A/N: I decided to write this summer love/happy and fluffly fic after I saw "Heroes", a movie by Pau Freixas. It's in Catalá, but I think there must be a version with English subtitles. If you find it, please watch it, it's beautiful.
Disclaimer: TWD and its characters are not my property. If I was, I'd make the cast perform every single fic I love.
The old and ramshackle Greene's family car moved forward through a dirt road with numerous bumps that provoked a rattle that had the whole family jolting.
"Shawn, stop it or I'm gonna smack you in the head!" Maggie wiggled as she tried to push her step-brother, who wouldn't stop pinching her quickly before he looked through the window like he had nothing to do with it. Shawn turned around and looked at her with an expression of innocence.
"What're you talking about? I haven't done anything" the boy replied. Maggie frowned and started pinching him herself, embroiling them both in a very brief –but intense- fight that ended as soon as Annette turned around and gazed at them significantly, "Mom, how much longer?"
"We're already arriving" the woman answered, taking off her sunglasses carefully, "But I warn you, if you two don't behave, you're not going to get out of the house in the whole summer".
Both siblings nodded and moved in their respective seats with their backs straight so they could prove they were going to obey.
Beth, on the other hand, was focused on her notebook, writing some things down carefully and then watching them for a moment as she bit her pen before she kept writing or she crossed it out.
"What are you writing, honey?" Annette asked her softly. Beth raised her head and smiled.
"I'm trying to write some lyrics for a melody that I can't get outta my head, but I can't find the appropriate words" she explained, tapping her notebook with the pen. Annette nodded and returned her the smile, relieved because at least she had one peaceful daughter.
"I'm sure you'll find the inspiration here" the woman assured her, stretching her arm to squeeze Beth's thigh fondly. Maggie snorted.
"You're sure? Wow, awesome, didn't know we were going to Dreamland" she said sarcastically.
"Maggie" Hershel intervened with a tone that seemed to say "watch your mouth".
"I know the idea of spending the summer here doesn't sound too inviting for you right now" Annette answered, "but I'm positive you'll like it. People here are lovely".
"And it'll be good for you to put some distance with your friends for a while" Hershel added. Maggie frowned.
"What's wrong 'bout them?"
"Don't start" the man sighed. Maggie straightened up even more.
"No, c'mon, what's wrong with them?"
"Enough!" Annette snapped, raising both hands and gazing at Maggie. She sighed dramatically and dropped her head against the seat, surrounding for now. Suddenly, the Greene's matriarch gasped, "There it is!"
The three siblings turned to see what Annette was pointing at, the town of Lincoln. From the car, that place seemed to be formed essentially of little houses that composed those strange steep streets, hidden from curious eyes thanks to the forests that surrounded the town. However, and since the car had already gone through those woods a few minutes ago, the place was clearly visible, and Beth couldn't help leaning a bit more against the car window to appreciate the view in a better way.
As they moved forward and got deeper into the town, Shawn kept making a guided tour.
"Look, there's an outdoor cinema there sometimes in summer" he explained, pointing at some point in a big square, "And there's my friend Patrick's house. Oh, that's the best ice cream shop in Georgia".
Beth was secretly amused with her brother's enthusiasm. Truth is she understood him: Lincoln was a really beautiful place. She had even caught some looks of admiration from her sister as she tried to pretend she was still mad, refusing to look straight through the car windows.
"Where's the house?" Beth asked, stretching to see more.
"Right… here" her dad answered before Shawn could, and parked the car suddenly. Beth opened the door, her neck extremely bent in order to see the whole house. She had her notebook and pen on one hand and she used the other one to protect her eyes from the blinding sun. She heard her family talking and the sound of the trunk as they took out the luggage, but she was too absorbed.
It was a two-storey house, way smaller than the farmhouse, and still with a really attractive charm. The façade was incredibly white, considering that it was outside, and the house had a slate roof with sky blue windows.
"Earth to Bethy" Shawn waved his hand in front of her face to make her react, "Shall we got in or not?"
She nodded energetically and hastened in follow her family to the inside.
It was unbelievable. They hadn't been there for more than two hours, and suddenly everyone in Lincoln knew that Annette Halpert and her son were back, accompanied of a new last name and three strangers that were now their family. Suddenly, that apparently peaceful house turned into an incredibly crowded place. People kept coming from everywhere, beaming and greeting them and dying to know those people who claimed to be Annie's husband and step-daughters.
