hapter 35: Back to reality
The wedding was amazing and if it were up to Punk he would have whisked AJ for a long honeymoon but the fact that they were in the middle of promoting Wrestlemania that just wouldn't be possible. They headed back to work that following Monday.
"This sucks" Punk groaned as he grabbed AJ's bags out of the bus
"Stop being so grouchy" AJ warned "You knew we wouldn't get a honeymoon"
"Yea but it still sucks" Punk said annoyed "I'm not ready to face reality yet. We should have at least taken today off and stayed locked away in the hotel for another 24 hours"
"We were locked away for 24 hours already" AJ reminded him "I forgot was fresh air felt like"
"You weren't complaining" Punk grinned
"No I wasn't" AJ agreed "Let's just get inside and get this night over with so we can get back home because I have a lot to do"
"Like what?" Punk asked
"I have to have my name legally changed for starters" AJ said to him "We also have hundreds of gifts to open and then we have to send thank you notes"
"I said thank you to everyone who came" Punk pointed out
"It's polite" AJ laughed "Then we have a lot of gym time to get in because we've been slacking-"
"Isn't there any part of your long schedule that involves just lounging around with me?" Punk asked her
"We'll squeeze it in" AJ assured him grabbing her bag from him
"Yea, yea" Punk groaned closing the bus down.
"By the way have I mentioned what a great job you did picking out the wedding bands?" she asked him
"No you have not" Punk smirked "You like it?"
"Love it" AJ said happily looking at the newest addition to her left ring finger "You are really good with picking out jewelry"
"Well I hate to take away from your vision of me having excellent taste but just like your engagement ring my sisters did have some input" Punk admitted
"See? You're a smart man and knew to ask for help" AJ smiled "Good job" she used her free hand to grab a hold of his and they walked into the arena together.
"There they are" Randy Orton grinned walking into the door behind them causing them to look behind "I suppose my invitation got lost in the mail?"
"Personal invites only" Punk shrugged "You didn't make the cut"
"That's a shame I heard it was the party of the year" Orton pouted in a mocking way
"It was" Punk agreed
"Stop" AJ warned
"Well I think this marriage angle is going to work into our story perfectly" Randy informed them
"That's not happening" Punk said to him quickly
"You had a public wedding" Randy pointed out "It just makes the Wrestlemania stipulation announcement that much better"
"We're not going to do a Rock/Stone Cold/Debra reboot" Punk told him cringing
"Oh please that story only last about a week and you could tell the only one in that story that wanted to be part of it was Austin" Orton laughed
"I don't want my personal life paraded all around" Punk said to him and AJ could feel the tension between the two men.
"Personal sells" Randy shrugged simply
"I'm not selling out my marriage or my wife to get a few more people to tune into a pay-per-view" Punk said to him "AJ and I are together and you've used that already so make that work"
"Your wedding is the talk of the web" Orton said to him simply "We can't just ignore it"
"It's fine" AJ interjected before Punk could argue further "What's the big deal? It's not like they're going to be showing pictures or anything"
"Yea what's the big deal?" Orton asked "Besides I would think you would want people to know that AJ is officially off the market"
"Yea are you ashamed?" AJ teased lightly
"Of course not" Punk said to her
"So it's settled" Randy smiled "And again congratulations Punk because you've married way out of your league" he laughed then walked away
"I hate him" Punk hissed towards to AJ
"Oh just ignore him" AJ said to him "Don't let him ruin your mood. Besides you and Orton do have a lot of history and that is going to show on camera"
"I have no problem with that" Punk admitted "He could talk about our past with Maria or Amy for all I care I just don't want you to become just another story"
"After Wrestlemania you're moving forward as Champion alone and I'm moving to singles competition" AJ reminded him "We won't even be together onscreen anymore so let's just enjoy it while we can"
"Yea I guess" Punk reluctantly agreed "I just wish it was us working together and Randy wasn't involved"
"Well suck it up because he's part of this story whether you like it or not" AJ said to him "He's harmless"
"Yea real harmless. We're not even in the door and he's already pissing me off" Punk said to her "If he didn't enjoy this story so much it wouldn't bother me as much"
"He's supposed to enjoy the story" AJ reminded him but Punk scrunched his face
"No he's loving the idea of pushing you around onscreen because he knows it pisses me off" Punk spat annoyed
"So stop letting it piss you off" AJ laughed
"I hated it when we were in that story with Bryan and I hate it now" Punk said to her firmly
"You've always kind of liked me huh?" AJ teased
"Yea something like that" Punk smirked back
Punk was in catering sitting with Paul Heyman.
