Chapter 20: New Year
Punk was lying on his bus and looked over to his girlfriend peacefully sleep next to him. He was watching highlights from ESPN on the bus and the TV was muted so it wouldn't disturb her. He was already dreading the fact that she was flying back to Tampa on Tuesday and he was going to continue on the road. And the worst part was that he was probably going to miss New Years with her. He couldn't wait for her to be finished up with NXT so she wouldn't be needed in Tampa as much. When the bus hit a bump he thought it would wake her but it only caused her to roll over and curl closer to him. Her head was resting right over his beating heart and a few strands of her hair sprinkled over his face and he got a good whiff of it.
"Don't you sleep?" April asked nestled close to him
"No" Punk replied "But you should be"
"I was" April said closing her eyes and then felt his arm around her and he ran his fingers gently down her back. "Is this thing with Nick really bothering you that much?"
"Not in the slightest actually" Punk said to her "I just don't like the idea of him blaming you for our match"
"I didn't care" April said to him
"You're in the big league April you don't have to take abuse from anyone anymore" Punk reminded her
"I don't take abuse from people" April said to him "He spoke his mind, I listened and that's that"
"No that's not just that" Punk said to her causing her to wake up more "He thinks he's going to blame you for things- he took the anger he has against me on you and that's not acceptable and it's not going to fly. This is what I was afraid of happening"
"You were afraid this?" April asked
"It's just the way it is back there" Punk shrugged "I'm the top guy and to get to me they attack my girlfriend. They're just trying to distract me"
"You think I'm a distraction?" April asked offended sitting up
"Not really" Punk said to her "But yea having you there does sort of distract me"
"Oh really" April said slowly
"It's not a bad distraction" Punk defended quickly "I'm just trying to look out for you"
"Who asked you to do that?" April asked him
"Nobody but it's my job" Punk said to her simply
"No it's not" April said to him "I've taken care of myself for most of my adult like"
"Yea and you did a great job" Punk snorted
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" April asked
"Jason" Punk pointed out and she knew he was going to go there
"I don't want your help" April said to him "You told me I got where I am right now on my own talent"
"And you did" Punk agreed "But backstage is different you should be thankful you have someone like me in your corner"
"I am but I don't want to be the reason you're distracted" April said to him "I don't want to be the excuse that the guys use to rag on you" she added
"It's just the way it is and I'm fine with it" Punk said to her
"Well I'm not" April said to him "We agreed to keep us a secret but clearly we haven't been doing a good job at that"
"April" Punk sighed knowing where this was going
"Maybe we shouldn't be traveling together in the meantime I don't want people to comment on that too" April said to him sitting up
"Where are you going?" Punk asked
"To sleep on a bunk" she informed him grabbing a pillow "I'm probably distracting you from sleeping" she said before walking out of the bedroom.
April ignored Punk most of the next morning and once they arrived at Raw she was still just as quiet and it was driving him crazy.
"When is this going to end?" Punk asked as they walked the halls together
"I don't want to distract you" April replied innocently
"You not talking to me distracts me" Punk informed her "I'm sorry ok?"
"I don't want your apology I want you to realize that we're two different people that just happen to work here. You go about your business and I'll go about mine. We won't talk or anything back here and when we leave we can be a couple" April suggested
"I don't want to be your boyfriend part-time" Punk shot at her "I don't want to pretend like I don't know you here"
"If I had known what a huge problem me working here with you would have been-" April started but Punk cut her off
"Say it" Punk challenged her "You wouldn't be with me"
"No" April said almost hurt that he would even think that "Why would you even say that? Don't you know me at all? I never would have taken this job" she said to him then stormed off.
Punk wanted to run off after her but he didn't want to cause a scene and also he spotted Nick entering the arena and decided to focus his anger on him.
