Chapter 2: The Latin Equation
Rick clapped his hands as he walked back stage. Daryl was wiping the sweat from his face and neck, side-eyeing Beth from the corner.
"Great job tonight. Sorry to say, Abe didn't show." Rick clasped a hand on Glenn's shoulder, feeling the disappointment right along with them.
Daryl looked up to see this sexy little Latin beauty walking towards them. He placed the towel around his neck and approached her.
"Sorry, darlin'. No groupies tonight." He smirked back at Glenn when the lovely senorita handed him her business card.
A very large lump grew in his throat as he tried to remove his foot from his mouth. The logo on the card read MotherDick Records, Rosita Ford, Talent Scout.
"Fuck," Daryl said as Rick took the card from him.
"Sorry Abraham couldn't make it tonight. He's signing a new band. Maybe you've heard of them… Apocalypse Rising." Rosita looked back at them, seeing at least Tara and Daryl had heard of them.
Tara ran over and hugged Rosita. They were old college roommates and she hadn't seen her since her wedding. Rick placed his hand on Rosita's shoulder and escorted her off to the private office he was using for tonight.
"Damn… Apocalypse Rising is the hottest thing out there," Tara said as she placed her guitar in the case.
Daryl tossed his towel over his head as he leaned back in the chair by the door. "We're better and you know it. We just need to work on some original music."
"I write," Beth spoke up, looking at only Daryl.
He looked so damn hot all sweaty and in his button up shirt with his sleeves rolled up. She couldn't stop staring at his tattoos. His arms looked like they were covered in ink and she began to wonder how much more of him was inked up.
"I don't think songs about being dumped or finding your prince are gonna cut it for us, Greene. We need hard, angry songs that drip with sex." Daryl teased her from under the towel, smirking as she rose from her chair.
"I can do angry. After a few days with you, I'll be writing songs so good, Apocalypse Rising will want them. And yes, I know who they are. Maggie took me to see them a few weeks ago." She gave him a sassy smile as she pulled the gray tank off and slid on a robe.
Daryl got just enough of a peek of her perfect, milky skin to make his dick go hard again. He let out a low growl as she walked past him and he could see a bead of sweat rolling down her neck.
"Earth to Dixon." Tara snapped her fingers in front of Daryl's face, looking right at him.
"Yeah… sorry. What?" He huffed out and Tara chuckled.
"Rick said to get our asses in the van. Merle's got the equipment packed up, so we're ready to head to the hotel." Daryl heard Tara's words, but they somehow didn't register back to him until he heard the word, hotel.
He walked out the back entrance to the van, wondering who Beth was bunking with. As he opened the van door, he saw Rosita and Rick coming towards them.
Beth was already in the van, jotting down something in that tattered journal of hers. He wanted to ask her what she was writing, but Rick looked like he had some news for them.
Rosita smiled back at Rick before she gave them the good news. "Abe said he wants to hear some of your original stuff. I'll be back in a month at your gig in Atlanta. Have me something I can take back to Abe and Double Enterdre just may have a record contract."
Glenn hugged Daryl, the two of them so excited to finally hear those words. Daryl looked back at Tara, who was nodding and smiling. Rosita waved goodbye to them as her driver pulled up.
Rick leaned into the door of the van looking for Beth. "Thank you for tonight. You really sang your ass off and Rosita said it was your performance that sold her. She said she wants to see more of your and Daryl's chemistry on stage. I have to agree… I want to see more of it myself."
Daryl chuckled at the word. Chemistry? What chemistry? He didn't think Beth belonged in their band and he sure as hell didn't think he had chemistry with her. She was a decent singer and she looked the part tonight, but he knew she didn't have what it took to make a real rock singer.
Beth tilted her head against the seat as she curled up, pulling her knees to her chest. Her studded heels had been replaced with her black Chucks and she couldn't wait to get her makeup off. Tara had given her a very smoky eye, with think eyeliner and deep ruby red lips. Her blush was a little dramatic for her, but it definitely was the rock star look.
Daryl climbed in the van, sitting up front with Glenn as he usually did. Rick and Tara climbed in the back with Beth, Tara slapping the back of Daryl's head when she caught him checking Beth out in the rear view mirror.
"What was that for?" Daryl asked and Tara lifted her eyebrows and shrugged her shoulders.
