Rick massaged his hand as the bell rang for fourth period. Horvath was really no joke when it came to those PowerPoint notes.
The noise grew as the chairs were being pulled out and backpacks zipped.
Glenn tapped Rick's arm, "What class do you have next?"
"Umm..." Rick pulled his schedule from his back pocket and scanned his eyes to fourth period, "US History."
"With Mr. Jones?" asked Michonne, waving to Maggie as she exited, "I have him too."
Glenn flung his backpack over his shoulder and said, "Hey, if you want you can find me at lunch." Rick smiled. The vision of him eating alone in the restroom stall faded from his sight, "Thanks man, but I'm gonna go talk to some of my teachers then. I'm a little behind."
Glenn nodded and headed out, "Tomorrow then. Take good care of him Michonne, he's precious cargo."
Michonne grinned, "Get out of here Glenn." The silence of unfamiliarity sunk between Rick and Michonne in Glenn's departure.
Rick motioned to her, "Lead the way."
As they walked down the hall to their fourth period Michonne explained the various teaching methods of Mr. Jones, the best ways to study for his tests, how he ever graded essays, and so on.
At first glance Rick didn't know what to make of her, she was honestly a stunning sight. Her skin caught the best aspects of the school lighting, something no one should be able to pull off.
But Rick decided he liked her a lot as she reenacted the way Mr. Jones would apparently wheeze in between his long lectures. "It's like he forgets when to breath!"
They walked down the crowded staircase, Rick was pushed into Michonne roughly and he held her arms steadying them both. Rick couldn't help appreciate her toned arms.
"Sorry!" said the guy behind them, "No problem," Michonne responded.
Once they fought their way through the staircase, they continued to join the stream of students making their way down the hall.
Rick cleared his throat, "You're new here, right? How do you like King County?"
"It's a pretty small town, but everything here is really pretty."
Rick was surprised to hear she was new to the town, not just the high school. "Oh, so you're like really new. I thought you were from Terminus Academy, they closed last year and there was a bunch of redistricting." Rick looked at all the unfamiliar faces passing them in the halls.
"Yeah, I'm actually from New York." She smiled at Rick's ever widening eyes. He supposed it explained some things, like her more stylish way of dressing, which kind of made Rick feel like Clarke Kent from Smallville.
"New York City?" he asked and Michonne nodded, then laughed at Rick's astonished face. She had a pretty laugh.
"Wow." He sighed, "Well the only things I know about New York City are pizza, Statue of Liberty, and Broadway."
"So I'm guessing you lived here all your life then?"
"Yes, ma'm."
Michonne smiled again, "A true country boy."
Rick was about to respond but they had apparently made it to their class, it was gradually filling up as students greeted each other.
"I better talk to the teacher then," Rick said.
Michonne nodded and walked over to her seat in the back next to Andrea Harrison, who was staring at Rick with her mouth slightly opened. Geez. He didn't realize his return would be that much of a shock.
If people had been looking at him in the halls like that, he hadn't noticed.
After Mr. Jones summarized what Rick had missed and when to come in to make it up, he breathily told Rick to take a seat anywhere. Rick just found the closest empty seat and pulled out his notebook for yet another note-taking session.
After learning about how bad of a general George Washington was, Rick found his way to fifth period with ease and suddenly it was lunch time.
Rick decided to test out his locker combination when he felt someone tap his shoulder. He turned to find Daryl Dixon smiling at him slyly.
"Hey man!" They quickly embraced, "How's it been, Dixon?"
"Fine," his voice always gruff, then Daryl suddenly looked somber, "Sorry I didn't say it before, but it sucks about your Grandad."
Rick looked down. He knew everyone was thinking about it when they saw him, but they hadn't said anything all day, until now. Rick wanted to slap himself when he felt his throat clench up.
"I still remember when he found out about ol'Ass kicker."
Rick laughed loudly as he recalled the motorcycle Daryl and him tried to resemble last year. It would have been all good and well if they hadn't done it inside and on Rick's mother's prized rug.
"When he found us I think my life flashed before my eyes."
"And were you disappointed?" teased Daryl, catching a light punch from Rick.
"Do you remember what he said though?"
"Richard." Daryl's voiced dropped impossibly lower, "There's nowhere big enough to hide this rug, so we'll burn it and blame it on the hillbillies across the way." Rick laughed harder.
"The hillbillies had serious hell to pay." reminisced Daryl fondly.
"Yeah and now I have to drive twenty miles faster to get out of my driveway if I don't want to be egged." said Rick.
"Come on, who would you rather have on your bad side? Your mom or the hillbillies?"
"The hillbillies," they said in unison. Daryl grinned, "You headed to lunch?"
"Nah, I still have some more teachers to see. There's a lot to catch up on."
"Alright man," Daryl held out his hand to Rick, "Well, I'm craving something with cheese, so I'll see ya'."
"Bye, Dixon."
Rick sighed and looked down at his phone. Then did a double take. Lori had called.