Love was unpredictable. People did irrational things just to feel that emotion. No matter how bad it hurt. Or how it clouded their judgment. The minute those three words were spoken, your world changed. But Michonne would not let those words control her life. She would not let some upperclassman inside of her heart for a sense of entitlement and power.

It was supposed to be them conquering their senior year together. Her and Andrea. Their last year before they stepped into the real world. Studying. Partying. Meeting different men. It was perfect until Phil flashed his perfect smile. She was under his spell the minute he spoke to her. That was six months ago. And just like that she was now her own best friend. Phil had the power to erase sixteen years of friendship.

Sixteen years of sharing secrets.

Fighting each other's battles.

Crying for each other.

Being each other's backbone.

Michonne didn't understand how anyone could drop their previous lives for a relationship. On paper, Phil was every girl's dream.

Tall.

Handsome.

Intellectual.

Charming.

In law school.

"Why do I have to be second best at everything?" Michonne closed her textbook. Taking the headphones out of her ear, she sipped her coffee.

Jealousy and pride seemed to be her downfall. All of her sorority sisters seemed to be in these stable relationships. Michonne was the intimidating girl who only was selected because of her mother's legacy. The sorority girl who enjoyed the library. That was why she needed Andrea to force her to party and interact with others.

It was time for her to stop hiding behind books for the sake of being comfortable.

Or in her case, to stop staring at the pair of blue eyes from afar.

It was the same pair of blue eyes that she avoided while doing her community service at the local church. Giving away clothes was the highlight of her life right now. Helping others seemed to be what she was good at. Too bad she couldn't help herself. Or form a sentence when the handsome volunteer spoke to her. A head nod was the only action she could think of.

Daryl Dixon wondered why a sorority girl like her liked spending time at a church. She was one who didn't care about popularity or how many beers a guy could chug. But he learned that these women knew how to build up a man to get a good screw and then tear them down to get away. But something about the way she carried herself told him she was different. Her eyes carried this bitterness, but he found himself wanting to stare in them all day. And there was no point of pretending to read a book at the bookcase nearest to her. He placed it back on the shelf as they exchanged glances.

"What in the hell?" Michonne quickly placed her books in her satchel. Please tell me he was not coming her way.

"O shout." She accidently spilled her coffee on the table. Another embarrassing moment.

Daryl hid his blush as Michonne tried to gather her items. Once again he was close to her. And like those other times, her dark eyes held their war-like rage.

She was constantly angry. Was it at something else or herself? When did he become this thoughtful over a woman?

"Let meh help." Daryl joined her on the floor. He grabbed a rag from his bag.

"Good thing I work on cars too." She nodded at his words. Smelling his Axe. That deep country accent shook her to the core, but she was strong enough not to show it.

"Thank you." She wiped her mess. "You're always helping me out." It was a silly attempt to be nice.

"And yet yah can't look the guy who helps you in the eye. Didn't know there was such a thing as a shy sorority girl." His bluntness caught her off guard.

"Why should I?" His response discouraged her. Her tightened expression and lack of eye contact made him regret his words. "We are just acquaintances." She shrugged.

"I didn't mean to…" He began to explain.

"Doesn't matter what you meant to do." She huffed. "Are yah like this with everyone? So guarded?" She flashed a deadly glare at him. This woman was definitely a force to be reckoned with.

"And are you this surly with everyone? I see you around campus. You stay to yourself. Why the sudden fascination with me?" She placed her items in her bag.

So she did notice him outside of the church.

"Look I didn't mean to offend yah. I was just making an observation."

"Well you can keep your comments to yourself. You're just another guy saying something smart to get a girl's attention."

"First of all I was trying to be nice to yah. But yer so damn stuck up that yah can't accept it. I see why yah don't talk cuz yah don't have nothing good to say."

"Asshole." She bumped passed him. That was what she got for trying to be nice.

