Chapter Three
"Michonne, earth to Michonne." Michonne heard before realizing Maggie was waving a hand in front of her face.
"Huh? Oh, sorry I must've zoned out." she apologized as Maggie returned to her seat.
"I'm sure I know where she was." Sasha stated, returning from her shower. They had decided to stay the night at Maggie's to avoid the long drive back home.
"Oh, she's not even gonna fight me on it?" Sasha teased, surprised while Michonne covered her smile with her hand.
"Wait a minute, what's going on?" Maggie asked, leaning in with interest.
"Michonne's got it bad for our instructor."
"Really!?" Maggie exclaimed, leaning forward on the seat of her chair.
"He's attractive." Michonne shrugged trying to be nonchalant.
"Girl, he's fine. If I wasn't hung up on Abe, I'd definitely be making heart eyes at him too." Sasha teased while making a heart with her fingers.
"I am not!" Michonne balked and Sasha laughed.
"Who is he? You know I know some of em from my Daddy." Maggie urged while looking between the pair.
"Captain Richard Grimes." Sasha answered between chuckles while Michonne blushed.
"Oh my god, I know him. He's one of my clients. I'm showing him a place on Friday, but Daddy's close with him." Maggie offered, now on the edge of her seat.
"He is cute, to me in a brotherly way." Maggie said, finally ending her laughter before looking at Michonne. "This is it! We are getting you back in the saddle."
"Whoa, whoa, I just said he was handsome." Michonne said in a half-hearted attempt to get her friends to stop.
"Just handsome, huh? Maggie, they were practically fucking in front of the whole gym." Sasha said in a teasing voice before pausing and showing her bare arm off to her friends. "Oh, by the way no more wristband for me!" Sasha exclaimed, jumping around and doing a celebratory dance as she waved her wrist around.
"Congrats, girl! I knew you could do it!" Maggie said, jumping up to meet her in a hi-five.
Maggie offered the girl a hug before turning her attention back to Michonne. "But back to fucking in the gym." Maggie teased while clutching her chest, pretending to be scandalized.
"And he held her." Sasha added, watching as Maggie crawled over to where Michonne sat on the rug, blushing even harder.
"Okay, okay. Yes, the eye contact was…soul piercing and he simply helped me from falling over." Michonne as collectedly as she could, trying to brush it off.
"Soul piercing?" Maggie drew the words out.
"You're so gonna fuck him." Sasha stated matter of factly.
"What are you talking about? He's our boss." Michonne said while shaking her head.
"So if he wasn't your boss, you'd fuck him?" Maggie questioned almost innocently while Sasha chuckled.
"You know what! I'm done with this conversation. I'm going to bed. Goodnight ladies." Michonne said while standing and heading towards the door, attempting to leave the room.
"Oh no you don't." Maggie said in between a fit of giggles as she ran in front of the woman, cornering her in the threshold.
"'Michonne, it's okay to have a little fun." She teased, using her fingers for emphasis.
"Have you seen that walk? I'm sure it's more than a little fun." Sasha slyly commented making them all laugh.
"I know we are putting you on the spot so let's change the subject." Maggie said, her laughing fit finally coming to an end as she put her arms up in a ceasefire. "Daddy's having a party on Saturday. It'll be filled with family and friends. I really want you two to come, bring Rosita, Tara and Abraham too." Maggie said excitedly, looking between the two of them. "Free food and drinks we can celebrate you Sash. Come over Friday after class and let's make a weekend of it." she offered, while holding Michonne's hands.
Michonne looked over and saw Sasha producing her best puppy dog eyes before sighing and letting her head hang, her hair hiding the small smile on her lips.
"Yes, yes we could use some fun." Michonne declared. Sasha ran over and joined Maggie in squeezing her into a bear hug before they broke off into a happy dance.
Michonne chuckled lightly at the pair as left them to chat while she went to lay down. They were right. She needs some fun. Maybe she could have that fun with Captain Grimes? Maybe this was step two of her recovery plan? Sleeping with her boss was step two?
