Chapter 3: Friends Forever
The next morning AJ woke up in the tight embrace of Punk. She was not in the position she fell asleep in she was now facing him and curled into him. She quickly jumped out of the bed starling him in the process. He still couldn't help but chuckle by how afraid she was to be so close to him. He brushed it off and took her to the diner across the street from the arena for breakfast.
"What if someone sees us?" AJ whispered across the table to Punk
"We're two friends having breakfast" Punk said taking a big bite out of his pancakes "You need to relax. We are friends right?"
"Of course we are" she said almost defensively
"So chill out" Punk smirked
"So do you have any definite plans for your time away?" AJ asked trying to make small talk
"Nothing set in stone" he shrugged "I'm going to be traveling probably to LA, Atlanta maybe even New York for a bit" he added Atlanta casually but she heard it and chose to ignore it.
"Cool" AJ said to him
"I'm going to be back" Punk reminded her with a grin
"What if you realize how much happier you are being away and stay gone?" she asked seriously
"I wouldn't leave you behind" Punk assured her
"I know" she said quietly
"I'm not like them AJ" Punk said to her seriously
"Like who?" she asked curiously
"Everyone else in your life" he said to her "I'm not going to love you and leave you. Once you're in my life you're there for good whether you like or not"
"I know" she said trying to hide her smile
Once they arrived to the next house show together they headed over for a production meeting where whoever was running show gave them the rundown. Punk and AJ always hung out during these meetings. Punk would usually mock whoever was giving the meeting and AJ would start laughing hysterically. Randy smirked as he eyed the two out of the corner of his eye. Once the meeting was over Punk began to walk away from AJ who was seated on a crate and Randy made his way over.
"AJ Lee" Randy boomed with a smile. Punk couldn't help but turn his head at the sound of someone saying her name
"Hi" she said almost nervously. She knew he wasn't the friendliest guy but he was never outwardly nasty to her at least.
"I was just standing over there wondering why we've never spoken before" Randy said with a laugh and he could see out of the corner of his own eye Punk was watching him as well.
"I don't know" AJ shrugged "We're both busy I guess"
"Well that should end now" Randy said to her "I've kind of been a jerk back here and I'm working on getting to know everyone better"
"Cool" she said with a forced smile
"So how about tomorrow before Raw you join me for lunch?" Randy asked and she looked very surprised. Randy was very well respected backstage and she didn't want to upset him in any way.
"That sounds nice" she forced out with a phony smile
"Great I'll see you at the arena tomorrow and we'll hook up there" Randy grinned. He then passed by Punk who was looking down at his phone.
"Phillip" Randy smirked smugly as he passed him. Punk didn't even respond and when AJ looked over she could see his displeased face but she didn't have time for all. She just hopped off the crate and avoided Punk's gaze and headed down the hall.
AJ didn't make it far when she felt a hand wrap around her upper arm.
"Hey can I have a word with you?" Punk asked quietly
"I don't really have time" AJ said trying to rush past him
"It won't take long" he assured her. She gave in and headed into an empty office.
"What's up?" AJ asked him
"What was that with Randy?" Punk asked closing the door behind him
"He asked me to lunch what was I supposed to say?" AJ defended
"How about 'no'?" he mocked
"There is a list of guys that you don't want to piss off back here and at the top of that list is Randy Orton" AJ informed him as Punk just made a face "Don't do that" she warned "You don't know what it's like to be a Diva back here. Step on the wrong toes and I'm done"
"You think I would let that happen to you?" Punk asked surprised
"You're going to be gone" AJ pointed out
"So you're going to date him out of fear?" Punk asked surprised
"I'm not dating him I'm going to lunch" AJ said to him "It's just lunch. I go to lunch with a lot of people here"
"He's not looking for an innocent lunch here" Punk said to her "I know him. He's not nice to anyone without a motive"
"I can take care of myself" AJ said to him "Besides its just lunch"
"I don't want you to go" Punk said to her seriously and she would have laughed at the statement if he wasn't so serious about it.
"Ok" she said unsurely "You expect me not to go because you say so?"
"Yea" Punk said realizing he was wrong but it was worth a shot.
"You're not my boyfriend" AJ reminded him "I can go out with other guys"
"So it is a date!" Punk said quickly pointing at her and she rolled her eyes
"It's not a date!" AJ laughed "It's lunch between a clearly lonely guy and I can use a new friend back here"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Punk asked placing his hands on his hips "Is that a dig at me for leaving?"
