Chapter 8: Monday Night War
AJ was back to work that following Monday and she was already missing Punk terribly. They had never spent an entire week together and now that she did she was feeling an empty void as she wandered the halls alone. She had made plans to see fly out to Chicago on Tuesday night and stay with him at his place until she had to report to house shows that Saturday and she was a little nervous. She was going to be in a strange City, in a strange place but she knew Punk would take care of her.
She thankfully managed to convince him that she didn't need his bus and she would be fine flying by herself. The bus did sound nice but taking the bus was time consuming, flying was much easier and she wanted to spend more time with him. She wasn't sure it was even healthy how she thought about him constantly. She also knew not every week was going to be as perfect as last week, it was like they were living in their own bubble and no one could touch them. But she felt the shift once she entered the arena. She was back to being Randy Orton's onscreen girlfriend and trying to figure out the politics of the business on her own.
"Hello AJ" Paul Heyman grinned walking towards her
"Hi Paul" she said shyly
"Can I have a word?" he questioned and she just nodded and followed him off to the side "I'm going to be blunt I spoke to Punk last night and he's concerned about you. What you two do is your business and I'm not going to get involved but I want you to know that you have a friend in me. If you're asked to do something that you don't want to do or you feel you're being treated unfairly I want you to come to me" Paul instructed
"Thanks Paul" she said with a smile
"I mean it AJ. Punk was right, this place is a shark tank and if you don't know the right people you'll be swallowed whole. I had Punk's back in Louisville and I'm going to have yours now" Paul said seriously and she just nodded
"Thank you it means a lot to know I've got someone back here" AJ said to him
"It's not about how many people you know it's about who you know" Paul reminded her
"Are you feeling better?" Randy asked walking over towards the two "Hey Paul" he said nodding towards Paul who just nodded in response
"Yea I feel great" AJ mustered out as politely as possible
"I bet" he retorted with a laugh "Well when you're ready meet me back at my locker room and we'll go over the show tonight"
"Ok" She said then Randy walked away
"Be careful" Paul whispered to her and she nodded
"Punk has been prepping me" AJ laughed. He really had spent a lot of the week going over ways to avoid Orton and certain stories. He truly had a great mind when it came to the business and she was thrilled he shared some of that knowledge with her.
"Like I said he's concerned" Paul reminded her "Should he be?"
"No I think I've got a handle on all of this now" AJ said trying to sound confidant
"Good luck" Paul smiled warmly then walked away
After dropping her stuff off in her locker room she headed towards Randy's private locker room. She sucked in a breath before knocking loudly twice.
"It's about time" Randy said nodding for her to come inside. She could never get over the fact by how Randy's private dressing was ten times as nice as Punks. I guess being the boss's friend did have its perks. "Did Punk tell you dropped by your place?"
"Yes" She said folding her arms standing close to the door
"So I guess you two are back on huh?" Randy laughed reaching for a bottle of water "All of that 'we're over' bullshit really was just that"
"My personal life is my business" AJ defended
"You're wrong" Randy said to her "If your personal life starts to affect our working relationship it becomes my problem"
"We're working just fine" AJ said to him
"If your transgressions leak anywhere our story is going to look like bullshit" Randy spat
"Don't worry about Punk" AJ informed him "Just worry about your own job"
"Oh I am" Randy said to her "But getting back to Punk…" he trailed off causing AJ to roll her eyes "he made some sort of subtle threat against me the other night"
"Oh really?" AJ scoffed
"Yea he mentioned getting in touch with Samantha" Randy said to her "Talk to him. Tell him if he does-"
"-I'm not your middleman" AJ said interrupting him "I'm not going to trade off messages between the two of you"
"Speaking to Samantha will get him in a lot of trouble" Randy warned her in a low voice. Clearly Samantha was still a sore subject to Randy and Punk knew just that. "And I'm not talking about trouble at work. Unlike Punk I keep my personal life away from the business and that's on purpose"
"Look I don't know why you two hate each other so much and it's not my business" AJ informed him staying strong "If you have a problem with him talk to him"
"I'm not much of a talker" Randy said in an almost threatening voice "But I guess I'll just give him the message personally"
"I don't want to talk about this anymore" AJ said firmly "So what's the deal for tonight?" she asked him quickly hoping that would be enough to change the subject. He eyed her carefully then began to go over the plans for the evening.
