Chapter 7:

"So I received a phone call from your parents this morning, informing me that you're no longer living with them?"

Michonne's eyes widened slightly as she looked at the principle. She shouldn't have been surprised that her parents would call in, as it was more than likely her father's idea.

"Yeah, I moved out this weekend"

"And you're now living with… Grimes", She virtually growled out Rick's name.

Michonne nodded.

"...Were things alright at home? I spoke to your father this morning and... well…", Mrs Niedermeyer sighed, "Is there anything you'd like to talk about? Anything you'd like help with? This won't interfere with your plans for college will it?"

"Oh no. I'm still going to college... Rick and his parents have been helping me with everything too so it's fine"

The Principle nodded as she looked her over, then sighed, "Okay well, I'm here if you need help with anything, and I'm sure if you explain to your teachers what happened, they'll give you time to catch up with the work-"

"Oh no, I'm pretty ahead already"

Her eyebrows shot up, "Really? Oh good then. Well I'm very pleased to hear that, and remember my door is always open. To you only, not Grimes"

Michonne smiled and nodded.

She headed to her class after her brief meeting with the principal. She was initially very nervous about being called to her office in the first place, and wondered how Rick was so comfortable about being called constantly.

She had never had a problem focusing on class before but that day it was a problem for her. She kept wondering about Mike, and how she'd talk to him when she saw him. She didn't want to hurt him, but she couldn't be in a relationship with him either.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry", Michonne apologised as soon as she sat down beside her friend at lunch.

"It's okay", Sasha smiled at her.

Michonne gave a small frown, "Did you get in trouble?"

"Not really", Sasha giggled, "I think they were too shocked about what happened with you and Rick so...they don't want me running off too"

Michonne's eyes widened.

Sasha cringed, placing her hand on Michonne's, "Sorry… what happened after we left?"

"...I left, my parents' house I mean. I live with Rick and his parents"

Sasha's stared at her, her eyes ever so slightly moving all over her face, "...And they let you?"

Michonne gave a small shrug, "Yeah, there was only a small tug of war for me… what happened with you and Daryl?"

Sasha gave a shy smile, "We just went outside to talk somewhere quiet… I kissed him"

Her eyes widened, "Awww-"

"It was a bit sloppy because he was a little drunk" Sasha admitted quickly, "And he tasted like beer… but I like him. He's really sweet... and really funny"

Michonne grinned at her, "Aww! I'm so happy for you"

"Hey girlies", Maggie and Lori joined them at the table with their lunch trays.

"I was just telling Maggie about my trip to abstinence camp this summer", Lori sighed as she picked up her fork.

"Abstinence camp?", Sasha frowned.

"It's like regular camp… but with a whole lot of talk about restraining from… well you know"

Michonne looked at the other two quickly before speaking, "Well… that should be fun? You might make some friends…"

"Yeah…", Sasha gave a very unconvincing smile and nod.

"So!" Maggie distracted, "I heard there was a crazy party over the weekend, bombs going off and everythan'..."

Sasha and Michonne looked at each other before Sasha spoke, "We went to it"

Lori dropped her fork, "What?"

"No way!", Maggie's eyes darted back and forth between the two.

"Yes way"

"Tell us everythan', don't leave out a thing!"

"Okay so I went over to-"

"Ladies"

The four looked up from their discussion to see Rick taking a seat beside Michonne, facing away from the table, with a sly grin his face.

"Sorry to interrupt.. Did you get home alright, Sasha?", He squinted as he leaned back to look at her.

"Oh yeah, don't worry, I didn't get into too much trouble", She gave a one sided shrug.

"Oh good. I just need to have a quick word with Cha-Cha here"

"Sure, Go ahead", Maggie and Sasha chimed, while Lori stared at Rick.

"Thanks", He turned his attention to Michonne, "I heard you went to the principal's office?"

She nodded as she put her bottle of water down, "I did. My dad called her and told her I don't live with them anymore"

He furrowed his brow at her, "Really?"