"No" she said to him "It just means I can use a few more that's all. You can't be my only friend"
"Dolph is your friend go to lunch with him" Punk suggested "I wouldn't mind that"
"Why is this bothering you so much?" she asked with a sigh
"I don't like the guy" Punk informed her honestly "And he doesn't like me. I don't know why he feels the need to buddy up to you knowing you're my friend"
"Maybe because I usually work all the same shows as him?" AJ laughed "You're reading way too much into this. And he's friends with Amy you don't mind that"
"She doesn't go to lunch with him" Punk shot back
"Amy is flying in tomorrow just worry about that and I'll take care of me, ok?" AJ asked him but he still didn't seem pleased
"If he tries anything with you I want you to tell me" Punk warned her
"So what if he did?" AJ asked him "What makes you think I wouldn't welcome it?"
"Because I know your type and Randall Orton isn't your type" Punk smirked smugly
"Leave it alone" AJ said to him seriously "Don't say anything to him just stay out of it"
"You're my friend, I can't be concerned?" Punk asked innocently
"We're not friends" AJ said almost bitterly surprising him "Say it all you want and I can say it all I want but we both know we're not friends and honestly being friends with you hurts me."
"I thought we were cool AJ" Punk noted
"We are but we can't pretend the last few months didn't happen. Maybe you can but I can't" AJ said to him "I need new friends I need a distraction"
"Randy isn't the way to go about it" Punk informed her "If you don't want to be friends fine. You can pretend we don't have this great connection and ignore me and make all of the friends you want in the world but don't hang around guys like him and don't think I'm just going to sit back and watch someone like Randy Orton take advantage of you because you're a woman and up and coming in the company"
"If you say something to happen it will draw attention to us and we can't have that" AJ reminded him firmly "Just stay out of it"
"Fine" Punk said to her "Sorry I cared" he said then walked out of the office. AJ didn't even realize she was crying once the door slammed shut. She reached into her phone and texted a number and a moment later Celeste was in the office.
"Oh AJ" Celeste frowned upon seeing her friend crying in a chair. "What happened?" she asked hugging her "Was it Trent again?"
"No" AJ admitted and Celeste knew what she was upset about "You were right"
"Now isn't the time for me to say 'I told you so'" Celeste assured her "You want to tell me about it?"
"No" AJ said to her "I just want to sit in here and cry until I can't anymore"
"I'm pretty sure you have to work tonight" Celeste teased "Is it over?" she asked and she knew AJ would know she was referring to Punk
"Yea" AJ admitted
"It's going to be ok" Celeste soothed.
"It hurts so bad" AJ sobbed out. Neither girl noticed Punk had walked back into the office but when he heard another voice in there with AJ he quietly stepped out leaving the door on a crack. He hated seeing AJ that way just like he hated seeing Amy cry the other night as well. He rested his head against the doorframe and just listened as AJ cried openly to her friend and knowing he was the reason for it drove him mad. Being with her was selfish and he knew either her or Amy would be hurt or even both. He hated to see her cry and he remembered the first time he had come across her crying…
NXT was filmed before Raw and he didn't follow the show. He had zero interest in NXT or another new Diva who would just wanted to be there for the fame. He did though take a liking AJ. He had seen her backstage a couple of times and they would talk about video games and comics and he even promised to make sure she was taken care of when she won because he was sure no one else would win over her. She had something the others didn't and that was pure passion for the business.
He was surprised when he turned the corner and saw the petite Diva sitting in the loading area wiping her tears away. He was never the type to stop or care but there was something about her that he was just drawn to.
"Boyfriend trouble?" Punk teased causing her to look up and she quickly tried to wipe her eyes. He himself was done for the night so stopping to talk to her might kill some time.
"What boyfriend?" AJ mocked
"Don't you date that little guy?" Punk asked seriously "Trent something? I think I saw him around the hall you want me to get him?"
"No" AJ said quickly
"What's wrong seriously?" he asked her
"You didn't see the show?" AJ asked him
"Honestly NXT really isn't my thing" he admitted with a smirk
"Well it isn't mine either apparently" AJ said to him "I got voted off tonight"
"No way" he said seriously
"Yes way" She countered "I was so close"
"You're not going anywhere" Punk said to her seriously "You've got talent they can see that."