AJ was getting the final touches put on her makeup when she heard her phone ringing.
"I have to take this" AJ said to the makeup artist
"We're done anyway" she smiled as AJ hopped off the chair
"Hey" AJ said in a cheery voice
"You sound good" Punk noted
"I'm feeling good" AJ said to him "I don't know exactly what you said to him the other night but he doesn't seem too focused on me"
"Good" Punk said calmly
"Not good. He's pretty mad at you. He didn't like what you said about Samantha" AJ warned him and she heard him laugh
"Poor baby" Punk mocked "All I said was I'd give her a call"
"Yea well he's pissed. He wanted me to give you a message but I told him I didn't want to be involved" AJ said to him
"Alright good. Let him focus on me for a little" Punk said to her
"Was that your plan?" AJ asked him
"It's all I had" Punk admitted "So what are you and the wonderful Orton doing tonight?"
"I'm costing him a match against Cena" She informed him "I feel like backtracked. I thought once this story with Dolph was over I'd finally get a chance to go for the title"
"You will" Punk assured her "You can't stay with Orton forever"
"I guess" she mumbled
"I really miss you" Punk admitted into the phone "I didn't sleep a wink last night"
"Me either" AJ admitted feeling her cheeks flush.
"I like having you next to me when I sleep" Punk informed her "You are very soothing for me"
"I've been called a lot of things in my life but never soothing" AJ joked with a small giggle "I'm excited to go to Chicago"
"I'm excited to have you here" Punk responded "I'm going to take you all around time"
"Really? Where?" she asked
"Cubs game is going to be our first stop" Punk informed her "Then we're going to go eat at one of my favorite spots"
"Ok that's day one" AJ said to him "What else?"
"I don't know yet we'll see how we're feeling when you get here" Punk said to her
"So what are you doing tonight?" AJ asked him
"Just sitting at home catching up on some shows I've missed" Punk shrugged
"Are you going to watch me tonight?" she asked hopefully
"Am I going to watch you flaunt around the ring with Orton?" Punk teased "I think I'll pass. I don't think my stomach could handle it"
"Seriously?" she asked disappointed
"What time are you going on?" Punk asked her
"Main event" AJ informed him
"Ok I'll make sure to tune in the last five minutes" Punk promised
"Fine" She groaned
"Don't worry I'll be back before you know it and I'll have to watch what you're doing" Punk assured her
"What if we're on opposite tours?" AJ asked him
"We'll still be together for Raw and Smackdown" Punk said brushing it off "Don't worry. As soon as I'm back you'll be sick of me soon"
"I doubt that" AJ grinned "I keep thinking about your cooking lesson"
"Did you enjoy dinner?" Punk teased
"I enjoyed the dessert" AJ said in a whisper
"I think I still have a mark on my ass" Punk said to her causing her to giggle
"You bite my ass all of the time" AJ defended
"So that was payback?" Punk asked
"Something like that" she teased
"We'll I know a little something about payback" Punk warned
"I'm looking forward to it" she said to him she looked over and saw one of the writers were waving her over "I've got to go but I'll call you when I get back to the hotel"
"Ok I'll talk to you soon" Punk said then waited for her to hang up.
Punk looked over to his side and he had forgotten he wasn't alone. Colt was sporting a borderline shocked and disgusted face.
"I don't know if I'm more surprised by the fact that you're actually dating again or the fact that you landed AJ or the fact that she bit your ass and you seem to have liked it" Colt said in shock
"Forgot you were there" Punk admitted feeling embarrassed "Sorry man"
"Dude when were you going to tell me about her?" Colt asked seriously
"I told you I was in Tampa with her" Punk reminded him
"Yea but you told me it was work related not some secret sex week" Colt laughed "You really moved on fast"
"I have to admit something" Punk said slowly "I've been with AJ"
"What do you mean?" Colt asked
"We've been together for a while now" Punk said to him
"How long is a while?" Colt asked surprised
"This go around? Since the Rumble" Punk admitted
"When you were with Amy?" Colt asked stunned
"I know it was a sucky thing to do" Punk groaned
"And what do you mean by this 'go around'?" Colt asked him "You two were totally fucking during that story with Bryan!"
