Chapter 44: Anger Management
AJ was sitting in the living room playing some video games waiting for Punk to come home. They had dinner plans for the evening and she was just waiting for him to come back from his first anger management class. He was hesitant to go but did it and AJ knew it was only appease her, which she appreciated. It was only an hour after he left she heard the front door swing open.
"Hey" AJ said pausing her game to look at him. She could tell by his face he looked miserable "How'd it go?" she questioned already knowing the answer
"Great" Punk remarked with a huge forced smile "There is nothing like sitting in a circle and talking about my feelings"
"Do you feel less angry?" she teased lightly as he plopped down next to her
"No because I wasn't angry when I went but I got angry with the guy next to me who kept poking me" Punk said to her seriously and she let out a laugh
"Why did he keep poking you?" AJ asked giggling
"He asked me about every tattoo on my arm" Punk said to her shaking his head "Then asked me why I was here, how long was I going to stay and if I was single"
"If I knew people were going to be hitting on you at these classes I wouldn't have supported you going" AJ teased but he just glared at her "Did you learn anything?"
"I should count to ten" Punk said to his amused wife "I should also ask if lashing out in a situation is worth ruining the rest of my day"
"Helpful" AJ smirked
"I was also told I should massage tense spots on my body" Punk informed her
"I can help with that" AJ offered "Feel tense?"
"Yea a little" Punk said turning to rest his head on her lap "In my head"
"Poor baby" she mocked lightly while rubbing his head for him "Feel better?"
"Yes" Punk said to her "I don't want to go back"
"You don't have to go back" AJ said as continued to sooth him
"Going makes me angry" Punk pointed out "That's not what these classes should do"
"I'm proud you went" AJ said to him "But you seriously don't have to go back. I don't think you're an angry person"
"Really?" he asked looking up at her
"Really" she confirmed "I think you're protective and passionate"
"That's what I've been saying!" Punk agreed loudly
"And you're never angry with me" AJ said to him "Besides I love you just the way you are"
"And this is why I married you" Punk said to her simply "You've never tried to change me or make me something I'm not"
"Why mess with perfection?" she asked seriously and he grinned
"And you don't hurt my ego" Punk added sitting up "I'm going to take a quick shower before dinner"
"Ok hurry because I'm starving" she warned
"Maybe if you ate more than three times a week you wouldn't be so hungry" Punk pointed out
"Maybe if you were a female and had people commenting on your weight every live show than you'd understand" she shot back at him
"What could people possibly say about your weight?" Punk asked seriously "If anything people say you're too skinny- eat and maybe you won't pass out so much"
"I fainted once" AJ reminded him "For like five minutes"
"Scariest five minutes of my life" Punk said to her
"Just remember this conversation at dinner when I order a huge porterhouse steak with all the trimmings and desert" she warned
"Eat as much as you want" Punk said to her simply as he headed up the stairs
A half hour later Punk was still in the shower, AJ swore he took longer than she did in the shower. The doorbell rang and AJ stood up to answer it. She really hoped this wouldn't be another distraction because she was just ready to go out and eat. When she swung the door open she rolled her eyes upon seeing Frank.
"You have got to be kidding me" AJ mumbled but then noticed Amy at his side. "Really kidding me" she said glaring towards Amy
"I'm here to see Phil" Amy informed her casually
"Oh well he's not around" AJ shrugged "Try back once you're out of prison for violating a restraining order" she mocked and started to close the door but Frank pushed it back open
"I wasn't asking" Amy said entering the house
Punk stepped out of the shower and dried off and quickly got dressed. He was dressed nicely tonight, long sleeve button down black shirt, and nice jeans. He'd be playing if he weren't secretly hoping AJ would undress him the same way she did the last time he dressed up like this. As he entered his bedroom he froze upon seeing Amy sitting on the bed.
"Don't look so surprised" Amy said to him casually
"What are you doing here?" Punk asked her
"You refuse to return my calls, messages- it's insulting" Amy said to him
"Restraining order" was Punk's response to that
"Yea what is up with that?" Amy scoffed "I'm sure April put you up to that"
"Where is she?" Punk asked. As soon as she said his wife's name it clicked in his head.
