The Office: Friday Edition
Justice sits in history class signing petitions on her phone when Principal Gregory enters with Negan wearing a ball cap to shield his face following behind him. She stops all movement and suspiciously eyes the exchange at the front of the room. Mr. Axelrod vigorously shakes his head back and forth refusing to agree with the discussion. Negan takes a seat in the back and Principal Gregory exits. "Negan, I will give you an extension to complete all make up work. You are only excused from oral presentations until your jaw heals," Mr. Axelrod announces.
She shakes with rage and disgust. Justice wants to scream at him, or hit him with a chair or stomp his balls-none of which is appropriate. She is diverted from her thoughts when she receives a message from Carl: Be ready between 6:30 and 7:00 pm. I'm going to hold your hand. What the hell?
Daryl sits at his desk completing paperwork when Denise brings him a FedEx delivery box. He recognizes the address and tears it open pulling out two individually wrapped and sliced loaf cakes. A handwritten note on feminine stationary flutters to his desk:
I had some leftover batter. Let me know which is your favorite? Ms. Lonette
He carefully unwraps the foil and the plastic wrap. One foil pan is labeled: 7-Up and the other Chocolate Pound. Daryl's eyes close as he savors the first choice. His eyes roll to the back of his head after he finishes the second. He picks up the phone, dials the new number in his contact list and waits.
"Hel-low," Harry answers.
"Hey Mr. Williams, how are you?" he greets.
"Daryl…that you…is everything ok?" he voices with concern.
"Yes Sir…uhm…may I speak to Ms. Lonette?"
"Sure…hold on…Sugar Pie, Daryl's on the phone," Harry calls through the house. She picks up but he does not hang up.
"Get off the phone Harry…" she scolds.
"Nope, you up to something," he quips.
"Fine, I sent him some cake-you happy," she confesses.
"Yep, 'cause I am going to tell," he laughs.
"Shush and you can go to Clifton's," she bargains.
"Yes…Daryl, what do I need again?"
"Preferably the '78 exhaust pipes, he instructs shaking his head. They are hilarious.
"Alright, talk to you later Son," Harry hangs up unaware of the impact of his statement. Daryl's heart races for a few beats.
"Ms. Lonette, this is real sweet but like I keep saying you don't have to go through all this trouble," he switches to speaker so he can keep eating.
"It was no trouble. I was helping with the church bake sale because they can't make any money off them whop-sided cakes from Verna Ann…Anyway, did you pick a favorite?" she changes topics.
"Yes, chocolate pound," he mumbles out while devouring his second slice.
"I will add that to my list. Now keep those in your bottom drawer and let know when you need some more."
"Yes ma'am. I'll talk to you later," he delivers naturally.
"Bye Baby," she hangs up.
Captain Morgan approaches with a folder, "Dixon…whoa, what you got there?" he inquires eyes glued to the cake.
Daryl holds up the 7-Up cake, "Try a slice."
"Sweet Lord…somebody's mama made this. This isn't anything but love and butter," Morgan compliments between bites. "Listen, we keep getting nuisance calls. Get together with Grimes in the next few weeks and determine if there is something we missed," he directs.
"Sure thing…Take another slice before I hurt myself," Daryl laughs.
"If you insist," the Captain inhales his second slice on his way back to his office.
Michonne sent an office wide e-mail challenging each team to complete a special task list by the close of business today. As a result every unit buzzed with excitement trying to meet the challenge. She, Maggie and Sasha turned her office into command central to keep track of everything with the help of Aaron and Carl.
Carl turns to Aaron, "This is my first professional job, but this doesn't feel like work."
Aaron laughs, "Trust me…this isn't normal-she's special."
The door opens and the sound of Michael Jackson's Working Day and Night plays in the background.
"What's the latest?" Michonne bounces her head to the beat.
"Maggie's office cleared six months of backed logged filing and completed one month of motions," Carl reports.
"Sasha's office cleared five months of back logged filing, completed five new interviews and reviewed all of this month's evidence ahead of schedule," Aaron reports.
She engages in her own celebration dance. "Okie-dokie…Update our court calendar based on the new information for my regular meeting with Deanna and then go home and get ready for the Pizza Party," she directs.
"We'll be done before 4:00 pm," Aaron exclaims.
"Yes and tell me how many times have you stayed late or taken on something extra," she raises a brow, "You are my Guys finish and go," she returns to her office.
Michonne returns to the conference table and kicks off her shoes to relax. Sasha and Maggie already have their feet propped up on a chair. "Today was a good day," she exhales.
"Amen," they echo.
"Maggie, please take a bow. You knocked out a thirsty hoe and earned a free party for the office," they howl in laughter at Sasha's declaration.
"Speaking of bows…Tonight's first topic of discussion Sasha and the FBI," Maggie requests.
"Absolutely," Michonne co-signs.
Penelope Washington flat irons her hair to prepare for her shift at the hospital. "Mom, where are you?" Justice shouts in panic.
"Bathroom," she calls out.
Justice stands in the doorway, "I think I have a date."
"Is that right? Well you better get ready," she responds with a straight face.
"Mommy," she whines.
"He called asking for permission with his sweet self and his little Southern charm," Penelope re-tells.
"What do I wear? A dress-formal or informal?" she questions.
"Too much, think more girls' night out. By the way, I'm dropping you off and your curfew is 11:30 pm. Which means…?" Penelope trails off and eyes her daughter.
Justice recites," Not coming up the drive way but my behind inside the house by 11:30 pm."
