July 29th
It was
Sunlight danced through the branches overhead, casting the campsite with gentle beams. Michonne positioned herself in the path of one of those rays, feeling the sun's warmth envelop her as she settled at the picnic table with Rosita and Sasha.
That morning, she had woken with her cheek pressed against Rick's back, her arm comfortably draped over him. A wave of embarrassment washed over her—not for being so close, but for the little drool spot she had left on his back.
She thought about quietly slipping away to avoid waking him, but the moment she tried to pull back, he stirred and opened his eyes. She thought he might mention something about her evading his personal space, but all he suggested was they get ready quickly before anyone woke up.
That plan fell through as soon as they exited their tents to see Rosita, Sasha, Shane and Abraham all up, ready to head to the bathhouse.
On their way back from the bathhouse, Shane was adamant that Rick join him for a trip to the nearest gas station to grab more ice, which everyone knew was code for more drinks. Rick put up a good fight, but Shane was relentless.
As they settled back at the campsite, Abraham made the girls some tea before starting on what he claimed was about to be the best breakfast they ever had.
The three of them gathered around the table a little ways away from Abraham, each cradling an enamel cup brimming with steaming tea.
" Lori is probably going to have a brain aneurysm when she finds out you and Rick are going on a hike without us," Rosita said sipping her tea
Sasha rolled her eyes " Good"
"Guys…" Michonne chuckled awkwardly.
"'How long have you and Rick been fucking ?'" Rosita mimicked, shaking her head. "Can you believe that?"
"It was a bit much, but I can see where she's coming from, if my ex showed up with what I assumed was his new girlfriend, and no one told me, I'd probably freak out too. Mine might have been more of an internal freak-out though," trying to defend Lori
"Oh, come on! She cheated on him and acts like we owe her something. Even if you and Rick were a thing, I wouldn't have spilled the beans," Rosita shot back.
" Well, it's a good thing we're not," Michonne said with a smile
"Not yet, anyway," Sasha chimed in.
Michonne rolled her eyes dramatically. "We're just friends, okay?"
"Come on, Michonne, you can't be that clueless," Rosita pointed out.
Ever since she and Rosita had grown closer, their playful teasing had become a common thing. With all the time spent at Sasha and Michonne's place, both Rosita and Sasha had begun to speculate about her relationship with Rick.
I made her eyes roll, she and Rick were just friends. They had built a solid friendship that had evolved quickly, and while she understood why others might see it differently, he was still just her friend. Her best friend, which was a little awkward to say out loud.
It had been ages since she had referred to anyone in that way, but that was the truth of it. After the betrayal she felt with Andrea, she had given up on the idea of building new friendships.
"So you don't find Rick attractive," Rosita asked. The other women paused, waiting for her answer.
She took a moment, carefully selecting her words. "He's attractive, but he's just not my usual type," she replied.
That's honestly how she felt; Rick had a certain charm about him. Although he wasn't her usual type, she couldn't overlook the fact that he was undeniably handsome.
The two women exchanged dramatic sighs, rolling their eyes at her reaction like they were in on a secret joke.
"Men and Women can be friends without everyone thinking there's something deeper going on.," Michonne said, trying to defend her stance
Sasha chuckled, squinting her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, that's not quite what we're getting at. You and Rick just have a different kind of friendship, that's all," she teased, nudging Michonne with her elbow.
Michonne quickly swatted her elbow away, a playful warning not to poke her again.
"We're just really comfortable around each other," Michonne attempted to fight back
Sasha rolled her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. "Comfortable? Really?" she shifted her gaze to Rosita, her tone teasing. "You won't believe this —Last week I walked in on Michonne washing his hair"
Rosita chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, girl, come on."
"It wasn't like that," Michonne replied, her tone a bit defensive. "He genuinely needed my help; those curls were dry! Sasha, I literally wash your hair all the time"
"Right..." Rosita replied skepticism in her voice.
