Chapter 23: Revelations
Punk stepped inside James' place and could tell the landlord was nervous.
"So what's going on?" James asked him carefully
"So a witness came forward" Punk informed him "Someone who lives here actually"
"You don't say" James said casually
"They spotted a man going into AJ's place about an hour before she was attacked" Punk said to him
"Did they get a positive ID of the guy?" James asked
"No they didn't because he was wearing a baseball cap" Punk said to him bitterly "But they did note he had a key to get in"
"Weird" James muttered
"Yea very weird especially because only two people had keys to that apartment and since AJ used her key to get in that night that leaves just you!" Punk yelled "So please Mr. Landlord tell me how someone got your key to my girlfriends place!"
"I didn't give her key out" James defended quickly "I would never do that!"
"He got the key from you!" Punk yelled and James jumped back "He didn't get it from AJ so that leaves just you- and I'm not leaving here until you tell me who had access to it" he warned
"I only have access" James assured him
"So maybe someone slipped you a few bucks" Punk shrugged "AJ is beautiful, rich and famous- as you yourself has pointed out to me and her in the past"
"I wouldn't do that" James said shaking his head
"You look nervous" Punk noted "Are you sure about that James?"
"I swear to you man I'm not for hire" James said starting to sweat
"You're lying to me" Punk said in disbelief "Do I look stupid to you!"
"No!" James yelled back "Ok listen a few days before the attack I lost the key"
"You lost AJ's key?" Punk asked him "Just the one key?"
"I was checking on the pipes on her place again and I must have dropped in the stairwell or someone picked it off of me" James defended
"Why didn't you tell me?" Punk asked "Better yet why the hell didn't you tell AJ!"
"I was going to but she was still out of town" James said to him "I was on my way to tell her and that's when I found her that night. I didn't think anything would have happened so quickly or I would have changed the locks before then. I didn't think it was big deal"
"You didn't think some stranger having access to one of your tenets places was a big deal?" Punk questioned
"I am so sorry" James said to him "I feel terrible"
"You should" Punk spat "And I highly suggest you start thinking real hard about how somebody else got that key or I'm going to start suspecting you"
"I would never touch AJ" James defended and Punk just glared at him "Well not in that way at least…." Punk then narrowed his eyes at the man "You know what I mean!"
"I don't know what you mean" Punk said to him "I told the police you were the only one with access to her place so don't be surprised when they come knocking again and you better be more helpful to them then you're being right now"
"I'll do anything to help" James assured him
"Really?" Punk mocked "Because AJ told me how she told you about the dreams she was having and you told her not to tell me actually you told her they probably weren't realistic at all"
"It was just a dream" James said quietly
"I don't think they are and as a matter of fact I think they're her memories coming back" Punk said to him "If you want to be AJ's friend that's fine but don't give her shit advice" he warned
"I thought I was helping" James argued
"Well you suck" Punk said walking towards the door "Next time I come back here but I'm not going to be so nice" he then stormed out the door
"Dude" James said as T walked back into the kitchen "We're going to get found out"
"You have no idea how right you are about that" T said looking at his phone
"What?" James asked
"She knows" T said to him
"Who knows?" James asked fearfully
"I just got a message from Amy- AJ knows" T told him
"Oh my god" James said frantically "Punk is going to come back here and kill me!"
"It's complicated" T said to him "He doesn't know and we're all going to keep it that way"
"If AJ knows she's going to tell him!" James shouted
"She's not going to say a word. Amy said something about not wanting him to be hurt or feel guilty" T shrugged "We're good"
"No we're not" James argued "She's going to crack! He's too invested in finding out and they're too close!"
"I'll make sure she doesn't say a thing" T said to him "Just relax and besides no one knows about your part yet"
"Great" James said to him almost holding back tears "I don't know if I'm more afraid of prison or her boyfriend"
"Relax yourself" T chuckled "I'll take care of AJ"
"Don't hurt again" James warned
"I'll worry about AJ- you worry about getting my new place set up" T smirked "Actually you have AJ's new address right?"
An hour later Punk was back at the beach house.
"Where have you been all morning?" AJ asked as Punk walked in the door
"The police station" Punk said to her
"Oh" she said to him "So what do you want for breakfast?" she asked him
"Aren't you curious as to what they said?" Punk asked her
"Yea I guess" she said simply "Any new information?"
