— Later That Same Night —

Following an earlier confrontation with the Miz on "Miz TV," AJ had to step through the ropes to battle him one-on-one. But at the height of the match, Miz decided to take a walk.

However, his exit was blocked by the sudden emergence of Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson — a tandem who carried out assaults on both WWE World Heavyweight Champion , Roman Reigns, and The Usos in recent weeks. However, AJ ended up walking away victorious. Of course!

As of now, however, we're all at the local hotel after SmackDown. AJ just got out of the shower and had on his casual wear, which was his normal hat, shirt, pants, and shoes. Luke and Karl changed into something more casual as I already had my pajamas on already.

"Wait, so what exactly happened last night again?" Karl asked aloud, rubbing his forehead and eyes.

I brought my knees up to my chest underneath the covers and tried to act like I was asleep. I closed my eyes and everything, but I couldn't get passed their little whispers among each other.

I felt somebody hit my leg and my eyes flew open. Karl was at the foot of my bed, looking down at me wide-eyed. What now? "What, dude?" I whined and brought the covers up to my nose.

"What happened last night?" he asked again, but directly towards me.

"I don't know," I spat out. "Why don't you ask them what happened?"

"Ouch," Luke commented and smirked from sitting beside AJ on the other bed. AJ seemed as confused as him, staring me down to a point where he was burning a damn hole in me.

"Something obviously happened," Karl scoffed and bit down on his bottom lip. He knew that it was better to keep his comments to himself. "Seriously, what happened?"

"First of all, I paid a stripper twenty-five dollars for you spending two minutes with her and claiming that she was your new wife," I told him right off the bat. "And you passed out right after that."

His face fell, but AJ and Luke busted out laughing. "Holy shit! Are you serious?!" Karl was taking this fully seriously, in fear that his wife will find out, while AJ and Luke were laughing their asses off right now. I nodded and he stood up, freaking the fuck out. If he had hair, it would've been snatched out by himself. "Oh, my God! What if my wife finds out?!"

"She won't, now calm down!" I demanded because of his freak-out. I shoved the covers halfway off of my body and groaned. "I paid for the hoe out of my own pocket — which reminds me... You owe me twenty-five dollars."

"Shit, you can have my whole paycheck if you don't tell my wife what happened," he said very seriously as he began to get his wallet out.

"Well, shit, then," I laughed and sat up, extending my hand towards him. "I'll take it now please. I ain't saying shit."

Karl glanced over his shoulder at me and we exchanged a friendly smile. He winked at me before he threw me twenty-five dollars in cash, before putting his wallet in the back pocket again.

I took the money and my mouth fell open. "Um... You said your whole paycheck, sweetheart, and this ain't it," I pointed out with a huge grin on my face. "I'll fight you for the rest!"

He froze for a moment, but then realized I was only kidding, of course. "Then, let's go, sister!" I teased, signaling for me to come to him.

I stood up on the bed and that's when he came right at me, spearing me back down on the bed. Then, he was on top of me, but I tried to fight through this new wrestling match.

"AJ! Help me!" I called to him through a fit of giggles from being underneath Karl.

I heard some laughter, then AJ was there behind Karl as he placed him in a headlock. "No!" Karl objected, choking with AJ's muscular arms around his throat. "You wanted a match, but then get him on me? That's not fair! So, Luke — get her!"

WHAT?! Then, it was Luke taking me back down. He grabbed me up and placed me in a headlock as well. "Tap out!" Luke yelled with a chuckle, but I wasn't about to do what he wanted me to.

"No! Neverrr!" I laughed out loud and nudged him in the ribs. He gasped, but didn't let go of me. A matter of fact, his wrap around my throat got tighter.

Then, through all of the laughter and wrestling, somebody's phone starts going off with some kind of weird ringtone. Karl playfully pushes AJ off of him and grabs his phone on the other bed.

He slid the screen and pressed the phone to his ear. "Hello? Oh, hey, baby!" He glared a hole in me, especially, but I shrugged. He signaled Luke to get up and pressed the phone on his shoulder for a moment. "Let's go, man, so we get to bed already."

Luke nodded and let go of me finally. He and Karl both waved goodbye to us as they exited our hotel room for their own next door. After a moment of silence washed over us, I realized that it was only AJ and I left in here on the very same bed, too.

"So," I heard AJ mutter and I glanced at him, but didn't dare make eye contact just yet.

"So," I coughed out, myself. I didn't really know what to say at this point.

"Well, um, I'm gonna probably head to bed," he notified me on and jumped up off the bed. "What about you?"

I shrugged and started to say, "Yeah, me, too..." My voice trailed off as he took off his shirt and tossed it to the side. His very exposed tattoo and upper body slowly kills me. I see it all the time, but it never fails to distract me, of course.

He noticed me, but didn't seem at all affected by it. He just smiled and took a seat next to me on the edge of my bed again. He's sitting awfully close to me, but I don't mind at all.

"So, why didn't you just tell Karl what he said to you in the car last night?" AJ suddenly asked of me, but I'm afraid that I don't have an answer to give him. I already know this even before my mind can register what he asks.

