aN: I suck, I'm sorry. I'm trying to keep up with my WIP's and work and life and writing my book. Sorry. A chapter for you (if you're still reading) note - this chapter is heavy on the Beth hate. If you are a Beth fan you have been warned. Trigger for abuse

I do not own or profit from the wAlking dead

Chapter 4

"Jesus Barbie...dead ahead."

Daryl quickly ducked the boys room at Rick's warning. Rick trailed him in laughing. They'd been heading to second period English class and so far he'd managed to avoid Beth. Any day where he managed to avoid her as much as possible was a good day. His dad hadn't come home last night, all and all things had been going great today.

"Jesus Barbie?" Daryl all but choked out. "Where the hell that nickname come from?" He asked.

Rick laughed "Andrea Harrison in my homeroom came up with it. It's sorta become a thing."

Daryl huffed out a laugh placing the palm of his hand to his eyes "Fuck when she gets wind of that, i'll never hear the end of it.."

The door opened, Glenn Rhee trailed in, heading towards a stall. "Dude...Jesus Barbie is throwing a fit out there. She wants you to come out." He said before closing the door.

"Fuck...time to face the music."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

He opened the door to Beth standing there with her two minions, Lizzie and Karen. She had an obviously annoyed look on her face.

"Did you just try to ditch me?" She asked with a incredulous tone.

"Nah" he said as he started walking. "Had to a piss."

"Daryl...eww...language." Beth said as she started walking beside him.

She was talking about something as he made his way toward English. He didn't have a sweet clue about what.

Carol was in his English class. His stomach all but fluttered at the thought of seeing her. They knew each other now. He could talk to her, he thought. Maybe sit with her...his thoughts were cut off by the nasal voice interrupting him.

"Daryl, are you listening to me?"

Beth interrupted his thoughts angrily.

"What? Oh yeah...of course." He muttered.

"Well, do you want to come for supper after school tonight or not?" She asked.

Fuck, the last thing he wanted to do was head out to the Greene ranch for supper tonight. An awkward strained silent meal wasn't his idea of a good time, he could have that at home. Thank god he had an excuse.

"Can't. Got tutoring." He said.

He and Carol had decided to meet after school in the hour free time that he had before practice. She had laughingly said she was just to lazy to get up early every morning, she'd much prefer to stay cuddled in her blankets.

Last night he'd been unable to think of anything but that while he'd lied in his bed trying to sleep. Her lying on her bed, her hair all splayed out around her. Daryl wondered what she wore to bed. That question had tormented him, which had lead to an unfortunate situation when he woke. Thank god Merle and his daddy hadn't come home, so he could sneak the sheets into the wash without them seeing.

"Tutoring? Who is tutoring you?" Beth stopped him placing a hand on his back. He couldn't help it. He flinched under her touch.

"Carol Ford." He said, watching the crowd as the kids started filtering in to class.

"Carol Ford" Beth said "She's Andrea Harrison's friend. I DO NOT like Andrea. She's on student council. I suggested we have a boy band theme for prom and she mocked me Daryl. Me!" Beth said "it's not very Christian of her." Beth finished with a pout.

"Yeah..sucks." Daryl said distractedly as the first bell rang. "Anyway tutoring every day for an hour after school. Until the end of the semester. Talk to you later." He said turning and walking into class leaving Beth sputtering in the hall.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Carol sat on her bench waiting for Daryl. It wasn't exactly her bench but she had come to think of it that way. No one but her and Andrea ever sat there. It's like it was reserved for them somehow an unspoken agreement with the rest of the kids.

She'd asked Daryl if they could work outside. It was a beautiful day, and the library at times stirred her clausterphobia. She needed to be outside. It rejuvenated her somehow.

Daryl had been quick to agree. She got the feeling they were alike in a lot of ways, in ways he didn't want to admit.

She had no proof, nothing to back up her suspicions. But Carol had a feeling Daryl's dad was doing to him exactly what her mom had done to her. She wasn't sure what to do about it. Carol was certain if she spoke to Mr. Horvath, Daryl would deny it anyway.

