Different Paths

"Hey, can I talk to you?" Punk asked, pulling AJ aside after her cheerleading practise as she looked at him and nodded. It had been a few days since AJ had given him her number and she was beginning to wonder why he hadn't called or text.

"Uh… yeah, I'm a little sweaty but… sure." AJ nodded, placing her hand on her forehead, "What's up? I-I thought you would have called me. Not to blow smoke up my ass but… I gave you my number so that we could… maybe chat?" She shrugged, "Or call."

"Yeah, about that." Punk scratched the back of his head as AJ looked at him.

"Oh, God… you're not interested, are you?" AJ shook her head, "I mean of course you're not, it was just a game, our names just got picked and… you were just trying to be nice to me and-"

"Woah woah… no." Punk put his hands up, "No, that's not it." He made clear, "I like you, believe me." He said.

"You do?" AJ nodded.

"Yeah, I do." Punk smiled, looking into her eyes, "But… I uh…" He paused. He wasn't sure if he could face telling her. Of course he was embarrassed. But for some reason, he felt like she wouldn't judge him. Her obnoxious, popular, cheerleading persona wasn't legit at all. He knew behind the uniform she wore she was still trying to find out who she was.

"You what?" AJ shook her head.

"I don't have a phone." Punk nodded as AJ looked up at him, "Money is tight and-"

"Oh, God… that's ok." AJ nodded, "Oh, sorry I… I didn't even think." She shook her head, "You can give me your house number if you like." She shrugged, "I know that sounds really desperate but-"

"I don't have a house phone either." Punk said. If he wasn't embarrassed before, he was definitely embarrassed now, watching as AJ stared at him with confusion.

"Uh… o-ok." AJ nodded slowly.

"We struggle for money." Punk explained.

"You don't have to explain to me. It's so wrong of me to just assume." AJ sighed as Punk just looked at her, "You shouldn't be embarrassed by that. You're not the only one." She smiled softly as he nodded.

"Thanks." Punk nodded, "I guess if we can't call or whatever… we'll just have to talk here." He said as AJ nodded.

"Yeah." AJ nodded, "Or we could go out?" AJ asked him, "Maybe somewhere it's just the two of us." She nodded.

"Really?" Punk questioned. He wasn't sure why he was questioning why she was interested in him. He'd had girlfriends before. He guessed he'd never felt this way about a girl and have her feel the same way. It was a good feeling.

"Yeah." AJ laughed a little, "Do you like food?" She asked.

"Do I look food?" Punk questioned with a slight laugh.

"Uh…" AJ placed her hand on forehead, "That came out wrong." She nodded nervously, "Do you want to go for food?" She asked as Punk smiled. He liked when she got nervous, he could see just how interested she really was, and that her feelings were really genuine.

"Yeah, it sounds great." Punk smiled.

"Tonight?" AJ smiled, "Frank's Diner?" She asked him, "They do really good vanilla milkshakes." She nodded as he smiled.

"I'll be there." Punk nodded, "7?"

"I'll see you then." AJ smiled, looking up at him, "Right, I better go." She said as he smiled and nodded, watching her jog away back into the girls changing room as he smiled to himself, only realising that to go out for dinner and on a date, he'd need some money, which was pretty hard for him to get.

"Bob, please." Punk groaned, standing in the small twenty four hour store across from his house, "I will pay you back. It's thirty bucks." He said as the store owner whom he knew since he was a kid shook his head.

"You say that to me every time, Phil and I never get any of it back. If it's for your dad then you can get lost. I'm done trying to help him." Bob waved his hand.

"It's not. It's for me." Punk said, "I got a date tonight." He said as Bob folded his arms, "And she's really nice and I really like her, and I think she likes me." Punk nodded, "Please. I promise you I will get you the money back. I'll do everything I can." He said.

"This is the last time." Bob gave in as Punk sighed with relief, watching him open the safe, "I'm gonna give you forty. Get your little brother something whilst you're out and take it home to him." He nodded as Punk nodded.

"Thank you so much." Punk shook his head, taking the money from him and putting it in his back pocket.

"So who is the lucky girl then?" Bob asked.

"Her name is April." Punk nodded as Bob smiled.

"And what's wrong with her to be agreeing to a date with you?" Bob teased.

"Shut up." Punk scoffed as Bob smiled, "You got any tips for me?"

"Phil, don't kid yourself, I've saw you with a lot of different girls in the past. You clearly know what you're doing." Bob laughed.

"I've never liked anyone like I like her." Punk said, "She's different." He said as Bob nodded.

"Be yourself. Don't-Don't try to be someone you're not. Be real with her." Bob nodded, "I don't have to give you one of these do I?" He pointed to the range of condoms behind him as Punk shook his head.

"Nah, it's just a burger." Punk laughed to himself.

"Hey, how has your dad been lately?" Bob asked, "I haven't seen him in a while."

"He's not been great." Punk said briefly, "Mom isn't any better."

"I don't know why they let her out of the hospital." Bob shook his head, "It's a lot of stress for you kids." He sighed.

"We're alright." Punk assured him as Bob smiled. He always knew Punk to be a brave and strong kid, ever since he was little. His family situation never got him down and he was always trying to be better. Bob admired it very much.

"Hey, you have a good night, kid." Bob nodded, "Let me know how it goes."

"Bob." Rey groaned as she walked into the store, looking over to the store owner, old and grey as he sat behind the desk.

"Rey." Bob smiled, "How is my favourite girl?" He smiled, getting to his feet.

"Hungover." Rey sighed, walking over to the desk.

"That evil drink isn't good for you." Bob warned, "I keep telling you." He pointed his finger at her.

"Oh, I know but… it's a good idea at the time." Rey said, "And now I have to… go to work." She sighed exhaustedly. The reason she knew a lot of the locals and store owners, was because she spent as much time outside during her upbringing as she could, because it meant she didn't have to face any new foster families.

"When do you finish?" Bob asked her.

"2am." Rey sighed, "All I wanted to do was stay in bed." She shook her head.

"I'm afraid you don't make money doing that." Bob said, "Hey, are you still with that boy?" He asked her.

"Who? Zac?" Rey questioned, "No. Well, we had breakfast this morning but… we're definitely over." She assured him.

"Good because I wasn't a fan of him." He folded his arms, "And I don't think he's up to much good around these streets, if you know what I mean."

"I know what you mean." Rey nodded, "He means well sometimes he just… he's a foster kid like me. Maybe that's why I'm such a sucker for him." She shrugged, "But we're done. I promise you."

"Hey, do it for yourself. Not me." Bob encouraged, "What are you in for?" He asked her.

"Just a bottle of water." Rey nodded.

"Right on." Bob nodded, turning around to the fridge and grabbing a bottle out.

"Uh…" Rey looked in her wallet, "Bob, is there any chance this one could be… on the house?" Rey asked, "I spent a little more than I wanted to when I was out." She admitted as Bob nodded.

"I suppose so." Bob tutted, "But you owe me a lot of water." He said, sliding the bottle across from her.

"I have to stay hydrated, Bob. C'mon." She shrugged as Bob shook his head.

"Yeah, alright. Get out of here." He shook his head as Rey smiled, leaving the store quickly as Bob shook his head, "Like father like daughter." He scoffed, sitting back down on his seat to read the paper.