A/N: First of all, I cannot express how grateful I am! Thank you so much, guys! I honestly thought this story would be a flop and no one would read it, but here y'all go proving me wrong. Thank you so very much! Now I just hope I can do this fic justice. Also, this story is going to be a little bit of a slow build. I don't want to just jump right into it. It wouldn't feel quite the same. And kudos to anyone who can spot different references from other TV shows I may use from time to time.
Upon returning home, Beth thanked Shawn once again before heading straight upstairs to her room. She threw her purse down on her bed and shut the door. Her mind was still reveling at the fact she had been flirting with that man, Daryl. There was no way she could keep this to herself. If anything, she needed to talk to Haley and hope she would talk some sense into her. She couldn't be hitting on a thirty-something year old guy. But maybe it didn't hurt…
"Hey—you're really good at flirting with guys. I need some advice." Beth had dialed Haley's number as she sat on the edge of her bed staring out across her room at the wall.
"Well, hello to you too," Haley laughed. "But um, Beth Greene? Flirting? Are we on the same page?"
"I know, I know. I can't talk to Maggie about this. She'd just laugh in my face and leave it at that. Besides, I think she's still mad."
"That's what older sister's are for. Now spill, who's the guy?" Haley sounded genuinely interested. She was always the 'go-to' girl when it came to boys. She'd had experience and she definitely knew how to draw a guy's attention. She played it off like she was an innocent country farm girl like Beth but really, she was far from it. Of course, her parents didn't need to know that bit of information because Haley was her closest friend and she had been since they were little kids.
"I went to Sasha's earlier to work on the project for Mr. Harrison's class and on the way home, the Sable broke down. I was mad at Maggie for not taking it in to the shop or having someone look at it but after today, I don't know. I'd almost have to thank her for not getting it fixed." Beth found herself laughing now that she thought about it. She wouldn't have met Daryl if the Sable hadn't broken down.
"Did he help you with the car? You're going to point him out tomorrow at school, right?"
"He looked at it but… I think it'd be a little impossible to point him out at school, seeing as he wouldn't be there." Beth bit her lip. Now she was becoming more and more curious how Haley was going to take it.
"There's no other high school around here, unless…" Haley paused. "Oh my gosh, Beth! He's older?"
Beth scrunched her face even though Haley couldn't see her through the phone, forcing a small "yeah" to escape her mouth.
"You mean to tell me you of all people were hitting on an older man? Beth Greene, I am proud of you! How did you manage that one? I mean, heck, what does he look like?"
"I don't know? He was tall, definitely a biker guy, he kind of had that… greasy, biker look." Beth paused for a moment, sighing. "Is it bad that he's most likely in his thirties?"
"You're kidding!" Haley gasped over the receiver. "Okay, no seriously. Are you making this up right now?"
"Normally, I would say yes. But I'm not. He exists."
Before she knew it, her bedroom door was opening and Beth drowned out everything Haley was saying to her in that moment. Her mom stood in her doorway with the kitchen towel in hand, smiling.
"Hey, I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Beth hung up and set her phone down next to her, smiling back at her mom. "Yes, mommy?"
"I just thought I'd make sure you were okay. You took off in such a rush once you and Shawn got back. He said there was some older guy messing around with the car?"
"He was just trying to help, that's all. It's alright," Beth nodded.
"I'm just glad you're okay. Shawn told me this happened right outside of Jake's Bar. Your father and I have heard horror stories about that place… You know you could have called us to come pick you up, right?" Her mother tossed the kitchen towel on her shoulder and folded her arms in front of her chest.
"I know, mom. I'll remember that if it happens again."
"Let's hope it doesn't," her mom smiled as she turned on her heels and closed the door behind her.
"You want to do what exactly?"
"Keep your voice down. I don't want anyone else to know," Beth turned to Haley. She was leaning against the locker next to Beth's as a grin slowly crept across her face. The hallway was full of other students and faculty—the last thing Beth needed was for someone to overhear Haley talking about Daryl at school. That wouldn't go over well.
