Chapter 9: Bad History
AJ was shaken from her conversation with Orton. She really wasn't sure if he'd really hurt her or if he was just spewing crap but regardless she realized now the rumors were true- Randy Orton was cruel and dangerous. She ducked out of the arena unnoticed by most of the staff and drove back to the hotel. She called Punk as soon as she arrived and spoke to him until she drifted off to sleep.
The next day she drove to Smackdown and didn't even bother checking into a hotel. She was flying out tonight to Chicago anyway so there was no point. She was getting her neck looked over again when Mark from creative came in.
"AJ how are you feeling?" Mark asked her and she plastered on a smile
"I'm good" She said to him surely "So is that my script for tonight?"
"You're not going to be featured tonight" Mark said to her and she frowned "We really want to work this injury angle last night. And I must say we were all very impressed by you last night. It's like you really had no idea it was coming"
"Yea" AJ forced out "So what about this week?"
"You can still come to the shows but like I said we're working this angle. Randy is going to be coming out and apologizing tonight and asking for you to come back which you will on Monday" Mark said to her and she nodded slightly "We're thinking of having you playing hard to get. We don't want to copy your angle with Daniel from a few years back. So we're thinking you'll pop up give him a hard time and at the next pay-per-view rejoin him"
"Ok sounds better than the Daniel angle already" AJ smirked rubbing her neck
"How is your neck?" Mark asked concerned
"It's ok just sore" AJ admitted
"Don't get me wrong we think it looked great last night but don't put your body on the line like that to sell a story" Mark scolded lightly "I'll see you Monday AJ"
"Wait Mark" she said stopping before he could leave "If I'm not going on tonight do you think anyone would mind if I left a little early?"
"No that shouldn't be a problem" Mark said to her with a shrug "Enjoy your week off. I know you were sick last week so maybe this one you could actually have a little fun"
"Right" AJ said trying to hide her smile
AJ was walking towards the exit doors with her bag slung over her shoulder when she heard Paul Heyman calling for her.
"AJ wait!" Paul yelled racing up to her "What's going on? Are you going home again?"
"It's just to work the story" AJ said to him "But it is another week with no pay"
"Got to love budget cuts" Paul frowned "I meant to ask how you were feeling"
"I'm ok" AJ said to him
"You raced out of here very quickly last night" Paul noted "Are you sure everything is ok?"
"Randy came in to talk to me last night" AJ admitted
"And what did he have to say for himself? I hope 'I'm sorry' was at the top of his list" Paul questioned
"No" AJ said shaking her head "He's not a very apologetic person" she pointed out
"Yea so I've learned over the years" Paul snorted "Do you want to tell me what he said?"
"No" she said honestly "It's probably best I don't tell anyone"
"Even me?" Paul questioned with a laugh
"I'm sure you're under strict instructions to report anything you hear back to Punk" AJ noted
"Guilty" Paul replied with a grin "So I'm guessing you're not going to tell him either?"
"I will" AJ said to him "I'm actually catching a flight to Chicago"
"Oh you're surprising him early?" Paul asked and she smiled
"Yea. I hope he won't mind" AJ said to him
"Trust me I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see you" Paul noted knowingly "Are you sure you don't want to run by what Randy said to you first to me?"
"Do you promise not to tell him? Because I am I just would rather do it in person" AJ asked
"As long as you tell him there's no problem" Paul assured her
"Last week when Randy came to my house Punk made some sort of comment about getting in touch with Samantha" AJ told him and Paul's face fell
"He went there huh?" Paul asked and AJ just nodded
"He told me that if Punk ever says her name again that next time he'll break my neck" AJ said to him and now Paul looked worried
"Interesting" Paul mustered
"You don't think he'd really break my neck right?" AJ asked hopefully
"Of course not" Paul smiled placing his hand on her shoulder "He's not a killer he's a wrestler."
"I'm just a little worried because I have to trust to work with him a lot" AJ admitted and Paul nodded "I mean if I can't trust the guy whose supposed to have my back who can I trust?"
"Randy isn't going to hurt you" Paul assured her "Trust me he values his big paychecks too much. I just wish he wasn't in so tight with the COO so you could file a compliant"
"No complaints" AJ said seriously "I think in enough time this could die down"
"Oh sweetheart" Paul laughed slightly "When Punk hears that little comment things will only be starting"
"So I shouldn't tell him?" AJ asked him
"No you have to tell him" Paul said to her "Unfortunately this has nothing to do with you, you're just an innocent bystander. If Randy couldn't use you to get to Punk then he would have found another way"
"Why is there so much animosity between the two of them?" AJ asked him
"Part of it is professional jealousy" Paul said to her "But it's also very personal"
"How so?" she asked
"That's a question you should really ask him" Paul said to her
"I think I will" AJ said firmly "I need to get going I don't want to miss my flight"
"Have a safe trip AJ" Paul said opening the door for her "Also try to put your mind at ease. You're going to be fine"
"Thanks Paul" she forced out then walked away
"Shit is about to hit the fan" Paul muttered as the petite Diva walk away
Punk had spent most of Tuesday out with some old buddies. He really missed being able to do whatever he wanted to do when he wanted. He was finally starting to enjoy his time away from the company a little bit but there was this feeling in the pit of his stomach and he knew the cause of it- AJ. He wished she was able to join him on his hiatus but he remained in constant in touch with her so that was the only positive. He had thought he had seen AJ a hundred times today. Once at the park, another time jogging down his street and even when he got home at around one in the morning he thought he had seen her sitting on his front steps. Once he got closer to the house he realized his imagination wasn't playing tricks on him.
