A/N: Wow! Your reviews have been so amazing and I'm very appreciative of them! This is just the beginning everybody so hang in there with me.
Chapter 11: Running Away
Punk had no idea how he ended up here at this moment. He sipped on the coffee in front of him and looked straight ahead. He had been thinking about April constantly and not just her perfect little body or her sweet kisses but what really stuck out was her devastated face as he ran right out her front door. What the hell was wrong with him?
"What the hell is wrong with you?" a voice asked him. Punk looked up confused then realized where he was
"Nothing" Punk shrugged "But I could use another coffee"
"This is your third cup" Hector frowned "And it's nearly one in the morning"
"I don't get much sleep anyway" Punk said to him
"I can see why" Hector mocked as he poured Punk a fresh cup "I'm surprised to see you here without April. How is she doing anyway?"
"She had her first match tonight" Punk informed proudly
"Good for her" Hector grinned "Still can't believe the little girl who spilled soup all over you is now going to be a big star"
"Yea" Punk smirked remembering that night fondly
"So what did you do?" Hector questioned
"Me?" Punk asked "Why would you ask me something like that?"
"Defensive" Hector noted "I'm assuming this has to do with April since you're here"
"I really don't want to talk about it" Punk admitted
"Yea I've had those nights" Hector smirked "Can I get you some food for all that coffee?"
"No I can't eat" Punk groaned
"Can't eat, can't sleep" Hector checked off "That could only be caused by one thing"
"Yea a job were I'm constantly getting beat up and traveling" Punk noted sipping his coffee
"I've been married for 38 years kid" Hector smirked "What you have is a woman problem"
"It's more like my problem" Punk groaned still beating himself up "I fucked up tonight"
"Want to talk about it?" Hector asked. Punk eyed the man carefully then smirked
"I don't think you want to hear what I did tonight" Punk said hoping he'd catch on
"You're probably right" Hector said getting the point "Just fix it. April is nuts about you"
"Why do you say that?" Punk asked
"Come on" Hector laughed "Every time you walked in here she'd light up like a Christmas tree. First I thought you were just entertaining her little obsession but you just kept showing up"
"She's out of my league" Punk admitted
"Hey there's worse guys out there" Hector said seriously then nodded behind Punk. Punk turned his head to look over his shoulder and saw April's former trainer Jason sitting in a booth by himself.
"Asshole" Punk muttered turning around
"He comes in hoping to see her" Hector informed him and now Punk was confused
"What does he want?" Punk asked
"Hell if I know" Hector said annoyed "Asked me for her new address though"
"You didn't give it to him did you?" Punk asked him
"Of course not" Hector said to him "I think he's looking for some cash though. His gym closed down two weeks ago"
"Good" Punk said coldly "Now he can get a taste of what April had been going through"
"What goes around certainly does come around" Hector agreed then walked away to wait on some other customers. Punk knew better but he decided to stand up and walk over to Jason.
"Well, well if it isn't CM Punk" Jason laughed "Here to gloat?"
"Yes" Punk said with a broad smile "It's a shame about your gym"
"Yea you seem really genuine" Jason remarked sarcastically "Where is April? She already forgot where she came from?"
"She's actually resting she had a big night" Punk told him smugly "Had her first NXT match"
"Just remember who made her good" Jason shot back "She certainly doesn't"
"Stop fishing around for cash" Punk said to him bluntly "She paid you back she doesn't owe you a damn thing anymore"
"She owes me her fucking career!" Jason yelled
"Keep your voice down" Punk hissed quietly
"Is she good?" Jason asked arrogantly. Punk arched a brow at the man and shot him a threatening glare "Come on I'm sure she pulls those little shorts down for you every night. She used to do it for me" Punk cracked his neck slightly and rolled his shoulders.
"Did April not mention that to you?" Jason questioned with a laugh
"April never touched you" Punk reminded him "Why would she?" he said eyeing the disheveled man
"You caught me" Jason laughed "But seriously she must be good if you handed her this job- I mean what is the 'deal' exactly? The bigger the match the more you get? Maybe she gets on her knees for every win as an extra added bonus" he laughed with a wink. He wasn't smiling anymore when Punk grabbed the man by his t-shirt and pulled him to his feet.
