Chapter 21: And The Crowd Goes Wild
Beth woke up to an empty bed. She was used to the feelings Daryl's arms around her, his lips against her temple and that feather light touch that only he provided.
She rolled over to her back, letting out a sigh. "Daryl."
The hotel room was quite, no sound at all. She ran her hand over his pillow and frowned when she found it cold. "Daryl?"
Memories of last night start to filter back in her mind and the one too many drinks she'd had with the girls. Her cheeks blushed a crimson red when she remembered straddling Daryl and singing seductively as she swirled her hips.
Her hands felt down her body, finding her usual t-shirt and shorts on. The Daryl that she knew was a true gentleman. He had this sweet side, this softer side that he didn't show to just anyone, but she got to see it.
They did share a bed every night, soft kisses and curious touches, but Daryl had been always the gentlemen. She wasn't sure why she thought they would finally seal the deal while she was drunk.
As she was climbing from the bed, she heard the door open. Beth's eyes snap up to see Daryl walk in with two cups of coffee and a bag of donut holes between his lips.
A small giggle trickled from her lips as she patted over to him and took the bag after kissing him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks… for last night," she sat the bag down, looking over her shoulder at him.
Daryl was turning redder by the second. He wasn't sure what she was thanking him for. He brought her in, found her some sleeping clothes and left the room to get a bucket of ice. When he returned, she had changed and was curled up in the bed, fast asleep.
He was grateful she could handle her liquor better this time than she did back at the cabin. He sat the bucket of ice down and climbed on the bed next to her. He let the back of his fingers stroke her cheek as he kissed her forehead.
She was celestial in every way. There wasn't an inch of Beth Greene that didn't remind him of an angel, but at the current moment that devious smile she was sporting looked a little more devilish.
Daryl walked over to her, handing her the cup of coffee. "Beth, I'm not sure what you think happened last night, but nothing did."
Beth perched up on her tiptoes and gave him the lightest of kisses on the lips. "I know that silly… that's why I'm thanking you. For taking care of me."
He shook his head as she took the lid off her coffee and began to blow on it. Her puckered pink lips were too damn hypnotic. He was powerless to look away and not have the rampant sexual thoughts that were now clouding his mind.
Maggie knocked on the door, making him jump. "You two descent?"
"I was just leavin'," Daryl huffed out as he took his cup of coffee and swiftly exited the room.
"Wow, he's extra moody today," Maggie said as she began to dig through the clothes still in the shopping bags. "Here, you have to wear this."
Maggie laid the white mesh top, black pushup bra and tight gray leather pants on the bed. Beth took one look at it and rolled her eyes.
"Sure… whatever. I'm getting a shower. Go play with Glenn." There was no way in hell Beth was wearing that outfit, not today. Today was going to be the hottest one yet and she wasn't about to put on leather.
She took a quick shower, leaving her hair up in a bun. She brushed her teeth, brushed out her hair, then pinned it back up. After applying some makeup, she headed back out to find Daryl standing there in a sleeveless charcoal button up shirt, tight dark jeans and motorcycle boots.
From head to toe, he was enough to ruin a girls panties. "Oh, sorry. Didn't know you were back."
"Got ready in Merle's room. Thought you'd want some privacy. I'll see ya downstairs, Greene," he eyed the clothes on the bed and palmed his crotch as his cock throbbed hard.
As soon as the door closed, Beth began to raid Daryl's clothes. She found his red flannel shirt and red bandanna. "Yes!"
Her cutoff jean shorts and cowgirl boots as well as her midriff white tank top would finish off her look. She smirked at her image in the mirror as she rolled up the shirt sleeves, then tied the bandanna like a headband around her hair.
"Let's go win this thing," she said to the girl looking back at her as she tucked her cell phone in her back pocket.
The boys had already left in Merle's van and Rick was waiting on the girls. Tara and Maggie both gave Beth a crossed look when they noticed she wasn't wearing any of the clothes they'd bought yesterday.
"Don't start. If you want to win the Battle of the Bands, then I need to be myself." Not another word was spoken as they drove out to the fairgrounds.
Beth climbed out of the van, to hear a whistle from someone in the audience. She looked up to see her family there, including Shawn. "Looking good little sister."
She ran over to them, hugging them all. Shawn slipped something in her hand before as she pulled away. "For good luck."
Beth looked down to see his lucky rabbit's foot that Shawn had attached to his car keys since she could remember. "No… this is yours. This is your good luck."
"Now, it's yours. Love you little sis," he kissed her cheek as she wiped away her tears.
Beth walked up behind Daryl as the band waited by the stage. The Battle of the Bands and begun and the band on stage was nothing like them.
She slipped her hands into Daryl's and he quickly looked back behind him. "Nice."
"Glad you like it. It's your shirt and bandanna." Her smile was beaming, making her blue eyes looks brighter.
"Never looked that damn good on me," he gave her a quick kiss before pulling her in front of him and locking his arms around her.