Beth found herself being dragged from one person to another, being introduced to everyone and having to hear over and over again how "sweet and beautiful" she was. She felt slightly uncomfortable about how intently her neighbors were analyzing her, but still she smiled and was kind to everyone, as she had been taught, nodding and staying beside her daddy and Annette.
However, Maggie didn't seem to be so obedient. Annette was introducing Beth to one of her best friends in the town, Pam, and they couldn't stop laughing because of some kind of private joke:
"Pam's the owner of an art gallery a couple streets down" Annette explained, feeling proud for her friend, "She's such a kind person that she has exposed my work more than once".
"Well, not like there are lots of artists 'round here anyway" her friend laughed.
"Beth's a great artist" Beth blushed, "Her voice's just beautiful, you should hear her singing. And there's also… where's Maggie?"
The three of them turned around at the same time to search her, but her brunette head didn't seem to be in that crowd.
"Excuse her, she must be exploring the town on her own" Annette apologized, "You know how they are at her age".
Pam sighed, smiling at her knowingly.
"I totally understand. When Luke was around her age, he acted like he was embarrassed of my sole existence" she complained lightly.
"I think Shawn's not here either" Beth commented quietly, "Can I go for a walk?"
"Sure, go, go" Annette told her absently, trying to keep talking to her friend about a new art exposition.
Beth moved through the people quickly, getting out of the house at full speed, almost running, trying not to run into anyone who could recognize "Annette's new daughter" and stopped her to interrogate her.
She spotted Shawn at the end of the street and smiled. She covered the distance that separated them sprinting, but then he turned and frowned, and Beth stopped suddenly.
"What're you doin' here?" he asked her brusquely.
"Well, weren't you gonna show me the town?" she answered without deflating. Shawn sighed.
"Not now, okay, Bethy?" he told her, facing about. Beth opened her mouth to speak, but then one of the houses' door opened and a tall, ungainly boy with dark hair appeared.
"Hey, Halpert!" he greeted him cheerfully. Both of them smiled and bumped their fists, happy to see each other, "I'd heard you were back, but I hadn't believed it. What're you doin here?"
"My mom convinced her husband to spend the summer here" he replied, straightening up slightly, as if he wanted to look taller. Beth was confused.
Suddenly, both boys seemed to acknowledge her presence and Shawn's frown reappeared.
"Who is this?" the boy asked with a half-grin.
"She's just my step-sister" Shawn answered, shrugging and turning so his back was facing Beth. She felt a pang of pain on her chest. Shawn had never called her "his step-sister". She had always been Bethy or her baby sister.
"She got a name?" the boy kept going, not looking away from her.
"Beth" she answered before Shawn could. He looked at her angrily.
"Nice to meet you, Beth. I'm Paul" he introduced himself, handing his arm out to her. Beth shook his hand and smiled gently, and then Shawn decided he had had enough.
"Beth, can you leave? We're busy".
"You're busy during summer?" Beth countered.
"Hey, your sister can come too if she wants to" Paul intervened, but Shawn shook his head, annoyed.
"No way" he retorted, emphasizing every word. Beth huffed.
"I don't wanna go, you jerk" she answered, offended. She took a step back and contained herself not to stick her tongue out at him, "Bye, Paul".
"Goodbye, Beth" the boy answered, that half-grin still on his face. Beth turned around and started returning the way she came, stomping of pure angriness.
What was wrong with him? Not even a day ago he was Shawn, her annoying but yet sweet older brother, her Shawn, and suddenly he saw his old friends and he acted like he didn't even know her.
"Idiot" she muttered, walking through the streets, not really knowing where she was heading to, "Idiot, idiot, idiot".
She was walking so fast that suddenly she realized she wasn't surrounded by those pretty houses. She had reached the limits of the town, in where there were a lot older and rickety houses. As Beth moved forward, she realized that trailers and mobile homes were replacing those houses. She felt suddenly unprotected. That part of the town seemed so far away from the familiar ambient that she had felt back there. It was almost as if the rest of the world had forgotten that piece of Lincoln.
She crossed her arms over her chest, like she was trying to cover herself, and she kept walking while she tried to remember where was her house.
"Hey, you!" someone called her out behind her. Beth gazed at them quickly and saw a boy older than her, leaning against a motorbike and surrounded by his friends, who were also staring at her. Beth turned again and kept moving, aware that in those situations, paying attention to them was the worst thing she could do, "Yeah, the blondie! C'mere, sweetie!"
"Are you deaf or what1?" another boy yelled, and Beth quickened the pace, "Hey, don't run, come with us!"
Beth closed her eyes briefly without stopping.
