Chapter 3: Showtime
April was in the gym locker room getting dressed for the show. One thing she truly hated about this small circuit she was in was her wrestling attire. But she knew this was just part of the job. She had on a studded black bra, and short spandex black shorts. She observed herself in the mirror and frowned she just wasn't confident enough for some of this yet.
"Hey kid" a friendly voice rang out
"Hey Jewel" April smiled "I didn't know you were working tonight"
"I'm not" Jewel said to her "I'm just here for moral support" she said giving April a hug "You look hot by the way"
"Thanks" April said shyly covering her exposed stomach with her arms
"Oh stop it" Jewel scolded removing her arms "You look great! And I'm going to do your makeup"
"You're a life savor" April sighed with a smile
"I've been called worse" Jewel grinned "And there's some crowd out there
"Really?" April asked taking a seat as Jewel pulled out some makeup from her bag
"Yea they thought there'd be thirty but there's got to be at least seventy-five" Jewel said to her "It's very packed out there"
"Anyone of interest out there?" April asked
"Like who?" Jewel laughed as she applied eye makeup to April "Langston is there"
"Is he with anyone?" April asked almost hopefully
"Christy I think" Jewel said to her "Are you expecting someone?"
"No" April answered quickly
"Jason is there too" Jewel said to her
"Great" April said to her with a groan
"It's nice he's here to support you" Jewel said to him
"No he's here because I shorted him last night" April said to her
"Why don't you just suck it up and bang his brains out?" Jewel asked casually
"Jesus Jewel really?" April asked disgusted
"Hey he's not bad" Jewel said to her "And thanks to all of the money I saved I was able to get an air conditioner"
"I'm not doing that" April said to her seriously
"Ok but I'm just saying don't knock it until you try it" Jewel grinned
"Enough" April said to her
"So when are you up?" Jewel asked as she continued to apply makeup to April
"Half hour mark" April said to her and Jewel nodded
"Good spot" Jewel said to her as she finished up "Here just some lip gloss" she said passing April the item
"Thanks again" April said standing up and applied the lip gloss looking at herself in the mirror.
"Are you ok?" Jewel asked her "You seem off"
"I just wish I had gotten more training in that's all" April said to her "Are you still coming to Raw with me Monday?"
"Of course" Jewel assured her
A half hour into the show April made her way out to the ring and glanced towards the crowd and saw Langston there with his girlfriend. Both were the loudest in the small gym. She didn't know why but she turned and glanced towards the door and saw someone she thought was Punk but couldn't be sure since his hood was up and his hands were in his pocket. He was standing in a dimly lit part of the gym but she still wasn't sure it was him. She also knew she couldn't worry about that right now, right now she had a match and treated every single one like it was her last.
Her and her opponent Rae wrestled for a good fifteen minutes and the crowd seemed to be into it. Rae was double April's size and she took a lot of hard hits. Rae was also the favorite, she always was. She had worked these shows for years and she picked up the victory for the evening. Rae had her arm raised in victory while April rubbed the back of her neck and carefully rolled out of the ring. April was never scripted to win any matches due to her size and that just motivated her to try harder. But she wasn't mad or disappointed she knew she put on a good show tonight and that was why she loved this business.
"Good job kid" Langston said giving her a hug
"Seriously you kicked ass April" Christy smiled giving her a hug as well.
"Thanks and thank you for coming out tonight" April said. She noticed the man by the door she thought was Punk was gone.
"No problem" Langston said to her "Seriously you took some hard hits do you need some ice?"
"Nope" April said plastering on a smile.
"Your friend is outside" Langston whispered
"Why are you whispering?" Christy asked him "No one is around"
"Oh well in that case Punk wants to meet you outside" Langston said to her
"He showed?" April asked and Langston nodded
"Yea he just didn't want to get spotted" Langston said to her "He's out back" he said to her
"Ok thanks!" April said happily and skipped off towards the exit
"She likes him" Christy said with a smile
"No she's a fan" Langston corrected
"No she's got it bad" Christy said with a laugh "And so does he. Not many WWE champs sulk around gyms to watch wrestling matches"
"He's curious" Langston defended
"What is your problem?" Christy asked "What's wrong with him liking her?"
"He's not a one woman type of guy" Langston said to her "Also at the end of the day April is a waitress- there's nothing wrong with that" he added quickly before Christy could argue "He's dated professional athletes and models"
"April is an athlete" Christy pointed out "And shame on you for thinking Punk is so shallow"
"He is!" Langston said with a laugh "He's intrigued today and tomorrow he'll be over her. And it's April who is going to be hurt and I don't want to see that happen"
April ventured outside into the parking lot and looked around. She didn't see Punk anywhere.