"No we weren't actually" Punk said seriously "It was before that. When she was on NXT"
"Holy shit" Colt muttered "How could you not tell me this?"
"Because what AJ and I is special and I didn't want to broadcast. Also the fact that I was with Amy and she was with that other idiot kept our mouths shut" Punk said to him
"If this were to get out AJ might as well just paint an A on her chest" Colt pointed out seriously
"I know. I like her too much to see her go down for this" Punk said to him "But now that we're both technically free I'm not going to keep it from my friends or family"
"You seem happy" Colt noted
"I am" Punk confirmed "I like her a lot"
"I can see that" Colt smirked "I still think what you did to Amy sucked. Does she know?"
"She suspected it" Punk admitted "She also knew I was going to seek AJ out after we broke up. She took it better than I thought she would"
"Well when do I get to meet her?" Colt asked "I'd love to meet the little firecracker who bites your ass and puts a goofy smile on your face"
"Stop saying that" Punk warned "And do not mention that around her"
"Fine, fine" Colt laughed holding his hands in defeat "But seriously how is she?"
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Punk asked annoyed "I'm not discussing this with you. Besides it's not just about sex"
"Oh really" Colt laughed
"Really" Punk said proudly "AJ and I share something deeper than that. Something I've never shared with anyone"
"Oh is that a fact" Colt grinned
"This is why I didn't tell you" Punk said annoyed
"I didn't say anything" Colt laughed
"You think I'm crazy" Punk shot at him
"No I was thinking I haven't heard you this way with a woman since Maria" Colt said seriously. Maria was still a very touchy subject for Punk. "You really dig her huh?" Colt asked moving off of the Maria topic
"I really do" Punk said with a faint smile "It's like I crave her. When I was with Maria I loved her but I didn't have that empty feeling when she wasn't around. I've only been away from AJ for two days and I don't know what I'm going to do until I see her again"
"Make sure you're not getting too excited because this is new" Colt warned and Punk just glared at her "I just don't want to see you get hurt that's all"
"I'll be fine" Punk said to him
"So are you cool with this story she's working with Randy?" Colt asked him
"Nope" Punk said coolly as he cast his eyes back onto the TV screen
"Wow you really don't like it" Colt noted with a laugh "I know you two have this deep hate-"
"He forced her into this story because he hates me" Punk said to him
"Don't you think that's a little dramatic now?" Colt asked amused
"He told AJ that" Punk said to him "He blackmailed her"
"You're shitting me" Colt mumbled
"I shit you not" Punk said with a frustrated laugh
"She's screwed man" Colt said seriously "If he's seriously still pissed at you he's going to-"
"-I know he thinks" Punk said cutting him off "I'll take care of Randy"
"How are you going to do that?" Colt asked
"By keeping all of his anger directed at me" Punk said casually
"Great and when you're not there for him to take it on he'll just punish AJ" Colt said casually "Great plan" he mocked giving him a thumbs up
"She's going to stay neutral" Punk defended
"Yea Randy is a fair guy like that" Colt agreed mockingly
"He may not be fair but he's smart" Punk pointed out "He knows using AJ to get to me any further is only going to get him hurt in ways he never thought possible"
AJ just finished getting dressed and she was sporting a cutup version of Randy's shirt as she did most nights.
"Too bad you don't have your own shirt" Randy remarked coming up behind her as they waited for Cena to enter the ring first
"Yea" She mumbled annoyed
"I heard production on your shirt might be starting up again" Randy smirked
"Funny how things change over night" she remarked
"This business is a very fun place" Randy said with an agreeing nod "One day you're on top and people think you're untouchable the next day you're being handed your pink slip" he whispered into her ear "Your boy toy thinks he's untouchable"
"He sells more than you" AJ smirked proudly "You can't touch him here. If there's one thing the McMahon's love more than you is money and Punk brings it in"
"Yea he does" Randy agreed "I'm not talking about his job AJ" he smirked and before she could respond his music hit. "Go ahead skip your little heart away" he encouraged with a laugh waving her to go ahead of him.
