June 27
A good friend?
Michonne had started dropping by his apartment so often that it felt like a new routine. Her place was far superior to his, yet she seemed to enjoy the simplicity of his and Daryl's space more. It baffled him, especially since her apartment had air conditioning, and today was one of those sweltering days you wished for it.
Michonne had suggested walking over to the ice cream parlour, just a quick seven-minute walk from his place. Initially, he was hesitant until she promised he could crash at her air-conditioned apartment that night.
"Seriously, if they offered a pickle flavour, you wouldn't be tempted to try it?" he remarked, expertly balancing his vanilla cone in one hand.
Once they had their cones in hand, Michonne proposed they take the long way back to his place, eager to soak in the fading warmth of the evening sun as it slowly dipped below the horizon.
"What kind of weirdo do you think I am?" Michonne replied, grinning up at him before licking her ice cream.
" You considered getting mint chocolate chip, that makes you a weirdo" he teased
"It's a flavour you have to learn to appreciate," Michonne countered.
" Yeah, you have to learn not to have taste buds," he replied, savouring his plain vanilla ice cream.
"You need to be more open-minded, Grimes, you said the same thing about sushi and you liked it" she pointed out
"One off" he retorted
"Whatever," she conceded playfully rolling her eyes. "Can I try yours?" she asked, halting in her tracks
"Of course," he replied, extending the cone for her to take. They had developed a habit of sharing their food, mostly because Michonne had a tendency to want to sample everything in her vicinity
She took hold of his wrist, guiding the cone closer to her lips. With a quick flick of her tongue, she savoured the vanilla ice cream that melted on her taste buds. If he hadn't been sweating already, the sight alone would have done the trick.
As their hangouts became more frequent, there were little things she did innocently that made him utterly bewildered. There were moments when he wondered if she was aware of the effect she had on him.
"Honestly, sometimes you can't go wrong with plain vanilla, I kinda regret getting double chocolate," she remarked, releasing his wrist
"I told you," he replied, attempting to maintain his composure, knowing this moment would replay in his mind as he drifted off to sleep that night.
Michonne?" A voice broke through the air, drawing their attention. It belonged to a blonde girl, her hair neatly tied back, dressed in denim shorts and a tank top.
Michonne's expression shifted to one of surprise, revealing a side of her that was rarely seen.
"Andrea," she responded a voice laced with indifference.
"I thought that was you! I wasn't quite sure," the blonde admitted, a hint of awkwardness creeping into her voice
"What are you doing in Atlanta" Michonne asked, her words sharp and to the point.
"Uh… Mike and I are here for a few days to help his sister with some last-minute wedding preparations," she explained as if she had carefully chosen her words.
Rick observed the shift in Michonne's posture, noting how her earlier ease had vanished, replaced by a palpable tension. "Is he with you?" she asked,
"No his back at the hotel," Andrea reassured her, attempting to ease the tension in the air.
Alright, well, enjoy your stay, Andrea," Michonne responded, her tone dripping with passive aggression.
Just as Michonne turned to leave, Andrea reached out and grasped her wrist, prompting a fierce glare from Michonne that made Andrea quickly release her grip.
"Sorry, I just wanted to suggest that we should sit down and have a conversation sometime," Andrea said, her voice a mix of hope and apprehension.
"Talk about what, Andrea? About how you were sneaking around with my boyfriend for months while pretending everything was fine? Or maybe about how you two are now happily together?" Michonne shot back, her anger palpable in every syllable.
"I understand—" Andrea began, but Michonne interrupted her sharply.
"You don't understand anything, Andrea! And honestly, I'm not in the mood for this conversation; my ice cream is melting."
Before Rick could fully grasp the tension that hung in the air, Michonne pivoted and marched away. He quickly followed her as she turned the corner. Michonne had shared stories about Andrea with him, little snippets here and there that painted a picture he was now beginning to understand.
As Michonne moved forward, her pace quickened, her mind racing even after Andrea had vanished from view. Rick trailed her, maintaining a respectful distance, observing her every move. He noticed her discard the remnants of her ice cream into a nearby trash can, and without hesitation, he mirrored her action, tossing his own melted cone away while ensuring he stayed a few steps behind her.
She began to walk in circles, her hands raised above her head in a futile attempt to calm down. Rick noticed the intensity of her anger gradually dissipate, only to be replaced by something else. When she finally lowered her hands, he caught sight of tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She longed to cry, yet she held it all in.
"Hey, hey," he murmured gently, trying to capture her attention as he reached out to stop her restless pacing.
She paused, their eyes locking for a brief moment filled with uncertainty, and without thinking, he drew her into his arms, holding her tightly. Though she remained quiet, she melted into his arms, returning the comfort he offered.