"April" a voice called out. And it wasn't Punk's.
"Hey Jason" April said turning to look at him
"Do you have the money?" he asked her
"You're not even going to comment on my match?" she asked reaching into her bra and pulling out a ten and a five and passing it to him.
"It was ok" Jason shrugged "You lost"
"Yea but-" April started
"What have I always told you April it's about winning" Jason said to her
"I had fun" April defended folding her arms
"That's great but you know what would be more fun?" he asked her and she rolled her eyes "Winning. Maybe if you took our sessions a little more seriously you would be winning"
"I do take them seriously" April defended "You're the one who wouldn't work past two hours last night"
"You're the one who showed up short on cash" Jason pointed out quickly "Are you coming in tonight?"
"No" April said to him
"Why is that?" Jason frowned
"I don't have the cash tonight" April said to him
"Where does your tip money go?" Jason asked her
"Food" April said to him "I have to eat"
"You're on a liquid diet for a reason" Jason said shaking his head
"I broke another dish today and I paid for it out of my tips" April admitted
"How someone like you who can barely walk and talk at the same time can wrestle so seamlessly is beyond me" Jason groaned
"So you thought I was good?" April asked with a goofy smile causing him to smirk
"You were good" Jason confirmed and April felt better "But you could be better. Come by tonight and we'll work on a few techniques"
"I don't have the cash" April reminded him
"I know" Jason said to her
"I'm also not sleeping with you" April added quickly and Jason rolled his eyes
"Yes you've made that very clear" Jason laughed "Just for an hour I can squeeze you in"
"Ok thanks" she said kissing his cheek "You're the best"
"You have no idea" Jason remarked arrogantly then winked at her before walking away.
"Nice guy" a voice said behind April causing her to jump
"You made it" April said with a smile
"Yea I thought you spotted me" Punk said with his hands still in his pockets
"I wasn't sure it was you" April said to him "What did you think?"
"I'm proud to say I was impressed" Punk admitted. That was such a huge compliment coming from him. "You really are good"
"You seem surprised" April teased
"I meet a lot of people who want to be wrestlers" Punk smirked "Never met one who actually backed it up before"
"That really means a lot" April said to him trying to hide her smile
"So that's the guy who trains you?" Punk asked her
"Oh yea that was Jason" April said to him
"Why don't you go to a real school?" Punk asked her "This guy is bleeding you dry he just wants money"
"It's all I can afford" April said to him "And he's made me this good so far"
"No you have a natural talent" Punk corrected "If anything you're being held back. Let me set you up with a school I know a few good ones out here"
"That's ok" April said to him "I'm doing just fine"
"Are you?" Punk asked her "This is what you've been working for isn't it?" he asked her "Congratulations you've been noticed let me help make you a star"
"By paying for me to go to wrestling school?" April asked
"What's wrong with that?" Punk asked her
"I've worked really hard to get here and I know it's not much but I'm proud of where I am today and I don't need a handout" April said to him
"So why did you invite me here if you didn't want help?" Punk asked her
"Excuse me?" April asked "I didn't invite you Langston did"
"You didn't tell me not to come" Punk pointed out "This is your way out and I want to help so let me"
"I thought you came because-" April started then stopped
"No finish what you were going to say" Punk said to her
"It's nothing" April said to him "Thanks again for coming and you should stay and watch the rest of the show there's a lot of great wrestlers"
"I don't want to see anyone else" he told her honestly
"Well I have to go train" April said to him
"You could be in a school with professionals teaching you instead of some horny juice head" Punk spat
"You really do have a way with words" April mocked
"Go train for a few weeks and I'll see to it you get a try out with WWE" Punk promised her
"You've seen me wrestle once" April pointed out
"I liked what I saw" Punk said to her
"You don't know me" April shot back at him "Maybe you're the horny one"
"Wow" Punk whistled than grinned "Sweetheart if you think I'm offering you this to get laid you're mistaken. I don't need to try this hard and no offense you're not my type kid"
"Kid" April muttered. Punk saw that he had hurt her and he already regretted saying what he did.
"I didn't mean-" Punk started
"I thought you came here because you liked me" April said bluntly and Punk certainly respected it "I thought-" she started but stopped when she noticed how carefully he was listening to him "It's nothing" she whispered "I'm sorry for blowing up on you" she said to him "And thank you for the generous offer but I'm doing fine on my own. Have a good night Punk"
"April wait" Punk started but she just headed back inside.
