Chapter 7: Ain't Nothin' Better
Daryl, Rick and Glenn had gotten a private tour of the Rusty Spur the night before, so they'd know how to set things up. Daryl was impressed with the bar, he really expected a mechanical bull to be somewhere, but it had a nice bar, dance floor and a big stage that rised up from the dance floor.
If he had to play country, he was glad it was here. The place was full of life even with most of the lights turned off. Glenn smirked at him as they climbed back into the van.
"Here man." Glenn handed him his IPod, with a country playlist cued up.
"I got the sheet music. I know what the fuck I'm doin', Rhee." Daryl refused the IPod, but Glenn handed it to him anyway.
"You'll thank me later." Glenn leaned back with this gloating smile on his face as Daryl plugged the earbuds in.
When Carrie Underwood started belting out, Good Girl, he looked back at Glenn.
"Yeah… Beth is gonna have some fun tomorrow night," he said with a chuckled as Rick pulled the van out of the parking lot.
The song had ended and Daryl was done. He took the earbuds out and tossed the IPod back at Glenn. "Nope… done. I don't need Glenn Rhee's country music class 101. I got it."
The van stopped in front of the hotel and Daryl jumped out. Beth was in the lobby going over the set list with Tara when he walked in. Merle wiggled his eyebrows as Daryl's eyes locked with Beth's.
"How did it go? You like the place?" The hopeful tone to her voice made Daryl calm down a little.
"It's nice. Better get to bed… got a long day ahead of us." Daryl looked back at his brother who was staring at him hard.
"You tryin' to bag yourself a lead singer, little brother?" Merle knew the punch was coming and braced himself for it.
"Shut up, Merle." Daryl hit his shoulder hard, feeling the punch all the way up his arm. He looked back at Beth as she smiled at him. There were no words left to say, so he headed off to his room. He wasn't in the mood for Glenn or Merle, so he took the stairs. If he was being honest with himself, he took the stairs to give himself time to calm the boner that was pushing against his zipper.
Beth was laying across the couch on her stomach with only a pale pink tank top on and matching cotton shorts. Her bare feet were crossed over and her flaxen hair was up in a ponytail. Her smile, her giggle, her general being was getting to him. She was nothing like Kay, but she did have Jenna's kindness and big heart.
The thought crossed his mind that if Kay had been more like her sister, Jenna, maybe they'd still be together. No, that wasn't true. Jenna was more like one of the guys than she was one of the girls and that's why he valued her friendship so much.
He took out his cell, wondering if he should call her. He hadn't spoken to her in a long time. She was busy with an international tour, so he tossed that thought away for some other time.
Sleep was eluding him so he decided to go find Merle from some sleep aid, aka whiskey.
Merle opened his door, trying not to smirk at Daryl. "Blondie really got you worked up… huh?"
"No… maybe… whatever." Daryl sat down, taking the pint of Jack on the table.
He tossed the bottle back, letting the liquor wash away all thoughts of little miss perfect next door. Drink after drink, he felt more comfortable. More like a comfortable numb from the buzz he was getting.
Merle helped him back to his room, put him in bed and whispered a little something extra. "Sweet dreams, Darylina or should I say Beth dreams."
"Dixon… van is leaving in ten. Get your ass up, son." Rick yelled at him through his whiskey haze.
"Yeah… ten… got it." He tossed his pillow back over his head when he felt the softest touch he'd ever had before.
"Coffee?" Beth rubbed his forearm while holding a cup of steaming Joe.
"Thanks." He took the coffee, wishing she hadn't stopped touching him.
She gave him that gorgeous smile before she left him to get ready. He took in her appearance as she walked away. She was wearing cut off denim shorts, a cut up Jack Daniel's shirt and her signature boots. Her hair was down in long waves that flowed over her shoulders like a corn silk waterfall.
"Dammit," he muttered under his breath before he stripped down and jumped in the ice cold shower.
Rick was sitting in the driver's side, giving him a very stern look. Grimes could be a hard ass, but he had invested a lot of time and money into the band, so he earned it.