"Yeah… He probably said some other stuff but… whatever"

Rick sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, "You wanna go get somethan' to eat after school?"

She frowned at him, "It's Monday Rick, I'm not running around with you and your friends-"

"Just you and me"

She raised her eyebrows at him, "Your friends would be devastated without you"

He smirked shook his head, "They'll manage. We'll go eat then go home, alright?"

A small smile tugged on her lips, "Okay"

"Good. Let me go break the news to the guys", He kissed her on the head as he stood and gave the others a small wave.

Michonne turned back to her friends who were looking at her wide eyed, she frowned, "What?"

They looked between each other awkwardly before returning to their meals.

"What?!"

…...

"So how was your first night out with us?"

Michonne looked at Glenn and Shane and they walked out of class, "I had a lot of fun"

"That means your gonna come along for another night right?", Shane grinned.

Her eyebrows shot up, "Uh… sure, I guess I could now.."

"Maybe you can invite your other friends too…", Glenn suggested

"He means the cheerleader", Shane said dryly as he looked ahead.

"Maggie?", Michonne nudged Glenn gently.

"That's the one", Shane confirmed and Glenn gave a nervous chuckle.

"Sure, I'll ask her"

Glenn nodded, while keeping his head down to hide a blush.

They all walked out the building, and Michonne joined the other two at their usual place at the wall. She understood why they preferred to hang around there, as they could see everyone leaving and going, it was almost like a front row seats to the school.

"How you feel about blowing stuff up?," Shane asked rather seriously, with Glenn looking at her with an equally serious expression.

She stared at the two of them, "I guess I can see the appeal, it's loud and exciting-"

"See I told you she would like it!", Glenn nudged Shane, and he raised his hands in surrender.

She questioned what she had signed herself up for.

"Michonne?"

She turned at the sound of the familiar voice and almost sighed. Mike stood a few feet away from her, his eyes glaring at Shane and Glenn before softening when he looked at her.

"Hey" She refused to smile as she was still planning to break up with him.

"Can we talk somewhere?"

She nodded, before looking back at Shane and Glenn, "I'm just over there"

The both gave her a single nod as they continued to stare down Mike. She walked over to the bike rails and leaned against one with her arms crossed.

"You were suspended again?"

"Just for today… So you hang around with them now?" Mike stood up straight and also crossed his arms over his chest.

"I have done" She gave a small nod.

"After what he and his friends did?"

"You went over to him. You hit him first"

"He knew what he was doing. He wanted to come between the two of us"

She knew he was right, "Rick just likes to joke around-"

"Yeah so you say, but I'm not stupid Michonne, I've seen how you two act-"

"We're close-"

"Yeah, so you say, but he's become more of a problem for us and you just make excuses for him-"

"They're not excuses. I know him, I know his intentions. Yes, he can wind people up but you're the one that couldn't control himself and hit him"

He pursed his lips as he breathed through his nose, eyes scanning around behind her, "Alright. I was wrong for that"

Michonne's eyebrows rose as she wasn't expecting to hear him take responsibility for what he did, "Yeah… you were"

They both stood there for a few seconds, Mike gazing at her while she kept her eyes on the space beside him.

"Look I don't want him to come between us anymore, and I meant it when I said I love you Michonne. I need to work on my temper but I will for you", He stepped closer to her with a pleading look in his eyes.

She was frozen in place. She was not expecting the conversation to take a turn in that direction at all, but she couldn't continue with him, "Mike, I don't think we can do this anymore"

His face fell, "Why not?"

She sighed as she tried to find the right words, "I have a lot on my plate right now and-"

"Because of your parents?", He rested his hand on her shoulder.

"Well yeah, they're part of the-"

"Michonne, why won't you just let me talk to them? You know I can-"

"There's no point, it won't change anything-"

He frowned at her, "You haven't even given me the chance to-"

"Mike, it doesn't matter anymore-"

"Maybe if they need me and see that I'm not a bad-"

"I moved out", She blurted out, annoyed that he wasn't giving her an opportunity to speak.

His eyebrows shot up, "What? Really?"