"No fighting in my diner!" Hector yelled out from behind the counter "You want to kick his face in do it outside" he said to Punk
"He's not worth it" Punk spat letting go of him. When Punk turned his back he felt Jason lunging for him and ducked out of the way causing Jason to fall into the counter stools.
"Out" Hector warned stepping over to Jason and pointing to the door
"Whatever man" Jason retorted with an eye roll "Stay out of my face Punk" he added before leaving the diner
"Feel better?" Hector asked Punk
"No" Punk admitted throwing some cash onto the counter
"Your bill is eight bucks" Hector said holding up the hundred
"I like the service here" Punk shrugged pulling out his rental keys
"Go see her" Hector encouraged "She's probably just as upset as you are"
"Yea maybe I will" Punk agreed "Sorry about the mess"
"It was worth it" Hector grinned "Oh and Punk!" he said causing him to stop short of walking out the door "Flowers usually work for my wife but uh- I don't think April is the flower type of girl"
"No she is not" Punk agreed in an almost defeated voice then walked out the door
April was at NXT the next morning training again. It was no secret she was in a bad mood. After Punk ran out on her last night she cried then she got mad- very mad. The man who promised he'd never abandon her ditched her when she was most vulnerable. She even called him last night but he sent her straight to voicemail. She wasn't just mad at me him though, she was mad at herself. Mad for not seeing how much she really loved her friend. When he kissed her last night it was like he woke her up finally. The connection and chemistry was off the charts and now she may have blew it for good.
"Come on April you're with me" a trainer said waving her over. He had on two gloves and held them up "I thought you'd want to work on your sparring a bit" he suggested
"You have no idea" April said fiercely and began to punch the man's hands. She was so in the moment she didn't even see Punk enter the training facility.
"Are you envisioning my face?" Punk asked walking over to her and that's when she stopped hitting the trainer
"Just on one the right hand" April said avoiding his eyes and went back to hitting
"Who is the one on the left?" Punk asked curiously
"My own face ironically" April mumbled
"You mind Steve?" Punk asked the trainer who he clearly knew
"No problem" he said lowering his arms and removing the gloves, and then passed them to Punk "Good luck dude" he whispered then walked away
"Punk I really don't want to do this with you" April sighed looking at him finally. She could tell he was tired and probably hadn't slept last night at all.
"It'll be fun" Punk insisted putting the gloved on then throwing his arms up, he got into a stance and nodded to her that he was ready. "Ok let's see what you got April"
"Punk-" April started
"Get it out" Punk insisted "Come on hit me" he encouraged. April just rolled her eyes slightly and hit his hand with little force "Oh come on April" he said in a teasing voice "You can do better than this"
"I really don't want to" April said defeated as she softly hit his other hand
"You're never going to get to Raw with this kind of attitude" Punk scolded lightly "Come on I'm not your friend right now I'm your trainer"
"Oh we're still friends?" April asked hitting him harder now
"I'd like to think so" Punk said shooting her smile
"Really? You ditched me last night!" she reminded him hitting him even harder now "I understand I screwed up and I don't blame you for freaking out but you should have stayed and talked to me" she said as she continued to switch off hitting with her right and left arm "Do you have any idea how bad I felt when you left? Was I that disgusting that you had to run out the door without your shoes on?" Punk halted her after that and pulled his gloves off
"That's not why I ran off" Punk informed her
"What am I supposed to think?" April asked looking up at him. Her hair was pulled back and she had sweat running down her face but again Punk thought she looked even more beautiful than ever.
