A/N: I'm blown away by the response to this story! Thank you for all of your feedback. Without further ado, here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy!


Michonne missed Rick.

It was ridiculous, really. It'd been less than 72 hours since they'd seen one another. It shouldn't have been that big of a deal. Perhaps it was the fact that a week loomed ahead without him. Or maybe she'd just gotten used to having him around. It was more than just the making out. They'd spent the better part of this first month of the summer together, working, talking on the phone, watching movies during their breaks. Michonne hadn't considered the implications of being without him until he kissed her goodbye after their shift last Wednesday, bound for Florida and a summer trip with his family.

As much as she was happy he was enjoying himself, work felt lonely without him. She suddenly had large gaps in her schedule, time to fill. This reality threw into sharp relief just how much the teenage boy had become a fixture in her day to day.

It was odd, Michonne thought, that you could spend your whole life without something, get one taste of it, and then become addicted. Before this all began, she didn't know that a person could be habit-forming. She and Mike had been close, and she'd always wanted to see him. Even now, they still talked, their friendship solidified by time and the secret between them. Michonne reveled in this, and loved her every moment spent with Sasha, with her family, with Andrea and the rest of her friends.

It was nothing like being with Rick.

She thought about him almost all of the time, in the shower, on the way to work, in the downtime between shifts. She tried more times than she cared to count to reason herself out of this infatuation. It didn't seem to matter.

She was sprung on Rick Grimes, and there was nothing she could do about it.

The days dragged by without him, and Michonne seized the opportunity to get back on schedule. There were books she wanted to read before college started, and she brought them with her to work, devouring them between films. She got her finances in order, calculating that if she picked up a couple extra shifts, she would have enough for a semester or two at school. She hung out with Drea and Sasha on her day off, went to the pool like the old days.

All of this was fine and dandy, fun even. She still missed Rick.

She confided this in Mike. Her ex laughed.

"You've got it bad," he chuckled into the phone. "You should probably tell him."

"You think he doesn't know?" she cradled the receiver between her ear and shoulder, applying glitter nail polish with her free hand.

"I think he's hoping you do," Mike snorted. "but you should probably say it."

"And then what happens?" Michonne questioned, her stomach turning at just the thought.

"I'm not a fortune teller. How should I know?" Mike laughed again. "Damn Chonne, some things you have to take a chance on." Michonne considered this. Mike pressed his point. "You've already been feeling each other up in his truck. Why is a damn date so hard to picture?"

It wasn't. Michonne thought about it all the time, more than she was comfortable with. She'd already conjured up images of what a relationship with Rick might look like. She liked it. She liked it a lot.

"What are you and Terry going to do when you go to college?" Michonne asked.

Mike sighed. "Call each other, save our money and drive to see each other. I don't really know. We'll just have to take it day by day."

"Doesn't that scare you?" Michonne asked.

"Figuring out I liked guys scared me," Mike said pointblank. "A little distance ain't going to spook me."

Michonne considered this at her shift the next day. Saturday nights were always the busiest. It may have been a blessing in disguise. There was little time to dwell on her thoughts as she ran around, serving food and tearing tickets. The lobby was so packed that Michonne didn't even notice Lori come in. She heard the girl before she saw her.

"He called me last night," Lori's voice carried across the crowded space. She was with Jessie. The blonde was listening attentively.

"He did?" there was disappointment in Jessie's voice. "I thought he was mad at you."

"Well, all couples fight," Lori shook her hand, gesturing as though it was all so inconsequential. "But what we have is special. I think he's starting to see that."

"So, are you getting back together?" Jessie asked.

Michonne almost dropped the carton of candy in her hand. From the corner of her eye, she could see Lori smirking.

"It's just a matter of time," Lori full out grinned, shaking out her hair.

"What about Shane?" Jessie looked confused.

"What about him?" Lori shrugged. "Rick and I aren't back together yet."

"Is he meeting us in the movie?" Jessie asked.

"On his break," Lori confirmed.

Anger rushed through Michonne, both for herself and for Andrea. She had an urge to throw the candy in her hand at Lori, but she refrained.

"Can I help you?" she asked through clenched teeth as the two girls approached the counter.

"Diet Coke," Lori rattled off without looking at her. Jessie parroted her order.

Michonne filled their cups with shaking hands, wishing more than anything that she could go off. Lori had played this little game in school, but Michonne had never before come in the crosshairs. She wanted to yank that long brown hair of hers and rub her face in the dirt.

Instead, she slid them their pops, took their money, and watched them sashay off.

The anger continued to burn hours later as Michonne arrived home. She slammed into her bedroom, kicking her shoes off and reaching for the phone. She needed to tell Drea about Shane's trifling ass, but she couldn't bring herself to do it right now.

As usual, her mind was on Rick.

Had she waited too long to stake her claim? She'd assumed that Rick had feelings for her. It wasn't as though he tried to hide that fact. Still, doubt crept in.

Was she Rick's Shane—the fill-in for the girl he really wanted to be with?

Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. She dove to answer it before her parents woke up, expecting Mike on the other line, or maybe Sasha or Drea. She steeled herself for having to talk about Shane Walsh's cheating ass.

"Hello?" she slid onto her bed, pulling her uniform off as she went.

"Hey there," the southern accent caught her completely off guard.

"Rick?" she perked up at once, a grin coming to her face. "How are you calling right now?"

"Did you know that the Disneyworld Resort does free long distance calls?" he asked her, a laugh dancing on his voice.

Michonne breath caught in her chest. She wondered for a split second who he'd called first with that free long distance.

"How have you been?" she asked, trying to center her thoughts.

"Good. Hanging out with my family," he answered. "They're all asleep right now though. Figured I'd sneak in a call."

Her pulse raced, the sensation familiar by now. "What have you been doing?" Michonne settled against her pillows.

"Visited a school out here," Rick told her. "We just got to Disney today. My brother, Jeff, is having the time of his life. He's passed out in the room with me."

"We won't wake him up?" Michonne asked.

Rick laughed. "Nah. Mickey Mouse wore him out."

Michonne found herself giggling. A comfortable silence spread between them. She inhaled sharply. "I miss you," she blurted out.

Rick chuckled. "I miss you too, Chonne," he told her quietly. "It ain't the same out here without you."

"Did you like the school in Florida?" she asked nervously.

"It was all right. Missing one thing though," he said.

"What's that?" she asked.

"You," he said nonchalantly.

Her heart seemed to leap inside of her, rushing up her throat. "It's a long way from California," she ventured.

"It is," Rick agreed. "USC, though, that's a whole lot closer."

"Would you go all the way out there?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"Maybe," Rick shifted on the other end. "Depends though."

"On what?" her hand was trembling around the phone.

"On whether you want me there," he said.

"It's a good school…" Michonne ventured. "The athletics program is excellent."

"Sure," Rick laughed. "But there's plenty of good schools with good teams. I've got a lot of choices. I ain't asking about their baseball team though. I'm asking you if you want me there."

"I do," the answer came out before she could think too much on it. Her stomach was trembling, her insides like jello. She was more nervous than the first time they'd touched one another in the backseat of his truck. Physical intimacy came easier to her than these conversations.

"Then maybe it's something we can talk about," Rick said. She could almost hear his smile through the phone.

"Maybe at dinner when you get back," Michonne hinted. The fear was ebbing out of her, leaving only joy in its place.

"You asking me on a date?" Rick teased.

"No," Michonne fired right back. "I'm telling you to take me out."

"About time," Rick laughed. "I've been trying all damn summer."

"I know," Michonne flushed, glad he couldn't see her. "But I had to be sure."

"I've been sure about you for a while, Chonne," Rick's voice lowered in timbre. "Glad you caught up."

She shivered, heating up as though he was there in front of her. She rubbed her bare legs together, trying not to imagine the sensation of his hands on her. "Come back soon," she told him.

"I will," he promised.

"Bring me back something from Disneyworld," she added, laughing to lighten the mood.

"Got you something already," he laughed right along with her. "I better go, Chonne. Got to be up early tomorrow. Sleep well, beautiful."

"Sleep well, cutie."

Michonne lay awake in her bed after Rick hung up, smiling with the phone in her hand, Rick's laughter still ringing in her ears. It wasn't until the next morning that she realized she hadn't mentioned Lori at all.

She found that she didn't really give a damn.

In fact, Michonne didn't notice Lori again until a week later. Saturday night was busy, as usual. Lori was poised in the lobby with her clique, dressed to the nines and draped artfully over the arcade machines. Her face lit up when Rick walked in for his shift, a backpack thrown over his shoulder.

"Hi Rick," She swung her hair, stepping into his path.

"Hey," Rick sidestepped her, barely sparing her a glance.

The whole group watched in disbelief as Rick marched up to the counter, grinning wider the closer he got to Michonne. He swung the backpack down at her feet, pulling her in for a hug.

"Nice to have you back," Michonne smiled at him, beaming.

"Nice to be back," he reached into the bag, pulling out a large, stuffed Minnie Mouse. He presented it to her with a flourish. Michonne let out a squeal of delight, accepting her gift.

"Thank you," she leaned forward, kissing Rick square on the lips. He eagerly reciprocated.

"My pleasure, beautiful," Rick winked, disappearing into the kitchen to get ready for his shift. Michonne sat Minnie on the counter beside her, delighted by her present. The sound of someone clearing their throat pointedly brought her attention back to the here and now.

"Can I help you?" Michonne asked, more enthusiasm in her voice than a week ago. "Diet cokes?" She guessed.

Lori blinked back at her, rage and shock evident on her face. Her whole group was staring, wide-eyed.

Michonne served them the pops, uncaring. "Enjoy the show!" she called after them. They moved away in a gaggle of whispers and side eyes.

Rick reappeared, straightening out his vest. He rubbed Michonne lightly on the back.

"Don't let her bother you," he told Michonne, kissing her cheek.

"She doesn't," Michonne promised him, getting back to work with a smile.