…
As they made their way to Michonne's place, the atmosphere was thick with unspoken words, the only sound accompanying them was the music drifting from the truck's speakers. He stole a glance at her, wishing she would shatter the stillness, but she remained quiet, her mind seemingly adrift in a sea of thoughts.
He sensed a hint of embarrassment or perhaps a wave of emotions washing over her, yet he struggled to understand the full extent of what she was feeling.
Choosing not to intrude, he respected her silence, merely inquiring if she wanted him to leave. She responded with a subtle shake of her head, indicating she preferred his company.
Once inside her room, he settled onto the floor, the soothing voice of Sade filling the air, a sound he had grown familiar with during their time together.
"Um, it's been a while since I last saw her. I didn't expect to run into her, and I just... I'm sorry for how I reacted," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper as she sat up on her bed.
" I just hate that a year and a half later, just seeing her can get that reaction out of me, you know," Michonne said, not really seeking sympathy.
"I know" he responded, a sense of relief washing over him at her candidness.
"Mike hurt me, but somehow, she managed to hurt me even more," Michonne admitted, her openness hanging heavily in the air.
Rick nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "I can only imagine... if Shane ever did something like that, I honestly can't say how I'd respond. You have nothing to be sorry for."
She paused, gathering her thoughts, and finally met his gaze. "I appreciate you being such a good friend," Michonne said, her gratitude evident in her eyes.
"You never need to thank me for that," he assured her. "Now how do I cheer you up?" Rick added.
"I'm not sure," she sighed, then a playful glint appeared in her eyes. "I do have an idea," she said, trying to steer the conversation toward her own desires.
Michonne, no," Rick responded firmly.
"You asked how to make me feel better, and I believe this would do the trick," she argued.
"For the hundredth time, I'm not letting you tweeze my eyebrows," he insisted, standing his ground.
"I would just tidy them up, I promise, nothing crazy," Michonne implored.
With an exasperated roll of his eyes, he finally relented. "Fine," he said, before he could say anything, Michonne was already digging through her small makeup bag, bringing it back over to the bed.
She settled back onto her bed, patting the space beside her, inviting Rick to join her. He complied, lying down as she perched next to him, seated in a kneeling position.
Diving back into her bag, she retrieved a tiny brush, one he recognized from seeing Maggie and Beth use it, often left carelessly in the bathroom.
"Don't worry, it's just a Spoolie," Michonne reassured him.
"I'm aware," he replied.
"Really? You know what a Spoolie is?" Michonne asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I didn't know that's what you called it, but I get what it's for," he confessed.
She bent forward, her face just inches from his, as the Spoolie brushed against his eyebrows. Her concentration was absolute, completely absorbed in the task at hand.
Despite his best efforts to keep their relationship strictly platonic, being this close to her was always a challenge. He could feel the warmth of her skin, and he was certain she could sense the rhythm of his breath. She was so near that a slight tilt of his head would bring their lips dangerously close to touching.
She moved away for a second allowing him to exhale deeply for a moment.
As she leaned back, a playful smile danced on her lips. "Are you ready?" she asked, her voice teasingly light. He braced himself, anticipating the rush of emotions that always surged when she got close. Just as he began to lose himself in those thoughts, she swiftly plucked the first hair, and a sharp sting jolted him back to reality.
"Why do you do this to yourself?" Rick inquired
"Pretty hurts Grimes," she said plucking away
As she completed her task, she gently ran her thumbs along his eyebrows, tidying them up. He found it difficult to maintain eye contact with her, so he let his gaze drop, only to be greeted by the sight of her cleavage, which was equally distracting.
Their eyes met when he finally lifted his gaze back to her face. "All done," Michonne declared, her voice lingering. They continued to stare at one another in silence, each attempting to decipher the unspoken thoughts swirling between them.
They might have lingered in that moment for a few more seconds if the front door creak hadn't shattered their connection.
"Uh that's probably Sasha," Michonne said, her eyes darting away as she quickly got off the bed. " Let's go show her your pretty eyebrows." Trying to tease, but it's a touch awkward.
July 17th
Lovers Quarrel
Sasha stood there, her expression heavy with worry as she inquired, "Where's Michonne?"
"She's in the restroom," he replied, gesturing toward the door beside him, where he had been waiting patiently at her request.
"I just want to go home," she said, her voice tinged with frustration.
"Is everything okay?" Rick asked concern etched on his face as he tilted his head slightly. Just then, Michonne stepped out of the restroom.
"I want to go home," Sasha reiterated, directing her plea at her sister before she abruptly turned and headed for the exit. "What's going on?" Michonne turned to Rick, her brow knitted in confusion.
Rick shrugged, a look of uncertainty crossing his features, and they quickly followed after Sasha.