"Why are we focusing on me when you and Shane are obviously together but refuse to admit it?" Michonne challenged, raising an eyebrow at Sasha.
Sasha glanced at the two girls, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Alright, you two better act surprised later. I promised Maggie I'd tell her first when it happened," she urged, motioning for Michonne and Rosita to come closer.
They leaned in, their curiosity piqued. "Last night, Shane asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up with a hint of shyness.
" Oh my god finally," Rosita replied
Michonne couldn't help but beam with happiness for her sister. While she wasn't surprised by the news, the joy radiating from Sasha made her heart swell.
When Shane first sat next to Michonne in class, she never thought he'd be the one to break down her walls about friendship, let alone that he'd be dating her sister months later.
Strangely enough, Shane and Sasha clicked in a way that surprised her. Shane wasn't the kind of guy Sasha typically gravitated towards. At face value, he was loud and a bit full of himself, a country boy from a small town with a wealthy background.
You'd think that his privileged background would send Sasha running for the hills. After all, both she and Michonne had grown up with a father who was obsessed with appearances and mingling within their class or above it, which made both girls wary of getting close to the very people they were raised around.
"Come on, Michonne! You could feel this way too if you just let go of your denial," Rosita teased.
"Yeah, right," Michonne shot back with a playful grin.
The rest of the crew was gradually stirring, filling the campsite with their sleepy chatter and movement.
As the clock inched closer to ten, Rick and Shane were still nowhere to be found. The rest of the crew had already polished off breakfast and were buzzing with excitement to get the day started. With the temperature hovering around seventy degrees, she could tell it was going to be a scorcher.
She found herself nestled in one of the camp chairs with a book in hand. She lingered under the warm sun, enjoying the last bits of tolerable heat. She attempted to stay focused on her book but her thoughts kept wandering back to the conversation she had shared with Sasha and Rosita earlier.
It was clear to her that her relationship with Rick was strictly platonic. They had a strong connection that often left others scratching their heads, especially since they were a guy and a girl who genuinely cared for each other and weren't afraid to show it. That was all it was really.
Of course, Rick's good looks didn't help the situation. People naturally assumed Michonne must have feelings for him.
With his curly hair, she often teased him to let it grow just a bit longer. His face still had a youthful roundness that made him look endearing, and those striking blue eyes paired with that perfect nose? Yeah, he was definitely handsome.
She could acknowledge when someone was attractive, but there was no sexual appeal there.
Well…except maybe for that slightly bow-legged swagger of his, which she had to admit was kind of, for a lack of a better word, hot.
But honestly, how handsome Rick was didn't matter. She had no intention of complicating their friendship; she was perfectly content with how things were between them and didn't need to analyze it further.
…
Shane and Rick eventually came back with two large bags of ice and more booze. Shane explained to the lot of them about how they had gotten lost, and what was supposed to be an hour's journey turned into two.
Rick had a smile plastered on his face, so she figured he wasn't too upset about the unexpected detour.
As he walked toward Michonne after setting the ice and booze down, "Sorry about the wait," he said, flashing an apologetic grin.
"I don't know if I can let you off the hook," she shot back with a playful smirk.
"Well, I might need you to forgive me again because I was thinking we could push the hike to tomorrow," he replied, a hint of guilt creeping into his tone.
Sure, we can do that. What's going on?" she asked, curious.
"Nothing, but I just…" As he was about to explain, Lori strolled over to them, and they shifted their focus her way.
"Hey, can I grab you for a minute?" she asked a bit nervous
"Can it hold off for a bit, Lori?" Rick replied sharply.
Lori took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "I wanted to chat with Michonne actually" she said, making her intentions clear.
Rick turned his gaze to Michonne as if to ask if she wanted him to stay.
Michonne felt a flutter of curiosity."We'll talk later?" Michonne said, affirming to him she'd be all right with a nod.
As Rick strolled back to join the others, Michonne got up and shifted a little to create some space, giving them a moment of privacy.
