A/N Thank you all so much! I'm glad you're enjoying this story because I'm enjoying writing it for you! Daryl and Beth are in the Spring of their Junior year of High School.
There's confusion about a couple of things so let me clarify. This is not a flashback it's real time. Although we slowly progress through these fun "growing-up" years, our couple will have more adult issues as time passes.
But until then let's have some 17 year old good times!
He knew this shit meant something to her and he did try to make her happy but it seemed there was one of these dumbass dances every week. She knew he didn't like to dance, well maybe a slow one with her once in a while, but that was pretty much it for him. He wished she just wouldn't ask him. No such luck.
And he knew he couldn't just tell her no all the time. She had her heart set on this Junior Prom, he was going to have to do some serious thinking and then do some real convincing kind of talking.
"But Daryl you didn't take me to the Sweetheart's Ball either, or for that matter the Harvest Ball in October. We can't just always do what you like you know, you have to try things I like too. Please."
"I know an I ain't tryin' ta be a dick I swear ta you Beth. What I wanna do is take ya somewhere an have a special evenin' just you an me. Alone. I'ma make all the plans an it's gonna be a surprise. I'll take care a everythin'. I'll pick ya up at 6:30, don't eat dinner it's included. Sound alright? Oh, an it ain't gonna be too fancy, but I promise ya girl it'll be nice."
She took in a deep breath and shrugged her shoulders, "Yes it's alright, but you have to take me to the Senior Prom next year, promise?"
"Alright yeah, I will. I'll even get ya one a them flower thingies, pin it on ya an all, k?" And when he put his arms around her and gave her that deep kiss she knew she was going to let him off the hook.
She also knew just about everything there was to know about Daryl Dixon and so she knew, he spent a whole lot of time out of his comfort zone trying hard to fit in and to make her happy.
And she was happy. Daryl was the best boyfriend a girl could hope for.
He was sunk and he knew it but he was going to do the very best he could. And he hoped like hell his best would be good enough.
He scouted out the place, yeah it was perfect. He even made a list of what he needed and he started to gather his supplies. He even decided to buy some new jeans and maybe a shirt. He couldn't be showing up for her in the same ratty clothes he wore all the time.
As much as she loved him, and she knew she never wanted any guy but him, she was kind of disappointed. She really wanted to go to this prom. She talked to Maggie about it.
"Bethie you've known Daryl practically your entire life can you seriously see him wanting to go to this stuff? And you know how he always tries hard to make it up to you. I think you have to feel good about that. And the Senior Prom is the really big one and he said he'd go to that. Most of these dance things are all about the girls trying to outdo each others dresses, and trying to prove how much their boyfriend loves them, and then going out afterwards and getting drunk and in trouble.
You have a guy everyone knows worships the ground you walk on, and it doesn't matter to him whether you're wearing a t-shirt or a party dress. You have nothing to prove. Wait and see what he has planned, I bet it'll be fun. And remember the important stuff, Daryl loves you and you love him."
Maggie was right she knew that and she made up her mind she was going to accept this and have fun no matter what.
When Amy asked her if she and Daryl were going to the Prom she smiled broadly and said, "Well Daryl wants to be alone so he's taking me somewhere special that night, just the two of us. It's a surprise and I'm really excited."
"Daryl Dixon is planning a surprise? And he wants to be alone? I never would have pegged Daryl for the romantic type Beth. You're the only one who saw his true boyfriend potential right from the start!" And the friends shared a laugh.
And the truth was there were plenty of girls at school who'd like a chance to go out with Daryl Dixon, but he only had eyes for Beth Greene.
Beth was the prettiest girl in school there wasn't a guy who wouldn't like to beat Daryl's time, have a chance to date Beth Greene, but she only had eyes for Daryl Dixon.
xxxx
The Saturday night of prom rolled around and Beth was excited, ready and waiting for Daryl by six o'clock. She'd dressed casually in tight jeans and a cute little tank top that showed off just a bit of tummy. It was Mama and Daddy's absolute limit on exposure. As much as they loved and trusted Daryl she was still their daughter, and still only 17.
