A/N: Your reviews have been amazing thank you to everyone who takes the time out to do so. I'm really glad you all are enjoying this story as much as I enjoy writingit!

Chapter 9: The Windy City

The months came and went and April was working her butt off. She eventually had to leave the diner to focus on WWE fulltime but Hector was proud to see her off. She still frequented her favorite diner only this time as a patron. As for the training she loved it. She was working with so many different people and Hunter was very hands on as well and the further she got the more of him and other familiar faces she saw. She had just gotten word the previous week she was officially being moved onto NXT and would be debuting shortly.

She also managed to finish paying of Jason and hadn't seen him for about two months now; she hadn't seen much of anyone since she was practically living at the performance center. One constant in her life through out all of this though? Punk. He still flew down to her at least once month and they spoke everyday whether it through text messages or speaking on the phone. Their bond had grown and grown as time went on and she was happy to have him in her life. Punk even flew down to help her move into a new apartment. Punk had made it very clear to April that she was priority in his life and no one- not even Langston or Jewel made April feel that way.

"Hey!" April said racing down the hall as soon as she spotted Langston

"Hey kid" Langston said happily

"So in two weeks guess who is going to have their first NXT match!" April cheered

"Congrats" Langston grinned giving her a hug

"I'm so nervous" April admitted "I really don't know many people here besides you. The other guys got called up already"

"Yea well I've got some bad news for you than" Langston informed her "I'm going to be on Raw tomorrow"

"That's amazing!" April cheered "I'm so happy for you"

"Thanks" Langston said to her "But you're not alone here you still knew a few of the guys and you'll get along great with the girls"

"Yea" April said slightly unsurely

"You've made it this far" Langston reminded her "You're in the home stretch now"

"Yea" April agreed with a faint smile "I still feel like I'm going to wake up from this dream"

"This isn't a dream" Langston smirked "Enjoy it while you can" he encouraged. "Oh before I forget Christy wanted me to invite you over to see the new living room set" Langston groaned "Apparently getting new furniture requires a party"

"Maybe I'll stop by Friday before I go to the airport" April said to him

"Airport?" Langston laughed "Where are you going this weekend?"

"Chicago" April informed him

"You're going to see Punk?" Langston asked him

"Yea" April said to him "I've also never been to Chicago and he said in order for us to stay friends I have to visit Chicago" she laughed lightly

"Where are you going to be staying?" Langston asked her

"His place" she shrugged "Don't look at me like that" April warned him

"I'm not" Langston laughed "Look I had my doubts about your friendship with Punk but clearly I was wrong"

"He's a great guy" April agreed

"To you" Langston laughed

"He's one of my best friends" April said to him "He's been nothing but kind"

"So you're going to stay at his place in a separate room?" Langston asked

"Maybe" April shrugged "When he stays at my place he sleeps in my bed" she told Langston honestly "Nothing happens we just sleep" she informed him "We don't see each other in that kind of way"

"Whatever you say" Langston chuckled

"Punk knows I'm not that kind of girl" April said to her

"What kind of girl? It's not like Punk is a stranger" Langston said to her

"He just knows-" April started

"Knows what?" Langston asked

"I've never been with anyone before" April whispered

"What?" Langston asked stunned "You're…you're untainted?"

"Is that what the kids call it this day?" April asked him

"No!" Langston said quickly "It's just you're very pretty"

"It's not like I haven't had opportunities" April defended feeling bad about herself

"Hey there's nothing wrong with that" Langston assured her "Good for you kid"

"Kid" April muttered

"You really kind of are though" Langston teased April began to walk away but he grabbed her arm "I'm just teasing you April. And I didn't think it was possible to respect you more than I already did. Don't change who you are"

"I don't plan on it" April said to him

"Well have fun in Chicago" Langston said to her "Bring me back a Cubs hat"

"We're actually going to a Blackhawks game" April informed him

"Just the two of you?" Langston asked and April rolled her eyes "Sorry, sorry just asking a simple question"

"Yes just the two of us" April said to him "He has seasons tickets and only has two seats per-game. I might bring you back a foam finger"

"That's we're friends!" Langston said as he headed down the hallway.

As soon as April landed in Chicago she was already in love with the City. It was windy and cold but that was something she had missed since living in Tampa for so long.

"I seriously can't get over your place" April said walking down the stairs "I feel like I'm in a comic book shop" she admitted

"Well help yourself" Punk offered as he sat on the couch and turned on the TV.

"How come I haven't been here before?" April asked him

"Because you always blow me off" Punk reminded her

"That's not true" April said to him "What time is the game tonight?" she asked

"Seven" Punk informed her "We've got some time to kill, my sisters want to meet you so if you don't mind we'll swing by there first"

"I can't wait to meet them" April grinned "So did you find out if you'll be able to fly out for my first match?"

