Trust Comes First (A WWE Fanfic)

Chapter 27 Bringing up the Past in Chicago

The next afternoon.

"Phil where the hell are we going?" I asked, arm wrapped around his as we walked down the street.

"We are in Chicago, my hometown. Besides being the birthplace of the best in the world," he pointed at himself, "It also has the best pizza you will ever have in your life." He explained, in the best spirits I had seen him in since we got the AJ news.

"Oh so you're taking me to your favorite pizza place." I grinned, locking my hand in his.

"The best pizza you will ever put your beautiful mouth on." He chuckled, swinging our hands.

"Well you better hope you're right because I've had some great pizza before." I teased, keeping up with him, heels clicking on the sidewalk.

1 1/2 hours later

I was leaned back in my chair, legs sprawled out under the table. I lifted my shirt, poking at my stomach with a groan. Phil was watching me with an amused smirk on his face. He reached over and poked me, making me groan again.

"Oh don't. I'm gonna explode if you poke me." I mumbled, pulling my shirt down, "Do you think they'd get mad if I popped the button on my jeans?"

"I don't think you'd want to start stripping here Lila." He grinned, packing away the rest of the two pizzas we ordered, "I still can't believe you nearly ate a whole pizza."

"Shut up Phil. You bring me here and you know how much I love pizza and I have absolutely no self-control." I whined, sitting up, pulling on my jacket, "You're an evil, evil man."

"I did tell you that it was the best pizza. Come on. Let's walk it off champ." He grinned, standing up with the little box of leftovers.

I moaned pitifully as I got to my feet, sticking out my belly. Phil shook his head as he went to pay. I blew out a breath as I checked my reflection in the mirror, patting my stomach. I pressed my shirt to the sides, grinning as I saw a little bump. Phil walked up beside me, rolling his eyes good naturedly as we walked out.

"You have a food baby." He commented, as we walked down the street.

"Are you telling me look fat?" I asked, shooting him a dirty look.

"Lila for Christ sakes, shut up." He grinned, holding my hand as we crossed the street.

I grinned back as we walked through a park. I had no idea where we were going so I hoped that Phil did. We walked slow, enjoying the autumn air and the gorgeous colors of the trees. After about half an hour we came to a little food cart.

"You can't be hungry Phil. There's no way." I shook my head, as we walked up.

"It's gelato. Have you ever had it before?" he asked, pointing out an order for us.

"No but it looks delicious." I bit my lip, watching the man scoop it into a cup.

Taking it Phil paid and grabbed his. Scooping it I put it in my mouth and almost died in ecstasy. It basically melted in my mouth and I took another bite as we continued walking through the park. I finished mine ridiculously fast and I threw it in a garbage nearby. Phil was about halfway done his and I threw him a sly look.

"Seriously?" he raised an eyebrow.

I gave him a sheepish grin and he scooped out a bite, feeding it to me. He had a different flavour and it was just as good as mine. I was completely stuffed and refused another bite when he offered. We made it a little bridge over a body of water and we stopped on the other side. Pulling off his backpack he had he put it on the grass. Pulling out a blanket he set it down in a shady spot. Lying back he patted the spot next to him.

"You just had this whole day planned out didn't you" I asked, watching him close his eyes, hands behind his head.

"Oh ya. Pizza place first so I could watch you stuff a whole pizza in your mouth, gelato in the park. By then you'd be so full you couldn't move and then relaxation by the bridge so you would be forced to talk to me." He grinned, kicking off his shoes.

"Smart. Get me all full and lazy so I can't run." I nodded, pretending to think about it, "It's what I would do."

"I'm kind of serious. I got to ask you something." Phil admitted, his voice nervous.

"You didn't have to stuff me full of pizza to talk to me Phil. I don't hide anything from you." I shrugged, mentally wincing when I thought about the Dean, Seth and Roman moments I hid from him.

I followed his lead, kicking off my heels, crossing my feet at my ankles and leaning back. Turning my head I was face to face with him. Well face to ear as he was looking up. I could see he was nervous and I had a sinking feeling it was going to be one of two subjects. I wasn't sure which one would be worse.

"What you said in the ring last night about how you left Roman behind first." He started, making me flinch, "What do mean you left him behind first? I thought he chose the Authority over you and that's why you have such a problem with them?"

I tilted my head back, watching the big fluffy clouds that peppered the sky. They were my favorite kind but I couldn't enjoy them today. Resting my hands on my stomach I sighed.

"I guess it's part of the reason. I was talking to Jeff about this when I was in Camden." I spoke softly, "Roman and I came to this industry together and we were determined to go to the top together. We were inseparable, just like you and I are now."

"Ok and then what happened?" he prodded, leaning up on his arm, looking down at me.

I sighed, thinking about when I first started hanging out with Jeff and Matt. My fingers were drumming slightly on my stomach.

"I met Jeff and Matt one night. Then after I had a match with Matt. The rest is basically history. I was still hanging with Roman but Matt and Jeff were part of my life. Steph and Hunter put me in a lot of matches with them and suddenly they monopolized a lot of my time. I barely noticed when Roman started pulling away from me."

I could feel the shame rising in me as I thought about how Roman must have felt. Closing my eyes I took a moment to compose myself. Phil took my hand in his, thumb brushing the top and I took comfort in it.

"I just brushed it off, acting like we were just busy with our own stuff. I had a match with him one night, me and him against Batista and Nat. It was going good until I got stuck in the ring with Batista. Roman was calling for me to tag him in but then Steph and Hunter came out and ordered him not to, saying I needed to learn a lesson." I trembled slightly, remembering the match clearly in my mind, "When I turned to tag him in he jumped down and backed away. Batista grabbed me and power bombed me into the mat. Now he didn't do it full strength but if you've ever been there you know it's still not a good feeling."

"Son of a bitch." He whispered, eyes glued to my face.

"I didn't realize it then but I might as well have gift wrapped him and handed him to the Authority with a silver bow in his head. They knew what they were doing putting me with Jeff and Matt. They knew that Roman could get to the top. What they didn't realize is that I was going to be the one to take them down." I stated, eyes finding Phil's.

"That's why you're so against the Authority. They basically took your best friend from you."

"It's not all them. It's me too. I did the unthinkable when I turned away from Roman. You and him are so opposite but to me you're both just unreplaceable." I sighed, feeling a bit of the weight on my chest relieve.

"I understand because the way you feel about him is the way I feel about you." He nodded, holding my hand up, examining it, "I would do anything to make sure you don't get hurt or be in harm's way. Even when it seems like you go looking for trouble."

I let out a soft laugh, tilting my head tothe side, staring up at him. If there was one person in this world I trustedfully it would be Phil. I knew it sounded petty but I wanted Roman to be theretoo. Phil lifted his arm, slipping it under his head and laid back. Bringinghis hand up he pressed it to his chest, over his heart. Closing my eyes I letmyself relax feeling free for the first time in a long time.5023567_R?