The dark liquid was strong and smooth as it coated Beth's tongue, yet bitter with a fiery undertone. She swallowed, feeling it burn its way down her throat, until she came up coughing, feeling it settle in her almost empty stomach.
Wincing, she wiped her eyes on the back of her hand, ignoring her sister's laughter.
'Bunch o' pussies,' Daryl had rejoined them at the bar, 'aint nothin' wrong with it.' He took the bottle from Beth and chugged, putting it back down like it was no big deal.
'We weren't all raised on hard liquor,' Glen said, smiling.
'I'm going to be in so much trouble,' Maggie said, biting her lip, 'Daddy will go mad when he finds out I've been drinking... but Beth!'
'I'm not a child,' Beth said, taking the bottle back from Daryl.
She could feel them looking at her as she drank, but she didn't care. She was tired of being treated like this fragile child who needed looking after, who needed protecting and couldn't be counted on.
She could feel Daryl watching her as she lowered the glass and felt the heat rise in her face.
'Here' he said, putting a glass down in front of her, 'go slow.'
Beth smiled at him, pouring herself a drink before putting the stopper back on and pushing it towards Glen.
She leant on the bar, twisting her body so she could see Glen and her sister, slowly sipping on her drink. It became easier to drink the more of it she drank, and the more of it she drank, the looser her muscles began to feel. She shut her eyes, rolling her head back on her neck, enjoying the feeling of freedom that had gradually descended on her.
'Hey,' Beth felt hands, hot and strong, land on her shoulders, sending all manner of shivers down her body. She opened her eyes as Daryl leaned down to her level, 'don' drink too much,' he purred into her ear, causing her to suck in her breath. Her stomach flipped as her face flushed hot, his breath tickling her ear, the stubble of his cheek gently scratching her jaw.
She nodded then watched as he walked away from her, heading over to a dartboard mounted to the wall. Beth watched him leave, her heart in her throat.
'You okay?' Maggie said.
Beth looked at her sister.
'Are you okay?' Maggie repeated, nodding to the almost empty glass in her sister's hand.
'Yeah,' Beth smiled, shaking her head, 'yeah I'm fine.'
Once Maggie had focussed her attention back on Glen, Beth climbed off of her bar stool and walked around the bar, casually searching through the bottles. She picked up a few, shaking them. Laying on the floor, on its side, was a glass bottle with an orange label. She picked it up, noticing the clear liquid that sloshed within the dusty glass. She unscrewed the lid, bringing the bottle to her nose. The pungent scent of orange hit her, making her blink.
She brought the bottle to her lips, swigging from it. The drink burnt its way down her throat, filling her with the intense orange flavour, masked by the intense alcoholic taste. She spluttered, wiping her mouth on the sleeve of her new jumped, grimacing.
'We shouldn't stay here too long,' Maggie said from her side of the bar.
'Let's sit down a little first,' Beth said, suddenly feeling sick from the amount of bitter orange she had just ingested.
She walked back from behind the bar and pointed to the booths, lining the walls.
Maggie glanced at Glen, then shrugged.
'Alright,' she said, getting up and following her sister.
Beth sidled into one of the cleanest booths, sweeping the fallen debris and dust from the seat onto the floor. The leather of the seat was cold and hard, but more comfortable than the wooden bar seat. Maggie and Glen sat on the sofa opposite her, the table in-between them. Glen put his arm around Maggie's shoulder, which she snuggled in to. Beth poured herself another drink.
'Shall we play a game?' Glen asked, looking down at Maggie. Maggie shrugged.
Suddenly Daryl reappeared, sliding himself into the booth beside Beth. He took the glass container from her hands without saying anything and took a chug from it. Glen glanced at him before carrying on.
'How about I have never?' he said, 'we each take turns to say something we haven't done, and anyone who has done it drinks.'
'I'll play,' Beth smiled. She noticed the alcohol in her system was starting to make her eyes feel heavy.
'Okay,' Glen said, 'I'll go first,' he swirled the liquid in his own glass around in his hands for a moment, 'I have never been on a proper date.'
'Aw honey,' Maggie cooed, looking up at him with her big brown eyes. Then she winked across at Beth who took a sip from her drink, as she picked up her own glass.
'I guess no-one wanted to date me.' Glen said, pulling a sad face.