"So how's married life?" Paul asked
"I've only been married for three days but so far so good" Punk smirked "AJ is great"
"She is" Paul agreed with a head nod "You picked the right one"
"That I did" Punk agreed
"So have you and Randy discussed what you're going to be doing and how involved AJ is going to be?" Paul asked
"Yea a little" Punk shrugged "No kissing that's my rule. I know it was Hunter and Stephanie's idea for him to kiss Stephanie during their story but I'm not budging on that also no personal photos or stories"
"Seems fair" Paul said to him "So have you read any of the other stories online about your wedding?"
"Nah" Punk said brushing it off "What's to read? I was there" he chuckled
"There was an interesting story" Paul told him quietly
"Really?" Punk asked interested "And what did the story say?"
"Amy was invited" Paul said to him and Punk let out a laugh
"Yea that's why I don't ready anything online" Punk said still laughing
"There was a photo" Paul added and Punk looked up at him "Outside of the wedding venue. I'm guessing since she was spotted outside the fan who sent in the photo just assumed she was invited"
"You're kidding" Punk said as he lost his smile
"I don't know how legit it is" Paul pointed out "But I thought you should know."
"I'll check it out" Punk said quietly
"Don't let it dampen your mood" Paul encouraged
"It does Paul" Punk groaned "Why isn't she taking the hint? I have a restraining order in place! What else do I have to do?"
"She didn't disrupt anything" Paul reminded him "So maybe she was just there as a friend"
"Please" Punk mocked "She doesn't have good intentions"
"Don't overreact" Paul requested
"I'm married now" Punk laughed in a frustrated manner "What more do I have to say or do?"
"Ignore her, she'll go away" Paul said to him
"Clearly that's not working either" Punk said to him
"There's no reason to get so worked up" Paul said trying to calm him
"After what she did to AJ?" Punk asked him "Are you kidding me?"
"I'm just saying maybe she was trying to make peace" Paul reasoned "Why else would she show up and not say anything?"
"Because she saw all the security I had and knew she's be locked away" Punk said to her "She probably would have interrupted the wedding"
"Must be tough to be to you" Paul mocked "Two hot chicks that want you"
"Amy is certifiable" Punk reminded him "She's dangerous and I don't trust her"
AJ was in Punk's locker room lacing up her chuck's when her phone started to ring. She reached over and saw it was an unfamiliar number but decided to answer it anyway.
"Hello?" AJ asked into the phone
"AJ don't hang up" AJ knew instantly it was Amy
"You know this counts as violating the restraining order right?" AJ asked
"Trust me you want to hear what I have to say" Amy said to her seriously
"You have thirty seconds" AJ warned
"What I have to say is going to take a lot longer then that" Amy said to her "But I need to say it to Phil and not you"
"You're dreaming" AJ scoffed
"It's about the night you were attacked" Amy said to her "Don't you want the truth?"
"What about it?" AJ asked cautiously
"Like I said my information is for Phil and Phil only" Amy said to her "I owe it to him"
"You don't think you owe it to me?" AJ asked in disbelief
"You'll hear it too" Amy said to her "But Phil first."
"You just want an excuse to talk to him or see him but that is not going to happen" AJ informed her "He's my husband now and you're not getting near him"
"Believe me you want to know the truth" Amy said to her "It will just go to show how stupid you truly are"
"You're violating a restraining order and I'm the dumb one?" AJ laughed "Call this number again and I'm contacting the police" she then ended the call and hoped that would be the end of it.
"Hey you almost ready?" Punk asked walking into the locker room
"Yea" AJ said placing her phone in her bag.
"Are you ok?" Punk asked her
"Yea I got a weird phone call" AJ said to him
"From who?" he asked
"Amy" AJ said honestly
"What?" Punk asked "What did she say?"
"She wants to see you or talk to you" AJ said to him
"About what?" Punk questioned
"She said about the night I was attacked" AJ said to him and Punk's ears perked up
"What about it?" Punk asked anxiously
"She wouldn't tell me but apparently it would have made me look stupid" AJ said with a bitter laugh "I told her not to call again"
"Good" Punk said quietly
"Don't even tell me you're entertaining the idea of speaking to her" AJ warned
"No of course not" Punk said with a shrug "But if it wasn't Frank who attacked you that night obviously it was someone else and I still want to know who"
"It was Frank" AJ said to him "I remember seeing him"
"But it wasn't his DNA" Punk said to her "You had another males skin under your fingertips which means someone else was in your apartment with you and tried rape you"
"Phil-" AJ started
"I saw those bruises" Punk said cutting her off "The bruises in the shape of fingers around you thighs and hips" he reminded her coldly "Someone put those there and I want to know who did"
"Well I don't" AJ said to him "Especially if it means talking to Amy"
"Don't you want-" Punk started but AJ cut him off
"All I want is to go out there and front of thousands of people and do what I love" AJ said to him "Then I want to get back on the bus and curl up with you while you read me comics and go back home to Chicago. I've moved on from that night and you really should too" she said with a sympathetic smile. She knew he still carried a ton of guilt around for what happened to her that night.
