Out Of Character
"Ok, I'm gonna give you the hour, you can either write about patrol procedures or traffic control. I know which one I'd choose." Punk nodded, standing in the class in the academy, "Don't mess it up, yeah? I hate correcting you all." He told them as they grumbled.
He still had a few days in the police academy where he could see the students, and the other days that he lost out on were spent at home with them. He never thought being any sort of teacher would be something he'd be good at. He didn't feel like he had the patience or interest to teach other people what he knew, but it actually had surprised him how much he was enjoying it.
"Hey, Phil." Bruno walked into the class, "Someone is here to see you." He nodded as Punk looked over and nodded, leaving the class, walking around the corner where he saw Jamie standing.
"Uh… hey." Punk shook his head.
"Hey." Jamie nodded whilst Bruno headed off.
"Everything ok?" Punk asked.
"Yeah, fine." Jamie said, "I just… I told you about the course training, right?" He asked.
"Briefly." Punk said, "You didn't really say what it was."
"Well it can qualify you to actually teach here. I know you just do some seminars but… if you actually qualified, my dad wouldn't be able to tell Bruno to cut your time here." Jamie said as Punk looked across at him.
"I'm not being mean or anything but… why are you being nice to me? I get it, you wanna apologise for what your dad did but… I still don't think you actually like me." Punk laughed a little.
"I'm trying to be the bigger man." Jamie shrugged, "I just thought it'd be useful to you." He said, "But if you aren't interested then that's fine." He nodded.
"I didn't say I wasn't interested, I just don't understand why you're being nice to me. If I was you… I wouldn't be nice to me." He said.
"Well I'm tyring to move on, like I said before. I want to see AJ happy, just like you, and if she's happier with you, than she was with me, then I can get over that. I always knew you had a special place in her heart. I should have saw it coming." He said, "I just don't want you or her to think I'm always gonna be the jealous ex. Cause it's not who I am." He nodded as Punk folded his arms.
"Ok." Punk said, "Well I appreciate you being mature about it. It helps us out." He nodded, "Can't say the same about your dad, though." He said as Jamie nodded.
"He's just a very strict guy. He has his beliefs, especially when it comes to being a cop-"
"What like sexually harassing other women? Belittling them to make sure they don't say anything about what he's done?" Punk asked as Jamie looked at him with confusion, "If he was my father, I'd disown him for life." He nodded.
"What do you mean?" Jamie shook his head.
"It wasn't just April he… groped. There was a ton of complaints made about him back when he was captain of the precinct." He said, "Nothing was ever done because… well he was just that, captain. Some girls never said anything, some got transferred, some just had to ignore it." Punk said, "But I believe in karma." Punk shrugged, "Maybe it'll take it's revenge on him, who knows."
"I did confront him about what he did to April but he denied it and I couldn't do much else." Jamie defended.
"I would have done more than confront him." Punk said, "Look, it doesn't matter because clearly you aren't like him. You've got your head screwed on and I appreciate you wanting to help me, it's nice, and it means a lot AJ to know you aren't hurting or you aren't bitter."
"Who said I wasn't hurting?" Jamie laughed, "I'm not like my dad." He nodded, "I just wanted to know if you wanted to come to that course. That's it. I thought it would benefit you and maybe it would clear the air for us." He shrugged.
"I will." Punk nodded, "Yeah, I'll come, see what it's about." He said.
"Great." Jamie nodded, "It's in a couple of weeks so… I'll get the address and time for you."
"Ok, man. I best get back and make sure these kids aren't cheating." He said as Jamie nodded.
"Ok, I'll let you get to it." Jamie said, walking off as Punk watched him. He appreciated him being so down to earth but it was almost unbelievable, and it was strange to him that when he brought up his father and all the sexual harassment complaints, he didn't even looked shocked or taken aback.
"How did things go at the trial?" Punk asked. He had met with AJ and Jessica later on that night after he finished at the academy for some pizza. Jessica was keeping quiet sitting beside her mother playing with the coloring in pack that the waiter had given her.
"Good actually. Yeah, it's going ok. Nothing has thrown me off and getting access to that laptop that the judge granted subpoena for was useful. Had a lot of nasty stuff on it." AJ said, "Must be so draining for Lily to go through it all." She shook her head.
"Well at least it's going in the right direction for you." Punk said as AJ nodded, "So Jamie came by the academy today." He said as AJ raised her brows.
"Why?" AJ shook her head.