"Who?" Amy asked innocently
"Damn it Amy!" Punk shouted causing her to flinch
"She's with Frank" Amy said to him. Punk turned and walked out of his room.
"AJ!" He yelled walking down the hall "AJ!" he yelled again when he didn't hear her call out to him
"She can't hear you" Amy said to him following him into the hallway. She was surprised when Punk grabbed her roughly by her shoulders and pushed her into the wall
"I'm not playing games here" Punk threatened "Where is she?"
"I like it when you hurt me" Amy smiled "Do it again"
"Where is she?" Punk asked again in a low voice
"I want five minutes of your time" Amy said to him "Five minutes and I'm gone forever"
"What?" Punk asked letting her go and stepping back
"You told me you weren't the marrying kind-" Amy started and Punk rolled his eyes
"Really Amy?" Punk asked her "That's what this is about? Get over it!"
"No!" Amy yelled back "You never loved me! You used me to keep your bed warm and then cast me aside when AJ was good and ready! I want you to admit you were wrong!"
"Jesus christ you broke into my home, you attacked AJ and you wont me to say I'm wrong?" Punk asked seriously "Maybe I didn't want to marry you because you're insane"
"And AJ is so much better?" Amy asked
"I'm not saying another word to you until I see my wife" Punk said to her "And if Frank put his hands on her I'll kill you both" he threatened
"He's been there and done that" Amy laughed "Look I just-"
"Enough!" Punk shouted starling her again "This isn't funny Amy I don't know what you were hoping to accomplish here but all you've done is piss me off! Where is my wife?"
"What does she have that I don't?" Amy asked desperately
"If I tell you will you just leave?" Punk asked and she nodded "She's loyal, honest, beautiful, thoughtful, generous, talented and funny and that's just the qualities you lack" he shot at her
"I loved you so much" Amy began to cry and Punk rolled his eyes and walked right past her and down the steps in search of AJ
"AJ!" He yelled out
"Stop walking away from me!" Amy screamed as she sobbed.
Punk headed into the kitchen where he saw Frank leaning against the pantry door.
"Let me out!" AJ yelled banging on the door and playing the doorknob.
"Get out" Punk warned pointing at Frank who quickly moved away from the door and AJ came flying out. Before Punk could even talk to her she lunged for Frank and started hitting him
"You ever put your hands on me again-" AJ threatened as she continued to hit him
"Ow!" Frank yelled trying to cover his head
"Stop" Punk warned grabbing AJ from around her waist
"No you stop" Amy said with tearful eyes but now holding a knife
"Put it down" Punk said to her as he stepped in front of AJ casually
"That's right protect your woman" Amy mocked "I don't want to hurt her it's never been about her- it's always been about you."
"Ok so AJ can leave and you and I could talk" Punk said remaining cool
"So she can call the cops?" Amy asked shaking her head "I'm not stupid Phil!"
"I'm not leaving you here" AJ hissed behind Punk
"You know what?" Amy asked "Just go and take Frank with you. This is between us" she said to AJ
"No" AJ said shaking her head
"Come on" Frank said reaching for her arm but Punk grabbed his first
"Touch her and you're dead a man" Punk warned
"I am so sick of this!" Amy screamed out "This is on you" she said placing the knife over her own wrist and cutting it deeply
"Oh my god!" AJ yelled out covering her mouth with her hands
"Jesus" Frank muttered
"Is this what you want?" Amy asked holding her wrist out "Does this make you happy?" she asked Punk
"Amy-" Punk started but she went to cut the other wrist but Punk grabbed her and tackled her to the ground. AJ ran over with a towel as Punk kicked the knife away
"Here put this on it" AJ said passing Punk the towel and he tightly wrapped it around her wrist "Call 9-1-1" she said turning to Frank
"This wasn't the plan" Frank said stunned
"Call!" AJ yelled out and Frank with shaky hands reached into his pocket and dialed
"Just hang on" Punk said looking down at Amy
"Just let me go" Amy said weakly shaking her head
"I want you gone not dead" Punk said to her
"I am dead without you" Amy whispered
The ambulance arrived and took Amy away while the police came and arrested Frank. AJ made sure to get one last swift kick at Frank before he was taken off. Punk was now on the roof of his building looking down at the busy city.
