Chapter 13: Dense
Later that evening after Punk and April woke up from a restful nap he informed he wanted to take her out properly. She didn't know what that meant but he made it clear they wouldn't be going to a game or eating a diner. She was thankful that she packed a dress. It wasn't an overly fancy dress, just a tight fighting black cocktail dress. She wasn't even going to bring it but Jewel insisted April had to be prepared for everything.
"How do I look?" April asked walking down the stairs. Her hair was long and flowing and her dress was short, short enough for Punk to enjoy but not too short where she looked trashy. But the best part of her attire? Her chucks.
"Beautiful" Punk said to her as he admired her walk down the steps.
"Why do you always say that?" April asked seriously
"Because you are beautiful" Punk told her honestly "And I know it's not something you're used to hearing so I have a lot of time to make up for"
"That's really nice" April said shyly
"I'm also trying to teach you how to take a compliment" Punk said to her as he held her jacket open to help her slip it on.
"You look nice by the way" April said eyeing his casual yet dressy clothing, a nice pair of jeans and a button down shirt.
"I only dolled up for you" Punk teased
"So where are we going?" April asked
"A steakhouse" Punk said to her
"Are we dressy enough?" April asked alarmed and Punk couldn't but laugh at her. "Don't laugh at me" she scolded stomping her foot "You know I'm not used to fancy places"
"It's not that fancy" Punk assured her "But get used to it because a little secret about me? I enjoy spoiling myself at nice places from time to time so you're going to have to get used to it"
"All right but if I embarrass you by using the wrong fork or something don't bitch about it" April warned bluntly. Another reason he loved her so much.
"We're going to a steakhouse not the palace to eat with the Queen" Punk teased
"Keep teasing me Phillip" April threatened
"I love it when you stomp around" Punk grinned "And when you're angry you make the cutest face"
Punk and April were sat in a quiet booth at the steakhouse. Obviously Punk frequented this place since his table was already set up for him. This was all very new to April and she tried not to show it. It wasn't just the fact that she was at such an expensive restaurant but she had never really gone on a date before at least not one like this. Punk didn't sit across from her, he sat next to her in the small booth, and he would steal kisses from her through out the dinner and would occasionally place his hand on her bare knee.
"I don't understand why you picked a steakhouse when you don't eat meat" April said to him with a laugh
"Says the woman who tried to order just a salad" Punk shot back at her
"I didn't know salad came with the meal" April whispered. "I can't eat all of this- why did you make me get such a big steak?"
"Because it's good" Punk shrugged "I ate here before I became a vegetarian."
"Can't you just have a bite?" April asked cutting a piece of steak and holding her fork up "I mean you do it for diet purposes you can cheat with one little bite?" she asked waving her fork under his nose and smiled. He opened his mouth slightly and April fed him the small piece of steak. "Good?"
"Yea" Punk agreed chewing on the piece "You taste better" he whispered in her ear causing her to blush.
"You're making me blush" April said smiling
"Good" Punk smirked
"I'm just going to use the bathroom" she said to him "I'll be right back" she said sliding out of the booth. As soon as April walked away her phone vibrated on the table and Punk glanced over and saw she had no message from none other than Jason. He frowned upon seeing the name appear on the screen. It took every ounce of self-control he had to not pick up the phone and look at the message. A few minutes later April was back and sliding back next to him in the booth.
"Your phone went off" Punk said casually
"I don't care" April said happily "I'm with you everything else can wait"
"Are you sure? It could be important" Punk insisted sliding her phone over to her. April just picked up the phone and looked over the message and then placed her phone back down.
"So do I get to go with you to the Blackhawks game tomorrow?" she asked as if she never received the message.
"Yea Colt's coming too" Punk said to her as he tapped his glass with his fingers "So who was that?" he asked
"I'm assuming by your body language you already know the answer to that" April said to him "If you want to know so badly why didn't you just look at what he sent?"
"I'm not going to go through your messages like some jealous boyfriend" Punk snorted
"I have nothing to hide" April said to him
"I trust you" Punk said to her "Just like I trust you'll tell me what he wanted"
"He needs some more money" April admitted "He's still trying to get back on his feet" Punk knew that's probably what he was after
"What do you mean more money?" Punk asked her
"I've been helping out" April shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal.
