Chapter 4: Opportunity Knocks
The weekend came and went and April found herself looking more forward to Monday night. Punk had kept in touch with April over the next two days and she was enjoying their playful banter.
"This place sucks" Jewel said to April as she sat on her couch/bed
"It's home" April shrugged
"Why don't you just let Punk put you up?" Jewel asked
"He didn't offer to put me up" April mocked "He offered to put me through wrestling school"
"Same difference" Jewel said to her "Why are you fighting this?"
"I told him I'd think about it" April said to him
"What's to fucking think about?" Jewel shouted out "The most famous wrestler of today's era wants to help you and you're fighting him!"
"I don't want to be his charity case" April admitted
"You like him don't you?" Jewel teased
"I didn't say that" April said to her
"You do" Jewel laughed standing up and pointing at her "That's why it's taking you so long to get ready"
"He said he was going to introduce me to some people tonight" April said to her
"Right" Jewel laughed "So you think he won't want to date you if he's helping you?" she asked trying to make sense of this
"Look at me" April exclaimed "Look where I live!"
"So?" Jewel asked folding her arms
"I'm a poor girl from New Jersey who wrestles in a gym once a week" April said to her "CM Punk is a millionaire who performs for millions of people"
"He obviously sees something in you" Jewel said to her
"What could he possibly see?" April questioned "I'm just a waitress in Tampa. I don't even have a bedroom"
"No more of this nonsense" Jewel said hushing her "You're an amazingly strong woman and I think Punk likes that"
"He doesn't see me like that" April said to her "He told me that"
"He only said that because you put him on the spot" Jewel said to her "He spent the entire week in Tampa because of you"
"He has a show today" April said to her
"Speaking of we're going to be late so hurry up and get dressed" Jewel said to her
"Ok, ok" April said putting a t-shirt on
"You should wear one of your twenty CM Punk t-shirts" Jewel teased
"Oh my god I don't want to scare him off" April laughed "Ok let's go" she said finally happy with her choice of clothing.
She texted Punk like he instructed her to do once she got to the arena. He told her once she handed her ticket in to speak to walk over to the security guard at the door.
"Hi" April said nervously to the WWE security guard
"No you can't get backstage" the guard said gruffly
"No-" April started
"CM Punk is expecting us" Jewel spoke up behind April
"April Mendez?" the guard asked in a much nicer tone and she nodded "Sorry about that" he said pulling out two passes for her and Jewel. "Just put those on and go down the hall and on the left is catering that's where he'll meet you" he said opening the side door for her
"Thank you" April said shyly and Jewel just followed her in
"I can't believe we're here" Jewel whispered into her ear "Oh my god April look" she said pointing down the hall
"Don't point" April warned lowering her hand
"It's Randy Orton!" Jewel said squealing
"Stop" April hissed "Do not cause a scene and embarrass me" she warned her friend
"This is insane" Jewel said happily "This is everything we've ever wanted!"
"We're just visiting" April reminded her
"April?" John Cena asked. He looked completely confused to the friendly waitress from across his gym backstage
"Hi John" April said politely
"This is the last place I ever expected to see you" John said to her with a smile "You looking for Langston?"
"No she's here with me" Punk said coming up behind John and joining the three
"I didn't realize you two knew each other" John said confused
"I didn't realize you knew April" Punk countered
"April works the independent scene" John said not sure April wanted Punk knowing she was really just the waitress from across the street
"I also work as a waitress at one of your favorite spots" April teased "That's how we met actually" she said to John and he nodded "He was with Langston"
"You went out with the guys?" John asked Punk with a grin
"Shut up" Punk warned him
"Fine" John laughed "April I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon and –" he said not knowing Jewel's name
"Jewel" she said eagerly shaking his hand "Huge fan!"