It was like she was a magnet that only attracted confrontation and arguments. Maybe that was why Andrea dropped her so easily. Hell, if she could she would drop herself. Her smart mouth was usually a curse but at that moment, Michonne was grateful to have it. Daryl had no right to patronize her like that.

TWDTWDTWDTWD

Daryl replayed her frown in his mind. He chose the wrong words to say. It would explain why he only had one best friend and everyone else dodged him. Following her outside the library, he tried to touch her arm. Naturally, she moved it out of his grasp.

"Look I didn't mean for that to come out cold." He tried to make amends, but her feet carried her further. "Could yah just stop walking and listen to what I got to say?"

"I don't owe you anything." She faced him. "Why should I listen to the guy who insulted me the first minute of our first conversation?"

"Because I'm an idiot. An idiot who doesn't know how to talk to a girl that's different. Different in a good way. Or let alone anyone fer that matter." She recognized the honesty in his eyes.

"So your first comment has to be based on stereotypes. That shows how narrow-minded you are."

"Yer right." Daryl folded his lips. But at least, she was talking to him. "I'm sorry. And I should be the first to know that a stereotype isn't true all the time." Their eyes met as he closed the distance between them.

"What I meant to say was. I hate how we have been volunteering for three weeks together and we never exchanged more than a 'hi' or 'bye'. I mean. That comment makes me sound ignorant."

"Yes it does." She added insult to injury.

"I know not every sorority girl likes cheap thrills. That's why I ran after you. I wanted you to know that I ain't some ignorant hillbilly who can only understand what he sees with his own two eyes. I mean. Yer actually one of the classiest girls I've seen of them. " He paused at her blank face.

"And I'm gonna just go. See yah later."

His words were true and sincere, but should she believe them? She just got through preaching about stereotypes, yet they were warping her judgment of him. Would some redneck truly be open-minded towards a black girl? That didn't matter. All that did was his apology.

Walking, Michonne grunted with frustration. Why was Phil's corvette parked at the back of the parking lot? To pick up Andrea. So she was here at the library too. Another blade in her heart. Opening her car door, she watched him pull up towards the entrance. Thank God she was unnoticed by him.

What she did notice was a brunette get into his car. Not Andrea. Maybe it was his cousin or….

Cousins didn't kiss like that. She had never wanted to throw up and punch someone at the same time. Grabbing her phone, she pressed the record button. Where would she be without the advancements of technology?

Sitting inside her car, she was contemplating. Even is Andrea was no longer her friend, she was still hers. A friend had to tell the truth even if they knew it would hurt. Andrea needed to know Phil was not who said he was. But if she did send this, Andrea would probably still deny it. It didn't matter, she lost her anyway.

TWDTWDTWDTWDTWD

Andrea threw her phone across the room. How could this have happened again? Phil gave her his word. And she was a fool for believing in his lies. Pacing in her dorm room, she kept reliving everything she sacrificed for the bigger picture.

Her parents' disapproval.

Michonne.

Her wants.

All because she thought Phil could save her from her own insecurities.

She put on this façade as if they were the perfect couple. But it wasn't like she didn't hear the snickers from other girls. Or the flirtatious smiles he flashed at others. Shaking, she slid down the wall. Replaying the video over and over, it was the same sophomore girl. The beautiful Spanish girl whose hips swayed from left to right.

Rosita Espinosa.

What did that tramp have that she didn't?

Maggie watched her friend lie on the floor. No wonder she didn't hear her walk in. She knew that cry. Phil broke her heart yet again. Despite Andrea's pain, she found herself rolling her eyes at her behavior. Sure she cried and punched the carpet floor. But they knew she would be his again in one week.

Sitting beside Andrea, she understood why she and Michonne weren't close anymore. This was too much disorder for anyone to handle. Taking a deep breath, Maggie rested the girl's head in her lap. Playing in her soft curls, she was relieved to hear her sniffles lessen.

"Why doesn't he want me?" Andrea asked.