'I'll date you,' Maggie smiled to him, nudging him gently in the ribcage. 'I have never' she then said, pulling herself away from Glen and sitting up straight, 'drunk too much I was sick.'
Glen chuckled, drinking from his own glass. Daryl unstoppered the glass bottle and drank from it.
'Oh, you're playing are you, Mr Dixon?' Maggie said, raising an eyebrow.
Daryl shrugged beside Beth.
'You go then,' Maggie said, waving a hand towards him.
Daryl leant back, leaning his head against the red upholstery of the seat.
'I ain't never... swam in the sea,' he shrugged.
Beth twisted herself around in the booth so that her back was against the wooden panels of the wall, until she was facing Daryl's profile. She picked up her glass and drank from it as her sister and Glen did the same.
'I have never been drunk before,' Beth smiled, looking across at her sister.
'Are you drunk now?' Maggie asked.
'No,' Beth said, 'It's okay sis, don't worry.' Although she wasn't entirely certain she was telling the truth.
'I've never rode on a motorbike,' Glen said.
Daryl shrugged, swigging from the bottle. Beth drank from her own glass, earning herself a quick look up and down from Maggie.
'I have never had an inappropriate crush,' Maggie said, her eyes boring into Beth.
Beth looked back at her, chewing on her bottom lip.
The alcohol had clouded her mind a little, but not enough to not still be aware of the way her sister was looking at her.
She picked up her glass.
'Who hasn't though, really?' Glen said, drinking his own drink. Thankfully, Maggie turned to look at him.
'I ain't never ridden a horse,' Daryl said.
Both Beth and Maggie drank.
'Are you purposefully trying to get my sister drunk?' Maggie said to Daryl.
'Shut up, Maggie,' Beth said, before he could say anything. 'My go. I have never smoked a cigarette.' she said.
To her surprise, her sister took a swig.
'Maggie!' Beth gasped, putting her hand to her chest.
'Oh whatever,' Maggie said, sticking her tongue out, 'at least I never fancied Rick.'
'Maggie!' Beth cried, 'I never – I said he -'
'Ya fancy Rick?' Daryl said, turning to look down at her as Glen made 'oooh'-ing sounds in the background.
'No!' Beth said, 'No! I said he was handsome when he first arrived – you know!'
Beth could feel her cheeks burning as she held his gaze, his eyes trained on her through his hair.
'Drink up Beth!' Maggie sung, gleefully enjoying her little sister's discomfort.
Beth picked up her drink and took several large gulps, her eyes glaring at her sister over the top of the glass. Once she had finished her drink, she put the glass down and stared at her sister.
'I never had sex in the guard tower.' she said.
Glen fell about giggling while Maggie stared at her sister, open mouthed.
'Drink up,' Daryl said, leaning on the table with his elbows.
Maggie picked up her glass.
'So, Rick,' Daryl said, looking back at Beth.
'No, no,' Beth said, blushing again, 'it was just an observation, you know, just-' she found herself sliding closer to him until there were only a few inches between them.
'Yeah, yeah,' Daryl said, picking up the bottle to drink from it again.
Beth ran her hand down her face, trying to compose herself. She felt like her head was swimming, like her muscles were not entirely her own.
'Okay, okay,' Glen said, chuckling, 'I never – uh – I never attended my school prom.'
Beth picked up her glass, noticing it was empty, then held it out to Daryl.
'Y'sure?' he said, looking her up and down. Beth felt her skin tingle.
'Uh-huh' she nodded.
Keeping his eyes on hers, Daryl poured out half a glass of the dark liquid.
'Your eyes are so blue,' Beth said suddenly.
'Wha'? Daryl said.
'Your eyes,' Beth said, reaching across to touch his cheekbone just below his eye, 'I never noticed. They're so blue.'
'They as blue as yours?' Daryl asked, his voice low and husky.
'I'm not sure,' Beth said softly.
'I never acted inappropriately.' Maggie said suddenly and loudly from across the table. Beth turned, her fingers falling from Daryl's face. Her sister was staring at her.
'Sure you have.' Beth shrugged at her.
'Okay, you go,' Maggie said, her dark eyes still locked on Beth, 'I have one for you: I never finished high school.'
Daryl, who had taken another swig from the bottle, chocked suddenly, putting the bottle down on the table, coughing.
'You okay?' Beth asked, turning to him again. He nodded, batting her away.
