Chapter 8:
"I thought you weren't coming back until the afternoon?"
Rick squinted, turning his head from the sunlight that beamed into the kitchen of his home, "We decided to come up last night"
His mother looked him up and down, as she moved over to the stove, "You went out?"
"Yep."
"Alright… Well, just a little heads up… Ezekiel's here…"
He dropped his head against the fridge door as he groaned.
"Stop that. You haven't even spoken to him"
He took out a bottle of water and gave his mother the most unimpressed look he could muster that early in the morning.
"He's a nice man, he works in construction and he post his wife a few years ago", She informed as she scooped out the omelette on to the plate.
Rick continued to stare at her.
"Have you got any plans later? We can have dinner together before you go out again. If you go out again, that is"
"I don't know yet. I need to get my car from the mechanic", He sighed, leaning on the counter.
"What happened to it?"
"Broke the window. Rough housing", He lied.
She eyed him suspiciously, "You broke the window? Which one? How?"
"The back window, and as I said rough housing".
"Rick, that's your answer to eveythan' for years now", She squinted at him.
He shrugged, "I like to play rough. Sorry"
"Aren't you meant to be getting your second instalment soon? I hope you haven't blown through the first one-"
"Nope. I haven't"
"Good. I know you used to talk about moving out and all-"
"I still plan to", He watched her reaction closely, "I'm gonna start looking for a place soon"
Her shoulders fell, "You still want to do that then?"
"Yep."
She seemed to tussle with the idea, "I would think that since you and Michonne broke up-"
"The plan hasn't changed. I can't live here forever", He made sure to keep his tone light.
She nodded dubiously, "Well… have you had a chance to speak with Michonne?"
He rolled his eyes shut, "I really don't want to have this discussion with you. You're my mom"
"What does that mean?", She tilted her head at him, as she flipped over another egg in the pan, "Is it embarrassing for you? You think I can't give you some sound advice?"
"Yes to both of those questions", He deadpanned.
His mother's eyebrows shot up, "Let me tell you somethan', I maybe your mother first but I'm still a person, you know. I can still relate to others and I've seen all different kinds of relationships in my time"
He blinked at her.
"Do you want to know what I think?"
"No."
She ignored him, "I think that, despite everythan' that happened over at her parents' house, and the fact that she sought refuge here with you… I think you needed her just as much as she needed you"
He exhaled loudly, "I've never denied that-"
"No, you haven't, but you've never acknowledged how draining that could be either. If the two of you have really spent nearly every single day for the past, god knows how many years together, then that creates dependency"
He bit the inside of his cheek as he listened to her.
"And at first I thought it was mainly coming from her, because of the situation with her parents, but I've come to realise it's you. I think you're the one that depends on her, and it makes sense. Your father and I let you have free reign to do whatever you pleased and we weren't as present as we should've been, especially myself, and I think the only thing that's been consistent in all these years is her. That friendship was your primary source of stability"
He bit his cheek so hard that it almost hurt.
"Now, I'm not saying that she might not have the same problem with you, because that's a big possibility. Even more so now, because y'all broke up, she's moved out, and she's starting college, which is scary enough on its own, and the fact that she didn't go back to her mother's house told me that she doesn't see that as a place she can return to, so I imagine she's probably feeling dreadful from it all. I know I would if I was in her position"
The familiar feelings of guilt and shame shot through him.
"You're immature son. And you're spoilt. And it's my fault that you turned out that way, but you're young enough to erase all that. I know underneath those big blue eyes and thick skin is that sweet little boy that I used to see hold her hand when y'all crossed the street, or help her up on the wall before you climbed up yourself…", She gave him a warm smile, "You have a big heart. I know you do, but you gotta grow up now"
Rick felt an unusual stinging sensation on his eyes, and he straightened up when he realised they were tears, "Yeah. I'm working on it"
"I'm very happy to hear that", She glowed, putting the second omelette on a plate, "And you know, there was somethan' else I wanted to ask you about…"
"Oh god", He groaned, rubbing his hands over his face.
She ignored his protests a second time, "Paula's mother… Patsy. I've spent a little time with her and she, well, has Paula ever said anythan' about her to you?"
Rick shook his head, "She hasn't had to. We all know she's a little…"
"A little what?"
"She's just not very motherly, to put it nicely"
She narrowed her eyes at him, "Yeah. I thought so"
"Good morning", Ezekiel announced, strolling into the kitchen, and to Rick's dismay, the man was also top less.
"Morning Ezzie", His mother beamed.