"Sorry, it's just that I'm having a hard time believing this. You're going to convince this guy—what?"
"I'm going to convince him that I'm not just some little girl. I'm tired of all of you making fun of me." Beth shut her locker and shifted her textbooks in her hands.
"You do realize this could go one of two ways," Haley crossed her arms. "He could be an absolute pig or the complete opposite—he won't do anything with you. I've had my fair share of both and either way, I don't want to see you get hurt."
Beth rolled her eyes, "I'm not going to get hurt. It's just a little fun."
They started to walk down the hall together, weaving in and out of all the people. The freshmen were still easy to spot since more than half of them still hadn't figured out how the hallway traffic worked: keep to the right. There were only two more months left before summer break and it went without saying, Beth couldn't wait.
"How are you even going to see him again?" Haley questioned, a good question at that.
Beth shrugged, "I guess I'll just have to go back to Barksdale. I was already thinking about it really."
"You're crazy."
Before either of them could say anymore, Jimmy had spotted them coming from the opposite direction. He waved as they returned the favor, joining them.
"Hey, ladies. Beth," Jimmy smiled. "…Who's crazy?"
Haley smacked him on the back of the head, "I'm here too ya know. Name's Haley." She joked. "Can't Beth and I have our own little conversation without anyone butting in?"
"Of course. Just thought I'd ask," Jimmy shrugged.
The bell rang and the three dismissed each other for their next class. Four minutes between classes was hardly enough to talk to friends, especially when wanting some privacy in doing so. And as Beth took her seat in her chemistry class, she couldn't help but grin. Haley thought she was crazy—that was a first. Maybe she didn't think she could do it. Regardless, Beth was going to prove her wrong. She'd prove everyone wrong. She wasn't just some country girl, 'farmer's daughter'.
Challenge accepted.
Everything seemed to work out perfectly once Beth got home that afternoon. She didn't have any homework and her original plan to try and see Daryl again was looking to slowly fall into place. Maggie was out with some friends, leaving the Sable behind—which their dad and Shawn had managed to fix up and bring back home. The problem? Spark plugs. Exactly what Daryl had mentioned it most likely was.
Beth had already grabbed the key to the Sable when she approached her mom. "I'm gonna go over to Sasha's again. Our project still needs a bit more work."
Her mother smiled, "Okay, that's fine. Just try not to be out too late." Luckily, she left it at that. If she had said anything about the actual project, Beth would have felt guilty for lying—though she technically did already. But she wasn't hurting anything by taking a little drive.
"I'll be home later," Beth kissed her mother on the cheek before she grabbed her purse from off the dining room table and headed outside. The air was hot and muggy, but that was typical for Georgia. As she walked towards the Sable, her eyes scanned over the vast empty field. Sometimes she wondered what it would be like to live closer to the city and have actual neighbors right next door.
Beth sat in the driver's seat and shut the door, throwing her purse into the passenger seat and sticking the key into the ignition. This was really the first time she had ever fibbed to her mom. She was leaving to do something her family would disapprove of. It was clear as day that Shawn wasn't too fond of Daryl based off his appearance, and if Shawn wasn't too fond of him, there was no chance in hell her parents would be. She would have to keep this a secret from them if she wanted to keep at it. She was determined. It almost felt like a bet, like a dare she had been forced to. If she didn't succeed at it, then she'd feel at an absolute loss. How was she ever supposed to make a living for herself and break out of her siblings' shadows? To break out of the traditional Greene family name?
Before she knew it, she was putting the Sable into park just outside of Jake's Bar yet not too close to the doors. She was more off to the side of the building as she shut the engine off and sighed. Her heart was racing in her chest and her hands were shaking. He was attractive and that's all she knew about him. Why was she freaking out?
Maybe because I'm not used to this…
She didn't realize she was holding her breath when she saw a figure emerge from the bar. She exhaled once she noticed it wasn't Daryl. But he did follow right behind the guy not a minute later.
