Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with WWE nor own the rights to any of the superstars or workers, including CM Punk. I am making no money off of this in any way. Please don't sue me.
Author's Note: Thank you to Kaiya's Watergarden for your review!
The knock on the door made Nicole jump up from the couch. Quickly adjusting her shirt, she tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ears and headed toward the door.
"Kayley! You're early. Come on in."
"Am in interrupting something?" Kayley's eyes moved around the living room as Bertie danced around her feet. Rami was breathing heavily but smiled brightly and waved. "I can come back."
"No, the chinese should be here soon." Nicole answered after she closed the door. "How was training?" Kayley thought for a second.
"It was actually still locked. Guess no one had gotten there yet." She lied.
"Are you sure? Something seems off."
"Yeah, I just went home, did some reading." She lied again. In reality she drove around for over an hour before going home and just staring at a TV. She couldn't really remember what she watched. Maybe "Firefly"?
"Well, glad you're here." Rami said, making her smile.
"So, what movie did you guys watch before I got here?" The couple looked at each other.
"Umm, we really didn't." Nicole finally answered.
"You dirty birdies." Kayley joked before picking up Bertie who began to lick at her face.
"No." Nicole started. "Healthy, normal, human beings."
"People who call anyone in this room normal have no real idea." Rami commented.
"I agree with your boyfriend." Kayley added with a smirk.
"Sure, gang up on me."
"Now, Nicole. I'm not going to do that. Too dirty for me." Kayley's voice was completely monotone and Rami burst into laugher.
"You're sick, Kayley. Sick." Nicole accused and Kayley just shrugged. There was another knock at the door.
"I'll get it." Rami said before standing up.
"So..." Kayley started once he was preoccupied with the delivery. "Is their any surface that's safe for me to sit on."
"He just got here this morning! Is that all you think we did all day?" Nicole pretended to be mock offended, and Kayley raised her eyebrows. "The chair is safe." Kayley plopped down on the over-cushioned chair and leaned her head back.
"Food!" Rami called. "Come serve up."
"I'm good."
"Kayley. You love chinese." Nicole said, her eyes narrowed.
"I'm just not hungry."
"Why?"
"Because I ate a little at home. Plus, I didn't work out so I'm good." Nicole eyed her friend suspiciously as she filled her plate.
"Is she okay?" Rami asked quietly as they stood in the kitchen.
"I don't know. Something's up. She'll tell us when she's ready, I guess." Kayley knew they were discussing her, she couldn't hear everything, but it wasn't too hard to figure it out. However, she wasn't ready to tell anyone about seeing Phil. She didn't even want to remember she saw him.
Two years earlier.
Kayley was curled up on their couch watching "The Walking Dead" when she heard their front door open.
"Phil?" She called out.
"Yeah, it's me." His voice was tired.
"Lori is just about to die. It's your favorite death. Come watch with me." When he walked into the room she immediately knew something was wrong. His arms were folded across his chest as he leaned against the doorway.
"We need to talk." She paused the show and turned toward him.
"Sit down."
"No.. I want to stand."
"Phil, what is going on?"
"Kayley, I don't think this is working." Her heart skipped a beat.
"What?" For a moment she wondered if she misheard him.
"You know we haven't been doing well, lately."
"I admit things have been a little weird..."
"Exactly."
"But, Phil."
"Please don't." He finally sat down. "Don't make this any harder."
"You can't just walk in here and tell me our entire relationship is over."
"Yes, I can. Who are we kidding ourselves?"
"I didn't think we were kidding ourselves." She felt a chill falling over her as she tried to wake. It had to be a nightmare. A very bad nightmare.
"Kayley-"
"Who is she?" Even as she asked it, she knew there was someone else. The way his eyes faltered, he almost looked ashamed of himself.
"It's AJ Lee." Phil had no intention of lying to her. She would find out at work anyway.
"W-why?" Kayley had never really gotten along with AJ Lee. Their interests were similar, but AJ had an inflated sense of self that made it impossible to be around her.
"It just happened."
"Did you cheat on me?"
"No!" He answered defensively. "That's why I'm coming to you now. I don't want to cheat on you."
"Well, that's something, isn't it?" Kayley tried to laugh.
"I wouldn't do that to you."
"I love you, Phil." Kayley pleaded with him. The desperation was apparent in her voice, but she couldn't leave it unsaid. He was quiet for a few minutes. "Tell me you don't love me, Phil." As his jaw clenched he looked as if he was trying to say something, but couldn't. "You do."
"I'm sorry, Kayley."
Present Day
"Kayley?" Nicole's voice called bringing her away from a bad memory.
"Huh?"
"Where did you go just now?" Nicole asked. Rami was chowing away on some Lo Mein and Nicole's eyes were firmly fixed on her best friend.
"Just... memories."
"Kayley, I'm going to ask something that I am positive is going to piss you off." The Diva's brown eyes focused on her friend. "Have you been drinking?"
"No."
"Really?"
