Chapter 5: House Visit
April headed into work on Tuesday morning on time thankfully. She was way too excited to sleep last night. Thursday was the big break she was looking for.
"Are my eyes deceiving me?" Hector asked rubbing his eyes dramatically "You're early for a shift?"
"That's right" April said proudly
"You make me proud kid" Hector grinned "If you don't drop anything today I'll swear you're not you and a twin" he laughed
"Well I need a favor actually" April said and Hector's smile faded
"Of course" Hector groaned "What is it April?"
"I know I'm supposed to open Thursday-" April started
"What came up now?" Hector asked dramatically
"I respect you so I'm going to be honest with you" April said to him seriously "I have a tryout with the WWE" and he roared in laughter
"That's a creative story" Hector said laughing hard
"It's true" April defended "My friend Punk-"
"CM Punk?" Hector asked
"You've seen him here the last few days" April reminded him "He set this up for me"
"April" Hector said still amused "If you just want the day off just ask don't make up a lie like that"
"It's not a lie" April argued "I'll come in right after I just don't know how long it will take"
"April the guys come in here all of the time and they're just humoring you because that's what they do for the fans" Hector said to her
"I'm a good wrestler" April argued and Hector just nodded "And I'm going to prove it"
"What time is this tryout?" Hector asked her folding his arms
"Nine" April said to him
"Come in as soon you're done" Hector said to her seriously "Without whatever it is you're doing"
"I told you I have a tryout" April frowned
"Right" Hector grinned "You can start work now to make up for Thursday" he instructed her
"Ok" April said grabbing her apron and wrapping it around her waist. Another person who had zero faith in her but that all just motivated her. "Thanks Hector I'll try not to forget you when I'm famous" she smirked causing him to let out a laugh
"You remind me of my own daughter" Hector grinned "That's the only reason you still have a job"
"Yea, yea" April sighed, he told her that at least ten times a shift.
Punk was backstage at SmackDown taping up his hands and warming up for his match when Langston approached him.
"Hey man" Langston said causing Punk to pull off his headphones
"Hey wasn't expecting to see you tonight" Punk noted eyeing the large man
"Yea I'm working a dark match tonight" Langston said to him "I just wanted to talk to you about April"
"She ok?" Punk asked him unsurely
"Yea as far as I know" Langston shrugged "But I have to ask- I know this could get me in trouble but I'm pretty much all April has so I'm going to ask anyway, what are you doing?"
"I'm getting her a tryout with NXT" Punk informed him coolly "That a problem for you?"
"No I mean as long as that's all there is" Langston said to him and Punk smirked and stood up tall to be eyelevel with Langston
"What do you mean by that?" Punk asked
"April is a good kid" Langston said to him "She doesn't have it easy, wrestling is all she has so I hope you're doing this for her career and not for a personal gain"
"You think I'm just trying to sleep with her?" Punk asked amused
"I don't know you that well at all" Langston defended "But I know your reputation"
"You think I would go through all of this trouble for a girl I just wanted to fuck?" Punk mocked "It's not your business" he said to him "But I respect the fact that you're looking out for your friend"
"She's easy to take advantage of" Langston clarified
"Yea I get that" Punk snorted "Why don't you have this discussion with her trainer? I'm not doing this for money like he is or to get into her pants. She reminds me of myself"
"Yea well I can see that" Langston smirked "I worry about her that's all"
"Good somebody should" Punk said to him "But something tells me April can take care of herself" he said to him "She accused me of the same thing you just did"
"She did?" Langston laughed "She doesn't really hold back"
"No and I like that about her" Punk admitted "But what I really like is the fact that she wrestles and not just good- she's great"
"I told you" Langston smirked
"I want to help her and be her friend that's all" Punk said to him
"Cool" Langston said to him "Sorry to come at you like this but like I said I'm April's family and if I didn't say something it would eat at me"
"I get that" Punk nodded
"So you mentioned her trainer, you met Jason?" Langston asked
"Yea once" Punk said to him "He's a dick"
"Those are the kind of people April insists on surrounding herself with" Langston confided "Me not included obviously" he laughed
"Well that explains why she hangs around me" Punk chuckled "I'm not looking for anything more than the satisfaction of helping somebody" he said to Langston innocently
"Right" Langston smiled "Well see you later, good luck tonight"
"Wait" Punk said stopping him "Do you have her address? I told her I'd be in tomorrow to help her train but I'm going to drive up tonight after the show"
"She'll probably be at the gym or at work" Langston said to him with a laugh "She's usually never anywhere else, she doesn't really go home often"
"What do you mean?" Punk asked
"She usually either works through the night or trains" Langston said writing down her address "She's probably home for four hours max a week" he said passing the paper over to him
"Thanks" Punk said looking at the address "And don't worry about April I'm just trying to help"
"Good well she's in your hands now" Langston laughed "Good luck to you because you're going to need it"
Punk parked outside of April's apartment building and stepped out of the car. He looked down at the address that Langston gave him to make sure he was in the right place. He stopped by the diner but she wasn't working and drove past the gym she goes to by the lights were out so this was his last shot. Even though it was after midnight the street was littered with people, mostly loud young people and homeless people sleeping on the street.