"What first match?" Punk asked keeping his eyes on the TV

"My big NXT debut!" April frowned

"I'm just kidding, I'll be there" Punk promised

"Great" April said to him

"Getting nervous?" Punk asked her

"A little" April admitted "NXT is a pretty big crowd at least for my standards"

"You'll be fine" Punk assured her

"Well I want to work out at some point this week" April said to him "I'm sure you know all of the good gyms"

"Yea I know a great one in walking distance actually" Punk informed her

"Where?" April asked "I didn't see on the way here"

"If you open that door" Punk said pointing to the door in the corner "There's two doors behind that and if you pick the one on the left and open it there will be a staircase that leads to a gym"

"You have a gym in your home?" April asked

"I sure do" Punk remarked before April could respond someone rang the doorbell. Before Punk could even stand up to get the door April swung it open.

"Hi" April said with a wide smile

"Hello" two men at the same time said.

"Wow" April said with a giggle "You're Colt Cabana and Cliff Compton"

"Punk talks about us huh?" Cliff asked smugly

"Never actually" April said to them casually and both their faces fell "I'm just kidding" she laughed and waved them in

"No don't let them-" Punk started but it was too late

"I thought you were going out of town this week" Colt said to Punk

"If you thought that than why are you here?" Punk shot at him

"We were driving by and saw your car" Cliff shrugged

"Why were you driving by my place to begin with?" Punk asked

"Why did you tell us you wouldn't be here?" Colt challenged

"What's going on?" April asked the trio

"We've been dying to meet you" Colt admitted "Punk was being his usual selfish self obviously. He told us he was going to Tampa this week"

"Who ratted on me?" Punk asked him

"Your sisters" Cliff remarked coldly

"Are you embarrassed by me?" April asked Punk

"Not at all" Punk said to her "They embarrass me" he said pointing to Colt and Cliff

"We just want to meet your friend" Colt said offended

"Yea you big jerk" Cliff mocked "So April tell us all about yourself" he said smiling towards her

"I mean just the stuff that Punk hasn't told us yet" Colt added "Which is a lot"

"Actually April and I were in the middle of something" Punk said to them "So you guys could just go" he insisted

"I thought we had some time" April noted to him "I'd love to get to know the two people you consider to be your brothers"

"He really said that?" Cliff asked placing his hand over his heart "He really is a marshmallow"

"Get out" Punk said through gritted teeth

"We can't stay anyway" Colt said to April "We have some errands to run"

"Yea we're planning my birthday bash" Cliff said to her

"Oh Punk mentioned your birthday was coming up" April said with a smile

"Well did he mention you were invited to my party?" Cliff asked seriously

"You didn't invite her" Punk said to him

"I am now" Cliff said to Punk "It's Saturday night as a matter of fact, will you still be in town?"

"Um yea actually I am" April said "But I don't want to intrude" she insisted

"Intrude?" Cliff mocked "Absolutely not. See now you can come Punk because like I said he told me he'd be in Tampa" Punk just glared towards Cliff

"It's going to be a lot of fun" Colt added

"I-" April started and looked towards Punk, she wasn't sure what to say

"We'll be there" Punk said to them

"Great!" Cliff said happily

"Are you sure you don't mind me being there?" April asked

"Any friend of Punk is a friend of mine" Cliff told her honestly "See you guys Saturday"

"Yea looking forward to it" Colt added with a smirk

After stopping by Punk's place the two arrived at the Blackhawks and were waiting in their front row seats for the game start.

"Are you feeling ok?" Punk asked her noting her quiet demeanor

"Why didn't you tell Colt and Cliff I was visiting?" April asked bluntly

"Because they're annoying" Punk admitted "They see a pretty girl and fall over their selves and then they'll start to tell you embarrassing stories- it just didn't seem worth it to me"

"Are you sure that's it?" April asked him

"They just find it hard to believe that you and I are just friends" Punk admitted "I just don't want them to say anything to you that would make you uncomfortable"

"You think I'd let Colt and Cliff and scare me off?" April asked him

"Crazier things have happened" Punk mumbled

"I don't care what people think about us being friends" April said to him "I get the same slack from Langston I don't let it bother me"

"Good" Punk said to her

"If you don't want me to go to the party I wont'" April said to him

"I want you at the party" Punk said to her "If I have to suffer through it at least I'll have company"

"You don't have a date for the party?" April asked him

"No" Punk laughed lightly "I wasn't even going to the party up until an hour ago"

"If you did that would be ok" April said to him seriously

"I know" Punk said to her

"Maybe your friends won't tease you as much if you had a date" April suggested "I also don't want to keep you from anybody"

"I knew the two of them coming around would be trouble" Punk said to himself

"It's not that" April promised "I just feel like I'm holding you back"

"You're not holding me back" Punk assured her "And I don't really date you know this already"

"Yea you like to hit it and quit it" April agreed and Punk's face froze

"Who taught you that term?" Punk demanded causing her to burst into laughter

"Nobody" she said still laughing

"I like having you around if I wanted to bring a date I'd bring you and a date" Punk said to her "So stop this nonsense and watch the game" he said to her turning to look at the ice. April just glanced over to him and watched as he sipped his coffee and smiled towards him before turning her attention back onto the ice.