"Ziggles!" Punk shouted waving him over. Nick walked over with his bag slung over his shoulder "You have something you need to get off your chest?" he asked him
"No" Nick said casually
"That's not what April says" Punk said to him "You think I tried to break you in that ring last night? You think I really give a shit if you kiss my girlfriend on TV?"
"Woah man" Nick said holding his hands up in defense "I think you got this story wrong"
"Did I?" Punk seethed
"I was pissed after our match yes- but I slept on it and got over it. If I had known April was going to run and whisper into your ear I never would have a said a thing" Nick said to him
"Don't spew crap like that again" Punk warned "I'm one of the safest guys in the ring and I would put anyone over without hesitation even you" he said to him "And next time you have a fucking problem with one of our matches grow a pair of balls and speak to me about it not my girlfriend"
April was in the makeup chair getting her hair done when Nick approached her.
"Do you hate me?" Nick asked her
"What?" April asked
"You really ran and told Punk everything I said? Are you trying to bury me?" Nick asked her
"No!" April defended "I didn't-"
"It's different for you I get it" Nick said to her "You're new here and you're not a real threat to Punk but saying shit like that can get me put back into dark matches"
"I'm sorry" she apologized
"Don't be sorry just don't do it again" Nick said to her "I want to work with you and I know you're loyal to Punk but you need to be a little more loyal to me" he argued "We're not like the" he reminded her "Think of this place as the Titanic we're all in different classes. Punk is on the upper deck first and he's getting in that life boat right away and trust me he's not going to share his seat with you. We need to be in this together"
"I get it" April assured him
"No one is going to trust you or want to be around you if you're hanging out with the champ" Nick said to her "Everyone already thinks you have it easy"
"I get it" April said to him
"So are you with him or me?" Nick asked
"Here at work it's you, me and Langston" April said to him "I won't say anything to him about what we talk about anymore"
"Thank you" Nick smiled "I knew you'd get it"
Later that night after working with Nick April was headed off the airport so she can be at the performance early Tuesday morning.
"Were you going to leave without saying goodbye to me?" Punk asked walking over to her
"I was going to text you" April said to him
"Don't be like this" Punk pleaded lightly
"You told Nick after I asked you not to" April said to him "You can get away with things like this but I'm still new, you're getting me in trouble here"
"Is that what he said?" Punk asked
"It doesn't matter what he said because it's not your business" April said to him catching him by surprise "If this is going to work we can't mix business with pleasure" she said to him
"Fine" Punk agreed "Can you stop being mad now?"
"I'm not mad I'm just disappointed" April said to him "I have a lot on my mind"
"Hey" Punk said lightly grabbing her wrist but she jerked it away
"Not here" April whispered
"So now we have to pretend like we don't know each other?" Punk asked her
"Yea if that's what it takes" April said to him "I don't want to mess up your career and I'm still getting my feet on the ground here its best we just do it like this"
"I feel like you're trying to break up with me" Punk said to her
"I'm not" April insisted "I'm just trying to create some distance between us"
"Distance? That's your answer?" Punk asked "We were fine working together and being together before my match with Nick"
"Stop making this out like it's the end for us" April argued "But us hanging out back here and traveling together is going to be a problem and not just for me personally back here but for my story"
"And who are you going to travel with?" Punk asked her "Nick?"
"And Langston" April said to him and he let out a bitter laugh
"Plenty of couples who don't work together travel together" Punk said to her "If you don't want to be around me say it" he fumed "Don't make excuses!"
"That's not what this is!" April yelled
"It's exactly what it is" Punk said to her "Do you think I'm stupid? You don't think I don't know when I'm getting the brush off"
"We've been together for months and you think I'm trying to give you the brush off?" April asked "That's not it"
"It's what it sounds like to me" Punk said "Get home safe and have a happy fucking new year" he then turned and walked away from her
April was back in Tampa that night and the next day worked all day training. She was more determined than ever to prove she was just like everyone else. Punk hadn't called her at all that night and she did text him the previous night to let him know that she had landed but he never wrote back to her. She wondered if she pushed him to far? She didn't want to hurt his feelings and she didn't want him to think she didn't want to be with him because that was so far from the truth but now she wasn't sure he even wanted to be with her. The more she thought it about the more she realized how he wasn't completely wrong and maybe they both over reacted.