"They have a witness actually" Punk informed her and AJ felt her stomach knot
"What did they see?" she asked him
"A man entering your apartment with a key no less" Punk said her bitterly "He arrived about an hour before you got in"
"He had a key?" AJ asked oddly
"Yea I stopped by to see James before I came back here and he admitted he lost your key" Punk said to her
"Oh really" AJ said calmly now realizing her friend the landlord obviously had a hand on in this she just wasn't sure how exactly yet. "Well thank god I'm out of that place"
"Yea" Punk agreed "Are you ok?" he asked noticing she was slightly pale
"Yea I'm good" she said forcing a smile "So breakfast?" she asked him
"Pancakes?" he suggested
"Yum" she said to him "But I don't have any pancake mix" AJ said to him
"Well we'll just have to go out for them now won't we?" Punk smirked
"Sounds good" She grinned
The follow Thursday Punk and AJ were working a live event and things were really starting to get back to normal. She loved traveling with him and not just because his bus was amazing but she never felt alone. Traveling as much as they did the road could be terribly lonely and that was the only downside to her dream job but being with Punk changed all of that.
Punk headed off to the Men's locker room and she just finished getting dressed in the Diva's locker room. Her phone began to ring and she didn't recognize the number but opted to answer it anyway.
"Hello?" AJ asked
"Hey AJ" T said into the phone "It's me Frank"
"Don't call me again" AJ warned but before she could hang up T spoke again
"Don't hang up" T warned "You know why I'm calling?" he asked her
"I have pretty good idea" AJ said bitterly
"Guess where I'm calling from" T said to cheerfully "Your new beach house"
"You're lying" AJ said to him
"You have one magnet on your refrigerator and I'm assuming it's some sort of comic book crap" T laughed walking around her place "I also see Punk left some of his clothes here including a rancid t-shirt" he said to her
"I'm calling the police" AJ said to him
"No you're not calling the police" T said to her "I know what you told Amy and I don't buy it for one second. There is no way you're not going to tell your boyfriend about Amy and me"
"I'm not" she said to him firmly "But you lurking around my place is changing my mind"
"I know where you leave AJ" T reminded her "I know how to get in, I know how to get to you. I will kill you before I let you open your mouth"
"What's your connection to James?" AJ asked him "I know he played a part in this and I'm assuming by the fact that you're in my new home that he told you where I was living"
"He did" T said to her "But that's not your business"
"What's stopping me from calling the police right now?" AJ asked him "I call them now and I'm in no danger you're in Tampa and I'm in Texas right now"
"You think I'm going to hang around here after I hang up?" T laughed "Do what you have to do but know I won't be locked up forever" he pointed out "And it won't be you I'm hurting I'll go after your boyfriend too" AJ couldn't help but laugh
"Oh please you couldn't even take me" she snorted "Phil would break you in half"
"We'll see about that" T said to her "Also stop threatening Amy she's the victim in all of this"
"No I'm the victim" AJ argued "You two are just lunatics"
"Amy is deranged" T said to her "If I go away that's one thing but she's out for blood and she's out for his blood."
"Get out of my house" AJ warned
"Relax I'm going I got a new place today anyway" T said to her "And AJ I'm sorry for getting all worked up that night it shouldn't have gone that far it's just… you look very good" he said to her "Punk is a very lucky man"
"Part of the rules of me not going to the police is that you stay away from me" AJ warned
"I'm not near you and this will be the last time we speak" T assured her "I just wanted to clear the air bit so we could both feel better"
"I feel like shit" AJ shot at him
"So feisty" T laughed "Well good luck kid! Hopefully I won't see you around" he then hung up
"Hopefully you won't see me" she said to herself "This is getting out of hand, I have to Phil" she said to herself then went in search of her boyfriend
Punk was in the locker room wrapping up his hands when Paul approached him.
"Hey champ" Paul grinned "How was Tampa?"