"Thank you and remember all your home training."
"How could I forget," Justice mumbles.
After a marathon of text messages and Snap Chat sessions with America Justice finally exits her room and meets her mother at the door. Penelope surveys her daughter's outfit and offers applause, "You look good."
"Really," she responds in surprise.
"All you need is your own soundtrack," she laughs. "Let's go. I really want you to have a good time. You've earned it," she smiles lovingly.
After hearing about his delivery driver's behavior the owner of Gus' Greek Pizza determined he could not risk the potential loss of catering business from either department so he offered one night only free pizza for both as a mea culpa. The revenue from drinks alone would buffer the costs. The music is lively and the location is standing room only.
Carl staked out a corner pub table for two and is standing with his uncles: Rick, Abe, Shane and Daryl waiting for Justice to arrive. He checks his phone, "She's here. I'll be back," he explains. He approaches the car and helps her out. Carl extends his hand to her mother, "Thank you Ms. Washington. I will be respectful and make sure she is home on time."
"I have no doubt. You have fun," she waves and drives off.
They enter the pizzeria hand in hand. Carl is weaving them through people and tables. Rick braces himself since he already met her and prepares to deal with the inappropriate charm of his Boys and make sure Carl is not embarrassed.
"Sweet Jesus…this is a 16 year old girl?" Abe whistles out.
"Girls did not look like that when I was in high school," Daryl shakes his head.
"Lori looked like that," Shane responds faintly. Rick cocks his head toward Shane. Hmm, he remembers something I don't- interesting.
Carl tries to hold it together. Damn she looks hot! She is wearing a white long sleeve scoop neck t-shirt tucked into dark denim skinny jeans with a gold Wonder Woman belt buckle. Her high heeled boots are red suede. Her hair is swept up in a high straight ponytail swinging down her back to the rhythm of her hips and ass and large thin gold hoop earrings dangle from her ears. Her eyes are adorned with the perfect winged navy liner and her lips are the color of the inside of a pomegranate.
He reaches his uncles. "Justice these are my uncles Abe, Daryl and Shane. You remember Uncle Rick," he introduces.
"Nice to meet you and good to see you again," she shakes each hand.
Before things get awkward Rick directs the interaction. "Carl why don't you make Justice comfortable and come back for just a minute," he instructs.
Carl helps her into the high top chair, "Check out the menu…I'll be back." He returns to his uncles.
"You got extra money…You got condoms…Don't try and buy alcohol…No batter for you."
"Whoa, first date ever. Yes, I have extra money and condoms. Everyone here knows I'm underage and I have no idea and nor do I want to know what Uncle Abe is talking about," he exhales. "Can I say one thing without scolding?" They nod in agreement. "She is hot as fuck-right?" he whispers in distress.
"Yeah…good luck with that," they offer in solidarity shaking their heads and patting him on the back.
Justice fans herself with the menu and watches him. He rocks a black leather jacket, grey t-shirt, distressed black jeans and Polo boots. He even smells like a man-no Axe. She snaps a quick photo and sends it to the Squad group chat. They respond quickly, "Lucky you…wow…my cousin rocks extra hard for you."
The crowd is growing and tables are filling quickly. Lori is waiting on Aaron to arrive and barely listening to Beth. She keeps her eyes fixed on Rick and his crew. The door swings open and Jessie enters wearing a sparkling t-shirt, skinny jeans, fringed cowboy boots and a side ponytail held together with a terry-cloth scrunchie. Lori freezes as Jessie approaches the group of men. Her mouth falls agape when she sees Shane embrace Jessie. Is this the Twilight Zone?
"Jessie, glad you could make it," he tucks her into him. "This is Abe and Daryl and you remember Rick of course," he introduces with a touch of sarcasm.
"Hi," she waves to the others. Then she turns and smirks, "Rick."
The guys share a WTH look before responding tentatively, "Nice to meet you."
Rick opens his mouth to speak but is cut off when delicate hands cover his eyes and her voice whispers in his ear, "Hey Handsome."
He turns and embraces her lifting her up to her toes, "Hey Gorgeous, how did you sneak up on me?"
"Patio entrance…we have a table in the corner. She peeks over Rick's shoulder, "Daryl, you have been summoned," she laughs.
Rick turns back, "Nice to see you," and follows Michonne to the patio.
Abe, Glenn, Maggie, Rick and Michonne discuss Daryl and Sasha's work with the FBI operation offering praise and asking thoughtful questions. They are interrupted by Public Defenders Mitchell and Owen. "How are you enjoying your evening," Ethan greets. The entire table stops. The atmosphere becomes stiff, awkward and polite. Ever oblivious, Ethan begins making individual introductions. Michonne has a steel grip on Rick's thigh under the table. After a collective nice to meet you is mumbled by the group Mike attempts to engage, "Michonne, about Thursday…"
She interjects quickly, forcefully and formally. "PD Owen this is neither the time nor the place for a professional dialogue," she rejects his conversation.
He pushes, "Maybe we can meet?" Rick's hand grips the handle of the patio chair with white knuckle anger.
"I have been exceedingly clear. Please enjoy your evening," shutting down the conversation.
Rick fixes Mike with a homicidal glare, "That is strike one Mr. Owen," he menacingly rasps.
AN: I don't know if I can ever express the depth of my gratitude. Every review makes me feel a little less crazy in a world that continues to make less sense than the day before. I am missing my Dad and my Godmother but this story keeps providing opportunities to honor their memories.