On New Years Eve she left him message because his phone went to voicemail
'Hey Phil look I really need to talk to you. I'm sorry about the way things went down on Monday. I miss hearing from you I just want to make this right. Let's just talk about this please' she was now fighting back tears 'you promised you wouldn't abandon me… if working with Nick is a problem or being in the WWE is causing up problems I'll just leave. You mean more to me than this job. I love you please call me'
April went to lunch at the Diner on New Years Eve then passed by the gym Jason was running. He saw her walk by and ran outside to stop her.
"April wait!" Jason yelled causing her to turn around the street
"I'm not allowed to walk past the gym anymore?" April asked
"No it's not that" Jason said to her "I wanted to apologize for our last fight"
"Whatever" April mumbled turning
"Now come on April" Jason insisted "I've seen you on TV and you're doing great"
"Thanks" April said to him
"Come inside" he said gesturing towards the gym "Let me show you around unless you have plans?"
"No I don't" April said to him. Clearly she wouldn't even be getting a phone call from her boyfriend tonight
"Great" Jason said with a smile.
After a brief tour of the gym April was impressed.
"How did you get the money to do this?" April asked him
"Don't worry about that" Jason said to her "But business is booming"
"Looks dead tonight" April noted looking around the empty gym
"That's because they don't make them like you anymore" Jason smiled "You were always here"
"I liked it here" April admitted "But it feels different"
"Let's go" Jason said entering the ring he had in the gym
"What?" April laughed
"You're in sweats already let's go at it for old times sake" Jason suggested "Come on AJ Lee let's see if you still have it. What else do you have to do tonight?"
"Nothing" April admitted taking off her jacket "Ok let's go" she smiled and jumped into the ring.
They were practicing holds for about ten minutes and flipping each other in the ring and April felt like her old self again. As much as she liked the new places she worked out in she loved being back 'home'.
"You've gotten so good" Jason complimented
"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me" April said to him and he just smiled
"You're probably right" Jason smirked and then he quickly wrenched her arm behind her back and pushed her into the turnbuckle. His body was right on top of hers and his lower half was pressed into her butt. They were both facing the same direction as he continued to apply pressure to her arm and the rest of her body for that matter.
"Ok I tap" April said to him. Her arm did hurt but the truth was their close physical contact was making her most uncomfortable.
"Don't be a chicken" Jason laughed
"No Jason seriously let me go" April said feeling like her arm was about to snap. He slowly let go of her arm and turned around but Jason was still in her personal space and he had her cornered in the turnbuckle. "I should get going-" she started but his arms kept her boxed in.
"Why are you here April?" Jason asked her
"You invited me" April said unsurely
"No here on New Years without Punk" Jason clarified "You two break up?"
"No" April said to him
"You shouldn't be alone tonight" Jason insisted and leaned in and kissed her cheek
"Phil's waiting for me actually" April lied
"Right" Jason snorted and he moved one hand and ran his fingers over her collarbone "Don't you want a New Years kiss?" he asked her
"No" April said to him unsurely and brushed past him but he grabbed her by her waist and pulled her back this time she hit her back hard into the corner "Ow!" she cried out
"This tension between us has been going on for years" Jason said to her as he grabbed her face roughly "Let's just be done with all of this!"
"Get off of me!" April yelled pushing him as hard as she could and ran past him but he grabbed her by the ankle causing her to hit the mat. He flipped her onto her back and crawled on top of her body "Help me!"
"You wanted this" Jason said confused "Why are you being such a fucking tease!" she kicked him as hard as she could in the groin and rolled out of the ring and ran out of the gym. She didn't have her bag or phone she just ran right down the street and didn't stop until she reached the diner.