"Rainy" Punk said to him "But AJ and I made the most of it" Punk said with a smirk
"I bet you did" Paul laughed "So where is she? I haven't seen her"
"She's in the locker room getting ready" Punk said to him "She seems a little off"
"She's just adjusting to being back on the road again" Paul assured him
"Yea I hope so" Punk said to him "I told her I was going to marry her I hope that didn't scare her off"
"I'm sorry I don't think I caught that?" Paul asked seriously "You want to marry her"
"Yea I do" Punk said to him honestly "I love her and she's different. She's not like any other woman I've ever been with"
"Go for it" Paul said to him and Punk chuckled
"Really? I thought you would tell me that this is just a phase and I'm thinking too far ahead" Punk said to him
"She's your other half" Paul said simply with a shrug "You've always been drawn to her and since you two have been together you've been happy"
"She makes me very happy" Punk admitted "I'm just afraid she doesn't feel the same"
"I'm sure she does" Paul laughed
"She's been so quiet these last few days" Punk said to him
"Well what did she say when you informed her she was going to be wife?" Paul smirked
"She said she was happy and then…" Punk stopped then smirked thinking back to their hot night on the couch "…well I'm sure you don't want to know about afterwards"
"I might" Paul said to him "Just kidding! I'm sure it ended with you two boning all over her new beach house"
"Something like that" Punk grinned
"She's pretty blunt and honest" Paul informed him "If she didn't feel the same she'd tell you"
"That's another great part about her" Punk said to him "She's always been honest with me- she's never held back. I've never had that before"
"She's a good girl" Paul agreed "Don't blow it"
"I won't" Punk said to her
"So speaking of the future little missus how is she doing after her blowup with Amy?" Paul asked
"Eh" Punk shrugged "I spoke to Amy that night told her to back off I think she got the message"
"Good" Paul said to her "The last thing you need is a crazy ex lurking around arenas"
"I just can't believe she's acting out like this" Punk said to him "I also can't believe AJ hit her" he chuckled
"Yea I guess you do like them feisty" Paul laughed but Punk froze "What?"
"Why would you say that?" Punk asked alarmed
"Say you like them feisty?" Paul asked amused "Because clearly you do. Is everything ok?"
"It's just….nothing never mind" Punk said drawing the exes on his hand
"Sorry if it upset you it's just someone else said it and it stuck out in my head I guess" Paul shrugged "Amy's friend actually"
"Excuse me?" Punk asked glaring towards Paul "What friend? What did he say?"
"That guy B or T or whatever the hell his name is" Paul said to him "A few weeks back when I spoke to them he said 'Punk likes them feisty'" Paul informed him and it Punk's face turned red- beat red as a matter of fact
"That's what he said? Are you sure?" Punk asked
"Yes! What is the big deal?" Paul asked him
"The big deal is the night AJ was attacked her attacker said to her 'Punk likes them feisty'" Punk informed him and Paul's eyes widened
"Could be a coincidence" Paul offered hesitantly
"Not a chance" Punk said throwing his bag across the room "Fuck!" he shouted and kicked a garbage can over
"Calm down there's no reason to jump to any conclusions" Paul said trying to calm his friend down
"I saw him! He came to my room looking for her last week!" Punk yelled "He lives in Tampa! I should have fucking seen it!"
"AJ said it wasn't him" Paul reminded him "You asked her, remember?"
"She can't be sure" Punk said bitterly "That fucking asshole was behind it all along and he's been back here at shows with her! He's been looking at her!"
"Relax ok? You have a match in an hour" Paul suggested
"Relax? Relax?" Punk mocked "Fuck the match I'm going to jump on a plane and find that asshole and kill him!"
"Think first" Paul suggested as Punk paced back and forth "I mean maybe you should ask Amy about it first"
"She set it up" Punk spat "She's insane" he said quietly "What did I do?" he asked his running hands over his face
"Oh good she told you" Randy added casually tossing his things into a locker "I told AJ that you had the right to know"
"What?" Punk asked
"I heard the whole thing" Randy smirked "Don't be embarrassed I feel just as bad about the entire thing. When AJ found out Amy and T were behind her attack she-"
"What?" Punk asked slowly with wide eyes
"Isn't that how you knew?" Randy asked "She told me not to tell you but I knew she'd cave and tell you"
"How long has AJ known?" Punk asked him
"Let's just take a breather" Paul suggested nervously
"Fuck that" Punk spat at his friend then looked back at Randy "How long has she known?"
