A/N: Hey all! Thanks again for responding to this story. Your reviews make my life better. That being said, I had a few people with the concern that Seth's character is too nice. I understand where that's coming from, but on another note, our main characters haven't actually interacted yet. :)
"Come on, AJ. We need to celebrate!" Paige whined, clipping the blue extensions out of her hair.
"Celebrate what, exactly?"
"Um, that the weird ones are back in action, together? That one of the most brilliant divas ever made a splash on her debut back on Raw? Or how about just to have fun for one?"
AJ rolled her eyes at her friend, kicking off her shoes and absently wondered where she'd put her favorite hoodie. Paige wanted to take her to a pub down the block. That was something that, in the past, was a huge no-no for the petite diva. It would be kind of nice to step foot in the place, kind of like a giant middle finger to Punk. But she also really wanted to find old InuYasha episodes and cuddle up in her sweats. Falling backwards on to the bed, she instantly decided that the latter would be a better option.
Choices, choices.
"AJ, I love you dearly, and that's why I'm telling you this. You've got to pull yourself out of this funky mood. I get it. And after you told me how things went down, I really do understand. If I was in that situation, I would've lost my damn mind. But you know, you're getting close to losing yours. Every single night is the same since you've returned: you go to shows, you work out, and retreat to your room. Nobody sees you until it's absolutely mandatory that you come out again. I'm really, truly worried about you, AJ."
"You don't need to worry. I'm a big girl," AJ grumbled, pulling the covers over her head.
"Clearly. You're acting like a child," Paige retorted, pulling the covers off from her friend. AJ's hair stuck straight up in the air from the static, causing both women to giggle.
"You're an ass," AJ smiled. Paige really knew how to make her feel like everything was going to be okay again. Would one drink really kill her? She'd been forcing herself to withdraw and be miserable for far too long. Sure, she had every right and reason to be a hermit. After all, nobody really welcomed her with open arms upon her return, aside from the youngest WWE diva.
When she had retired, she knew that it was quite possible nobody would ever respect her again. But, then again, she planned on leaving her Chuck-clad footprints behind for good, never to return to the company that she so loved.
But, things don't work out as planned. Ever.
"Catch," Paige threw a pair of skinny jeans at her friend, making it known that she wasn't going to take no for an answer.
"I don't know..." AJ started, her overly active mind thinking of any and all scenarios. What if someone put on Twitter that she was misbehaving? What if Nikki and Brie were there, ready to stir up trouble? What if the newcomers from NXT were there, turning their noses in the air at the veteran diva?
"AJ, knock it off. I don't care if you dress like you're ready for bed, but you're coming down with me. Just one drink is all I ask," Paige's dark-rimmed eyes were even pleading at this point, and AJ could feel herself breaking down.
"Fine," she sighed, tossing her long hair over a shoulder. "One drink. And I'm not going to get all cutesy," she wagged her finger towards the other woman, who already was holding a black crop top and dark gray jeggings of her own. She did pull on the jeans Paige threw at her, but opted to wear an oversized white t-shirt.
"How is it you look cute in everything?" Paige wondered aloud, fluffing her hair in the bathroom mirror, getting ready to reapply her mascara.
"A load of effort," AJ responded, her tone flat.
Once Paige was finished coating her already dark eyes once again, she gave herself a once over, offering a bowed arm to AJ.
"Shall we?"
Accepting her arm, the pair walked out the door and down the hall. The whole way down to the ground level, Paige was giving her friend and mentor a pep talk of sorts, reminding her that she had no reason to be afraid, and that she had her back.
It was just nice to know that someone did.
Phil Brooks looked over the paperwork once again.
He was saddened to see that, once again, something that he loved blew up in his face. His marriage was perfect just a year ago. From the honeymoon to their many outings together afterwards, he would cherish every memory. Unfortunately, things didn't always work out as planned; and even though a part of him would always love and care for AJ, he couldn't help but be relieved that she'd finally cut things off with him.
He could see how much he'd been dragging her once lively personality down. Wherever he went, she followed. She was quite loyal; but that was a given. She had lost her spark, afraid to fight back anymore. Afraid to have a different opinion for fear of fighting.