There was something there when they looked at one another. When he grabbed her arms to steady her, she felt a tingly wave sweep over her skin. Good god, it was just his hands on her arms, imagine his tongue.
"Whoa, relax Cat!"
This was not allowed, no fraternization. Plus, she didn't know if he would even risk his career for a fling with her.
"Just a fling?"
Did she want more? Could she handle more?
She saw his smirk after their eye contact plus he was absolutely checking out her ass today.
This was the first time in forever that she even entertained a man's' attraction to her. Mike had broken her spirit with his rejection and denial of their baby.
There was no way around it, senior year wasn't possible.
She was due in October. What sense would it make to return in August just to be out in two months. Probably not to return for the rest of the semester. Go back in Spring? With what childcare? No family to help support her and a baby in Virginia.
She'd dry her tears and complete her junior year. Hopefully she wouldn't get too big by May. But Michonne knew the treatment she would receive. Perception would be that she was fast. That she'd gotten herself into this mess. That she had ruined her chances at a bright future. So she ignored the judgmental looks and comments she garnered from complete strangers.
Telling her parents was terrifying. The hopes and dreams they had for their only child were being dashed. They never wanted her having to work the grueling hours they did as factory line and assembly workers. Michonne considered hiding the pregnancy but thought better, it would only make things worse. When she came home for spring break she sat them down for the "talk". She was prepared for anger but they consoled her. They were disappointed yes, but supportive. Mike's treatment of her and reject of his unborn child infuriated them, but they would take care of his responsibility. Her parents made her agree to complete her junior year. So she made it her mission to stick it through for their understanding and compassion.
Back at school, Michonne was lucky to have Jacqui and T-Dog's aid. Jacqui would go to doctor's appointments with her when she could. T-Dog even threatened to beat Mike up when they ran into him at Wawa with a freshman on his arm. Michonne had to admit there was a part of her that would've loved to see that. But T-Dog and Jacqui had helped her so much she couldn't let them put their futures in jeopardy for her. When the semester had finally ended, they had even driven her back to Georgia. She would miss them, university, and Virginia.
When she arrived, Sasha was there. She was glad to have her friend home, especially with Ty headed off to college that fall. It was like old times. Sasha never held any punches with her and she surely wasn't starting now. Michonne appreciated being treated like she was still herself.
There was no way for her to save for the baby since no one would hire her with that belly.
Michonne threw herself into preparation, reading every book she could get her hands on. She knew her family was bearing all of her burden, so she didn't want to be a liability. Anything that needed to be done whether it be cooking, cleaning or laundry it was done. She wanted to carry as much weight as she could. Her parents often told her to relax, hang out with friends but she hid her guilt by calling it nestling.
When it was time to have the baby, she was so ready. Swollen ankles, peeing every minute and don't even get her started with the heartburn.
Andre Anthony Hawthorne.
"6lbs 11ozs, 22", ten fingers and ten toes. Peanut butter complexion must've come from her Dad since Mike, her and her Mom were deep browns.
Michonne was astounded by him, her son. Andre was such a happy baby. Rarely cried, slept through the night except for his nightly three AM bottle.
Loved music, she'd watch videos with him and he'd rock his little carrier to the beat. Michonne was over love songs unless it was 112's, "It's Over Now". She played Outkast, Nas, Ludacris and DMX, he didn't know what curses were yet so she could get away with it for a while longer.
Her and Andre filled their days with mommy and son trips to the museums, zoos, art exhibits that were popping up all over Castleberry Hill. As Andre grew, she knew what type of man she wanted him to be. She bought educational toys, read him books and even tried sign language.
Michonne didn't even think about her missed senior year, she had plans to make a better future for them. She'd deferred college but planned on transferring closer to home so that she could complete her senior year. Make her parents proud and be financially responsible.
Michonne smiled while picturing his little round face. His giggles echoed in her mind as she dozed off.