"You've been helping out?" Punk mocked "By giving him money?"
"Yea" she said to him "He needed help I couldn't just turn my back to him"
"You've been giving money to the man who was ripping you off for a year?" Punk asked stunned
"I've just been helping him with his rent" April said innocently
"Excuse me?" Punk laughed "By 'helping' him I'm assuming you mean you've been paying it?"
"What's the big deal?" April asked
"Do I really need to explain this to you?" Punk asked seriously "You're not that dense" he regretted using the word as soon as it left his mouth. Instead of frowning at him or feeling sad he saw something else- anger. Her eyes narrowed at him and her breathing became heavy. But Punk was upset as well and didn't want to back down. "Well?" he asked
"Well what?" she practically spat
"Do I have to explain it?" Punk asked her
"Please explain to me how I should spend my money" April insisted "I mean you're so much smarter than I am. But please use small words so my small dense mind can understand properly"
"Don't make this into something else" Punk said shaking his head "You're paying the way for a man who treated you like shit. A man who basically tried to make you a prostitute- you were rid of him! And now you've opened the door to let him back in. He's using you"
"He's my friend" April corrected "He was there for me when no one else was"
"No he wasn't" Punk mocked "He wanted your money and that's still all he wants."
"I can't just turn my back on him" April argued "Maybe you're the type of person who can cut people out of your life I'm not" she said to him coldly
"Who have I cut out of my life?" Punk questioned with a laugh
"Your entire family" April shot at him and now he was pissed "Yea your childhood sucked but at least your family wants you."
"My family wants my money" Punk informed her "Just like Jason wants yours"
"I don't even make a lot of money" April said to him
"Exactly!" Punk practically cried out "So why are you throwing your money away on him?"
"Because money isn't that important to me" April said to him "I don't have many people in my life Punk."
"You're making a mistake" Punk said to her bluntly "He's using you, taking advantage of your kindness and the worst part of it is that you know it and you're letting him do this to you"
"I know you don't like him" April sighed
"I hate him" Punk corrected "I hated him since the first time I saw him, remember that? You just had a match and he told you that you weren't very good and then I watched as he took all of your tip money and put it in his own pocket"
"He had to make a living" April argued
"You just don't get it" Punk sighed annoyed shaking his head
"No you don' get it" April shot back then stood up from the booth
"Where are you going?" Punk asked her
"I'll wait by the car for you" April said to him
"We're still eating" Punk said looking up at her
"I've lost my appetite" April said to him "My stomach is as dense as my head" she mocked then waked out of the restaurant.
"Fuck" Punk mumbled to himself
The car ride was silent the way home. Both were very stubborn and refused to apologize to the other. Punk's defense was that he was looking out for her; April's was that she knew what she was doing. She didn't speak to him when they got home either she ran up the stairs and grabbed her bag and moved into the guest room.
The next morning Punk was dressed and ready to go to the arena. He was doing a charity thing before the game and Colt as already at the house ready to go.
"So is April coming?" Colt asked as he ate a sandwich at Punk's table
"I don't know" Punk said pouring himself a glass of juice
"I thought she surprised you" Colt said to him "Where is she actually?"
"Sleeping, I don't know" Punk shrugged
"Oh boy" Colt said sucking in a breath "You already fucked this up?"
"No I didn't do a damn thing" Punk said seriously
"You're really defensive" Colt noted "Sounds like you did do something"
"Nope for a change I'm in the right" Punk said to him proudly
"I'll be judge of that" Colt said warily
"She's been giving her friend money for his rent" Punk said to him
"Ok" Colt said waiting for him to continue
"He's using her for her money" Punk said to him "That's it- that's the story"
"That's it?" Colt asked seriously "You're upset because she's helping a friend out? Is she sleeping with this friend?"