"I heard her and Amy talking about it last week at the hotel" Randy said to him
"So Amy admitted to it?" Punk asked
"Yea pretty much" Randy said to him
"Why didn't she tell me?" Punk asked
"Look I don't want to get involved" Randy said seriously "It's not my place"
"Make it your place!" Punk yelled "Tell me everything!"
"She didn't want you to feel guilty" Randy said to him annoyed "She was just trying to look out for you" he defended
"And you knew" Punk said annoyed "You fucking knew and didn't tell me?"
"I promised AJ I wouldn't!" Randy shouted "I was just trying to look out for her I even offered to talk to that guy and Amy for her but she said no"
"Gee thanks that was real helpful" Punk mocked "I need-"
"Punk" Paul said walking over to him "AJ's outside she has to see you"
"I can't talk to her right now" Punk said to him "I'll flip"
"That's just great. Your girlfriend was brutalized and you're acting like the one who was hurt" Randy said disgusted "Grow up Punk! Go out there and talk to your girl and make this right, I mean it is your fault…" Punk took a step towards Randy but Paul jumped in the middle
"She seems really upset" Paul said looking at Punk "Just listen to her ok?" Punk shot Randy a glare then walked outside to find AJ who was indeed shaken.
"Phil-" She started
"Not out here" he said pulling her by her arm and pulling her into an office
"Phil listen I need to tell you something" She started "I don't know where to start and I think you're going to be mad…"
"Are you planning on telling me that you not only remembered who attacked you but you deliberately kept it from me?" Punk asked surprising her "Because if you are then yes I'm mad"
"I'm sorry" she said with a sigh "So, so sorry…"
"AJ what were you thinking?" Punk said her seriously "What was going through your mind"
"I didn't want you to feel bad" She admitted shamefully
"Well thank you AJ because I feel so much better" Punk mocked "You were going just let them get away with this?" he demanded "Have you lost your mind!"
"I'm sorry!" AJ yelled back "But I just wanted it to be over and I didn't want you to feel responsible"
"Well I am responsible AJ" Punk shot at her "And you lied right to my face? You've never lied to me before"
"I know" she said tearfully "I just wanted to protect you"
"Here's a tip sweetheart lying to me doesn't protect me it just pissed me off" he remarked coldly
"I thought I had it under control" AJ defended "I told Amy if her or Frank came near me or you again I would tell you and go to the police"
"What do you mean you thought you had it under control?" he asked very annoyed
"Frank called me" AJ admitted "I guess Amy told him I knew and he was at the house"
"Your house?" Punk asked
"Yea" she said quietly
"What did he say?" Punk asked but before she could open her mouth he spoke again "And do not lie to me" he warned
"He threatened me" she admitted "He said he would kill me if I told you-" she stopped talking when she saw him walk away "Where are you going?"
"I'm calling the Tampa PD" Punk informed her "Something you should have done a week ago then I'm going to wrestle and I'm going to make sure I give Randy a nice shiner then I'm going back on my bus and I'm going to sort through this entire thing"
"Where do I fit into the plans?" she asked shyly
"The bus part" he said to her and she was surprised "I'm mad as hell at you" he admitted "You lied right to my face and the worst part of it was I'm so blinded by you that I didn't even see it and that scares me"
"It wasn't a bad lie" she defended
"There's no such thing as a good lie" Punk said to her "How can I be with someone who not only lies to me but also gets away it?"
"I did tell you- I was going to tell you right now" AJ said to him
"You should have told me the minute you found out" Punk said to her in a calmer then laughed bitterly "I mean I told you I wanted to marry you" he reminded her
"I want that" she said to him eagerly
"Do you? Because I don't know what's real or not with you" Punk admitted "I'm calling the Tampa PD and if Frank or Amy try to contact you I want you to tell me- will you tell me?"
"Of course" she sighed sadly "I really didn't want to hurt you" AJ said to him "I wanted to protect you just like you've been protecting me"
"I've never lied to you" Punk pointed out
"Please can we just talk about this" She insisted
"Later" He said to her "Right now I need to clear my head" he then walked out of the office and left AJ alone inside of it. There were no chairs or tables in the room so she sat down in the corner and cried openly in the dark room.