Lori took a deep breath, her eyes darting away from Michonne's. "I want to apologize for last night," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought I was ready to handle seeing Rick again, but I clearly wasn't. And seeing how close you two have become? It just threw me off. I jumped to conclusions way too fast, and honestly, the drinks didn't help my jealousy at all."
"It's all good Lori. I get it," It was a bit odd, but she understood where Lori was coming from, even if it felt a little hypocritical. If the roles were reversed and Lori was in Andrea's position, she wouldn't have an ounce of sympathy. With all that she knew about Rick, it was clear that Lori was feeling that loss. She felt sorry for her.
"I know you probably think I'm a mess; I fucked things up with Rick, and I shouldn't be feeling this way about the idea of him moving on. I thought we had a chance to fix things… at least that's what he was hinting at," Lori continued, her voice tinged with regret.
"What do you mean, hinting at?" Michonne asked, surprised by her own curiosity.
"Back in April, we agreed to cut off contact, and Rick said we'd talk about things later, but I guess that's not going to happen now, even if you two are just friends," Lori replied, her shoulders slumping. "Thanks for being understanding, and again I'm sorry ."
Michonne watched Lori turn and walk away, a slight shake of her head escaping her. She couldn't shake the feeling that Lori didn't need to share that last part, or maybe she just wished she hadn't.
As Lori disappeared from view, a sense of unease lingered in Michonne's mind, refusing to let go. The idea of Rick wanting to get back together with Lori had never even crossed her thoughts; it felt completely out of the question. Surely, he wouldn't actually think about it, right?
Maybe that's why he was so determined to emphasize to Lori that they were just friends.
But then again, why did it even matter to Michonne if he did?
…
By noon, the gang agreed it was time to make their way to the lake, not too far from their campsite. They strolled down a winding path that opened up to a wide open space surrounded by lush, tall grass. A couple of trees stood nearby, offering just the right amount of shade. Everyone was eager to get comfy, quickly swapping their clothes for swimsuits if they hadn't already done so.
The lake had a murky green hue, but that didn't deter them; where they settled, it was just the right depth for lounging.
Rosita and Sasha were the first to set their chairs right in the water, followed closely by Maggie, Glenn and Lori.
Sasha wasted no time getting her portable CD player ready, cranking up one of the countless burnt CDs she had packed. While she enjoyed music just as much, she couldn't help but find her sister's need for constant tunes a little over the top.
As she observed her sister bobbing her head to the beat, a wave of nostalgia hit her. It was strange how, in that moment, Michonne saw a reflection of their mom in her sister's movements. While Sasha had always taken after their dad and Michonne resembled their mom, there was something about the way her sister moved that perfectly captured their mother's spirit.
With a grin, Michonne got to work, laying out two big picnic blankets on the lush green grass.
As soon as Shane and Rick finished setting the hammock up, Shane insisted everyone take a swig from one of the bottles of tequila he had brought along with him. Rick went first, followed by Michonne.
"That was a baby sip take another" Shane urged as Michonne tried to pass him the bottle.
To his surprise, she just shrugged and took another big gulp herself.
"Are you happy now?" she asked a hint of amusement in her voice. Both Rick and Shane looked at her slightly impressed.
"Absolutely," she shot back, a wide grin spreading across his face as he passed her a red solo cup to wash down the tequila.
As Shane moved on to find his next target, Rick lingered by Michonne.
"What were you going to say earlier?" Michonne said, turning to him They hadn't gotten to talk after her earlier chat with Lori
"I'll fill you in later," he replied, keeping it vague.
"Alright," she nodded, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
Rick persuaded her to join him, Daryl, and Abraham on their little adventure. Daryl had noticed a massive boulder looming in the distance, a bit away from their spot. The three boys were bubbling with excitement at the thought of leaping off the boulder into the cool water below.
They walked down a man-made path toward the boulder; each guy clutched a cold beer in hand embodying that classic country-boy vibe.
