Chapter 28
Five days, one hundred and ten hours, one work week. That's how long the silence between the two of them had lasted. But she hadn't been counting. After Beth had ran from the room crying, she had curled up into a ball under the shower head just trying to soothe the ache. She knew part of the reason she reacted the way she had was because of her messed up hormones. She had curled up into bed after that and awaited the sunrise, unable to sleep.
Time had passed slowly. Breakfast and supper were awkward silences, neither one of them wanted to be the one to break it. They would quickly eat the food, put away their dishes and went back to what they had been doing. At times they would eat separately, unable to stand the quiet at the table. Beth saw him try to open his mouth a few times only to see him clamp it back shut almost immediately. He had started working at the mechanic shop with Jimmy and came home covered in grease. She didn't know how he liked it but Jimmy had called to thank her for sending Daryl his way. Told her that he was worth his weight in gold and knew cars better than anyone else in the shop. He also complained that he wasn't a talker and didn't converse unless he was specifically asked a question that needed a response.
They car pooled in the morning to go to work. He would drop her off before heading to the shop. A simple wave was all he gave her. When lunchtime came around he would pick her up and they would find something for lunch. Another wave and he was gone. She would receive a text from him telling her he was outside when she was ready and she would head outside to find him smoking beside her building. It had become almost a ritual and she didn't understand why it had lasted as long as it had. She was done with not talking to him. It was driving her insane and even Andrea and Amy had clued in on her bad mood and had steered clear of her at work. She was sitting at the table after they had gotten home. Daryl had
"You wanna go do something?" Were the first words that broke the silence. Beth almost didn't recognize the sound of her voice after the last five days. It sounded weak and unused and she cringed internally at the rough quality to it. She gave a small bitter smile at Daryl when he jumped from the sound of her voice.
"Like what?" The gruff response from him was all she got in return. She smiled a little when she heard his voice had the same qualities as hers. She felt a shiver go through her body from hearing his voice. Beth didn't realize how much she liked his tone and missed it until she heard it again. The old saying was true. Absence does make the heart grow fonder.
"Well, I was thinking about going camping. It's been a long time since I have gotten to go and there is an area near here that is perfect for it. I already have all the equipment we would need and you could even go hunting if ya wanted. It's near a lake so there is fishing or swimming also." Her voice became more clear the longer she talked and she felt her jaws loosening up. She looked at him and saw the small play of a smile on his face. He nodded and she jumped up excited.
"I'll just go get some stuff ready to go. Would ya rather head out tonight or wait till tomorrow?" Beth replied, enthusiastically. She was excited to get out of the house.
"Either way is fine." Beth was ready to leave and didn't want to waste any time. She gave him a few things for him to do and then went upstairs to pack her bags.
She quickly threw in a lot of random stuff, not really paying much attention to her clothing choices. What ever she had would have to work and since she brought multiple of each something should match. She couldn't help but bounce around from the excitement of getting to go out of town. Thinking about swimming, she grabbed her suit and found a pair of Shawn's swimming trunks and an old t-shirt. She also found an old pair of river shoes that looked like they might fit him. She texted Amy and Andrea to let them know that she was going to be unavailable for the weekend and then decided she would turn her phone off. That way she would have it in case of emergency. She went to the attic and began pulling things down the stairs slowly.
By the time Daryl had finished packing his bags and putting their stuff into the vehicle, Beth had already pulled down the tent, sleeping bags and some extra camping supplied that she thought they might need. She ran into him as she was lugging some of the stuff from her room into the hallway.
"I got the fishing stuff and placed it in the truck. I figured it might be easier to take that since it has more room for all of our stuff." Daryl said as he picked up some of the stuff she had piled on the floor and began heading downstairs. Beth grabbed the remaining items and juggled them down the stairs. After they placed all the stuff into the truck, they grabbed Bo and headed into town to go to the store. They grabbed some easy meals, some snacks and some drinks before heading back out to the truck. Beth explained where they were going and Daryl nodded, and she smiled and leaned back against the seat.
An hour later they pulled into the campsite. Beth had him stop the truck so she could go in and talk to the manager of the site. She smiled when she saw that Morales was still in charge. He came out from behind the desk and gave her a big hug.
"Beth Greene, it's been a couple years but I would recognize that sweet face anywhere. I haven't seen you or your pops in awhile, I figured ya had gotten busy or too old to come out here." He exclaimed as he checked her up an down.
"Things kinda got crazy and I lost him awhile back. Haven't had a chance to come out here but thought why not today." Beth explained and saw a twinge of sadness run across his features. He used to come hang out with Hershel and her when they spent the weekend there.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Hershel was a good man. I know he would be proud of you, coming down here and spending some time. Are ya alone?" Morales looked outside and saw the truck. "Who is that in the truck?"
"That's my friend, Daryl. We thought we would come out for the weekend and have some fun. Been a long week." Beth replied, flushing red when Morales gave her a knowing look. "It's not like what you are thinking. We are just friends."
"That's what they all say honey. A few years later they are married with two kids. I should know, I was in the same boat." Morales chuckled and Beth had to laugh with him.
"Well if you are right I will let ya know. But for now it ain't like that." Beth quickly ended the conversation, embarrassed and ready to make camp. Morales set them up at the spot that they usually had and she gave him a small smile and a quick thank you hug.
She ran back out to Daryl and told him where they were going to set up for the weekend. It took about fifteen minutes to get there since the spot was a little more secluded but the scenery was beautiful. The space was huge with a little trail that led down to the lake. There was a fire pit and a gravel parking lot next to it. The trees made a canopy over a good spot of grass and there was wildlife in abundance. Beautiful flowers, billowing trees and an abundance of animals making calls out in the middle of it. Beth felt at ease and she climbed out of the truck. This is where she was able to relax and remember all the good times she spent with her dad.
