Chapter 18: The Face
AJ stepped out of the car and paid the cab driver, grabbed her purse and headed straight into the arena that was hosting Raw tonight. She didn't tell Punk she was coming because it was a last minute decision. She wanted to surprise him and she also didn't want to be alone. The more she remembered from that night the more frightened she got but she didn't want Punk to know that so hopefully he would buy the excuse.
She kept her sunglasses on as she ducked around the hallway, she didn't want to be spotted until she found Punk first but as luck would have it she was spotted- but the last person she wanted to be spotted by.
"AJ?" Randy asked surprised
"Hey Randy" she forced out placing her glasses on top of her head
"You look a lot better than you did a few weeks ago" Randy said seriously
"Gee thanks" AJ mustered
"Sorry it's just- it wasn't easy to see you like that" Randy admitted
"Yea" she said quietly "Thanks again for the flowers"
"No sweat" he said waving it off "So I'm assuming you're here to see Punk?"
"I am but he doesn't know I'm here, have you seen him?" AJ asked
"Yea he's in the locker room he just got here" Randy informed her "Want me to get him for you?"
"Yea I'd appreciate that" she forced out
"No problem" he said "No matter what bullshit has gone on between us I am happy you're ok and I am glad you're coming back" she could tell he was being genuine
"Thanks Randy" she smiled warmly then watched as he walked towards the locker room
"AJ" Amy said walking over to her and now AJ was surprised
"Hi Amy" She said trying to smile
"I wasn't expecting you tonight" Amy said still surprised to her ex's current love
"I work here" AJ reminded her with a forced smile "I should be the surprised one"
"Oh didn't Phil mention I was at the show last night?" Amy asked her
"No actually he didn't" AJ said to her
"Oh well I was" Amy shrugged "How are you feeling?"
"Great thanks" she said looking around and Amy noted it was almost the same thing Punk did to her the previous night. How annoying she thought to herself
"We have a lot to discuss" Amy said to her
"Excuse me?" AJ asked her
"Obviously I want to clear the air with you" Amy said to her "But clearly tonight wouldn't be the appropriate place"
"I don't think we have anything to discuss" AJ said coldly "Maybe you and Phil do"
"I'm trying to be nice April" Amy sighed "After everything you've been through-"
"I'd rather you be real with me then tiptoe around me" AJ shot right back at her surprising her "If you have something on your mind just say it"
"I'm not going to start a fight with you here" Amy laughed "That's just what I need 'big bad Amy picking on poor defenseless AJ'"
"I'm not defenseless" AJ defended locking eyes with Amy
"Sure you aren't" Amy smirked with a wink "And I'm sure you're not here right now because you were far too afraid to be away from your big bad protector"
"Actually I'm here because I miss my boyfriend" AJ said to her "Obviously you miss my boyfriend too" she shot back
"I've moved on AJ" Amy informed her slowly
"Have you?" AJ questioned
"I'm going to give you a tip AJ" Amy said in a low voice "Punk isn't like most men he's not in to the whole 'poor me' act that you have going on. It's actually going to annoy him- he prefers a woman who could handle herself not a little girl who gets her ass kicked."
"You don't know anything" AJ said to her
"I know enough to know that your little 'clinging' faze isn't going to get you far" Amy said to her "He doesn't like them clingy" she said eyeing AJ
"He doesn't complain when I'm clinging to his body at night" AJ replied smugly
"Hey" Punk said jogging over to the two. AJ turned and smiled at the sight of her boyfriend
"Hey Phil" Amy said but Punk kept his eyes locked on AJ
"This is a nice surprise" he smirked placing his arm around her shoulder and leading her away from Amy
"Two nights in a row" Randy laughed
"You again?" Amy asked annoyed
"I went to get Punk and we saw you two arguing I was hoping to catch a catfight" Randy remarked
"I would break her in half" Amy informed him
"What are you doing?" Randy asked his friend seriously
"What do you even care?" Amy asked him "Since when did you become such a supporter of them?"
"I'm not but AJ's been through-" Randy started but Amy couldn't hear it again and turned and stormed down the hall away from Randy
Punk led AJ into an empty room of the arena and closed the door behind him
"What's going on?" Punk asked still digesting seeing her here
"I wanted to see you" she said with a smile and shrug "You missed me right?"
"Of course" he said to her "I just wish you would have told me you were coming here"
"I wanted to surprise you" she said to him "I unpacked all night and was bored"
"I'm glad you're here" Punk assured her "So what was that with Amy?"