"I left because-" Punk started but again found himself in that unfamiliar speechless mind frame
"Because why?" April asked "I want to know so we can fix this and go back to the way we were"
"I don't want to go back to that" Punk said quickly surprising her "I can't go back to that not after last night"
"What are you talking about?" April asked him
"I stopped because you wanted me to be your 'test run'" Punk said to her "You wanted to be with someone who cared about you but would basically train you up and set you free into the world" he said dramatically
"I don't think those were my exact words" April said to him
"I can't have you then simply let you go" Punk told her honestly "I wouldn't be able to. I didn't stop because something was wrong with you I stopped because something was wrong with me. I know you don't see me like that- you just want to be friends and you're already getting slack for us being so close and I respect that. But I won't be able to detach myself from you like that. I'm sorry if I let you down last night and I wish I could have helped out- believe me" he said eyeing her flirtatiously. April was taken aback by the entire confession and watched as Punk put on a smile "I love you too April. You just don't know how much I do."
Punk then turned and began to walk away from her but she grabbed his arm and forced him to turn and look at her. "April I don't know what you-" he didn't finish his sentence because this time around April pulled his face towards hers. Punk wasn't sure how to respond at first. His arms hung low until he built up the courage to move them around her back and pull her closer. April placed her arms on his shoulders and he lifted her so they were eyelevel but they didn't need to see each other, he felt her wrap her legs around his waist and they continued the kiss that neither wanted to stop. It wasn't until April needed to catch her breath that she pulled away.
"Do you remember the way I looked at you after we kissed last night?" April asked him
"Like I had ten heads?" Punk asked seriously and she nodded
"I realized in that moment that you did want me, how much you did love me" April informed him. Punk listened carefully as she spoke to him but he really had a hard time keeping his eyes off of her lips that were now slightly swollen. He also realized no one was around and was glad for that as well.
"What are you saying April?" Punk asked her
"I'm saying…I still owe you that dinner" April said slowly "I want to go out with you and now as friends"
"Are you sure?" Punk asked her as he still held her up "I travel a lot and you're going to be getting so much shit for this-"
"People already thinking we're sleeping together" April pointed out "And in case you haven't noticed I really don't give a shit what people think about me"
"Ok" Punk said to her
"We'll take it slow" April clarified and Punk nodded in agreement
"Yea we have to" Punk agreed "But I really want to kiss you"
"Slowly" April teased and leaned down to kiss him again
"So this is the big dinner you've had planned out for months?" Punk questioned looking around the diner he was just in last night
"Hey I like it here" April defended "We met here technically. My entire life changed from working here"
"I like the food" Punk said simply
"Back so soon?" Hector laughed walking over and giving April a kiss hello
"You were here?" April asked Punk
"Last night for hours" Hector informed her "Drank all my coffee"
"Really?" April asked amused looking at Punk
"I didn't have anywhere else to go" Punk said simply "Thanks for blowing up my spot man"
"Anytime son" Hector grinned then walked away.
"Why did you come here?" April asked him
"I wanted to go to the gym but Hard Nocks was already locked down" Punk said to her "I saw the diner and I always liked it here" he shrugged
"So what are we?" April asked him bluntly
"We're taking it slow" Punk said to her with a shrug
"I know that but- are we like an item?" April asked
"Oh! You mean like are we official?" Punk asked and she nodded. He was clearly enjoying teasing her about this but two could play that game.