The next day Michonne woke up happy and excited for RMP training. She loved to drive so learning how to command a police car was going to be awesome. The next few days they got to wear street clothes with a few guidelines and restrictions. She didn't want to admit she thought a lot about this and planned on wearing her best form fitting jeans, a white Henley top and her favorite worn-in Demonia combat boots.
She was happy to finally get to have her hair down and glad she had re-twisted her locs over the weekend. She added a few shells and silver cuffs not wanting to overdo it before looking herself over in the mirror.
"Okay. I see you! Hmm- ready to get away from the eye fucking and got to the real thing." Sasha said, tiptoeing up to look over her shoulder in the mirror to admire her.
"I'm dressed regular right now." Michonne said while shaking her head and grabbing her duffle bag. Sasha smiled, grabbing her gear and heading for the car.
Did she overdo it? Maybe she should change.
"Ugh- there isn't enough time." She thought while sliding into the car. She pulled the visor down and looked herself over in the mirror, staring at the adornments in her hair.
"Maybe I am doing too much." Michonne thought to herself before she started pulling cuffs out of her hair as they drove.
"Nuh uh, don't take those out! You look good!" Sasha yelled, reaching a hand over to swat at her hands as she drove.
"Yuh uh. You said I-"
"Girl, I was just kidding. Well, not really. You are doing it!" She giggled a little, giving her friend a quick smile before looking back at the road. "When Cap sees you at the track, they better be ready for those cars to be sliding around in all his drool." She said making them both giggle.
Sasha sobered before going on in a sincere voice.
"Look, you don't know what this is. But you deserve to feel desired and sexy. So, if it just turns out to be some harmless flirtation so be it. Enjoy it." She offered, a soft smile on her lips.
Michonne contemplated her friend's words for a moment before smiling back at her.
"You're right. I'm gonna revel in this."
They fist bumped to seal the deal.
All the recruits were sent out to the track after they put away their items in the locker room. Michonne was not surprised that so many people were not dressed properly. From jeans with holes, too low tops or cropped ones, one guy even had nerve to show up in a wife beater. Did they not read the allowed list?
But the most egregious was of course, Recruit Harrison.
Andrea showed up with a full face of makeup, leggings, peplum top and red high heels!
"Like she knows she'll be driving a car not starring in Grease." Sasha whispered to Michonne.
So when it happened, they were expecting it.
"Recruit Harrison!" shouted Lt. Payton.
"Yes Sir!" Andrea stepped forward.
"Did you read the guidelines for appropriate attire for the week?"
"Yes Sir" the Lt stepped closer to her.
"Are you serious?" Andrea was perplexed.
"You are on track to possibly become this classes valedictorian! So it is not possible that your comprehension is deficient." He continued, stopping in front of her.
She was nervous now. Her eyes darted to Lt. Walsh pleading.
Michonne almost grinned when she saw Walsh pretend something was suddenly interesting in the distance. She knew something was up with those two, but it wasn't enough for him to stick his neck out.
Andrea looked teary eyed now.
"Any recruit not in dress code step forward!" shouted Colonel Blake stunning everyone with his entrance as they rarely ever saw him.
Rumor had it that he was sent to the academy as punishment, to keep him off the streets. His union fought for his job and sent him to impressionable minds, go figure. Luckily, he was reportedly a house mouse, opting to give orders than take action.
After the initial shock, a few recruits did step forward.
"Aww, we can do better than that!" people looked around at one another and down at themselves than a few more stepped forward.
"That's more like it. All of you are dismissed for the day!" The recruits in question gasped and looked distraught. "Come hand Lieutenant Payton a demerit card! I want a ten page PTO on proper dress attire tomorrow!"
No one moved.
"You heard the Colonel!" Lt. Walsh yelled and they began to scurry.
"Recruit Harrison!" Andrea stopped when Col. Blake addressed her.
"I will see you in my office now for your most atrocious disregard." He exited just as he came, in a flash.
Andrea looked to be on the brink of tears again as she swiftly followed him back into the building.
Sasha and Michonne blinked at each other, that was rough to watch.
