Disclaimer, etc., in part 1.
Part Twenty-Seven
She lifted the phone to her ear, answering the call only because she'd checked the caller ID and knew who it would be. "Hello?"
"How's Kelly doing?" the voice on the other end of the line asked, CM Punk not even bothering to identify himself before speaking. He knew she was aware of who was calling.
"Okay, I guess," Eve replied, glancing over to where Kelly sat at a table at the small cafe that she and Melina had taken the other diva to for a late breakfast... More of a brunch, actually. Eve had stepped away when her phone had started to ring and, from the knowing look that the blonde woman had sent her, it was all too obvious that Kelly knew exactly who was calling her. The look on Kelly's face made Eve all the happier that Melina had suggested that they go out to eat... And that Kelly hadn't known a polite way to refuse, so she'd instead agreed to it. Melina's presence meant that Kelly was leaving her alone about whatever her relationship with CM Punk happened to be... Occasionally flaky or not, Kelly knew better than to let more people in on that bit of information than she needed to. The more people that knew that Eve had something going on with Punk, the more likely it was that someone would let something slip and it would somehow get back to Jeff Hardy, something that would be very, very bad if they weren't ready for it.
"Is she out of the hospital yet?"
"All nice and released. Melina and I took her out for a late breakfast, actually. Or an early lunch. Whatever you want to call it. None of us have to be at RAW tonight, and our flights are late this afternoon, so we're kind of enjoying a little bit of a lazy time for now."
"Sounds fun."
"And probably completely boring to you."
"My opinion of it doesn't matter. And in fact, I'm glad you're out with friends. You haven't been doing that much lately," Punk said, then continued on before she could respond to that. "Trust me, Eve. I know. I know you spend time with Kelly, but if you're not with her, you're pretty much either alone, or with me. Not that I mind the part about you being with me. In fact, I like that part a lot. I just... Sometimes I worry that I'm keeping you from your friends or something."
"You're not doing that. Trust me. I'm spending time with you because I want to spend time with you. Or have you not noticed that little fact?" Eve questioned, smiling slightly as she spoke. As she glanced back at where Melina and Kelly were, she noticed that the older diva wasn't paying any attention to her, instead signing an autograph for a fan that had approached... But Kelly was looking over at her with a knowing smile. Eve rolled her eyes in response. "Kelly knows that you're the one I'm talking to."
"Good guess, or did she see the caller ID?"
"Oh, she just made a very good and very accurate guess. Melina was there, so I was careful to make sure that no one saw the caller ID," Eve replied, then continued before she could think better of it. "Of course, giving the look she's giving me at the moment, I wouldn't be surprised if Kelly thought we were having phone sex right now or something."
There was a slight catch in his breath at her comment, but when he spoke, he sounded more amused than anything else. "Really? Phone sex? Right there, out in the open and everything? You brazen hussy, you," he said, pausing for a moment before continuing. "So, what are you wearing?"
"Very cute. Very not funny. I should hang up on you right now."
"Well, try not and look all hot and bothered when you do, because Kelly would never believe we weren't having phone sex then," he told her calmly, and Eve rolled her eyes, fighting a smile.
"Can we stop talking about this?"
"You're the one that brought it up. Excuse me for finding the subject interesting," he told her, then sighed. "Okay, I'll be good."
"Sure you will. I really believe that," the diva replied, shaking her head slightly as she spoke. "What were we talking about before the conversation veered so far off course?" she wanted to know.
CM Punk laughed softly. "I have no idea. I'm a little distracted by the idea of what you're wearing at the moment."
"You shouldn't be. I'm out in public. I'm currently wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Not exactly sexy."
"I bet it is on you," he replied, then continued before she could reply. "Sorry. I'll behave myself now."
"You'll have to excuse me for not really believing that," Eve stated, then sighed. "The longer this conversation goes on, the more Kelly will grill me later."
"She really is quite nosy, isn't she?"
"I think she might be living vicariously through me at the moment. Also? She's currently injured, probably because Jeff pointed Maria in that direction, which I know isn't technically my fault, but I feel like it is," the woman said in a rush of words, then made a face, heaving out a sigh. "I really don't like Jeff Hardy."
"That makes two of us," the man replied. "He's going to pay for this, Eve. All of it. What he did to you... Leaving you on the damned side of the road, slapping you around... All of it. And he'll pay for pointing Maria in Kelly's direction. I'm going to make sure of that, Eve. You know that, don't you? That I'm going to make him pay?"
"I know it. But just so you know... I want a little payback of my own. You don't get to do it all."
"I'll hold him up while you kick him in the nuts a few times and slap him around. On top of that, maybe you'll get the chance to help me retain the title by attacking him. Not to mention the fact that even if he's using Maria... She's allowing herself to be used. And since I'm not Jeff Hardy and therefore don't attack women, then I'll be leaving that part of things to you."
"And I'll be taking care of that on Friday at SmackDown," Eve told him.
"I know you will. And if things were out in the open about us, I'd be walking you out for it and standing at ringside, cheering you on."
"I bet that would surprise a few people. The world heavyweight champion out there for a divas' match," the woman stated, and Punk gave a soft laugh.