As soon as April stepped inside Hector looked up from behind the counter.
"April?" he asked alarmed. She was out of breath and clearly shaken. He slowly stepped out from behind the counter. "Where's your jacket? What happened?"
"Hector" April choked out and began to cry, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a tight hug.
"April?" Another voice asked stepping out of the back where the bathrooms were.
"He got here ten minutes ago looking for you" Hector whispered into her ear before pulling away and seeing Punk. His face was full of concern but he didn't get to say much because she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"What happened?" Punk asked her
"I'm an idiot that's what happened" April cried "A stupid idiot" Punk pulled away from her to look at her in the face "No wonder you feel the need to hold my hand at work because clearly I'm stupid"
"You're not stupid" Punk said to her "That's why I'm here to apologize"
"You have nothing to apologize for" April said to him in a deep voice that actually scared him "Your only flaw is caring too much for me something I have a hard time accepting"
"April where are you things?" Hector asked "Did you get mugged?"
"No" April said shaking her head
"April what the hell happened?" Punk asked her
"Jason stopped me as I walked past the gym" April told them "He was so nice you know? He apologized and invited me in to check out the gym-" she watched both men's faces tense up "And I went inside and we working out in the ring and I think he messed up my arm" she said holding up her arm "I think it's twisted"
"Let me see" Punk asked and his angry face turned to concern as he examined the arm
"So why did you leave your stuff?" Hector asked her as Punk looked at the arm
"I just-" April started as Punk moved his eyes back to her
"You just what April?" Punk asked
"We got into another argument and I left that's all" April said to him
"Your arm is red but it's fine" Punk said releasing it "I'll go by and get your stuff"
"No!" April practically yelled surprising both men
"How are you going to get into your place without your keys?" Punk smirked "And I think you need your phone"
"Oh yea" April said with a nervous laugh "I could go" she offered
"No you stay right here" Punk smiled sweetly at her "You two had an argument and I know how upset you get when you argue with your friends. I'll just run in and grab your stuff" he offered kindly "You just wait here"
"Before you go I'm really sorry about everything" April said to him
"No I'm sorry" Punk said to her "You spoke to me in confidence and I ran my mouth out you were right. That's why I'm here I wanted to apologize and I wanted to spend the New Year with you. I wanted it to be this big surprise"
"I am surprised" April said to him "Thank you for coming"
"You can thank me later" Punk grinned and kissed the top of her head "I'll be right back"
The grin was off of Punk's face as soon as the diner doors closed behind him and he practically raced down to the gym. He was no shaking as well but it wasn't from fear like April was it was from anger. He slammed the doors opened as he entered the gym and Jason looked up from behind the desk and saw him.
"Hey man I was just-" Jason started nervously as Punk zeroed in on his pry and raced over to him grabbing him by his shirt and pulling him over the counter. "I don't know what she said to you-"
"She didn't have to say shit!" Punk yelled tossing him across the floor "You think you can put your hands on her and get away with it?"
"She wanted it man!" Jason defended but Punk pulled the man back up to his feet and punched him as hard as possible across the face.
"I should fucking kill you!" Punk seethed as he kicked him repeatedly on the floor
"My ribs!" Jason cried out
"If you ever fucking talk to her again I'm going to break the rest of your ribs- if you touch her I will kill you" Punk promised in a dangerously cool voice
"Jesus Christ!" Jason cried out in pain
"Do you understand me!" Punk yelled giving him another kick
"Yes! Fuck!" Jason moaned
"Where's her stuff?" Punk asked and Jason just pointed to the corner. Punk walked over and grabbed her jacket and bag. "You're a piece of shit, you know that right? She fucking cared about you no matter what shit you put her threw- she loved you. How could you do that to somebody like her?" Jason didn't respond because he was still groaning in pain "You blew it man you have no idea what you're missing out on" he said to him then walked out the door.
Punk and April arrived back at her apartment as soon as he got her stuff back.