They stayed like that for the next three bands. Beth was starting to get nervous. This was a big deal, not just for the band, but for Rick as well.
This record contract would be the payoff Rick was looking for. All his hard work and time away from his family would finally count for something and she couldn't mess this up for him.
Daryl could feel her shaking, her small frame nearly quivering. "Hey, now. You got this. If we win… great. If we lose… this ain't on you. We win as a band… we lose as a band."
She nodded, but deep in her heart, she still knew this all rode on her shoulders.
A stage hand came by to tell them they'd be on next. Rick pulled everyone together to give them a few words of encouragement.
"Rosita sends her best. She said she'd see y'all after. Just be yerselfs and do what y'all do best… rock this motherfucker to the ground." They all placed their hands together and lifted them high as they screamed Double Entendre.
They walked out on the stage and the crowd erupted into cheers. Double Entendre had a following around the Atlanta area, but most hadn't heard Beth as lead. They were widely known for making covers their own and giving the crowd one hell of a show. Tonight they'd be singing two original songs and hopefully still pleasing their fans.
Beth took the microphone as everyone got their instruments. Once the opening chords to Fire & Ice started, the crowd went silent. Beth winked at Daryl before she addressed the mass of people before her.
"Hello Atlanta. We're Double Entendre and we'll be rocking you with our own music tonight. This one is for everyone that's ever been wronged. So fuck off to the jerks that left us, the assholes that dumped us and the ones that lost out. Fire and Ice." The music picked up and she began to belt the song with such passion, it even took her band mates by surprise.
Beth walked the stage like a supermodel would strut a catwalk. She owned every inch of that hardwood floor and the crowd as well. Fist fly in the air and some even sing the chorus back at her. She walked over to Daryl, putting her back against his, then pushing her ass into him before she struts away. Tara joined them in the middle of the stage as the last chorus is sung. Beth stood there as Tara and Daryl both rip on their axes.
She smiled back at them as they go back to their corners of the stage and Daryl began the deep bass beat of Velvet. Beth felt alive, like she could fly as she sang each word. Daryl loved how playful she is with the crowd, but even more so with him. She leaned against him, braced her body on him and even ran her hand down his arm, over his chest and stopped where is bass was hanging.
The crowd was going wild, loving this song more than the first. As Beth scanned the crowd, she spotted Rosita in the center with a tall black man that looked like her body guard. She leaned back to sing the last line, holding the last note until the music stopped.
Glenn stood up, tossing his drumsticks out to the crowd, then joined everyone in the center of the stage. Beth placed her mic back in the stand and blowed a kiss to the crowd. They all smile to each other as they walked off with the cheering of Double Entendre echoing from the standing room only audience.
"We fucking rocked that," Tara said as she high fived everyone.
Rick walked over to them, smiling from ear to ear. "That was… was…" His words failed him as he shook his head, still smiling.
Daryl wrapped an arm around Beth, pulled her to him and kissed her hard. "You were on fire."
She kissed him back, not caring who was watching. "We were on fire."
The last two bands played as they stood in the wings, waiting for the judges to make their decision. It didn't really matter to them if they won, as long as Rosita liked them.
Beth stayed close to Daryl as they waited for the results. He held her close to him as she rested her hands over his arms. To anyone that didn't know them, they'd swear they'd been lovers for a while. Glenn held hands with Maggie and Tara waited with Rick. Part of Beth wanted to go to her parents, but it was important she share this moment with the band.
Rosita made her way backstage, standing behind Rick. "If this band doesn't win the judges are tone deaf."
They all turn to look at her when they announce Double Entendre winners of Battle of the Band. Beth began to squeal as she turned around to face Daryl. He locked eyes with her and in that moment they both knew their friendship was now something so much more.
Rick walked out on stage with the band to accept the check and the gold microphone. Rosita was clapping and cheering with the crowd, helping them shout the band's name.
After they took a few pics for the local newspaper, they all gathered back up at the hotel where Rosita was throwing them a party in one of the small conference rooms. They all grabbed a drink as Rosita stood in the front of the room.
"Congratulations on the big win today and for becoming the newest recording artist for MotherDick records." Everyone in the room burst into loud cheers and a few tears but Rosita wasn't done. "Abe wants you to open up for Apocalypse Rising and the tour starts in eight weeks. We'll do you a short album, so six songs. You have three now and Abe wants your two best covers, so we need one more song. We have a photoshoot to do, video for Velvet. That will be your first single and we have to get this album recorded before the tour begins. I know this is a lot of pressure, but you can do it."
Rick turned to Beth and Daryl with that all business look in his eyes. "I'm giving Glenn and Tara some time off. I want you two to go back to the cabin and finish this album. One more song. Rosita said we'll be doing a phootshoot in a few days and a video after that. Abe said he wants us in the recording studio in two weeks, so get this done."
Daryl placed his hands on Beth's face, their eyes melting into each other. "You ready for this?"
Beth wasn't sure if he meant the cabin or them being alone, but her answer was yes.