"I don't know 'Drea." Maggie grabbed a tissue from her purse. "What happened this time?" Maggie gasped as she played the video.

"I'm sorry this happened again. But at least you got a friend like Michonne to tell you the truth."

"Yeah." Andrea sat up. "She probably enjoyed sending it to me too." Maggie could not believe her ears.

"How could you say that?" Andrea avoided Maggie's accusing eyes. "You're the one who dropped her for your bastard ass boyfriend."

"Maggie….I…."

"You are the definition of a bad friend. You're mad at Michonne for being there for you. Even though you dropped her. She should have dropped your ass. Now you want sympathy for something you did to yourself."

"Well we all can't have great boyfriends like Glenn."

"You could if you would stop settling. And start directing your anger towards the person you are really mad at." Andrea sniffled as the Psychology major's words broke her.

She was angrier at herself than Phil. What was it that made her weak with men? It was to the point she lost her identity behind them. And she gave up the most important person in her life. She did miss Michonne every day. There was no one who could talk with just their eyes. Or motivate her to keep going.

There were times she stared at her phone. Expecting her to call. Though she knew she should be the one calling her. Her ego prevented her to apologize. It forced her to run away from her faults. Wiping her eyes, Maggie rubbed her back.

"Don't." Andrea said. "you're right. Michonne is doing better without me. And I am better without Phil."

"So are you going to give him another chance?"

"I don't know. I just need to re-evaluate everything. It's like I want so much for myself but there is a part of me that thinks I can't have it. I really need Michonne right now."

"Then tell her that." Maggie kissed her forehead. Maggie hated this because she knew Andrea would go back to him.

TWDTWDTWDTWD

Yes. Michonne did do the right thing. She stared at her phone hoping. Andrea had to call to ask for some explanation. Even if it were to yell at her. At least Andrea would be there for one moment. It seemed as if their whole friendship required for her to be the bigger person. She was sick of always putting everyone's needs before hers.

So sick of being hostile to where she couldn't accept a man's kind gesture.

Guys like Daryl were not supposed to be that nice. He was supposed to be closed-minded and chauvinistic. Shaking her head, she put her phone in her purse. How was she supposed to act when she saw him again?

She hated to admit that she noticed every facet of him. Especially his arms.

"Michonne what the hell are you thinking?" She dreaded walking into the local Wal-mart. This was it's busiest time. It made no sense to have numerous lines but only 7 were open.

It didn't make sense how she was supposed to determine which paint was the best. All she wanted to do was give her new room a makeover. Maybe she should give one to herself as well. Running her hand through her dreds, she looked at the collection of green paints. She believed in colors and their meanings. Green represented peace and life. She needed that now.

Placing it in her basket, she held her breath as Daryl walked passed her aisle. His beard and infamous flannel.

He could spot her dreds and slim figure anywhere. If he walked back, would she see him as the nice guy or the bumbling ignorant fool? His conscious won.

"Lookin to paint a room?" Michonne gave him a quick nod. "I take it green is yer favorite color." She shrugged.

"sorta of." She felt like a child nervous to speak for the very first time. His intense eyes had to be ignored.

"It goes with this African theme I'm trying to create for my apartment."

"ain't nothing like feeling part of nature." Damn it. She still wouldn't look at him. He would get her attention some way.

"At times I feel better bare foot or deer hunting than other stuff."

"I can definitely tell you are a nature man. I would definitely pick you to help me survive in the wild." She laughed.

"So the shy sorority girl can laugh. And no that wasn't a diss. I'm just glad to see you smile." He said.

"I know I seem stuck up to most, but it takes me a while to warm up to people."

"So how long will it take you to warm up to me or look me in the eye?"

"I can look you in the eye." She bit her lip. "I just choose not to." She focused on the various paints before her.

"so why are you choosing not to?" He asked.

"There you go again with the questions. What is it about me?"

"I don't know. It's like you want to say something but yer afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"Afraid of whatever's got you defensive. Are yah really gonna choose that paint?" He changed the subject.