"Ignore them, ignore them" she muttered to herself. But suddenly, she heard them following her. Panic flooded through her system, and she started going faster until she was practically sprinting.
"Look, she's running!" one laughed.
Beth turned a very brief moment, just to check where they were, but it was enough for the boy that had been leaning against the bike to reach her and grab her by her arm.
"No need to be afraid, gorgeous" he told her, with a wolfish grin, "You're new around here, right?"
"What's a goody two shoes like you doin' round here, huh?" another boy asked jokingly, and the others laughed stupidly.
"Well, well, let's be nice, yeah, boys?" the one of the motorbike approached her, and Beth found herself backing up, "Excuse my friends, they're like animals, aren't they? I'm Joe" and he lifted his arm. Beth, who was too polite to reject it, tried to shake his hand, but suddenly he took hers and planted a kiss on her knuckles, acting like a sudden gentleman, "These are Len, Lou, Harley and Tony. We didn't mean to scare you, sweetie, we just wanted to meet you".
"You didn't scare me" Beth answered, but her voice wavered, and Joe's smile widened.
"Is that it?" he asked, flicking his tongue, "Well, then there's no way you can refuse a ride with us, right? We could show you the real monuments of this dump".
"I'd love to" Beth lied, trying to be as charming as possible, "but I have to get home or my parents will get worried".
"Then let us give you a lift" he insisted, "Do you see that beauty?" he pointed at the bike, "I won it over some jackass in a race. It goes smoothly. I wouldn't mind taking you home if you want".
"You're really kind, but it's not necessary" Beth nodded, not knowing how to get rid of them. She decided that a quick escape would be the easiest option, but as soon as she tried to move, he grabbed her by her forearm, this time a little bit tighter.
"C'mon, c'mon, why are you rushing so much? Your parents don't need to worry, you're safe with us" he told her, and the others nodded. Beth decided that being nice wouldn't work anymore.
"Look" she started, trying to look daunting, "thanks for the offer, but it's not necessary. I wanna go home or my parents and my older brother are gonna come for me".
"You're brother's gonna come looking for you?"
"Yeah, he is. Shawn, you know him?" she retorted, standing on her tiptoes slightly and straightening up. The rest of them looked at each other, until finally Joe laughed.
"Course, how I could not realize 'fore? You're Halpert's step-sister".
"He's Greene now" Beth corrected him.
"Whatever. Well, I know Shawn. He's a decent guy. Honest. People don't know shit 'bout honesty nowadays, you know what I mean?" Beth nodded, just to manage to leave as soon as possible, "Okay, gorgeous, then I have to make sure you get home safely".
Beth contained an exasperated huff.
"But you don't wanna ride my bike and I'm too old to go" Beth wanted to snort, considering the boy seemed just a couple years older than Shawn, "So…" Joe lifted his eyes from her and smiled widely, "Look at this, just in time!"
Beth turned around and saw two boys, one who seemed to be on his late twenties, and the other one, who seemed to be around those boys' age. They were getting out of the woods.
"Dixon brothers, I'm happy to see you" Joe commented, "Merle, you got out, huh? How was it?"
"Same shit as ever" the older one answered, shrugging, "Lucky me I had Darylina to bail me out and make me a decent man" they all laughed except for the younger brother and Beth. She looked at him, who was looking at her just at the same time, and as soon as their eyes met Beth wanted to fix her gaze on the ground and never raise her head again.
"You a decent man. I'd pay to see that" Harley said.
"Huh, who's the jailbait?" Merle asked, pointing at her. Beth flinched slightly.
"Halpert's baby sister" Len answered.
"Didn't know Halpert had a sister".
"He doesn't, she's her step-sister" Joe commented, "And I was just telling her that she needs someone to walk her home. You know what kind of bad people are here" and he smiled. Beth contained a shiver and clenched her hands in fists so no one could notice they were shaking slightly.
"I already told you it's not necessary, really" Beth repeated quietly, turning so she could look at Joe, "I can get home on my own".
"No way" Merle said loudly, "That's perfect, 'cause Darylina was just tellin' me how little he wanted to come to the bar today, so he can walk you home".
Beth dared to squint at her swiftly, just as Merle's little brother spoke for the first time.
"I don't have time to walk kids home 'cause she can't find her house on a shitty town" he replied acidly. Beth frowned lightly.
"And I didn't ask you to" she retorted, taking a step forward.
"Daryl, be reasonable" Joe told him, "You're not gonna ignore a damsel in distress, are you?"
