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Thursday

Justice dressed with care. A black high-waist body-con skirt gifted from the back of her mom's closet- a souvenir from her En Vogue obsession phase. The skirt is paired with a cropped red turtleneck; her ponytail high and tight. All to accentuate her black leather booties with the red stripe, trimmed in white up the front of the shoe. She grabbed her new tote emblazoned with the slogan: Be Bold…Be Sexy…Be You. Enough is enough.

After a week filled with perfunctory communication and limited, stale interaction with Carl-she could take a hint. He was not the first to show up only long enough to disappoint. The Squad waited at the side entrance of the school. "Yaasss Queen…Work It…I know you got some hot sauce in that bag," her personal hype section shouts.

"Ya'll are everything," she greets, "Ready," she pulls her over-sized Wayfarer style sunglasses on as they enter the main hallway. Her internal soundtrack starts and she attacks the walk to class with a soulful strut worthy of Naomi.

Carl pulls his last book from his locker when the guy next to him starts talking, "I don't mean no disrespect but you got the baddest girl in the building-damn," he compliments.

He turns quickly and hits his eye on the locker door. Fuck! Justice moves past without so much as a side glance before turning the corner headed to their English class. Sophia reached out when he started wearing the hoodie again. She warned him and now it might be too late. His heart thumps loudly and desperation fuels his feet. Do something…try anything.

Abe stood in the middle of the living room, "I am surprised you called," Rick states.

"You and me both Brother…but it is time to put down some roots…stop living like this shit is temporary," he explains.

"Why now?" Rick inquires.

"Now because there is no one and when there was I was too young to know what to do with it. I am ready to go back to it…get it right," he states soberly.

"What is your timeline? This happened a little faster than I anticipated," he attempts to clarify.

"I am month-to-month so whenever," he shrugs. "Let me ask you something…you ready? 'Cause you are eating this elephant more than one bite at a time," he is genuinely curious.

Rick stops and reflects…re-balancing his weight from his right to left leg, "I have never been this sure and steady…the fear of not doing it all," he shakes his head because he does not have the words.

Abe nods, "Well, talk to your woman. You can use the second bedroom for storage while I finish up with the bank…sound like a plan?" he moves the conversation back to business.

Rick extends his hand, "Pleasure doing business with you."

"You as well…I need to get back to patrol," he walks toward the door.

"I need to get home before she starts calling…graveyard ended an hour ago," he chuckles.

"Judith may I see you at my desk?" the teacher requests. Some students snicker and others whisper, "She is so weird…she actually looks cute today…leave her alone."

"Yes," she responds weakly.

"I wanted to return your math quiz…your scored 90%. Also, here is your most recent science write up-85%. There are definitely A's in your future," the teacher raises her voice for the whole class to hear.

Judy quickly returns to her desk with her head down-no longer in shame. She fights the smile produced by pride of accomplishment.

Justice and America are at the front of the room engaged in a heated discussion with the Statistics teacher. He retreats and returns with candy bars for each student. Carl cannot take his eyes off her. He smiles when the two bump hips repeatedly. They successfully solved the problem set.

She returns to the seat next to him. "Congratulations," he states eagerly.

She responds quietly, "You hurt my feeling and I don't know why but I will not accept you treating me this way. I don't want an apology but I deserve a reason," she never looks at him.

He leans over and speaks into her ear, "You deserve everything and I will make this right," he kisses her cheek tenderly. I didn't know I could feel anything like this.

Justice pulls her sunglasses from the top of her head to cover her tear filled eyes. She places one peanut butter cup on his desk before biting hers. I hope he can.

Daryl and the Captain meet behind closed doors, "Sir, my current assignment is mostly desk work…case review…operation feedback. So the patrol schedule should be okay," he explains.

"I agree…to be honest Espinosa punches above her weight class so I do not think there will be a problem. Check in next month," he suggests.

"New package for you," Daryl hands over a bag of cookies.

Morgan grins, "Listen here…you better take whatever Grimes took and marry this girl," he advises.

"Already on it Cap," he turns to exit.

Sasha waits on the examination table. "Sorry, crazy day…I am Dr. Bennett," she greets.

"No need to apologize. You come highly recommended," she replies.

"Good to know. We are inserting an implant-correct. Have you had one before?" she clarifies.

"No…but this relationship is it for me and despite our diligence with condoms we have a propensity toward spontaneity; this is the logical next step," she explains.

"Okay…let's get started. If we get this right it will be effective within one week," she instructs.

"Thanks Uncle D," Carl greets exiting the building.

"What's up Nephew?" Daryl replies. They take a seat on the stone bench.

"I screwed up with Justice and I need to explain but I don't know how. How did you get Sasha to forgive you for whatever you did?"

"Truth…I didn't do anything. She decided in my favor. Don't get me wrong…I apologized, sent flowers…but ultimately she made a choice. The most I can tell you is no matter how hard-be honest. Make sure she knows you see her and hear what she is telling you," he pats his knee.

Their conversation is interrupted by Sasha, "What's going on out here?" she smiles.

"Hey Sasha…I need to get back. Thanks Uncle D," he returns to his desk.

"Hey Sweetheart…everything okay," he hugs her.

"Yeah…you want to share my sandwich?" she pulls food out of a brown bag.

"Does it have grass on it," he accuses.

She laughs, "It is alfalfa."

"It is gourmet grass for cows-no," he snaps.

Sasha pulls out a container, "Fine…steak salad," she hands it to him, "Don't forget our double date with Michonne and Rick on Saturday.

"Hey Justice…you want to run our duet again?" Christian asks from the music station in the studio.

She stares at her phone. Carl sent her a picture she does not remember taking with a message: You are always on my mind. "What?" she tries to focus.

"The duet…you want to run it again?" Please say yes.

"No thanks…I am not present enough. We have time before the recital," she gathers her things.

"Cool," he responds reluctantly.

"See you next week," she throws over her shoulder exiting the back studio space.