A/N: New story! It's AU but features all the characters you've come to love and adore. I don't own any characters except for the weirdos I love to create. Also, this is rated M so don't ready any further because you know how my stories can get ;)
Summary: Punk is fixated on his career and making it big but who wants to rise to the top alone? Join Punk as he struggles to the top and brings the girl of his dreams along for the bumpy ride.
My Neighbor
AJ Mendez was at the job she loved. She was working behind the counter in the tiny pet shop in Chicago Illinois. Her hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, glasses perched at the tip of her nose and when she wasn't feeding the animals or helping customers her nose was stuck in a book. She was completely content and happy with her life. She couldn't think of anything else she'd rather do than be around animals. Sure she could use more money but she got by just fine and would rather be happy than rich.
The chime on the store door rang and AJ stuck her head up from the novel she was so engrossed with to see a few people come in. She closed the book and stood up from the stool she was sitting on to assist the people. Everyone who came in were usually 'regulars' and she saw them on a weekly basis. AJ worked six, sometimes seven days a week and got to know everyone. The owners weren't around much since they had gotten older and AJ and another girl ran the shop for the most part.
"You know what we need?" a female voice asked lugging up a forty pound bag of parakeet food from the cellar downstairs.
"What's that Celeste?" AJ asked her co-worker and friend.
"A man." Celeste announced with a smile. "Why can't they hire just one other person to at least help us lug up all of this shit?" AJ walked over and grabbed the bottom of the bag and lifted it with Celeste.
"We don't need a man to lift things for us." AJ scoffed.
"It would be nice." Celeste groaned as they struggled to carry the bag across the small shop. "I mean how do you do it when I'm at classes?"
"I drag it." AJ said simply.
"Need a hand?" a voice offered and two strong tattooed covered hands grabbed the bag from them and slung it over his shoulder.
"Thanks Punk." Celeste said relieved. "It's going over there." she pointed.
AJ watched as Punk carried the bag across the store without any signs of struggling and dropped it by the bird cages. Punk was a regular who came in for dog food once a week and at least four times a week for treats for his dog. He worked out at the gym next door and lived a block over so he was always around.
"Alright I'm going to be late for class." Celeste said grabbing her bag. "You need anything before I go?"
"No, go ahead." AJ said waving her on.
"Thanks again Punk." Celeste smiled and walked out of the store.
"I didn't know Celeste was in school." Punk noted walking over to the dog treats.
"Yea night classes." AJ said to him. "She's working on a degree in a finance."
"Didn't peg her for that." Punk smirked dropping some treats on the counter then went off to grab a bag of dog food.
"How's training going?" AJ asked politely as she shyly looked down and started to bag the items he was buying.
"It's going." He said to her with a sigh. "I have a fight next weekend."
"Is it with the UFB?" she asked and he let out a laugh.
"UFC." He corrected very amused by her blunder. "And no, they don't just come knocking on doors of people without any sort of fighting record."
"You fight all of the time." She noted tying into the very old-schooled cash register.
"I do." Punk agreed slightly bitterly. "Just haven't been noticed yet. I'm not doing it for the fame or money but I do want to do it on a grander stage."
"Why do you fight?" AJ asked looking up at him finally.
"Why do you work here?" He asked back.
"I like it." She shrugged with a faint smile.
"Same reason I do what I do." Punk smirked.
"You like to hit people and get hit?" she asked with a smirk.
"I don't like getting hit which is why I work out so much." Punk said to her. "But while I'm out of town next weekend-"
"-I'll take care of Larry." AJ offered and he was relieved.
"He only likes you." Punk shrugged.
"Just bring him by the shop before you leave." AJ said to him. "I'll board him here."
"You're a life savor." Punk said pulling out some cash and paying her.
AJ closed up the shop at nine and by almost ten she was done cleaning and feeding the animals and ready to heady home. She zipped up her jacket as she locked the door and headed home. AJ lived a bit further about seven blocks away and usually took the train but she had gotten out too late and opted against the train this late.
She walked into her studio and turned on the light and took her jacket off. She checked her answering machine and saw no new messages. She jumped in the shower, dried off her hair and headed into bed. A lot of people would call it lonely but AJ was happy with where she was and knew it could always be worse. She didn't attend college due to financial issues and to take her of her father but she had no regrets, not a single one.
Punk made it back home around one in the morning after being at the gym for the day. His place was only slightly bigger than AJ's. His body was sore and practically had to crawl into the hot shower. He was only 32 but his body felt older. He knew he was over working at the gym but it was an obsession for him. The minute he was out of the shower his dog Larry ran over to him looking to be walked and Punk obliged. Punk was never really alone most nights, he had plenty of women come around but for the most part it was him and Larry. Larry was a dog that Punk found chained up a hot summers day outside someones house so Punk simply took him and has been with him for the last two years.
