After the Music Died….
The zombie apocalypse is delayed by two years. Beth Greene, finishing up her freshman year of college, singing in a dive bar outside of Atlanta when the world ends. Bethyl
When the world ended Beth Greene had been singing sweet melodies. For many her voice had accompanied them into the afterlife when the infected came tearing into the bar. The youngest Greene hadn't realized the severity of what was happening at first, not until the screams interrupted the last line of her song. She supposed it was a good omen that she never uttered the last verse of the Don Mclean classic.
Beth Greene believed it all must have either been fate or she was just really darn lucky. She wasn't supposed to be singing in a little dive bar just outside Atlanta that night. She should've been in her dorm room packing up and getting ready to drive back down to her Daddy's farm the next day. That had been the plan, but then she got a phone call from a high school friend begging her to come play at her Uncle's little bar. The man had decided his bar needed live music, but local musician seemed to be lacking in talent. Uncle Jimmy, however, was a stubborn man, refusing to change his mind about live music, and brought in a new performer every Friday night declaring 'this one'll be great". They never were. Sarah, Beth's beleaguered friend and a waitress at The Mudsnake, could no longer bear the noise claiming to be music. She'd called Beth Thursday night, at her wits end, rambling and begging and bribing until Beth put her out of her misery and agreed to come sing.
So it was that Beth Greene had packed up her entire dorm and headed out of Atlanta just before everything went to hell. She wasn't sure if it was fate, but it sure as hell lucky that Daryl Dixon happened to be in the bar that night.
"Love writes a letter and sends it to hate" Beth sang, strumming her guitar and looking out into the crowd. "My vacations ending I'm coming home late" She let the lyrics flow as she began scanning the crowds reactions. The majority of The Mudsnake's patrons seemed more intent on drinking than paying attention to her song, but at least they weren't booing her off stage. A handful seemed to watching her as she sang. One man was nursing a beer at the bar and would turn towards the stage with a furrowed brow whenever she started a new song before going back to his beer. Beth knew he was still listening. She didn't know his name, but she couldn't help smirking a little in his direction in between a verse or two. She'd run into him and his brother when she'd first arrived. Her performance that night felt like a nice little 'screw you' to him personally, though she felt more amusement than malice as she watched him.
"Well lookie here baby brother," a man crowed as she walked up to the bar looking for Sarah. "They brought a cute little song bird in for the night." The man was looking her up and down, licking his lips and Beth could feel him undressing her with his eyes. She'd played bars before, had been looked at like a piece of meat, but she refused to act uncomfortable. Soon as they saw you flinch they would press in on you, saw it as a weakness. Beth had learned quickly that cowering encouraged.
"Merle, leave it" the younger of the two growled.
"Oh, hush Darylina I just want to find out what baby doll here is going to sing for us tonight." he said, his tone dismissive, before turning towards me. I opened my mouth to tell him I was no one's baby doll, but the other man opened his mouth before I could reply.
"Shit Merle, leave her be she's probably just going to sing some damn shitty pop songs. You're gonna get yourself kicked out you start harassing her" the younger said. Beth doubted Darylina was his actual name. While she appreciated his trying to curb his brother's leacherous tendencies, she didn't appreciate being talked about like she wasn't there. She definitely didn't like that he was assuming things about her. She didn't assume he was going to hit on her just because his brother did. She narrowed her eyes.
"Well, Merle, first off the name is Beth, not babydoll or songbird or any other little nickname about to pop outta yer mouth. As for what I'll be playing you'll just have to wait and see. I'll make sure to play at least one shitty pop song for your brother over there too. Got one you hate the most?" Beth said, staring down the brown haired redneck, ignoring Merle. His ears went a bit red as Merle started laughing, crowing about a her being a Lil Spitfire. Beth didn't wait for a reply, she doubted she would've gotten one, as she spotted Sarah by the stage and headed over with her head held high.
"Hate stumbles forward and leans in the door.
Weary head hung, eyes to the floor.
He says "Love, I'm sorry", and she says, "What for?
I'm yours and that's it, Whatever.
I should not have been gone for so long.
I'm your's and that's it, forever."
