"Touch. It is touch that is the deadliest enemy of chastity, loyalty, monogamy, gentility with its codes and conventions and restraints. By touch we are betrayed and betray others ... an accidental brushing of shoulders or touching of hands ... hands laid on shoulders in a gesture of comfort that lies like a thief, that takes, not gives, that wants, not offers, that awakes, not pacifies. When one flesh is waiting, there is electricity in the merest contact."
― Wallace Stegner, Angle of Repose
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Earlier at the reception. Before Lori and Jessie fought. Before Rick introduced Lori to Jessie. The reception room that was huge had become smaller. Rick couldn't shake Lori. It was almost like she was attached to his hip and he couldn't understand why. She was more touchy feely. He didn't want Michonne to see the constant affection that Lori was displaying towards him. He wanted to talk to Michonne before the wedding dance began. Rick just wanted Michonne. If he couldn't be with Michonne he at least wanted her in his line of vision.
While Lori went to the restroom Rick bee-lined it to stand with Michonne who was laughing with Abe and Glen. Eventually Abe and Glen dispersed and it was just Rick and Michonne trying to not get lost in each others eyes. Trying not to expose themselves by standing there looking goofy at each other.
"I was thinking."
"What were you thinking?" Michonne smiled.
"I was thinking that you look good in that dress."
"Oh yeah. Is that what you were thinking?"
"I really was thinking how difficult would it be to take it off of you or would I just hike it up and have my-"
"Hey babe, I'm back." Lori stood next to Rick rubbing his lower back.
"Um..Lori this is Michonne. Michonne, my uh, wife Lori." Rick's heart was racing and he felt that the room had suddenly gotten uncomfortably hot.
Mike strolled up behind Michonne and wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her close. Ricks jaws tightened at the sight.
"Hello Lori. Glad to meet you. This is my husband Mike. Mike this is Rick and his wife Lori."
Mike recognized Rick, "Hey thanks man thanks for bringing breakfast to my wife- that was really appreciated especially since she was sick." Mike reached his hand out to shake Lori's and Rick's hand. "Nice to meet you Lori."
"Not a problem. I would want someone to do the same if it was Lori." A lump began to form in his throat after he realized what he had said.
Jessie strolls up to the two couples and she stood in between Rick and Michonne. Jessie rubs Rick's shoulder smiling at him, "Come on Rick. You promised you would dance with me." She takes his hand and leads him a way.
Lori eyes followed Jessie and Rick to the dance floor. Michonne eyes followed Rick and Jessie to the dance floor.
"Come on. Dance with me baby." Mike placed both hands on Michonnes hips and led her to the crowded dance floor to dance with him just a few feet from Rick and Jessie"
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Ms. Mabel wanted to get back to the party because she could have sworn Old Smokey was giving her the eye. But Ms. Mabel was uncomfortable leaving Lori alone in the restroom with Michonne. Michonne had no idea of the fight between Lori and Jessie.
"Are you okay, Lori?" Michonne was genuinely concerned about Ricks wife and the long scratch on the side of Lori's face.
Lori nods wordlessly.
Maggie and Rosita enters the bathroom and it sets Lori off instantly.
Lori looks at Maggie, "So is it you messing with my husband?"
Maggie looked at Lori as if she had three heads. "What the hell?"
Lori turned her attention to Rosita, "Is it you?"
Rosita looked her up and down and did not dignify her with a response.
Ms Mabel wasn't fast enough or strong enough to hold Lori back from confronting Rosita who quickly knocked Lori out cold on the restroom floor.
Michonne kneels over Lori shouting at Rosita, " What the fuck Rosita? This is Rick's wife for God sake!"
Rosita shrugged, "I don't entertain crazy bitches." She stepped over Lori and went into the bathroom stall.
Ms. Mabel knew she needed to go find help. To find Rick. When she opened the restroom door to leave she stopped in front of a mad as hell Andrea and a still crying Jessie.
Ms. Mabel hesitated for a second from leaving, hoping Lori would stay knocked out and not come to, trying to fight women who obviously were capable of dog walking her. If the spanish girl could do what she did with one punch Ms. Mabel bristled at the thought of what the black woman with dreads could do if attacked by Lori.
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Sasha was in route to the restroom but was cornered by a scary looking man that had no hesitation about breaching boundaries regarding personal space.
"Hey sweet heart where you off in such a hurry? You gave my brother Daryl a lap dance I think it is my turn my little African Nubian Queen. We brothers like to share. What is good for one is definitely good for me." He licked his lips and tried to press his pelvis into Sasha who was trying to push him a way when Daryl came around the corner.
"Let her go Meryl."
"What for? She danced for you I want her to dance for me."
"Let go of my wife."
Meryl arms loosened from around Sasha who was struggling to push distance between her and Meryl. "Wife?"
"She's my wife. Now let her go."
Meryl looked at Sasha and stepped back looking for the lie. Sasha shoved him.
"What are you- a fucking animal?"
Daryl grabbed her arm and pulled her away, "Go on. I got this."
Sasha glared at Meryl and proceeded to the ladies room.
"So you went and gone native...so Carol was telling the truth all this time. Thought she was trying to slander the Dixon good name around town that we had a Nig-"
The impact of Daryls fist shocked the hell out of Meryl. He spit blood on the hall floor.
"What the fuck little brother!?"
Daryl shoved Meryl up against the wall. "If I so fucking as much hear you refer to her with that word I will fucking kill you. Bank on that promise."
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Michonne was lightly tapping Lori face trying to revive her. Tears were in her eyes and panic in her voice, "She's not coming to. It should just take a few seconds right?" She looked to Andrea for help.
Rosita looked down at herself in the mirror, "I don't know I have never been knocked out."
Andrea helped Michonne move Lori's body to the wall to have her up in a sitting position. Andrea yelled at Rosita, "What the fuck Rosita do we have to put a damn sign around your neck to warn people that you are a crazy bitch?!"
Sasha entered and took in the situation, "Rosita noooooooooo. What the fuck Rosita." She knew that it had to be the work of Rosita, the straight no warning knock out.
Andrea began scolding Jessie, "See the damage you cause every fricking time you mess around with a married man Jessie. Don't you ever get it?"
Jessie yelled, " I am not the one fucking Rick!"
"Well somebody is," said Maggie turning on the water faucet waiting for the water to get cold enough so she could cup it in her hands to throw on Lori's face. Sasha did the same.
Rosita turned from the mirror, "Or she is fucking crazy." She stepped over to Lori noticing that the sprinkles of water from Maggie and Sasha wasn't reviving Lori. Rosita kicked Lori's feet. "Wake up crazy Lady. Wake up and realize no one wants your redneck hillbilly husband. Wake up or we dunk your head in the toilet."
Lori's eyes fluttered.