She sighed as she nodded slowly, "Yeah"

His eyes darted all over her face as he tried to read her, "Well that's a good thing right? Who are you staying with now?"

She wished for the earth to part and swallow her up, "Well its-"

"Cha-Cha we gotta go home, I need to change"

Rick was stood a few feet away from them, his hair and torso wet and his t-shirt hung from his hand, drenched.

Mike looked from Rick to Michonne, his eyes almost bulging, "Him? That's who you're staying with?"

She wanted to groan, but instead gave a weak reply, "Yeah"

Mike took a step back as he almost glared at her, before turning his attention to Rick, who stood looking back and forth at the two.

"You really didn't-" The beginning of Mike's rant came to abrupt halt as his eyes fell on the inking on Rick's ribcage when he looked him up and down. He tilted his head a fraction and squinted, then popped open. His head whipped back to face her, desperate for an explanation.

"That's why he…", Mike's face pinched as realisation set in, "And you hid it?"

Michonne opened her mouth to protest, but chose to digress, instead she gave him a very sombre nod.

Rick gave a small shrug as Mike looked back at him, "I would have shown you, if you asked nicely"

All Michonne did was blink, and within that small window of time Mike was already on Rick, tackling to the floor. Her mouth dropped as he punched Rick right on the jaw, in the same area as last time.

"Mike get off him!", She cried out as she quickly made her way over and grabbed his arm before he could land another punch, giving Rick the opportunity to shove the other teen off of him.

A crowd of students began to form as they both stood. Rick rolled his shoulders as he paced, ready to take him on again. Mike pulled off his jacket and threw it to the ground before he made another lunge for Rick, but Rick was quicker, hitting him hard on the side of his nose as soon as he was close enough. Mike only lost his balance for a second, before swinging for Rick.

"Come on Rick! Don't let him mess up that pretty face of yours!", Shane ordered from the front of the crowd, watching the fight like referee.

Michonne felt powerless as she stood to the side, her eyes wide and her jaw hanging. She wanted to run between them to stop it but they both wore such intense glares that she didn't feel it would be wise.

"Hey! Break it up! Now!"

Three teachers appeared from the sea of faces and took hold of the teens. They both looked equally horrible as they panted, eyes still locked on each other. Michonne could already see Mike's eye beginning to swell, while a small cut bled on Rick's lip. Shane through his hands up in the air and sighed while Daryl gave Rick a hard pat on the back as he approached him.

"Both of you, inside now!"

…..

"Morning Michonne"

"Morning Mr Grimes"

"What did I tell you about that?"

She smiled at the older man as she walked further into the kitchen, "Morning Frank"

"That's better" He gave her a nod as he turned the page of his new paper, "Mr Grimes makes me sound old"

"Cause you are old" Rick grumbled as he walked in the kitchen rubbing his face, mindful of his new bruise.

Frank narrowed his eyes at Rick, "Yeah yeah, you just wait until all those late night catch up to you. You're gonna look as pretty me"

Michonne laughed at the duo and Rick smiled at her. She liked watching them interact as it wasn't something she was used to at her parents' house. She watched Rick get them breakfast before they sat down with his father and ate with him.

"What the hell happened to you?", His father asked as he took in his son's face.

Rick shrugged, "Nothing. Just rough housing"

His father stared at him for a few moments before shaking his head and continuing his breakfast. Michonne's eyes traced the bruise and the small cut on his lip as he ate. While she was glad he wasn't in trouble for the fight he and Mike had, she was still slightly annoyed with him for being as careless as he was when he interrupted she and Mike's break up.

"Why do you two eat out the same bowl?"

Michonne looked at Frank, then Rick.

Rick smirked, "You really wanna know?"

"I asked didn't I?", His father looked between the two of them.

Rick glanced over at her before explaining, "When she first started staying over here, we used one bowl or one plate so you wouldn't think somethan was up…"

His father raised his eyebrows, "Well, that was smart. But why now?"

