WHEN I SEE YOU- A Walking Dead AU Richonne story.

I own jack squat and get nothing financially from writing this.

'How do I do this? Do I talk to her? Is it creepy to just send her something as a secret admirer? Oh god! If she finds it creepy she'll never talk to me!'

"Psst! Psst! Rick! Can you hear me?"

Rick Grimes was shaken out of his thoughts by the hissing of his best friend Shane from across the aisle. He turned to look at him and mouthed 'What?' They were supposed to be silent in study hall and he really didn't need to have detention because of Shane. AGAIN. Shane slid a note over to him and Rick opened it, 'Can I copy your chemistry homework? I was busy last night.' A smiley face followed and Rick rolled his eyes. He knew exactly what or rather who had keep Shane from doing his homework. He opened his binder and slid the paperwork over to Shane, who smiled in return.

"Thanks bud," Shane mouthed back and began copying down Rick's work. Rick on the other hand went back to his internal debate. He had no clue if his answers were correct or not. After going to the volley ball game last night with his friends, once again he was consumed with thoughts of her. He didn't even remember doing the homework he was in such a daze. As he'd laid in his bed he wondered if he was even a blip on her radar. If he was more than 'That guy who plays football,' or 'Shane and Daryl's best friend.' He had stayed awake half the night, which was now the norm for him, until pure exhaustion had pulled him into his slumber.

"Hey Rick? You okay?" Shane asked him as soon as the bell rang and they gathered their belongings for the next period. "You're been in your own little world recently, more so than usual."

Rick rubbed the back of his neck, refusing to meet his best friend's eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just haven't gotten much sleep lately," he lied. It was true that he hadn't gotten much sleep but he was far from fine. He hadn't been fine in over five months when his life suddenly changed. He hadn't been prepared for how she would effect him or the force of nature she was. It was the only way to describe how she had changed his world; she was like a hurricane. Hurricane Michonne.

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Months ago, 3 weeks into the new school year

"She's finally here! I can't wait to see her!" Andrea squealed as she sat in the chair at the lunch table next to Shane Walsh and across from Rick Grimes. They had been two of her closest friends for years as they had been neighbors and in school together since she had moved to town in the third grade.

"Who's finally here?" Shane asked around a mouthful of food.

Andrea rolled her eyes at the boy. "Michonne! She just started school today. I woke up late this morning so I wasn't able to see her before classes started. We have the same lunch period and I told her where we sit. Hopefully she will be here soon."

Shane looked like a deer in headlights, a clue that he had no clue what Andrea was talking about. Rick laughed as he saw the scowl form on Andrea's face. "Michonne is her best friend from summer volleyball camp. You know where Andrea has disappeared to for 2 months every summer the past four years?" Shane nodded the pieces finally falling into place.

"Oh yeah! She's supposed to be really good right? Even better than you," he said.

Andrea flipped her long blond hair over her shoulder as she glared at Shane. "Normally, I would kick your ass for saying that but since you are correct and she is my best friend I will let it slide. She finally convinced her parents to take her out of that dreadful all girls private school so that she could come play volleyball here since we are ranked 2 in the state. With her and Sasha we should win states easily. Maybe even nationals."

"Wow! I can't wait to meet her," Rick said sarcastically. All the volleyball girls were stuck up and rude, thinking they were the queens if Kings County since they kicked butt on the regular. Andrea was the only down to earth one to him, even though she could be a royal bitch to people she didn't like or know.

"You don't have to wait long cause there she is!" Andrea jumped up almost knocking over Daryl Dixon who had made his was over to the table after his pre lunch smoke.

"Damn woman! Watch where you're goin!" he yelled as the blond tore past him. Sitting down he asked "Where's the fire?"

"Her best friend just transferred here," Shane replied before letting out a low whistle. "And if that is who she is hugging, then I am excited too!"

Whatever Rick was expecting before he turned around, it certainly wasn't the sight that greeted him. Once Andrea had finally stopped hugging the girl, he was finally able to see her and his heart stopped cold as they began walking in the direction of the table he currently sat at. The tall, slim ebony beauty seemed to glide as she walked arm and arm with Andrea towards the table occupied by the boys. Michonne's strong, lean legs looked impossibly long in her white denim shorts. Her hair was up in a graceful bun, showing off her long neck and gorgeous face that sported the most amazing smile Rick had ever seen. She was a goddess.

"Damn! And I thought the girls who went to school here were fine. We need to get out of Kings County more boys," Shane said. "Close your mouth Rick. You look like a dang fish!"

Rick snapped back to reality at Shane's words and close his mouth. He tried to stop staring but he couldn't. He had never seen anyone so beautiful and exotic. The two girls had just reached the table when a figure yelled "MAMA!" and crashed into Michonne from the side, making her let out a "Whompf!" Turning to face the unknown person that had accosted her, Rick saw that same blinding smile take over her face in recognition.

"Sasha Williams!" she cried hugged the girl back. "When did you start going here? Drea why didn't you tell me?!"

Sasha let go of Michonne still beaming. "Just this year! We wanted it to be a surprise once we found out that your parents we're moving to let you play here too! There's no way we don't win states!"

Andrea cleared her throat. " Guys, this is Michonne, one of my best friends, volleyball player extraordinaire, and one of the funniest people I have ever met. Second only to you Shane."

Shane stood up and shook Michonne's hand, looking her up and down. "I'm Shane and this is…"

"Daryl and Rick," Michonne finished for him. "Drea has told me all about you guys for years. I feel like I know you."

"What's up?" said Daryl with a nod of his head. Rick simply raised his hand, not trusting himself to talk. He couldn't even remember his name right now. "Well, I gotta get goin'. Mr. Jenkins wants me to help catalog inventory before shop class." Daryl rose from his seat.

