Here's the next chapter!
Enjoy!
It's been two weeks since everything happened.
The group as a whole has been solidified. Beth has taken it upon herself to ensure that everyone knows they are welcome in their home. Although there have still been some issues in that department.
Ever since the funeral Beth has been making it a priority to ensure that Daryl knows that he's just as welcome as everyone else in the house. At first he had tended to shy away and withdraw from the group, while definitely putting some space between him and herself.
Daryl kept his distance however, Beth was pretty persistent in the pressing of his welcomeness. Inviting him (and the group, of course) to weekly family dinners, listening and making sure his opinions were heard at the 'meetings', one time she even just outright told him how important he is to the group. She had to admit that last one just ended up being embarrassing for the both of them. His cheeks were redder than the time Beth's friends convinced her to get a tan over the summer break, the 'tan' had just resulted in severe sunburn on her part. Beth just couldn't stop blushing for days after the encounter. It wasn't the best plan but she hoped it got through to him. She has become obsessed with caring for Daryl Dixon. Beth wished she could say the same for him.
If anything, Beth just caused Daryl to leave further from her. Nothing but curt nods and muttered, rushed words was all the interaction she got from him. She watched him now, helping Maggie with her stance, helping her make sure she got the head shot. She noticed his arms again, they way the muscles became more defined as he raised the gun, finger on the trigger.
Beth had to admit, maybe his importance to the group wasn't the only thing she had fixated on. He wasn't that bad to look at either.
Andrea catches her looking at Daryl, she pretends to fan herself, then puts a hand to her head as if she was lightheaded just from the sight. Beth blushes but tries to give her a harsh look through her embarrassment. Andrea laughs and then goes to continue with her work duties. Beth guessed Andrea knew that she had sort of cared for Daryl, but it was just never brought up. She was thankful to Andrea for that.
Beth had grown significantly closer to all the members of the camp. Glenn was her favourite, maybe just because he was Maggie favourite. But still, he reminded her of a brother. Plus, it was also really fun to tell him embarrassing stories from when Maggie was younger. And then in turn get yelled at by Maggie. It reminded her of simpler times.
Andrea was her unbiased favourite. She was cheeky and quick witted, Beth admitted she kind of wish she was as confident as Andrea. Then there was Carol who was sweet and soft spoken, but when she had a strong opinion about something, she noticed it seemed like a fire was sparked inside of her. She was going to be fierce.
Lori was a mother. Above all this was her priority. It might not have seemed like it the way Carl was always off somewhere, but she was a protector. Beth believed there wasn't much that she wouldn't do to protect her family. Rick was the leader. Nothing was more obvious in the groups dynamics. Shane was... a dick. Really overall that's how he could only be described. The triangle of conflict that surrounded these three tended to cause awkwardness whenever they were in the same room together. It was an odd situation.
And Daryl. Daryl was a hunter. Almost like Ricks second in command, even if the role was supposedly filled by Shane. Ever since everything with the walkers, Daryl has been teaching the not so experienced members of the group how to defend themselves. Using guns, knives, and techniques on how to fight and defend yourself.
Beth wanted to know, needed to know how to protect herself in a world like this, but Maggie was adamant that this would never happen. After Beth's 'heroic, yet reckless stunt', as Maggie liked to call it, she was more protective than ever. She still seemed to harbour the thought that Beth was safe now, inside a little bubble of Maggie's own making, that she was protected. From everything. Walkers included. She didn't seem to comprehend that just because they were on the farm it didn't make them invincible. The situation that happened should be the evidence to this fact. Her father however, was certain that she would learn basic defense techniques and disagreed with Maggie at every turn.
The household had been tense over the last couple of days.
Maggie argued that Beth shouldn't have to go through this, her father agreed, but Beth was going through this, was a part of this dangerous and strange world, and protection was important right now. Maggie wasn't happy about the turn of events, so she stayed right out of the training all together. Beth thought this was probably best, she was nervous enough without her sisters constant worrying.
Daryl would be teaching her. He would show her how to shoot a gun by just knocking some cans off a ledge. Pretty simple. She was equally parts thrilled and terrified, mostly because Daryl would be teaching her.
She met up with him at the groups camp outside. The pair set off, going to the outskirts of the farm, away from the others. The thought of being alone with Daryl excites her. She wonders exactly when she started feeling this way.
