Chapter 22: The Ugly Truth
The next morning Amy was walking out of her hotel room and as soon as she stepped out of the door she ran right into AJ who was waiting outside her door.
"Can I help you with something?" Amy asked annoyed
"I need a minute of your time" AJ said to her
"I have nothing to say to you" Amy informed her briskly beginning to walk away
"Ok well I'm sure the police would love to hear what I have to say" AJ said causing her to stop "I remember Amy" she informed her and Amy turned around and walked back to AJ
"What are you blabbering about?" Amy asked trying to hide her nervousness
"I know your little friend attacked me" AJ informed her arrogantly "Is he here?"
"T?" Amy asked "Nope he left last night and believe me he didn't attack you"
"Oh he did" AJ said surely "I know it was him."
"And you think I had something to do with it?" Amy questioned
"How much do you want to bet he'll crack as soon as he gets arrested?" AJ questioned "He'll sing ling a little canary"
"You really think I would ask one of my friends to beat you up?" Amy questioned "You're crazier then your character"
"Maybe you'll get out of it- hell even if he did admit you asked him to do it you probably won't get any jail time" AJ said to her
"What's your point AJ?" Amy asked annoyed sighing
"I'm willing to not go to the police" AJ said surprising her but remained silent "On two conditions of course"
"Do what you have to do" Amy said to her "I have nothing to hide"
"I wonder how Phil would feel about all of this?" AJ asked her causing her to give AJ her full attention again "He'd probably not only never forgive you but he would lash right back at you- not physically of course because Phil is a real man and would never do such a thing but he has ways of ruining you I'm sure"
"What do you want from me?" Amy asked folding her arms
"I want you to stay away from him" AJ warned "That means stop coming around at shows, stop hanging out in Chicago- Phil is with me and you need to leave him and me alone" she said to her "Second condition is you keep Frank far away from me because the next time I see him and he comes near me I will go to the police"
"Why don't you just go now?" Amy asked her
"Because I love Phil" AJ said to her "Something you clearly never did. He'll be ripped apart that this happened and he'd be devastated if he found out you played any part of this"
"Isn't that what you want?" Amy asked her
"I don't want to see him suffer" AJ said to her "He's beating himself up enough over this entire thing"
"Maybe that's how I want him to feel" Amy shot at her
"I'm sure you do but I'm sure if this got it not only would you be facing criminal charges but I'm pretty sure the WWE has some rules against letting psychopaths into their hall of fame. Everything you have worked for all these years will be erased as if they never happened." AJ reminded her
"They wouldn't do that" Amy argued
"Oh I think they would" AJ smirked "You'd be on the list with 'he who shall not be named'. Everything you and your best friend Trish worked for would have been for nothing"
"I'm not admitting to anything" Amy said to her "But for Frank's benefit it's best you keep this to yourself"
"I don't give a shit about Frank" AJ informed her with a laugh "Or you for that matter. I would love to bring you two down but again it's not about you it's about Phil"
"You're quit the little girlfriend" Amy mocked "Willing to let your attacker walk away free all so you could protect his feelings"
"I love him" AJ informed her "And he loves me just the same and I know he'd do anything to protect me so I'm doing the same"
"What a sweet story" Amy said to her "Are we done now?"
"Why?" AJ asked her "What were you hoping to accomplish by doing this to me? Do you really hate me that much?"
