Daryl groaned as he all but collapsed onto the couch, immediately picking up his legs and placing his feet on the coffee table in front of him, leaning back and closing his eyes. Work had been brutal this week. He was working extra hours both because he could really use the money and not to mention, it seemed like every car in the area decided to crap out all at the same time. The shop was swamped and being one of the best mechanics there, Dale always made it a point to make sure he kept the other guys in line; in fact, most days Daryl felt like he was more of a babysitter than anything.
Dale had been pushing him extra hard lately, making him do all these job that normally the old man would do himself but Daryl didn't argue. Even if it annoyed the hell outta him, he couldn't afford to lose this job, hell, if Dale had asked him to become his official coffee bitch he's sure he wouldn't even protest at that. Merle certainly wasn't bringing in any money that he didn't just as soon blow at the bar. Now that he thought about, Daryl wasn't sure where Merle even got his money though if he knew his brother well enough, he knew not knowing was probably better.
As if he could hear his name in his mind, Merle came out of his room, slamming his door loudly and making Daryl flinch.
"Don't get too comfy Darlina, we're goin' out." He stated and Daryl rolled his eyes.
"Fuck off," he grumbled, placing his hands behind his head.
"Naw baby brother, ain't lettin' cha back out this time. Know ya ain't goin' huntin' cause'a all this damn rain and 'sides, Peach has been askin' 'bout cha." Daryl opened his eyes in just enough time to catch Merle smirking at him and Daryl narrowed his eyes. "Now go on, git, go do ya make up or some shit cause I need me a drink."
Daryl just scoffs but got to his feet anyways, making his ways towards his bedroom. He didn't want to admit it, especially not to his obnoxious brother, but truth be told, Daryl had been thinking about Beth too. It had been almost a week since he brought her wallet that he had found sitting by the front door the morning after she had brought Merle home and he wasn't sure why he even brought it to her in the first place - he could have easily given it to Merle but part of him was still convinced that the damn girl wasn't even real. Granted, holding her wallet in his hands should have been proof enough but he needed to see her; not like it helped any. He spent almost an hour in that damn bar and the girl was still just as mysterious and intriguing as before, if not more.
Maybe that was why he found himself changing his shirt and running a hand through his hair. He hadn't been home long enough this week to actually talk to Merle about this blonde mystery and what little questions he didn't manage to get out, Merle certainly didn't offer much on the answer side of things. Plus, Merle was right, there was a string of storms roaming around and Daryl knew hunting was out this weekend, granted it wouldn't be the first time he had hunted in a storm but he had other important matters to attend to.
Like how a girl like Beth Greene was seemingly friends with dirty old Merle Dixon.
The ride was silent to the bar, well as silent as it can be with Merle and Daryl finds himself growing nervous at the chance of seeing Beth again. He thought back to what Merle told him, that she had been askin' about him and he can't help but wonder why. He knows that slipping out the door quietly and leaving a twenty dollar bill on the bar that day he brought her back her wallet might have something to do with it but he brings his thumb up to his mouth, worrying his thumbnail before he snags a smoke out of the pack in the center council and lights it up just as Merle pulls into the lot, the neon sign of The Green Room blazing across the various cars.
"Better not hide out here all night baby brother," is Merle's only parting words as he heads straight for the door while Daryl hangs back, babying his cigarette.
After wasting as much time as he could outside he heads in, deciding that he wasn't going to be scared of a tiny blonde woman. Besides, he could use a drink. He snorts at himself as he pulls open the door. Beth wasn't lying about this place being "a bit of a success", the place is crowded and Daryl quickly scans the place, looking for an open seat. He ignores the flash of pink and blonde behind the bar and quickly eyes an open stool, in the very corner of the bar, away from the crowd and close enough that he could keep an eye on Merle who was currently in the middle of the room, already hootin' and hollarin' with a beer in his hand.
He looks up just as a beer in set down in front of him and he finds himself once again in awe as he's face to face with Beth Greene, her bright blue eyes shinin' and a sweet smile on her face.
"Hey! Was wonderin' when you'd come by. Thought I'd scared ya off or somethin'." she says with a small laugh and Daryl finds himself wanting to smile but he quickly takes a drink of his beer.
"Been busy with work," he says after swallowing, some reason wanting to explain to her.
She nods sympathetically. "Tell me about it," she all but sighs and Daryl can't help but feel sorry for the girl. It can't been easy dealing with drunks every night. As if to prove it, the blonde lets out a small huff as she turns to hollering on the other side of the bar where a bunch of guys are obnoxiously shaking their beer bottles, obviously signalling for more.
She sighs. "Well I gotta get back there," she says and rolls her eyes as she points a thumb over her shoulder and Daryl nods. Just as she's turning to leave though she suddenly whips back around and Daryl is surprised to see a fire in her eyes. "Oh, and don't you dare leave any money on this bar tonight Mr. Dixon. I mean it." she wags her finger at him and gives a playful smile before she turns around but he knows she means business and Daryl feels his cheeks warm and he curses under his breath, bringing his beer up to his mouth again.
Who the hell was this girl?
Daryl was both relieved and annoyed at the steady stream of people at the bar. Beth was too busy to stand and talk to him - though not too busy to drop a new bottle of beer in front of him, before he even had to ask, throughout the night - and he isn't sure why that is bothering him so much. Hell, Daryl hardly talks to Merle, and he knows he should be counting his lucky stars that he's not able to make a fool of himself because let's be honest, it was bound to happen anyway but the more he watches this girl, the more he just wants to know everything he can about her. She was like this mystery that needed solving and dammit if Daryl wasn't wanting to play detective.