"She approached me" AJ defended "She asked how I was then said we had to have a talk"
"A talk?" Punk asked her
"I guess she wants to kick the crap out of me for stealing her boyfriend" AJ said to him
"Is that what she said?" Punk asked
"It's what I would do" AJ said to him "She said she was here last night too"
"She was" Punk said to her "She asked about you"
"Yea she asked how I was feeling then morphed into super bitch" AJ admitted
"I'll talk to her" Punk said to her
"Nah just leave it alone I really don't blame her" AJ said to him then smirked "I'd hate me too"
"She shouldn't be approaching you at all" Punk said to her seriously "She's a little off her game this really isn't like her"
"Just ignore it" AJ shrugged "I'm sure I'll have to deal with it at some point but I'd rather not tonight"
"You're planning on brawling with Amy?" Punk asked her
"If I have to" AJ said to him "It's a girl thing"
"Right" Punk said with a nervous laugh "Did you sleep at all last night?"
"Not really like I said I unpacked most of the night" AJ said to him "Did you?"
"Not really. I'm not used to sleeping without my tiny girlfriend drooling on my arm" Punk teased
"I do not drool" AJ defended with a giggled and slapped his chest playfully
"Tell that to my arm" Punk said smirked "Come here" he said waving her over to him "Give me a kiss" he requested and she reached up and kissed him
"Are you sure you don't mind me being here?" she asked him
"I'm thrilled to have you here" Punk said to her "Why would you even ask?"
"Amy thinks I'm clingy" AJ said in a mocking voice
"Well Amy doesn't know me as well as she thinks" Punk said to her "You've just made my entire night"
Amy rushed towards the catering area and grabbed her friend who accompanied her to the show tonight by his arm.
"You need to leave" Amy hissed in his ear
"Why? I just got food" the man said annoyed
"You can't be here she's here" Amy said to him
"AJ?" he asked in a whisper and she nodded
"Hmm"" the man said then smirked "Maybe I should finish what I started a few weeks ago"
"You couldn't even do it when she was alone you think you're going to get away with it in an arena filled with security and professional athletes?" Amy laughed
"I won't make the same mistakes again I already told you that" The man said to her
"She's going to recognize you" Amy said pulling him out of catering "Leave now!"
"You made me come here" the man reminded her annoyed "You wanted to make Punk jealous so here I am and now I have to leave?"
"Do you want to be arrested?" Amy asked seriously
"She doesn't remember that night" the man scoffed "I punched her in the head too hard, remember?" he asked proudly
"She might see you and remember or she'll come over and say hi when she realizes that you're here- you two do have a past" Amy reminded him
"I doubt she'd come over and throw her arms around me and embrace me" the man smirked
"Get out of here before you get spotted" Amy insisted in a low voice
"Are you coming with me?" he asked her
"No the show hasn't even started" Amy said "Just leave before-" she stopped talking when she saw Punk and AJ walking out of a room together. They were both laughing at something and Punk made eye contact with Amy but grabbed AJ's hand proudly and looked straight ahead. AJ glanced over her shoulder to look at Amy and caught the man's eyes she was with and gave him a strange look.
"See you need to go before she tells Punk that you almost raped her and he turns around and beats you to death" Amy warned
"Yea, yea whatever" the man said annoyed "This place sucks anyway too PG-13 nowadays" he remarked and glared towards AJ once last time and headed towards the exit
"Who was that?" AJ asked Punk as they walked down the hall together
"Who?" Punk asked her
"The guy with Amy?" AJ asked him
"Some friend of hers I've seen him before but I can't even remember his name" Punk admitted honestly "And I really don't want to talk about her anymore"
"I think I know him" she said to him
"Wonderful" Punk laughed "You two can have more reasons to fight"
"I'm not going to fight her over a guy I barely remember" AJ smirked "But I would fight her for you"
"You wouldn't have to fight her for me because you already have me" Punk reminded her
"You don't think I'd win?" AJ asked him
"I know you would win" Punk said to her "You are freakishly strong" he said seriously
"And don't you ever forget it" AJ warned causing him to crack smile
"AJ!" Paul Heyman cheered walking towards her and pulling her into a tight hug
"Hey Paul" she smiled as she pulled away
"I wasn't expecting you tonight" Paul said to her
"Yea I decided to surprise Phil" AJ said to him
"Good because he's been miserable without you" Paul said to her causing Punk to glare at him "What? It's true!" he defended
"Well he'll be on his best behavior now" AJ assured him
"Of course he will with you around" Paul joked "Are you working tonight?"
"No not tonight" AJ said to him "Tonight I'm here as a fan"
"Lucky you" Paul smirked "I'm glad you're here because I would love to run some ideas by you about what we could possibly do once you're fully in the story"
"Great" AJ said to him
"Do you mind if I steal her away?" Paul asked Punk
"Yes" Punk said then smirked "Just bring her back"
"Scouts honor" Paul assured him he then pointed behind Punk when AJ's back was turned and noticed Amy watching from afar
"Alright let's go kid" Paul said ushering AJ along
Punk let out a breath and groaned. He really didn't want to have this conversation with Amy here and now but he didn't want AJ and her to start fighting. He turned around and headed straight towards Amy.