"It's not about you AJ" Amy said to her "It's about him- it's always about him"
"So why hurt me then?" AJ asked her coldly
"What's Phil's greatest weakness?" Amy questioned "You. It wasn't personal well maybe a little"
"I don't know what's happened to you-" AJ started
"You happened AJ" Amy spat "Randy told me all about you and Phil and it killed me" she informed her holding back tears "I gave Phil years of my life and he just threw it away like I meant nothing"
"So physically lashing out is your solution?" AJ asked her "You're sick"
"I didn't touch anyone" Amy reminded her
"Do you have any idea how much pain I was in? How scared I've been?" AJ asked her
"It wasn't supposed to go that far" Amy said to her "He was supposed to scare you not almost rape you" she said to her
"It backfired" AJ said to her "You bought Phil and I closer together"
"I wasn't trying to break you two up" Amy reminded her "I was just trying to hurt him, I wanted him to feel some of the pain he caused me"
"Stay the hell away from me" AJ warned "Or the police will be the least of your problems" she threatened and Amy couldn't help but chuckle
"Whatever you say little girl" Amy smirked then walked away leaving AJ in the hallway. AJ turned and headed towards the stairs to walk back up to her room neither lady noticed Randy lurking around the halls.
"AJ wait" Randy said catching her before she went into the stairwell
"Not now" AJ said coldly
"I heard what happened-" Randy started
"You did this" AJ said to him "I did everything you asked why did you tell her?"
"I didn't think she'd do that" Randy defended honestly "I am truly sorry"
"Not as sorry as you're going to be if Phil finds out" AJ shot back "Can I trust you to keep this to yourself?"
"Whatever you want" Randy assured her "But I really think you should tell him and go to the police" he whispered
"Don't tell me what to do" AJ warned "I know what's best for everyone involved"
"And what's best is letting some whacko get away with what he did just so Punk won't get his feelings hurt?" Randy mocked "Come on AJ you're smarter than that"
"You don't know me" AJ reminded him "And you are just as much to blame for all of this."
"I feel like crap ok" Randy said to her "I didn't think she'd do this- go this far"
"Love makes people do crazy things" AJ reminded him
"What can I do?" Randy asked "Want me to talk to this Frank or T or whatever the hell his name is?"
"No you've done enough" AJ said to him "Just stay out of it and pretend you didn't hear a thing" she warned
"Fine" Randy said to her and watched as AJ jetted up the stairs.
AJ quietly snuck back into her room hoping to make it back before Punk awoke.
"Where did you go?" Punk asked sitting up
"Oh hey" she smiled "Good morning"
"Morning" he said running his hands over his face "So where did you sneak off to?"
"I didn't sneak" AJ said innocently
"You tiptoed out of here" Punk smirked "I saw you"
"I was going to run the steps but there were too many people in the stairwell" she shrugged and Punk just nodded
"Ready to get the hell out of here?" Punk asked her
"Yea I'm going to pack up and you can shower" AJ said to him
"Alright" he said getting out of the bed "You sure you're ok? Did you sleep well?"
"I slept very well actually" AJ informed him
"Good so no nightmares?" Punk asked her
"Nope. I think I'm done with the nightmares actually" AJ said to him
"I hope so" he said to her "I hate seeing you suffer like that"
"I know you do" she said sweetly "But I think it's time to move past this entire ordeal"
"You can move on but you'll never be at ease until they get the guy" Punk said to her "When we're back in Tampa tomorrow I'm going to go down to the police station to find out where they're at with the case"
"No" she said quickly and he eyed her
"No?" he asked with a laugh
"If they had anything new to report they would have called" AJ said to him "It's been weeks now we just need to accept the fact that he probably won't get caught"
"And I told you weeks ago that not finding the culprit was unacceptable" Punk reminded her "The police just need to know they we still want this guy found we can't let them put your case file at the bottom of the file"
"There are bigger cases" AJ reminded him
"I don't care about other cases" Punk said to her bluntly "I care about you and I want you to have justice"
"Can I ask you something?" AJ asked him before he stepped into the bathroom
"Sure" Punk said to her "What's on your mind?"
"If they did find the guy and somehow we knew them-" she started off
"I'd kill them" Punk said to her almost coldly "It's one thing if this was random attack but if someone was prying on you and waiting in wait to attack you like that and I knew who it was…well let's just say I hope the police get to them first actually no matter who it is I hope they get to him before I end up in a cell myself" he said honestly then walked into the bathroom
"Noted" AJ mumbled quietly to herself
After working SmackDown Punk and AJ arrived back at the beach house in Tampa.
