It's been a long time since I've posted but I've been working on this story for a while, I wont lie its going to be a lot of build up and a lot of development with Beth. It's completely AU and I hope you enjoy. Also if anyone wants to be a BETA reader please comment this story has become my baby in a way and I want it to be the best it can be. Anyways I hope you all enjoy!

One

It's been days since Beth has showered, honestly she couldn't remember the last time she brushed her teeth. She smacked her tongue against her teeth feeling the plaque that rested on her pearly whites wondering if cavities had formed on her molars. Surely it took years of candy to get any type of cavities it couldn't happen in a weeks time. Rolling on her stomach Beth took in the sent of her pillows, even with not washing any of her sheets the faint smell of fabric softener filled her senses. Beth let a sad smile fill her lips as she thought of her mama hanging laundry in the backyard. Beth hated washing the clothes and somehow she always got stuck with helping her mom washing and hanging the sheets, now she would do as many piles of dirty laundry as she could if she could hear her moms laughter while Beth struggled to hang the clothes over the line. Throwing the pillow across the room Beth grunted in frustration, how could she leave her like this?

Cancer was a bitch and even though it wasn't her moms fault Beth needed to be angry at someone, hell Beth was angry at everyone. One day it was her dads fault the next it was Maggie's and in the late hours of the night it was Beth's fault. She should have hugged her more, made her laugh harder, she could have spent every day at the hospital but like a coward she focused all her attention on anything else. Tears started to form in her blue eyes and Beth raked her dry hands across her tired eyes, crying didn't make anything better, it didn't bring her back so Beth doesn't cry anymore.

Rolling to her back once more she stared at the water stain that formed on her ceiling years ago, it was the worst color of yellow, pale and dirty and Beth had always hated the way it looked. Her room was a mix of white and pale blues and the blotchy stain always looked harsh compared to the rest of her four walls. Standing up quickly on her twin sized mattress Beth screamed at that ugly yellow stain. If anyone walked in right now she's sure they'd think she was insane but Beth just didn't care anymore, nothing mattered and if she wanted to yell at the water stain that has plagued her for so long she would. Her voice cracked pretty quickly from dehydration and Beth swallowed the invisible cotton in her mouth. With a huff she fell back on her bottom and shook her head dizzily, it'd been days since she ate and today is the first time that she actually felt hungry, she could eat a horse right about now.

Getting off her bed she shuffled into her slippers and made her way out the door, as she passed the mirror on the stairs Beth took a brave glance at her appearance. Her golden hair was knotted and frizzy, her eyes looked more gray than blue and the dark circles under her eyes shined against her porcelain skin. "Coward." it was no louder than whisper to the girl in the mirror and with a final glance she made her way down to the kitchen.

Mess was an understatement for the kitchen's state. Bottles of liquor and beer littered the counters and old take out dishes were molding by the second. With a huff of anger Beth threw the closest pizza box into the trash and headed to the fridge, with a rough pull she looked into the steel cooler. "Empty, figures." Old condiments and fresh beer was all that rested on the shelves and Beth grew even more frustrated with everyone in her life. Closing the doors she turned in the kitchen, this had always been her moms favorite room in the house, she would always say it was the heart of their home if only she could see it now, broken like everyone who lived here. With a new found energy Beth grabbed trashed bags from their pantry and started to heave boxes and bottles into the trash. She went through three bags and two hours but once she finished taking the last bag outside she stood on the tile floor and smiled faintly, it wasn't much but it was something. her stomach rumbled in complaint and she was brought back to why she was here in the first place, food.

Deciding to roll with this energy Beth grabbed her purse and keys from the bar and headed out to her truck. It was beaten and worn but it was hers, she had spent hours on the farm and in the vet clinic saving for the death trap. Swinging the door open Beth hoped in and cranked the engine. It took about three turns and some choice words before it roared to life and Beth smiled widely at her hunk of junk, with a small pat on the dash she swung the truck in reverse and headed down the dirt driveway of her families farm. It was stifling in the cab and Beth cranked her window down to get some air flow. The hot Georgia air wasn't much better but it was something. Once on the familiar back road that led to town Beth fiddled with the radio until a faint country tune filled her truck, and with one arm out the window she made her way to the closest grocery store in a twenty mile radius. She made it into town soon enough and Beth was hit with the realization that she was about to face all too familiar faces, it was a small town where everyone knew everything. It had never bothered Beth before because well, she was never gossiped about, she was A student who was quiet and sweet to everyone, her dad was the town vet and her mom was a nurse at the hospital. Her sister on the other hand would always be in the gossip routine, Maggie was wild especially in her younger years it was something Beth was insanely jealous about, her sister had always seemed so free, she was fearless. Beth on the other hand was structured and fearful, her mom use to say they were like fire and water and it never bothered Beth before that she was water but now as she got closer to the Quickly Mart she hated that she was water.

Her hands made the decision for her as she steered straight past the familiar grocery store, the next town was only another twenty miles and she could maybe get away with not being recognized. The drive was bit longer but she didn't mind driving, actually she loved being on the road it had always been the thing that helped clear her mind and today was no different. When she finally got to her destination she pulled into the spot farthest away from the store, it was ridiculous but she didn't want her baby to get any door dings. Taking a glance in the window she smiled at her outfit of sweatpants and ripped black t-shirt, it felt like her small rebellion. Her shopping didn't take long and as expected no one seemed to recognize her, she got a few glances from middle aged moms surely judging her choice of style but other than that it was smooth sailing. She grabbed the essentials and headed home by the time she made a small stop at their mailbox which was filled from being unchecked for so long and her once loved childhood home was empty.

She put the groceries away quickly and then thumbed through the mail, most were bills but there was an envelope that made Beth's heart flutter. It was a big white envelope with the University of Texas crest at the top, her dream school, it felt like she applied years ago but in reality was only a few months ago. Running up to her room she shut her door softly and climbed back on her bed envelope in hand. Slowly she picked it open and dumped out its contents, at the top of the stack was a simple white paper, Congratulations, we are pleased to say that Beth Greene has been accepted to the University of Texas. Squealing Beth flew back on her pillows, this was it this was her ticket out of Georgia and far away from this farm.

She was getting out and no one could stop her.