Having a so/so day...actually wishing I got job opportunities like Gabby did, but I'm not that lucky...job hunting sucks, thus I figured I'd take some time away from it and update...
First though: Summerslam-Punk + Hot Pink trunks = me wanting more :) Loved the omage to The Hitman and he doesn't look too bad in bright pink...Last night's Raw I loved seeing more Heel Punk come out and him kicking Lawler in the head...YES! The only thing that would have made it better was if he gave Cole the GTS haha...Clearly we're going to see Cena vs Punk Night of Champs and I can't see Punk losing...after all both his DVD and WWE 13 come out in October, why would they take the title from him right before those two big releases? Also I just don't want to see Cena with a damn title ever again!
Anyway...enough blabbing...this chapter there's some turmoil and Punk is left with a lot weighing heavy on his mind...I'm currently working on Christmas (which won't have a lot of detail, it kind of just gets to the point) and the aftermath...Thanks for the continuous adds, favorites and reviews...love you guys for that! Enjoy!
After twenty minutes of blissful love making, Gabby was curled up on Punk's chest enjoying the feel of his fingers running up and down her spine sending little tingles throughout her body. She was comfortable and nearly asleep when Punk started talking grabbing her attention.
"So there's something that I'm curious about…"
"What is it?"
"Well when I was in your office today I read the card from your boss Jack and it mentioned Atlanta…I was going to ask you what it meant, but pushed it aside and then I heard your mom ask you about it…what's up with Atlanta?" Gabby squeezed her eyes shut; she knew she had to tell him about the promotion offer, but she just wasn't ready. However, now that he had heard about it twice, she knew there was no way he'd drop it. Gabby got out of bed putting on her cami and lace panties before ducking into the bathroom to gather her thoughts. Punk rolled his eyes before putting on his shorts and following her. He knocked lightly on the door waiting a minute before she pulled it open.
"It's nothing…"
"What do you mean nothing? It must be something if you're reacting like this…why can't you just tell me?" Gabby took a deep breath as she ran her hand through her tousled curls before facing him.
"Jack called me into his office a little over two weeks ago and offered me a promotion…"
"That's great! Did you take it?"
"No, you don't get it, it's not all that great…the promotion requires me to move to Atlanta…"
"As in Atlanta Georgia?" Punk's previously happy expression faltered at the thought of her moving.
"The one and only…"
"Oh…well what would the promotion entail?"
"I'd get my own editorial…Jack seems to think I'd have real promise and I'd do well with an editorial, said it could springboard my career." Punk's happy expression was completely gone as he turned away from her laying back down in bed wishing he would have never wondered and never asked.
"Well if it's going to springboard your career then you have to go Gabby…you can't let an opportunity like this go; there's no guarantee that another one will come along." Gabby let out a sigh before going to sit on the bed taking Punk's hand in hers.
"I haven't made a decision yet for various reasons and I still have plenty of time to think it over."
"I can tell you've been thinking about it though, so what are your thoughts?" Gabby looked up, her blue eyes meeting his hazel eyes, which had a clear look of sadness in them.
"I've thought about it a lot and it's an amazing opportunity, but I don't think I can just uproot my life for the second time in a year. I'm content here; I have you, my job, a few friends and I'm not terribly far from family."
"If you move to Atlanta you'll still have a job, you'll make new friends and you'll be even closer to your family…as for me, it won't be easy, but we could try it."
"Punk it's hard enough having a relationship with you on the road and me here, if I move to Atlanta we'll never see each other and you know it. Besides I know you'd never leave Chicago, not that I'd expect you to either…" Gabby paused for a minute noticing his gaze dropping from hers, "I just doubt it would work and it would really suck to go through everything that we've gone through for me to take a job elsewhere and ruin everything." Punk shook his head letting out a deep sigh as he took his hand from hers.
"Regardless what would or wouldn't happen with us, you need to think about yourself and your career first. Hell who is to say in the matter of months our relationship won't go to shit; I wouldn't be surprised because that's usually what happens in my relationships. My career is still my number one priority in my life and it shouldn't be any different with you." Gabby was taken back by his words feeling anger, frustration and sadness collide with each other.
"My career is very important to me, I've busted my ass to get to where I am now and regardless if I take the job in Atlanta or not, I'll still have a job that I love. With that being said I learned a long time ago that life isn't worth living unless you have someone to share it with and I thought you felt the same way, but I guess not…" Based on her reaction, Punk immediately regretted what he said as he watched Gabby get up off the bed and grab her pillows; her eyes shined brightly with the beginnings of tears and he quickly jumped out of bed blocking her from exiting the room.
"Gabby please, that didn't come out the right way…I care about you more then anyone else, but I don't want you to give up on this opportunity to further your career because of me. You're already not talking to Adam because of me, I don't want you to turn down this job and regret it because it'll lead you to resent me later." Gabby's ocean blue eyes were clouded with tears and she didn't know what to do.
"Will you please stop blaming yourself for Adam! Even if you are the reason he's not talking to me, he couldn't even put his stupid pride aside to call and wish me a happy birthday." Gabby hugged her pillow tight as she wiped away a tear with the back of her hand. "As far as Atlanta goes I don't know what I'm going to do, but I can guarantee I'll move on regardless if I take it or not. I could never resent you for a decision I made…I still have plenty of time to think about it, so can we just not talk about it anymore!" Punk closed the distance between them pulling her into his arms. Gabby dropped the pillow resting her head on his shoulder.