"AJ?" he asked causing her to look up from her game
"Hey" She smiled standing up while placing the DS into her batman bag "Surprise!"
"Yes it certainly is" Punk said still in shock as he walked up the stairs and properly greeted her. He gave her a short but sweet kiss. "What are you doing here?"
"I didn't have to work tonight so I thought I'd just take an earlier flight. I didn't take into account that you'd actually be out" AJ admitted with a laugh
"Why didn't you call me?" he asked unlocking his door and leading her inside
"I wanted to surprise you duh" AJ teased
"It's one in the morning how long have you been waiting?" Punk asked turning on the light and tossing his keys onto the nearest table
"Only about an hour" she shrugged then looked around "Wow your place is beautiful"
"Thanks" he smirked "You took a cab here?"
"Yea" she said to him
"I wish you would have just called me. I would have picked you up" he said removing his hoodie
"I'm a grown woman Punk" AJ reminded him as she looked towards at his massive collection of DVD's. He just smiled at the comment as he studied her from behind
"Oh I know that" Punk remarked slyly. He walked over to the DVD collection and pulled a DVD out. "Just as I promised" he said passing her the Batman DVD she had to give back to Trent
"How about I keep it here?" AJ asked him holding the DVD "This way I have an excuse to drop by whenever I want"
"You don't need an excuse" Punk told her seriously "You're welcome here whenever you want"
"Cool" she smiled
"So how's the neck?" he asked her running his hand gently over it
"It's still a little sore" AJ admitted "I think I need to go for a massage"
"It's your lucky night because I will do it for you" Punk said to her
"A free massage? I'm in" AJ grinned
"I didn't say anything about free" Punk reminded her
"If you're not tired could we maybe pop this DVD in and you can rub my neck for me?" she asked hopefully
"Absolutely" he said to her taking the DVD from her hand "I'll give you the tour, bring your stuff upstairs and then we can stay up and watch Batman" he loved the sound of that actually.
"Great" she said to him
After giving AJ the grand tour they curled up on the couch under a blanket and put on the movie. The only light in the entire townhouse came from the large TV and he was using one hand to rub circular motions around her neck which AJ had to admit felt so good. She was completely enthralled with the movie and he couldn't help but watch her as she watched the movie. She took the film very seriously just as he did. He decided right then and there he could stay like this with her forever.
AJ on the other hand was enjoying the movie but her mind was elsewhere. She knew she had to tell Punk about Randy and she also wanted some answers but she was procrastinating. She kept her eyes locked on the movie hoping he wouldn't bring up Randy so she could avoid this at least until the end of the movie. Once the film was over and the credits rolled she didn't even move to sit up.
"Come on it's like four in the morning" Punk smirked knowing she was awake "Let's go to bed"
"I'm so comfy here though" AJ argued lightly staying curled against him so he also couldn't move. "This couch is more comfortable then my bed"
"Well my bed is ten times more comfortable then the couch if that entices you at all" Punk said to her
"Not so much" AJ said with a yawn
"Come on" he laughed trying to move her but again she wouldn't move
"I need to tell you something" AJ said to him and he stopped moving and she could feel his body tense
"Can it wait until morning?" Punk asked her
"I won't be able to sleep if I don't tell you now" AJ admitted "Promise you won't be mad at me"
"Oh boy" Punk mumbled "I feel like every time you ask me not to be mad I end up mad. Is this about Randy?"
"Yes" she admitted still not looking at him
"Tell me AJ" Punk said with an annoyed sigh. He hated that Randy was going to ruin this so far seemingly perfect night.
"I'll tell you if you tell me why you two hate each other so much" AJ said while her head remained against his chest. He looked down at her in confusion
"There's really not much of a story" Punk said to her
"Are you sure about that?" AJ asked moving her head so she was looking at him finally but not removing herself from him
"After Maria and I broke up I found out she slept him" Punk admitted "Randy was the big shot backstage even back then and I hated him as it was. He thought he was untouchable and then to hear he was with someone that I-" he stopped himself short of saying 'loved' "- cared about it made me a little crazy."
"Did you confront him about it?" AJ asked him
"I did and we ended up in a brawl that Dave broke up" Punk said to her referring to Batista "After that little altercation I ended up doing a lot more shit matches for a long time."
"So that's it?" AJ asked "I mean I know why you would be upset about it but how does the explain why he hates you so much?"
"I really don't want to rehash the past right now" Punk groaned "Just tell me what he said"
"As soon as you finish your story" AJ said to him "What did you do to him?"