The match went exactly as planned. AJ accidentally distracted Randy causing Cena to get a quick pin on him. AJ entered the ring as Cena left it quickly to apologize to Randy as she was scripted. Randy was supposed to turn his back on her and walk out of the ring and he did turn his back but in snake like fashion he jerked back quickly and RKO'd the small diva to the mat. There was a collective gasp in the audience and AJ was stunned by the action herself- not that she had much time to react to it. Randy stood over AJ as ref's and doctors came in to check on her.
"That's my message!" he yelled loud enough for the camera to pick it up.
Punk was sitting at home with Colt and watched the entire segment.
"Was that supposed to happen?" Colt asked him
"No" Punk said quietly trying to contain his anger "She told me she was going to distract Cena, Orton would be pissed and leave her in the ring crying."
"Maybe the script changed" Colt shrugged
"If this was supposed to happen AJ would have told me" Punk said to him "She didn't know that RKO was coming, she didn't even get into position for it. Do you know how bad that's got to hurt?"
"He said that was his message" Colt pointed out "Was that for you?"
"I'm assuming so" Punk said bitterly then reached for his phone
"I don't think she's going answer" Colt said to him
"I'm not calling her" Punk said "Paul it's me…yea I saw it- no I'm not going to do that. Just do me a favor and make sure she's ok…call me as soon as you talk to her and make sure she actually gets checked out don't let her sneak away her neck has got to be hurting…yes I know Paul" he groaned "…ok yea don't worry I won't" he then hung up and looked for another number in his phone
"Don't tell me you're calling me Orton" Colt said stunned
"Oh I'm calling him alright" Punk said bitterly as he pressed his phone to his ear but it went straight to voicemail "Fuck!" he yelled out throwing the phone across the room
"You should calm down" Colt insisted
"No I shouldn't" Punk spat "He might have really hurt her!"
"I'm sure she's in good hands" Colt argued
"No she's in Orton's hands" Punk groaned "You don't just do a finisher on someone without telling them how to take the bump especially a Diva. They need to know how to not take any of the blow!"
"Paul's there looking out for her" Colt pointed out
"She doesn't need Paul" Punk said annoyed
"And its you that she needs?" Colt questioned "I think you have that backwards. It's you that needs her" Punk wasn't sure how to respond but his phone ringing from across the room was ringing.
"Are you ok?" Punk asked into the phone knowing it was her
"Yea" She said slightly out of breath "My neck hurts a little"
"There is now way you've been checked out already" Punk said to her
"I'm waiting, I'm just icing my neck" AJ said to him "Apparently I didn't read the revised script- it's really not a big deal"
"Not a big deal?" Punk mocked "You're kidding me right? That's total bullshit"
"It's really ok I'm fine" AJ assured him
"I thought I had this under control" Punk said to her
"Just leave it alone for a little" AJ insisted
"Leaving it alone got you here" Punk pointed out "Just go get checked out by doc and call me when you get to the hotel"
"Alright" she whispered then hung up
"It's not her fault" Colt pointed out "No need to be so harsh with her"
"I know it's not her fault" Punk muttered "I didn't mean to come across as harsh"
"Well you did" Colt informed him "If you like her as much as you claim don't let Orton win"
"I'm not going to let him win" Punk said to him "I just have to figure out how I'm going to win"
"That's a scary thought" Colt admitted fearfully "So seriously what are you going to do?"
"I have no idea" Punk admitted quietly "If I push too far he's going to blow this for AJ but I have to do something"
"Tread carefully man" Colt suggested and Punk just nodded
AJ was getting looked over by the doctor when Randy stepped into the small office.
"She ok?" Randy asked
"Yea she's fine" the doctor told him
"Good" Randy nodded "Can I have a word with her?"
"Sure" The doctor said and AJ watched as he left the office
"I didn't miss any revisions" AJ spat "Why did you do that?"
"You didn't want to give Punk my message so I did" Randy said to her
"And what exactly was the message?" AJ asked him
"That if he ever mentions my wife's name again I'll break your fucking neck last time" Randy retorted coldly as he leaned in close to her face "You might want to pass that along"
AJ watched as Randy stormed out of the locker room and for the first time since working there AJ was actually afraid. She didn't think he'd actually break her neck...would he? And now she had to wonder if telling Punk was the way to go...