"You have shop next period?" Michonne asked

Daryl nodded. "Yup. Why?"

"So do I. Maybe you can show me around on the way there?" she asked, giving him a smile.

"Sure. Lets roll pretty lady," a rarely seen smile appeared on his face, lighting up his light blue eyes.

Michonne turned and gave both Sasha and Andrea hugs. "I'll catch you guys after school in the gym. Nice to finally meet you Shane and Rick." As she walked off with Daryl, Rick heard her say, "So I heard you have a motorcycle. You going to give me a ride?"

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Present day

"So we're in her rec room and I'm rounding second base when her little cockblocking brother comes down the stairs, talking some mess that he needs the computer for his home work! Can you believe that shit man!" Shane threw his books in his locker and checked his reflection in the mirror that hung on the door. "I was so close man. I wanted to ring his little neck."

Rick shook his head. "Shane he's ten years old. He didn't do it on purpose."

"I bet he did," Shane replied, spraying on some cologne.

The rest of what he was saying was lost by Rick as he heard a familiar sound. The laugh. Her laugh. It was like wind chimes on a breezy day and it stopped him cold every time he heard it. Looking down the hall way he saw Michonne at her locker, Daryl leaning down and whispering in her ear, a smile on his face. Michonne lightly punched him in the arm, exclaiming "That is so mean! I can't believe you said that!"

"You love it," he heard the long haired teen say in his gravely voice. His heart dropped as he witnessed the two hug before Michonne walked off toward in the direction of the science class rooms. Rick would give anything to switch places with Daryl.

Daryl walked over in the direction of his best friends. "Hey," he said, fist bumping both Rick and Shane. "Whatcha guys up to?" he asked leaning against the lockers.

"Just telling Rick about my nowhere, study date with Rosita."

"You mean more like your trying to study Rosita's body session?" Daryl said with a chuckle. 'It's been a month. I'm surprised you haven't just moved on to a different girl by now."

"I was going to but then I saw her at cheerleading practice and it made me remember how flexible she is. I decided maybe it's worth trying for a few more weeks. Maybe I'll ask her to the Valentines Day dance. That should loosen those panties," he said with a wink. "What about you? I tried to call you last night."

"Oh I left my phone upstairs and 'Chonne and I fell asleep in the basement watching that boring movie for history class. She was exhausted after the game, but I forced her to try and watch the movie." He laughed. "She was gone within ten minutes but kept insisting she was awake. There was no way I could stay up without her talking. I think we saw twenty minutes total. Mrs. Anthony came down and made us go to bed at like 2am."

"You are damn lucky bro. I wish I could live with my girlfriend."

Daryl scoffed. "Yeah right! You'll never have a girlfriend long enough to stay in her house for more than two weeks. Anyway, I've told you a million times, 'Chonne ain't my girlfriend. You know why I'm staying there."

"And I'm telling you that I don't care how much you deny it, you two want each other. You're together all the time since you moved in. You're best friends now, always telling your inside jokes and shit. And you get to see her walk around in basically nothing. How many times have you seen her in a towel or a bra?" Shane questioned. Seeing Daryl's face rapidly turning red he continued. "See? If you ain't hittin it by now, you need to start. Am I right Rick?"

Rick just nodded, his mouth dry. He knew why Daryl was staying with the Anthonys but he had never thought about the fact that Daryl got to see Michonne in her bra or just a towel. He felt like he was going to throw up. "Hey, I'm not feeling well. I'm gonna go to the nurse," he said pushing off from the locker he was leaning against.

He walked off before either of his friends could answer. The thought of Michonne and Daryl becoming a couple crippled him. Did they really want each other? They both insisted that they were just friends, but the two had become inseparable since Daryl had moved in. The pair had somehow bonded the first day they met, despite the fact that they were complete opposites. Michonne was rich, Daryl had lived in a single wide trailer. Michonne had traveled the world and Daryl had barely left Kings County. They were both insanely attractive, with many people that would love to date either of them but they always refused. Was it because they were hooking up in secret?

Rick made it to the nurses office and knocked on the door. Ms. Cloyd looked up at him with a smile that quickly turned into a frown. "Rick Grimes! You look horrible! What's wrong?" She stood up, rushing over to him.

"I don't know," he lied. " I just started feeling shaky and my stomach feels funny. Can I lay down?"

She felt his head. "Well, you don't have a fever. In fact, you're cold and clammy. Here, lay down and drink some water. Rest for the next period and we will see how you are after that."

After walking him into one of the rooms, Rick fell down on the bed and closed his eyes. He had no intention of attending his afternoon classes, as Michonne and Daryl were in the last two of the day with him. The thought of seeing them side by side, whispering and laughing made his stomach turn so much that he ran to the bathroom and threw up. Rinsing out his mouth, he opened the door to find Ms. Cloyd standing there.

"Rick did you drive to school today?" she asked him. After he nodded in the affirmative, she began speaking again. "I want you to rest for an hour before I let you got home for the day. You're in no position to drive right now. I'll call and inform your parents." She turned off the light and closed the door behind her.

He tried to rest but it was no use. Every time he closed all he could see was Daryl whispering in Michonne's ear and the smile on her face. He let out a frustrated sigh and prayed that his friend was telling him the truth.

So I started this story Valentines week but it's so hard to write when the show is on and Richonne was becoming cannon. I was inspired by the Fantasia song "When I See You." It just made me think of what if Rick was sprung on Michonne in high school. I've seen plenty of stories where she likes him and he doesn't even notice her. So I decided to change it up. Please comment and tell me what you think so far. Should I keep going with this?

Vegaslover