourself out of." Punk looked up at Kofi rather pissed off. "I'm just saying we don't want the first two months of her being gone repeating themselves, for my sake as well as yours."

Although Kofi's words angered Punk, he knew what he was saying was true. The first few months after AJ was gone Punk was so out of order to Kofi it's a miracle he stayed alongside him. Punk had gone into breakdown mode, but when Punk was feeling this way he wasn't emotional, he was just a downright prick. He was moody all the time, wouldn't make conversation with anyone and would take advantage of everyone's kind gestures. He particularly affected the lives of Miz and Kofi. It got to the point where Miz found himself almost prepared to throw Punk off his own bus, and that resulted in a major blow out. However things got better over time, and it made their friendship stronger as a whole unit.

"You know what man, shut up about it. I can handle myself and if I need help, which I won't, I'll come to you." Punk got up off the bench alongside Kofi as they got ready to go running back. They stretched out for the final time when Punk caught the feeling of vibrations against his leg. He stood still for a moment to make sure he wasn't going crazy, but then he realised his phone was ringing. He whipped it out of his pocket and held it in his palm, seeing AJ's caller ID flashing on screen. As he quickly went to swipe the screen to answer, the calling cut off and the vibrations stopped. Instantly Punk thought about AJ being in danger somewhere with Corey. What if she was hurt? What if Corey ended the call? AJ needed his help, and he needed to get there fast.

"Who was it?" Kofi asked, watching Punk show various expressions on his face.

"We'll talk later, I gotta run, fast." Punk said, slapping Kofi on the back before sprinting in the direction of the hotel two blocks away.

"Wait, where are you going!?" Kofi called out behind him. He watched as Punk sprinted off into the distance. Shaking his head he took his own phone out of his pocket and began to call Miz, there was no way he was running back to the bus alone.

Punk continued to run as fast as his legs would take him. His knees would buckle every so often and he'd feel as though he was about to faceplant the ground. The surroundings turned into one blurred canvas and Punk could see nothing but the sidewalk before him. He kept to a strict breathing rate so he wouldn't exhaust himself too quickly. His mind became numb as he focused on only one thought, protecting the woman he was too 'tough' to admit he was in love with.

Hope you liked this chapter guys, like I said the next one will be set at the same time but from AJ's point of view up to the point where she calls Punk, then it will go back to normal! Don't forget to review and let me know what you think :D