A/N - Okay, you don't know how much I desperately want these two characters to get together already BUT! I have an obligation to keep this real as possible.. Nikki and CM Punk can't just get together over a period of 3 days or so... they need time. So I wanted to try something new and give a little of Punk's view towards the end and in saying that I hope it keeps you all interested enough! Trust me when I say, I do love this pairing. Apologies for rushed editing lol R&R and Enjoy!
Chapter 6 – Hard to Put Down
Nikki walked into a small café not far from the arena. The morning rush was on. She edged her way to the back and found her good friend. Gail Kim looked up from her iPad.
"Did you sleep?" Nikki asked
"Are you kidding?" Gail laughed as the brunette diva sat down.
Nikki took a look at her friend's coffee, straight out of the pot it smelled like. Gail motioned to the waitress. She brought Nikki a fresh cup.
Nikki couldn't help but take a glance at her good friend. She looked pretty battered up but wrestlers have the tendency to make it look like nothing had happen; in fact Gail looked like she was ready to tackle on a 5 hour signing session.
"Got a question for you," she said
Nikki gave her best I'll try smile
"What the hell happened yesterday?"
Nikki shrugged. Gail ordered another cup. When the waitress brought her coffee, she tore open a sugar packet and dumped it in. If it was one thing you learned early on about your colleagues in this business, it was how they took their coffee. Gail never took sugar; she had to be running on fumes, Nikki thought.
"Your guess is as good as mine" she said "Probably better? Stephanie came out of nowhere" She shrugged.
Gail sipped her coffee. "Mhmm, she loves to do that doesn't she?"
Nikki winked at her, putting her mouth to the edge of her cup letting the hot sensation tingle her lips before getting her first taste. Gail shifted in her seat, winced, and closed her eyes for a moment.
"Rough match last night?" Nikki asked
"It aches a little," she said. "I'm good."
Nikki knew that, a little coded for it hurts like a bitch. She sipped her coffee, picked up the menu. A scan of the first page told her she could get a custard-baked French toast with fresh cut strawberries or scrambled eggs. She called the waitress over and ordered the first option.
"Where the hell is your sister?" Gail asked
"I have no idea? She went to the arena last night to watch the show… don't need to guess which match she went to watch."
"Mine?" Gail interrupted
"Trust me when I say this, We both wish"
"First stages of dating" Gail sighs "I can't remember the last time I felt that way… Can you believe that?"
Nikki shook her head. She could not, on the other had, if it wasn't wrestling- specifically women's wrestling, along with the many other sports she paid attention to; anything else- she lost all interest.
"Anyway," Gail continued, reading her disinterest. "I'm all ready for this steamy love boat-triangle thing we're about to board. I didn't speak to Daniel yet about it; I'm sure he's rapped… Have you spoken to him yet?"
"No… I haven't" yet in the back of her mind she knew she could have. She had 4 missed calls from him.
She then felt a vibration in her pocket soon to be followed by her phone's ring tone. She didn't have to look at the ID to know who it was. Daniel Bryan again. Gail stared at a motionless Nikki Bella who dared to stare back.
"Well?"
"Well?" Nikki replied
"Aren't you going to answer that?" Gail asked
"It's Daniel. I can talk to him later" she shrugged off, cancelling the call and making that five purposely missed calls.
Nikki backed away from the storyline topic. She was trying to avoid everything and anything involving the current United States Champion but it wasn't the easiest of jobs. Sooner or later she would have to confront him.
"Hey girls!" Brie smiled as she joined the table.
"Where were you?" her twin sister questioned even though she knew the answer.
"Nowhere… a night's celebration just happened to turn into a morning celebration?"
The waitress had arrived with Nikki's order.
"Yummy! I'm starved!" Brie exclaimed stealing a strawberry off the plate.
"Funny, I just lost my whole appetite" Nikki then served her sister a smile of sarcasm.
Brie gladly took the dish away from her sister, pleased with how the morning seem to be unravelling. Brie's phone started to ring and she quickly dropped the fork and knife down to answer it.
"If it's Daniel, Don-"
"Oh Hey Daniel" Brie then made eye contact with her sister. "Nikki not picking up her phone? How odd?"
Nikki glared at her sister, daring her to continue to speak.
"You need to see her? well this might just be your lucky day, I've just spotted her now. Would you like to speak- oh, you want to see her? …right now? Okay well she said she'll meet you up in your hotel room in 15…" She smirked at her sister. "Make that 10 minutes… okay, no worries. I'm happy to help. Bye!"
