"right in this moment, I can´t even remember what unhappy feels like."
― Maggie Stiefvater, Shiver
The two were giddy. Like two kids in a candy store. A newfound excitement skipped through them. The more the two tested the waters, the more comfortable they became in prodding, seeking, and accepting of their easy connection.
"Mmmmm! This is good?"
"How good?"
"Very. Yum."
"We make a pretty good team."
"You think so?" Rick paused, mid-bite of his warm gooey chocolate chip cookie.
"Oooh, baby, I know so!"
One look into Rick's eyes had Michonne's smile slowly fade.
"Why are you the messiest eater?" Rick leaned forward partially to kiss and to lick the corner of her mouth. He rested his forehead on hers, his thumb softly traced her lower lip.
"Why did you use my messiness as an excuse to kiss me?"
"Felt like it would be less awkward than yesterday and the day before that and the week before that."
"Awkward?"
"In a good way."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"I wouldn't use the word awkward."
"How about different. Now things are different."
"Different?"
"I see things differently. I feel different. I expect that I am not alone in this?" Rick was seeking his own reassurance.
Michonne shrugged as she admitted, "Different is better. Nothing could be more awkward than your Dad's surprise birthday party. Something, I wasn't invited to, mind you."
"I didn't even know there was going to be a surprise party for my Dad at my place. If I had, I would have told my mother no. Besides, she thought I would be out of town. Instead, I allowed you to pick from the array of tickets, and you chose for us to go to a museum. Which brought us back to my place."
"Carol wouldn't approve my time off."
"I know, and I wasn't about to go without you. Technically, we both had no business trying to go to New York to see a U2 concert and still be expected at work the next day. Wishful thinking."
"I would have loved to have gone."
"Next time. We will plan ahead."
"There's a next time?"
"Why not?"
"Planning ahead, aren't we?"
"Why not?"
"Your mother thinks I'm a liar."
"I wouldn't say that."
"I told her we aren't dating."
"Are we dating?"
"What do you mean, are we dating?"
"I'm asking?"
"No, you are not."
"Yes, I am. Are we dating? Sounds like a question to me."
"It is a question for you, and when you have the answer, you will then know to rephrase your question on whether we are dating."
"Do you want to date me, Michonne?"
"Earth to planet mars, over and out." Michonne abruptly turned to walk over to Rick's refrigerator but was stopped by his sudden taking of her hand.
"Wait a second! Where are you going?"
"I need ice cream. You do have ice cream?"
"You've been doing a lot of walking away from me. Why?"
"If I don't, then I will end up kissing you back," Michonne admitted.
"I want you to kiss me back, Michonne. I'm waiting for you too."
"Giving you a taste to how you made me feel the other night."
"I was surprised more by what was happening."
"Now?"
Rick pulled Michonne closer. "I would like you to kiss me back." Before he could join his lips to Michonne's who was more than willing to oblige, Rick's phone began to vibrate on the counter.
BuZzzz Buzz buzz
Michonne could easily see Jessie's name appearing on the notification, an incoming call since she was facing the direction of his phone.
Rick was hesitant not wanting to lose yet again a moment to answer his phone, not even if it were Jessie returning his call.
The caller seemed persistent. Michonne grabbed Rick's unlocked phone from behind him, taking it upon herself to answer the call. This was to be Rick's golden opportunity to move on the woman of his dreams who worked part-time at Go Stop three days a week. Four days at a hair salon near his apartment. Michonne had spent weeks getting him to the point of asking Jessie since he was getting nowhere fast with Lori. Michonne's advice was about to pay off.
"Hi, Jessie, this is Michonne, are you calling for Rick?"
"Of course she is calling for me, Michonne. It is my phone."
"Hello? Michonne? Umm. Rick told me to call him."
"Rick's right here."
"May I speak with him, or must I speak through you?" Jessie asserted herself boldly.
"What?"
"If I had known you and Rick were dating, I would have never called. I didn't know you two were dating. At least that is what, Rick said. He said you two aren't a thing."
"He is right. We aren't a thing. Are we Rick?"
Rick remained silently flabbergasted. He was unsure about what he and Michonne were to each other since becoming more comfortably attached.
Michonne repeated her question, surprised she didn't get the response she was seeking or any at all from Rick, who was still holding her tight against him. He seemed unbothered that she was on his phone, and this made Michonne secretly possessive.
"Are we a thing, Rick?"
Rick was surprised it was a conversation they would revisit. He spoke earnestly, "You and I could never be a thing, Michonne. More like something amazing."
Michonne's emotions had run the gamut when he spoke. A rollercoaster that took a quick nose dive only to be uplifted again. Rick knew this. He was attuned to her. He felt confident in his choice of words that were easily overheard. Confirmed.
"I'm sorry I called." Jessie inserted herself loud enough to be overheard.
"No. Don't be Jessie. I'm glad you did. Because if you hadn't, I would have never noticed Rick needs a good trim."
"I need a trim?"
"Yes. When is your next opening, Jessie?"
"May I speak to him about it?"
"How else would you make an appointment?"
"I was wondering if it would be through you." Jessie hedged. She was unsure about everything she was led to believe by Rick's account. She went against her better judgment and everyone at Go Stop, who had tried to warn her.
"Wait, what?"
"I am not trying to be smart about it. Rick said to call him when I had an opening here in the salon. I really, really didn't know. I mean, oh my god, I am so sorry."
Michonne took the phone from her ear.
"Here, Rick. I have no idea what she is sorry for."
"You answered my phone, Michonne."
"Problem with that?"
"No."
"Okay."
"Not sure what I am okaying," Rick paused with a lingering glance before he took his phone after releasing Michonne's hand.
A/N: Example of how tired I am. I put my A/N on chapter 5. I will comeback in the morning to see what mess I threw out to the fandom and fix it.