"What's wrong?" Michonne asked, catching up to her sister, who was now standing on the sidewalk, her back turned to them.
Sasha turned slightly, her expression a mix of frustration and hurt. "Shane was flirting with some blonde right in front of me," she confessed, her tone heavy with disappointment.
"Sasha…" Michonne began, glancing at Rick, who instinctively took a step back, opting himself out of the conversation.
"What did you expect him to do?" Michonne pressed gently, trying to understand the situation.
Sasha threw her hands up in exasperation, gesturing toward the house as if it had personally wronged her. "I don't know, just not that,". she said, her voice laced with frustration.
"Look, he asked you to be exclusive, and you turned him down. You've been ignoring him for a week now. I don't see how he's in the wrong here," Michonne replied, her voice calm but resolute.
"Michonne don't annoy me right now seriously" Sasha shot back, her eyes narrowing at her sister, a mix of irritation evident in her expression.
Michonne raised her hands in a gesture of peace, casting a glance at Rick that silently communicated her efforts.
Rick stepped in, his voice soft and soothing. "If you want to leave, we can head out," he offered, hoping to diffuse the mounting tension.
Sasha had been sulking for an entire week. It was only after much persuasion that Michonne finally decided to join her at this random house party, hoping to lift her mood. Meanwhile, Rick stepped up, volunteering to be the designated driver, making sure that Michonne wouldn't have to face the party by herself.
Just then, as Sasha opened her mouth to say something, Shane stepped out of the house, walking towards them with a determined look on his face.
"Can I talk to you?" he asked, his eyes fixed on Sasha.
As they stepped away from Rick and Michonne, seeking a moment of privacy, they remained close enough for Rick and Michonne to catch snippets of their conversation, feigning disinterest while their ears perked up.
"What happened to your little girlfriend is she okay with you talking to me?" Sasha shot
Shane sighed, rubbing his temples in exasperation. "I was just talking to her, that's all."
"Then why do you need to talk to me? Seems like you've had enough chatting for one night," Sasha snapped, her irritation palpable.
"Sasha, you've seen me flirt, you know damn well that's not what I was doing. I only entertained the conversation because I wanted to see you squirm a little. It might not have been the most grown-up way to handle things, but you've been avoiding me ever since we talked and I wanted your attention," Shane admitted with a hint of sincerity.
"Aw, that's cute. In his own weird Shane way," Michonne whispered to Rick who shushed her, trying to hear the rest of their conversation.
"Sasha," Shane said, stepping closer to her, his tone softening. "I care about you, and you know that. When I suggested we should be exclusive, it was to prevent this kind of misunderstanding. I'm not interested in anyone else," he said, his gaze steady as he searched her eyes for understanding.
Sasha crossed her arms, a hint of defiance in her posture "I know you care about me too for some reason," he teased, trying to lighten the mood. "Or else you wouldn't be out here acting so childish. Being exclusive doesn't mean you're my girlfriend; it just means I'm getting to know you better, and we can see where this leads. Does that sound fair?" There was a rawness in Shane's voice, a rare crack in his usual confidence that Rick couldn't help but notice.
Sasha felt her cheeks warm and her heart race. She tried to maintain her tough exterior, but a smile broke through. "That sounds fair."
"Jeez,woman was that so hard," he teased, scooping her up and tossing her over his shoulder.
"Shane!" she squealed, pretending to be frightened.
"Come on, y'all, this party is lame! Let's grab some food," Shane called out to Michonne and Rick, giving Sasha a playful pat on the back side.
"Put me down," Sasha giggled, squirming in mock protest.
Rick and Michonne exchanged glances, quickly making their way over to join them.
Rick grabbed onto Michonne's shoulders "Yeah, let's go!" Rick said, playfully pretending to leap onto Michonne's back.
"You're so annoying," Michonne chuckled, rolling her shoulders to push him off.
"Not nearly as irritating as those two," Rick replied, gesturing toward Shane and Sasha.
"You know, I have a wild theory—Shane might be falling in love with your sister," Rick added
"He probably doesn't even know it," she replied.
As they stood nearby, both of them observed Shane gently setting Sasha down in front of Rick's truck. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead, a gesture so tender and personal that it was hard to believe that playboy Shane would display such affection in front of them.
A/N: I love reading all your reviews for real thank you for reading my little story I know slow burns can be so hard to get through sometimes. I'm so obsessed with the idea of two people who aren't in a relationship breaking the boundaries of intimacy without even realizing it. Tweezing that man's eyebrows girl you are married. I realized while writing I'm kind of second-love storying Rick and Michonne but that's because the second love story is always the best. I do have fun writing Sasha and Shane I won't even lie.