Everyone else stood by and awaited instructions.
Michonne heard him before she saw him. The tap, tap of his boots hitting the floor.
She turned and saw Captain Grimes walking up with Sgt. Rhee.
Shit, his legs were sexy, bowed just the right amount. He wore straight leg faded black jeans on top of his worn in cowboy boots looking like he was ready to ride a bull at the county fair. Even though he wore a belt his jeans sat a bit lower on his waist, Michonne could only think of the sexy V shape that was not so hidden under. Her mouth was suddenly dry then moist again when her eyes made their way up to his forearms. His dark denim shirt's sleeves were rolled up to reveal the strength in them. A few buttons were undone at the top to just expose the top of his chest. Michonne's fingers instinctively flexed thinking about running her fingers over his body.
His curls were a little wild looking today. Once again, her fingers ached to run through them, to put them back in place or make them worse, she didn't mind either way.
He and Rhee were giving everyone left a once over. The fact that she was standing in the front, meant that he would inevitably come to stand before her.
When he arrived at her, his eyes worked their way up slowly, starting at her boots. When he got to her legs, he adjusted his stance and placed a hand on his belt pushing his pants a bit lower.
Michonne's heart sped up, his eyes continued higher over her breast, chest, neck, lips and finally to her eyes. His were so bright blue with the overhead lighting paired with the blue of his shirt.
Michonne parted her full lips to get more air in and the corner of his full lips ticked up a bit.
"Had his lips always been this unpredictably full?"
Especially the bottom one, she wanted to bite it.
The Captain's eyes narrowed into a squint as though the sun was in them. It sent a wave straight to her box.
They finally broke the connection when Lt. Walsh walked over and coughed.
Grimes continued to look over the rest of the group while she caught her breath.
"Recruits your company will be assigned to different trainers for this exercise. Company 01- Dixon, Company 02- Grimes, Company 03…" Lt. Cahill began to call out their assignments but Michonne had zoned out after she heard hers. She would be in a car with him, not alone of course but with two other recruits. They'd take turns being the driver, but they'd be in a confined space.
"Company 02 follow me." Grimes demanded as he turned and headed for the vehicles with that sexy gait.
"After this, I'll lay with him." Recruit McIntosh whispered to someone behind her.
Michonne heard other women fawning over him since his arrival, but she was particularly annoying.
Anne was an odd one, from her dumber and dumber bang, cadence of her speech and requests to be called "Jadis". It was all just…weird.
Captain Grimes' smoky voice drew her attention.
"I will take you out on the track in groups of three. You have to learn all of this. You're survival maybe dependent on this."
"First, I will identify all of the equipment inside the Radio Monitored Patrol car since everyone here already has a license you should know the basics." He began to point out the parts.
"Girl, you are gonna break a lot of hearts in here." Sasha mumbled to her.
"I sure am." Michonne she whispered back with a small smile.
After the Captain was finished, he handed out the assignment sheet and told them to standby in their groups until he called them. When Michonne got the paper, she searched for her group and to her dismay, she was with McIntosh and Monroe. She sighed and shifted over to them to wait their turn.
To alleviate her frustrations, she decided to watch Grimes. Michonne never thought much of a man's' ass before but his seemed perfect. She imagined it flexing as he thrust.
What was she doing? This was the opposite of alleviating frustration.
She watched as he took the first two groups out, hers was up next. As they made their way over, Jadis made a beeline to be ahead of them.
"I drive first, okay?"
"This isn't a democracy." Rick looked Jadis in the eye.
"Your way…maybe another way." She smiled and stepped back.
Now he looked really confused.
"Monroe, get in." he handed him the keys.
All Michonne could do was shake her head as she went to the rear, drivers side passenger door. She locked eyes with Rick as she slid in.
Once her door was closed, he made his way around to the front passenger door and got in.
"Monroe, call out all the equipment then steps required before beginning patrol."
Recruit Spenser Monroe started calling out the previously directed guidelines.