Daryl was in awe of the scenery that surrounded him. He had been camping before but it was usually in the middle of the woods and it definitely had never been for fun. It had been to catch some food so he didn't go hungry. His version of camping had meant sleeping on the hard ground and hoping that no wild animals came too close while he was sleeping. But this place Beth had him drive to was different. It was somewhat commercialized by the gravel parking and the bathrooms and showers up the road but it didn't take away from the peacefulness that the outdoors brought him. He felt at home outside and couldn't wait to look around.
He jumped from the truck and walked around to the cab. He began pulling things out of the back while Bo nosed around the area. He figured that they would want to get the tent set up before it got too dark. Beth came around the side of the truck and helped him pull the stuff they needed out and placed it in a pile. She put her hands on her hips and looked around after they were done.
"Ya mind grabbing some tinder and branches for the fire? I'll get the tent set up if ya don't mind doing that. " She said, turning towards him. Daryl nodded, happy that she was going to pitch the tent. He didn't have much experience with setting one up and wanted her to the be the one embarrassed if it fell in on them during the night. He bet she ended up having him do it after she was done. The way her brow furrowed made him think she wasn't used to doing it.
He went out into the trees and began picking up branches and twigs. It was easy to find them littering the ground and after about twenty minutes, he took the good stack and hefted it back towards their campground. Ad he cleared the final trees, he stopped dead in his tracks. Beth had gotten the tent pitched but there was something that he found odd about it. It was tiny. And when he said small he meant it was at least fit for maybe two people, maybe three if it was necessary.
"Beth are you sure that is going to fit us in there without falling over?" Daryl called out, unsure where the blonde had taken off too. He jumped a little when she poked her head out of the tent and nodded.
"Ya if ya wanna come take a look I have it set up already. It will be a tight fit but I know we can deal with it." Beth motioned for him to come take a look so he sat down the firewood and ducked into the tent. She had set up the sleeping bags side by side and next to them she had placed a few blankets for Bo to sleep on. Next to the door were all their bags with their clothes and food. She had been right about it being a tight fit but he knew that it would be more bearable than sleeping on the ground. He could only imagine the stiff neck that would mean in the morning. He nodded and went back outside to start getting the fire ready for later.
As he finished stacking all the wood and set up a small amount in the pit, he noticed that Beth was nowhere near him. He walked back over to the tent and found her coming out of the tent with an armful of clothes. She was wearing a two piece bathing suit and he quickly averted his eyes. He felt her place something in his hands and he looked to find an old t-shirt and some swimming trunks. He looked up, into her eyes confused. She blushed and looked down at the ground.
"I thought ya might want to go swimming with me. Brought these clothes along so you would be able to go into the water. They should fit ya pretty well." Daryl was shocked at her thoughtfulness. She had brought along the clothes to make him more comfortable and so he would be completely covered. He nodded and went into the tent to change clothes. When he stepped out, he realized that he didn't have any shoes to wear. He looked up and found her holding out a pair of shoes for him to put on. They were a tight squeeze but they fit fairly well. He looked at Beth, with uncertainty, and saw that she had extended her hand towards him. He gingerly accepted her and and followed her down to the water.
The water was cool and a nice break from the hot sun that was glaring down on them. He slowly waded in, careful of his steps since he couldn't see the bottom. He looked over and saw that Beth had already submerged under the water and quickly followed suit. He came up and started treading water when he couldn't feel the bottom anymore. He hated to admit it, but this was a good choice on her part. He finally felt some of the tension from the last week drift from his body.
After he had upset her, he hadn't known how to fix it. He never had felt like he did after seeing her face and watching those tears fall. He had caused that look of distress on her face and it made him feel low and dirty. All the time that he had spent with Merle, he had never had that happen. During that time he had done some stuff that still made him cringe but he never felt like he had and still did. He wondered what she was doing to him. He normally didn't feel regret for anything he said or did. Most of the time they had been asking for it at the time. However she was different since she hadn't done anything wrong.
Daryl shook off the thoughts and concentrated on relaxing. He began floating around the water at ease. He felt her near him so he shifted and began treading water. "Pretty nice out here today. "
She smiled at him and said, "Ya its very peaceful. I have came here since I was younger and used to love this site cuz it was far away from the action. Very serene."
"I can see why ya like this area." Daryl was treading water and watching as Beth began to swim in circles around him. When she came to an abrupt stop and almost collided into him, he grabbed her to steady himself. "What's wrong with ya girl?"
"Ya remember how I said I don't like snakes very much? Well there is one behind ya and it's getting closer." Beth whispered in a shaky voice. Daryl turned his head and saw the snake gliding through the water, getting closer to them. He realized that the snake was a water moccasin. A venomous snake that could possibly kill someone with one bite.
" We need to go Beth. Start heading towards shore." Daryl began swimming towards the shore and cussed when he realized that she was still frozen in the same spot. He quickly swam back towards her and grabbed her, slowly towing them back to shore. As soon as he felt he could walk he quickly stood up pulling her with him. She was still frozen so he quickly grabbed her up and ran to the shore. She clung to him as he ran up the path to their campsite and refused to let go when he tried to sit her down on the end of the truck. After a moment he felt her grip loosen a bit so he gently placed her feet on the ground. She wrapped her arms around his waist and he could hear her whispering thank you to him. She leaned back and looked into his eyes and he couldn't tear his eyes away. The way she was looking at him was scorching him, burning a path straight through his body. It was like he was a thirsty man trapped in the desert and she was the last drink of water for miles. He needed her more than he needed his next breath. Before he could think over think his actions, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.
Author's note : Yet again thanks to my lovely readers :) You guys brighten my day so very much :)
