Chapter 9:
"...You'll be expected to take part in practical placements throughout the semesters… you'll be assigned to a department, and you'll be expected to assist registered nurses on the job, learning as you go along, and it's vital that you pay attention because it's all crucial information you'll need to know off the top of your head if you do go on to work in the profession…"
Michonne was staring at the professor at the front of the class, desperately trying to pay attention to what she was saying but she found it difficult. It wasn't as if she was focusing on anything in particular, but a whole host of worries ran through her mind.
She had moved everything from her Rick's home, to Paula's, to her dorm room. She was incredibly lucky to be assigned one of the only two singular rooms on her floor, which did make the experience only a little less daunting. Paula was on the floor below her, and Sasha was two floors above, so she didn't feel completely alone, but she couldn't shake that feeling of loneliness. Besides hanging out with Paula and Sasha, the rest of her time was spent studying as she wasn't interested in parties or other social gatherings. She wanted to get used to the new surroundings, and the new changes in her life.
Seeing Rick was almost her undoing. She had come to the conclusion that if she didn't see him then she'll be fine, and she'll move on without a doubt. But hearing his voice, the same raspy, voice that used to sooth her, had knocked her back to square one. His apology was one that she didn't care for, and it couldn't have come at a worse time.
Eileen would message her occasionally, and so would her mother, both checking to see that she was doing well. She was quicker to reply to Eileen, as she wanted to be sure that Rocky was fine. If she could have snuck the feline into her dorm room, she would have, but she had to leave her with Rick's mother, since her own mother was allergic to cats.
"So have I got the hot gossip for you guys"
Paula threw her back pack down and jumped on Michonne's bed next to Sasha, causing the girl to raise her eyebrow at her, "I feel like I don't want to know?"
"Guess who's caught the eye of a handsome older man?"
"Oh god-"
"My accounting professor gave me the look today", Paula continued with a grin, "I hung back to ask him about our class tomorrow and I swear, we were eye fucking for about thirty seconds"
"Your professor?", Michonne's jaw hung, "That's illegal, right? Isn't that illegal?"
"It should be", Sasha shook her head at her friend, "You're not meant to flirt with the teachers-"
"He's so freaking hot though! He has a beard and he's tall, and lean and he has this 'I'm gonna fuck you now' voice-"
"Oh my god", Michonne turned back to her desk, "Paula, find someone your own age please? Like Shane?"
"I'm done with boys! I have daddy issues so I can get with older men and no one can judge me!", Paula cackled, nudging an unimpressed Sasha.
"I can't even deal with you anymore. Shane obviously cares about you-"
"Shane cares about Shane more. He wants to be able to do what he wants and he'll probably be ready for a serious girlfriend in his late forties… after fucking everything and everyone in sight", Paula rolled her eyes as she toyed with her hair, "Not all of us can find a nice guy that isn't an asshole"
"You don't even need to find a guy", Michonne huffed, writing notes on the edge of her book, "And you definitely shouldn't be trying to mess around with your professor"
"She's right.", Sasha nodded in agreement.
"Boring!", Paula groaned, "In other, more important news, there's going to be a bunch of parties this weekend and we're going"
"I wanted to go back to town this weekend"
"Oh come on! One night?"
"This is our first week, I imagine there are going to be plenty more-"
"But it's because it's our first week that we have to go! This is when we get to meet other people and feel each other out. Metaphorically speaking, that is… unless you want that-"
"No.", Sasha replied dryly.
"Well I know Michonne will-"
"No. I'm staying in to study", Michonne shook her head at her.
Paula's face pinched with confusion, "Study what? We just go here!"
"Doesn't mean I can't get ahead"
Paula threw her face in the pillows beside her as she groaned, "I'm friends with old people!"
Sasha snickered at her, "What about your roommate? She seems crazy… like you"
Paula lifted her head, "...I might ask her… but she's a little strange. She eats a spoonful of honey every night before she goes to bed"
Sasha and Michonne both frowned at the red-headed girl.
"Yeah! That's what I thought! That's not normal, right?!"
Michonne bit back a chuckle, "No… I don't think that is…"
While she wasn't against going to parties, she wanted to get herself saturated first. She knew that Paula would always be able to inform them of upcoming events, and the girl was always willing to go where the alcohol was, so she wasn't worried.
She was so busy keeping her focus on her work, and preparation for upcoming syllabuses, that she hardly spoke to anyone in her class, until one fateful afternoon.
"I like your hair"
Michonne froze, turning to the dark skinned male at her side, "Huh?"
"Y-your hair. It's really… it's nice. I like it", He stuttered, nervously adjusting his books in his hands.
She gave him a small, friendly smile, "Thanks? I mean, thank you"
"Don't mention it", The teen smiled, his brown eyes twinkling under his long lashes, "I'm Gabriel"
"Michonne", She chimed, fixing her bag strap.
