The universe was working against her.

That was all Beth could chalk it up to as she picked her stupid, dust covered ass off the ground. She'd almost made it – she'd even passed the steepest parts of the ridge flawlessly. But those last few, boulderless, rootless meters were what did her in. She didn't know exactly what had happened; all she did know was that, one moment she was upright, and the next she was rolling...and rolling…and rolling…and rolling.

When she had stopped rolling, she laid there for a few minutes, looking at the sky. Not only did she have the wind knocked right out of her, but she was also a little shocked, a little embarrassed, and a whole hell of a lot annoyed.

Really? Really? She had to fall down while her clothing was already stuck to her like glue from how much she was sweating. Now she wasn't just a greasy, sweaty mess. Nope, now she was a greasy, sweaty mess with sand integrating its way in to every nook and cranny it possibly could.

She looked like a pig that just finished rolling around in a sty. But that really couldn't stop her from getting back into town and waiting for Daryl Dixon to call her. He said he'd said he'd give her a call later – and even though she clearly wasn't the best with timing, it was later.

So, she walked. But she walked like a girl on a mission. She didn't move for anyone on the sidewalk and she didn't smile at anyone. Beth just kept her eyes trained forward and ignored the strange looks she from everyone she passed.

Beth did however stop moving when she heard a loud noise as she passed an old building with dirty windows. As she turned around to see what exactly the noise was, Beth couldn't help but roll her eyes this time. It was Merle Dixon, with a beer in one hand, and the other hand banging rapidly on the window.

Merle started yelling as soon as he got her attention, Beth could barely tell what he was saying through the glass. But it sounded something along the lines of: "Hey, Blondie."

It really was in Beth's best interest to just walk away. However, before she could turn around and make it three steps, Merle was out the door after her; and his hollering made her shoulders rigid.

"Blondie! Did you not hear me? Man you look like hell." Merle called after Beth.

She considered continuing to walk; she really did. But there was something about these stupid Dixon Brothers that got on all her last nerves. She turned back around. "I heard you. I chose to ignore you...and my name is Beth."

Merle just laughed and took a sip of his beer (which he apparently found impossible to part with, even in public). "Well ain't somebody in a feisty mood."

"Oh...let me tell you..." Beth started, but before she could finish, her mind finally caught up to her. She was in public, fighting with a drunk man; and drawing all sorts of unwanted attention.

Considering the size of town she was from, Beth knew she already stuck out like a sore thumb the moment she sat down in the diner. Now there she was, covered in muck, at odds with a Dixon: and the brothers didn't seem the most popular of men there. So, even though she was the younger one, Beth knew she had to be the adult.

Rolling her eyes one last time, Beth hissed at Merle. "Go inside."

"Now listen...my baby brother doesn't tell me what to do, and you sure as hell don't either." Merle took another sip of beer and looked like he was readying himself for a real argument.

However, Beth's patience snapped before he could open his mouth again.

"Oh...get your ass inside..." Beth walked quickly over to Merle and basically started pushing him inside. "Now."

Merle continued to try to make a scene, and push back. He hollered a few things that wouldn't ever be repeated by any civil person and even tried to grab onto the door frame for a few seconds. But Beth caught him off guard and got him back inside before he knew it.

As soon as they were inside, Beth peeled her hands off the equally sweaty redneck and stood there for about a millisecond of his howling before she cut him off. "Do you ever shut up or is your mouth constantly pouring out beer coated garbage?"

For a minute, Merle stared at her. He was completely silent, with his lips pressed firmly in a frown. While she stood there heaving her chest angrily, waiting for a rebuttal. Which eventually did come when he stopped being surprised by her outburst. "Who pissed in your cornflakes, Blondie?"

"Oh is that the best you got?" Beth had a few choice things she was ready to say with him if it came to it.

"Well, excuse me, Princess." Merle laughed. "You need to burn off some steam? Cause I got some better ideas of how to do that than yellin' at me."

Beth could feel her nose shrivel. "Now you listen to me. I've spent the good part of the afternoon in the heat, covered in sweat and dust. I have sand in places where sand shouldn't be. The last thing I'd ever want on this plant is that. Especially from you,"

"That, hey?" Merle cackled and gave Beth a smirk.

For a moment, Beth didn't know what her body wanted to do. Her mind went from hitting Merle, to wanting to cry, to screaming profanity again. However, before she could do any of the, a voice interrupted their quarrel.

"Hey, Honey, I think you might need this."

Beth whipped herself around – first registering in her mind that they were, of course in a bar. This was a fact that made her very pale. Beth didn't like bars one bit. But, it wasn't just that it was a bar, but the fact that it looked freakishly similar to the one back home; and that bar, she hated with a passion.

However, Beth didn't stay pale for very long. She realized then that, the person who had interrupted them was a pretty brunette woman standing behind the counter; and on the counter, the woman had set down a large glass of what appeared to be ice and water. Then all Beth could think about was her dry mouth and how much she really did need and want that glass of water.

Beth immediately abandoned her argument with Merle and began striding across the room, all while thanking the woman. When she got to the counter, without a second thought, Beth picked up the glass and took a long, long slip; and then another after that. It was only half way through the glass, Beth's tastes buds finally caught up to her, and a bitter…disgusting taste bombarded her. Beth instantly began gagging.

"What…is…that?!" Beth managed to get out through her coughs.

The brunette woman shrugged. "Vodka, on the rocks."