She opted to share a beer with Rick, which felt awkwardly intimate with Abraham and Daryl there.
As their laughter bounced off the trees, a rush of nostalgia hit her, stirring up a peculiar yearning for the very moment they were sharing.
When they finally reached the boulder, it was way more impressive than Daryl had described to Michonne.
It loomed above them like a mini mountain. They began their ascent, with Rick trailing a little behind, teasing that he'd be there to catch her if she slipped. That made her chuckle, fully aware that if she did fall, he'd likely end up tumbling down right alongside her.
Upon reaching the peak, Tara's voice rang out from the other side, echoing as she requested them to strike a pose for her disposable camera. The four of them froze, Rick, standing close enough that his hand rested on her lower back, sending shivers up her spine.
"Got it!" Tara exclaimed, her voice bouncing off the rocks.
Daryl peered over the water, assessing whether it was safe to dive in. Once he felt assured, he gave the group a thumbs-up.
"How do you know it's safe" she asked genuinely curious
"Intuition," Daryl replied, flashing a goofy grin that made it clear he was merely guessing.
She couldn't help but playfully swat at him "You're so full of shit," she laughed, the sound bubbling up from her.
Abraham was the first to leap, splashing into the water with a triumphant grin, quickly followed by Daryl and Rick.
As the three of them floated in the water, a wave of nerves washed over her, despite the countless times she had taken the plunge from much higher boards back at school.
"Get in here, girly!" Rick shouted from below, his voice ringing with encouragement, while Daryl and Abraham joined in, chanting her name in a steady rhythm.
"Hold on, count me in" she shouted, her voice soaring through the air like a breeze aimed right at Rick.
"Three, two…" they chimed in unison, but before the countdown could reach the climax, she catapulted herself into the shimmering water.
As she dove into the refreshing water, it enveloped her like a snug, suffocating hug, each droplet pressing against her skin.
With a flick of her toes and a graceful sweep of her arms, she shot up from the depths, bursting through the surface with a splash.
The only sounds that filled her ears were the cheers of Rick, Abraham, and Daryl, their voices ringing in the summer air.
Rick moved effortlessly through the water, looking as light as a feather swimming toward her with a smile that could brighten even the gloomiest day.
"Were you actually scared?" he asked, gently bobbing on the surface like a buoy.
Yeah, that stung a bit," she replied, a light laugh escaping her lips.
"Come on," he beckoned, swimming toward a sunny patch of land, and she eagerly followed.
He found a cozy spot on a patch of dry grass, and she followed suit, plopping down beside him, her feet playfully splashing in the water.
"You're really brave," he remarked, his tone more inquisitive than assertive.
"You think so?" she asked, a note of surprise colouring her tone. Her gaze locked onto him, the sun casting a golden glow that seemed to spotlight his features.
Before she could gather her thoughts to speak again, he reached out softly, brushing a stray loc away from her face and tucking it gently behind her ears.
Thank you," she whispered, her eyes drifting down to the soft ripples created by their feet in the water.
He responded with a simple nod, a warm smile spreading across his face, which she returned with a shy smile of her own, still unable to meet his gaze fully, feeling a flutter of embarrassment.
They lingered in that moment before catching up with Daryl and Abraham for a few more dives.
Starting to feel slight aches from the strenuous activity, the four friends decided it was time to return to the rest of the group.
As soon as she spotted the empty hammock, she hopped right in, sitting cross-legged and leaving plenty of space for Rick to join her on the other side.
She sat in the hammock, the sounds of chatter and laughter providing background.
With her book in hand, she tried her best to read, but with Shane coming around insisting they take another drink, she found herself unable to focus, reading the same lines over and over.
The hammock rocked lightly as a pleasant buzz washed over her. She let out a breath, sneaking a glance over at Rick, who sat with his eyes closed, enjoying the shade.
As she sat there, her gaze flitted between the pages of her book and the sight of him.