"Thank you" John smiled then walked off
"Jewel right?" Punk asked extending his hand to her
"Hi thank you for having me" Jewel said to him
"No problem" Punk said to her "Langston is in catering if you don't mind hanging out with him for a bit? I need to borrow April for a little"
"Sure take her for good for all I care" Jewel laughed "I'll catch up with you in a little"
"She seems nice" Punk said to April
"Yea she's a real ball of laughs" April smirked "Seriously thank you for having us tonight"
"Thank you for coming" Punk said to her "Come here" he said leading her down a different hallway "Bill!" Punk shouted calling over the trainer from NXT.
"Hey is this her?" Bill asked looking over to the two
"This is April" Punk said to her and Bill shook her hand
"Bill DeMott" he said to her and she nodded "I'm-"
"One of the best trainers in the world" April said feeling very star struck
"She didn't get that from me" Punk said to Bill seriously
"I like her already" Bill laughed "Punk here tells me you're quit the wrestler"
"I guess" April said to him shyly
"Rule number one if you want to make it in this business don't sell yourself short" Bill said to her
"Ok" April said nervously
"Don't scare her off" Punk said to him
"Wouldn't dream of it" Bill said to him with a chuckle "Anyway Punk has really bragged about you and I have to say I'm intrigued I want to see what you've got"
"Right now?" April asked surprised and both let out a laugh
"No down at the performance center" Bill said to her "How about Thursday morning?"
"Yea ok" April said flabbergasted
"Great" Bill said shaking her hand again "I'll see you at ten am sharp" he then walked off
"You got me a tryout with the WWE?" April asked Punk
"It's a tryout to be trained by the WWE" Punk said to her "If they like you you'll train here in Tampa and maybe get called up to NXT eventually and after that to TV. This way it's not handout either they actually pay you if you make it through. If you don't make it we can go back to talking about schools"
"Why are you doing all of this for me?" April asked him
"Because I think you're good" Punk insisted "And sometimes you need someone to take a chance on you. Someone did it for me and now I'm doing it for you"
"Paul Heyman?" April asked
"You've watched my DVD" Punk smirked
"Maybe once" April said casually
"Right" Punk laughed
"I don't want to embarrass you" April said to him "I wasn't ready for this"
"You'll do fine" Punk said to her "You'd embarrass me if you didn't show"
"Oh I'll be there" April promised
"Good" Punk said to her
"I shouldn't even be here right now I should be working out and training" April said to him
"Training where?" Punk asked arching a brow "I thought you ditched your trainer"
"Jason isn't a bad guy" April said to him
"I know guys like Jason" Punk informed her "He wants to get into your pants"
"And he knows that's not going to happen" April said to him "He apologized for what he said"
"Did he apologize for touching you?" Punk asked her surprising her
"What?" April asked
"I saw him April" Punk said to her knowing "I saw him wrap his arms around you"
"It's really not your business" April said to him but he was just trying to help her "He did apologize for that though"
"Good" Punk said to her "If you want I could help you out I know what to expect"
"Now you want to help me train?" April asked him and he shrugged
"Yea I mean I know what kind of drills he's going to run" Punk said to her
"Don't you have to go home?" April asked him
"You don't want my help?" Punk asked with a laugh
"Of course I do" April said to him quickly "It's just you've already done a lot I'm not used to this"
"Used to someone helping you?" Punk asked
"Someone caring" April corrected and Punk could have sworn he felt his heart ache a bit if that was even possible.
"Well we're friends and I take care of my friends" Punk said to her
"In that case I accept the help" April smiled at him then froze as she looked over his shoulder "Oh my god it's Paul Heyman" she said like a typical fan
"Hey Paul!" Punk shouted waving him over and April watched as Paul made his way over. "I want you to meet a friend of mine"
"A friend?" Paul asked with a laugh "Hold on let me get my camera and call the media" he teased "Oh hello there" he said noticing AJ extending his hand "Aren't you a pretty little thing?"
"Paul Heyman just called me pretty" April said blushing and then felt Paul kiss the top of her hand lightly and she thought she was going to faint. She started to giggle and Punk couldn't help but laugh.
