AN: So in this chapter i'd like to state that the burning of the shack/house/whatever you want to call it has happened and they're essentially in the funeral home now trying to deal with each other.
Note: Sorry for the lack of updating and I apologize if the setting is a little confusing to some. I haven't written in a while since I'm busy with school and I kinda lost the desire to write since my laptop broke down :/ i'll try to update as much as I can. Pardon any errors or whatever. Enjoy.
Then there's you
Beth was struggling to make out the days going by. Her eyes squinted harshly at the calendar trying to figure out what could possibly be harboring this cool breeze and brown colored leaves.
"It's fall yanno.."
Daryl's voice yanked her out of the state she was in seemingly causing her to squeak. Flustered and beyond embarrassed, she nodded at the older man.
"I know that.. But what day IS it?"
Beth knew it was fall. Regardless of what her actions proved, she KNEW it was fall. That meant time has stretched beyond acknowledgement. She couldn't remember when the seasons changed but she did realize the amount of clothing she and Daryl started to put on. Deep down inside her heart she wanted to run out and find her family. She wanted to go see for herself who survived and who didn't. But she knew better. Daryl told her better. They burned a small little house down recently. Well, maybe a week or so ago? Daryl told her she'd never see anyone again. That her singing was shit. That she lost everyone. They lost everyone.
"Why ya starin' at that damn calendar s' hard for?"
The words easily slipped the redneck's mouth with a slight amount of attitude before he could even realize he was saying them. He watched as the blonde shrugged and opened her mouth to speak. As soon as she did that, she quickly closed her mouth and glared as hard as a tired small country girl could glare.
"I think I like the boxes all lined up and in order. That's why i'm starin' at the damn calendar."
Now it was Daryl's turn to glare at the girl. When did she grow some balls? The slight rebellion presented to him was starting to irritate him. They've been camping out in a small funeral home for about a week now. The blonde seemed a little off ever since he slightly attacked her. And he honestly meant SLIGHTLY. Not his fault if the fairy princess couldn't handle a bit of constructive criticism.
Do ya honestly believe that little brother?
There it was again. The sound of his brothers voice in his head. Was he actin' like some damn conscience all of a sudden?
You tore that pretty little blonde's heart out. I knew you couldn't handle anything nice.
"Okay you can shut tha fuck up now."
Beth turned away from the calendar and gave Daryl a confused look.
"You a mind reader now ?"
"What ya talkin' 'bout girl?"
"You said, "shut the fuck up now" and I didn't even say anything.."
Shrugging, the older male scratched his arm and made his way to the small fridge. He ignored the girl's look of confusion which slowly turned into something like a eye roll. He didn't want to talk about. How was he going to explain his brothers, DEAD brothers voice coming in and out of his head? Daryl was a little angry, maybe even a little temperamental but he was NOT crazy. Pushing a few things around in the fridge, Daryl soon enough closed it in frustration. Beth took this as a sign that either he didn't know how to cook or whatever happened just now was something more important than he let off.
"Here.. I'll make us some breakfast." Chuckling, she washed the only two plates they had and spoke as she placed them on the counter. "Breakfast.. sounds so normal when I say it. Like there ain't no walkers outside begging to come in or like my daddy-"
"Beth STOP."
"Stop what? Daryl..?"
"Don't go there Beth.."
"Don't go where? My daddy is DEAD Daryl. He was KILLED. I've come to understand that now. I'm not the same girl I was back at the prison."
"Your father was a good man Beth.. DON'T talk about him like just another casualty.."
Beth placed the pan she was cleaning in the sink and turned to face the other as she dried her hands on the dish rag.
"Daryl, DON'T tell me what to do. What to think. HOW to feel. You don't know what I feel. What I felt. You didn't look twice at me when we were at the prison. To you I was and still am just another dead girl."
"Beth stop.."
"No Daryl! Do I have to tell you twice? I'm not like you. I'm not like YOU-"
"The hell you ain't girl! You're walking around actin' like your daddy was just another one of them! Like he HAD to die! Like what he did for you was something any other would do!"
"Get. Out."
"What?"
"Get out of my fucking kitchen Daryl."
"Are you fuckin' wit me?"
Throwing the dish rag at the older male, Beth shoved him towards the kitchen exit as she spoke.
"My daddy was killed. It fuckin' happens Daryl. If it wasn't him, it'd be me. Or someone else. But not you. You were made for this but don't treat me like i'm not learnin'. My life was good before this. Maybe even better than yours but you don't get to label me here. You can't pick my destiny or how I should be."
"That ain't my intention girl! I don't wanna hear you preach about your petty survival skills or how some fucked up god must have done this for a reason or how you're learnin' to survive! You AIN'T seein' no one but me till the day you die! That's if you don't just walk off to find another drink!"
"JUST BECAUSE I DON'T SHOW HOW THIS HURTS ME TO THE CORE DOESN'T MEAN I AIN'T FEELIN' ANYTHING DARYL!"
Wincing, the older man looked down at his feet before biting on his thumb nail.
You're an asshole little brother. Ya made pretty little blondie all mad now.
Walking back to the sink, Beth grabbed the pan and placed it over the small stove. Her shaking hands dug in the cabinets and pulled out a can of fruits, some half used pancake mix and some honey. They didn't have syrup so that would have to do for now. Placing the items on the counter, she opened the fridge and grabbed some eggs. Turning to Daryl, she huffed before she spoke.
"Well if ya done standing there, maybe ya can head out and make sure the walkers aren't too close? They'll smell this food right away once I heat up these fruits."
Nodding, Daryl contemplated for a while before swallowing thickly. Walking over to Beth, he allowed his hand to awkwardly reach out and stroke her elbow. He didn't have to do much to get her eyes to widen or her cheeks to heat up and he realized that a few nights ago. He didn't do anything but hug her when she cried and she turned beet red. Maybe it's a woman thing and he barely had experience in that field so maybe that's why it was so addicting to see. This is the second fight they had since they burned the house down and made it here. Honestly he's the one who picks the fights. He doesn't really WANT to but he does it maybe because he can't seem to let go. He wanted to let go of the person he was and start new because Beth deserved that. She needed someone who'd protect her and not shut down. She needed a man who would help her shine like she was suppose to.
Beth saw the contemplation in his eyes. The inner struggle he was having and she wasn't going to ask what it was. When he was ready he'd tell her. It was always like that nowadays. He'd blow up, she'd fight back and then he'd round the house for an hour while she restocked the supplies. He'd slowly linger around her but he wouldn't say anything. He would rather mope around and mumble words she could barely hear.
"Be careful out there.. i'll call out to you when breakfast is ready.."
Daryl nodded and grabbed his crossbow. Practically running out of the house, he exhaled heavily as he began to examine the surroundings. After 15 minutes he spotted a slow one.
Ya really care 'bout her right little brother?
"She's all I got now.." Raising the crossbow up to eye level, Daryl aimed his bolt at a lone walker making it's way by a tree.
"And then there's you Merle.."
Ya gettin' rid of me little brother?
"Walkers done that one already.. It's time for a new start.."
Ain't nobody gonna care about you like-
"Daryl! Breakfast is ready!"
Releasing the bolt, Daryl watched as the walker clung to the tree and died instantly. Making his way over to the dead body, he yanked the bolt out and shook off the brain matter.
"You keep tellin' yourself that Merle.. I got a girl waiting for me and she's a good one. Hope that's enough to shut your ass up for good."