"No" Punk said annoyed that Colt would even think that
"So why are you so upset?" Colt asked confused "You bought Joey's house for him"
"Because Joey is a real friend" Punk said sternly "Jason-"
"Jason" Colt laughed "You're jealous"
"I'm not jealous" Punk said to him "Jason is that sleazy trainer I told you about"
"Oh the one who would rather wrestler her in the bed than in the ring?" Colt asked and Punk nodded "Well she never did anything with him"
"That's not the point" Punk argued "This guy is a leech"
"It's April's money" Colt pointed out "She can give it to anyone she wants"
"Not to that guy" Punk said to him "He's been taking her money for years. He's taking advantage of her kindness"
"She's not stupid" Colt said to him
"She had the nerve to say that I couldn't possibly understand because it's easy for me to cut people out of my life. She told me I cut my family out of my life" Punk said to his friend
"Ok" Colt said slowly "You did"
"You too?" Punk asked annoyed
"I'm not saying you're wrong" Colt defended quickly "You did what anyone would have done but clearly April has abandonment issues maybe you should be a little sensitive to that"
"I'm just looking out for her" Punk argued. By this point April was standing outside the kitchen and eavesdropping "I just want to help her. It's all I ever want to do, I don't want to see anyone take advantage of her or hurt her and that's exactly what she's setting herself up for by keeping this guy in her life. She's stubborn and I love that about her but it's also what drives me crazy"
"She's you" Colt smirked "It's like you're dating a hot female version of yourself. So you told her how you felt but how did you really say it?" he asked curiously "If she's still mad at you must have said something stupid"
"I called her dense" Punk admitted and Colt's eyes widened
"Shit" Colt muttered
"We were having a really good night to" Punk said to him
"And you went and fucked it up because you're a jealous fool" Colt scolded shaking his head in disappointment
"I'm not jealous!" Punk shouted. "I'm concerned"
"If it was a female friend would you be this upset?" Colt asked
"Yes" Punk said to him
"You're lying" Colt grinned
"Whose side are you on?" Punk asked him
"Aprils" Colt said quickly and honestly
"Seriously?" Punk asked
"Her money, her friend her choice" Colt shrugged "You can't protect her all of the time, if this blows up in her face let it and she'll learn from it"
"I'm just supposed to stand there and let this happen?" Punk asked him and Colt nodded "I'm not built that way"
"Sorry" April said entering the kitchen "I just wanted a bottle of water" she was sporting workout clothes as she walking inside.
"Hi April" Colt smiled and gave her a kiss hello
"How's it going Colt?" April asked kindly
"Good. I thought you were coming to the game with us" Colt frowned
"Nah I'm just going to hang back here, if that's alright with you?" she asked looking towards Punk. He just shrugged. "I really need to get a workout in"
"Ok" Colt said and watched as she walked out of the kitchen and down into the gym "Dude go talk to her"
"And say what?" Punk asked "I'm not apologizing"
"You did call her dense" Colt pointed out "She looks so sad"
"What about me?" Punk asked him
"You're not as pretty as she is" Colt teased mockingly
Punk headed down the stairs to the gym and saw April on the floor stretching and she looked up as he approached her.
"Come to the game" Punk said to her
"Go with your friend. I'm not mad anymore Punk" April said in a friendly voice "I get where you were coming from I really do I just wish you could see where I was coming from"
"I'm trying" Punk forced out "I'm not going to say another word about it"
"Promise?" April asked
"Yes" Punk said to her
"I'm not used to having someone look at for me" April admitted "I told you that you'd have to have patience with me"
"You're right" Punk said kneeling down "I'll work on that. And I didn't call you dense- I don't think you're dense"
"Really?" April asked
"I wouldn't be with you if I really thought that" Punk said to her "I also warned you I could be difficult and sometimes I get worked up. I didn't mean that"
"Alright" she smiled
"Now could you please get dressed and come to the game with me?" Punk asked hopefully
"I really don't want to intrude on your date with Colt" April said standing up
"Please don't word it like that" Punk said scrunching up his face "We don't have to leave for another hour so you can work out for a bit first if you want"
"I missed you last night" April frowned as she inched closer to her boyfriend
"I missed you too" Punk said to her leaning down and kissing her. Punk backed April up against the wall and lowered his own body so he was more evenly matched with her. He pressed his body hard against her, so hard that when he went to stand straight it pushed her own body up further. April did as Punk told her to do and just let her body take over, she instinctively spread her legs so Punk could stand in-between them and pushed his lower self into hers. Punk bit on her lower lip and tugged at it a bit before pulling away.