Daryl was there promptly at 6:30 and she was kind of wishing she could show him off to all her friends because wow did he look handsome. He had on new black jeans, a tight black t-shirt and his Levi jacket.
He opened the truck door and helped her in and as they pulled away from the farm she was grinning ear to ear, she was ready to be surprised!
But when they started to drive up in the woods she wasn't all that happy. "Daryl I thought you were taking me somewhere special. What are we doing, going camping?" She knew she sounded a little bitchy but dang, he'd said special.
He was a little hurt by what she'd said, but he got it. "Just be patient. I think yer gonna like it an if ya don't, you can kick my ass an I'll just stand there and take it like a man."
When he said stuff like that he always made her laugh. "Stop it Daryl, this better be good or I might just take you up on that."
He stopped the truck and helped her out, then reached in the back and grabbed an ancient boom box and a CD case.
"C'mon girl I'ma take ya ta Dixon's Fine Dinin' an Dancin'.
He had a whole scene set up there on the creek bank. There was a card table and two folding chairs, he had a fire pit with rocks all around, there was a cooler, and a big blanket laid out.
He set the Boom Box down and slipped in a Blake Shelton CD.
Then he pulled one of the chairs out, made a big dramatic bow at the waist and said, "Miss."
She was smiling so big it almost hurt.
He smiled back, "I seen that in a movie once."
He put the wood it the pit and got the fire going. "I'm cooking dinner for ya just as soon as that fire gets just right. In the meantime can I get ya a coke?"
"Why yes please that sounds delicious." And he opened it with flair. She couldn't help but laugh. "Daryl if this carpentry job doesn't work out I'm thinking you ought to consider being a waiter in one of those real high class restaurants."
"That won't work cuz I ain't willin' ta wait on no one but you."
When the fire got just right he got in the cooler and took out a package of hot dogs, along with buns a squeeze bottle of ketchup and one of mustard. "How would ya like yer hot dog prepared Miss?"
"Well I think I'll take mine blackened please."
"That's real good cuz when I cook everythin' ends up blackened."
They had hot dogs and potato chips and he'd brought cupcakes from the bakery for dessert. As he served her he said, "I want ya ta notice I got them good kind of paper plates Chinet, cuz we're goin' extra fancy tonight."
And even he couldn't get through that with a straight face.
She countered with, "Daryl this is the perfect meal. I love it. In fact I think it's possibly the best meal I've ever eaten. I had no idea you were a gourmet cook."
"Well one time I watched an episode of that Guy Fieri show an I learned everythin' I needed ta know. Here, I'm even doin' the dishes." And he picked up the paper plates and threw them in the fire.
Then he went to the Boom Box and he opened the CD case and he held the CD cover up for her to see. "Every time I've heard this old song I thought a you an me Beth. I think it's our song. I think we oughta dance to it."
He put the CD in the player and went to her just as the old George Strait song began to play, 'Check Yes or No', she smiled "I love this song. Thank you Daryl."
And they danced to a few more songs and he told her "I'm real sorry I didn't take ya to the prom. I don't mind dancing when it's just me an you alone Beth. Heck I like holdin' ya close n stuff. I just ain't much a one for those party dances an bein' all dressed up in a monkey suit. But I'ma make that effort cuz I know ya wanna go. I promise I'ma try harder ta do the things ya like ta do."
"Daryl I don't think I could have more fun than this. I love all of it but I especially love how you thought of everything and set this all up. How special you tried to make it. I love it and I love you."
The kissing began then and before they knew it they were laying on that blanket and things were getting heated in a hurry. They'd tried so hard for so long to hold back and they'd been successful so far. But that didn't mean they hadn't played around a little.
He was kissing her with a lot of want and very little self-control when he reached his hand up the back of her shirt and snapped her bra open without missing a beat. He gently pushed her on her back and lifted the shirt up, a hand went to one breast and his mouth to the other.
Neither one of them was complaining. They were breathing hard and his mouth found its way to her neck and he was kissing there, sucking just a little. They were both making little soft moans when his hand slid down between her legs. At first she didn't protest but then she quietly said, "We'd better stop or we won't be able to. I don't want to stop, but we don't have protection or anything and I'm not sure we're ready if we did."