"You're mine and that's it, forever." Beth finished softly. A few people clapped and she gave a slight curtsy before setting down her guitar and getting off the small stage. She'd been playing and singing everything that was as far from 'shitty' pop as you could get. She remembered the look of shock on the man's face when she started her set with Johnny Cash's Hurt and then afterward broke into her own rendition of 'Cover of the Rolling Stone'. People always assume she was just a Taylor Swift wannabe, that her repertoire was going to be filled with pop songs. She could sing a pop song when needed, but it was never her choice. Pop was for dancing in your underwear while you cleaned, but it didn't call to her soul.
Shaking off her thought, she watched as Sarah ran around like a chicken with her head cut off, taking orders and rushing drinks to different tables. Beth knew it would be a bit before her friend could talk, so her feet took her to the bar in a quest for a glass of water. She ended leaning on the bar next to the surly redneck who's name she knew couldn't be Darylina. Luckily his brother was off playing pool and not there to hit on her again. She thought about ignoring him, but she couldn't seem to help needling him a bit more.
"So, decide what your least favorite pop song is yet?" she asked, allowing the amusement to color her voice.
"Har, har" he said with a grunt, glancing at her before taking a swig of his beer.
"If you don't name something for me to play for ya I'll just assume you love Katy Perry and swallow my pride to belt out California Girls" she said, giggling at the horrified look on his face.
"Shit, girl don't you know better to talk with strange men in bars." he grumbled. "Do I look like someone who likes talking bout damn songs?" he said with a glare.
"Person's only a stranger until they introduce themselves. I'm Beth." she said, holding out her hand, undeterred by his abrasive attitude. She had the feeling he was all bark, no bite. He looked at her hand with a trace of confusion, but didn't take it. Sighing Beth grabbed his hand and shook it. "and your name is what?" He snatched back his hand and grumbled.
"If ya don't tell me your name I'll assume it really is Darylina." she said with small smirk.
"Daryl." he grunted, the tips of his ears turning slightly red. She smiled at her small victory. She wasn't sure why she was so determined to get this man to talk. A part of it was revenge, she knew, for insulting her earlier. He seemed to hate talking and her presence was making him uncomfortable, which only prompted her to stick around. Killing people with kindness was Beth's first line of defense in most cases. The bartender finally brought her a water and she sucked it down eagerly.
"Well, Daryl, it's nice to meet you and since you refuse to name a song I'll have to pick one for you." she declared with a smile and walking away before he could reply.
Sarah finally had a spare moment and beelined to Beth as the blonde headed towards the stage. "Oh, Beth you've been wonderful tonight. I think this is the first Friday where I didn't feel like my ears weren't bleeding. "
"You're welcome, though I'm not that good." she said
"Yes, yes you are. You've even got some of these rednecks paying attention when you sing and not just to undress you with their eyes."
"Uh, thanks… I guess" Beth said, her face turning beet red.
"Haha, sorry Beth, forget you get embarrassed so easily"
"No, it's fine. Played enough bars this past year to know how to handle it. Just can't help blushing bout it. " Beth replied. "I'm just going to do a few more songs and then I need to head out. I've got to drive down to the farm tonight and it's' a bit of a drive."
"Okay, go play what you want. Oh, by the way my Uncle always has the band end with American Pie at the end of the night. He feels the 'day the music died' is fitting for the end of the night." Sarah said with a sigh. "I'm so sick of that song, but I'm sure your version will at least be good."
"Sure, no problem." Beth said. It was classic song, she hadn't planned for it, but she could swing it.
Beth's second set was a mix of contemporary and old bluesy folk songs. She crooned her way through Po' Lazarus only to then switch into Barton Hollow. When she only had two songs left Beth had determined her 'pop selection' for Daryl. She couldn't bring herself to sing something like 'california girls' like she had threatened, however she was going to do something a little different. Sometimes Beth liked to rearrange songs a bit, slow them down and sing them in a different key. After a minute of consideration she decided and spoke into the mike.
"This next song is a request. Someone asked me to sing a pop song and I've decided to oblige them." Beth said, throwing a wink at Daryl who was blushing and gripping the neck of his beer bottle tightly, before deciding to glare at her. She smiled.