Her gaze landed on his curly hair hanging heavy with moisture, then returned to the text, feigning interest in the lines. Yet, her eyes flickered back up and strayed to examine the strength of his arms, then back to the book. Only to be drawn again by his sun-kissed torso.
Her gaze finally settled on his lips, lingering there longer than intended.
In an instant, a rush of realization washed over her. What am I doing? she pondered, caught in the tide of her thoughts.
Rick opened his eyes, locking his gaze with her, his wet lashes all clumped together, framing those striking blue eyes.
"How's the reading going?" he asked, flashing a playful grin.
"Can't focus. Shane got me too buzzed," she replied, trying to hold his gaze but unable to resist the way the water droplets glistened on his arms.
"Wanna take a dip?" he asked, his gaze slightly unfocused. She could see the telltale signs of his buzz; his eyes were low and intense, like a cat ready to pounce.
"In a bit," she said softly, closing her book.
"I'm sorry I cancelled our plans so last minute," he said, his voice laced with remorse.
"Don't be" she said.
He took a deep breath in "I would rather spend tomorrow with you… than be around everyone," he confessed.
The was a sweetness and somberness implied by his words that left her taken for words.
"Are you okay with that?" he scrambled, her silence making him nervous.
She couldn't believe he felt the need to ask. It was second nature for her to offer her time to him. Especially on a day like tomorrow, she wanted to be there for him, no questions asked.
"Of course," she said with a smile.
"Good," he said, sinking deeper into the hammock, their knees brushing against each other.
They sat there lounging, the sound of friends echoing around them, most of them attempting to cool off in the water.
…
The group finally returned to the campsite, trading their wet swimsuits for clothes. The heat lingered, prompting most of them to slip into anything breathable.
Rick grabbed an old maroon baseball cap and plopped it on his head, a style she had never witnessed on him before.
Surprisingly, it really suited him, and she felt a strong urge to tell him how great he looked. He typically struggled with compliments, often getting shy and blushing. At times, she found herself tossing compliments his way just to witness that adorable fluster on his face.
Unfortunately, Rick and Lori had been heavy in conversation since they started walking back to the site.
Just as they finished packing up, Lori pulled Rick aside for a chat. They lagged behind the others, deep in talk. Michonne felt a tug of curiosity pulling at her, and despite her best efforts to focus on something else, she found herself sneaking glances at them as they walked behind the herd to the campsite.
Even now, as they stood away from the rest of the group by trees, Michonne couldn't help but glance over, trying to read Rick's expressions, going as far as putting on her glasses so she could see clearly.
"Jealous?" Rosita, who was lounging next to her, teased.
"No! Just curious" Michonne shot back, feeling like a kid who had just been caught sneaking cookies from the jar.
"Ah, still in denial, huh?" Rosita teased, taking a slow, exaggerated sip of her drink as if it were the finest wine.
"Don't start" Michonne warned, raising an eyebrow.
Rosita just smiled back, all innocence, as if she hadn't just poked the bear.
"Got a question for you, though," she said, leaning in with a conspiratorial whisper "…Did Rick ever mention anything about getting back together with Lori," Michonne's inquiry sparked a cheeky grin from Rosita.
Are you absolutely sure you're not feeling a twinge of jealousy?" she shot back, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Not even a little. It's just that when Lori was saying sorry earlier, she mentioned she thought Rick was dropping some hints about rekindling things back in April." Michonne replied, trying to keep a straight face
Rosita erupted into laughter, her giggles echoing through the room and catching the attention of everyone around. "I'm sorry, but that's just too funny!"
Michonne stared at her, a look of confusion plastered on her face, silently begging Rosita to elaborate.
Rosita leaned in, lowering her voice. "It's either that bitch is delusional or a liar. Which Rick was hinting at them getting back together? He could barely tolerate being in the same space as her for more than a few minutes. This is the first time I've seen them have a civil conversation without it ending with her in tears or him storming off"
Michonne furrowed her brow, struggling to piece together the puzzle. "But why would she even say that to me?"