Rick gave a small grunt as he moved further away from the two of them, "I'm gonna go-"
"Oh Ezzie! Rick needs to pick up his car from the mechanic today-"
"Shane can help me-"
"You need some help getting it? I don't mind at all, I actually wanted someone to take at my breaks, so we can go over there together?", Ezekiel offered, resting a hand on her back.
Rick took in a long, calming breath, "Uh, fine. Sure"
His mother grinned at him, "There we go! It's settled"
…
"So, you were rough housing and you broke you back window, huh?"
"Yep."
"Alright…"
Rick stared straight ahead, out the windshield of Ezekiel's car as the man drove him through town. He decided the best way to make the journey seem quicker, would be to keep as quiet as possible.
"You know, a few years ago, I had to fire one of my workers, and he wasn't happy about that, so when I was coming out the store one day, he attacked me, grabbed me by my middle and threw me against the back window of my car… and I imagine I weigh more than you, and this man used sheer brute force to throw me, and yet, the glass cracked, but not enough to complete blow it out…"
Rick's eyes slid over to the man.
Ezekiel peaked at him from the corner of his own eyes, "So would you like to explain what really happened?"
"No."
"May I ask why?"
"Why? Why do you care?"
"I'm curious. What could you possibly be getting up to, to do such a thing? I was a young male once, we used to get up to all kinds of things, so I'm just interested"
Rick stared at him, "I know you think you'd to know, but I promise you, you don't, so I think it's better for everyone involved to just chalk it up to rough housing. Me and my friends are a bunch of idiots when we're together and we do stupid shit, and sadly, it ended in my back window being busted out. That's all"
"Was anybody hurt?", Ezekiel probed.
"Not in a life changing way, no"
The older man glanced at him, then slowly nodded, "Right. So you speak as if you've learned your lesson?"
Rick reply was strained, "Yeah… sure"
"Well that's good then. I think there comes a time when we can no longer get away with being smart asses, and sadly, as men, it takes us a little longer to mature than our female counterparts", Ezekiel smirked at the end of his little quip.
Rick continued to stare at him, "Did you just call me a smart ass?"
"Oh, don't act surprised or offended. I imagine you've been called worse, but you are. I know you are and you know you are"
"I know I am, but what do you know about me to know that I am?", Rick challenged.
"I've spoken to you twice before this, and both times you questioned me with an attitude and walked away when you lost interest in my answer. You're a smart ass"
He was stumped, returning his gaze to the front of the vehicle, "Fair enough"
"I've been in your position. With my father though, when my mother passed and he started dating… well, I ignored my stepmother for the first year of their relationship. Never said a thing to her, and ignored her when she said something to me."
Rick's face pinched, "That's just childish"
Ezekiel chuckled heartily, "It was, but I was young and stupid. I still see her now, even though my father passed. We still have a great relationship, even though it took so long for me to get over myself"
"Do you think that's what's going to happen here?", He raised an eyebrow at the notion.
"I don't really look at things that way. Instead, I like to take things how they come; I like your mother. I could sit here and tell you all the things I like about her but I imagine you don't care to hear any of that-"
"I don't."
"Exactly. But either way, I would like to spend more time with her, and get to know her. You and I don't need to force ourselves to 'bond' or anything, but I feel like you're mother would like it if we could at least get along, so I'd like to be able to do that with you. Do you think that's reasonable?"
The temptation to say 'No' was a great one, but Rick fought it, "Yeah. Sure. Reasonable"
"Thank you. I appreciate you cooperation on this"
"Yeah…", Rick hated the fact that he was able to engage in conversation with the man so easily. Truth be told, he wasn't entirely sure why he wanted to dislike him so much, as he appeared to dote on his mother, but he felt as though he should. The last thing he wanted was for his mother to be hurt by another man.
"So I noticed you're a young man who's taken interest in tattoos?"
His eyes darted over to the man, "Something like that"
"I actually was planning on getting one, believe it or not", Ezekiel chortled as he stopped at a red light.
"You wanted to get one? A tattoo? At your age?", he raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
The man feigned offence, "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"You're probably, what… maybe forty?", Rick squinted as he guessed.
"How nice of you, but I'm actually forty seven"
He bit his tongue, "And you want a tattoo? Now? When you should be, realistically and no offence, preparing to have grandchildren?"
Ezekiel roared with laughter, "God, you really are a smart ass"
Rick shrugged, "Just trying to figure out if you know what you're doing"
"Of course. It's always been something I was tempted to do but I was never brave enough"
"Just go in and get it done. Don't think about it"
"I think a permanent decision like that should always require serious thought. You didn't just walk in there and pick anything, right? You thought about it first?"
Rick shook his head, "I only thought about one of them, and that's because me and my friends got the same thing. The other two I decided about an hour before"
Ezekiel's eyebrows sprung up, "An hour before?"