"I like her" Paul said dropping her hand
"I-" April couldn't even speak
"You were just chatting with John Cena and didn't have this reaction when I met you" Punk noted
"This is Paul Heyman" April said to Punk seriously
"That's right" Paul said to Punk seriously "I'm also the most attractive one out of the three of us"
"Are you flirting with her?" Punk asked Paul with a laugh
"Are you dating her?" Paul shot back then smiled towards April "What's your name sweetheart?"
"April" April said to him quietly
"Pretty name" Paul said to her "And you're a friend of Punk's huh?"
"Yea" April said to him
"She's the wrestler I told you about" Punk said to him and now Paul looked embarrassed
"Oh" Paul said sounding more professional "Sorry" he mouthed to Punk then looked back at April "April it's lovely to finally put a face to the woman that he's been bragging about discovering"
"He bragged about me?" April asked Paul and shot Punk a smirk
"Oh yea for days now" Paul said to her seriously "You can't hold a tray but you can DDT someone straight to hell"
"That's me" April laughed at the accurate description
Later that night April and Jewel were seated ringside for the show. She didn't want that but Punk insisted.
"These seats are crazy" Jewel said to April as they watched Beth wrestle Eve. "That's going to be you soon"
"I have a tryout to train they're not offering me a contract" April said to her
"Not yet" Jewel said to her "But they will soon if they wanted to make money. Just don't forget me when you become famous"
"Never" April smiled "You'll be here someday soon too"
"I think what happens to you is once in a lifetime" Jewel smirked "I swear I think Beth is giving you the evil eye"
"What?" April asked her "No way"
"She knows you're with Punk" Jewel said to her
"Don't be stupid" April said to her "I'm not with him in that way"
"She doesn't know that" Jewel said to her.
Once the match was over and Beth had won she could have sworn Beth really did shoot her a glare.
"You could take her" Jewel teased elbowing April.
It was now time for the main event and Punk was wrestling Daniel Bryan in it. When Punk made his way down to the ring and pulled his shirt off he tossed it right to April just like he had promised her he would do.
"He's want you" Jewel whispered to her
"Hush" April warned
"How could not want him?" Jewel asked "Look at him" Jewel said eyeing him fondly
"He's not a piece of meat" April scolded
"Damn ok" Jewel laughed
"But he does look good" April agreed with a laugh.
After the show April was waiting for Punk in the catering area just like she had promised.
"Where's your friend?" Punk asked taking a seat next to her
"She's off trying to sneak into the men's locker room" April laughed
"Oh that was her" Punk smirked "Did you have fun?"
"I had a blast" April said to him "Thanks again"
"Anytime" Punk said to her "So I have to work Smackdown tomorrow but I can drive back Wednesday and work with you"
"I have a shift until three" April said to him "But after that I'm free"
"Good" Punk said to her "We'll go to Hard Nocks"
"John's gym?" April asked him and he nodded "He doesn't just let anyone in there"
"You're not just anyone" Punk smirked
"Is he ok with this?" April asked
"Yea he is" Punk said to her "Stop worrying so much"
"I can't help it" April said to him "I'm so excited though I don't think I could sleep if I tried"
"Well you're going to need it because trust me Bill isn't going to take it easy on you" Punk warned
"I can take it" April said proudly
"Oh I don't doubt it" Punk grinned
"Oh this is yours" April said passing him his t-shirt
"Keep it" Punk insisted
"Thanks" April said grateful that he said that, she really did want to keep it.
"Look-" Punk started but stopped when he heard voices call out April's name
"April!" Dean Ambrose grinned walking over to her "I thought that was you in the front row"
"Hey guys" she said to Dean, Seth and Roman
"We heard you got a tryout" Roman said to her "Congratulations"
"Thanks" April smiled
"If you need help with anything let us know" Seth insisted
"I will" April said to them
"Seriously anything at all" Dean said to her "You give us free cake every week we would like to return the favor" he teased
"Speaking of will you boys be in tomorrow night?" April asked
"Hell yes" Roman laughed "And you better be there too"
"I will" April said to him
"Free cake?" Dean asked hopefully
"Maybe" she giggled. Punk couldn't hold back his smile every time she laughed or giggled it made him smile- what was happening to him?