"I really hate you right now" Nikki stated as she left leaving the two divas in a fit of hysterical laughter.
[Hotel]
In 10 minutes, Nikki wasn't just found standing outside Daniel Bryan's hotel room. She was pacing back and forth, creating a role-play in her head of what she was going to say, predicting how he may respond, all the different outcomes that could occur from this one meeting. She was unsure and that sensation alone made this Nikki Bella nervous. She ran her hand through her hair then knocked on the door.
She waited silently. Daniel opened the door with a grin on his face.
"Hey-"
"Nik!"
Daniel stepped out of his room confused whilst Nikki turned to see Punk waving her down from the end of the hotel hallway. Out of all the scenarios that played out on her head, Nikki had failed to see this one coming and this was just the beginning Nikki thought. This was going to be the start of what was going to be a very long day. He rushed on over.
"What's up?" she asked.
He scratched the side of his head.
"Remember yesterday? I just need to get your details so I can get all the stuff sorted and-"
"Oh right… Well, I just have to talk with Daniel first" she said pointing at him at which prompted Daniel to smile that awkward smile people do when they want someone to evaporate on the spot.
"Cool, come to my room after and we'll finish it off. Daniel" he nodded then quickly moved back in the direction from where he had just came.
The brunette diva instantly knew what was going to come out of the US Champion's mouth, that she even mimicked them as he spoke following him into his room.
"What was that all about?" he asked
Closing the door, she dumped her bag on the side table, walked passed him and sat down at the counter top bench.
"Nothing you need to worry about. Why are you blowing up my phone anyway?" She asked
A cheeky grin grew on his face.
"You know why I needed to see you" he spoke with a sleazy tone. He walked behind Nikki, gently placing his hands on her shoulders to begin massaging them.
"I'm not in the mood to play games anymore Daniel" she spoke sternly shrugging her shoulders so that he would stop.
"Neither am I" he replied
Nikki was not expecting that. Her eyes locked on to Daniel's movements as he came and sat across from her.
"I'm done playing these games too. I want to stop" he said.
She felt a sense of tranquillity come over her. For once, everything seemed to be straightening out.
"I'm glad you feel that way because to be honest, I didn't know how to tell you?"
This made Daniel smile.
"Come give me a hug" he said
Nikki didn't think it would do any damage; she got up from her seat and put her arms around him as he embraced her. She gently pulled away from him and they both made a start towards the door.
Daniel watched her as she grabbed her bag.
The US Champion was a kind gentleman and opened the door for her.
"I look forward to our new start"
Nikki smiled. "Yeah me too"
Now, she just had one more stop and that was to see CM Punk. Somebody she owed a huge deal of gratitude for helping her out yesterday. For some odd reason, she seemed to have that certain je ne sais quoi in her step, which brought a smile upon her face. It was that feeling of happiness again.
When she had finally got to his door, she didn't hesitate to knock. As soon as the door had opened he was there greeting her with a warm smile.
"Nik, come on in."
"Thanks" she smiled walking through.
She made herself comfortable, sitting on his Italian silk-leathered upholstered couch. Luxury at it's finest she thought.
He brought out his laptop and tapped a few keys before bringing it over to the strong-headed diva.
"The money just got transferred this morning… we just made $13 grand each"
"No way! In one day we got over 10 grand each? That's amazing!" she sounded in disbelief.
She entered in her account details and gave the laptop back to him.
"And SEND" he said closing the laptop.
"Well, I guess that's that" Nikki said standing up.
"Hang on, not just yet"
Nikki froze on the spot unsure of what to say or do.
"You're going to have a nice cup of coffee with me and explain that unique submission you pulled off in yesterday's match"
She walked over to the counter where Punk was seated.
"Oh? It wasn't anything special…" she said losing herself in his olive eyes for a moment.
He interrupted her before she could finish her sentence.
"Stop being so modest. Sit down and I'll start on that coffee while you do a replay of that hold in your mind."
Nikki found no point in resisting against it. She sat down and thought about yesterday's match. Her mind had no problems finding the exact moment she wanted. She rested her elbows on the counter and leaned her chin on her hands clasped together. Punk turned around and brought her a cup with one sugar packet, which surprised her.
"I take two sugars"
Punk laughed. "No you don't."
"You know my sister too well"
"Brie takes one too? Huh… I never knew that" he smiled
Nikki raised an eyebrow. If Brie didn't tell him perhaps it was somebody else she thought, because she definitely didn't share that information with him.
"Then how did you know I took one?" she questioned.