"He was telling me about this course again, it'll help me actually qualify to teach at the academy, and he said it will make sure his dad can't interfere again." Punk shrugged, "He was being nice again but… I don't know, I'm starting to get suspicious."
"Why?" AJ asked.
"I just… if I was him, I'd be pissed with me. We… were together when you and him were still basically a thing. He should hate my guts." Punk said, "It's weird."
"He's just being the bigger person, I guess." AJ shrugged.
"Well yeah, that's what I thought, but then I told him about his dad, and the sexual harassment complaints… he didn't even look phased or shocked. And he said when it happened to you his dad just denied it and that was it." Punk shrugged, "I'm getting bad vibes." He shook his head.
"Look, don't overthink things." AJ said, "No one is gonna wanna admit their dad sexually harasses women, and denies it all the while." She said, "Maybe he just wants to move on and not feel any sort of bitterness towards you or me… that's a good thing." AJ nodded.
"I know but I don't wanna be convinced and find out he's just playing a game." Punk shrugged.
"He's a busy guy. I doubt he's planning an evil scheme." AJ shook her head, "Are you going to go to this course?" She asked him.
"Yeah, I was gonna." Punk said, "Means I wouldn't have to bring the kids to our house and I could go full time at the academy, without anyone shit about it." He nodded.
"It's a good idea." AJ nodded, "I'd consider it."
"Jamie said he'd get the date and address to me. It's in a couple of weeks." Punk said.
"Is he going?" AJ shook her head.
"I don't think so. Why would he need qualified for that?" Punk asked, "I spoke to Bruno about it, it's legit so I don't need to worry."
"Why would you worry?" AJ asked.
"I don't know, incase it's a set up or something." Punk shrugged as AJ looked across at him.
"I know you struggle with trusting people. You always have. Even before twitter. But please don't overthink everything. I mean I know we all do it, me and you especially, but… maybe Jamie is just… being nice, trying to let things go." AJ shrugged as Punk nodded, "You should go do the course." She nodded
"Yeah, I think I will." Punk nodded.
"Did you say anything about me… trying to get his dad arrested after this trial?" AJ wondered.
"No, I didn't." Punk said, "I didn't want him to go tell his dad." Punk shook his head as AJ nodded, "Hey, did you have a good day with Cami?" Punk turned to Jessica who was staying quiet, colouring in some pictures.
"Yeah." Jessica said bluntly as Punk just nodded, looking over at AJ who sipped on her drink.
"What'd you get up to?" Punk asked her as Jessica shrugged.
"Nothing much." Jessica said, not looking up at him, too busy concentrated on her colouring, "Mommy can you take me to the toilet?" She turned to her mother.
"Yeah, ok." AJ nodded, "Let's go quick, though before the pizza gets here." AJ said, standing up from the table as Punk watched Jessica get down from the chair, taking her mother's hand as they disappeared to the back of the restaurant where the toilets where.
"Ok, quick." AJ nodded, letting Jessica go into a stall as she waited outside by the sinks, fixing herself in the mirror as she realised a long day in court had her looking rather exhausted.
"Mommy?" Jessica said from inside the toilet stall.
"Mhm?" AJ replied, "What is it?" AJ said.
"Does daddy need to be here?" Jessica asked as AJ paused and made a face. She wasn't sure how to take that sort of question, and wondered if Jessica perhaps meant something different by it.
"Baby, what do you mean?" AJ asked, thankful no one else was in the toilets, listening as the toilet flushed and Jessica came out, with her jeans unbuttoned of course.
"I mean does he have to be here with us?" Jessica asked as AJ crouched down to button her jeans.
"Hey, why would you say that?" AJ shook her head. She didn't understand where this was coming from. She loved her father and they were so attached. It'd almost been a year since Punk had been out of prison and AJ knew how much Jessica loved her father being around. This sort of attitude just wasn't like her, and she had to agree with Punk that she had been a little off with him for the past few days.
"I don't know." Jessica shrugged.
"No, baby. You do know." AJ said, zipping her jeans up and fixing her, "Tell me what's wrong? Why do you not want daddy here?" She asked, watching as Jessica began to get teary eyes, "Jessica." AJ shook her head worriedly. It was just so out of character for her to be like this and she was starting to panic, "Baby, what is it?" AJ asked, "You can tell mommy."
"Daddy is a bad man." Jessica sniffled as AJ looked at her and shook her head, "He's a bad man and I… I'm scared." Jessica shook her head as AJ's mouth gaped in shock, not believing that her daughter really felt this way about her own father. She didn't know what to say or do.