"You shout it out,
But I can't hear a word you say
I'm talking loud not saying much
I'm criticized but all your bullets ricochet
You shoot me down, but I get up"
As Beth sang she realized exactly how appropriate her song choice was. It was her reprimand, the nicest way to show Daryl that he could insult her, but she wouldn't just take it. It wasn't just for him, but for anyone whoever underestimated Beth Greene. When she finished the song she noticed Daryl was actually one of the people clapping, a little smirk on his lips. When there eyes met he tilted his head towards her and she took that as a sign of apology. Daryl didn't seem the type to apologize for anything so this was the best she would get. Didn't really matter, she'd probably never see him again after tonight, but Beth didn't like thinking there was someone out in the world not liking her.
Beth sighed and took a sip of the water she'd brought up on stage with her. She had one more song, the American Pie finale, before she could get out of here. Even though it meant driving through the night, Beth was glad she'd left a day early. A fever had been sweeping through Atlanta the past few days and a lot of the kids in the dorms had started to come down with it. There had been talk of a quarantine and Beth hadn't wanted to get stuck in Atlanta for who knows how long, especially since they didn't seem to know what it was. Shaking her head she pushed aside thoughts of mysterious illnesses and addressed the audience.
"I'm going to close out tonight with American Pie, since it's apparently a tradition round here. Hope you enjoy." Beth said and then she began to sing.
A long long time ago
I can still remember how
That music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
As she belted out the first few verses Beth noticed a few men come stumbling inside. They looked like they were three sheets to the wind, so far gone they could barely keep upright as they shuffled in.
But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step
The bartender was headed towards them now. They were being taken care of so Beth closed her eyes, ignoring the scene and continued her song.
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
Something touched me deep inside
The day the music died
So
The men weren't leaving, they were lurching at the bartender who was holding them off as the bouncer came towards them. Beth was starting to get a little nervous, but she kept singing. She wanted to distract the clientele while the issue was settled.
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I...
Beth stopped singing when Sarah's scream pierced the air. One of drunken men had just torn out the bartender throat as another started biting at the bouncer's arm. Beth looked on in horror, not quite sure what she was seeing, as her brain desperately tried to comprehend what was going on. Some of the men in the bar had rushed to help and were bitten in the process, but the first drunks friends. Then she saw Merle pull out a gun and shoot the man stumbling towards him with gaping jaws and Beth gasped. The man just kept coming not even phased by the shot to heart. Merle shot him again and again, but it did nothing, he kept staggering forward. Wasn't til Merle put a bullet in the man's head that he went down.
Everything was chaos after that, people screaming and Beth stood in shock on her little stage, the slight elevation keeping her out of the fray. That is until one of those things came stumbling towards her, mouth gaping and it was groaning and it reeked of decay. Beth stumbled back, knocking the stool she'd been sitting on to the ground and clutching her guitar.
"Stay...stay back!" she yelled, lifting the guitar strap from her body. He kept coming. Beth hated what she was about to do, but she had nothing else at her disposal. Grasping the next of her guitar Beth swung her prized possession like a baseball bat at the thing's head with all her might. It staggered backward, a piece of her splintered guitar sticking out it's eye, but it kept coming. Beth kept backing away, head looking all around for an escape.
It closed in on her with reaching hands and open jaws. She had been backed into a corner and in her panic she couldn't think straight. The only thing that came to mind was the last lines of her song So this will be the day that I
Her thoughts were cut off as all of a sudden the creature stopped moving and fell to the floor in front of her. Beth looked up with wide eyes and there was Daryl holding a crossbow and running towards her.
"Gotta go, Beth. Gotta go" was all her said, grabbing her hand and dragging her through the chaos and out into the warm night air.
A/N: So first off this is set in the twd universe if the ZA hadn't started until two years after the original timeline. This means it is canon up to where Rick gets shot and in the hospital. This means everyone is somewhere different and are different people from 2 years prior. Beth is 18 and finishing her first year of college and is getting ready to go home for the summer. This isn't just going to be me plopping Beth into season one.
Beth's Playlist
Ballad of Love and Hate by the Avett Brothers
Hurt by Johnny Cash
Cover of the Rolling Stone by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
TItanium by David Geutta & Sia
Po' Lazarus (the Carolina Chocolate Drops version)
Barton Hollow by the Civil Wars
American Pie by Don Mclean