The two shrugged before Rick answered, "Less washing up to do"

Frank frowned, "Well isn't that nice of you considering I've never seen you wash a damn tea spoon in this house?"

Rick groaned and continued eating.

"We can wash up before school", Michonne nudged him. He raised his eyebrows at her, "We have time"

Frank stared at his son.

Rick snapped his eyes shut as he reluctantly agreed, "Yeah. We can"

"Oh well, thank you! So nice of you both", Frank beamed at the teens, "I can get used to this"

After washing up with a grumpy Rick, the two got dressed and left for school. Michonne was getting used to life with he and his parents, she enjoyed the relaxed household, and why she wasn't as talkative with his parents, she liked being able to speak freely and not be scolded for it.

"Daryl found an old cabin near his house"

She turned to look at the side of Rick's face as he drove, "Really?"

"Yeah, we wanna go check it out, see what we can do with it"

"You mean throw parties and take girls back there", She added dryly.

He glanced over at her, "What girls? I haven't seen anyone since-"

"Jessie? Not that long ago?"

He scrunched up his face in confusion.

She raised her eyebrows at him as they reached a red light, "She told me, at the party"

"What?", He snorted after glancing at her again

"She told me to fuck off, so she could have a chance"

He frowned at her, "Are you being serious? Why didn't you-"

"Not really important is it? She was drunk and I just didn't pay her any mind", She reassured as she tilted her head at him.

He began driving again, "I really don't want to have to worry about her either"

"Well that's what happens when you like to run around poking everything"

He frowned disbelievingly as he looked out the windshield before he burst into a chuckle, "Really? 'Poking everythan'?"

She giggled, "Yep"

He shook his head at her, "Well I think I'm done 'poking everythan' now"

She examined his hand on the steering wheel as she spoke, "When did you even start all that?"

He bit his lip as he thought about the question, not answering straight away, "I can't remember"

She frowned as she sensed he was lying to her, "Yeah you can, when?"

He shrugged and shifted in his seat, "I don't know, a while ago"

"Why aren't you telling me?", She tilted her head again to look at him.

He sighed as he pulled into the school parking lot, "I just don't really remember it too much-"

"Yes you do! I know you do because I know you, and you're doing all the things you do when you lie to me"

He groaned as he parked the car, "Drop it"

Her eyes didn't move from him, "Why aren't you telling me?"

He sighed as he turned the key in the ignition and sat back, looking her dead in the eye, "Why? What do you want me to tell you?"

"I want you to tell me why you're acting like this? We tell each other everything and I've always known about your… escapades, so why is it a problem for me to ask that?"

He stared at her for a few seconds before he looked away and smirked, "When did you have your first boyfriend?"

Her head jerked back as she questioned the turn of the conversation, "Uh.. just before my seventeenth birthday? I think? Why?"

He threw his hands in the air as if she had solved the riddle, "Well that's when"

She raised her eyebrows at him, "Why was that so hard to admit? That's all you had to say Rick!"

He eyed her for a moment before nodding and opening the door, "Let's go".

She got out of the car feeling strange, not completely sure why. She didn't understand why he took so long to answer her question and why he answered the way he did, but she chose to let that topic rest as she walked beside him.

"I think gonna apply for a job at the Grocery store"

He looked down at her, "Really?"

"Yeah.. hopefully I can start when school's out"

He nodded, his eyes scanning the students walking into the school, "Alright then… hey you feel like doing somethan' later?"

"No-"

"Nothing bad. Just hanging out with us", He informed as they stopped by the steps.

She eyed him, "We need to study-"

"And we will…", His eyes darted around her as he thought of something, "How about this, tonight you come out with us, tomorrow and Thursday we'll study, Friday and Saturday you're mine, and Sunday we'll lay in bed all day"

She frowned, going over the schedule in her head, "Fine, but we need to make some adjustments to that later"

He grinned.

"Nothing illegal Rick", She warned as she pointed a finger at him, slowly walking up the steps.

His face fell into a pout, "Then what's left to do?"

She shook her head at him as she laughed, "We have class so don't spend too long out here"

"Yes Cha-Cha"

….