"I don't know" AJ said shaking her head "I think I'm done. Well at least that's what Trent thinks"
"You've got a bitter boyfriend who is upset because he can't even make the dark matches" Punk scoffed
"He's not my boyfriend" AJ reminded him again
"So there you have it. A bitter jealous ex-boyfriend" Punk shrugged "You'll be fine"
"Thanks" she said and he realized he hadn't helped much
"Do you want to come back to my bus?" Punk asked her "I've got the new Grand Theft Auto game and I'm stuck"
"Really?" she asked smiling and even Punk's hard and cold heart melted at the sight of her tear stained cheeks but warm smile
"Yea" he offered "Come on" he said nodding for her to follow him
"Why are you so nice to me?" AJ asked him
"Because I like you" Punk shrugged simply as they walked out the backdoor of the arena together "You heard about what an asshole I can be huh?"
"Yea but I'm not much of a gossiper" AJ admitted
"It's better to stay that way" Punk said as they reached his bus and stepped on
"Wow" AJ said in awe "This place is huge"
"My first big check I ever got I bought this bus" Punk informed her proudly
"It's bigger than my entire apartment" AJ admitted glancing around
"You must have a crappy apartment" Punk replied bluntly
"It's not great but its home" AJ said to him "It's the biggest home I ever had actually"
"Seriously?" Punk asked surprised
"I kind of grew up in motel rooms and cars" AJ admitted shyly
"Yet you still put yourself through wrestling school" Punk noted proudly
"I did" AJ said with a warm smile "It's all I ever wanted. I worked some crappy jobs to get to this point and now it's over"
"It's not over" Punk said seriously "Your hard work shows trust me" he said to her
"I appreciate you saying that because I value your opinion more than you could ever know" AJ admitted
"Really?" Punk grinned smugly
"I was a big Ring Of Honor fan" AJ said to him "I've seen some of your matches with Raven personally"
"Well you're just full of surprises" Punk smiled "AJ you've got this don't worry. No matter who wins that crappy contest you're the one the people want to see. You're the one I want to see"
"Thanks" she said to him
"I mean it AJ I saw you down in FCW. I was there with Serena and watched her wrestle you, you were fantastic" Punk said to her "You're going to go far kid"
"Kid" AJ smirked
"You are like what? 12, 13 years old?" he teased in a serious voice and she playfully hit his arm
"I'm legal mister" AJ scolded lightly
"Good because I don't want to get arrested for having you alone on my bus" Punk mocked
"What do you think I could have done differently?" AJ asked him
"Nothing" Punk said to her "You were yourself and that's why it was so real"
"Maybe if I had worn the heels or put on the extra makeup-" AJ started but Punk silenced her
"You don't need any makeup" Punk said seriously "You also don't need heels. You're perfect"
"Trent said-" AJ started
"-I know Trent" Punk laughed cutting her off "He's good friends with some of my friends and if I could be honest he's an idiot. Don't take wrestling tips from a guy who hasn't even had a real match"
"But he said if I would just put more effort into my appearance I could increase my votes" AJ said to him and Punk laughed
"I can see why he's your ex-boyfriend" Punk said still laughing
"It's not funny" AJ pouted stomping her foot "I think he was right"
"If NXT was a beauty contest you would have won hands down" Punk said kneeling down slightly so he was eye level with her "You're absolutely beautiful" he informed her and he could see her cheeks turning a bright shade of pink. He didn't know what possessed him to but he leaned in and kissed the petite girl. He assumed she would back away but instead she pulled him deeper into the kiss and before he knew it their tongues were battling and soon he his hands were wandering and he reached for her lower back and pressed her body into his. He was surprised by how aggressive she was when he felt her reaching for the hem of his shorts. He wanted nothing more than to take AJ to bed right here and right now but he liked her too much to hurt her and pulled away.
"I'm sorry" she said feeling embarrassed
"AJ it's not that" Punk said catching his breath "I'm not really a relationship guy. If you're looking for a good time trust me I'd be more than happy to cheer you up and make you forget about NXT but if you're looking for something more that's just not going to happen" he told her bluntly. He again was surprised when she smiled at him.
"I'm looking for a good time" AJ said to him and he smirked "But if-" she didn't even finish because Punk pulled her back into the kiss but this time pushed her onto the couch…
Punk smiled at the memory. AJ had always surprised him and she still constantly was. He wondered if that explained his draw to her after all of this time. When he told her that night he was just looking for fun and not a relationship he had no idea how those words would affect him years later. Him and AJ still lived by the motto only they had built a relationship. They were friends but they were lovers first. He truly did love her but he loved everyone close to him in his life he just hadn't realized how much he loved her. Seeing her cry like that made him want to punch whoever did this to her in the face but once he realized he was the reason for her sad state the best way to punish himself was to live with the guilt. But one thing was for sure- he was not going to let Randy take advantage of AJ like he had felt he done all those years ago to her. He was only going to be around for another week so he had to nip Randy's curiosity in AJ very quickly.