Not to mention, she quit her job to be with him. To avoid problems. And he couldn't forgive himself for taking away something she loved.
"It's not a big deal. I'd rather be with you every single day," she'd told him, and was quite adamant about taking time to be with her husband. But, the more time they'd spent together, the more they began to argue. Punk realized that they quite similar; very standoffish and both preferred to be left alone. That made it hard to talk to each other, both avoiding any confrontation. The person she'd brought out in him at first was happier, more outgoing...carefree, even. But the onslaught of all the lawsuits came, taking more and more out of him. The injury, the traveling back and forth to Wisconsin, and settling for a relationship based off from texting drove them further and further apart.
Unhappiness consumed them both, and it appeared that she had finally had enough.
Good, he thought. I really didn't want to break her little heart.
Thoughts of her crying ripped through his mind, but he forced them out. She was back at that shit show, doing something that was either intended to piss him off or keep her mind off from their problems. Or both.
But, then again, she'd burned dozens of bridges just to be with him. She'd cut a lot off ties, lost a lot of friends. At the time, she probably didn't think twice.
Punk sighed, looking once more through the papers. Once he sent those back to this Matthew Doherty, attorney at law, he'd finally be able to give AJ her wings back.
She'd finally be free.
Finding himself a black ballpoint pen, he chicken-scratched his name under where AJ had already put a signature of her own. It felt so final...and for a moment, he thought about trashing the papers, calling her cellphone for the first time in weeks, and do whatever it took to get her back.
His mind and pulse racing simultaneously, his own cell began to buzz. The name put his mind at ease, reminding him that this was the right track to be on.
"Hey, you," the familiar voice on the other end purred. "Guess where I am?"
For the first time in a long time, Punk felt alive again.
"Nah, really. I'm good. You guys can go ahead without me...I just really want to focus on a conditioning workout tonight. I don't want to look as shitty in the ring as I did tonight," Seth waved his colleagues ahead, towards the back door of the arena.
Cesaro shook his head, annoyed with his friend. Dolph nodded, pretending to be understanding.
But Seth knew that look. He wasn't understanding at all. In fact, nobody could understand the things that were going on in the champ's mind.
Part of it was that he just had no interest in going to that stupid pub everyone was talking about. He could live without seeing another Nikki Bella tear-fest over Cena once the alcohol began to hit her. He would be fine if he didn't have to see Ambrose texting his girlfriend in the corner, too awkward to join in on the fun. Or, for that matter, admit he even had a girlfriend. He'd be more than happy to skip another TJ and Natalya argument. Life would just be so much happier for him if he didn't go. He'd rather just focus on the only thing that did matter: himself.
Okay, and it was a little bit that Seth just couldn't take the whispers. He'd lost a lot of locker room respect once it was leaked that he'd cheated on his long-time fiance, Leighla. She'd been at the shows tons of times, and everyone really liked the pretty, smart, and independent woman. She got along easily with most people; and once she was out of the picture, people rolled their eyes whenever Seth walked into a room.
Chuck it in the fuck it bucket, and move on, he told himself on a daily basis. But it was so damn hard, knowing that everyone hated you based off from one huge, awful mistake. He often wished Vince had canned him immediately, wishing him best on future endeavors and all that. It would be a lot easier than the shit he put up with now. Between internet trolls and these people he had to work with, he was miserable in his own mind.
He acted like a big, mean asshole. But of course all this shit bothered him. He had let the media go wild, let them believe that he'd left Leighla for Zahra outright. In reality, Zahra was fun to be around, but that was about it. Their relationship started, and ended, in the bedroom. That's it. And now, he had to put on this facade that he was over it, over both of them. Ready to reach every goal within reach, the sky the limit.
His phone's search history, however, would prove that he was not over it at all. He found himself searching for pictures of Leighla more often than he'd like to admit, trying to find out if she moved on. Though she'd said to a mutual friend that they were cool, the last time he got her on the phone wasn't so great.
