Hi guys! So I honestly was going to update last night, and I had everything typed (on the website under copy n paste) and I went to save it (note: I worked on it for at least 45 minutes) and it said I wasn't logged in and deleted the whole thing. So, I rage quit since it was 11 pm and decided I'd do it today. Still mad, and don't wanna rewrite it. But it's a semi-important chapter for Daryl and Beth's relationship, so I have to. Anyway, you guys are awesome and enjoy! (PS: slight mention of self harm. Don't read the end of the big paragraph if you don't want to read it. Nothing big, or detailed. Just a mention.)
Chapter 8
Normally, we'd start out with my talking her through things and making demonstrations. Today, I wanted to start differently. Lately, I'd been teaching her how to fight back, whether the situation needed it, or if she just wanted a good fight. Whatever floats her boat. So, I started out with an uppercut. To my surprise, she grabbed my wrist and twisted it just enough. But, I knew exactly how to get out of it, so I spun so she was holding my wrist at my back, my back to her. I flexed my arm and quickly threw her over my head and she landed on her back in the grass, the wind knocked out of her. I smirked down at her.
She looked back up at me with big blue eyes. "What was that, Dixon?" she coughed out.
"You ain't gettin' no warnin' if someone wants ta jump ya," I replied. I held a hand out for her to help her back up. She grabbed it, but ended up flipping my on my back, my head by her feet. "The hell was that for?" I demanded, trying to hide my pride in her.
"You ain't gettin' no warnin' if someone wants ta jump ya," she said, mocking my accent. She had one of those cute, southern belle accent. Mine was husky and the definition of southern. But, I had to admit, she did a great impersonation. I just smiled to myself. "Daryl? You know how you said you wanted to get to know me?" she asked randomly.
"Um...I...uh...yeah. Why'd ya bring it up?" I asked.
"Well...let's talk. Tell me about your family, your life before the apocalypse," she replied. I was surprised at the abruptness of the girls statement.
"Girl, I said I wanted to know you. You don' need ta know anythin' about my life. Don't matter," I replied. It was mostly true. I wanted to know her life, but I also wanted her to know mine. I just needed to let everything out.
"Alright, fine. I've been livin' on the farm since I was born. I was a normal, happy girl. Maggie was the rebellious one. I went to high school, but I was the shy one. Jimmy was the first and only boy to ever show interest in me. I cared for Jimmy, a lot. I didn't love him, but he think he loved me. Then he was...eaten." She paused and swallowed at the memory. I just listened. "I was always happy, ya know? Then Momma and Shawn died. And I became weak. I had never, ever thought of hurting myself in the slightest, but I felt like that was my escape, my chance. But when I didn't finish the job, everyone treated me like a piece of my momma's favorite china." She smiled, reminiscing. "This one time, me and Maggie were running around the house, and Maggie ran into a corner table with momma's favorite china plate on it. It slid off and shattered, and when Momma asked Maggie about it, she blamed it on Remmi, our Australian Shepherd. Then, when she asked me about it, I blamed it on Winchester, our basset hound. She was mad, but she never punished us. She loved us so much." She took a shaky breath in. "Anyways, ever since I tried to end my life, I've wanted to feel that numbness again, the pain. Sometimes, I welcomed the beatings from Phillip. I needed the pain. That's probably wrong, to want that." She covered her face, her voice muffled. "God, I'm so stupid and weak. I shouldn't have told you that. I'm sorry."
"Beth, don't be sorry. 'M glad you let it out. That's what we all need, every once in a while, ya know?" We both sat up and I grabbed her hand, and we pulled each other up. "Let's go in, it's gettin' late and I'm hungry." She smiled at me and it made me feel better. Then I felt bad for not letting her in to my past. Tomorrow would be the day though. It felt so right, talking to her today.
...
I hadn't opened up like that to anyone, not even Jimmy. It was weird, how comfortable I was with Daryl. I never thought that some 40 year old man would be so caring, and understanding. It made me wonder if he understood in a deeper meaning, sharing the same experiences or what. My mind was reeling now, but I honestly couldn't feel any lighter and happier during this hell.
Okay, it was a shorter chapter, I'm sorry! But I really think it had some meaning behind it. Hope you enjoyed~