"Amy" Punk let out as he approached her
"Oh now I'm worthy of a hello" Amy noted
"What are you doing?" Punk asked in a disappointed voice
"I was invited to the show" Amy defended
"Not here I mean with AJ?" Punk clarified "Why are you lashing out at her?"
"Is that her version?" Amy asked with a laugh
"I don't want to hear sides Amy" Punk said to her "I think it's best you two keep your distance"
"So I'm not supposed to visit the company that I love so much?" Amy asked him
"Visit all you want just stay clear of AJ" Punk warned and Amy was surprised by it "She's been through enough and the last thing she needs is you getting in her face. I thought we discusses this"
"We did and it's fine but don't expect me to throw my arms around her and be fake" Amy said to him "I'm supposed to be ok with the fact that she was sleeping with my boyfriend for months?"
"It's not AJ's fault" Punk said to her "I made the choice to be with her while I was with you. It's not like she forced me into it so if you want to last out at somebody do it to me"
"I don't want to lash out" Amy admitted quietly "I don't understand why you're so mad"
"I'm mad because my girlfriend was assaulted a few weeks back and her first day back at work you're stirring up trouble for her already" Punk said to her
"I won't bother her again" Amy promised
"That's all I ask" Punk said then turned around and left a very hurt Amy behind
AJ and Paul were sitting in catering chatting over potential ideas. She looked over and saw Punk and Amy were clearly arguing over something until he stormed off.
"I wouldn't worry about that" Paul said to her noticing what she was looking at
"I'm not" AJ said to him "I trust Phil"
"You should" Paul said to her "I've never seen him so happy and in love before"
"More than Maria?" AJ asked curiously
"Ten times more than Maria" Paul said to her "You just might possibly be the one for him"
"I wouldn't go that far" AJ smirked "He doesn't seem like the settling down type"
"I never would have thought it either" Paul agreed "Until we had breakfast this morning and he talked about you the entire time"
"Really?" she asked blushing slightly
"Really" Paul confirmed "He loves you kid"
"I love him too" AJ said to him
"I know" Paul smirked
"What's Amy's problem?" AJ asked him "You're friendly with her right?"
"Yea but you know how it is" Paul shrugged "She's a little jealous probably still a little hurt"
"Trent didn't act that way with Phil" AJ said to him
"Because Punk would beat the shit out of him" Paul laughed
"Maybe I should beat up Amy" AJ said to him
"How about you wait until you're a hundred percent?" Paul suggested with a chuckle
"Who was that guy with her?" AJ asked curiously
"I didn't see a guy" Paul shrugged "Why?"
"I know him from somewhere I just can't place him" AJ said to him
"I've seen him around from time to time I'm sure you have too" Paul said with a shrug
"Yea I guess" AJ admitted "It's just driving me crazy"
"Well I heard your memory isn't really working" Paul said quietly
"Phil told you?" AJ asked and he nodded "I think I'm remembering bits and pieces"
"Yea he mentioned that as well" Paul said to her "Don't push yourself AJ it will come back"
"Can I tell you something without you telling Phil?" AJ asked
"Sure" Paul said to her
"I'm scared" she admitted and Paul frowned
"Of what?" Paul asked her
"I'm scared to be alone" AJ said to him "As my memory starts to come back the more afraid I get. I slept in my bathtub last night. How am I going to travel alone? How am I going to live alone? I can't just follow Phil around constantly"
"It's common" Paul said to her "I would think something was wrong with you if you weren't afraid"
"I was fine while Phil was there" AJ said to him "I hate feeling like this"
"Did you tell him?" Paul asked
"No because I made such a big deal about being fine and left alone" AJ sighed "What if I never recover?"
"You will" Paul assured her "But it was your first night alone of course you'd be jumpy"
"He's not into scared little girls" AJ said to him
"Punk is in to you and that's all that matters" Paul said to her seriously "And honestly I think he was more worried about you then you were scared. Just tell him how you're feeling he'll get it"
"He's been so amazing these last few weeks" AJ sighed "I'd hate to put more in his plate"
"He'll realize you're hiding something form him and that would hurt him more" Paul said to her "He wasn't too happy you opened up to your landlord"
"He's still upset about that?" AJ sighed
"Yea" Paul laughed "He hates that guy"
"He hates any guy that talks to me" AJ countered
"No he just hates any guy that you open up to" Paul said to her "He's a good listener"
"I'll talk to him" AJ assured him