Chapter 18: In Demand
April was back in Tampa for over two weeks now. She had been working more and more matched in NXT and they were gearing her up for her TV debut. The process was crazy she had to meet with a ton of different people and audition as if she was trying out for a TV show before she finally go the ok, which she did. But she didn't want to be good she wanted to be great.
She also had formed a bond with the people down at NXT. Paige, Emma, Summer and a few of the guys really hit it off. She found herself spending more time with them and they were all eager to help her and give her tips. She knew once she was at Raw it was a dog eat dog world but here in NXT everyone was pretty great and supportive. She even had a twenty-two minute long match with Paige that a lot of people called the Diva's match of the year. But what she really remembered about that much was working at the gym over night with Punk. He flew down to help her prep and go over and moves because he knew how nervous she was and how big this match was for her career. Another person there that night watching was Nick aka Dolph Ziggler. He lived in Tampa and had been spending a lot of time working with her as well, she knew how big this story could be for him and he wanted to make sure she was truly up for the task.
It was Saturday night and tomorrow she'd be flying out to Boston where Raw was to be held where she would make her big debut. She decided to head home after NXT rather than going out with everyone and passed by the gym she started in. She was surprised to see the gym open with lights on and walked inside to see what was going on.
"Well, well, well" Jason laughed walking over to April as she walked inside "If it isn't Miss. April- woops I'm sorry AJ Lee"
"You got the gym back up and running" April noted looking around
"All new equipment too" Jason said proudly "I even got a ring in the back"
"Good for you" April said to him
"Are you here for your money?" Jason asked "Because I have it"
"I told you I don't want the money but I'm happy you're doing well" April said to him
"Are you?" Jason questioned
"Of course I am" April said surprised by his attitude "I don't wish you bad"
"Right" Jason snorted "Well you better get going because you don't want to be spotted in such a crap gym"
"I don't even know why I came in" April admitted with a huff and turned around
"Don't come back here April" Jason said to her
"Don't worry I won't" April shot at him looking over "I've moved on to bigger and better things"
"You are such an arrogant bitch" Jason scoffed "You became one of those people"
"What people?" April asked
"The ones that forget where they came from" Jason said to her "You've moved on to WWE and you forgot all about how I put you there"
"What do you want from me?" April asked defeated
"I want you to stop treating me like shit, stop bashing me to your boyfriend and the guys you work with!" Jason yelled "This is my livelihood"
"Good luck Jason" April said
"Yea go back to your fancy facilities and traveling on your boyfriends luxurious bus" Jason said to her "You just leave us little people here at the bottom"
"What are you even talking about?" April asked
"When was the last time you even saw Jewel?" Jason questioned
"I don't know" April admitted, but it probably had been a few weeks. "I've been busy and I start on the road tomorrow-"
"What about Hector? The poor guy loved you like a daughter and you never even stop in to say hello" Jason pointed out "You're a terrible person April wait excuse me AJ" he mocked "Your boyfriend may be a dick but at least he's well grounded"
"I am grounded" April defended
"Right" Jason said to her "Just get out of here April you don't belong"
April decided not to respond and just walk out of the gym. Had she really lost touch with reality?
In Chicago Punk was packing up and getting ready for another long week on the road.
"I've never seen you so anxious to leave before" Colt noted
"I haven't seen April in almost a week" Punk reminded him
"Oh that's right" Colt laughed "So she's starting on TV Monday?"
"Yea if everything goes as planned" Punk said to him
"And you're ok with the Nick aspect?" Colt asked
"Not really but he did approach me two weeks ago and asked if I was ok with it and if I wasn't he'd drop it" Punk said to him "He swore he'd be respectful to her and I'm holding him to it"
"So Christmas is next week" Colt noted and Punk nodded "Are you going to Tampa?"
"I'm have Christmas eve here like I do every year" Punk informed him "And I'm expecting you to be here as well"
"Good" Colt said to him "Is April joining you this year?"
"As a matter of fact she is" Punk said as packed his bag up
"Cool I want to spend a little more time with her, get to know the woman who makes you smile like a fool better" Colt said to him "So what are you getting her?"