He knew damn well what that was for and he was glad Tara didn't call him on it. Glenn looked over at him, still wearing that very joyful smile.
"If you want, we can start working on some lyrics tonight. I like that arrangement you were working on last week, the bass was killer." Glenn started the van, not noticing the way his best friend was checking out his girl's sister.
"Sure. Glenn, question?" Daryl looked over at him, narrowing his eyes from the oncoming headlights.
"Is it about, Beth?" he teased him back and dropped his smile when Daryl gave him a very serious stare.
"Have you read her lyrics? How are her songs?" He looked over his shoulder at the sleeping songstress, letting out a sigh.
Glenn didn't answer him back for a while as he made the turn towards the hotel. Daryl sat there in quiet reflection, wondering what it was about this girl that got his dander up. Was it just the fact he hadn't picked her himself? Was it her sweet, innocence look that had no edge to it at all or was it she had proven him wrong more than once tonight?
He was sure the real reason was that she got under his skin with how hard she was trying to fit in. In his world, you either fit or you didn't and she most definitely didn't fit. She was too young, too pretty and too freaking sweet to front a rock band. There was no doubt in his mind, this world was going to eat her alive.
Glenn pulled up to the hotel, parking at the front doors and finally answered him.
"Her stuff is good. I'll invite her to our room so you can see for yourself." Glenn was out the door before Daryl had a chance to protest.
It was late, too damn late to have to entertain little miss perfect. He opened the van door when his brother and band equipment manager, Merle, shouted at him.
"Daryl, beers?" Merle held up a six pack as he made his way into the hotel.
It was customary for him, Glenn and Merle to have an after gig drink, if they weren't pulling an all nigther driving.
After he grabbed his bag, he made his way inside. Glenn was holding the elevator for him as he and Beth stepped in together.
She leaned back against the wall with her eyes closed and her earbuds in. He looked down at the Ipod in her hands to see Nirvana on the screen.
He felt the smile creep on his face as she sang the song in a low tone. "Come as you are is a good one."
Beth pulled out one of her ear buds and returned his smile. "Yeah… it is. Nirvana is in my top ten fav bands. If you want we can add it to the set list for the next gig. I know this song by heart."
"We haven't played that song in a long time. It would be great to kick it again." Daryl nodded his head as he picked at his fingers.
Before she could place her earbud back in, he blurted out what was really on his mind, with a small lie behind it.
"Glenn said he needs to go over some of your originals. Rosita will be back in a month and we need to have at least one song for her." He placed his thumb in his mouth and chewed on the side as he studied her face.
"I'll go through them and find one for Glenn. You want to come to my room or do you want me to bring it to your room?" The giggle that trickled from her lips made him smirk. She was being bold and he sort of liked it.
"Our room," he answered too quickly, getting a look from Glenn.
The elevator stopped and they stepped out while Glenn walked up ahead of them. Daryl was about to ask to see her music when Tara came running up behind them.
"Hey, roomie. I just got off the phone with my BFF and Rosita loves you. I got a few more ideas for outfits for you. You're like having a life sized Barbie doll." Tara took Beth's hand and pulled her towards their room.
Daryl had to fight the chuckle that was rolling up from his chest. That's exactly what she was and with that clarity, he made up his mind to get her out of this lifestyle before it tarnished her golden image.
Glenn and Merle were kicked back and having a beer when he finally made it to the room. He grabbed a bottle and flopped on his bed.
"So, you and Blondie?" Merle asked, licking the beer off his lips.
"No… shut up." Daryl tossed back the beer, gulping it down.
"Yeah, sure. I ain't blind, little brother. Maybe not now, but soon." Merle informed him as he took another beer and headed off to his room.
Glenn didn't say anything as he walked out behind Merle, leaving Daryl to drink another beer and do some thinking.
He'd slipped out of his jeans and shirt, tossing on his baggy gray sweat and Double Entredre t-shrit. He was about to crash on the bed when he heard a small knocking on the door.
"Glenn, did you lock yourself out again, dumbass?" He jerked the door open to find Beth standing there wearing a too big Pearl Jam t-shirt and way too tiny white cotton shorts.
Thanks for giving this little fic a read and for the reviews. There's some major sparks coming so stick around to see what the Bassist and Songbird do next.