"Ugh" AJ groaned looking out the window
"Cheer up" Punk said from the couch
"Cheer up?" AJ asked looking at him "We're only going to be here for two days and the biggest storm of the year is hitting. I wanted to enjoy the beach with you or at least run on it for an hour"
"Well that's not going to happen" Punk replied casually from the couch "You should be collecting candles and flashlights because you're probably going to lose power"
"I don't have any of that" AJ said to him
"What?" Punk asked looking at her finally "Nothing?"
"I have a candle" she smirked innocently "No flashlights" Punk stood up and reached for his jacket
"Where are you going?" AJ asked with a frown
"The store" Punk said to her "You need some sort of storm prep"
"There's going to be nothing left at the store and it's already pouring" AJ said to him "Besides I don't want you driving in this weather. How long could we lose power for?"
"Could be ten minutes or ten days" Punk said to her
"What do we need candles for anyway?" AJ asked with a shrug
"To see each other" Punk suggested "Or see anything for that matter"
"We'll be fine" she said waving it off "Besides what are the chances we'll even-" before she could finish the sentence the power went out. "Ok I can't see your face right now but I'm pretty sure you're glaring at me and I don't like it" she warned but he didn't respond "Look at that! The lightening lights up the entire place" she said happily "See we don't need candles"
"Wonderful" Punk said to her "What was I thinking?"
"No idea" she said cheerfully "So what do we do now?"
An hour later Punk was looking at his phone from the couch while AJ sat bored in the chair across the room.
"Can't I look?" she asked in a sad voice
"Should have charged your phone" Punk said as he played a game on his phone to keep himself busy
"I forgot" She said to him sadly "I'm bored" she whined
"Should have prepared" Punk shrugged
"Please let me play" she pleaded standing up and taking a seat next to him and leaning in so she could see the game but as soon as she did so he turned his phone off
"Sorry babe I have to preserve my battery" Punk informed her
"You're being so mean" She said to him
"I'm not being mean" he laughed at her reaction
"So mean" she said yet again "Don't you love me?" she pouted and although he couldn't see her face he was sure it would have melted him
"I love you very much" Punk said coolly "Doesn't mean I'm going to share my phone with you. I actually prepared for this"
"Well can't we play together?" AJ asked sweetly "I'm sure we could think of a game or two" she said seductively.
"I can't even see you right now' Punk reminded her
"But you can feel me right?" she asked grabbing his hand into her own and placing his hand over her breast "Now can I play with your phone?" she asked as he gently squeezed her breast
"Are you really using sex to get something you want?" Punk asked her
"Is it working?" She asked him
"Yes" He said quickly "I don't need lights to see your body." He said to running his free hand up and down her back "I know you inside and out"
"Prove it" she teased moving onto his lap as he began to kiss her he didn't even feel her hand slip into his pocket and take his phone "Ha!" she cheered jumping off of him "Got it!"
"And I'm the mean one?" Punk asked trying to hold back the laugh of AJ getting one over on him
"That's what you get" AJ said turning on his phone
"You don't know my password to my phone-" Punk started but when he heard the game playing he stopped "How did you know my password?" he asked her
"You ever think I know you just as well as you know me?" AJ said casually as she kept her eyes locked on the phone
"I guess you do" he said to her with a faint smile. She could play with his phone and drain the battery for all he cared as long as she was content and happy. "I'm going to marry you one day" he said surprising her and out of nowhere. She stopped the game and looked up at him
"What?" she asked
"You and I are going to get married" Punk informed her "I don't know when but it's going to happen one day I just want to make sure you're prepared"
"Is this your way of proposing?" she asked nervously
"No" he said to her with her "I don't even have ring- but when I do propose I want you to be ready"
"You're not the marrying type" AJ reminded him
"I didn't think you existed" Punk said to her "Am I scaring you?"