"I've always known. I remember catching you making your coffee backstage in the cafeteria area a long time ago. You know how everyone is practically drinking coffee in this business"
The brunette diva nodded her head in agreement. She tore open the sugar packet and poured it in, soon to be followed by milk and gently stirred.
"Did you find that key moment in your head" he asked
"Mhm.." she put her cup down swallowing hard. "Yeah, easy."
"Well?"
"Oh right." She really started to despise his green eyes. It was getting to the point where soon she won't be able to look at him directly in the eye. "I remember having Brie's arm pushed up behind her back.. you know? It's a common move?"
"Yeah, I remember seeing that"
"Then my dear sister decided to try and knock me out with that elbow of hers. Luckily out of instinct, I blocked it by catching it just in time. Then the rest is history… I trapped both arms, one behind her back and the other used against her by simultaneously choking her out?"
"It was a brilliant move."
"I owe you one, without that session… Stephanie may have not given the green light like she did"
"How about you take me through one of The Bella workouts and I can see how I measure up?"
Nikki stared at him strangely.
"I was kidding but honestly… you don't have to worry about it"
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. Now, feel like a round of Superstars and Divas again?"
Nikki was hesitant but nevertheless warmed to the idea and shrugged why not.
The two ended up spending the whole morning chatting about superstar after superstar and diva after diva. Arguing at some points about which WWE legend was better or which diva was more annoying. Nikki thought the most annoying diva belonged to Brie, which made Punk laugh. This game was far more relaxed than the first time they played together. However, like last time they ended up learning a lot from their own experiences with the same colleagues in the business.
Before they knew it, it was almost lunch. Nikki had already made plans to meet with Gail, Daniel and Brie at the arena just before 1pm; to go over their new scripts for next week's live show. This made Nikki excited and so she finished the game off ending with none other than Brie's new beau Randy Orton.
"Okay, prior to Orton getting with my sister. You know, I had no problems with him. In the ring, he was an amazing superstar, very intense and animated. An exceptional heel of that I aim to be the Randy Orton of the Divas Division once the ball gets rolling next week."
Bag in hand she got up from the marble counter and thanked Punk for the entertaining morning.
He walked her to the door and as he was saying goodbye, Nikki Bella hugged him. They both fell silent for that brief moment. For those few seconds, she stopped thinking about everything going on. She forced herself to let go and quickly bid him goodbye and left.
[Arena]
Nikki tried putting the morning behind her. She was trying to find that outgoing, free spirited Nikki she once was before but finding her again wasn't going to happen over night and she wasn't sure if that's what she really wanted. In that moment between The Straightedge Superstar and herself, she felt that something could have happened and that scared her. What made her feel even more vulnerable was that it was her that reached out to him. Nikki found herself suppressing these feelings deep down inside, denying anybody from seeing them.
The brunette diva glanced down at her watch; it was getting close to 1pm so she started to pick up the pace through the hallways. She passed a few crew members and then she spotted a certain blonde diva, a dear friend of the Bellas.
"Kelly!" Nikki yelled.
The blonde diva swung around squinting her eyes to focus where the voice was coming from.
Nikki waved at Kelly who instantly smiled back her trademark smile.
"Hey Nikki, what's up?"
Nikki looked around to see if she could spot any of the three people she was looking for but no luck.
"Can you help me?"
"Sure"
"I was looking for-"
"Daniel?" the bubbly diva interrupted.
Nikki raised an eyebrow at her friend. "Yeah, as a matter of fact, Daniel is one of the people I'm looking for. Have you seen him around?"
"Nope but I can help you find him?"
"No, it's ok but if you see him, can you tell him I'm looking for him?"
"Of course" she smiled.
As Nikki turned to leave, Kelly grabbed her by the arm.
"By the way, I just wanted to congratulate you guys. I thought it was too good to be true but since Daniel confirmed it and now you're on the way up? I'm really happy for you guys"
Nikki smiled but was confused. "Thanks."
"I think you two are cute"
Nikki wasn't sure if Kelly had too much sun or perhaps may have come down with the flu but The Bella Twins were going to be anything but cute when they turn heel that's for sure.
"Cute? I don't think that's the adjective we're going for but we appreciate your support"
"Totally" She patted Nikki on the arm. Then she smiled an even bigger than usual which Nikki had no idea what she said or did to cause that reaction until she felt arms wrapping around her waist from behind.
It was a familiar sensation and then the kiss on the cheek.
"Whoa! What the hell was that?!" The Bella exclaimed pushing Daniel away.
