"Yer in for a treat, baby brother," Merle said as he nodded toward the stage as the lights went down and the spot light turned on. Daryl raised an eyebrow at the back of his older brother as he watched him walk back toward the door, but sit around in his chair to watch the stage. Daryl turned back around just as he saw a woman with short brown hair take the mic.
"Hi, everybody and welcome to Triple L. As most of you know, I'm Tara and now for your entertainment, our very own Beth Greene," said the woman as she moved her arm toward the back of the stage and smiled as Beth walked up the back stairs and onto the stage. Daryl stood there in shock as he watched her walk across the stage and hug the other woman and then watched her chuckle as the other woman wanted to fist bump her. He stared as Beth sat down on a stool in front of the mic and placed her guitar in her lap. The way her hair glimmered in the spot light, it really did look like sunshine. He felt his heart skip just a little and it didn't get any better when she started talking.
"Hi, everybody! I hope you are all havin' a good time," she said in her sweet southern accent. The bar cheered and whistled at her, causing her to smile as a light blush crossed her cheeks. Daryl placed the rag he was using down on the bar and just watched her. She lifted her eyes up and they locked onto his, blue on blue. She held his gaze for a moment and gave him a soft smile that turned into a sly grin as she spoke again.
"Ladies, let's hear it for the new bartender Daryl! " She said as she smiled at him and all the ladies in the bar started clapping and whistling. Daryl blushed and started to turn away, but when he did he turned toward Merle, which was not any better because his brother started cat calling him and whistling as well, a huge grin on his face. When Beth saw the blush that crossed his face, she started laughing and spoke again.
"So, my first song I know is a personal favorite of some of you in the bar, so sing along if you know the words," Beth said as she started strumming her guitar as Maggie sat down in front of Daryl. He was going to ask her if she needed a drink but was broke off when he heard the most beautiful sound that he had ever heard. His gaze went back to Beth as she sang.
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"Let go of Julie, and take my hand
Let go, it's time to be my man,"
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As she started, the whole bar started clapping. Daryl looked around and saw most of the people had started singing with her, along with Maggie.
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"Let go of Julie, and kiss my face
She's standing, she is standing in my place
And I'm not normally the jealous, jealous type,
But I imagined it'd be you and me tonight.
And I bet Julie's really smart, oh, you keep saying she's so cool,
But if you pick her over me your just a fool."
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"A huge fool, Beth," Merle called from the door, causing Beth took look up at him from her guitar and smile before she started again, this time her smile was huge as she sang.
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"So take home Julie, we'll be drinking at two
Take home Julie, we've got catching up to do.
Just take home Julie, take up my heart;
I'm ready, I'm ready to start."
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Daryl started in awe as the entire bar sang the chorus with her, her smile bright as she sang with them. He could not believe this girl. She was like happiness and light all rolled into one, even singing a song that was about a guy picking somebody else other than her. Hell, if this was true the guy was a complete fool, just like Merle yelled. He leaned forward on the bar and just continued to listen to her, mesmerized by just her presence as she continued to sing.
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"I said I was alone and you just laughed out loud.
How do broken hearts make you so proud?
Left my comfy bed, I left my lover of a year
To be with you, be with you here.
And I'm not normally the jealous, jealous type,
But you deserve a girl with matching sparkly eyes
A girl who makes you dance 'til dawn,
Who makes ya wanna write a song,
And if you think that is Julie you're wrong.
So take home Julie, we'll be drinking at two.
Take home Julie, we've got catching up to do.
Just take home Julie, take up my heart;
I'm ready, I'm ready to start.
So take home Julie, we'll be drinking at two.
Take home Julie, we've got catching up to do.
Just take home Julie, take up my heart;
I'm ready, I'm ready to start.
I'm staring at the ground as she walks right by.
You're staring at me mad, 'cause I refuse to say 'hi'.
I'm just staring into space 'cause all I got on my mind,
Elevator kisses, summer, summertime.
Elevator kisses, you and I.
And I'm not normally the jealous, jealous sort.
But if we're picking favorites, I am yours.
And know no Julie doesn't drink,
And I'm just hanging at the bar,
So, go ahead and call up Julie a car.
Yeah, go ahead and call up Julie a car.
Take home Julie, we'll be drinking at two.
Take home Julie, we've got catching up to do.
Just take home Julie, take up my heart;
I'm ready, I'm ready to start.
So take home Julie, we'll be drinking at two.
Take home Julie, we've got catching up to do.
Just take home Julie, take up my heart;
I'm ready, I'm ready to start.
No I'm not normally the jealous, jealous type,
But I imagined it'd be you and me this time.
Now that Julie's really smart and you keep saying she's so cool,
But if you pick her over me you're just a fool."
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She ended the song to thunderous applause from the bar. Maggie stood and whistled from the back.
"That was amazing," Daryl said as he gazed at her. Maggie turned at his words and smiled.
"Yeah, she wrote that herself. She is an amazing song writer and an even better singer," Maggie boasted about her little sister.
"Incredible," Daryl said as he watched her smile at all of the people in the bar, her eyes landing on his. Her smile increased as they locked eyes and he gave her a small smile back.
"So any requests?" She asked into the mic as she kept her eyes locked on Daryl. She couldn't help herself, there was just something about his eyes that had her hooked and it seemed to be helping with the stage fright she had.
"Patsy Cline," one of the regulars called out, causing Beth to cut her gaze from Daryl and look toward him. She knew which song he wanted. She didn't want to sing it, because it brought up memories she would rather not think about now, but the regular didn't know the other meaning for her, so she started strumming as the crowd started to cheer again.
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"I go out walkin' after midnight
Out in the moonlight, just like we used to do
I'm always walkin' after midnight
Searchin' for you
I walk for miles along the highway
Well, that's just my way of sayin' I love you
I'm always walkin' after midnight
Searchin' for you"
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Daryl watched as she choked up for a moment, he could make out a tear in her eye.
"Is she ok?" He asked as Beth kept on singing. When Maggie turned to look at him, he saw the same look in her eyes.
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"I stop to see a weepin' willow
Cryin' on his pillow
Maybe he's cryin' for me
And as the skies turn gloomy
Night winds whisper to me
I'm lonesome as I can be"
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"Yeah, this song just means a lot to us, that's all. It was one of our Daddy's favorites. He always loved Bethy singing it," Maggie said as she wiped the tear away and turned back to watch her sister. Daryl looked back up at Beth as a thought hit him. Maggie had used the past tense when talking about their Dad. Man, had they lost him too?
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"I go out walkin' after midnight
Out in the starlight, just hoping you may be
Somewhere a-walkin' after midnight
Searchin' for me
I stop to see a weepin' willow
Cryin' on his pillow
Maybe he's cryin' for me
And as the skies turn gloomy
Night winds whisper to me
I'm lonesome as I can be
I go out walkin' after midnight
Out in the starlight, just hoping you may be
Somewhere a-walkin' after midnight
Searchin' for me"
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As she stopped and smiled, the bar broke out into applause again. Beth smiled at them all as she casually turned around to try to wipe the tears away, hoping nobody would notice, but Daryl did.