ELISE [Rick Grimes AU Series]

| CHAPTER SIX |

CHAPTER SIX - TEMPTATION

Despite having work to do at the school, Elise couldn't bring herself to go back to the classroom. She tried to do as much work as she could while at home, but for the most part, she lay in her bed going over the events of when Rick came to her classroom.

Sometimes, she would imagine what would've happened if she hadn't pushed him away. She imagined what it would've been like to have Rick inside her. She craved the feeling of his skin, and the weight of his body pressed up against her own.

Her dreams had become vivid, causing her to wake up in a sweat and agonising heat throughout her body.

Elise had spent two days trying to work up the courage to call Rick and throw caution to the wind before she scolded herself and gave in. She hated that she always put everyone else's feelings before her own, but at the end of the day, there was an innocent child in the middle who had already been dragged through the trauma of his mother's affair.

Thankfully, that night, she had a way to take her mind off Rick. Michonne and two other teachers - Andrea and Jacqui, had invited her out for a karaoke night. It was at the same bar she swore she wouldn't return to, but she was determined to have fun, and her colleagues were determined to see another side of her.

While she hadn't overdressed, she did come to realise that her dress was much shorter than what she usually wore, and the whistles she received from Spencer as she walked through the door of the bar told her that it hadn't gone unnoticed.

The bar was crowded, even for a Saturday evening, but all four women found a table soon enough.

"I think he's got a soft spot for you," Michonne said with a smirk as she nudged Elise.

Approving hums were received from Andrea and Jacqui as they eyed up Spencer, who was now serving customers.

"Definitely, but who wouldn't? You look great tonight," Andrea announced with a wink directed at Elise.

Elise blushed, "oh shush, I look the same as I always do."

Michonne laughed, "okay, but that dress is not school regulations; you're out to impress someone. Don't even try to lie to me. I'm your boss."

It became apparent that Michonne's cheeky glass of wine before she came to the bar was most likely a whole bottle.

"Girl, we're going to have to cut you off soon," Jacqui laughed at Michonne, "right, I'll get the first round of drinks in. Whiskey, white wine and.."

"Red, please," Michonne finished with an award-winning smile.

Andrea and Elise laughed. "I should've accepted your drink invitation a long time ago," Elise joked.

She had always viewed Michonne as the hard-working Principal who probably didn't get out much, and If she was honest, she had always thought of Andrea as stuck up. Jacqui, on the other hand, was friendly enough, quiet and minded her own business, but she could see how the three of them formed a strong friendship.

The night went by without a hitch, well, besides Jacqui's awful take on Dancing Queen.

Elise had almost forgotten Rick; she had danced, sang and drank more than her body could handle, but she had genuinely had fun for the first time in years and realised that the people she worked with didn't just have to be colleagues.