They had rehearsal and a meeting with Abe before the bar opened tonight. None of them had played any of the songs together, which just seemed like a major mistake to Daryl. He was sure this was going to be a serious clusterfuck, but he was going to do his best.
Beth opened the van door and waved for Daryl to sit beside her. Glenn and Tara were deep in conversation in the back row, so he sat beside her.
"Jack Daniels… yeah right," he rolled his eyes and closed the door.
"Don't judge the book by its cover, Mr. Dixon. I may not look like I've ever had a drink, but I have." Beth looked back at him with her lips pursed.
"Tell ya what, let's me and you have a quick shot before the gig tonight. You make it through the set after one shot and I'll do anythang you want." He watched as her blue eyes sparkled back at him. The wheels and cogs were turning in that pretty little brain of hers and he knew he may live to regret this.
Beth extended her hand with a heart stopping smile across her lips. "Deal."
Daryl shook her hand, hoping he hadn't bit off more than he could chew.
They rode in silence the rest of the way to the bar, with Beth humming some of the songs from the set list and smiling.
The Rusty Spur was setting up for the crowd they were expecting tonight. The bartenders were wiping down the bar and the waitresses were setting up the tables. Beth eyed the dance floor when she walked in, remembering that one time Maggie talked her into going line dancing.
"Beth, which song you want to warm up with?" Tara asked as she took out her guitar.
"Good Girl... that's the first song tonight." Beth walked slowly by Daryl as she nodded her head towards the bar. He chuckled and shook his head as he fought not to smile back at her.
Abe walked in as they were finishing up rehearsal, clapping his hands and smiling so hard his big mustache was raised.
"Y'all sound really good. I'll be in my private area just on the other side of the dance floor. The place usually gets packed around nine, so you got two hours to unwind." He shook Rick's hand before he went over to the bar.
Rick had them go through the set list, making sure they all knew it by heart and that they were ready. This was all new territory for some of them and he worried that Daryl would flake out at the last minute.
Beth and Tara had a little fun on the dance floor, while Daryl, Glenn and Merle had a couple beers and watched them. Merle was grinning hard at his little brother, noticing how he couldn't take his eyes off Beth.
"The place is wall to wall hot honeys. Ol' Merle may have to saddle him a cowgirl fer the night." He downed his beer and elbowed Daryl before he went on the prowl.
Glenn finished his beer and turned his attention to Daryl. "We better set up. I'll get the girls."
Daryl had to drag his eyes off the blonde beauty doing the two steps before him. She was laughing and smiling with Tara, the two of them looking absolutely carefree.
He was about to slide off his bar stool when Beth walked up behind him. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
She quickly ordered up two shots of Jack and handed one to him. He picked up the shot glass, eyeing her and tipped it back. She did the same, letting the dark liquor warm her up.
"Okay... let's do this," she said as she took his hand and pulled him towards the stage. He'd be lying if he said he didn't like this between them. No more bickering or him being an ass. He genuinely liked her company and she was a really sweet girl that wasn't too hard on the eyes.
Beth took the mic like a pro, introducing the band and stating this wasn't their normal thing, but they were doing to give it one hell of a try. The crowd chuckled, then clapped as the first song played.
Daryl looked for any sign that the whiskey had any affection on her, but by the second song, he was still looking. Beth sang 'Men' as if she was singing to every woman in the crowd about the man that had wronged them.
She was at home with this music, having listened to up growing up and singing it at county fairs, but her heart was a rebel and she needed the beat of the drum and the thrum of the bass that only rock gave her.
The band needed this show to go well to impress Abe and hopefully get that record contract. This was her time to shine and she was giving it all she had.
Daryl tried to concentrate on the cords, since some of the songs were foreign to him, but his attention kept wandering to Beth. The songs blended into each other from 'Breathe' to 'Summer Nights' and finally to a song that Beth was having way too much fun with, 'Kerosene'.