"Can't we just blow the game off?" April asked out of breath as Punk kissed down her neck
"No" Punk said to her as his left hand moved up and down her side.
"I want you" she hissed as he gently pushed into her again.
"Not yet" he said against her perfect neck. His left hand moved up to her chest and cupped he breast over her t-shirt and gave it a gentle squeeze. Punk moved his mouth back over April's.
Back upstairs Colt had finished his sandwich and sat there awkwardly
"I wonder if she killed him…" Colt questioned himself out loud.
At the game Punk, April and Colt were backstage in the arena and April watched from the sidelines as Punk spoke to the press with Colt. He was so happy when he was doing things like this.
"Hi there" A man with a glasses smiled walking over to her. "I'm Wade Jerkins I'm with the press" he said pointing to press badge he was sporting
"Hi" April said politely then listened to Punk as he continued talking to the camera
"Could I ask you a few questions?" the man asked
"I'm a guest of a guest" April smiled "I'm not anybody"
"You're April Mendez right?" the man asked
"Yea" she said unsurely
"I write wrestling articles" the man informed her "You're here as CM Punk's date?"
"Um I really don't want to talk about it" April said to him smiling "You should be talking to him"
"The rumor online is that you two are dating" the man said to her as he ignored her request to not talk about it "Is that true"
"I have nothing to say" April said simply
"Is it true you're living here in here in Chicago now?" the man asked
"I don't want to be rude-" April started
"Did Punk get you your job before you two began dating?" the man asked "Are you going to be working a story with him? Is it true he's doing a heel turn in the future?"
"I have nothing to say to you" April said more firmly "Leave me alone"
"So the answer is yes?" The man asked jotting it down
"Wait, what?" April asked "You asked me like ten questions"
"I think I got my answer" The man smirked "So let me ask you something else-"
"I don't want to talk to you" April blurted out "Please leave me alone"
"Just one more question" April rolled her eyes and looked back at the man
"What's going on?" Punk asked walking over to her
"I don't even know" April said clearly bothered
"I was just talking to your girlfriend" the man said to him "I'm-"
"I know who you are" Punk said with a smile "I don't think she wants to talk you so why don't you beat it"
"Don't you want to set the record straight? Your girlfriend left a few things out" the man smirked
"I didn't say anything!" April defended
"It's fine" Punk said to her then looked towards the journalist "You're going to post whatever you want no matter what I say so just do what you've got to do and don't bother us again"
"So you two are in fact dating?" the man asked
"She's dating me" Colt smirked wrapping his arm around April "Punk's third-wheeling it" he teased. Punk just looked towards the man and shrugged
"Fine" the man said annoyed "I got enough" he then walked off
"He just kept asking me questions" April said annoyed "I didn't even say anything back to him"
"Get used to it" Punk said to her
"Especially if you're with Punk" Colt smirked removing his arm from her
"I don't know what he's going to say but I didn't say anything" April promised Punk
"Don't worry about it" Punk said to her "His story was already written before he tried to get a quote from you"
"I'm not used to people wanting to talk to me and write about it" April said to him
"Like I said get used to it because this guy always has the spotlight on him" Colt said pointing towards Punk
"Say whatever you want" Punk said to her "But just know no matter what you say it's going to misconstrued"
"He knew we were dating" April whispered "How did he know that?"
"If I jay walk it's breaking news" Punk informed her
"That must be annoying" April said to him
"Trust me people reporting that we're dating doesn't bother me" Punk smirked "It will only bother me if you get bothered about it"
"I told you already I don't care what people think about me" April said to him
"Punk can we get a picture for the website?" a young man with a camera asked walking over to him
"Yea" Punk said "Come on Colt" he said and Colt joined him for the picture "You too" he said grabbing April's hand
"Punk-" she started
"I don't care what people think either" Punk said to her as he pulled her close to his side for the picture.