Figure it Out

"This pizza is not great." Punk said truthfully, sitting up on a stool at the window of the one and only pizza place in the town.

"What? Yes, it is." AJ said, sitting beside him on a stool.

"It's really not." Punk said, "You're telling me this is the best pizza you've ever tasted?"

"No, I'm not saying that. It's still good pizza, though." AJ scoffed, "You're eating it so it can't be that bad." She pointed out.

"I'm hungry." Punk shrugged.

They'd left the church after kissing for a considerable length of time. Every time Punk went to pull back, AJ deepened the kiss, cupping his face and pulling him close. And every time AJ started to pull away slightly, Punk pulled her closer and kissed her harder. And the cycle continued for quite some time until a rumble in AJ's stomach caused them to break away in a fit of laughter.

The next and last stop of the tour was thankfully the pizza place, which was empty apart from both Punk and AJ sitting at the window.

"So… how did I do?" AJ asked him, "With the tour?"

"Best tour I've ever had." Punk nodded, "I've never been on one where I get to kiss the tour guide." He said as AJ laughed a little, shaking her head and smiling as he watched her blush a little.

They hadn't spoken about the kiss, merely walked side by side out of the church in comfortable silence as they headed for pizza. Neither had to say anything, they both knew the kiss was enjoyable for both of them.

AJ had never felt so alive. She'd forgotten the excitement and butterflies that were present when getting close to a man. She'd forgotten what it felt like to have hands on her waist and cupping her cheeks. It was exhilarating, even more so because for the first time in so long, she'd desperately wanted him to touch her. She trusted him enough to do so.

"So, you'd recommend me to a friend?" AJ smiled.

"I would if I had any." Punk nodded, taking a bite of his pizza.

"That's sad." AJ nodded as he shrugged.

"Is this what we're doing?" Punk asked, "Being friends?" He wondered.

He was genuinely curious about where her head was at. He knew the fact she'd shared something so private and personal with him showed that she trusted him. He would also be incredibly upset if he never got to kiss her again. He just wasn't sure what this all meant for her.

"I don't normally ask my friends to kiss me." AJ admitted.

"Right." Punk nodded, "I just mean…"

"I'm still working through a lot of shit." AJ told him truthfully, "I haven't kissed a guy and enjoyed it since… what happened to me." She said, "I don't know if I'm ready for anything serious." She admitted.

Even though she'd very much enjoyed kissing him, she still felt nervous over what it all meant. She wasn't sure she was ready to jump into serious dating. That fear of something going wrong, of getting hurt, was still very much present.

"I guess only you will know when you're ready." Punk nodded, "It just feels unfair that he's still taking so much away from you. You deserve to be happy. To be loved and… held." He said as she looked at him, "Six years is a long time to deprive yourself of any kind of intimacy."

"I'm not depriving myself." AJ defended, "I just genuinely couldn't bring myself to trust someone like that again. It wasn't my choice, believe me." She said, a little harshly.

"I know… I know, I didn't mean it like that." Punk assured her, "I'm just… I'm just saying I'm here if you need me. In whatever way. I don't take it lightly that you trusted me enough to tell me what happened to you. And I'll take it to my grave. I promise you." He said seriously as she nodded.

"Thank you." She said, "You're here if I need you? In whatever way?" She asked with a small smile. He was probably the most charming person she'd ever met. The balance between cocky and charm was difficult to get right, but he most definitely got it right.

"Yeah. As a friend. As a kisser." He shrugged as she chuckled, shoving him a little as he swivelled around on the stool a little.

"How generous of you." AJ nodded.

"I'm a very generous guy." He assured her with a wink as she rolled her eyes and ate another bite of pizza.

"I'm not naïve." She said seriously, "I feel comfortable with you. I really enjoyed kissing you. That doesn't happen for me." She said, "I just don't want to push myself too quickly."

"I get it." Punk nodded, and he really did. He couldn't begin to imagine the type of mental scars she carried around with her since her attack. He knew one kiss with him wasn't going to miraculously change her fears.

"I like spending time with you." AJ told him honestly, "Which is just so weird considering I wanted to murder you like a month ago."

"It normally takes a while for people to like me, honestly." Punk nodded.

"Do you even like me?" AJ asked self-consciously. She felt like she'd banged on so much about her own feelings, she didn't really know what he was truly feeling, despite clearly enjoying the kiss. She didn't want to draw attention to it, but she'd noticed him adjusting his crotch area as they left the church.