"Gab I'm sorry, but I know how much your work means to you and I don't want to get in the way. As for Adam I don't know what his deal is. I called, texted and e-mailed him about your party plus put Beth and your mom on the recruiting job and he still didn't show. I'm sorry Gabby…I love you…"
"I love you too and nothing will change that…"
A week later, Punk was in the gym lifting weights with Kofi and found himself distracted. His conversation with Gabby about Atlanta kept replaying in his head and he didn't know what to do to get past it. He had a suspicion that she was going to turn down the job, their relationship being one of the main reasons why, and even though she said she wouldn't resent him, he knew it would come in time; it always did.
"Hey Punk…" Punk put down his weight and looked over in Kofi's direction.
"Yeah what's up?"
"I was about to ask you the same question; you've been zoned out for a good ten minutes. Can I trust you to spot me on a couple reps, or should I get someone else?"
"No…it's cool, I'm good…" Punk got up from the bench he was sitting on and moved to spot Kofi. At first he was attentive, but after three reps, he found himself zoning out again. His zoning was interrupted when he was shoved aside by John Cena who quickly grabbed the weight helping Kofi out. "Christ Kof, I'm so sorry man…my head is just somewhere else today…"
"I noticed, thanks for stepping in, I appreciate it John."
"No problem buddy…" John looked at Punk noticing he looked more stressed then usual. They weren't the best of friends, but they had mutual respect for one another and he didn't like seeing anyone in the shape Punk was currently in. "You okay Punk? Do you need to talk about something?" Punk looked at John and smirked. Leave it to the boy scout to try to solve his problems! Seeing he knew he wasn't about to get past the whole Gabby thing without talking to someone, he let it out.
"So I found out when I was home for Gabby's birthday that she was offered a promotion…"
"That's great man! Good for her she's come a long way…" Kofi looked at Punk and noticed there had to be some sort of catch.
"It is great, but she would have to move to Atlanta…"
"Oh…" John raised his eyebrow immediately realizing the problem.
"Yeah…she hasn't decided if she's taking it yet or not, but I know she's going to decline it and I can't let her do that."
"I can see where you're coming from Punk, but this is her decision to make." John crossed his arms over his chest continuing to listen to Punk.
"I get that, but she was offered an editorial piece; her boss thinks she'll be great with it and it could springboard her career. If she stays in Chicago she'll never get an opportunity like that."
"You don't know that; she's come pretty far from that Mayor cat story…she could surprise you." Kofi draped a towel around the back of his neck as he took a sip of water.
"If the one person you cared about most in this world was offered an amazing opportunity would you encourage them to take it?"
"Of course…" John and Kofi answered in unison.
"So then what do I do to make her go?" John shook his head throwing up his arms.
"I'm out on this one champ! Gabby needs to make this decision on her own and quite frankly the only way you're going to push her into doing it is if you break up with her. Are you prepared for that aftermath?" Punk looked at John shaking his head as he ran his hands over his face.
"Honestly that's the last thing I want to do, but if she's not willing to go on her own to Atlanta, then I'll do what I have to. I can't let her turn this down; she'll hate me for it later."
"Why are you so convinced she'll hate you? I've seen the two of you together, hell practically lived with you on the bus and she can barely stay mad at you. This is her decision, if she decides to stay in Chicago then that's what she decides; you can't decide things for her."
"I'll do what I have to do Kofi. Besides according to my calculations we have exactly two months left before everything falls apart anyway…"
"You're an idiot! After everything you two have gone through, how much you fought for her, you're just going to throw in the towel because 'according to your calculations' things are bound to fall apart. Let me tell you something Phil, things fall apart because you stop trying and you get bored. Gabby challenges you and makes you a better person! Hell people actually feel like they can approach you now because you're in a decent mood; don't be a selfish person and screw everything up. She picked you over her damn brother; does that not tell you something?" Punk stood up feeling anger course through his body at what Kofi had said; granted he was right with everything, but it still pissed him off.
"Kofi you can say what you want, but when it comes down to it she'll be better off once she moves to Atlanta and we both move on. She can reunite with Adam and forget I ever existed…our relationship never should have happened in the first place!" Punk picked up his bag throwing it over his shoulder and slammed through the double doors leading out into the street.
When it came down to it he didn't want to end things with Gabby, but he couldn't help but feel she'd be better off without him. If they would have never gotten together then she would have accepted the job to Atlanta right off the bat and none of this would be happening. Getting into his rental and slamming the door, he checked his phone and saw a message from Gabby: Hey babe, I know you're at the gym, but I can't wait to see you later this week. I've been working on my gravy for dinner and I think I've officially mastered it! I can't wait to spend Christmas with you and our families…love you!
Punk let out a sigh before starting the car. He wasn't due at the arena for another two hours and decided a drive was in order to clear his head and pull himself together. This was Gabby's decision to make and regardless if she chose to stay or go, there wasn't much he could do but try to accept it; unless he came up with a plan to change her mind.