Beth watched as the two men had a small conversation of the sorts. Whatever they were talking about, it must have been humorous to some extent. She could see Daryl grin as the other guy punched him in the shoulder before hopping onto one of the motorcycles. Suddenly she was hoping she could make him grin like that. The look suited him.
There was a brief roar of a motorcycle as the man Daryl was talking to left. This was Beth's chance. If she was going to take it, it had to be now. She had to act before another guy came around or before he decided to leave himself.
Beth forced her legs to move as she exited from the car. She locked it and tried to look as calm and collected as possible while she moved towards him. He wasn't looking in her direction but she was almost certain the closer she got, he'd notice her movement from the corner of his eye.
Surely enough, he did.
"Barbie? What're you doin' here?" Daryl turned to her in that moment, squinting his eyes.
Beth forced a smile and she swore her lips quivered with a nervousness that only seemed to escalate at the proximity of him. "I was driving through, thought I'd stop. I don't think I thanked you yesterday."
"Got the problem fixed, huh?" Daryl looked passed her at the car. He brought his attention back to her, "Ain't no big deal. Didn't fix nothing, just mostly talked."
"Well, I enjoyed your company." Beth gazed into his blue eyes that were staring back into hers for just a brief moment before he glanced away. Was he nervous too? Or was she just looking too far into it? Maybe he was uncomfortable?
Daryl scoffed while digging his pack of cigarettes from out of his pocket. He placed one on his lips while glancing back down at her, "Shouldn't you be in school or something?" He lit the cigarette before putting everything back away, taking a drag.
"It's 4 o'clock in the afternoon," Beth narrowed her eyes and forced a small laugh.
He shrugged, "Whatever."
Once she realized he wasn't going to say anymore after that, she racked her brain for a conversation starter. She had to push on. She couldn't let their talk fall flat and stand there looking like even more of an idiot…
"So how long have you been riding? Your motorcycle."
Daryl raised an eyebrow but he didn't question her antics, which she was thankful for. Maybe he was alright with talking to her after all. "Probably since I was your age. It's still holding together though. Laid 'er down a time or two when I was younger."
Beth glanced over towards the motorcycle she assumed was his. Now that he mentioned it, she could see a few scuffs across the gas tank and a slight dent. "Ouch?"
"Nah, I was being a jackass. S'my own fault, I deserved it." Daryl took another drag of his cigarette.
"I'd hardly say you deserved it." Beth smirked, "Were you trying to show off?"
She caught the slightest grin cross his lips, "Maybe a little. Mostly inexperienced at the time. Now it's just the other assholes on the road."
"Yeah, definitely," Beth agreed. "People aren't very courteous on the road."
"That's why ya gotta be a defensive driver." Daryl smashed the cigarette out with his boot and looked back at her, chewing on the corner of his mouth. "I was actually gonna leave. Got somewhere I gotta be."
Beth tried not to show her frown. Pouting wouldn't move her forward in his book. Instead, she bit her lip. "Oh…"
"But hey," Daryl caught her attention. "It was nice seeing ya, Barbie. And try not to get stranded again."
"It's Beth," she reminded him. "And I'll try not to. If I do, let's hope you're there to help, right?"
"Beth… Got it," Daryl smirked. "Don't get your hopes up. I ain't Spiderman—my spidey senses don't tingle when there's danger."
Beth stifled a laugh, partially because she wondered if any of his other senses were tingling. The thought made her grow warm in the face and she knew there was no way she could hide her blush against her soft white skin.
She noticed Daryl even seemed to blush a little after her and then she felt mortified that he could read her thoughts. He chuckled, a full blown smile now etched across his face and showcasing his perfectly straight teeth for the first time. He pointed a finger a Beth, "That probably wasn't my best choice of words…"
Beth smiled, "Maybe not but it was cute."
Daryl shook his head and sighed. He mounted his motorcycle and glanced back at her. "See ya 'round, Beth."