Beth leaned across herself to move his hair out of his face as he held his fist to his mouth to cough.
'You doing alright, Mr Dixon?' Maggie said, leaning forward on her elbows, 'that catch you off guard?'
Daryl, frowning deeply, shook his head, clearing his throat.
The alcohol had begun to seriously impair Beth's judgement now, she felt as if her body was acting slower than normal, as if time had slowed down. She could feel her sister's eyes on her, but the alcohol was telling her it didn't matter. She placed her other hand on Daryl's chest, looking up into his eyes.
'I'm fine,' he coughed, taking her hand in his and removing it from himself. But he didn't let go of it, Beth noticed. He placed it beside him on the sofa but kept her hand within his. Beth could almost physically feel the electrical impulses travelling the length of her arm from her hand as it sat there, warm and secure in Daryl's own blood stained hand.
'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea,' Glen said, looking sideways at Maggie, who suddenly looked very unhappy.
'No,' Maggie said, 'who's going to drive home?'
'I can,' Glen said, 'I'm okay to drive.'
Maggie nodded slowly. Glen put his arm around her, pulling her towards him to place a kiss on her forehead. She softened a little.
Beth, who could now see two of both Glen and Maggie, was having a hard time keeping her head up. It felt heavy and wobbly as if it were being weighed down. The hard surface of the table suddenly looked very soft and comfortable.
'Hey,' she heard Daryl whisper, becoming aware of how close he was to her, 'are you alright?'
He had removed his hand from hers, but had wrapped his arm around her shoulders in a protective gesture. Beth let herself fall onto him, her head lolling onto his shoulder, her small body leaning up against his. Daryl ran his hand up and down her arm in a warming motion, his head bent down so he could speak quietly to just her.
'I think y've had enough,' he said softly, 'should get you home.'
Beth sat herself up, pushing her hair back and taking a deep breath.
'I just want to-' she said, half getting up. Daryl scooted out of the booth to allow her to move past him. She stepped past him, stopping to smile at him, then wandered in the direction of the bathroom.
Daryl watched her go. She was walking pretty well for someone who had drunk so much, so that was a good sign.
'Daryl,' Maggie's voice drew him back. He turned to look at her.
'Stay away from my sister.' she said.
'Wha'?' Daryl frowned.
'Don't you dare take advantage of her. I see the way she looks at you,' Maggie said, her eyes narrowing, 'maybe even the way you look at her.'
Daryl was about to retaliate when a realisation hit him; no-one had checked the bathroom. He turned his back to Maggie and ran after Beth, shoving aside the door that led to the corridor with the bathrooms in. The corridor, at least, was clear, so he rushed to the bathroom door, throwing it open.
Beth was standing beside a broken basin, her small hands clutching the rim of it, the small of her back pressed firmly into it. She was staring down at the body of a walker who was slowly but surely dragging itself out of one of the cubicle's by its fingertips, towards her. Its yellowed sunken eyes were staring straight into Beth, it's gaping mouth drooped open in a snarl as it pulled its rotting body across the broken, wet tiles. Daryl rushed to it, plunging his knife into the top of its head. It fell flat against the tiles, its forehead hitting the grimy floor with a thud, silent. The silence washed over them.
He then kicked open the other two cubical doors, checking them. Thankfully, they were empty.
'Beth,' he panted, turning to her.
Beth flung her arms around his middle, burying her face in his chest.
'Hey, you're okay,' Daryl said, stroking the back of her head.
She looked up at him, her big eyes wide and scared, but also unfocussed.
'You're my hero.' she insisted.
'Nah.' Daryl laughed, gently stroking her face.
'You are.' she said, reaching up to touch his face, holding his cheeks in both of her hands. 'My hero and I love you.'
Daryl looked away from her. With what seemed like a considerable amount of effort, Beth pulled herself up, wrapping her arms around his neck.
'Look at me,' she said softly.
He looked at her.
'I love you,' she said, her eyes serious, conveying the depths of her drunken emotions.
'You're drunk,' Daryl said softly, taking her chin in his hand.
'Does it matter?' Beth asked.
'Of course it does,' he grunted, 'more than anything else. C'mon.' He put her down and took her hand, pulling her out of the bathroom.
'Let's get her in the car,' he said to others, who were standing beside the booth, 'we need t' get outta here.'