Michonne used the opportunity to look the Captain over more. His beard and mustache were light, she didn't want it scratching her or maybe she did. His left hand was visible, and she could see a lighter shade on his ring finger.
"So newly separated or divorced…" she deduced.
"And I'm ready to put the car in drive." Monroe stated.
"Wrong!" Grimes admonished.
"What's next Hawthorne?"
"Radio into dispatch your sector assignment, badge numbers and assigned vehicle. Record all three in your logbook as well as showing yourself going 10-75D." Michonne recited proudly.
Captain Grimes was impressed, he turned to her and flashed a small panty melting smile before returning forward.
"You got that Monroe?"
"Yes, yes sir."
Monroe completed the directives and pulled off. Captain Grimes informed Monroe when to speed up, brake, when to turn, pretty standard operations with cones but at high speeds. Monroe drove back to the start and they all go out.
"Hawthorne, you wanna drive?"
"Yeah" Michonne uttered seductively then remembered herself. "I mean- yes Sir." Michonne quickly recovered.
"Good." There was that unassuming uptick to his lips.
They all got in the car again. Without preamble Michonne rattled off every step to a tee then waited for directions.
Once again she was breathing hard, so she could now smell his scent.
"Some combination of vanilla mixed with birch or sandalwood…" it calmed her in the most unexpected way.
She could hear his breathing now, she glanced over to see his jaw flexing. Were those perhaps dimples or just a chiseled jaw his facial hair partially hid?
The two in the back had to feel it, the charged energy in the car.
"Well- you said you wanna drive."
"Is he being cheeky with me?"
Michonne pulled off and followed all his directions, she never liked being told what to do but this was almost erotic.
She imagined him taking control off her. Grabbing her and putting her in positions he wanted. She had to relax before she fogged the windows up.
After she returned the car to the start and they got out she spun the key ring on her finger for a moment before handing them over to Captain Grimes. Their fingertips touched for just the briefest of moments, but it was enough to send that tingle right to her core.
He continued to eye her as he handed the keys to McIntosh.
Back in the car for the final time, she opted to sit behind him needing some respite.
Jadis called out all the steps but her voice had changed oddly and they all looked at her. Monroe stifled a laugh, but looked out the window when Grimes mean mugged him.
"Drive."
And oh, did she do that!
Jadis took off like a bat out of hell. Good thing they all wore their seatbelts.
"That was the way back there." Rick put his hand on the dashboard.
"Hey, pull over, pull over!" when she stopped the car he jumped out and circled to the driver's side.
"What is this? A racetrack. Out!" he shouted waving her out.
"The keys now." He continued yelling as McIntosh got out of the car slowly as though nothing was amiss.
"Give me the keys, this is the last time I'm asking." Jadis looked around first then placed the keys in his outstretched hand.
"Hawthorne, passenger seat."
Michonne didn't know whether to climb from the back or what. She settled on doing it the proper way to avoid any of Anne's backlash.
Grimes was clearly pissed as he drove back to the start. Once they got out, he approached the rest of the company.
"This is done! We'll pick back up tomorrow. McIntosh. Office. Now!' then he stormed off with Anne following behind.
"What the fuck was that?" Sasha whispered after making her way over.
"A damn mess. I'll explain later." She whispered back before walking down the hall.
"I didn't even get to drive." Sasha griped, crossing her arms over her chest as she followed her friend.
Michonne heard her classmates inquiries but she couldn't focus on them. She could only think of the intensity that Captain Richard Grimes had just displayed. Their flirtatious snippets were halted abruptly by McIntosh's metamorphosis into a speed demon. Some may have been intimidated by his ferocity, but she pondered what it may feel like to be protected and defended by him.
~~*** I just want to thank everyone first of all for reading my story! I'm overwhelmed in the best possible way by the Favs, Follows and Reviews. Some of you maybe on to something or are you? Lol
This story is complete but I write faster than I type so now I'm in the process of typing it all smh. But I will get it to you all as fast as I can. Thanks again for all the support! - Joi***~~