"Oh you don't have to worry Nikki. Everyone knows about the happy couple now, you and Daniel don't have to hide from the crew" Kelly beamed.
Nikki's eyes widened in disbelief but once again she felt shocked though without being surprised at all.
Daniel tried to put his arm around Nikki's shoulder but she ducked away.
"I'll leave you guys to it" Kelly said and awkwardly left Daniel alone with Nikki who may have concealed it well but was fuming on the inside.
Nikki pulled Daniel to a private corner.
"Why are you acting this way?" he asked, Daniel's voice almost in a begging tone which only fueled the Bella's anger more.
"I can't believe you have the audacity to ask me that!" she hissed. "What's going on?!"
"What?" he sounded confused.
"The Happy Couple? Why was she referring to us" Nikki pointed between the both of them "As an Item when we are so clearly NOT"
The look in Bryan's eyes changed from confusion to hurt at which point Nikki realized what she really wanted.
"We're not?"
"No" she simply stated. "When I said I wanted things to stop. That's exactly what I meant"
"So you never intended on us trying it as a couple? Never thought of me as anything but a friend with benefits?" the flame in his voice starting to perk up.
"We both agreed on the terms Daniel."
He sighed in frustration. Nikki shook her head at how quickly this day turned upside down.
"Straighten this out Daniel while I go and find my sister and Gail to go over our new scripts"
Daniel silently nodded. Nikki read the disappointment in his face as he turned away but this wasn't the time for her to baby-sit some superstar's ego. She had enough on her plate and Nikki desperately needed to find her sister.
She rushed to the Women's locker room and was surprised that it was a full house. All the divas were in today. They all swamped her asking questions about Daniel that Nikki felt like her head was about to explode.
"EVERYBODY SHUT UP!" Nikki yelled.
All the divas eyed one another keeping their mouths shut.
Feeling no need to bag Daniel because it wasn't completely his fault. She wanted to be civil when explaining the situation where he wasn't seen as the so-called 'bad' person.
"I'd appreciate it if everyone just forgets what you've been told or what you've heard. There is nothing going on between Daniel Bryan and I alright? There was a massive communication malfunction and we are definitely not a couple."
The divas all looked at Nikki and accepted her words. They gave her some peace as Brie came over and hugged her sister. It's exactly what she needed.
"Don't worry about this script okay? Go back to the hotel and take a break. This will all blow over"
Nikki nodded, her head buried in her sister's shoulder, holding back every urge to cry. She let go and thanked her sister.
" Listen, I don't want you coming back to look after me okay?" Nikki spoke
"I'm coming back tonigh-"
"NO. I just need to be alone tonight to gather my thoughts and come back fresh. It's been a hectic day"
Her sister reluctantly agreed. Unfortunately, what Brie didn't know was that Nikki was going to resort to her other coping strategy.
She left the arena with one thing on her mind. To forget.
[Hotel]
The Chicago Native knocked on Nikki's door, unsure what he was going to find. It was close to midnight and Punk had finished up at the arena when he received her text. From her message, it didn't sound urgent but she had asked him to come over if he could but little did she know that he would do anything if she asked him to which led him to the door of which he waited patiently for her to answer.
The door opened and he could hear music playing. Frank Sinatra?
"Hey, partner!" She laughed.
Oh, boy, Punk thought. She's hammered. The Frank Sinatra proved it.
"Hey."
"Come in! You got my text message? That is awesome. God, I love technology"
His olive eyes softened at the state of Nikki.
"You okay?"
She plopped herself on the couch in a crazy manner, making bird-like gestures with her hands.
"Pain-free" she spoke almost angelic like
"I can see that, Brie alright?"
"Oof!" she said propping herself up onto the armrest.
"She's out with Randy for the whole night or maybe it's Foxy? I'll tell you who it isn't!" she said waving her right index finger at Punk. "Daniel Bryyyyan" She muttered. Nikki's eyes misted.
"It's my fault" she whimpered. "Happiness doesn't exist, not for me. HE KNEW from the start it was going nowhere" her tone changing to anger.
"You shouldn't think about it so much and you shouldn't be so harsh on yourself"
"I am though, I am, I have to be because when the bad stuff happens… and it always happens. I'm the only one that's left." She said with satisfaction "Just me, Nikki Bella."
The Straightedge Superstar walked around to get a better view of the drunken diva he had come to know well over the past few days. Unsure whether to take her words seriously Punk was able to put together a little piece of the puzzle that was Nikki Bella. He began to understand why she would pull away from others but he would keep that to himself. He will continue to be there for her and when she's ready, she will share her reasons with him.