"Ok" Punk said to her "If that's what you want"
"It's what I want" AJ confirmed leaning up and kissing his lips "Let's go to work" he just nodded and followed her out of the room.
Later that night after the show AJ was whisked away into a meeting with creative while Punk waited for her anxiously. It was stressful enough to worry about his own career but now anything that happened to AJ he would take personally and wanted her career to be as successful as his.
"What are you still doing here?" Kofi asked walking down the hall with his bag slung over his shoulder
"Waiting on AJ she's been in a meeting for almost an hour" Punk groaned looking towards the door she entered
"I think it's so cute the way you worry about her" Kofi teased but Punk quickly narrowed his eyes at him
"I'm not cute" Punk said in a low voice
"Right" Kofi smirked
"Did you uh-" Punk started then looked around to make sure no one was listening "see Amy at my wedding?"
"No" Kofi said to him "I read that article online too and I think its bull"
"Yea?" Punk asked
"Please you of all people know that those jokers online will type anything to get some hits on their websites" Kofi laughed "What's gotten into you?"
"I was just making sure" Punk said to him simply
"Look man you need to stop making yourself crazy" Kofi said to him "You just got married try to enjoy it because trust me dude the honeymoon stage doesn't last forever"
"We didn't even get a honeymoon" Punk pointed out
"Because you're main-eventing the biggest show of the year" Kofi mocked "Poor you."
"Shut up" Punk scolded and that's when AJ walked out of the office
"Hey AJ!" Kofi waved
"Hello Kofi" AJ smiled
"Catch you later Punk" Kofi said to Punk then walked off
"What was that about ?" Punk asked her
"Oh nothing" she said simply "Did you load the bus?"
"Are you kidding?" Punk asked seriously and she smiled
"They want me to win the title the night after Wrestlemania" AJ said to him "They were just going over some ideas and how they want me to start hinting towards wanting the title in interviews and on social media."
"Cool" Punk grinned "you deserve it"
"The girls are going to hate me" AJ said to him
"So?" Punk said to her "They're just jealous"
"They're going to think I got the title because I married you" AJ pointed out
"That's ridiculous" Punk laughed
"It is not!" AJ argued as they headed towards the exit "I know how women think"
"And do all the girls think that Nikki and Brie are getting pushed because of who they're currently sleeping with? I saw them filming that new crappy show earlier tonight" Punk said to her
"Yea everyone does" AJ said to him "And what you say behind their backs is the same thing that John and Bryan say about me to them"
"No they're both too smart for that" Punk said to her "You're a hard worker" he said to confidentially "You're better then most of the guys back here"
"Well I haven't been in the ring for a while" AJ pointed out "So I need a training buddy"
"Oh I really hope you're referring to me" Punk said as they stepped onto the bus.
"Would you mind?" AJ asked
"Would I mind getting into the ring with my extremely hot wife while she wraps her body around mine?" Punk asked pondering the question by lightly tapping his chin.
"I need you to actually train me" she warned throwing a pillow at him "Not just try to get into my pants"
"Of course I'll help" Punk grinned
"They mentioned they want me to add a submission finisher" AJ said to him and he nodded
"Ok I'm sure we'll come up with something" Punk assured her
"I already have an idea" AJ smiled
"Of course you do" Punk grinned
"I'm going to take a shower" AJ said to him "Or did you want to go first?"
"No go ahead" Punk said to her "I'm starving so I'm going to eat anyway"
"Ok" she kissed his cheek then headed to the back of the bus.
When Punk heard the water running he pulled AJ's cell phone out of her purse and scrolled through her recent calls and found an unsaved number with an area code from Atlanta. He typed the number into his own phone before placing AJ's phone back where he found it.
'I'll meet with you' Punk typed
'Come to Atlanta' Amy responded quickly and Punk just rolled his eyes then smiled slightly.
'Ok I'll fly out tomorrow morning. I'll text you the time and place' Punk wrote back
'Great! I can't wait to see you' Amy said to him
'You better not be wasting my time. You told AJ you had answers for me and I want them' Punk typed back
'I do and believe me it will be worth it' Amy assured him