"She's easy" Punk laughed "I got her a special edition comic she's been looking for and it cost me a fortune"
"That's nice" Colt said carefully
"No good?" Punk asked
"It's just you love this girl right?" Colt asked him
"You know how I feel about her" Punk said to him
"It's your first Christmas together and you're getting her a comic book?" Colt asked
"She loves stuff like that" Punk defended
"Ok" Colt said to him
"What would you get her?" Punk asked
"Oh I have no idea" Colt admitted with a laugh "I just wouldn't go the comic book route"
"She hates jewelry, she hates flowers, she doesn't like designer bags or clothing" Punk told him
"You're so lucky" Colt said to him "But she likes jewelry. You told me you almost dropped a grand on that necklace for her"
"That's because it came from her grandmother" Punk said to him
"I would get her something gold" Colt said with a shrug "But that's just my opinion"
"It's a little late for that I'm on the road this entire week and next week is Christmas, she's flying back with me" Punk said to him
"I'm sure she'll love the comic" Colt said seriously but knew he had gotten to Punk "Just give her that"
"Now you have me second guessing myself" Punk said annoyed
"It was just a thought" Colt said to him "I mean you used to get Amy stuff like that and didn't you give Beth something similar for her birthday?"
"So what?" Punk asked
"It's just those relationships didn't last" Colt shrugged innocently "And I'd like to see this one last because you're much easier to be around"
"First of all the reason it didn't work out with Amy was because she never wanted to come to Chicago and I never wanted to go to Atlanta" Punk said to him
"Well April lives in Tampa" Colt pointed out
"I don't mind going to Tampa" Punk said to him "And Beth was a user"
"I'm just trying to help you not make the same mistakes" Colt offered and Punk rolled his eyes
"I know what April wants" Punk said to him "I probably know her better than anyone actually"
"Ok, ok" Colt laughed "No reason to get so defensive"
"I feel like you're trying to jinx my relationship" Punk said annoyed "A relationship that I'm actually fucking happy in"
"I don't want to jinx it" Colt said seriously "I want to help you"
"When you've been in a relationship longer than six months then you can give me advice" Punk said to him
"Jeez why are you getting so angry?" Colt asked "Because I think your gift is crap? Oh speaking of gifts what should I get her?"
"Oh well you know women so well I'm sure you'll figure it out" Punk remarked coldly
"Don't be pissed if I get her something better than what you're giving her" Colt warned "I'd hate to make you look bad on Christmas but you're leaving me with no choice"
"Shut up" Punk warned
When Punk made it to the hotel after traveling into Boston he headed straight to the hotel where April was already waiting for him.
"Hi" April said with a big grin as he stepped in the door. She ran towards him and jumped into his arms and he wasted no time leaning down and kissing her sweetly.
"I missed you" he said against her lips
"I missed you too" April said softly. Punk reluctantly let go of his tiny girlfriend and tossed his bags to the side.
"How long have you been waiting?" Punk asked
"Only a few hours" April said to him "Oh and check this out!" she said eagerly showing him a cut up Dolph Ziggler shirt. "The wardrobe department gave me this to wear for tomorrow"
"It's nice" Punk forced out examining the shirt
"Yea they think it'll be a good way to plug merchandise" April said to him simply taking the garment away from him
"That's a very good way" Punk agreed "So what do you want to do first? Gym or food?"
"Food" April insisted "I'm starving" she said tapping her stomach "I've been waiting for you"
"Poor baby" Punk cooed mockingly. "So are you getting pumped for tomorrow?"
"I'm starting to get nervous" April admitted "Not only do I have to be in front of thousands of people tomorrow but I also have to act like somebody else's girlfriend"
"Just remember you're playing a character" Punk reminded her "You're AJ Lee as soon as you step onto that stage, you're the vixen dating Dolph Ziggler and you morph into that."
"I've never not been me" April admitted nervously
"You'll get used to it" Punk assured her "Now come on because I want to enjoy some time with my girlfriend April before she becomes Dolph's girlfriend in a day"
"Wow I have two boyfriends" April said with a wide smile "This time last year I hadn't ever had a boyfriend and now I've got two hot boyfriends"
"You think Dolph is hot?" was the first thing Punk asked
"Oh I'm just teasing" April said grabbing her bag and walking to the door
"His hair is horrible" Punk remarked
"It was a joke" April reminded him
"Yea and it was funny" Punk remarked with a sarcastic smile
"I guess you wouldn't be interested in a three-" April started
"Stop right there" Punk warned with a laugh "Your jokes aren't that funny and I don't share"
"Noted" April smirked as Punk followed her out the door
April was backstage at Raw and waiting by the gorilla. She was going on in ten minutes and she couldn't get her hands to stop shaking.
"Hey" Celeste greeted walking over to her "I just wanted to wish you luck" the two had bonded over the last few weeks via texts and seeing each other at events.