"Who cares that I'm the champ? If I could be out there for you, I would." The man cleared his throat. "I should probably let you go now. You need to get back to Melina and Kelly. Try not to look all hot and bothered, 'cause you know Kelly will never believe we didn't have phone sex if you do."
"Very funny," the woman replied. "Um... Will I see you on Friday? I mean, aside from when you're on the show?" Eve asked, feeling a little awkward as she asked the question. She didn't want him to feel like he *had* to make it a point to see her or anything. Obviously she wanted to see him, but-
"If you text me your room number once you get to the hotel, I'll stop by. I have a signing earlier in the day, so... The first time we see each other might be at SmackDown, but I'll stop by that night after we're done with the show. We can try and hang out between live events, too. If you want."
"I'd like that," Eve said, turning her back on the table in the distance so that Kelly and Melina couldn't see her smiling. She knew Kelly would somehow manage to take it the wrong way. The girl seemed determined to make more of Eve and Punk's relationship than there currently was.
"So would I," Punk said, the man pausing for a moment before continuing to speak. "You know, we don't just have to see each other on the days we're working, you know."
"I... What are you... You want to... What exactly do you mean?"
"I mean... You live near Los Angeles, right?"
"Yeah. I went to USC, then stayed in the area after college."
"Well... I've got some media appearances - radio, signings, that sort of thing - in a couple of weeks. Out in LA and San Diego. So I was thinking... We should get together. Hang out at your place or something, with fewer worries that the wrong person would see us," he told her, and Eve found herself smiling again.
"That... That sounds like a really good idea."
"Good. Um... When we get together on Friday, I'll bring my media schedule so we can figure out when we can get together. As for now... I should probably let you go before Kelly gets too much of the wrong idea."
"I'm sure she already has one," Eve replied, drawing a laugh from the champion.
"Probably so. I'll see you on Friday. But I'll talk to you before then," CM Punk stated, the two of them ending the call, Eve keeping her back to where Kelly and Melina still sat at the table until she was sure that the smile was off of her face. Once that was done, she turned and headed back toward the table, slipping the phone into her purse as she did so. Melina, for her part, was polite and didn't ask any questions about the phone call, but Kelly just didn't have the same level of manners, the blonde sending Eve a knowing look as she spoke.
"Important phone call?" she questioned, her eyes flashing mischievously and, while Eve was glad that her injured friend felt good enough to smile and tease, she still kind of wished the woman would let it go for now.
"It was my mother," Eve lied without qualm, knowing that Kelly probably knew she was lying, but also knowing that with Melina there, Kelly wasn't going to call her on it. After all, even if she was nosy and occasionally a pain in the butt, Kelly knew how to keep her mouth shut about the important things. She hadn't said a word about what had happened with Jeff Hardy, even though Eve had told her everything. She wasn't going to spill the beans about Eve and CM Punk, either... Especially since she knew that spilling the beans could ruin any plans that Eve had to get back at Jeff for the things he'd done.
Kelly blinked. "Your mom?"
Eve nodded. "Mmm-hmm. She knew what happened last night. They didn't order the pay per view, but they saw the article on the WWE's website about what had happened to you, and she wanted to know if you were okay," the brunette said, and the truth was, her mother had asked her about Kelly's well-being. She'd just done it via text message earlier that morning rather than by a phone call just now.
"That was nice of your mom. To check on Kelly," Melina commented, then checked her watch, the older diva heaving out a sigh. "It looks like it's getting to be time. I know that I need to get to the airport before too long; I'm guessing the two of you do, too." She eyed Kelly. "Will you be okay to travel on your own?"
"Once I get my bags checked. I'll sweet talk someone into helping me once I get home. I'm sure I can find someone-"
"Just flutter your eyelashes, and the guys will come running," Melina told her, and Kelly gave a snorting laugh, then winced at the pain that caused her ribs.
"Thanks a lot. Anyway... I won't actually be at SmackDown on Friday or the live events. Mr. Long gave me the weekend off after what happened last night."
"How considerate of him. To give you the weekend off after one of your coworkers broke your freaking ribs."
"It's not like it was his fault," Kelly replied, the trio of divas rising to their feet as they spoke. Melina had already taken care of the bill, declaring that it was her treat. "He didn't know that Maria was going to go nuts and attack me."
"I'd still like to know why she went off like that," Melina said, not noticing the look that Kelly and Eve exchanged at that. Not telling Melina about what was going on kind of sucked and made them both feel bad, but still... The fewer people that knew the truth, the less likely it was that someone would let something slip before they were ready. And if Melina knew that Jeff was behind this - and what he'd done to Eve that had started it all - well... The woman had a temper, and she was likely to go off on him. They couldn't afford that just yet, so instead of giving an answer, Kelly just sort of shrugged.
"I guess we'll never know. Unless she tells us. Or unless Eve beats it out of her on Friday," the blonde said, and Melina gave a small smile.
"I'd pay to see that," the woman said, and Eve arched a brow.
"You don't have to. Because if you want, you can walk out there with me and have a ringside seat."