"Hey" AJ said coming out but he didn't even turn around. He felt her place a blanket around his shoulders and he smiled lightly "It's freezing" she noted
"Come here" He said grabbing her and wrapping the blanket around her as well
"Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital?" AJ asked him
"No I don't" Punk admitted "I don't want her to die- I don't want to see anyone take their own life like that but I'm not going to let her think it's changed things"
"I'm sorry you had to see that" AJ said to him honestly "I'm sure it wasn't easy"
"Well it can't be unseen" Punk said to her "What about you? Are you ok?"
"Yea" AJ said to him "Not a scratch on me"
"That prick" Punk muttered thinking about Frank
"He's a dope" AJ said to him "But it's not him I'm worried about"
"Amy is going to get the help she needs" Punk said to her "Maybe they'll figure out what the hell is wrong with her"
"She's heartbroken" AJ said to him and he frowned
"I've been heartbroken before and never took a knife to my own wrist" Punk pointed out
"I just hope she gets the help she really needs" AJ said to him "Seeing someone do that in my own house…" she trailed off unable to find the words. He kissed the side of her head as she rest against him.
"It was quit the sight" Punk agreed "I'll clean up the blood tonight"
"I already did" AJ said to him
"You shouldn't have done that" Punk said to her
"It's ok" she said to him "As much as this is bothering me I'm sure it's bothering you as well"
"I want to feel guilty" Punk said to her "I know she told me I pushed her to this but I don't and that's what makes me feel bad"
"It's not your fault" AJ insisted "You're a good man"
"If I'm so good why did I let it get to this point?" he asked his wife
"You didn't" AJ argued lightly "Obviously something is very off with Amy, it went beyond you. You can't stop living your life for people"
"Maybe I should have reached out" Punk said giving it some thought
"Maybe she would have done the same thing regardless" AJ said to him "The end result would have been the same each time"
"I'm sorry for all this" Punk said to her "You've dealt with so much of my crap this last year"
"Don't apologize" AJ whispered "It hasn't all been so bad"
"No it hasn't" Punk agreed
"And in two weeks we'll be at Wrestlemania" AJ pointed out "You're going to get your big moment and after that it'll be my turn. You won't have to work with Orton as much either"
"Thank god" Punk sighed with relief
"And we can go on that honeymoon" AJ pointed out and Punk smiled for the first time that evening
"Laying on the beach with you for a week is what's keeping me going" Punk said to her honestly
"So we're going somewhere warm?" AJ asked hopefully. He had been planning their honeymoon and keeping her in the dark.
"Oh yea" Punk confirmed "Nice and hot"
"Can I have a hint?" AJ asked him
"I just told you it's hot" Punk smirked "You'll love it"
"Ok" AJ said letting it go for now.
"I love you" Punk blurted out
"I know" AJ said happily snuggling further into him
"I wouldn't be able to get through all of this without you." Punk confided "I'm going to make this up to you"
"There's nothing to makeup" AJ said to him "You would do the same for me"
"In a heartbeat" he agreed holding just a little tighter
"By the way I think that anger management class paid off" AJ said proudly
"Oh yea?" he asked with a chuckle
"Yep you didn't even hit Frank once" AJ said to him
"That's right- you were the violent one tonight" Punk realized "Maybe you should be the one going to anger management"
"You would suggest that" AJ snorted
"I only didn't hit him because I was distracted by the giant knife. If Amy wasn't there it would have been his blood you were cleaning up tonight" Punk told her honestly
"I can't feel my toes" AJ noted shivering against Punk "Can you come back inside now?"
"Yea" He laughed lightly moving away from her but wrapping the blanket around her tighter "It's thirty degrees and you have no shoes on?" he scolded lightly
"I didn't think we'd be out here this long" AJ said "I think they're frozen solid" She felt Punk pick up her and he held her bridal style and lead her back into the house.
"You're so good to me" She said happily kissing his cheek "My very own white knight"
"I've been called a lot of things in my life but never white knight" Punk smirked dropping AJ off on their bed
"That just means no one knows you well enough and that's a shame" she noted
"The only person that matters to me is you" he informed her