It usually started out fine, but then she'd start dissing Zahra and her "ratty hair," and "slutty tattoos." Seth did his best to keep his mouth shut regarding the other woman, but it never made a difference. Once Leighla started going, she really got going. She'd bring up everything and anything, eventually screaming that she never wanted to speak again, and please delete her number.
Sure, an outsider looking in would think that his ex was being a complete nutjob, but Seth knew that things wouldn't be like this if it wasn't for him. He let the guilt suffocate him every single day because who else was really to blame?
But, now he had nobody. And even though being alone took a toll on him, at least he didn't have the ability to fuck up anyone else's life.
For now, the only love he needed, or wanted, was for his career.
AJ swung her legs over the bar stool, siding up next to Paige. Corey Graves sat on the other side of her, engaged in a conversation with Cesaro. Though she hadnt really every spoken to either of them, they both said hello to her. Paige gave her friend a thumbs up, and AJ didn't feel out of place anymore.
Luckily, it looked like many of the other performers had found a different place to go. Only a handful had dragged their sore asses to this hole-in-the wall bar, and it was kind of nice to see the mid and lower card guys hanging out and shooting the shit.
AJ took a sip of whatever fruity drink Paige had just ordered for her, wincing immediately at the taste of the alcohol. She hadn't had a drink in so long, abiding by her vow alongside Phil to be a straight edge soldier. She felt kind of bad ass right now, doing something that he would surely wrinkle his nose at.
Fuck him and everything he pretends he is, she thought, sipping again. She heard loud, obnoxious laughing and turned to see Nattie, hanging out with big E and her husband, TJ. Even though Natalie was a veteran as well, she often spent most of her time with the NXT women. She also had it out for AJ, especially ever since she'd insinuated-on national television-that the only reason Nat had gotten a run with the WWE was because of her family ties.
Even though Nat was undoubtedly talented in the ring, AJ still stood by that statement. There were many women who had more talent that Niedhardt, and that was no lie. She was likable, though, having a big personality and an even bigger heart. The women's eyes connected for a moment, and Nat looked away, back to her conversation with the two men again. Looking right through AJ as if she wasn't even there.
"Don't worry about it," Paige said to her, noticing the frown that formed. "Once you work with her in the ring again, I'm sure that you guys will be able to stand being in the same room again."
"I don't know about that. At the time, I really thought...that what I was saying was true. And to some extent, I believe it still is. But now the only person that wants to even be around me is you, and even that must be a struggle," AJ thought back to her pipebomb, slamming the divas and publicly shaming them for broadcasting their lives on a reality TV show. That was something she could never understand; especially being a very private person like she was. Why take away the fun and mystery of the character, AJ Lee? She only wanted her fans to know her as the geek goddess, not the loser that sat at home and played video games on a Saturday night. Besides, her life was anything but glamorous. April Mendez-Brooks was a whole different person than what they saw, and that was just something she didn't want to broadcast.
Suddenly, the chatter began to pick up, and a large group of people came in all at once. AJ turned away, not recognizing any of them. Looked like a bunch of business women out for an after-office drink. They all chattered, loudly talking about the day and why was it so hard to be a woman in a world dominated by men?
AJ finished her drink, not stopping the bartender as he refilled it. Paige elbowed her, winking. "Proud of you," she murmured, happy to see her loosening up around everyone.
But then, everyone began talking around her, too. And she could hear her name being whispered.
"Yes, that's her alright."
"She doesn't even see her, does she?"
"I hope she doesn't. AJ can't keep her mouth to herself."
"Maybe that's the reason Phil left her ass."
AJ looked around to see eyes all looking towards her, but no mouths moving. It was like they all planned it, all at once. She wanted to scream, to set everyone straight. She wanted everyone to know the real reason she came back...but it was nobody else's business.
"Fuck," Paige cursed under her breath. "Don't look. Let's just finish our drinks, and let's go."
AJ followed the black-haired beauty's gaze to another woman. A blonde, tanned, woman stood along the other business ladies, her eyes staring straight at the pair.
Michelle Beadle.
"Well, hello there, April," she smirked, her mouth shiny from the lip gloss she wore. "It's been awhile."
Thanks again for reading!