He was just about to get up and go out for a smoke, in desperate need to calm his nerves but just as he stands up another girl ducks under the bar and he finds himself watching Beth as she gives this girl one of the biggest smiles he thinks he's ever seen. The girl is a little taller than Beth, with short brown hair and as the two glance over at him, he notices that like Beth, sees got some strikin' eyes, though hers are a bright green as opposed to Beth's blue and he assumes this to be her sister, noticing other similarities between the two. He watches as Beth leans in close and whispers something in the brunette's ear and the pair glance at him for a minute before she turns around and easily finds Merle over by the pool tables and she glances back at Daryl and he suddenly finds himself wishing he had gone out for that smoke after all.
He looks away, not wanting to seem obvious but he still watches the pair as he glances around, checking in on Merle and he's just looking back to the girls when he sees Beth swat at her sister with a rag, her sister smirking and as they start to make their way over toward him he can't help but notice the slight pink in Beth's cheeks and he takes another swig of his beer.
"Hey there," the brunette says to him, giving him a wide smile. "Beth tells me your're the famous younger Dixon. And I agree with her, you are much better lookin' than Merle." she teases.
"I didn't say that!" Beth says quickly and Daryl can't help but feel his lips twitch as he notices her cheeks darkening even more.
"Daryl," he says with a nod, deciding to ignore her comment, both for Beth's sake and his - he didn't want to think about why her sister would say something like that.
"Maggie Greene, Beth's older sister. Nice ta finally meet ya." she says and before Daryl could respond she turns around and heads over to the crowd that had formed, seeming to replace Beth as bartender for the moment.
"Sorry 'bout that. Maggie ain't got much of a filter." Beth explains with a small smile, reaching around and grabbing a mason jar out of a cabinet and pouring herself a drink. Daryl shakes his head as he watches her. Damn girl really likes that moonshine.
"Know what that's like," Daryl offers with a shrug and they both look out toward the crowd, hearing Merle's roaring laughter and he looks back to see Beth smiling.
"I'm sure you do," she laughs lightly.
Just then Daryl hears Beth's name being called behind him and he turns around to see an Asian guy walking over, a plate in his hand and as he comes up next to Daryl he sets it down on the bar and he feels his stomach rumble as he catches a whiff of pizza.
"Ugh! Thank you Glenn!" Beth says and he's sure she looks about ready to devour the meal in seconds.
"Yup." the guy says and is just about to walk away when Beth calls him back.
"Oh, Glenn! This is Daryl, Merle's brother." she explains and Daryl shifts in his chair as he notices the guys eyes widen.
"No shit? Nice to meet you dude, heard a lot about you. I'm Glenn, Maggie's fiance." he holds his hand out and Daryl hesitates before shaking it, giving him a nod as well.
"Well I gotta get back, kitchen is swamped." He gives a wave and turns to leave, though not before he catches Maggie's eyes and Daryl almost rolls his eyes at the loving look they exchange. "
"Here have some, I can't eat it all by myself," Beth says then, pushing the plate of pizza his way and he's just about to refuse, even if he's starving but he looks up and catches her stare and he swear he can just hear her say don't even.
So Daryl lets out an audible sigh and she grins as he picks up a piece as as he takes the first bite he remembers her saying that Glenn could make the best damn pizza in Georgia and as he has to agree. They eat in silence for a little while, Beth drinking her moonshine and Daryl drinking his beer as they both watch Maggie handle the bar and Daryl can't help but notice that Beth seemed to handle the crowds a little better but where Maggie lacked in speed, she sure made up in attitude and Daryl couldn't help but chuckle softly as he heard Maggie yell at a guy, in very colorful language, who kept hounding her for a drink.
"You really aren't like your brother, are ya?" he suddenly heard Beth speak up and he glances over to see her staring at him, a thoughtful look on her face and Daryl resists the urge to squirm.
He just shrugs in response though and he's thankful when she doesn't press forward. He certainly didn't want to get into that conversation.
"Can I ask ya somethin'?" he finds himself asking, surprising himself.
"'Course." Beth says simply, still nibbling on a slice of pizza.
"How'd ya get ya'self mixed up with Merle?"
Beth lets out a small laugh, obviously over his choice of words before she turns serious. "About a week after we opened this place, I was closing up and I had shooed Maggie and Glenn away because I knew I'd be awhile and this was before we had hired Abe and as I was walking out to my car, this man comes up to me and starts talking to me, sayin' all these nasty things and just as I got to my car he grabbed my arm. Merle came out of nowhere and beat the guy up. I'd hate to imagine what would have happened if he didn't."
Beth gives Daryl a small smile before she looks over the bar and as he relaxes his hand around his bottle, having clutched it tighter as she told her story and he follows her gaze to find Merle making his way over to them. Maggie calls Beth over and as she walks away, giving both Dixon's a smile Daryl furrows his eyebrows as he notices Merle giving her one in return. And it isn't one of those leering grins he usually gives woman and Daryl's head starts to spin wondering how a little woman like Beth Greene had an affect on Merle like that and as his brother sits down next to him, hollering out for another beer, one thing crosses his mind as he lifts his own beer to his lips, taking a long swig as he watches Beth move around the bar.
Daryl would make a real shit detective.