As Saturday rolled around Punk and April headed to Cliff's birthday shindig together. Punk was pleased by how well April got along with everybody. He knew his friends loved to bust chops but April wasn't a fragile flower- she gave it right back to them and he enjoyed watching her do so. He was also happy he came and was able to catch up with old friends through out the night as well.

"I think she's great" Colt said walking over to Punk "I mean I'm pretty sure she was made for you"

"We're just friends" Punk groaned "I'm going to get that tattooed across my forehead maybe than you all would take the hint"

"I think you're an idiot" Colt said simply "Why wouldn't want to date her?"

"Because I like having her around" Punk argued

"Do you hear yourself?" Colt asked him seriously narrowing his eyes at his friend

"I don't keep in touch with any of my exes except for Natalie" Punk reminded him "I want to make sure she stays in my life"

"And when you're around her there is no part of you that wants to just jump her bones?" Colt asked

"I'm a man" Punk reminded him "I have urges but I control him. Besides I don't even see her like that anymore. In the beginning yes I admit it I was very attracted to her but now she's like my sister"

"Oh alright" Colt shrugged "That's good than so I'm sure you don't mind that" he said pointing across the room. Punk turned and saw April chatting with Trent Barreta and from what Punk could tell she was enjoying whatever the hell he was saying to her.

"I don't mind that" Punk said not taking his eyes off of the two

"Good" Colt said to him "Because if it did I wouldn't mind having a word with Trent, he'd understand"

"They're just talking" Punk laughed finally looking back to Colt "Besides Trent's an ok guy" he shrugs

"It's really convenient he lives in Tampa too" Colt added casually

"Does he now?" Punk asked sipping on his water

"Yep" Colt said casting his eyes around the room

"Good" Punk said to him "I'm going to go find Cliff" and with that said Punk walked off

After the party Punk and April arrived back at his place after midnight.

"Did you have fun?" Punk asked April

"I really did" April said to him "Everyone was so friendly"

"Yea I noticed" Punk said casually "So I saw you chatting with Trent"

"You mean Greg?" April asked referring to Trent's real name

"I guess" Punk laughed awkwardly

"He's a nice guy. Did you know he lives in Tampa too?" April asked him

"No kidding" Punk said mocking surprise

"He wants to hang out together when I get back" April said to him

"That's nice" Punk forced out "A new friend"

"Yea" April said slowly "But he didn't so much as ask me to hang out more like on a date"

"Oh really?" Punk asked with a forced smile "What did you say?"

"I don't know" April shrugged

"He's annoying huh?" Punk asked cutely

"No he seems really great" April said to him "And Cliff was telling me what a nice guy he is"

"Cliff told you that" Punk said with a slow nod "Cliff should mind his own business. But seriously what's holding you back?" he asked hoping April would say he wasn't her type because he wasn't Punk.

"It's just if I start dating a guy he's going to expect things" April said to him and Punk just nodded

"Ok" Punk said slowly "You don't have to do anything you don't want to" he said seriously

"I know but even I wanted to I don't think I could" April admitted sitting on the couch and Punk joined her

"Why is that?" Punk asked

"I'm not experienced" April told him bluntly

"You'll learn" Punk smirked

"It's embarrassing" April sighed "Guys want their women to know what they're doing"

"Any guy on this planet would be lucky to have you" Punk informed her honestly "And a real man doesn't want some trashy woman who has been with a hundred men. I think there's something to be said about a man being someone's first. It's just- it's kind of sexy actually"

"You really think that?" April asked him

"Yea I do" Punk said softly. And Punk did find everything about April to be incredibly sexy including her innocence.

"Well if you say so" April shrugged

"If you have any questions just ask me" Punk offered then mentally kicked himself. Why would he want to give April tips about sex with another man?

"Yea I guess I could" April agreed "You're a great find Punk" she said kissing his cheek then stood up "I have an early flight tomorrow I'm going to try to get some sleep. Thanks for this week it's been amazing"

"Anytime" Punk said forcing a smile and watched as she skipped up his steps. Punk through his head into his hands and groaned.