She blew a piece of hair out of her face as she watched him approach her bench. If she was honest with herself, she never got tired of the way he looked at her. It wasn't creepy like that dipshit Ed Peletier. It was sweet, shy. He made her feel pretty. Like she was special. But then the other shoe would fall and Beth would latch onto his arm. The more she got to know him the more she was confused. He wasn't superficial, so why did he stay with her?

His eyes rose up to meet hers shyly as he walked across the yard. She smiled and watched a flush spread across his cheeks. He was bright red by the time he sat down next to her.

They worked in a friendly silent atmosphere. She had decided to just start from the beginning and go over everything. He was by no means stupid. Biology was her second love behind art. Daryl was extremely intelligent, he just seemed to need things explained to him in a different way.

"You're doing amazing." She smiled as they were taking a break.

"Pfft..if that were the case I wouldn't need a tutor in the first place. Like my daddy says, too stupid to get it right the first time." He grimaced when he spoke. Like he couldn't believe he had spoken that out loud.

She was quiet afterward for a long moment then spoke softly.

"Your daddy sounds like an asshole."

He seemed stunned momentarily and then laughed. Nodding his head "Yeah."

"Everyone learns differently. Mr. Horvath can only teach it once, in one way. Your brain needed it explained to you differently. That's all. You're not stupid. I'm amazed at how quickly you're picking this up." She grinned and bumped his arms teasingly "you're just on a different level than everyone else."

He ducked his head in the cutest way. Dammit Carol thought as she felt the summer saults in her stomach. Not the time for this to happen. Most beautiful girl in school is his girlfriend. Remember that she repeated over and over.

"As long as I get a scholarship. That's all that matters." He muttered, still embarrassed.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Two weeks flew by, they met everyday, at her bench. She couldn't deny that her eyes had started to search him out in the hallway. That her belly didn't flop when she felt his intense stare on her, or when he blushed to the tip of his ears when she smiled at him.

It was easy to talk to him. He had an intense way of listening. Making her feel like, she was his one and only focus. Sometimes when he looked at her, she felt a little overwhelmed. More than ever she was certain. He liked her. She liked him to, but Beth was still in the picture. He seemed almost sad, when he was with her.

Andrea had informed her she'd overheard Beth at student council. She was cheating on Daryl with a drummer named Zach in a local band. Beth was practically bragging about having both boys wrapped around her finger. Carol couldn't understand why he stayed with her. She'd watched them together and Daryl barely tolerated her.

It was raining today. A torrential downpour that she loved. Abe had given her taxi money. Him and the boys were heading out of town for the day, leaving Big Tiny to run the shop. They had a tip about a hot rod, they were thinking of rebuilding for a car show. He wouldn't be back until late.

She'd already heard on the announcements that football practice was cancelled, she was searching out Daryl, to find out where he wanted to meet, bench was out of the question on a day like today she thought watching the rain.

He'd missed English, which was very odd. Athletes were monitored for absences. Too many would be grounds for a suspension, Glenn Rhee said he'd been in homeroom though.

She made her way through the obstacle course of a hallway, searching him out in the ten minute break they had before fourth period. He was at his locker with his hoodie pulled up over his head.

"Hey" she bounced up with a smile.

"Hey" his voice was soft, hoarse. He didn't look at her.

"I've been looking for you, you weren't in English." She said.

"Yeah" he said on a sigh, his hands were shaking. "Got called to guidance counsellor's office."

"Oh" her gut started to churn as all to familiar flashbacks started to play in her mind. "Hey..look at me."

He turned slowed to face her. She let out a gasp. His right eye was swollen, the sclera completed red as numerous broken blood vessels falsely covered his eye. A butterflied cut on his nose looked like it needed stitched and his lip was busted and swollen twice it's size. She couldn't stop herself she ran her fingertips across his face. She could see the wheels turning in his mind as he tried to think up an excuse. She slid her hand down softly and cupped his cheek.

"You deserve so much better than this." She whispered.

His eyes held a sheen, and he nodded unable to talk.

"You wanna ditch fourth and get the hell out of here?" She asked as the bell rang.

He simply held out his hand and let her lead him wherever she wanted to go.