"Before he got with Samantha he tried to get Amy" Punk said to her "I ended up with her instead" he said simply "He didn't like losing a girl like Amy to a guy like me"
"Oh" She said. She wasn't thrilled all of their bad tension was over two women Punk had loved previously but she didn't let it bother her or at least tried not to.
"So I've told you my story so now you tell me yours" Punk said and that's when she sat up slightly to look him in the eyes
"He wanted me to give you a message" AJ said to him and she saw him smile
"I'm sure it's a great one" Punk mocked "What did he say?"
"He said if you ever mention Samantha's name again-" she stopped herself "Did you ever sleep with Samantha?" she asked curiously
"No" Punk said seriously "I barely even know her. I just knew commenting about her would piss him off" he smirked
"Well it worked because he said next time you mention her he's going to break my neck" AJ told him and she noticed Punk's face didn't even change. Maybe it wasn't a big deal? She thought to herself
"Is that exactly how he said?" Punk asked her coolly
"He said 'next time I'll break your fucking neck'" she repeated and he just nodded "Why aren't you saying anything?" she asked after a moment of silence
"I'm just trying to wonder where Orton gets his balls to say something like that to you" Punk said biting on his lower lip
"Are you angry?" she asked and he just nodded "Is that why you're not saying much?" he again nodded "We were having such a good night and when I told Paul he said-"
"Paul knew about this?" Punk demanded
"I just mentioned it as I was leaving earlier. I told him I was flying out today and I'd tell you myself" AJ said to him
"Did anyone else hear it?" Punk asked
"No we were alone" AJ said to him
"Alone?" Punk asked now feeling his anger rise
"Not on his bus or anything. He kicked the doctor out of the training room" AJ said to him
"I've been trying to get in touch with him since last night" Punk admitted "He won't take any of my calls. I guess I'll just have to make a personal visit"
"No you're just going to escalate this entire situation" She said seriously
"Well what am I supposed to do?" Punk asked her "Let him think it's ok for him threaten you like that? It's not ok AJ"
"Let me handle it" AJ encouraged
"This spat between us isn't even about you" Punk said to her "He caught me leaving your room and knew how important were to me- he saw it as an easy in to get to me and he was right"
"I shouldn't have told you" she sighed
"No you should have told me" Punk said firmly "Actually you should have told me last night after we spoke and I specifically asked you if he said anything to you"
"I was scared Phil" she said almost desperately hoping he wouldn't stay angry at her. And there she went dropping his real name again. "No one has ever threatened me like that before"
"You were scared of Orton?" Punk asked and she just nodded. Now he was angrier then before
"Honestly I was thrilled when I was told I didn't need to be at SmackDown or the events this week" she admitted "I mean I know he isn't really going to break my neck but in the moment last night he was so angry at me"
"You don't have to be scared of Orton" Punk said to her confidently
"I know" she sighed
"I'm going to fix this" Punk assured her "And I'm most certainly not going to let him touch you."
"I know" she said to him softly and reached down and kissed her lips
"I'm sorry he's giving you such a hard time and making work impossible for you" he apologized "Like I said this is all past shit with me he's bringing up and I won't let him take it out on you"
"But what he's doing is working" AJ said to him "Your face is all red"
"What does that have to do with anything?" Punk asked
"You're angry and right now I think I know you well enough to know that you're planning on showing up backstage Monday or hell even drop by at a house show to have words with him and by words you mean a fight" she informed him. It was almost scary how well she knew him "Then you think you'll beat him into being nice to me and all will be forgotten but you know that's not going to happen, right?" she asked but remained silent "If you feed into it you'll just be encouraging him"
"But I also can't ignore it" Punk defended "It's one thing to hurt you in the ring and not keep you informed on scripts but it's a whole other thing if he's going to lock himself in a room with you to threaten yourself"
"Why can't you just ignore it?" she almost pleaded
"Because you're AJ" Punk said to her seriously and she looked confused "You're mine and I can't have other guys think it's ok to mistreat you"
"I'm yours?" she asked teasingly
"Yea" he said softly tucking a strand behind her ears and looked at her adorable hopeful face "You've been mine for a long time and unfortunately stupid weak minded people will pounce on something like that to get to me"
"It just feels weird that you two have been fighting over women for years" AJ said to him "I don't think he wants me like he wanted Maria or Amy"
"Of course he does that's why he tried to sleep with you on his bus" Punk said bitterly "And you're not just a woman to me, you're not like them" he said to her seriously "And that's what Randy doesn't realize. I'm not going to roll over like I did with Maria. You're way to important to me"
"I really like you" AJ said softly gazing into his eyes. His words just worked her up and made her melt almost- something that she thought was impossible. She knew she loved him she just didn't think now was the right time to tell him.
"I like you too" he laughed at there almost childish tiptoeing around they were doing. "Now let's get you upstairs because you can barely keep those pretty eyes opened"
"Ok" she yawned standing up and he followed suit "Can we sleep in tomorrow?" she asked hopefully
"Yea" he smirked grabbing her hand and leading her up the stairs.