April had headed over to Jason's gym and the two worked out for an hour just like he promised. The gym was still open since it was early enough but he had the back room closed off for them.
"You've got to work on your form" Jason said to her as he watched her collect things
"I know" April said to him
"You could always stay another hour" Jason said walking up behind up and running his hands down her arms and resting his chin on her shoulder
"I told you no" April said pulling away
"Alright I get it" Jason said with a laugh
"Do you?" April asked harshly "Every night you do this and every night the response is the same. You're really starting to make me uncomfortable" she scolded
"I'm just messing around" Jason insisted "But if you can find someone else out there who is willing to help you for the amount of money I charge you than just get out"
"You'd be surprised" April said almost smugly
"Oh really?" Jason laughed "I should be charging you extra April and maybe I just might"
"You can't do that" April said shaking her head. Neither noticed the shadow entering the room.
"Sure I can I make the prices" Jason reminded her "65 bucks just isn't enough money for the amount of aggravation you give me. Eighty bucks starting Sunday"
"That's not fair" April argued
"Where does your money even go April?" Jason mocked "You don't drive, you live in a shit hole apartment I don't think you even have power on in it! And you work"
"I have bills to pay" April defended
"Well maybe you need to start prioritizing what's more important in your life" Jason said to her
"I don't need you" April said suddenly "You're just holding me back" she said using Punk's words from earlier
"I'm holding you back?" Jason asked with a laugh
"I'm going to make it and you're going to be kicking yourself" April shot at him
"I've been working with you for over a year" Jason reminded her "I work with all the girls in Tampa as a matter of fact and not one of them has walked away from me or given me the trouble you give me!"
"Maybe because you don't charge them what you charge me!" April yelled back
"Oh they compensate April" Jason smirked "Go ahead walk out the doors but don't you dare come back in here tomorrow night crying that you need me because I'm not going to give a shit" he warned her "You're too small April you're never going to get further than this and you know that so do all of your buddies they just don't want to hurt your feelings sweetheart"
"Don't call me that" April warned
"Oh come on now" Jason laughed "Seriously though you walk out those doors don't bother coming back unless you have something more for me" he said eyeing her "As a matter of fact I think getting laid is exactly what you need because you are such an uptight-" he didn't finish because April slapped him hard across the face
"I'm done with you" April informed him.
"You've blown it this time" Jason warned rubbing his cheek "You'll never work in Tampa again" he said to her.
"We'll just see about that" April said slinging her bag over her shoulder and turning around and once she did she noticed Punk leaning against the wall by the door. "Punk" she said stunned
"Sorry for dropping by unannounced" Punk said standing straight now and scratching the back of his head nervously "I wanted to apologize"
"Now isn't the time" April said to him "Could we just talk outside?"
"Holy shit" Jason said eyeing CM Punk then smiled "You're CM Punk" Punk looked over to Jason.
"That's how you train?" Punk asked him
"What?" Jason asked with a laugh
"Punk" April whispered
"You passed on me helping you for free for this guy?" Punk asked April but pointing towards Jason.
"CM Punk offered to train you?" Jason asked April
"That wasn't exactly your offer" April reminded him and he just offered a faint smile
"Can we talk about it?" Punk asked
"Sure" April said just wanting to get out of the room "Not here"
"Of course" Punk said stepping aside so April could leave the room.
"I'm a huge fan" Jason said extending his hand to Punk.
"Is that how you treat all the women you swindle for cash?" Punk asked refusing to take Jason's hand
"It's business" Jason said to him
"It's not wrestling business" Punk mocked "April is really good and she credits you for it"
"Really?" Jason asked
"Yea" Punk said with a laugh "You blew it. Because when she takes off and believe me she will you could have had her in your corner"
"April is too small" Jason reminded him
"People said the same thing about me" Punk said to him
"If you offered to help her why did she even bother to come here?" Jason asked him
"She's loyal" Punk informed him "I've only known her for a few days and even I can see that. That's an awesome quality"
"Sure" Jason agreed. Punk just eyed the man from head to toe in an attempt to intimidate him and it clearly worked "Nice meeting you Punk" Jason said to him and Punk just nodded and left the same way April did.
April was outside the entrance of the gym waiting for Punk who eventually ventured out.
"Hey" Punk said as if nothing had happened today.
"Hi" April said slowly "What are you doing here? How did you know I was here?"