Her eyes were glazed with that look of despair and guilt that broke his heart. He spotted the pint bottle of bourbon near the edge of the couch. It was two-thirds full. He knew she hadn't gotten this plastered on two drinks.
"There's got to be another casualty around here somewhere" he said looking around carefully.
Nikki hesitated for a moment, and then pointed to the veranda over by the window box of flowers. A glint of moonlight shimmered off an empty bottle of Blue Sapphire Gin. The WWE Champion plucked it from the shadows and stood it on the table inside.
"You know.. you know how people say 'life sucks' and how someone always says, right after that, 'No one ever said life is supposed to be fair'?"
"Yeah," Punk said. "I think I've heard that one."
He helped her up, before scooping her up into his arms. She didn't protest or fight, in fact, her arms found their way around his shoulders.
"Well it's fucking bullshit" she said.
Carefully carrying her to her bedroom, he agreed but he had to ask.
"What do you mean?"
She rested her head against his chest. Her words starting to become slurred but was clear enough to understand.
"What I mean is, people say life is fair all the time. Right? When you're a kid they tell you that you can be anything you want to be. They tell you that if you work hard, the world is your oyster…"
He didn't want to let her go, he loved the fact that she fit into his arms perfectly but he placed her gently onto her bed, covering her with a blanket still listening to what she was saying.
"…You can overcome anything. Buckle down! Hang in there! Stay with it!"
Punk didn't have much of an argument for this. "Well, yeah Nik. They do say that"
Nikki went south, as she saw him about to leave. Her mind veering into some new area. Her hand reached for the switch to turn on the bedside lamp.
"Please stay" he heard. "I'm in the mood to listen, listen to somebody else for once. It'll help me get to sleep. You can sit on Brie's bed? She's never here anyway."
He looked back at the brunette diva; her voice was almost pleading than commanding. She sat up and he noticed her eyes glistening against the dim light. He would do anything for her.
"Okay"
He could see her smile, which made him smile in return. He sat on Brie's single bed, fairly close to Nikki so he wouldn't have to speak loud. He rubbed the back of his head, deciding where he was going to start.
"I'll tell you about the first time I saw you…"
"That sounds nice"
"I'll never forget…" he said gazing in her eyes "I had come up to the Smackdown Taping to fill in for Big Show and there you were. It was the first time I saw your exquisite brown eyes that til this very day still gets me every time."
Nikki shrugged it off, unable to prevent a shade of pink cross her face.
"Then I saw you pulling Twin Magic before any of the crew realized the first match was not fought by Brie Bella but Nikki Bella herself."
She grinned at him, the kind of grin that someone has when they've just been caught out about something.
"That sealed the deal for me, I may be Straightedge… staying away from the alcohol and whatnot but I've been addicted to you for a very long time."
"How?" she questioned, shifting herself back down to lie on her side. She pulled her blanket up to her neck. All the while, never losing eye contact with the superstar facing her.
"It's you, it's everything about you that's addictive"
"But we've never talked until a couple of days ago? I still don't get it"
"It wasn't until I buffed up enough courage to speak my mind against management that I knew I was strong enough to speak to you. I couldn't go on any longer as just two people who happen to work for the same company. I wanted more."
"I'm not a normal person Phil"
That was the first time Nikki had ever acknowledged Punk by his real name or at least a shorter version of his real name. He wasn't sure if that meant she was going to drop a bomb or maybe… it's a long shot but maybe a term of endearment.
"I've lost faith in things, things that people consider very seriously."
"You're different. You're so mysterious to me. It's what I love about you."
"Is that all you found in the last few days of getting to know me? I'm more of a mystery than you thought?" she laughed.
"Of course not, you're amazing, talented, nothing short of a perfect blend of beauty and intelligence." He watched a smile creep across her face.
"You're funny when you're not trying to be" he joked and she laughed more.
"I love your laugh. You deserve the world and you deserve somebody who's going to love you so long as his heart is still beating, that he's still breathing and well long after that."
He saw a flutter of her lashes trying to fight sleepiness.
"Ask me out already Phil" she mumbled. "I would have…" her voice faded as she drifted off to sleep.
I will eventually Nik, you just need more time he thought. He smiled knowing she would now be able to sleep peacefully. She wasn't going to remember anything he had said the following morning but it didn't matter because tonight was just a practice for when he would repeat it all again at the right time.
"And hopefully that somebody will be me" he whispered to himself.
The Chicago Native stood and gently pressed his lips against her forehead. A silent kiss goodnight before he left her fast asleep.