"Yes." Punk said seriously, "Of course I like you, April." He said, turning around to face her a little more, "I don't think I've ever met someone like you before. You're kind and you're funny. And you're beautiful." He said, looking into her eyes, making sure she believed every word he said, "If you just want a friendship then that's completely fine but… I'd hate it if I only got to kiss you once." He nodded as she smiled a little.

"That's good to know." AJ smiled, "Can we just… take this one day at a time?" She asked him.

"Yeah." Punk nodded.

"Ok." She nodded.

"April?" He said as she looked back at him, "I… I would never hurt you. Never. You don't have to be afraid of me." He told her sincerely.

"I'm not afraid of you." AJ said quietly. And it was the truth. She wasn't afraid of him. Not how she had been with other men she'd gone on dates with before. Her fears came from deep within, connected to the trauma from the last time a man had gotten so close to her.

"I'd like to spend more time with you." Punk nodded, "It doesn't have to be a date. Doesn't have to be anything. I just… I enjoy your company more than anything else. I'll take however much you want to give me." He said.

"Not many men would be this understanding." AJ pointed out.

"Well, they should be." Punk said.

"I'm not going to tell Lyla or the girls about this. Mostly because they'll be a nightmare with questions but… I guess I just want to wait until we figure whatever this is out." She said.

"I'll keep it to myself too." Punk nodded.

"Thank you for being so understanding." AJ said.

"You don't have to thank me for just being a decent person." Punk said, "Maybe there's some more baking tips and tricks you could show me?" He suggested with a smile.

"Yeah, maybe there is." AJ smiled. She always thought the reason she couldn't bring herself to get close to another man was because she wasn't ready, but now she was beginning to think she just hadn't met the right man.

"Wakey wakey." Punk said, walking in from the kitchen in the back, finding Daryl slumped over the main counter, resting his head on his arms with his eyes closed.

"I'm so tired, man." Daryl whined, lifting his head.

"Then you'll be happy to know I put out a job advertisement." Punk said.

"You did?" Daryl asked, "You had any applications in?"

"Not yet. I just put it up half an hour ago." Punk scoffed.

It was the next morning and Punk had definitely woken up on the right side of the bed. After he and AJ had their pizza last night, he'd walked her home and accepted her invitation to learn how to bake homemade bagels. They'd then parted ways and he spent the rest of the night dreaming about their kiss, her soft lips and her silky hair running through his fingers as he held her close. He'd also took a moment to try and interpret just how strong and brave she was. Hearing what she'd been through wasn't easy so he just could not imagine what it was like for her to go through it. He didn't blame her in the slightest for wanting to take things slow.

"Hey, AJ was giving you a tour last night, wasn't she?" Daryl remembered.

"Yeah." Punk nodded.

"Well… how did it go?" Daryl asked.

"It was good. She showed me around the town and then we had some pizza." Punk shrugged casually.

"And have you finally come to the conclusion that this town is shit?" Daryl nodded.

"It's not." Punk rolled his eyes at his childish behaviour, "I actually managed to get us in business with the butchers. Tom who owns the place, he's going to supply us with bacon and sausage for our breakfast sandwiches, as well as some other meats."

"Look at you, big smart businessman." Daryl teased.

"I know." Punk nodded proudly, "And Jules, from the florists, she loves me." He told him.

"She loves everyone." Daryl shook his head, "She's also like ninety. What is it with you and all the old women here?"

"Old women love me." Punk nodded.

"So, you and AJ are just like… friends now? No more fighting with The Brewberry Café?" Daryl asked.

"We're friends." Punk said, "I think there's enough room in this town for two coffee shops, don't you?" He asked.

"Yeah, but it was fun messing with them." Daryl pouted.

"Who says we can't still mess with them?" Punk shrugged, "It's just… I think we both realise now that it's not that serious and we don't have to get all hot about our shops." He said. Although he knew they'd definitely gotten hot last night. A much-preferred type of hot.

"You're growing up so fast." Daryl said, wiping an imaginary tear as Punk rolled his eyes, "Do I get a say in who you hire for the job here?" He wondered.

"No, because you'll want to hire a hot chick. Your words, not mine." Punk said.

"No, I won't." Daryl scoffed, "I actually just want someone who is good at working hard. The pressure is really getting to me." He nodded with exaggeration as Punk rolled his eyes.

"I just hope whoever we hire isn't as dramatic and loud as you." Punk said.

"Hey!" Daryl said loudly.

"Yes, I'll let you look through the applications with me." Punk nodded, "This town is so small, you'll probably know some of the applicants so you can tell me if they're worth hiring." He said as Daryl nodded, "Alright… five minutes to opening, let's have a good day." Punk said.

"Let's have a good day." Daryl nodded in agreement.