Love Ain't Like That

Chapter 7

Beth

My heart was thundering in my chest. I looked at Daryl with wide eyes, panic and terror freezing me into place. Shane still stood towering over me.

I felt Shane's eyes on me.

"Beth, come over here, darlin'." Daryl's tone scared me, knowin' full well his temper and protective streak. I kept my eyes on Shane and slowly got up from where he shoved me on my couch. I stood behind Daryl. "Go inta yer room an' stay there," he directed me. He didn't look at me to see if I followed his order. I watched him cross the room and stood nose to nose with Shane. I stayed rooted in place.

"Layin' yer hands on women an' invadin' their home, I knew ya was a piece o' shit,"

Shane

I didn't expect Beth to open the door with open arms, not after the way I hurt her, but I didn't expect her to play games and try to slam the door shut in my face, either. I blocked her from shutting the door on me and walked inside, shutting it behind me.

Nothing was going how I planned it. I want a simple conversation with her, without her getting all emotional and actin' like she's some saint. She's gotta understand a man has needs an' it gets real goddamn frustrating when a girl acts like she wants it an' then acts all high an' mighty. I owe her an apology for leavin' handprints on her, I never shoulda done that an' there isn't an excuse for it. By now she should know how much I care about her. I told her I loved her, for fucks sake.

She started talking about changing her clothes and I grabbed her wrist as she turned to walk away.

"Let go of me,"

I kept holding on, careful not to hold her tight enough to leave another mark on her pale skin. I was about to reassure her I wasn't going to hurt her.

"Let her go."

I looked towards the voice, my mind not matching up with my ears. Daryl fucking Dixon is standing there. I pushed Beth away from me, anger boiling inside of me mixed with jealousy and disbelief. I laughed. "I get it. You'd rather shack up with this piece o' shit than to let anyone know we're together."

"So what if she does?"

"Daryl," she gasped his name. I started seein' red, seething with jealousy and rage. I couldn't take my eyes off the redneck piece of shit who's sleepin' with my girl.

We stood nose to nose, my hands clenched into fists, itching to take a swing. He spoke, voice low, accusing me of invadin' her home an' layin' hands on her. My fists flew. I connected with his jaw. I kept on punching, not giving two shits where they landed.

I taunted him in hopes of him giving me a real fight. He'd never go near my girl again, when I'm through with him.

Beth

Shane hit Daryl. I was so shocked I almost cried out. I clamped my lips shut, hoping to God Daryl fights back and Shane would get thrown out. I didn't count but it felt like dozens of times that Shane hit Daryl. It was like he was possessed. Finally, Daryl started to fight back. They started full on brawling. I felt the room starting to spin.

It felt like forever but I could finally move my feet again. I rushed to my room and shut and locked the door behind me, tears falling down my cheeks. I leaned my back against it and slid to the floor.

I put my face in my hands and wept, scared for Daryl and Shane and for myself.

How would this end?

I jumped at the soft knocking against the wood door on my back and nearly screamed. I clamped my hand over my mouth, choking back a sob.

"Beth, it's me, 's alright."

Relief washed through me as I realized it wasn't Shane. I slid away from the door and flipped the lock. "Come in," I tried to call out, except it came out as a raspy squeak, barely audible to my own ears.

The door opened and Daryl knelt down next to me. I couldn't bare to look at him, too afraid to see how hurt he is. I wondered briefly if Shane lay dead on my living room floor. Another sob wracked my body.

Daryl wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tightly against him. "Shh, 's okay. I ain't gonna let nothin' happen ta ya."

My stomach started to churn and I felt overly hot, like I'm sitting with my face right in front of a heater or fireplace.

"Ya gonna puke, ain't'cha?"

I started to nod my head. He scooped me up and carried me into the bathroom. The moment I was in front of the toilet I started heaving. Through my puking I felt Daryl pulling my hair back from my face and putting it up in a ponytail. I finished puking and leaned my back against the wall and closed my eyes, willing my stomach to stop churning.

"Beth?"

I opened my eyes and looked up at Daryl, standing awkwardly in the doorway holding a mug.

"I made ya some tea," he mumbled.

Despite how crummy I feel I couldn't help but grin at him. It's so Daryl to go the extra mile, putting my hair up and making me tea, but be so shy about it. I reached out for the mug and thanked him. I instantly wrapped my hands around the mug, relishing the warmth radiating from it. I took a deep breath, letting the soothing scent of peppermint wash over me. The instant the liquid touched my lips I knew there was a lot wrong with this cup of tea. I pulled the cup away and started giggling.

"Why ya laughin'? I swear ya females make no damn sense."

"Oh, Dar." I giggled again. "The tea's barely warm an' there isn't any sugar in it."

Daryl looked at me like I'm crazy. "There ain't no way it's cold, I microwaved it fer two minutes."

I rolled my eyes and giggled again. "You don't microwave tea, silly."

"How else ya supposed ta heat up the water?"

"I'll teach ya how to make real tea," I promised.

"It cain't be that bad."

"Give it a try, an' when I show ya how it's supposed to be made you'll understand. Thank you, though for makin' the tea an' takin' care of me,"

He shrugged like it wasn't a big deal.

"Really, Daryl. I, I don't know what I woulda done if you hadn't been here." I shuddered at the thought. Dozens of different scenarios played through my head.

"Why don' ya show me how ya make that shit an' we'll talk more."

I quickly agreed and stood up. "I'm not gonna find a body on my living room floor, am I?"

Daryl snorted an' rolled his eyes. "Nah, I put the trash out on the street where it belongs."

Shane

I drove home from Beth's apartment still in a rage. How could she choose that redneck over me? First the bitch sends me a text breaking up with me like I'm one of her high school boyfriends, then I catch her with him, talkin' about love and waiting until the time is right. What bullshit.

I went straight for the fridge and grabbed a rack of cold ones, the minute I got home. I sat down on the couch an' held a beer against my cheekbone for a few minutes before popping it open. Without the adrenaline rushing through me, I'm starting to feel the fight.

After dozing on the couch for a few hours I woke up feelin' stiff and hurtin'. Figuring a shower would set me straight I headed into the bathroom. I glanced into the mirror while taking off my shirt. Fuck! There isn't a way in hell I can go to my shift looking like this. Too many questions from the wrong people.

A/N: Thank you Jazznsmoke for this amazing chapter! Love ya girl and can't wait for everyone to see where we're going with this story.