"Nicole. Seriously. I haven't touched a drop since that night. Okay?" Nicole nodded and took another bite of dumpling. A few weeks after Punk and AJ announced their engagement Nicole had come over to find Kayley completely smashed out of her mind, an empty bottle of Fireball, next to her. She was in the hospital for two days.
"I had to ask."
"No, no you didn't." Kayley answered with a sigh. "I should go."
"Please don't." Nicole answered, setting her plate on the table in front of the couch. "I'm sorry, I'm just worried about you."
"I'll be fine. I want to sleep anyway, plus I might give Chris a call." Nicole knew she was lying through her teeth, but she couldn't stop her.
"If you need anything, please just text or something?"
"I will." The two girls hugged. "See you, Rami."
"Merry Christmas, Kayley." With a nod to both of them she left the house, still expecting to feel a chill, but only coming across a wave of heat. Her house was dark when she arrived and splinter chirped, wanting his night-time kibble. She quickly filled his bowl and retreated into her room. After taking off her over-shirt revealing a blue tank-top, she headed to her top dresser drawer. Pushing aside copious amounts of socks she retrieved a black velvet box that she hadn't opened in our a year and a half. Pulling it out, she sat on the edge of her bed and took a deep breath before opening the box. Phil had talked to Beth and Melina about the actual ring. Not only was it going to be her engagement ring, an extra part hooked on to become her whole wedding band. She tried to give it back to Phil the day she moved the last boxes out of their house, but he asked her to keep it. That was the last time she felt his touch, his hand holding hers before she left Chicago for good. The only times she had been back was purely for work and on those nights she would get so quiet no one, not even Nicole, would talk to her. After throwing the box back into the dresser she slammed the drawer shut, the sound echoing throughout her room.
"'And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse.'" Chevy Chase's character, Clark, screamed at his family. Beside Nicole, Rami was shaking with laughter, Bertie happily curled up at his feet. His arm wrapped tightly around her as he kissed her temple.
"Thanks for agreeing to this." Nicole looked at him quizzically. "I know we haven't been together that long, but I am really glad I'm here."
"I'm really glad you're here too." He kissed her softly, but she quickly pulled away with a mischievous grin. "So, what did you get me for Christmas?"
"I can't tell you that."
"Aww, come on. Please?" She stuck out her bottom lip.
"Well, what did you get me?"
"Rami, that is not how this works."
"I'll make a deal with you."
"I'm listening."
"If you kiss me, right now, you can open one of your presents tonight. How does that s-" He didn't get a chance to finish his sentence as she pushed herself towards him, their lips crashing together passionately. After a few moments she pulled away. "That... That was great." His pupils were wide with lust and he was wearing a playful smile.
"Of course it was." Nicole answered. "So, when can I open my present?" The song "Don't Worry Baby" by The Beach Boys blasted through the room, making both of them jump. Nicole picked up her phone and looked at the unrecognized number.
"Who is it?" Rami asked.
"I'm not sure. Pause the movie?" He did quickly before she answered. "Hello?"
"Hi, Nicole." Her blood almost boiled.
"You must have lost your damn mind calling me."
"I know, I just..." Punk was at a loss for words. "After I saw her today-"
"You saw her today?" Nicole asked, but suddenly everything made sense.
"Yeah, I was at training when she came in."
"What did you do?"
"She asked me some questions that aren't easy to answer. I just tried to talk to her."
"You okay?" Rami's voice was concerned. Nicole nodded in response.
"What, exactly, do you want, Phil?"
"I know she lives near you. I was wondering if you could tell me where?" Nicole was quiet for a few seconds.
"At the risk of repeating myself... You must have lost your damn mind." Phil let out a frustrated sigh. "I was there after what you did, Phil. You should never speak to her unless she talks to you first, oh and bow down every time you see her. Because you should be grateful that she didn't kill you or or let one of us do it!"
"I'm sorry." His voice was defeated and it cooled off some of Nicole's anger. "I could say it a million different times in a million different ways. I cant begin to explain how sorry I am, and I know it's going to take me a long time to make it up to everyone what I did."
"Well... That was a good start." She heard him laugh softly. "I just can't tell you where she lives. Kayley is a friend of mine, a close friend. If she's not ready to talk to you then she's not ready."
"She keeps running away or hanging up."
"What are you getting at with her?" Nicole felt like she had to ask. "Are you trying to get her back?"
"Ideally."
"Phil..."
"I can't help how I feel, Nicole. However, right now, I just want to talk to her. Build up the friendship again."
"You know you two. Either you guys were always hot or always cold. A fine line between hate and love."
"I've never hated her." The annoyance in his voice was present.
"It's a figure of speech, Phil."
"Come on, Nicole. I don't want to hurt her, I just need to see if she'll listen to me."
"And if she slams the door in your face?"
"Then I won't go back. I won't call or text her. I will wait for when she wants to talk to me." Nicole sighed and took a few deep breaths.
"If I regret this, I'll kick you in the balls."