He'd stopped immediately and he began to apologize, "I'm so sorry Beth, ya ain't mad are ya? I gotta do better at controllin' myself."
"I think it's getting tougher and tougher on both of us Daryl. It's not just you that wants this, wants more, it's me too."
"I know we said we'd wait Beth an I swear to ya I mean ta try and hold ta that, but damn girl it's not gettin' any easier."
"We'll just have to try and if we can't and something, you know, does happen, we need to be protected. I think that's your issue you're the one who has to have protection. I mean just in case, but I still want to try and wait Daryl."
"Alright. I'll get sumthin' just in case. We sure don't need ta be someone's Mama and Daddy at 17."
They enjoyed a couple more dances and a lot more kissing, and then it was time to get her home.
He quickly got everything in the pickup bed but just as he was helping her in he saw it, "Ah shit."
"What Daryl? What's wrong?"
"Dammit Beth I done it, I gave ya a hickey."
"What?! Oh my gawd Mama and Daddy are going to have a fit!"
"Fuck Beth I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. Shit I didn't think I's suckin' that hard."
"Well maybe they won't even notice." She looked hopeful.
Yeah right, she couldn't see it but he could, there was no way they'd miss that thing. It was big and purple looking. Fuck. He knew her Daddy would not appreciate that one bit.
They pulled up to the farm and he helped her from the truck. They kissed right there and said their I love you's, then he walked her to the door and as she walked in he headed back to the truck. But before he got the door open he heard her Daddy.
"Daryl Dixon you get yourself over here young man." Ah fuck.
He turned with his head hung and made his way back to the house. Daddy held the door open. "Sit, both of you."
Daddy looked pissed and Mama didn't look real happy either.
"I'm not so old that I don't remember what it's like to be young and in love. But I think maybe it's time we all had a discussion about setting limits."
Daryl was flustered, but he spoke, "Honest Hershel nothin' happened. I mean yeah we was kissin' an I admit I sucked on Beth's neck too hard but we wasn't doin' anythin', well ya know what I mean." Poor Daryl, his face, neck and ears were all beet red.
Daddy continued, "Son I want to believe you, I do believe you you're an honest young man. But one thing leads to another and that's when there can be trouble. And there are other considerations. At 17 are you two mature enough to even be thinking about a physical relationship?"
That was Beth's breaking point, "Daddy! Please stop we don't need to hear this. We're not doing anything like that and we don't plan on it. We've already discussed that stuff and we're waiting. Daryl didn't mean to do this, he was just teasing me. Sheesh."
Daryl was looking at her and he was kind of amazed that she could spin this so well. He thought he knew everything about her, but damn she was like a politician or something.
"Alright, that's good to know and I'm going to put my faith in you both. I won't punish you this time but you remember your commitment to wait."
"Yessir, I will, I promise."
"Of course Daddy, Daryl and I have made a promise to ourselves and to each other. Now please can we just drop it? I'm so embarrassed." Yeah, Daryl planned to talk to her later and find out how she learned all this manipulation stuff. She was kind of masterful.
And when Daryl left Daddy called his brother Merle, he filled him in on exactly what had happened and his concerns.
Merle agreed completely, they couldn't be going down that road. Yep, he and Daddy had an accord.
And when Daryl got home Merle told it to him good, "Damn kid, ain't I taught ya better than that? Ya never leave yer mark where a girl's Daddy can see it, shit. And ya listen ta me now, if it gets ta where the two a ya are gonna be doin' that horizontal bop ya gotta keep Little Daryl covered up. Ya don't wanna be makin' no babies when yer 17 years old."
Daryl flipped him off on his way to the bedroom and muttered, "Fuck you Merle."
Merle just laughed and said, "That's my boy!"
A/N Merle had just a slightly different take on the situation. And heck I was supposed to get you through summer in this chapter, maybe we'll go there next chapter. If you'd like to hear the song Daryl chose it's George Strait "Check Yes or No." I heard it on the radio the other day and it reminded me of Daryl and Beth in this story. Thank you for reading and I'd appreciate comments / reviews xo
To see pictures of our couple follow my tumblr blog bethylmethbrick
