This will follow after the scene at the High school from 3x07 (Obviously, not canon. But a girl can hope).
Spoilers to some extent for those who have not had the pleasure of watching 3x07 yet. I regret not watching it live.
As always,
Happy Reading!
"I'm so amped!"
These words kept echoing in Beth's head all the way back to the garage. She's glad Rick seemed to have calmed down enough to drive them back to the garage, but she did notice Rick driving a little faster than normal.
After changing back into her normal clothes, a floral long sleeve shirt and a brown corduroy skirt, she walks back into the main room to see Rick waiting for her. He was leaning against one of the cars Zeek was working on earlier in the week.
Holding the strap to her backpack a little tighter, she walks over to Rick and asks, "Are you okay?"
Rick gives her an arrogant shit eating grin, "I'm super actually. Never been better, why?" His hands were deep in his pockets of his gray sweatshirt clenching and unclenching like he's ready to fight. She also notices he couldn't stand still; his legs jittering like the Energizer bunny.
Beth gives him a sympathetic look, "Rick, I think the hourglass working for longer than an hour is effecting you." Rick stops fidgeting long enough to listen to her. She can tell she has his full attention, which was nothing new. But she did notice, back at the high school, he would only listen to her when it was serious. Like talking about Courtney still wanting to be part of the team. The look he gave her…she knew she got through to him somehow.
But can she do it before it's too late?
She can see the words were affecting him somehow, his hazel eyes seems soft and endearing like usual…but then they weren't. It's like something blocked him from really hearing her words. His eyes glazed over into this cocky gleam. It reminded Beth of the jocks at school.
This was not good.
"Beth, Beth, Beth." Rick walked closer to her, invading her personal space. This typically would never make Beth feel anything but butterflies in her stomach, but right now, she felt like vomiting.
"I'm great, happier than ever." He wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls her close to his side. He leans down close enough that she can smell the mint on his breath. "You look cute by the way."
Beth's eyes widen behind her glasses and unwraps Rick's arm from around her.
She shakes her head and takes a big step away from him.
"No." Her tone short and full of anger. "Until you figure your shit out, don't talk to me unless we're under immediate threat." If Beth weren't so angry, she would have thought twice before cursing. But she didn't care. Everything was absolute shit and she had no one.
That alone broke her the most as she walked out of the garage and into the night.
She could hear Rick yelling for her but she didn't care. She let the tears stream down her face as she walked down the long road to her house. She hiked her bag higher on her shoulders as she continued down the street.
She sniffled ever so often, feeling the tears slowly coming to a stop. The only sounds were the fall leaves running by in the late October breeze. The moon hung high in the sky as she turned the corner to her house.
Immediately she freezes. She sees a familiar yellow mustang stationed outside her house waiting for her. With whatever strength she had left, she walked past the vintage vehicle and starts to walk up her driveway.
"Beth! Wait!" She shakes her head as she turns to face Rick. At first she couldn't tell what was different, but then it clicked.
She gasps, "You took it off." She looks to his chest and the back up to his eyes. "Why?"
He shakily runs a hand through his hair. Beth didn't see it before, but the light from the street lamp illuminates Rick's face. He look's exhausted. Like he hasn't slept in days.
"Oh, Rick." Any anger she had towards him melted away as she reaches out and takes his face in her hands. "You can't keep using the hourglass like this, you aren't okay!" She could feel the sting of tears again, "I don't care if it will take us all night, we are going to figure out how to fix it. Properly!"
"Okay." He whispers. "I'm so sorry, Beth." A single tear falls down his cheek, Beth wipes it away.
"It'll be okay. We'll make it okay." She promises and steps back. She offers her hand to him. He stares down at it blankly and then back up to her.
She wiggles her fingers and smiles, "As long as you don't try to flirt with me with the hourglass on, I think we'll be fine."
Rick blanches, "I'm never going to live this down am I?" He gingerly takes her hand, afraid she'll pull away from him again. But instead she laces their fingers together and pulls him in the direction of her front door.
Beth giggles, "You're lucky Yolanda and Court were not there and the coms were off."
Rick rolls his eyes, "I wasn't that bad." If Rick were being honest, he'd say he somewhat remembers what he said and did. But all he knows is how tired he is and how much he wants to curl up on his bed and sleep.
"Yeah okay," She turns to face him with a big grin. Beth wasn't the type to tease but she likes the reaction she's getting from Rick. "Mr. 'I'm amped!'".
Rick's jaw drops in disbelief.
Beth laugh as she opens the door to her house and walks inside, pulling Rick behind her. He lets go of her hand to take off his shoes and drop his bag on the dining room table. Beth follows close behind and sits down across from him, as if they were at the Pit Stop.
"I'd say you're the worst, but we both know that's not true." Beth could see a glint of admiration in his eyes. "But I really am sorry for how I acted." He broke their gaze, unable to look at her, reliving the last few hours. "But you knew how to get through to me."
Beth shifts uncomfortably at his praise. She said what needed to be said in that moment. She knew she had to hurt him for him to know what he was doing was wrong. But she knows that if Rick tries to wear the hourglass again, she might not be able to get him back so easily.
She can only hope they can fix the hourglass, if not, Hourman will cease to exist.
"I didn't want to hurt you, but you really made me angry." She answers honestly. "I thought I could use my usual charm to get through to you, but that didn't seem to work."
"I heard you, ya know." He lays his hand on top of hers. "I just couldn't break through until you left crying." He squeezes her hand. "I really am sorry, Beth."
"I know you are." She glances at their hands. "But we can get through this. We'll figure it out, together." She gives him her best Beth Chapel smile. He grins back and pulls out his dad's journal.
"Let's get to work."