"I just want to know if I should call Greg back" April said to him simply looking at her phone "He left me a very lovely message"
"We're going to try this" Punk said seriously this time "It's not going to be easy April so I want to make sure you really understand that. I travel most of the time" he reminded her
"I know" April said to him "You're also going to get bashed by the people at NXT"
"Already do" April said casually
"I'm also not the easiest guy to be around" Punk informed her "But before we really do this I need you to promise me something"
"Ok" April said to him
"Promise me that if this doesn't work out you won't walk away from me" Punk said to her seriously "I like having you in my life and I don't want this to change that"
"I'm not going anywhere" April said softly reaching for his hand across the table. He picked it up and leaned down and kissed the top of her hand. "And you promise me you'll be patient with me. I really need to take this slow"
"Yes" Punk promised "We're not going to rush into anything physically I wouldn't do that to you"
"But you're a man" April pointed out
"I'm glad you know" Punk teased
"You have needs" April added and he rolled his eyes
"Do you think I'm a sex addict April?" Punk asked her seriously
"No!" April said feeling bad for the comment already "I just don't want you to suffer"
"I haven't been with a woman in two months" Punk told her honestly "I can hold out longer"
"Why?" April asked surprised
"I guess I decided to wait for the right woman" he replied smoothly and April couldn't hide her smile
"When do you have to leave?" April asked
"I'm working the European tour" Punk reminded her "That starts Friday"
"You'll be gone for three weeks" April said to him
"Yep" Punk said simply "It'll fly by"
"I'm not worried about it" April said to him
"Are you two ready to order are you just going to gawk at each other the entire evening?" Hector asked the two "I bought over two coffees because- well I think I know you both well enough" he said with an eye roll
"Good call Hector" April smiled
"Oh and tell your buddy Jason if he comes back to my diner he owes me for a stool that he broke last night" Hector warned April who looked confused
"Jason?" April asked surprised
"You didn't mention it to her did you?" Hector asked Punk who looked ready to kill Hector "Oh look at that someone needs my help" he then scurried off
"What was he talking about?" April asked him
"When I came here last night Jason was here" Punk said to her "We had some words and he went to attack me but he knocked into the counter stools. Wasn't a big deal"
"He just confronted you?" April asked surprised
"No I kind of did the confronting" Punk admitted with a nervous laugh "Hector mentioned he was looking for you so I just went over to say hello and politely asked if he had a message he wanted me to pass along to you"
"Oh that was very sweet of you" April mocked
"I'm a really sweet guy" Punk agreed seriously
"What does he want?" April sighed
"Money" Punk said to her "His gym shut down and he's not working"
"That's horrible" April frowned "Where is he living?"
"Who cares?" Punk questioned
"That gym put me on the map" April reminded him "And Jason did help me out"
"He helped himself to your tip money" Punk reminded her "He never gave a crap about you"
"That's not fair" April sighed "He had his moments but-"
"-but nothing" Punk laughed "He's a piece of shit April. You know it and I know it"
"I just feel bad" April admitted
"Well that's very thoughtful of you but push it out of your mind now because you have bigger things to worry about" Punk said to her
"Like what?" April asked
"Like what are you going to do for three weeks without me?" Punk asked
"Probably what I've done the last few months" April said to him "Workout and train."
"Pretty soon you'll be working these tours" Punk pointed out
"I think we're getting ahead of ourselves" April said to him
"No you're good" Punk said to her "I don't know how many times I have to say it to you until you actually believe it"
"I believe you" April said to him "I just don't want to get my hopes up"
"Get them up April" Punk insisted "Because trust me things are only going to get better. Professionally and personally"
"I'm looking forward to all of it" April beamed "Maybe when you get back we can move forward personally"
"No rushing" Punk reminded her "Whenever you're ready."
"I know" April said to him
"Just spend the next few weeks worrying about NXT and that's it" Punk said to her "You've waited for this big break for a long time I don't want to distract you"
"You're not going to. How could you when you're half way across the globe?" April teased
"Well I know I'll be good" Punk said smugly
"And why is that?" April asked him
"I have really good picture memory" he said tapping the side of his head and April blushed
"Oh god" she mumbled hiding her face "I'm so embarrassed"
"You have nothing to be embarrassed about" Punk assured her "You're perfect"
"That's not really fair" April pointed out "You saw me naked but I didn't get to see you"
"Life isn't fair sweetheart" Punk told her briskly "But if you play your cards right maybe I'll flash you or something" he teased
"Oh lucky me" April replied with an eye roll
"I don't regret last night April" Punk told her seriously "And not just because I got to see you in a way that no other man has"
"You don't regret any part of last night?" April asked him
"I don't regret stopping it but I do regret running out" Punk said to her
"Without your shoes" She added
"I get it" Punk said quickly "I fucked up"
"I don't blame you" April assured him
"Tell that to my hands that you beat up earlier" Punk pointed out
"I'm really used to people leaving me" April reminded him "I just never thought you'd do it and I know you didn't actually leave me for good but it bothered me"
"It was a cowardly thing to do" Punk said to her "It won't happen again"
"I know" April said to him "We're going to be ok" she said to him surely
"Yea we are" he agreed