Even though Punk spent most of his time at the gym a lot of people would be surprised he did attend college and was close to getting his English degree but he found his true passion in fighting.
"There you go." Punk said giving his dog some treats as he grabbed his back brace and wrapped it around himself before trying to get comfortable on the messy unmade bed.
The minute he was in bed and ready to drift off Larry jumped onto his bed and laid practically across his chest.
"Comfortable?" Punk asked his dog mockingly.
The next day AJ was at the shop deep in her book with the door chimed.
"Hi." AJ greeted quietly but the two familiar men ignored her and walked to the back of the store.
AJ stood up and peeked down the aisle to see them grabbing two bags of dog food. The men were obviously bigger than her and brushed right past her and began to walk out the door but AJ jumped in front of it.
"You have to pay." AJ groaned.
"Sweetheart we come in here all of the time, when was the last time we paid?" the man asked with a laugh.
"I'm really going to call the cops this time." AJ informed them trying to sound strong but the men could she was terrified.
"We're not going to hurt you honey." the other man assured her. "And you can call the cops but by the time they get here we'll be gone and they have bigger fish to fry in this neighborhood than us."
"You can't just keep stealing from me." AJ said quietly.
"You want our dogs to starve lady?" the taller man sporting a Cubs hat questioned. "What kind of an animal lover are you?"
"I can give you samples." She offered them.
"Please move." The shorter man with a beanie sighed annoyed.
"Please pay." AJ responded in kind.
"You take your job a little too seriously." The taller man laughed and grabbed her glasses and tossed them onto the floor. AJ stood firm at the door though and didn't let the distraction work.
"Seriously don't make us move you." The one in the cap sighed growing annoyed.
"I see the car you came in and I will call the cops." AJ said still blocking the door.
"Enough." The short man said and gently pushed AJ to the side but she grabbed the bag of food causing it to open and all the kibble poured onto the floor.
"Everything ok?" Punk asked walking inside.
"Yea the lady here broke my dog food I was just helping her clean it." The short man said who was immediately intimidated by Punk's presence.
"We're really running late so we'll come by tonight to pick up the food." The tall man said dropping the bag to the floor and both rushed out.
Punk glared at both of them and watched them jump into the car parked right outside.
"What happened?" Punk asked kneeling down and passing her back her glasses.
"They come in all of the time and walk out with whatever they want." AJ sighed reaching for the broom.
Punk again turned to look outside but the car was gone.
"Did you ever call the cops?" he asked grabbing the dustpan and helped her clean up.
"No. They're harmless." She had to admit.
"If they're stealing they're not harmless." Punk insisted.
"Joe told me to just ignore it. If anyone ever comes in here and wants anything to not fight them to just give it to them." AJ said to him referring to the owner of the shop.
"He's right." Punk agreed.
"You're ok with stealing?" she asked surprising him.
"No but a bag of food isn't worth your life." He said pouring the dustpan into the garbage.
"It's the principle of the matter." AJ insisted putting the broom away.
"I'm always right next door, if they come back just give me a call." He offered.
"That's nice of you but like I said they're harmless and usually very polite to me." she told him.
"When I was walking by just now they didn't seem too polite." Punk pointed out. "Take my number and call me if anyone comes in here and gives you a hard time." he said to her.
"I don't have a cellphone." She told him and he let out a small chuckle.
"In today's day in age you don't own a phone?" Punk asked stunned.
"I don't need one." She shrugged walking behind the counter and Punk grabbed a pen and piece of receipt paper.
"You have a store phone." He noted writing his number down. "Call me- I mean it."
"Thanks Punk." she said accepting the paper.
"No sweat." he replied coolly.
Later that night Celeste was looking out the store window with a big stupid grin.
"They're going to think you're weird." AJ laughed from behind the counter.
"They already do." she snorted. "Some of them are really cute." she noted admiring the men walking out of the gym.
"Eh." AJ shrugged.
"Really?" Celeste laughed looking back at her. "You don't think any of them cute?"
"I think Punk's cute." AJ offered with a shrug.
"He's not even built." Celeste scoffed.
"That's what I like about him." AJ teased.
"You would like him." Celeste laughed walking back over to AJ. "He's always coming in here to talk to you."
"Because he's a customer." AJ pointed out.
"I saw that piece of paper with his number on it." Celeste said to her with a grin.
"That? He just wants me to call him if I ever have a problem with someone stealing or something." AJ said brushing it off. "Those dog food guys came by earlier."
"I hate them." Celeste said annoyed as jumped to sit on the counter. "How much did they take?"
"Nothing because I wouldn't let them." AJ informed her proudly.
"Are you nuts?" Celeste asked her. "You can't fend off two guys."