"Langston told me where you train" Punk admitted "I got here by driving my rental" he added with a grin knowing that's not what she meant. "I really came to apologize"
"Why?" April asked
"Because I didn't mean to upset you" Punk said to her "You had a good match and I didn't want to be the reason your night was dampened"
"You didn't" April said to him
"Yea I'm sure Jason there didn't help much" Punk smirked "But it is nice since he made me look like less of a jerk"
"I don't think you're a jerk" April admitted "I don't even think Jason is"
"Really?" Punk asked stunned "I mean that guy is a little jerk"
"We fight like this every other week" April said to him "He always apologizes"
"Look I really want to talk to you about this but I'd prefer to do it at a table" Punk said to her
"There's no table here" April said looking around the sidewalk causing him to chuckle
"Well let me take you to a place with a table" Punk laughed "Preferably where we could a coffee and something I can eat"
"Are you asking me out?" April asked him
"Just for coffee" Punk defended "I'm not trying to get into your pants or anything" he added quickly
"I'm an idiot" April groaned feeling embarrassed "I shouldn't have said that"
"You say what you feel I respect that" Punk smirked "Come on" He said walking over to his rental and unlocking it "I wont bite" he teased opening the passenger side door. April just smiled and stepped into the car.
April and Punk went to a local diner (one she did not work at thankfully) and were actually having a good time and conversation. They barely even spoke about wrestling they started talking about video games then moved onto comics.
"I really wish you'd reconsider the wrestling school" Punk insisted "People with your passion would kill for this opportunity"
"I know" April said to him "I'm just not big on hand outs"
"It's not a hand out" Punk said to her "Think of it as a scholarship" he said to her casually as he sipped on his coffee
"That's a way to look at it" April smirked
"So is that a yes?" Punk asked hopefully
"I'll think about it" April said to him "Can I think about it?" she asked
"Sure" Punk said to her then picked up his phone "I'm going to need your phone number"
"Oh ok" April said taking his phone and punching her number in
"So you're still coming on Monday right?" Punk asked her as she passed his phone back to him
"Yea I wouldn't miss it" April said to him
"Good there's a few people I want you to meet" Punk said to her "Just to help you make the right decision" he added quickly
"Would your girlfriend mind you helping me?" April asked casually sipping on her coffee. Punk knew it was her attempt to find out if he had someone in his life and he respected her even more for it.
"No" Punk said to her "I don't have a girlfriend and even if I did I would help you anyway. So since you asked me a personal question can I ask you one?"
"The girlfriend question was personal?" April smirked
"Yes" Punk said simply
"Sure go ahead" April said amused
"How come you're here alone?" Punk asked her "Where's your family?"
"Puerto Rico" April said simply
"Yea Langston mentioned that to me but I just can't help but wonder how your family would be ok with you being so young in Tampa by yourself" Punk said to her
"I've been in Tampa for two years" April said to him "My family isn't supportive of my wrestling dream"
"I'm sorry to hear that" Punk said to her honestly "So you just left?"
"It wasn't easy" April admitted "It was nice to have a solid rough over my head and a stocked out kitchen every night" she smiled "But I'm happy with where I am"
"Good for you" Punk said sipping on his coffee
"Are you happy?" April asked
"With what?" Punk asked her
"Where you are?" April asked "You have it all" she noted "Money, fame, the championship- but you just don't seem happy"
"You're right" Punk said to her "Am I that obvious?"
"No" April said to him "But your eyes are a dead giveaway"
"Really?" Punk asked surprised
"Yea your eyes are sad" April noted
"I think you have that confused with exhaustion" Punk smirked
"Maybe" she shrugged "You do have to travel a lot"
"Yea the road is long and lonely sometimes" Punk said to her
"But you have friends" April pointed out
"I have one or two" Punk said to her
"I'm sure you have more than that" April said to him
"You'd be surprised" Punk smirked
"Well now you have three friends" April said to him causing him to crack another smile
"You want to be my friend?" Punk asked her
"Yea" April said to him "If you'll have me"
"What can you offer me?" Punk asked seriously
"Maybe the fact that you interview for friends is the reason you don't have many" April teased causing him to laugh
"Ok well so far you make me laugh, you play games, you read comics and you're loyal" Punk noted "I don't think I want you to be my friend I think I want to marry you" he said causing her to giggle "Alright friends" Punk said to her and she extended her hand to him "Seriously?"
"Yea let's shake on it" April said and Punk took her hand and shook it. He was completely enthralled with small wrestler and he didn't know why. But being around her certainly perked up his mood.