For some time after that night, Beth and Daryl didn't bother arguing with each other. According to Annabelle, they seemed more like a couple than ever that night, with him waiting around for her. Then when Beth regaled her with their argument, she laughed and mentioned how her and her ex used to be like that, when they still cared what the other did or said. Beth didn't tell Annabelle why she drank so much, but at that point it was no mystery to anyone – except for Daryl. Beth did however decide to take it easy each time they went back to the bar, now that she knew the amount of liquid courage she thought she needed was only good to the point of her passing out before she got the words out of her mouth. She'd also decided it was better not to say anything she meant to that night, for even though she didn't hear exactly for Daryl said, she caught one word very clearly: regret. So, less drinking meant less arguments and less regret. It was a simple equation that made everything good between them for the time being.
But, as she'd learned, most good things can't stay good forever.
It was the middle of the week and Beth had an interesting day at work – to say the least – and she was just in the middle of her split when sat down with Merle and a few others at the bar. Daryl was nowhere in site, and she hadn't really expected to see him before her shift started up again, given that it wasn't even happy hour yet. She was just there to kill come time, and offer to help Lori, who'd had been furiously cleaning the for the last three weeks. But Lori told her that it was only partly because the bar was a mess after each weekend, and mostly because she was to trying to induce labour – seeing as her Braxton Hicks getting worse and worse with each day.
"If I'm going to have contractions, they better be for real." Lori laughed, placing her hand on her stomach.
"I wish I could help with something." Beth replied. "Like the bar while you're away at least."
. "Me too, but I think that would be the point Rick had my head." Lori sighed, placing her hand on the back of Beth's chair to give herself a rest. "Which makes it easier for me to shut down for a month or two rather than lose the entire bar. Rick is sure we can afford it"
"I think Rick needs to get that ol' stick out of his ass." Merle grumbled, the misfits at the table joining in. "Where am I supposed to go drinking now? She could damn well join the army, but she can't pour booze and smile."
"I pour coffee and smile." Beth joked. "How much different could it be?"
"Believe me, it's tempting to say yes." Lori said, but still dismissed the option. "Can I get you a drink, Beth?"
"Yes please," Beth replied, knowing it would wear off by the time she had to go back. "I think I deserve it."
Lori nodded. "Yeah, I've heard some rumours about your strange week."
"Strange week?" Only Beth and Lori turned as Daryl walked into the bar. "It's only Wednesday."
"That doesn't mean she hasn't been tried yet Daryl, so sit down and stop questioning what you don't know nothing about." Lori snapped. "And don't interrupt." Beth laughed at Lori chastising Daryl. She had never seen her with her son, Carl, but she could tell by the way she put grown men in their place that she was a pretty damn good mom.
Daryl did as he was told and sat down, as Lori scurried away to grab Beth her drink. "So, what don't I know nothing about?" Daryl asked almost immediately.
. . .
As soon as Daryl asked his question, he watched Beth's cheeks go a deep shade of red. "Who said its any of your business?
"Lori?" Daryl looked to her for the answer as she set a drink down in front of Beth.
"Don't you dare." Beth warned.
"Oh, come on now, it's not even embarrassing!" Lori teased. "It's kind of flattering."
"What?" Merle asked, now the entire table's interest was peaked and they were all echoing the same question.
"Beth has admirer." Lori cooed.
"I have a stalker." Beth corrected her. "Not an admirer. An admirer doesn't come to your place of work everyday and fawn over you while you have a million things to do."
"Wait. Are talking about Daryl? Merle asked, almost howling in laughter. Daryl watched as every eye at the table turned to him. Well, except for Beth's, who's eyes remained fixed on studying her split ends. "Cause that sounds like Daryl."
'No. It's some kid around her age." Lori laughed again. "I've heard he's come back every day of the week fixing up the courage to ask her out."
"And you know all this...how?" Beth asked in a shaky voice.
"He's one of my friend's sons. He used to watch Carl on date nights." Lori explained. "Really nice kid."
To Daryl it sounded like, for a second, Lori was trying to talk the kid up to Beth. Which for some reason, made him flash back to the ride home in the truck, with Beth's head resting against his should. Which, in turn, made him panic, and before he could catch the words coming out of his mouth he said: "Well if he's nice, why don't you say yes?"
It was at that moment that the looks on everyone's faces were mirror images of shock; before chaos broke out. Daryl caught Lori mouthing "What the fuck?" to him, his brother started laughing to the point where it was silent and he couldn't breath, and everyone else was trying their best not to make eye contact with him. Then there was Beth; who had looked up from her lap with a expression he couldn't quite place as offended or confused.
"Why would I do that?" Beth swallowed.
Daryl immediately found himself on the defense, with the entire bar looking at him for the answer. "Why wouldn't you?" and just to hammer the nail into his coffin, he added, "Or do you think you're too good for him?"
"DARYL!?" Lori yelled, with the tone in her voice that he sensed meant he was in deep shit.
"It's fine, Lori." Beth breathed out, and Daryl caught a glimpse of her chewing on the inside of her cheek. Her voice dropped as she stood up to stare directly at Daryl. "All these months, and you still don't know a damn thing about Daryl Dixon."
He wasn't sure how to reply. He just stared at her, trying to will her to sit down and forget he'd ever said anything, she'd done it before. But, the longer he kept his mouth shut, the angrier her expression got. No one broke the tension looming in the air, and everyone waited to see what she'd do next. If Daryl's vison hadn't started to tunnel, he bet he would have seen Merle pushing her glass closer towards her, urging her to throw it in his little brother's face. But soon it came to the point where she simply starting gathering her things to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Was all he could get out, blinking furiously.
"AWAY FROM YOU!" and then with an exit that could take the record in Merle's books in the best outburst category, Beth was gone.
"What…what just happened?" Daryl looked around at the table, but again, there were no answers to be given. "What did I do?"
"Tell me Darylina, was it jealousy? Or are you really that stupid?" Merle asked, catching his breath, and still enjoying himself thoroughly.
"It's not…"
"Like that." The entirety of the bar cut him off, finishing his sentence.
"Poor Beth." Lori breathed. "She ain't ever gonna know how you feel if you keep acting like an idiot."
Daryl didn't know where to do from there, he was filled with such an overwhelming feeling of dread – and an overwhelming feeling of loss. He knew that his actions would have very welled ruined everything, their friendship included. He had gone along in his Blondie Bubble, as his brother had called it and never realized the damage done; and now there was the possibility of Beth being filled with a sense of disillusion. Which he didn't think he could face.
"But I don't…"
"You don't know how to tell her that moment she tore into the town, you were interested." Merle cried. "You can piss on my face brother, but don't tell me it's rainin'"