Punk walked into the building and stepped over two people to make his way to the elevator only to find a sign that read 'out of order'. Langston noted she was apartment 5C so he found the stairs and ventured up them. He passed two shady people as they exchanged money in the stairwell and once he made it to the 5th floor an elderly man asked him for cash. He finally reached April's apartment door and knocked loudly twice.
"Who is it?" her faint voice asked from the other side
"It's Punk" He said and heard her unlock the door slightly and peek out without removing the chain "Hey" he smirked
"Hi" she said unsurely "What are you doing here?"
"I just wanted to talk to you about your audition" Punk said to her "Can I come in?" he asked her
"Of course" she said mentally kicking herself and closing the door to unhook the chain and let him in. "I wasn't really expecting company" she said gesturing for him to come inside. As soon as he stepped in he realized how hotter inside than outside "Sorry about the mess"
"It's fine" Punk assured her looking around the small studio "It's really hot in here" Punk said fanning his shirt out
"I know sorry let me open a window" she said walking over to one of the two windows "I keep it closed at night"
"So you can sweat to death?" Punk mocked
"No because the noise on the street is loud" she giggled- again causing him to smile instantly
"So you turn the lights off to keep cool?" Punk asked noting the dark studio
"Well that helps" April said giving it some thought "I don't have lights at the moment sorry"
"No, no it's fine" Punk said knowing she was feeling embarrassed "I shouldn't have stopped by unannounced"
"It's ok" April assured "You've done so much for me you've earned the right to show up here"
"This is a nice building" Punk said as politely as possible
"It's dive" April said to him "But I'm never really here anyway"
"Yea Langston mentioned that" Punk said taking a seat on her couch
"So that's how you found me" April said walking over to take a seat next to him "I thought you were coming back tomorrow"
"I was going to but I'm not much of a sleeper I thought I'd find you at the gym or something" Punk said to her simply
"I was at the gym but Jason had other plans" April shrugged "I don't sleep much either to be honest"
"So you want to take a ride?" Punk asked her and April looked surprised
"Where to?" April asked curiously
"I thought you wanted to work out" Punk said to her
"Just let me get changed" April said eagerly jumping up and running over to grab her gym clothes.
Punk and April arrived at Hard Nocks a half hour later.
"I think it's closed" April whispered to him
"John left me a key" Punk said to her unlocking the door
"Must be nice" April said as Punk lead her into the dark gym then flicked on the lights "I didn't realize you two were so close"
"We're not" Punk said to her locking the door behind them "We have a mutual respect for each other and I told him it was to help you out so he was all for it"
"Ok so what are we going to do first?" April asked eagerly as she watched him remove his hoodie
"You're going stretch and run the ropes" Punk informed her
"Run the ropes?" April asked with a wide grin
"You have been a ring before" Punk laughed
"I have" April agreed "Not one made like this one" she said pointing to the ring
"How does Jason train you?" Punk asked her
"We just work on the mat" she shrugged stepping up the stairs. Punk noticed how she wiped her sneakers off before entering the ring, something he had done as well. It showed she had respect for this sport.