"Michonne…", Gabriel repeated, as if he were familiarising himself with her name, "Uh… how are you finding everything? The class I mean. It's a lot to swallow"
She shrugged, "It's fine actually. I'm enjoying it"
His face fell slightly, "Oh… it's just me then"
A chuckle escaped her, "No, it's probably not just you. I just like to study, so I don't have a problem keeping up"
"Yeah? That's… that's a good way of handling it. I should probably try that so I'm not falling behind…"
"Yep", She nodded, feeling only a little awkward.
"...So are you heading over to the library? To study, now?"
"Yeah, I am"
"Well I'm heading that way, we can walk together, if you want?"
She shrugged a second time, "Okay, sure"
They both began to stroll the busy hallway, and Michonne couldn't help but notice the way the teen fidgeted with his books, which made her feel uneasy too.
"So, do you stay on campus?", He finally Asked.
"I do. You?"
"Yeah. I came from the city… I could have stayed home but I wanted to really get the 'college experience'...", He gave a half-hearted shrug, "What about you?"
"I came from Kings County. It's a small town"
"I've heard of it. Never been, though. Is it close?"
"About an hour's drive"
"Oh.. okay. So you drive?"
"I do…"
"Wish I could", Gabriel chortled quietly, "I failed my test… I panicked and crashed"
Michonne's eyebrows rose, "Really?"
"Yeah. I'm a little… I just got really nervous and I thought I saw a squirrel in the road-"
Laughter burst from Michonne's lips, "A squirrel?"
Gabriel nodded as he wore a shy smile, "Stupid, right? I think it was just a bag or something… but I swerved. My instructor told me to hold onto my bus pass"
She snickered at him, "Well...I'm sorry to hear that…"
"It's fine, I'll probably try again one day… hopefully not near a park or anything"
"Yeah, I think you should probably avoid parks all together"
"Definitely", He cleared his throat as he adjusted his books a third time, "So you want to get into nursing?"
"I do. I think I've got a strong enough stomach for it. You?"
"Yeah. My dad's a surgeon, and my mom's an obstetrician so I've kind of been pigeon holed into this"
"Really? That's great, they can probably help you out"
"Oh, no", He shook his head, "They're always really busy. My dad actually lives and works in Miami...and my mom has her own practise"
"Oh…. That's still very impressive"
"Yeah… what about your parents? Same thing?"
"Nah. My dad worked as an accountant, and my mom's a paralegal. I just always wanted to be a nurse because I want to help people. Kids, specifically"
"That's really sweet", Gabriel smiled, although he stared at her a little too long, so he barged into another student, "Oh, sorry"
The other male barely turned back to look at him.
"Uh, thanks…", Michonne slowed as they reached the library doors, "Well I'll see you in class"
"Oh, uh, yeah. In class. I'll save you as seat…I like to sit at the front too"
"You don't have to", She frowned.
"It's no problem at all…", He insisted shifting from foot to foot.
"Okay… well, bye", She gave him a little wave as she backed into the door.
"Bye", Gabriel waved back, almost dropping his books again.
Michonne was sure she got the impression that Gabriel had taken a liking to her, and sure enough, when she turned up to class the following day, he had indeed saved her a seat at the front of the class, and she suspected she was right.
After everything that had happened with Rick, she was whole heartedly against the idea of entertaining another male in her life, but it was quickly becoming apparent to her that Gabriel was the polar opposite of Rick. He was nowhere near as confident, and almost cripplingly shy, always appearing nervous to speak to her, and Michonne could relate. Besides her own core group of friends, and before moving in with Rick, she used to struggle to converse with others, and so she sympathised with Gabriel.
When the weekend finally came, Michonne and Sasha left campus bright and early on Saturday, leaving Paula to run rampant on the campus.
"Are you going to go to your moms?", Sasha asked, sitting back in the passenger seat after playing with the radio.
"Yeah. I need to see her. And Eileen", Michonne answered, peering out the windshield mirror.
"Rick's mom?"
"Yep."
"...That's sweet. What about his dad? Have you heard from him?"
"Nah. The last time I saw him, he was marching out of their house… then Rick was throwing his stuff out on the front lawn"
Sasha's eyes widened, "Really? That bad?"
"Yeah."
"Was Rick close with his dad? I thought his parents gave him free reign-"
"They did", Michonne nodded, "But he was still closer to his dad… he's not a bad man or anything, he's just stupid. And selfish. Rick took it really hard when he found out he was cheating…"
"I can imagine. If my dad did that to my mom, I'd freak out. They're your parents, they're meant to lead by example"
"It's true. Someone should tell my dad that"
Sasha shifted in her seat, "Are you going to speak to him? If he calls or something?"
"No. Never. Never, ever again", Michonne shuddered at the thought, "I'm better off without him"
Her friend gave a slow understanding nod as she looked back out the windshield, "I get it."
Michonne hated the sombre turn of the conversation, so she perked up, "So are you excited to see Daryl?"
A bashful smile spread across Sasha's face, "Of course. I mean, we talk everyday but, I still miss him"
"That's cute. You two are cute"
"Thanks. I'm hoping my parents go out this weekend or something"
Michonne raised her eyebrows at her friend as she glanced at her, "Oh? So you can Daryl can have some alone time?"