"We're heading out see you tomorrow April" Seth said to her
"I should be going too" April said to him
"How did you get here?" Punk asked knowing she didn't drive
"Jewel drove" April said standing up "I'll see you on Wednesday" she said to him
"Yes you will" he assured her and she quickly reached up to kiss his cheek then practically raced down the hallway. Punk moved his hand over his cheek and smiled lightly
"Holy crap" Paul Heyman said in a slow voice
"What?" Punk asked
"I've never seen you act this way" Paul said in awe "And I've known you for years"
"What are you talking about?" Punk asked him
"You just touched your cheek" Paul pointed out
"I did not" Punk defended
"Yes you did!" Paul shouted pointing at him "She kissed your cheek and you touched it!"
"I thought she got lipstick on me" Punk defended
"She wasn't wearing lipstick" Paul said almost disgusted "You've got it bad!"
"She's a good wrestler" Punk said to him
"I'm sure she is and I'm sure that just adds more to the attraction" Paul said to him "But I also noticed her little comic t-shirt, I also so you toss her your shirt and I just saw you touch your cheek!"
"What do you want me to say Paul?" Punk asked
"Say that you like her" Paul laughed "She clearly makes you happy. You've spent the entire week with her"
"I didn't spend the entire week with her" Punk said to him "I saw her for a total of an hour on three separate days"
"There's nothing to be ashamed of" Paul said to her "Is this because she's a waitress?"
"You think I care about that Paul?" Punk asked "And I don't like her like that I like her as a person. She's a sweet good girl"
"A sweet good girl?" Paul laughed
"She doesn't have it easy" Punk said to him "I just want to help her get her foot in the door that's all"
"Ok" Paul said to him "But I totally approve if you wanted my opinion"
"Nope didn't want your opinion at all" Punk said to him and Paul just smirked
"Alright well I'll see you tomorrow" Paul said to him "But if you're not interested in April like that could you pass my number a long to her?" he teased and Punk shot him a glare
"Sure" Punk choked out "You don't think she's a little young for you?"
"No" Paul said seriously then walked out of catering
"So how did you get this audition again?" Jason asked April as she sat in the gym and informed him she had a big tryout Thursday.
"Punk set it up for me" April said to him
"CM Punk?" Jason asked surprised "Wow"
"What?" April asked
"I just didn't think you were his type that's all" Jason said to her
"It's not like that" April said to him
"No I'm sure it's not but the man has a reputation" Jason pointed out
"Couldn't be any worse than yours" April shot back and Jason laughed
"Alright I accept that" Jason smirked "So what do you want from me?"
"I need to work tonight" April said to him "Please?"
"No cash?" Jason asked
"I've got twenty" she said reaching into her purse and passing it to him and he accepted it "I'll pay you back I swear"
"Yea you will" Jason said seriously "But I want to see you do succeed"
"Really?" April asked
"No matter how often we fight you know I love you kid" Jason smirked
"I know" April said to him "Thank you for doing this"
"Just remember me when you're training at NXT" Jason said to her "And next Friday when you get paid" he added quickly
"You really think I'll make it?" April asked
"I think you'll make it past the audition" Jason said to her "I don't think you'll make it on TV even for NXT" April felt her chest tighten. "It's nothing personal April" she looked like she was about to cry.
"I know" April said forcing a smile "It's just really weird how someone like Punk who doesn't even know me believes me so much and someone who I've known for so long doesn't"
"Punk likes charity cases" Jason shrugged "Look you're good I'll give you that and I think you should take this opportunity because you'd be stupid not to if you want I'll come with you"
"Really?" April asked
"Of course I've been working with you for too long not to see this through for you" Jason smiled and gave her a hug "No funny business I swear" he said
"No more sappy crap" April said pulling away "Help me be great"
"We don't have that much time" Jason teased "But we'll make it work"