"Well you've got the moves down but we need to work on you taking bumps and working off the ropes" Punk informed her "I know what it's like to work in those makeshift rings and it's not easy, one hard run against the ropes could collapse the entire thing"
"Can I ask you a question before we start?" April asked him
"Sure" Punk said walking over to the ring an looking up at her as she leaned against the ropes
"Do you really believe in me?" she asked him
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't" Punk told her honestly "But the real question you should be asking is do you believe in yourself?"
"Of course I do" April said to him
"Do you?" Punk asked "Because from what I can see is you surround yourself around people who don't believe you can do this"
"I left my family because of this" April informed him "They didn't believe in me, they told me I wouldn't last a week on my own here."
"Do you still talk to them?" Punk asked
"No" April admitted "My sister called a few months back when they were in Miami on vacation"
"Your family vacations in Miami?" Punk questioned
"They have a summer home there" April snorted a laugh "Now come on let's get started" she said jumping up and down
"Wait so you're telling me your family has a home in Miami Florida and a home in Puerto Rico?" Punk asked stunned
"And another place in Jersey" April said to him "Why?"
"You're living without air and no lights and they have three homes?" Punk asked
"I don't want anything from them" April argued "I'm happy with my life"
"You do seem happy" Punk noted
"I don't need money or a nicer place to live" April told him honestly "Being in the ring makes me happy"
"Well we're going to have to make sure we keep you there" Punk grinned admiring April even more than before.
After training for a few hours Punk was now more impressed than before with her. She had a lot of stamina and would have kept going through the night if he hadn't told her she'd ware herself out. She quickly took a shower and met up by the door..
"So I'll drop you back off at your place" Punk offered as they locked up the gym
"Oh no I'm just going to head over to work" April said pointing to the diner across the way "I have work in an hour anyway"
"It's four in the morning" Punk reminded her
"And I start at five" April said with a laugh "It's fine and thanks for tonight"
"Do you still want to work out after work?" Punk asked
"Of course!" she said seriously
"Great so I'll meet you here after you shift unless you want to go home and get some sleep first" Punk offered
"Nope I'm ready" April said cheerfully
"You have an hour before work, so could you join me for a cup of coffee?" Punk asked her
"Sure but isn't that going to keep you from sleeping?" April asked as they headed across the street together
"Trust me, coffee is the least of my problems" Punk mumbled
"You know you've asked me a lot questions about myself and family" April noted
"My life isn't much of a secret" Punk told her as he opened the diner door for her to step in
"I'm not talking about the bad stuff" April said to him "I've seen your DVD, tell me about your sisters and stuff" she suggested "Tell me about the good stuff"
"Usually people just want the dirt" Punk pointed out
"I'm not most people" April said proudly
"My god" Hector said placing his hand over his heart "You're an hour early- again" he than noticed Punk coming in behind her
"Hey Hector we're just going to have some coffee before I start" April said to her boss "I'm just going to throw my bag in the back I'll be right out" she said to Punk
"She's really trying out for WWE?" Hector asked Punk surprised
"Yea she's good" Punk told him "She also told me you gave her the day off so she could go so thank you for that."
"No problem" Hector said obviously nervous to have such a huge star talking to him "Anything she needs"
"Maybe stop charging for everything she breaks" Punk suggested
"She breaks a lot of things" Hector groaned
"Put it on a tab and I'll take care of it" Punk said to him
"She wouldn't like that" Hector warned "She doesn't really like help"
"Yea I've caught on to that but she doesn't have to know, right?" Punk asked the older man
"She's a good kid" Hector said to Punk "I like April I'm not hard on her for no reason though"
"I get that" Punk said to him "But she needs the money"
"She gives it all to that jackass down the street" Hector argued "I'm just trying to save her some misery"
"That's why you take the money from her check" Punk said amused
"I know he's scamming the poor girl and I also know she's on her own" Hector sighed "But she's so thick headed- she doesn't listen to me this was the only way I thought I could help. I feel terrible for doing it"
"No it's actually kind of nice of you" Punk said to him
"Hey, you ready?" April asked Punk
"Yea I was just thanking Hector for giving you Thursday off" Punk said to her
"Believe me now?" April asked smugly
"Yes honey I believe you" Hector chuckled "Hurry and enjoy your coffee you have a long shift ahead of you"
"Thanks Hector" April smiled walking over to a booth with Punk