Ex-Factor

Lauryn Hill

Chapter 3

Two days had passed. Course work and shifts at the mechanic shop could not erase her brown eyes from his mind. The smell of oil and old tires only worsened it. He knew how that dark place felt when one was alone. That was what pulled him to her. Despite his better judgment, he couldn't let this go. Neither could he figure out the right words to send to her. He wanted to address it the other day, but every time they were around each other, an argument erupted.

What would it take for her to open up to him? He couldn't even focus on the car he was attending to because of her.

"Daryl." Rick snapped his fingers. "Are you there?" He laughed. "Someone's worried about an exam." He teased.

"Actually no." Daryl handed his phone to Rick. His eyes widened with a look of confusion. So there was someone who caught Daryl's eye. Finally his friend was taking his own advice.

"Didn't know you knew Michonne personally. Why didn't you tell me?" Rick smirked. Never in a million years did he think Daryl Dixon would stalk a Facebook page.

"I didn't want yah to meddle." Daryl instantly regretted this. Rick was somehow going to embarrass him.

"She's misunderstood but has a good heart." He informed.

"Even if she's closed off?" Daryl wiped his hands on the rag.

"She has her reasons like everyone else?" Rick shrugged. Daryl's curiosity made him somewhat uncomfortable. He knew where this conversation was heading. "Like you." He emphasized.

"So yah ain't gone tell meh." He tried to hide his disappointment.

"I'm friends with her too Daryl. She trusts me." Rick did not want to face Michonne's wrath. Nothing could save him from her temper.

"Never mind."

"You really are into her aren't you?" Daryl blushed at the truth. "Fine. Just please don't tell her I told you." Rick pleaded.

"I won't. If she tells meh, I'll act like I don't know. That is if I even I get close to her."

"Part of the reason she shuts down is because of Andrea's bad relationships. Michonne was afraid she would become that girl who became what a man wanted rather than what she wanted. It also doesn't help that she's a natural introvert. She thinks she repels others with her silence." Daryl couldn't help but sigh at the mention of Andrea.

"I know you don't like Andrea." Rick tartly said. It wasn't as if he couldn't understand why.

"It ain't that. I'm just indifferent towards her. She put yah guys through all this. I don't like seeing you get yer heart broken every time she touches yah. I hate the idea that Michonne is the way she is because of it." Daryl closed the hood of the car.

"But what is the other reason. It can't all be because of Andrea." He probed.

"Yah got to find that out for yourself. That is if she talks to you."

"How do I do that?" Daryl asked.

"First. I can help you answer that Facebook message." He smiled.

"Rick don't. Yer gonna make it sound like yah. Everyone knows I ain't emotional."

"No. I won't. Promise. You can thank me later." He smiled at his friend.

TWDTWDTWDTWD

It would be insane for her to go to Phil's apartment, but she needed her things. Andrea had to send a message that she was finally done. She knew he thought she would come crawling back. A part of her did. Not because of love, but fear. She was afraid to try again and see what else was out there. Or better yet, what was in front of her. Rick Grimes and his unconditional love for her. He was her rock. Her anchor. The man who wanted nothing from her but her smile.

She released a sigh of relief. Phil wasn't here. It was dangerous for her to unlock the door. She was like an addict around a drug. She was susceptible to give in. Walking in the apartment brought back old memories. Her hopes of moving in with him. Being his family. She wiped her eyes. It was not time to wallow.

Grabbing her pants and shirts, she was surprised he didn't throw them away. She remembered the times he threw them outside. And like a fool, she picked them up for the whole neighborhood to see. Placing the key on his table, she took one last look.

"Time to get the hell out of here." This would have been a house, but not a home to her. He would have treated her like a liability rather than a queen.

"I knew you'd be back. Why don't we talk about this?" Andrea jumped at his voice. How could she have not heard his steps?

He knew this day would come. Just like those other times, he masked his true emotions. His concerned eyes would make her stay yet again. Phil did miss her. He always missed her when she left, but it wasn't enough to make him stop his habits. She flinched when he touched her. He had to admit that he didn't expect her to last this long without him.

"….There's nothing to talk about. You saw that video. And don't tell me it's not what I think it is. You want your whore. She's all yours." She walked to her car.

"I don't want Rosita. I want you." He exclaimed.

"Just stop with the bullshit and the lies Phil. You don't know what you want. All you know is that you want women to be your trophy and do your bidding. That's not me anymore." She put her bags in the car.