"Well I did it today." She said to her. "Well, actually Punk walked in and they kind of scurried off but I still stood my ground."
"Don't get in trouble here." Celeste sighed. "It's just dog food."
"And soon it will be money." AJ told her. "Everyone will be coming here to steal."
"Everyone already does." Celeste laughed. "This job isn't worth that kind of hassle."
A car honking outside made Celeste jump off the counter and wave outside. She grabbed her jacket and purse and looked towards her friend.
"You sure you don't mind me leaving early?" Celeste asked her.
"No of course not." AJ said to her. "Go enjoy your date."
"Thanks, I'll see you tomorrow." Celeste walked out of the shop.
Punk was outside the gym at around ten blowing his breath into his hands and rubbing them together.
"It's fucking freezing hurry up." Punk said to his buddy who he was giving a lift home to.
"Relax." Tommy Parker said to Punk. "You got a girl waiting for you at home or something?" he teased.
"Yea, what's the rush? normally we can't get you out of the gym." Dean said locking the door.
"I don't have a woman waiting for me but I do have a dog waiting whose probably pissed all over my fucking floor by now." He hissed annoyed.
"Speaking of dogs." Tommy chuckled and nodded over to AJ who was locking up her own store now.
"Come on man." Dean said shaking his head. "She's a sweet girl."
"Ugly as fucking sin though." Tommy laughed.
"I think she's cute." Punk chimed in and both men looked at him. "She is." he defended.
"He just likes her because she takes care of his nasty ass dog." Dean said to Tommy.
"Larry likes her because he thinks she is a dog." Tommy added.
"You're fucking blind." Punk said to Tommy.
"No you are." Tommy argued. "Does she even brush her hair?"
"What are you? A high school girl bully?" Dean asked him. "I'm sure little AJ has it going on underneath those glasses, sweats and messy head of hair."
"AJ!" Punk yelled and Tommy glared at him. "You need a ride?"
"No, thanks though." she said giving him a small wave then heading off in the other direction.
"You trying to fuck her?" Tommy asked amused as they walked to Punk's car.
"No I'm trying to be nice." Punk said to him unlocking his car. "It's late for a woman to be walking home in this neighborhood."
"Don't worry I don't think anyone will give her a hard time." Tommy laughed getting into the car.
"Were you always such a shallow prick?" Punk asked his friend seriously.
"No fighting." Dean warned them getting into the backseat.
"I'm shallow but I call it like I see it." Tommy defended.
"I guarantee you if you got to know her you'd like her." Punk said to Tommy.
"Hey if you like her so much you ask her out." Tommy said to him.
"Oh she's not my type." He said quickly and both Dean and Tommy laughed. "What?"
"You just went on to say what a sweet girl she was but if she's so great why haven't you tried it with her?" Dean asked him.
"I'm not her type." Punk said to them.
"How do you know?" Tommy asked him.
"Because I just do." Punk shot back at him. "She needs a nice quiet guy."
"You mean an ugly nerd boy to match with her?" Tommy asked and Punk rolled his eyes. "I agree."
"I'm telling you she isn't ugly." Punk said simply. "She's different and maybe you can use someone a little different in your life."
"I'm not asking that hound dog out." Tommy snapped and Dean slapped him upside the head.
"Seriously stop ragging on her." Punk warned him.
"Yea she may not be pretty but she is nice." Dean said to Tommy and Punk rolled his eyes and drove off.
When AJ reached her loft she saw her dad sitting in front of her door and he looked like he was out cold.
"Daddy?" AJ asked kneeling down and the man opened his eyes.
"There's my little girl." He smiled and AJ could smell the booze on his breath.
"Need a place to crash?" She asked helping to his feet.
"Yea." He said holding to AJ so he wouldn't fall over. She unlocked the door and helped her dad over to the pullout couch she slept on and watched him fall right on it.
"How much did you drink tonight?" AJ asked pulling his filthy sneakers off so he wouldn't dirty the bed.
"You look just like your mother." He said with a sad smile and AJ rolled her eyes. He said that to her every time he drank too much.
"I know." She said taking his jacket from him. "You should eat."
"I'm not hungry." He said pulling the blanket over himself.
"You should at least shower." AJ said placing her hands on her hips.
"Tomorrow." He muttered closing his eyes. "Love you sweetheart." he said in a sleepy voice and AJ just frowned.
After cleaning herself up and getting ready for bed she grabbed a small couch pillow and a throw blanket and dropped it to the to floor since that's where she was going to be sleeping tonight. She checked on her dad to just make sure he was still breathing before trying to get comfortable on her floor and hoped to at least get a few hours of sleep.
A/N: Rough introduction to the story but I think you can all see where this is going. What do you think?