She turns to face Daryl, she's worried about if she'll be good at anything he teaches her. She's scared and his silence is starting to make her nervous.
"Thank you again, Daryl, for teaching me this," she says feeling the need to fill the silence with words
"Nothin' to thank me for," he says. "Your sister's stupid thinkin' that you ain't need protecting. If you expect to make it out there, you best know how to save yourself." He stops, and grabs a handgun from a bag of weapons the group always seems to carry. Daryl doesn't say anything just hands it to her.
She looks at it, it's a weight in her hands, that's for sure. She wonders if she could ever use it on someone. Someone living. She shakes her head and turns to Daryl, raising an eyebrow as if to say, "What now?"
"You gotta take the safety off, girl." Daryl shows her how and Beth tries to remember the crucial point of this training. "Without that off, you ain't goin' to do much damage." He says.
"Point it at the cans over there. I wanna see how you'd go, first go an all that." Daryl continues, watching Beth to see what she'll do.
Beth holds the gun and points it up in the direction of the cans. One finger is poised on the trigger, her arms feel weirdly bent. She can already guess she's doing this wrong.
Daryl steps closer then, looking at her feet, "Move this one just a little," he taps her shoe with his booted foot, nudging it over to form what she presumes is a correct stance. "Now this one," he taps her arm, "needs to be like this," Daryl angles her arm until he's satisfied with her posture.
Beth gets ready to shoot. She feels Daryl step closer to her. She feels pressure on her back, Daryl has put his hand there, as if guiding her along. He looks at her then and says, "You got this, Girl".
She fires. It misses the can but not by much. The feeling is addicting. She can almost feel the blood surging through her veins, her heart beating wildly in her ribcage. She doesn't even wait for confirmation to shoot again, she just does. This time it's closer. On the fourth try she gets it, the can flying off its perch and onto the grass below.
"Yes! Did you see that? I guess I ain't that bad after all." She yells, elated that she actually got the target.
"Sure, now keep shootin', you gotta get all of 'em down," Daryl says back. A little smirk playing on his face. Beth does, she aims the gun, stance a little off until Daryl corrects it, and then shoots. She gets them all off, it takes a while, but she does. By now the adrenaline has worn off and her shoulder is starting to hurt from the first jarring shot.
"Think we can stop now, maybe get some knife practice with you tomorrow," Daryl says. Beth smiles back, handing the gun over to Daryl.
"Thanks again for this, Daryl. I know it ain't fun for you teachin' everyone this but, thanks." Beth states, hoping he know how much this means to her.
"Ain't nothin' to it, it's either this or ya end up dead." He's trying to brush off her comment, but she can see the faintest him of red colouring his cheeks. It makes her smile wider. She touches his arm in a goodbye, lingering for just a moment, then heads back to her house feeling energised. She hopes the next session will be just as enjoyable.
ooOoo
They're getting ready for dinner, Beth's working on cutting the carrots for the stew. It's one of the weekly dinners and she intends to make sure she's seated next to a certain group member.
It's a calm evening. Maggie has settled down after hearing how well Beth had gone in practice. If Beth was completely honest, she would say Maggie was sort of feeling embarrassed about her whole ordeal. Maggie then made sure to thank Daryl profusely, making Daryl as uncomfortable as possible in the process.
Everything seems clam until she hears the door slam open.
Lori bursts in, worry etching the expression on her face, "It's Carl! I can't find Carl!" Once those words are out of her mouth everyone jumps into action. Carol goes to help Lori outside, Andrea, Glenn and Maggie go to check the camp. Beth heads out the back porch, knowing Carl's hiding spots better than anyone. Going round the trees, pass the stump, she circles back up to the porch wondering where the boy had gotten to.
She sees them then, two tiny figures coming across the field of the farm. She can just make out the shape of the police hat on Carl's head. Feeling the worry leave her body, she goes to call out to the others. They are safe.
That is until she sees another sight that causes her entire body to freeze.
There's walkers, more walkers than she's ever seen in her life. The seem to spread across the whole field. They're following Rick and Carl, chasing the nearest meal. Beth has never seen so many walkers in one place. The farm will be overrun. It can't be stopped now.
The dead are approaching.
Coming to the farm.