"So I think we should talk" Punk said to her "We need just lay it all out on the table. We'll discuss work and-"
"I don't want to talk" April said to him shaking her head
"I also want to know what happened at that gym" Punk said seriously
"And we will" April said to him "but not right now" she said walking over to him and pushing him against the door. She reached up and began to kiss him roughly, Punk wasn't used to this. She was attacking his lips like they hadn't seen each other in years but he wasn't going to stop her. She pulled away and from his face and ran her hands over his shirt and ripped the button down open sending buttons crashing all over the floor.
"I missed you" Punk choked out as April began kissing his chest and then reached for his lips again
"Prove it" she challenged as she kissed down his throat and he lifted her up so she was wrapped around his body and he turned to press her into the wall, he removed her jacket and t-shirt. While kissing down her throat he thrust into her while both were still wearing pants.
"You make me so fucking crazy" Punk rasped out as he reached for her sweats, she unwrapped her legs from him briefly so he could pull them down. April ran her hands through Punk's hair while he left intense kisses in and around her cleavage. She clearly missed him as much as he missed her.
"Touch me" April requested
"That's all I ever want to do" Punk admitted as he pushed her panties to the side and swiftly entered two fingers into her. "Do you want me to touch you like this?" he asked against her
"Yes" She moaned as she moved her hips back and forth against the door. His thumb soon joined in and began to massage her as well. "Oh yes Phil" she moaned as her head hit the back door. Punk was enjoying pounding April into the door using only his fingers and she seemed to be enjoying even more. When she hit her climax so quickly Punk just grinned and continued to move his fingers in and out of her. "Phil" she practically cried and he pulled his fingers out and placed her feet first on the floor.
"So good" Punk smiled slipping his fingers into his mouth. Even though Punk bought her to another level she wanted more- she needed more. She watched lustfully and practically pounced on him sending him crashing into the armchair. She stood up and tugged his shorts down and before joining him back on the chair she gave his shaft a slow lick and he grabbed her up so she was sitting on him. Punk removed her bra and grabbed a hold of her hips. He needed to be inside her right now, "I need you right now" he said to her
"No more stupid fights" April warned and he nodded
"Only if they end like this" Punk said to her. She just smiled and raised her hips and dropped roughly on his almost painful bulge. "Oh fuck!" He yelled out. She had complete control over him and watched as she bounced up and down on his body. He was so consumed by her for the first time ever he didn't even know what to do until she grabbed his hands and placed them over her breasts.
April's movement increased even faster and Punk had to move his hands to the arm of the chair to hold on.
"Good baby?" she asked out of breath but Punk couldn't let her have all of the fun. He sat up with her and pushed right into the nearest the wall.
"Good?" he asked her as he took control now and moved in and out of her as roughly and hard as possible.
"Oh so fucking good" April moaned as her nails dug deep into his shoulders. He smiled at the profanity she used and kept moving in and out of her. Punk's sweat was dropping onto April's body as he continued his quick pace and her face was red hot as well. "Don't stop" she moaned
"I'm not going to have much of a choice" Punk grunted as he moved into her again. Punk's hands were pressed hard against the wall and her legs were wrapped tight around him. She knew he wasn't going to last and decided to move her hand over herself and began to massage herself the way he did it earlier. "Oh fuck" he moaned resting his head against hers and looking down, watching her- he was just at his breaking point.
"Look at me" April whispered and he moved his head so he was looking directly at her. He leaned in and kissed her and that helped muffle some of her screams as she exploded around him, Punk joined her a few seconds later and both were finally at peace after a few days. He carried his girlfriend to the couch and grabbed the blanket there and wrapped it around them.