"Well, yeah", Sasha snickered, "I said I've missed him"
"Oh, is that code for something else?", Michonne teased, chuckling at the other teen, "I'm happy for you. Really, I am"
Sasha pouted sadly at her.
"Don't do all that Sasha. I'm fine. I swear, I am", Michonne affirmed.
"Because of Gabriel?"
"No, not because of Gabriel. Because I have to get over it"
"...With Gabriel?"
Michonne gave her a quick unimpressed look, "I feel like you're snooping"
"Well, he obviously likes you... saving your seats and stuff... so I'm just curious"
"I've known him for three days? Literally, just three days!"
"He could be an rebound… and if he is, then you've jumped from one extreme to another. The sinner and the saint"
Michonne sighed in an exasperated fashion, "What am I going to do with you? Or better yet, what's Daryl going to do with you?"
Sasha chortled as she tapped her on her thighs, "Stop that!"
The girls laughed and joked all the way back to Kings County, and it was only after Michonne dropped Sasha home, did she start to experience an uneasy feeling. It was as if she couldn't call the town home anymore, which she knew was silly, but it was the only way she could describe it.
Her father's car was still in the driveway when she arrived at her old home, and she parked up behind the vehicle.
Her mother opened the door without giving her chance to knock, "I thought I heard you pull up"
"Hey mom", She smiled, raising her hand to give her a wave, but her mother flung her arms around her, embracing her in a warm hug.
"How has it been? Have you settled in alright?", The woman questioned, pulling her inside the home.
"Good and I have"
"I still would like to come and look at the place. Girls and boys are separate, right?"
"Yes, they are", Michonne sighed, strolling to the kitchen ahead of her.
"Oh good. I mean, I know you have your 'Rick' and all, but still", The woman huffed, smoothing her hair back with one hand.
"What's been going on here?"
"Nothing much. Just work, as usual. I've been looking at smaller houses. I found an apartment… two bedroom. It's nice. Really nice"
Michonne nodded, looking around the kitchen, "Yeah… I guess this place is too big for just one person now"
"It is. Much too big"
"So what's happening with... everything else?"
She sighed, taking a seat at the breakfast table, "Your father's attorney has been getting in contact with me… telling me about his case…"
Michonne took a seat in front of her, "Yeah?"
"Yeah...Just telling me that it would look better for him if I stand by him..."
Michonne's lips curled, "Well, you shouldn't, because what he did was pretty messed up, mom"
Her mother began fussing with one of the letters on the table, "I know, I know that… But I've been talking to him and-"
"You're talking to him?", Michonne frowned, crossing her arms over her chest, "Why?"
Her mother slowly inhaled as she looked at her, "Michonne, I don't expect you to completely understand this, but cutting him out of my life isn't something simple. We are married, we made a child together, he's done so much for me-"
"So what? Are you staying with him? Are you defending him in this?"
"I'm not defending what he did but he is a good man, he cares about me and he's good for me. He hid this whole thing because he didn't want to hurt me-"
"What about the girls he was forcing to get married? He was trying to force me to get married!"
"That's different, Michonne!", her mother slapped her hand down on the table, "I don't support that at all and he was wrong for what he did, but- but you don't know how I feel right now. You've gone off for college and I'm alone, and I feel like he can….we can probably work on our marriage now, so when he gets out-"
"You mean, now I'm out the way?", Michonne narrowed her eyes at her mother.
The woman's shoulders fell, "Michonne, you need to take some responsibility here. The things you did put a strain on us-"
"What did I do? When I moved out, you mean?"
"Yes! Refusing to do what we wanted of you put him through so much stress and it affected us! You tainted yourself and you shamed us-"
"What has that got to do with what he did? Are you trying to say that I'm what pushed him to get involved with illegal marriages? Because that was going on long before I left-"
"See! This is what I'm talking about! You don't accept your fault in this. You need to realise that your behaviour can drive another person's actions-"
"You sound exactly like him", The words slipped from Michonne's lips in a whisper.
Her mother sat back, her mouth slightly agape, "No. No, this is my- I'm the one who is saying these things-"
"It doesn't sound like it", Michonne huffed as she stood up, "Well, I'm glad you can work on your marriage now. Sorry to be an inconvenience-"
"Where are you going?", Her mother quizzed, watching her daughter start down the hall.
"To go see my cat!"
Michonne had to stop herself from storming out the home, and instead left quietly. She knew she shouldn't have been surprised, considering the fact that even her mother admitted she always fell for her father's words. It saddened her, though. To be blamed for the deterioration of their marriage wasn't something she ever expected to hear, but she could easily picture her father saying it with great conviction. He could blame others, and not himself, with ease.
She stomped over to Eileen's home and rang the doorbell, crossing her arms over her chest as she slowly paced back and forth on the porch, still brewing. It was on the third lap that she caught sight of a familiar car in the driveway, and her heart sank when she realised Rick was home.
Before she could think of what to do next, the door swung open, and her heart sank even further in her chest.
"Hey Michonne", Jessie smiled, leaning on the door frame with a grin, "Can I help you?"