"Yep. One of an eagle and the other of… my- Michonne's name", Rick bit the inside of his cheek as his thoughts nearly travelled to his inking.
"Ah, you have her name tattooed on you? And who said romance was dead", Ezekiel snickered as he pulled into the mechanics lot, "She seems like a lovely girl by the way"
Rick cleared his drying throat, "Yeah. She is".
…
"I really wanna fuck with that prick Phillip. I can't stand him. I really can't stand him at all. I just wanna run up to him and just get him in a headlock or somethan'-"
"Well you can't", Rick ejected flatly, looking over the grocery stores selection of drinks, "So stop getting yourself worked up over it"
"Did you see him scowling at us when we walked in? I mean, really, what have we ever done to him?", Shane rested both hands at his sides as he thought.
Rick scrunched his face at his best friend, "Shane, we have terrorised him since he started. Remember we got those bikes from those little kids and rode them through the store?"
"And when we stood chased him around the store throwing grapefruits at him", Glenn added, picking up a packet of chips. "And remember we trashed the store? He didn't see us, but I'm sure he knows it was us"
"And you sprayed him with a fire extinguisher", Rick pointed out.
Shane looked at them with a confused expression at first, before starting to chuckle, "Alright, fair enough. I'd hate us too if I were him"
"They stepped up their security here. More cameras", Daryl rasped from between them, already drinking from the bottle of Mountain Dew he picked up, "I wonder why that is?"
"They might not even work. My dad said a lot of stores have cameras to deter people but they're just for show", Glenn informed, looking up at the device that hung over them.
"Thank you for that little piece of information Glenn, and if you ever find out which stores, let us know", Shane joked, beginning to walk down the aisle, but stopping dead in his tracks when he spotted a familiar face, "Oh shit"
Rick heard his friend mutter, and he peered past him, immediately seeing what caught his eye, muttering to himself, "Here we go"
His father stood at the top of the aisle, his eyes darting between each of the teens, before landing on Rick. He wouldn't have liked seeing his father in general, but the fact that he was with Mrs Neidermyer, only angered him more.
"Down, boy", Shane warned, sticking a hand out to stop Rick as he strolled past him, but Rick continued on.
"Well ain't this nice?", Rick grinned as he stopped in front of the shopping cart, crossing his arms over his chest, "The two of you out together… shopping I see?"
"Just keep it going, Rick. There's nothing to see here", His father issued sternly.
"Oh you're right about that. You really ain't nothing, are you?"
"Rick, please-", Mrs Niedermeyer started.
"Don't talk to me", Rick sent his glare her way.
"Hey!", His father hissed, raising his hand to stop him, "You stop right there!-"
"Oh, is that the button to push? She's what gets you all worked up?"
"You need to shut your mouth and keep it moving-"
"Or else what? What are you going to do?", Rick cocked his head at his father, "You should already know by now that I don't respect you anymore, so I'm more than happy to see what you've got in store for me-"
"You really think you're a man now, huh?", His father stepped around the cart, but Mrs Niedermeyer grabbed hold of his hand, "You think carrying on like this makes you any better than me?"
"I think your little girlfriend there should let go of you", Rick shrugged, "There's plenty of space here for me to show you what I really think of you-"
"Aye man", Shane gave Rick a pat on the chest with one hand, while his arm rested across his shoulders, urging him to move, "Let's get out of here"
"Yeah man, come on", Daryl stepped past them, tipping his head in the other direction.
"You should listen to your friends", His father spat, "They obviously got more sense than you-"
"Mr Grimes, with all due respect, you should shut up now", Shane insisted with smile, "I'm trying to get him out of him for his sake, not yours"
"Frank, please, let's just go", Mrs Niedermeyer pleaded, inching the cart forward.
"Yeah, Frank. Go on", Rick stepped aside, barely blinking as he stared his father down. It was if he were looking in a mirror as he watched the older man finally move, reluctant to back down.
"You need to practice what you preach", Shane sighed, "Don't go getting yourself worked up over him"
Rick snarled at his father's back before turning away, "I'll practise that with someone else. Not him"
"Let's go", Glenn exhaled, his hands filled with snacks.
It bothered Rick more than he would like to admit to see his father out with his high school principal. While he knew his mother was moving on with Ezekiel and she seemed happy enough, the fact that his father had gone right back to the woman he cheated on his mother with was a slap in the face.
Shane was right however, and he needed to keep a level head if he wanted to improve his overall behaviour and attitude, but having seen how easy it was for him to revert back to his reckless ways, he realised it would be more difficult than he initially thought.