"I don't think we could top that" April admitted lying on his chest
"Oh we will" Punk said to her "But that was uh-"
"What?" April asked concerned
"The best I ever had" Punk admitted honestly
"Really?" April asked surprised
"You have no idea how good you are and that makes me insane" Punk said to her and she just smiled and left a kiss on his chest before snuggling against him
"You make me insane" April replied with a grin closing her eyes
"Hey" Punk said causing her eyes to open and he nodded towards the clock, it was 12:04 "Happy New Year"
"Yes it is" April said reaching up and kissing his lips again
"So what happened tonight?" Punk asked running his fingers down her naked back gently
"I told you" April said to him
"Fine" Punk said to her "I know you think it's not my business but you are my business" he informed her "I love you and I can't turn that randomly. I love you here, I love you at work and I really love you in Chicago"
"Chicago? Am I different there or something?" April questioned
"No it's just having you in my home really makes it a home" Punk said to her
"I love being there with you" April said to him
"I want you to move to Chicago" Punk said bluntly
"I think I misheard you" April said sitting up slightly and looking down at him
"I want you to move to Chicago" Punk repeated without fear "When we're apart for so long we're all over each other at work and clearly that's not helping us- let's just live together. When I go home I want it to be with you"
"You're serious" April said amused
"Yea" Punk said to her
"But I have to be in Tampa for NXT" April pointed out
"For what one-day a week?" Punk questioned "You're going to be finishing up there anywhere. You don't need to stay here what's keeping you here?"
"Nothing" April said giving it some thought
"Come to Chicago with me I want you with me" Punk said to her "This way if we start working opposite tours we'll still get to be together"
"Ok" April said softly
"Yea?" Punk asked with a smile
"If you really want me I'll come" April said to him and Punk just snorted at her choice of words "I'm serious!" she said pinching his side "You want me in Chicago?"
"I want you in my City, in my house, in my bedroom, in my kitchen-" Punk stopped himself there "Have I made myself clear?"
"Very much" April smiled
"This way we can distance ourselves at work without missing each other" Punk said to her
"Good idea" she said to him "You're not just asking me this though to fix this fight right?"
"No I wanted to ask you at Christmas but I couldn't work up the nerve" Punk admitted
"I'm excited" April admitted
"Good" Punk grinned happily "And tomorrow will talk all about the work stuff and Jason"
"I told you what happened with Jason" April said to him
"I saw him April" Punk said to her
"What did he say to you?" April asked nervously
"I don't want to be this guy" Punk started off "But you can't be around him anymore."
"Phil-" April started
"No" Punk said shaking his head "I have a good idea as to what went on tonight and it's done. If I see him again I'm going to kill him and you don't want me going to jail right?"
"Of course not" April said to him
"Because I will" Punk said seriously "I will kill him and do it in front of witnesses"
"Alright" April said to him "It's done I don't feel right around him anyway"
"Did he hurt you?" Punk asked gently
"No but I might have hurt him" April smirked
"That's my girl" Punk smiled proudly
"I used that thing you taught me" April told him
"A kick to the groin?" Punk asked her and she nodded.
"Did you hut him?" April asked
"Not as much as I could have" Punk said to her "But now I kind of want to go back down there"
"No just leave it" April said to him "and once I'm in Chicago I'll never see him again"
"Ahh another good reason for you to come to Chicago" Punk said to her
"You know when I was with Jason tonight it just made things more clear to me" April admitted "I am so lucky to have you and I'm sorry about the Nick thing. Work doesn't matter to me when it comes to you"
"I got your voicemail" He said to her "I don't want you to quit WWE I want you there and I want to watch you succeed and I'm thrilled I get a front row seat for it. I'm very overbearing I get it but my feelings for you are just that intense I can't help it but I'll try"
"Don't change who you are" April argued "I love that passionate side of you"
"I'm not going to blow this relationship because I have a short fuse" Punk said to her "And I'm certainly not going to let WWE get in the middle of us"
"And we won't" April said firmly "That work fight we had a few days ago will be last one" she promised
"Agreed" Punk said to her
"By the way this has been the New Years ever" She admitted then kissed her lips
"Yea we really bought the New Year in with a big bang" Punk teased