"I'm not-"
Suddenly a roar broke the conversation, and a motorbike ridden by a boy with the same aspect as the rest appeared… and Maggie's arms were wrapped around that boy's waist.
"Maggie!" Beth exclaimed, surprised and relieved to see a familiar face. Her sister seemed as shocked as her to see her there. She approached her quickly, swaying her hips lightly, "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I like this one better" Merle licked his lips, looking her from head to toe, "A real woman".
"Halpert's definitely a lucky fucker" Joe muttered.
"Hey, she's with me" the boy who was riding the bike, frowning.
"Of course, sure" Joe said, lifting both hands, "All yours".
"Beth, what are you doing here?" Maggie repeated, grabbing her by her arm.
"I was taking a walk and I got lost" Beth confessed quietly, "But the question is, what are you doing here?"
Maggie shrugged nonchalantly.
"Maybe Annette's right. People here are lovely" she answered sarcastically, and she casted a flirty look at the boy with the bike, "But you shouldn't be here".
"We were just talking 'bout that, honey" Merle said then, approaching Maggie, "My baby brother's willing to walk her home".
Maggie looked at Daryl and frowned.
"Not necessary, I can walk her home".
"But you were coming to the bar, weren't you, Maggie?" that boy said, "We have to give you a proper welcome".
"My Darylina is one hundred percent reliable" Merle assured her, "He'll walk her home safe and sound. He didn't want to come today anyway. Right, baby brother?"
Daryl stared daggers at him before he shook his head jerkily.
"Everythin' settled then. Shall we go, mademoiselle?" and he offered his arm to Maggie, who accepted it hesitantly.
"Beth, if dad asks for me, you make something up, alright?" she instructed her over her shoulder, and Beth nodded with resignation, not liking a little bit what her sister was doing. If her daddy found out with what kind of people she was hanging out, or worse, if he found out they were going to a bar, Beth was convinced Maggie wouldn't get out of the house for the rest of the summer.
However, Maggie was her sister. If she asked Beth to cover her, she had to do so. They both had each other's backs.
So she sighed as she watched her disappear with that group, until it was just Daryl and her. Daryl didn't even look at her before he started walking quickly. Beth had to rush to reach him.
"Like I don't have nothin' better to do" she heard him grumble.
"It wasn't my idea" she protested.
"It was you who got lost in a tiny town" he retorted, still not looking at her. Beth flushed lightly.
"I didn't do that on purpose" Beth replied, offended, "Besides, you don't have to walk me home if you hate the idea so much. Just because your brother ordered you to do so don't mean you actually have to obey him".
Daryl stopped suddenly, and if looks could kill, Beth would be already buried. She gulped, feeling intimidated, and she looked away immediately.
"I don't wanna be a bother" she added in a lighter tone.
"Too late" he barked bitterly, and Beth gritted her teeth.
They walked silently until they were at the beginning of her house's street. For when they were there, the sun was already setting down, darkening Lincoln, and Beth wasn't annoyed anymore, instead feeling thankful.
"Thanks for walking me home" she told her, smiling softly, "You've been really nice".
He gazed at her for a second, visibly confused for her sudden kindness, and he nodded once as he shrugged one shoulder.
"Was nothing" he answered, his gaze wandering anywhere but her.
"Still. I know you'd prefer bein' with your friends".
"They're not my friends" he corrected her immediately, and Beth nodded.
"Okay. Thanks anyway".
Daryl seemed to think about it before he spoke again.
"Try not to get lost walking down the street" he said brusquely, but Beth just smiled, knowing he wasn't really being malicious.
"I'll try" she promised him, "Bye, Daryl".
But he had already turned around and started walking up the street, disappearing behind one of the corners.
Beth stood there for a moment, and suddenly she heard Shawn behind her.
"Beth, what're you lookin' at?" he asked her. Beth turned around, blinked and shook her head.
"No one" she answered, ignoring the fact that he had asked her "what" and not "who". She walked past him and entered the house, and Shawn took a few steps forward, trying to see whatever her baby sister had been watching so intently.
A/N: Okay, so this is pretty introductory, even though things are going to be more explained in the future: Annette used to live here with Shawn, obviously before she married Hershel. Just to clarify, and considering this is a "summer love" fic, ages are changed: Beth's sixteen, Maggie's eighteen, Shawn's almost twenty, Daryl's twenty-three and Merle's twenty-seven. Not such a big difference, right? I promise it was totally necessary for the plot. I love NR being twenty, forty or even eighty.
Thanks for reading and please review!