"I think something is wrong with my hands" April said looking down at them
"It's called nerves" Celeste laughed "Shake it off this is your moments. People will always remember the first time you debuted. It could either make you or break you"
"Gee thanks" April remarked "That doesn't make me anymore nervous or anything"
"Don't psych yourself out" Celeste warned "And the best part is that you're not alone. Langston and Nick will be at your side so you're very lucky"
"You're right" April agreed "Have you seen Punk around?" she asked her friend
"No" Celeste frowned "I'm sure he'll be by to wish you luck" she assured her "I'll see you in a bit, good luck!" she said with wave and walked away
"Cold feet?" Punk teased coming up behind her
"They're ice" April said seriously "I'm going to slide all the way down to the ring"
"You're going to be fine" he assured her with a chuckle "I don't have much time but I did want to wish you luck"
"You're not going to watch?" April asked
"I'm going to catch pieces of it but I have a meeting" Punk sighed
"Maybe it's best if you don't watch" April said surprising him
"Why is that?" Punk questioned curiously
"I don't mean it like that" April sighed "I don't want to disappoint you. What if I suck and get fired? Then I have to go back to being a waitress at Hectors"
"The service hasn't been the same without you" Punk reasoned and then laughed "I'm kidding! You're not going to get fired, you're not going to suck you're going to kick ass"
"April!" Dolph yelled from the curtain with Langston at this side
"It's show time kid" Langston grinned rubbing his hands together
"Ok I'm up" April said looking at Punk
"I love you" Punk said to her
"I love you too" she said turning and heading towards Dolph
"April!" Punk yelled out before she walked away "Your jacket" he said referring to the fact that she still had on a zip-up hoodie on covering her shirt.
"Oh right" she said un-zipping it and passing it over to Punk "What?" she asked noticing the way he was looking at her. He always thought April was beautiful and her innocence added to that but tonight she looked hot. Her shirt was cut short, her bra was poking out, her makeup and hair and matched it and her jeans were so tight he was sure they were painted on. He was completely turned on by her at the moment and couldn't turn it off.
"Put it back on" Punk choked out holding out her jacket. She just reached up and kissed his cheek and skipped over to Dolph and Langston. With one last glance to her boyfriend she stepped out from behind the curtain.
Punk was watching with a few other guys in the back. He knew he had a meeting to be in but he didn't want to miss this. He watched as she completely morphed into someone he didn't know, she hung on Dolph literally and there sloppy long drawn out kiss didn't bother him as much as he thought it would because like he told April she wasn't his April at the moment she was AJ. He watched as Dolph cut his heel promo with Langston at his side and April at the other and was truly proud of all three of them. The crowd seemed engaged and when he introduced AJ to the audience she received boos but a lot of cat whistles- the point was that she had everyone's attention and that was what was most important.
"Punk they're looking for you" Paul Heyman said to him
"I'll be there in a minute" Punk said not taking his eyes off the screen
"I'll get you a copy of it" Paul said to him "We need to go over this match tonight"
"The match is closing it's only 8:30" Punk shrugged
"Punk now" Paul insisted and he just rolled his eyes
"Fine" Punk groaned
"She does look good" Paul smirked at him
"She really does" Punk said turning his head back at the screen briefly again before walking off with Paul
April wasn't sure how she did but when she stepped backstage she received a lot of pats on the back. Apparently people were happy with her and more importantly the fans seemed to have been interested. She was notified that the segment was trending on Twitter but the real seal of approve came from someone she had never thought she'd meet.
"April" Vince McMahon himself said as walked over to her, he had a headset on and had just briefly stepped out of the communications room. He shook her hand and smiled "Good job tonight. I look forward to seeing more of you" he told her simply then headed back into the room before she could even respond
"Vince McMahon just touched me" April said in awe looking down at her hand
"Get used to it" Nick said to her "He's very involved here. Seriously April you killed it tonight I really think this is going to work"
"I think so to" April agreed.
She headed down towards the private locker rooms and looked for Punks. She didn't use his locker room or anything and never spent time in it because they wanted to professional at work but she just had to see him. She didn't even knock as she entered the large room. He had his headphones on and ripped them off as she walked in.
"Well?" April asked him
"You knocked it out of the park" Punk said honestly
"I didn't do much" April noted
"Your facial reactions, your body language- it speaks volumes" Punk said to her seriously "Everyone thinks you did great" he walked over to her now and wrapped his arms around her waist "And you look so fucking hot" he informed her. April had gotten to know Punk pretty well by now and she knew by just the tone of his voice when he was horny and right now he was very, very horny.