I just know that I can't tell him what I really want to. I can't tell him that I do, in fact, want to be a mother before I got thirty-five and I do want to get married before that age, too. I want to tell him all these many things, but it would be no use. I'm just AJ's kissing-friend. I'm not anything real to him.

"Don't cry, Britt," AJ whispered. What? I'm crying? I bring my hand up to my face, but not before AJ brushes it away and takes care of my fallen years all by himself. I flinched, but the warmth of his hand tells me that it's okay.

His gentle touch sent chills up my spine and that's when it hit me. Officially, that is. I've known it since the moment our lips first met. No... From the moment I first laid eyes on him fourteen years ago and the first time we actually spoke. I wouldn't ever be able to love anyone as much as I truly love him. That's my problem and I know that I'm guilty of it. I wouldn't even be able to ever love myself as much as I love him.

I looked up to meet his dark, yet light, eyes and they're dilated a bit. "I...," I begin to say, but I can't find the words. I hadn't ever really cried in front of him in all these many damn years I've known him. It's only because I don't want him to find a weakness within me, but the truth of the matter is – I'm completely flawed.

"What is it, Britt? Why are you crying for?" His voice actually broke up a bit there, becoming hoarse. His hand is still on my left cheek, so I take my hand and touched it, caressing it until they laid in the space between us on the bed.

Through a new flood of tears, I try my best to really look at him through my eyes. "I..." Again, my voice trails off and I already can feel the bitter taste within my throat like acid. "I... I really do still want kids one day. I want to get married and be happy."

He opened his mouth to say something, but slams it shut and he puts his head down, so now our eyes aren't looking into one another's anymore. I knew that I shouldn't have said shit, but it had to be said. It had to.

"Do you even actually like me, AJ?" I suddenly blurted out, but I didn't regret it at first. I would later, I'm sure, but for the time being – I'm good. I had to ask this question. It was mandatory that I do so. He slowly starts to put his head back up. "Or am I just your storyline-buddy or whatever? Because I don't think it's fair on either of us if we keep on going with this pathetic game of mixed signals and feelings if it's never going to end."

"Britt," his voice broke and our eyes met now that his head was up again. Once more, he can't find the right words and so he clamps his mouth together again.

I looked up at the ceiling, but only for a second before I stand up and go towards the TV in this room. I tried to keep my emotions intact, hit it was so useless at this point. I was going crazy because the things I've always wanted to say to him are just some of the things I can't fucking confess to him. It's driving me fucking crazy!

AJ stood up, too, and began going towards the door. "Where are you going?!" I called after him in a real sentence, instead of through my tears.

"What do you want me to do, then?" AJ yelled back, finally raising his tone towards me and spun around.

I sucked in a breath and didn't let it release until his eyes met mine again within the small distance between us. "Just...," my voice trailed off, but it was really just me trying to save myself here. He took a step towards me and I knew that I needed to hurry in order to keep him. "Stay with me."

His face fell, but it slowly began to show signs of forgiveness and regret. I didn't have another plan after this because this was literally it for me. It was this or nothing more.

He let a breath fall out as he began to take slow and steady steps towards me. He raised his hand to my cheek and began to caress it while getting rid of most the tears that had fallen. And I, of course, fell right into the palm of his hand like melted butter. I raised my hand up, too, to touch his on my cheek and met his soft brown eyes.

"Always," he whispered, finally saying something that actually made sense to me. He shook his head for the next part. "I'm not going anywhere. Ever."

I sniffled, since I had been crying, and sighed. "So, you understand what I want now, right?" I asked him, just so I could fully grasp and know his real answer.

He nodded, but began to look down, but his eyes peeled through his long hair. "Yeah, I know," he understood and breathed out a desired breather. Then, he allowed his hand to fall back to his side. "And I understand if you want to break what we have apart. I understand, Britt. I really and truly do."

Wait... What?! No! "No, no, no," I said in such a hurry that I forget my place for a moment. "No, AJ, I want you to—" I cut myself off and suck on my bottom lip to avoid further suspension.

"What?" AJ squeaked out and he seemed to want an answer. A real answer.

God! "Dammit," I huffed and met his eyes once more. Do it. Now. It's now or never, sweetheart. "I want you, AJ. Only you. That's what I really want."

He seemed forced to grin, but that didn't matter when my emotions run deep and crash my lips against his, proving to him that he's the only one I want no matter what.

• Sooooooo... I hate myself. It's because this story isn't going EXACTLY as I had planned, y'know? I feel like it's going downhill, but IDK 😔 Anyways, y'all should REALLY watch that video I attached up there. It's a tribute to the Bullet Club, going all the way back to the beginning with Finn Bàlor (Prince Devitt) as leader, then enters AJ's sexy-self, then Kenny Omega. Anyways, it's awesome (so is the song) and the fucking Bullet Club, tho, is PHENOMENAL, too! Anyways, enjoy and all that stuff... Don't forget to vote and leave me some feedback, too! All the love .xx •