"Because she's a lost little girl doing backflips—totally confused and making no sense at all," Rosita replied bluntly, her distaste for Lori clear as day. "She was probably just trying to plant some seeds of doubt in your head so you wouldn't make a move on Rick," she added, rolling her eyes so hard it looked like they might get stuck.
"Do you have any proof of this, or is it just a wild guess?" Michonne inquired.
"It's a wild guess I'm convinced is spot on," Rosita laughed, and soon enough, Michonne couldn't help but join in, their laughter filling the space.
"Well, I'm not jumping to conclusions," Michonne said, her voice firm.
"Come on, stop playing nice and go after your man!" Rosita teased, a playful grin on her face.
"He's not my man." Michonne corrected, crossing her arms defiantly.
"Well, if you keep sitting here, he certainly won't be! Look over there—she's practically wrapped around him!" Rosita pointed, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
Michonne's eyes darted to where Rick and Lori stood, and to her shock, they were just standing there, inches apart.
Turning back to Rosita, she caught her friend with a victorious grin. "Made you look," Rosita exclaimed, giggling.
With a playful eye roll, Michonne felt a warmth creep up her cheeks for falling for her friend's little prank. The two of them sat side by side, their attention drifting to Lori and Rick.
Rick's face was morphing into a masterpiece of annoyance. Though their voices were hushed, it was like watching a silent film of frustration. Rick shook his head vigorously, dismissing Lori's every word as he rubbed his temples, clearly wishing he could tune out the conversation entirely. Meanwhile, Lori, clearly fed up, let out a loud "Whatever" that echoed like a battle cry, before spinning on her heel and striding over to Glenn and Maggie, leaving Rick to stew in his own exasperation.
"Get back together, my ass!" Rosita snickered, giving a side-eye that could slice through steel, her tone oozing with sarcasm.
Rick, seemingly unfazed by the whole ordeal, strolled over to Michonne and Rosita, flashing a grin at Michonne.
She wanted to ask him what that was all about, but she figured it was best if she stayed out of the loop of the Lori situation.
…
The gang huddled around the fire, not because they were freezing their toes off but because the flames were the only thing keeping the night from swallowing them whole. The sun had dipped below the horizon, yet the night remained uncomfortably warm.
They were deep into a game of crazy eights, which had somehow morphed into a philosophical debate that would make Socrates raise an eyebrow.
Just as Michonne was gearing up to make her move, the air was thick with the sound of everyone talking at once, with Shane's voice booming over the rest. Laughter erupted, echoing through the trees.
Seated quietly, she found herself glancing from one person to another, attempting to catch the rapid-fire exchanges. A smile graced her lips as she patiently awaited the moment when the lively banter would settle, allowing her to play her turn.
Turning her gaze to Rick, who was comfortably settled beside her, she noticed his elbow resting on the arm of his camping chair, his chin cradled in his hand, and his eyes already locked onto her with an inviting warmth.
There was a glimmer in his gaze, an intensity that felt as if he were savouring every detail of her presence, causing a rush of shyness to envelop her.
She fidgeted in her chair, acutely aware of his attention. "What?" she asked gently, raising her eyebrows in curiosity.
"You're so patient, Michonne," his voice smooth, warm, comforting and laced with admiration.
You're so patient, Michonne. The way he articulated it echoed in her mind, lingering like a melody.
She opened her mouth to reply, but the words eluded her. He offered her a gentle, endearing smile; she managed a timid smile in return before her gaze fell to the dancing flames, seeking solace from the weight of his penetrating stare.
In that moment, as she sat entranced by the fire's lively dance, her thoughts began to swirl. A soft "Oh" escaped her lips, a whisper of understanding dawning upon her.
A/N: Thank you for all your Reviews and comments, I really appreciate em always let's me know I should keep doing 3