"Is this about the kiss?" April asked "I thought you were ok with it"
"The kiss didn't bother me" Punk said to her honestly "Nothing bothered me but I need you out of these clothes" he said as he unbuckled her belt
"Phil" she warned "We're out work"
"We're in my private locker room" Punk said to her as he un-zipped the jeans and tugged them down her slender waist. He kissed her jaw line and ran his hands down her sides and tugged her over to the couch and fell ass first on it with April landing on top of him.
"So you liked the outfit?" April asked breathlessly as he removed her shirt now
"The shirt sucks" Punk said keeping his lips connected to her flesh "You'd look better in one of mine but I liked it" April followed her body's instincts and grinded against his groin causing him to groan. His hands moved over to her rear and gave it a tight squeeze causing her to rub against him further. "I need you- now" he said seriously as he tugged her thong down her legs and moved her to the slightly so he could tug down his own shorts so they were bunched around his knees.
"You really want me?" April teased as she nuzzled into his neck
"So fucking bad" he said into her ear. She raised herself up and slowly dropped onto him and he let out an almost relieved moan. "Fuck" he sighed as she began to move on him. It wasn't slow or sweet- it was fast, hot and sweaty and completely new to April but she definitely liked it. She wasn't even sure was possessed her at this moment as she moved so roughly against him for over ten minutes and he moved just as hard. Maybe she was still on an adrenaline rush from being on TV for the first or the fact that Punk had not only seen her as beautiful but also found her to be sexy and wanted her this minute.
"Oh" she moaned against him as he bit over her breast over her bra. He felt himself getting closer and closer because he was enjoying this moment so much, the way she looked, the way she took control but the fact that she was felt confidant enough to take over turned him on more than anything. He moved his hand over her clit to speed up her process and watched as her head fell back in complete pleasure.
"Please baby" he encouraged moving his fingers against her quicker "Tell me you're almost there" he said and she looked down knowing he didn't want to let go before she did. She just nodded and a moment later she tightened around him causing him to release as well. April's head fell onto his shoulder while he remained buried inside her. Both were no sweaty and out of breathe.
"That was-" April was trying to find the words
"Different?" Punk suggested
"Yes" April agreed as she carefully detached herself from his body
"I didn't hurt you did I?" Punk asked
"No" April said reaching for her underwear and pulling them on and then reached for her jeans "Did I hurt you?"
"I don't think so but if you did I liked it" Punk grinned tugging his pants back on without getting up from the couch
"I liked it" April said to him "I'm not a fragile little virgin anymore Phil" she reminded him
"I can see that" Punk smirked as he enjoyed watching his girlfriend get dressed
"I want to try new things" April said as she pulled her shirt on now
"Ok" Punk said to her
"So you really thought I was sexy?" April asked teasingly
"Um yea" Punk said seriously "Everyone did as a matter of fact. You're not like any other Diva that's been here you already stand out. You're going to be a huge star here" the last comment seemed to really bother April slightly "Isn't that what you want?"
"Of course" April said to him "I just don't want it to get to my head"
"Get to your head?" Punk laughed "Why would you say that?"
"I just don't want to forget where I came from" April said to him
"You won't" Punk said amused. The door swung open before Punk could say anything else. He was annoyed to see one of the producers walk right in especially if they did that a few minutes earlier. "If you want to come in here you knock" he said to the man standing up
"I'm sorry for intruding but we have a photo shoot set up" the man said to him
"I don't give a shit" Punk spat "I'm occupied right now-"
"Not for you" the man said surprising Punk slightly "It's for AJ Lee"
"Me?" April asked
"What happened to your hair?" the man asked "we need to get you freshened up"
"A photo shoot?" April asked him "I didn't know anything about this"
"They want you on the website asap" the man said "Sorry for not knocking but they need this done"
"I better go head off to my photo shoot" April said amused to him
"Yea" Punk said to her
"I'll meet you at the bus" April said and he just nodded.
Punk didn't like that April was pulled away from him so quickly in the middle of a conversation but he guessed that was something he was going to have to get used to. He hadn't even thought of the fact that April was going to be popular and needed in other places. She wouldn't always be at his side anymore and it wouldn't be just him being pulled away from her but now she was in demand as well. Was this going to work? He didn't entertain that thought for long because he was going to make sure it was going to work out. Nothing- not even the WWE was going to tare them apart.