Rampaige. [Editing]

Thoughts

May 27: Friday (Tuesday) Night SmackDown; Atlanta, GA

PAIGE POV-

The show has already begun as I head to black the curtain. Things are going so fast from each segment to the next. It's this enormous repeating pattern of match, segment, commentary, promo, sponsor plugs, and Raw rebounds that encase around the match card.

While all of this is going on, my stomach's worry isn't for my match, it's for Punk.

The time we spent before the show started was so special and went about perfectly. He really is a good hearted person. And that hug before we went our separate ways was enough for me to reach his face and kiss it. I could tell he wanted to, too.

He's a married fucking man. I can't blame him at all for not doing anything. Though, the small kiss on my forehead nearly pushed me to my breaking point. I'm pretty sure I morphed into a human tomato right then and there.

Does he see me like that? Does he want more from me?

I don't know.

The uncertainty to these questions is pure agony. I just want to know from his own mouth because being lead on is enough for a girl, but do it at work where I see the man everyday is just unfair.

I tell myself that I shouldn't get my hopes up, it's no big deal. This kind of stuff happens all the time in the WWE. People have relationships and hook ups but they can't last, then it becomes really awkward. But I don't want it to end up like that with Punk, that's the last thing I'd want to do. Actually, the last thing I'd want to do is become a homewrecker. AJ and Punk just got married, I'm not about to ruin what they have just because of my young lust.

Let it go, Saraya, it's nothing. You're lucky he's even teaching you about entertaining, let alone even talking to you. Business. It's just business. I can't let it become personal.

I rid the idea from my head as I'm about to make my way to the curtain and enter the ring for a match against Tamina. The ring I was in a mere hours earlier wrestling Punk.

I push out a breath. Here we go.

(Post-match)

Charles Robinson and I make my way to the back with my Divas Championship hanging off my left wrist. The result was that I won by disqualification when she didn't release me from the ropes, then proceeded with a bonafide beatdown. Or Smackdown, whatever floats your boat. I got the chance to sell pain in my face and used every piece of advice Punk gave me. I hope he was watching because I was thinking of him the entire time.

My body is covered in sweat and debris from when I got thrown outside the ring to get my ass kicked. The light of the backstage area opens up to me.

I look around for any familiar face. No Emma yet. Where's Punk?

I turn to the right and see him in Gorilla, warming up. He's too focused for anything to bother him, so I shouldn't. So I stand looking at him and his tattooed body. Every muscle moving as he moves. He's looking really good...

I snap myself back. Stop that, Saraya.

Punk's music hits with the signature

Look in my eyes, what do you see? The Cult of Personality!

And he's off. The cheers got even louder. A lot, louder.

"Hey Paige!" Emma comes up from behind me.

"Hey Emma, how was my match?" I ask, hungry for critique.

"It was good! You looked really hurt out there, made you sympathetic, which was perfect."

I'm elated, "Yay! Punk taught me a bunch of stuff about emotions and facial tweaks before the show so I used them."

"Oh, so THAT'S where you were! I was wondering why you arrived here early. Wow, that was quick."

We begin walking back to the locker room.

"We wrestled in the ring too, like a warm up."

She snickers, "You wrestled with Punk, huh? Wrestled with CM Punk." She put an emphasis on 'wrestled' and nudges me with her elbow.

"It was nothing, Emma. Nothing at all. It can't be anything honestly..."

She sees my glimpse of distress as we enter the locker room.

"Saraya, I'm not telling you to do anything, but if you feel so strongly about him, I suggest to put an end to it before you do something you'll regret. This can't happen when there's a ring on his finger."

Emma's right. She's always right. But I say this again, we're not the same person. This is one of the most difficult things I've done and it doesn't even involve physically wrestling. Instead, my mind and heart are wrestling for the first time in my life, with no clear cut winner in either situation.

(Post-match)

PUNK POV-

They gave AJ a break for at least a month. So I guess she won't be around. I'm happy she gets a break from all the hard work she does around here owning it and so.

I Just got done with my match against Dolph. Another Cleveland classic, CM Punk vs Dolph Ziggler part 508. In all seriousness, he's the most fun to wrestle just because of how he's one of my best friends.

We get to the back where a small celebration near the catering table ensues.

"Good job out there, man. Great finish!" He says about to drink water.

"Thanks. That was the best of our matches in my opinion." I punch him lightly on the arm as he nods in agreement.

"So uh...earlier, with Paige," he's talking to me in a hush hush tone, "what's going on there?"

A pang in my heart drives the beat quicker. I knew somebody would see us.

"Uh, nothing. We trained in the ring and I gave her some advice on a few things."

"I'm talking about that intense hug, man. I stayed watching long enough to see you give a kiss on her forehead too."

"What? A gesture of friendship can't hurt right?"

"No not at all, it'd be different if that happened like in a week or two. But Punk, it's been one day. Only ONE day and you're already up on her like that?"

"Dude, it's not like that at all. At least I make sure it's not."

"What's going through your head, Phil? Stop anything before everyone involved gets hurt."

Dolph might be the ultimate ladies man, or tool, as I sometimes refer to him as, but he knows not to mess with people's hearts. Deep down, he's a really sensitive guy. And I know he's right.

I breathe out, "I know!"

It's so damn frustrating. I continue, "I just, need time I guess."

"Don't lead her on. Leading women on and then pushing them away is the ultimate stab to the heart."

Great, that doesn't help me at all.

"I'll keep that mind."

We go in our different ways for the rest of the show.

This situation is expanding faster than I thought. My main concern is the fact that it could just be pure lust. But how? What makes AJ less of the person I fell in love with to make me go feel for someone I just met, for someone I barely know? She's an amazing woman, an amazing wife to me. I don't deserve her after being such a crappy and shady husband in these past two days.

No, I can't go on. Whatever is between Paige and it has to stay on the other side, it's business. If I can handle it, maybe she'll even be a good friend.

But that has to be it.

I shake the idea away and head back to the locker room, chin down, alone with my thoughts.