The Taste Of Loneliness

Chapter 6

Wheewwww!

Negan blew hard on the whistle to signal the end of gym class for the day. Knowing Monday's were hard one everyone not just the students. Ending the basketball drills fifteen minutes early to give them a break.

"Go on and fucking clean up and shit. Josh and Archie put the equipment away. And for fuck sake do it right this time? " he couldn't help chuckle remembering the last time the goofballs had done it.

"Whatever you say coach Negan." Their adolescent voiced rang out in unison as they ran off to grab the cart.

He just chuckled lowly shaking his head as he went back to his office. Sitting in his chair with a heavy sigh. Pulling out the paper he'd jotted notes about the house. Luke had quoted he'd get twice as much as they'd paid for it now due to the market and high value of the area. Which was good for him. But he still felt a twinge of guilt for even considering it. No one had come by or asked about it yet, but it'd only been two days.

He briefly wondered about Rachel, he'd seen her car parked in the lot but hadn't seen her in the hallways or the staff lounge yet. Probably trying her best to avoid him and he couldn't blame her one bit.

Pulling up his desktop he opened the staff email, letting out a loud groan of annoyance at the reminder of parent teacher night this week thursday. He absolutely hated those, before they were only tolerable because he and Lucille would sometimes sneak to a closet and screw around. He'd usually hang out with her at her room, enjoying the way she seemed like a mother to all her students.

But now that she was gone it would be just another boring night. Having to force the niceness out for parents sake. He zoning out until he heard someone clearing their throat from his doorway. Looking up from the computer he saw Rachel. A small smile tugging at his lips.

"Well hey. " He muttered.
"Hey yourself.. " She uttered walking in and setting a paper plate with two slices of pizza on his desk.

"Bryson brought pizza in for the staff today. Figured you'd want some before it got gone." She shrugged flashing a small smile to him.
He nodded once, smirking lightly at her, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.

"You don't need fucking pizza as a fucking excuse to come talk to me Rachel. " He chuckled lightly taking the plate anyways.

"I know. I know. I just wanted to talk." She muttered smoothing her skirt down before sitting.

"What you said at the coffee shop the other day got me thinking.. " She took a soft breath before continuing.
"We're both...mourning and are lonely. I think we can be friends if we try. I'm not looking for anything else Negan. No strings or sex or anything. Just friends because everyone needs a friend. " She waited, biting on her lip for his response.
He just sat munching on the piece of pizza looking at her with a neutral expression before clearing his throat once he'd swallowed.

"Fine. We can fucking try and be friends. But no fucking guarantee you won't get fucking tired of me. I'm not exactly a good fucking guy. " He shrugged wiping his hand on his shirt before beginning to eat some more.
She just let out a soft laugh before standing.

"Don't use your shirt as a napkin that's gross.. " Rolling her eyes as she turned to the door.

"You're not my mom. " He countered with a smirk.

"Mhm.. You'd be well behaved if I was. " She teased before walking out of his office.

He just sighed watching her walk off. Thankful the day was almost over.
Finishing up the pizza and making sure things were locked up before leaving, slightly earlier than he was supposed to but he didn't care.
Going to his car and cranking it, a strange noise coming from the engine as he growled.

"Fuck this."  He grunted speeding from the school parking lot and heading to town rather than home.
Stopping first at a consignment shop. Then going to the car lot, trading his piece of shit for something better.

Soon he was riding down the road on his new used Harley. The wind whipping his face but his arms and chest were protected by his shiny new leather jacket. A small smirk forming as some women waved at him as he waited at a red-light. This was a good idea. He felt on top of the world now, he had a motorcycle back in college but got rid of it when he met Lucille. She telling him it was a dangerous thing. But she loved riding it with him. The wind whipping her hair.

As he pulled into the driveway at the house he sighed, opening the garage door to park his new toy in it. Glancing at the dusty ping pong table before going to the kitchen. Grabbing himself a beer, knowing things would never be the same. So he wanted to try and start some things over. Make new memories for himself.

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As he pulled into the parking lot of the school the next morning he smirked. Seeing Rachel looking at him from across the lot with a surprised yet intrigued expression.

"Take a fucking picture, it'll last fucking longer! " He called out to her with a chuckle.

"I would but I left my phone inside." She couldn't help laugh softly as she walked over to him.
"I see you upgraded from the sedan.. "

"Yeah.. It was a piece of shit. And this will be better since its just me. " He shrugged, looking at her with a small smirk still.

"What? " She flashed a small smile turning a little pink in the cheeks.

"What do you fucking say about playing fucking hookey? We can fucking ride around and just do whatever the hell we want. One fucking day won't hurt. Come on..." He grinned patting the seat behind him. She was stunned at his offer, glancing back at the school building before looking back to him with a small smile.

"Alright.. Let's go! " She laughed, feeling like a kid again, moving around and swinging her leg over the seat. Thankful she had wore pants today. Biting on her lip before putting her arms around his abdomen, which just made him grin widely.

"Hold on tight sweetheart.." He chuckled loudly reveing the engine before speeding out of the lot.