Andrea never sounded this sure of herself before. What was the meaning of this? More like who? Clenching his teeth, he scoffed.

"O so you've moved on with Rick…you'll get bored." Phil noticed her unsettled reaction.

"You don't ever talk about Rick like that. He is twice the man you will ever be." She yelled. "He's kind. Honest. He doesn't have to have all the girls just as long as he has one girl who loves him." She pushed him away from her.

"You are so full of bullshit Andrea. Playing the victim. You knew what I was like before you got in this relationship. You flirted and you didn't care that I was with someone then." Andrea bit her lip.

Karma was biting her in the ass. She and Rosita were the same girl. Correction, used to be the same girl. She would never go back to degrading her body and dignity.

"I mean today you're acting like you don't want me, but in the next month you will be begging me to take you back. So let's just skip this and put your clothes back in apartment."

"No." Andrea roared.

She pushed him to his breaking point again. This was the dark place where his rage consumed him. Now Phil was detached from their memories together and the truth was spoken. Good. He was reminding her of why she didn't need him.

"You're right. I was stupid to think you wouldn't cheat on me. But now I'm not. We're over. You broke my heart more than once. It won't happen again."

"Whatever Andrea." Andrea held back her tears at Phil's egotistical, nonchalant demeanor. "Just don't damage my property again or I'm pressing charges." He threatened.

"Go to hell." She yelled. All this anger flooded from her.

"I'm pretty sure Rosita told you about our little argument. Do you know how embarrassing that is Phil? Out of all the girls to cheat on me with, you picked one that I personally knew. She actually thought she had the right to approach me like I was the sideline chick. And the sad part is that I can't be mad at her because like me she chose to believe you and your pillow talk." Andrea got in her car.

"I don't ever want to see you again." Andrea raised her middle finger as she drove off.

"You spoiled bitch." He yelled at her.

Phil clutched his fists. It was not supposed to be this way. She was supposed to have gotten over this. She was supposed to be only his. Whoever sent her that video was going to pay.

TWDTWDTWDTWD

"No way is she gonna think I wrote that." Daryl said. "But thanks for helping my socially awkward ass." Daryl laughed.

"That's what friends are for. Wanna go visit her?" Daryl's eyes widened at the suggestion.

"What. Rick I ain't desperate."

"Yes you are. You are desperate to talk to her. So we are going to go talk to her." Rick tilted his head. "Come on. If I can't have Andrea, at least you can have the chance to be with Michonne."

"Yah ain't gone let up?"

"Nope."

Knock, Knock.

"Great. I'll get it." Daryl volunteered while Rick searched for his keys. "Andrea." Rick's unrequited love was trying to keep herself together. She was minutes away from a breakdown.

"Daryl." She held out her hand. Great, she didn't want anyone but Rick to see her mascara running. Now his best friend who avoided her had more to judge her about.

"Come in." He shook her hand. A stoic expression on his face. It did not go unnoticed by her.

Once again, she was here for Rick to pick up all the pieces.

He should have slammed the door in her face. But a part of him was envious of his friend. Though this woman brought her confusion with her, she allowed Rick to touch her. Unlike Michonne…..

Rick saw the defeat on Daryl's face. He was expecting him to choose Andrea over him. He could not do this again.

Andrea's face dropped as she realized her actions. She was intruding on his time. He couldn't be there at the drop of a hat. And Daryl hated her for taking away his best friend.

"I'm sorry. I will catch you later. Nice to meet you Daryl." She walked out the apartment. The two young men felt guilty all of a sudden. They weren't heartless.

"Andrea wait." Daryl followed Rick's wordless command. She turned around with wiped eyes. Still puffy, but no tears could be seen.

"We were heading to Michonne's." Rick gave her some tissues.

"Thank you Rick." She embraced him. "Why can't I see myself the way you do?"

TWDTWDTWDTWD

Sorry it took me a while to get back to you. It's just that I didn't know what to say. After that car ride, I didn't think you wanted to talk to me again. I didn't mean to come off intense. I guess I will see you this weekend.

This message brightened her day. She laughed as she heard his accent ring in her ears. Was she supposed to believe he was a good guy? Any guy had to be better than Mike. Her first love. The only love she would allow herself to ever have. They were high school sweethearts who went to the same college. And like life, things changed. People changed.

