"Find a need and fill it." Ruth Stafford Peale


Beth Greene didn't like sneaking out. She really didn't. But Jimmy had insisted since it was the last night the whole group would have a chance to be together until Christmas. They were going down to the local hang out spot which was sort of a western style bar. Old folky country music, buck heads hung everywhere on the walls, and wooden tables all around. To her it looked just like the local Cracker Barrel with a big bar added to it. She would much rather be at home right now maybe reading, writing new songs, or just playing a couple of chords on her lovable side kick a.k.a her acoustic guitar.

The only thing exciting about going to this place tonight was a chance of seeing him again.

She had seen him a few times. More than a few times actually. She was embarrassed at the realization of the fact that she always sought him out when she came here. She would search through all the faces until her eyes fell upon him. She didn't think of it as obsession, just burning curiosity. There's a difference somewhere between the two.

Dark demeanor, greasy dark hair, torn jeans, and what seemed to be a permanent scowl on his lips. It was slightly disappointing. Never variety, just the same every night. Every once in a while he may wear a button up but mostly it was a white shirt (black, leather jacket placed behind him or beside him) with very torn up jeans. She wasn't complaining though. Far from it. He still attracted her to him like a moth to a flame. Quite a flame that was too.

This attraction was foreign to her. Never had she wanted to know something, anything about one person before. Why was he always with the same man every night? Why did he never seem to talk but just observe? If he didn't want to be at this place, why was he? It only took a few more nights, this exact night, to realize that the man that always accompanied him was his brother.

"Come on baby brother!" The man clasped the other man on the back of the shoulder roughly. "Lighten up. Learn ta not be such a fuckin prick all the damn time."

His brother was very loud and obnoxious. Very much the opposite of the man, who had now added on a piercing glare to that scowl of his. He shrugged off his brother's hand and walked to the bar to get himself another drink. Or maybe he was trying to just get away from his brother.

"Beth!"

Beth tore her eyes away from the man only to give her attention back to her group of friends. Jimmy had called out her name and her eyes rested on him as a small smile spread across his face. She returned it lazily and forced herself to listen to the conversation that was going on. There was apparently a party going on at midnight tonight and everyone was going. She would more than likely tag along, watch the others get wasted, and walk home... More than likely alone if things went her way. Boring and repetitive but she had to hold some sort of reputation. Or she felt like she still had too. But she didn't know why.

Even though graduation had been a few months ago, Beth felt as if she had never left High School. Which some people would be confused to why she was so annoyed and bored but… she wanted change. She didn't want to go to the same parties with the same people at the same houses. She wanted adventure. She wanted danger. She wanted him.

That was probably why she was so attracted to the man. He was different and definitely no one would expect, sweet farmer's daughter, Beth Greene to bring home. Her father would surely have a fit. Maybe even throw her out on the street. Surely not, but he would be mad. That she was sure of. Not that there was any chance she could even "bring home" a man like him. He didn't exactly look the type to want to meet a girl's parents. In fact, he didn't seem the type to want to talk to anyone at all.

Again, she turned her attention away from her friends (whom were preoccupied with future party plans) and looked over at the bar where she last saw him. It looked like he had decided to sit there and drink instead of go back to his table, which she couldn't really blame him. His brother had only gotten louder and more grotesque as the night went on.

The lighting had been dimmed quite a bit and the country music transitioned to almost background music compared to the volume of the different conversations going around. Maybe it was the noise he didn't like. Maybe he didn't like crowds. Or maybe he was just naturally anti-social in any type of situation. Beth prided herself on not being nosy and being the type to mind her own business, but this man… He spiked her curiosity, raised it a couple of levels for sure.

A sudden rush of confidence flooded her system and she played with the idea of going over and actually sitting with him, maybe even right next to him… If she dared. What was the worst thing he could do? Leave? Tell her to fuck off? Or maybe he would just look at her, scowl at her but just keep silent. After all, out of all the times she had seen him she couldn't recall him saying one word to anyone. Not even his brother. He would just sit and observe the activity and she once even saw him smile once or twice. But never said a word, and if he did she never caught it. It wasn't that she was creeping on him, she was just really interested in him. The reason for this much interest, you may ask? She had absolutely no idea.

Before her brain could catch up with her body she slid out from her table and started walking over to the bar. She could only imagine the facial expressions of her friends behind her. She gave a small smile to the image in her head and continued, her confidence only getting stronger and stronger and her heart beat beating faster and faster as she got closer to the seat next to him.

And it would have probably worked out okay. Would have.

Right before she reached the chair next to him, the man got up and swiveled around. He walked right into her, which in-turn had her walking right into his chest. She nearly fell backwards, the man's body was so strong and firm, but something was holding her in place.

His hands. His hands were holding onto her arms. They were very warm and firm, just like his whole body was. She looked up at him shyly and was surprised to see that his scowl was nonexistent. His eyes still conveyed a sense of annoyance but also something else. Embarrassment? Maybe. She couldn't quite tell.

His hands came away from her quickly and he muttered what sounded like an apology before he left her standing there. She turned slightly and watched as he made his way back to his brother. When he sat down, he made an effort not to look back at her. She could tell because his head was turned at a very odd angle.

Beth found this really funny. He may be a lot older than her but he acted like many of the boys in her school who were scared of girls and affection. The smile was still stuck on her face as she made her way to her table. No one asked but she could almost hear her friends' unasked questions through the stares they were giving her. Poor Jimmy seemed more thrown out of orbit than anyone else.

Beth just continued smiling and she was feeling almost smug with her bold decision. Never had she done something so out of the norm before. Walking up to a guy she had never met before(a complete stranger), who was clearly much older than her, to spark up a conversation. It didn't go the way she wanted it too but she still felt proud of herself for stepping out of her comfort zone.

She eventually snuck another look at him and was almost floored when her eyes met his. His eyes quickly averted and she let a small laugh leave her lips but quickly recovered and acted like she was paying attention to her group. A few minutes later she bit her lip coyly and again looked over at him and he was staring but this time he didn't look away.

Soon after she saw some movement next to him and realized his brother was ushering him out of the booth. It always was the brother's call on when they were to leave. But this time… the man hesitated. It was barely noticeable to anyone else in the room but she noticed.