"No" she said honestly "You're making me very happy actually"
"That's all I ever want to do" Punk said "There's no one I love or trust more than you" he said and she felt her stomach tighten. She was keeping a huge secret from him and the guilt was weighing on her heavily but she knew she was doing the right thing. She stood up and walked back over to him and placed his phone on the table before climbing on top of him.
"I love you" she whispered against his lips before kissing him sweetly
"I know you do" he said to her as placed his hands under her shirt and ran his fingertips down her spine
"I'll do anything to keep you happy" she said to him
"You make me happy just by being here" Punk informed her and before she knew it they were in a hot and heavy make out session. With the help of Punk, AJ stripped away her clothes and with the lightening striking and the sound of the loud thunder they made love on the couch the entire night.
The next morning Punk woke up first but couldn't move because AJ was laying straight across his body, wrapped up in a blanket but he didn't want to move as far as Punk was concerned he could stay like this forever. He wanted nothing to more but to make this past nightmare disappear for her. If it was the last thing he did he would make sure AJ got the piece of mind she deserved. He was going to go down to the police station and demand answers as soon as he was able to pry himself away from her.
He also completely intended on keeping his promise to AJ about marriage as well. He wasn't sure what possessed him to even bring it up to her last night but he meant every word. Everything about her intrigued him and the more time he spent with her he craved more. It had gotten to the point that he didn't even miss home since he's been with AJ. His house wasn't a home when she wasn't there and being there without her didn't interest him. Wherever she was, he wanted to be. He would marry her one-day and he was really looking forward to it.
"Thanks for letting me crash" T said to James
"You can't stay" James said to him firmly "And why didn't you go back to your place? It's across the street!"
"Because I owe rent money" T said to him "Too bad I don't have any family members who own apartment buildings or anything"
"No way" James said to him "You've gotten me into enough trouble"
"You're not in trouble" T scoffed "No one knows you gave me AJ's key"
"I never would have given you that key if I knew that was what you were planning on doing" James defended
"It got out of hand" T defended quietly "I feel just as bad"
"I doubt that" James said bitterly and T shrugged in agreement
"I saw her the other night" T said to him
"You approached her?" James asked stunned "What if she remembers you?"
"She does remember me" T laughed "But not from that night- our first night together"
"You have given that poor girl two horrible nights she'll never forget" James said to him "She's a sweet girl"
"I'm not involving myself anymore" T told him "I already told Amy that that last night. No more bothering little angelic AJ"
"Good" James said firmly "But it doesn't change what you did. If she remembers you're going to jail"
"At least I'll have a cellmate" T grinned
"What's that supposed to mean?" James asked
"Well when the police ask how I got in I'd have to tell them you gave me a key" T said to him
"You wouldn't" James said shaking his head
"Oh I would" T said to him "That is if you gave me a place to stay rent for a bit I guess I can be persuaded to forget, come on I know for a fact you've got an empty apartment"
"This is all going to blow up" James hissed "Now you want to stay in her old place?"
"How the hell is she going to know?" T questioned "I doubt she's ever coming back"
"She told me she'd visit" James said to him but T just snorted
"Right, so she's never coming back" T said to him with a grin "I already have a key" he teased
"Fine" James let out "But-" he stopped when there was a knock at the door "Who is it?" James yelled towards the door
"It's Punk" Punk said on the other side and he didn't sound happy
"He knows you're here" James whispered to T who just rolled his eyes and stood up from the chair he was in
"I'll be in the bedroom get me when he's gone" T said coolly then walked into the bedroom and closed the door
"Punk" James said plastering a smile on as he opened the door "What's going on?"
"I just stopped by the police station and got an update on AJ's case" Punk informed him and James just nodded
"That's good" James forced out
"Not for you" Punk said to him as he closed the door and locked it "You and I need to have a talk"
A/N: So Punk is hell bent on uncovering the truth and AJ is hell bent on keeping it from him...I'm sure this will end well