How in the hell did this down to earth country boy analyze her in one conversation?

"if yah are. Yah need a primer with it. Do yah want my help?"

"Sure." She said. "Be my guest."

"I will help. One condition though. Only if yah can look meh in the eye."

He was definitely an all or nothing man. She didn't know whether to respect him or pity him. for some reason he saw something in her. Something she didn't even know herself. Maybe that was why she was humoring him.

"You are so unbearable Dixon do you know that?" She rolled her eyes. His immaculate blues almost made her gasp.

"See I can." Michonne folded her arms. She hoped her hostile tone hid her amazement.

It was a mistake for him to insist this. Her brown eyes weren't like others. They made his hands twitch to touch her.

TWDTWDTWD

Andrea could not trick herself into believing something nonexistent. She owed it to herself. The future was not certain, but she knew she had to get off the floor and wipe away her dramatic tears. It was not dramatic to cry when one felt pain. But it was dramatic to let a cheating bastard back into your life and cry when you knew it was going to happen again.

Phil did not return her call. 30 minutes had passed. Who he was with was not a secret. Neither was the location.

For six months, Phil twisted her mind. Manipulated her with sex. Making empty promises. She would not be the victim anymore.

And he would pay. She forwarded the video to him. This would get his attention.

Opening the refrigerator, she felt like one of those girls in those Lifetime movies. Driven by revenge. Fueled with hate and desperation.

She was.

Eggs. Bologna. Mustard. Ketchup. Angry was an understatement. She was so flustered she did not hear the door open.

"Andrea." Rick watched her pack every condiment from her kitchen in a bag. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were red. "What's going….."

"Cut the crap Rick." She didn't mean to talk to her best friend like this. But as always, he allowed her to vent.

"What?" Her sporadic behavior scared him.

Rick didn't know to be relieved for her realization of his fraternity brother or shocked at her expected ways to handle his infidelity. He had to make a note to never befriend a couple. They were both his good friends. Without Phil, he would have never joined his frat. Without Andrea, he would have never passed his tests.

"You heard me. You know what I am about to do." She was going to get her way for once.

"Andrea." He touched her shoulders. "You need to think about what you are…."

"O I forgot you worship the ground Phil walks on."

"First of all. No one did that better than you." He shut her down. "I'm actually trying to save you from yourself. I can't tell you because you will make a fool out of yourself."

"You mean an even bigger one. I might as well be embarrassed for standing up for myself."

"Not this way though." He lowered her voice. She didn't need another man to be overbearing right now.

Why did Rick always have to be the voice of reason? The good man everyone respected. For once, couldn't he be petty?

"So then what is the way? Please pre tell because I don't know what to do Rick. I don't know." She threw her bag down. "Everyone is saying poor dear, but I know they are thinking I am a fool. I just want this all to go away. I want to go back in time before I met him."

"when it was us and Michonne. I miss Michonne so much. I miss who I used to be."

"I know you do." He hugged his best friend. "She misses you too."

He understood why people lost themselves in relationships. It was because they had hope. No matter how bad things got, people believed they could get better. Holding her, he didn't understand why Phil couldn't be faithful to her. Andrea was a gorgeous girl with an even more gorgeous mind. She just had the unfortunate luck of falling for the wrong guys.

TWDTWDTWD

"How do you know all of this?" Michonne listened to his wisdom. Twenty minutes must have passed as both were still on the paint aisle. She didn't know if it was his voice or knowledge of everyday tasks that intrigued her.

"Growing up with a dad in between jobs teaches yah lots." He put the painter's tape in her cart. She had that look in her eye. The look that meant she wanted to ask a question she was afraid.

"So do yah need help with this?"

"No. I got it. Thanks."

"Are yah sure?" She only nodded.

He wouldn't push. That was not his personality, but he was grateful to have her attention as long as he did. He hoped the more he was around her, the more she would warm up to him.