"Where do you even get this many crickets from?"

"Daryl is a man of many trades... for the right price, that is"

Michonne bit her nail as she they walked along the top floor of the library, "Rick… this is a bad idea"

"I know, but it was last minute and we were bored-"

"No Rick, I mean this is a bad idea in general not a bad bad idea!" She whispered harshly.

"Cha-Cha, out of all the things I've done, you think this is the worst?" He raised an eyebrow at her, "This is pretty tame."

She dragged her hand over her face.

"Come on, we're doing this together", He moved behind her and gave her the container to hold.

"What? No! You do it, I don't want-"

"Shhh. Look just hold the lid here and the tub here" He put her hands over the container, "You'll just open it, and I'll do the rest. Now you ready?"

"No"

"Good" He looked around for a moment before calling out, "Go!"

Michonne opened the containers and Rick put his hand over hers to flick the tub out over the balcony. A symphony of cries followed throughout the library, as Daryl, Shane and Glenn released their own little hoards.

Rick chuckled as he pulled Michonne away, running back down the stairs and out the front door. Michonne was wide eyed as she watched people jump up and down, shaking themselves and their heads to get the creatures off them. She felt nothing but guilt.

"You see that man run into the wall?", Shane laughed as they approached the cars.

"Some lady was right underneath me and got covered!", Glenn chuckled.

Rick put his arm around Michonne as he smirked, "Don't look at me like that, that was harmless"

She stared at him.

He pouted.

She bit her bottom lip and shook her head as she tried not to laugh.

"There's that smile", He grinned as he gave her a little squeeze, "Nothan' makes me happier than see my favourite girl smile"

She sighed as she looked up at him. His eyes flashed with amusement as he watched her, "Take me home now"

He shook his head, "Let's go get somethan' to eat"

She groaned as they got in his car. Something she never took into consideration about living with Rick was that he was going to want her with him frequently, if not all the time. While she always enjoyed being with him, she wasn't used to being out anywhere near as much as he was, and he treated his home like a hotel.

"Oh great"

She looked up from her menu to see what Rick groaned under his breath about, and quickly realized when she saw Jessie and Paula walk in. She kept her eyes off Paula for obvious reasons.

"Hey boys!... and girl", Jessie smiled, as Paula sat in the booth first, then Jessie did the same, opposite her and Rick.

Michonne gave a small quick smile. She wanted to forget the incident with her and hoped Rick would bring it up.

"So what's the plan for tonight?", Paula looked around at the boys.

"Nice day to go swimming right?", Glenn looked around at the others, "They just opened up the pool"

"That sounds like fun", Shane agreed.

They all sat around talking after ordering their food. Michonne couldn't help but notice the coldness Rick was generating towards Jessie when she spoke to him. She questioned if the other teen even remembered the poor speech she gave her, as Jessie seemed to behave normally, as did Paula, which Michonne was even quite grateful for.

"How's that little fur ball of yours?"

Michonne put down her milkshake to look at Daryl, "Fur ball?!"

He snickered, "That's what she looked like when I saw her"

She couldn't help but smile at the remark, realizing he was probably the one that helped Rick get the kitten, "Rocky is great"

"Rocky?", Daryl repeated, then slowly nodded, "Nice name"

"Thanks… don't you think she's like a little cat version of someone we both know…" Her eyes darted back to Rick.

Daryl bit his lips together as he caught the reference.

"Funny", Rick deadpanned as he scanned over them both, "We should get going"

"Alright, let's go", Daryl tapped the table and everyone began to evacuate the booth.

Michonne was quite was surprised when Jesse got in to Rick's car instead of Shane's, and she could see Rick was annoyed too, though she was glad he didn't say anything to her then.

"So Michonne, this is the first time you've come out with us right?"

Michonne looked back at Jessie, and gave a little nod, "Yeah… I guess it is"

"I never thought you'd be into stuff like this"

"Yeah… it's not something I'd usually do…", She looked at Rick, who glanced at her with a smile.