After one year of college together, he transferred. And his feelings for her transferred with him. At times, she found herself looking on his Facebook and Twitter account. He moved on so easily from her to other females. He was living his life and she was here being pathetic.

Knock,knock

Whoever this was, she hoped they could save her from herself.

Andrea tried to hide her snicker as Daryl fidgeted. Rick described him as quiet, dark. A walking enigma. Now he was a nervous man with an obvious crush. It explained how hard he blushed on their way here. This man had to work on his feelings when it came to Michonne. They both could not be shy.

Daryl knew Andrea was getting a good laugh at him. At least she was smiling again. Even if it was his own expense, Rick was grateful for that. She was most likely going to slam the door in his face. Chewing his thumb, Rick placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Calm down Daryl." Rick and Andrea laughed.

Michonne cringed as she looked through the peephole. Why was Daryl here? That damn Rick and his meddling.

"Come on Michonne. You can do this." Prepping herself, she gained her composure. She did ask for someone to save her. But that didn't mean it had to be him.

Opening the door, her eyes immediately met Daryl's. The two were in their own world. They did not notice Andrea and Rick watching them.

"What are you doing here? Rick you are up to this no doubt." She folded her arms.

"Daryl." Andrea chastised Michonne with her eyes.

"What my friend is trying to say is welcome to her happy home. You two boys make yourselves comfortable. Give us a little time." Andrea grabbed her hand as she walked them to her bedroom.

"What the hell is wrong with you Michonne? That is not the first thing you say to someone who takes time out of their schedule to come see you." Andrea chastised.

"I have every right to be upset. You brought Daryl here without letting me know first. All you see is this cute guy with piercing blue eyes and your putty." Michonne tried to keep her voice down.

"You said that not me. Daryl's not my type." Andrea laughed. "You are just like him. Is it that hard to admit you have crush on him?"

"Why would I have a crush on a guy who keeps poking his nose into my business? Its like he knows what I am thinking, yet he mocks me about. It's like when he looks at me, he stares into my soul."

"Meesh. You're acting like one of those crazed women we promised we would never become."

"Says the girl who basically tried to trash Phil's car." Andrea bit her lip. How could she just say that?

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to come out like that. But don't you see why I cant get close to him. All his questions. His eyes. His face. His…."

"Michonne if you showed this vulnerable side to everyone else, your life would be so much better. It's ok to want to meet a new guy. Its alright to want to be close to him." Andrea began to think of Rick.

"But he won't want to be with me. After two weeks he will go. We both know this."

"No you don't. What can go wrong with all of us being here together? If anything, you are the one that messing it up for yourself. You need to go apologize to him."

"Ok." Andrea pushed her through the door.

Daryl stood up at her presence. He would avoid her eyes for now. Though he could not hear their conversation, he was sure Andrea could not get through her thick skull. That was why he headed towards the door. He could walk for miles with his dignity at least.

"See what you did Chonne." Rick chastised. "Are you just gonna let him leave?" The rhetorical question made her grunt.

"I agree." Andrea sat beside Rick as she pointed towards the door.

"You two are a pain in the ass." She raced out the door. She didn't know whether to thank them or curse them.

Sure she was running towards him. But was it out of her own will, or Andrea and Rick's? Turns out Andrea was nice, but he didn't want Michonne to feel obligated to speak to him.

Daryl stopped when she called his name.

"I.…"She stuttered.

"I know yer sorry." He walked off. "Yer always sorry."

"Wait." She grabbed his wrist as he jerked it away from her. "Daryl. I don't know why I say the things I say."

"Yes you do." He turned towards her. "It aint yah who's wrong. It meh fer being interested in yah and not taking heed of the signs." He bald his fists as she put distance between them. Michonne's reaction made him pause.

The fire had returned back into her eyes. She was telling him with her eyes she was ready to strike if he struck first.

"Why do yah think I would hurt yah? I would never hit a woman." She unclenched her fists as he did the same.

"I can't explain it, but since the first day I saw yah, I felt this pull towards yah. I know yah don't….."

"Daryl…..how can you trust what you feel? The question is not whether or not I feel what you feel. It's that I."

"Emotions ain't that easy for meh either." He shrugged with a desperate look in his eyes. He was waiting for her to say something. Anything.

"Its like. When I read that message, I was excited again. I don't know why but you made me feel something I hadn't felt. I'm not going to lie to you. I am very complex person. I have a hard time trusting people. But you're actually a decent man. " She began to shiver as the breeze changed.