They were about to take a ten minute break when the crowd began to cheer for more. Beth looked over her shoulder at her band mates and they all nodded their heads. Before the next song began, Daryl walked over to her with a crooked smile on his face.
"You win... ya proved me wrong. Deals a deal, whatever ya want," he whispered in her ear and she felt her body shiver from the feel of his hot breath on her neck.
The adrenaline of the night, the crowd and the knowledge she had one over Daryl spurred her on. Before she knew it, they had finished the next set.
They were all spent, even though they had five more songs to go. Glenn decided to call Maggie and head outside to cool off. Tara grabbed a beer and flirted with the bartender while Rick was kicking it back with Abe. Merle was off somewhere with some random girl, doing God knows what.
Beth took a set at the bar next to Daryl, ordering up two more shots. He looked over at her, wondering what was going through her mind.
"Ya sure about this?" He asked her as he downed the shot.
She gave him a coy little smile before she tossed back her shot and took his hand. "You said anything and I want to dance."
He didn't fight her on it, knowing he owed her this. They made their way to the dance floor as a slow song played.
She placed her arms around his neck, letting them rest on his shoulders as his hands rested on her hips. They swayed to the music for a moment before Beth leaned up on her tip toes and kissed him softly on the lips.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have done that." Beth moved her arms from around his neck, but Daryl stopped her and returned her kiss.
"I'm not sorry. It's the alcohol and energy from the crowd. We can have a little fun... right?" He held her a little tighter, giving in to whatever this was between them.
"Sure... a little fun," she gave him a shy smile before she rested her head against his chest.
The song ended too soon for either of them, but they had a set to finish. Beth pulled away from Daryl much to his dislike. She felt right in his arms and he was eager to hold her again.
The last set started and Beth couldn't take her eyes off of Daryl. She sang every line of 'Johnny and June' right at him, making Tara look at Glenn all confused.
When the last song of the night came, Beth pulled Tara up next to her mic. They were giving the crowd a good show, letting the playful lyrics of 'Lookin' For A Good Time' wash over them.
"Thank you... y'all have been fun to play for. We're Double Entendra and good night." Beth placed the mic back in the stand before she jumped off the stage.
Rick and Abe were waiting on them, both of them with huge smiles. "I'm sold. Y'all take a week or two off before your gig in Atlanta to work on some original music. Rosita will be there and that is the last step towards getting that contract. Be seeing ya around and good job tonight."
They all headed over to the bar for a celebratory drink, feeling the electricity of the room still pumping through their veins.
"How about we have a few beers in the van?" Daryl ordered two long necks to go, hoping to get a moment alone with Beth.
"Why not?" She took her beer and followed him back out to the van.
Daryl opened the back doors, sitting down and waiting for her. She perched herself beside him, taking a long sip of beer.
"I'm glad that's over. It was fun, but it's not us," she said as her buzz began to make her tingle all over.
"Us... yeah. I like that. We are a band now... thanks to you." Daryl leaned over, kissing her on the cheek before he finished his beer. She looked up at him, trying to get the courage to say what was in her heart.
"Daryl... do you mean that? I know you hated the idea of me joining the band before. I love singing and I really like everyone in the band. I really like you." Once the words came out, she couldn't stop them.
Daryl turned back to look at her, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. "I like ya too, but it's best we stay friends."
He wished it could be different, but the ghosts of his past haunted him daily and he couldn't make that same mistake again.
Beth sat her beer down and walked over to him. She took his large hand in hers, lacing their fingers together. "Friends... for now."
She gave him a kiss on the cheek before heading back into the bar. Daryl rubbed his cheek, still feeling the softness of her lips and the warmth of her body close to his.
"Yer gonna be the death me, Greene," he said to the star filled sky before following her in.
I can't get over the love I'm getting for this story. To all of you that follow and review...thank you from the bottom of my Bethyl loving heart.
Big things are coming up soon and Daryl is going to have to deal with his feelings for Beth. I hope to update sooner next time... until then... Bethyl on!