"You're not gonna get in trouble with your folks are you?"

Michonne didn't know how to answer that. She didn't want to tell this girl that she barely knew about her living situation.

"She'll be fine", Rick looked up at the rear view mirror at Jessie.

"Oh… good"

Michonne's thoughts travelled to her parents. A part of her wondered if they were worried about her, though she didn't think her father did, more her mother. The other part wondered if they even cared, and that feeling was stronger than the other. She stared out the windshield aimlessly as she thought about it, so consumed by the subject that she didn't realize they even reached the swimming pool. The nervousness about what they were about to do creeper up again.

She watched as they all walked up to the side fence to the pool, which was locked. Daryl went over to it and kneeled, fussing with the lock for a moment before pushing the fencer door open. Michonne realized they all had their specialties in Rick's group. They went inside and Shane had already stripped off his T-shirt and grabbed Paula, jumping in while she was still fully clothed. Glenn just dived in, still fully dressed also without a care in the world.

"You ready?"

Rick dropped his t-shirt to floor and stepped out his boots.

"Rick…"

"Shoes off.. Though you're wearing a dress so… I wouldn't jump in if I was you" He winked at her as he backed away, causing a strange warmth to radiate in Michonne's stomach, before he jumped in the pool, pulling Daryl with him. Jessie stripped off her shoes and jeans and need dived in after them.

She looked down as she pulled off her shoes and took off her denim waist coat. She walked to the edge and sat down, feeling some relief that the water was lukewarm and not cold. They were all splashing about and jumping with each other and Michonne couldn't explain why she felt a little awkward.

Rick walked over to her with a smile on his face. He held her waist and pulled her off the ledge and she gasped as it was a little colder than she thought. She held on to his shoulders as her body temperature adjusted.

"We're going under", He grinned.

"What? I just straightened my hair this morning" She complained.

Rick stared at her, "I don't even know what that means"

"It's means-"

Before she could say anything else he dipped them both underwater. Michonne could have killed him for that, as she really didn't want to get her hair wet but she had to admit, it was fun.

When they came back up she smiled as she pushed her hair back from her face. Rick was grinning back at her.

"Cannonball!"

Glenn ran from the side of the pool and jumped in, splashing them all. Jessie ran and did the same after him. Daryl hopped up on the ledge and growled when he took out his wet packet of cigarettes from his jeans. Michonne gave him a sympathetic look and he snorted.

"Come on, let's jump in!"

Paula grabbed Michonne's hand and they climbed out the pool together. They both took a few steps back, before running and jumping in holding hands. Paula laughed with her as they resurfaced, both pulling their hair out of their faces. Michonne was about to say something when Paula leaned in, and placed a quick, soft kiss on her lips. Michonne was stunned.

"Hey!"

The sound of a man's voice stopped them all. He stood at the top of the pool with his hands at his sides, wide eyes scanning over all of them.

"All of you out now!"

They all got out and stood staring at the man awkwardly for a moment as they waited to hear what he was going to say.

"You know the pool is closed!"

"Is it?", Shane asked, "We thought we just got here a little early for the night swim"

A few of them snickered as his little joke.

"What night swim?"

"This one!"

Daryl snuck up behind the man and pushed him in the pool. The others quickly grabbed their things and ran out the fence door. Michonne picked up her shoes, then quickly grabbed the red rescue float from the wall and through it in the pool. Shane and Rick stopped and frowned at her.

"In case he can't swim!", She explained quickly.

"He's the damn life guard!", Shane tilted his head at her, "That's the first thing he has to be able to do!"

"Oh… Oh okay", She frowned and looked back at the man as he reached the ledge of the pool.

Rick grabbed her hand and the last three ran from the pool to the cars. Everyone was so concerned with getting away that no one cared about their wet clothes on the seats. Michonne sat shivering as Rick dropped Glenn and Paula home. The other girl gave her a small wave as she walked away from the car and Michonne did the same, even though she was still pretty shocked about her earlier move. She didn't even know how she would deal with such a situation without making it awkward.