"Yah can trust meh." Michonne found herself believing in his words. She heard it in his steady voice. Saw it in his eyes. Those blue eyes that broke her every time. How could she believe this man would hit her?

"When you showed up here. I guess I am trying to figure you out. Most men don't chase girls like me down."

"Michonne that's the problem. Yah are trying to make sense of this. Some things just happen. They just do. I don't get how you can't see yourself the way I see yah." He rubbed her shoulders to keep her warm.

"And how is that?" She relaxed in his touch. "You just stopped thinking I was a stuck up sorority girl." Hurt appeared in his eyes.

"So I'm still paying for that comment?"

"No. I just. Whatever you see, I wish I saw it myself." She shrugged. "For some reason, I have always been critical of myself. Can you tell me what you see?"

Even Mike didn't look at her this. Or touch her so gently. She felt protected and rare.

"I see a woman with a big heart. The way you help out at the church. People don't usually don't spend their Saturdays there. When I see you on campus, yer always studying. You value intelligence over appearance."

"Unlike most of my sorority sisters." The two snickered.

The chill from the air did not bother them anymore. Daryl watched the fear leave her eyes. He now wondered how she saw him.

"I'm definitely glad you're different because I certainly fit the description of a country boy."

"But that's a good thing." Michonne smiled. "You aren't some carbon copy of a college boy. You're here for more than a good time. That's admirable. Plus your flannel brings out the color of your eyes. Sorry bad joke."

"Its alright. I'm bad at them too." He smirked. "Let's get yah back inside before yah catch a cold. I wouldn't want my partner to not show up this weekend."

If only Daryl knew a little cold would not stop her from seeing him this weekend.

TWDTWDTWDTWD

There was no way Phil would be dropped by a weak blonde who lived for the sake a man's approval. He damned sure wasn't going to accept that his place would be taken by Rick Grimes. She would learn her lesson that he had the power. Rosita would be the perfect person to teach Andrea so. She had what Andrea craved for.

The perfect body.

Lustful eyes.

He would use their weaknesses by any means necessary. Rosita loved attention. Despite all the shit she talked, she could not overlook great sex. His reputation preceded him. It was known what she wanted from him when she approached him. No strings, no problems.

Girls were natural liars. Casual sex always lead to them wanting more from men. And he obliged her with lies to get what he wanted. This was the game he enjoyed to play.

Today her wish would come true. He waited for her to open the door.

"Go away Phil." He masked his laughter with regret. He knew she was staring at him through her peephole.

Rosita rested her head on the door. That damn Andrea had to have the upper hand. She always had to be righteous and judgmental.

"No. I'm not going anywhere Rosita. Not until we talk." He pleaded. "Please. I'm begging you. I've never begged anyone to take me back."

"I pretty sure that's what you told Andrea." She talked through the door. She could not let Phil inside her heart again.

"No need. Andrea filled me in."

"O. So did she tell you I broke up with her? For you. Only you." Rosita listened to the passion in his voice for her. "Did she tell you how she cried when I wouldn't take her back? Rosi I love you. I don't love her." He rested his hand on the door knob.

Those words always got him what he wanted.

"Why should I believe you?" She opened the door. "You were happy with her being yours and me being the other woman." She sighed. "I know I said I just wanted sex, but I never did. I wanted you any way I could have you. I always did. You have to know that."

"I do know that. I love you because you are not who Andrea is. You are strong. Opinionated, Beautiful. Fun. What all did Andrea tell you anyways?" Phil listened to her explain their argument.

"She's lying baby. She said all that because we both know you are the only one for me. Girls like will say anything because they are unhappy with their lives. It's not your fault Andrea is boring and self-absorbed." He kissed her.

"Phil, I want this. Please tell me this is real."

"It is. Let me show you how much I love you. Lets spend the tomorrow together." He offered.

"I would love that, but I can't tomorrow. I have to babysit my little cousin. I got to pick her up from choir practice at 12 from the church. I am going to hate going there because Michonne is going to give me her threatening eyes." She huffed.

"She's not going to harm you with me around." He said as the video flashed through his mind.

Could she have been the one who sent it to Andrea? It made perfect sense. Maggie was to involved with Glenn to pay attention anyone else's business.

"How about this? We can pick up Jackie tomorrow and hang out the whole day." He volunteered. His gorgeous smile was everything that broke her.

"Yeah. I'd like that." He carried her to the bedroom.

If Michonne was the one, she would regret it.