When Daryl was little he didn't really have time to go through those phases that other kids went through; the ones in which they had an obsession that they were thoroughly devoted to. No, Daryl's focus and sole attention had to be on his father's moods. He had to have his undivided attention on every move and action that his father did. He had to focus on his father so that he would know how to respond to inquiry the man had; he had to watch, to see, when his father was in a drunk stupor so that he would be out of his way, and not risk becoming a victim, yet again, to his violence. He had to keep strong until he was sure his father was out so that he could finally feel the pain he had left on him. He had to make sure that he was on check all the time so he didn't show any type of weakness his father could draw force from. Daryl, from a very young age, had to close his self-off, not let anyone in-so as to not draw attention to his father's abuse- and not show any type of interest to anything just, so that his father and brother wouldn't shame him, and kill the dreams he told himself not to dream. He couldn't even focus on school, which was something he deeply lamented because he really wanted to learn everything he could possibly learn; which kid didn't want that.
It took him some time, but after he got away from his father's hell, Daryl realized that he had the opportunity to finally allow himself to like things, to learn. He was hesitant, of course, since fears and inner voices that sounded like his father plagued him every time he showed interest and passion on something. However, after he learned that he didn't have to be like the other Dixons before him, that no one's opinion of him mattered and that his father was no longer in his life to prevent him from actually living it, Daryl went on to explore everything that he was ever curious about, and start liking things.
One of the many things that he liked, before he met Beth Greene -who made him forget about most of the things he liked- was adventure movies. He liked seeing characters go on those adventures that would teach them lessons, humble them, and come out strong as people. He liked going on the journeys the characters went through because he really learned from the things the characters experienced, and made him not take the world for granted, not that he did. He did know that most adventure movies were unrealistic –how could really journey through the Mississippi River and its torrent current and come out alive, or who could really recreate dinosaurs- but he always thought that adventure movies were like the books that he didn't allow himself to read when he was little because of the fear that his father would find them and destroy them. Of course, he allowed himself to read books now that he was older, but he also too liked to see adventures on screen. Sometimes he read books that were made into movies and later watch the movie to see how the movie differed from what he imagined in his head. He realized quickly, though, that he enjoyed more how the stories came out on his head; though one movie that he enjoyed as much as the book, was Jurassic Park.
The book was more gory and scary but he liked the family friendliness the film had. He knew that kids would have wanted to see the majestic dinosaurs and he supposed that if the film was true to the book, parents would have just been left with traumatized kids. He didn't know who would have taken to their kids to see a gory dinosaur film, but he was glad the movie was made the way it was because who would have not wanted to see dinosaurs. Daryl thought they were pretty remarkable, and he always thought that it was a stupid idea to recreate them. Dinosaurs would win against humans every time that was for sure.
When he learned that a new Jurassic Park movie was going to be released, he couldn't help to be excited. He mostly showed his excitement to Beth, but there was no doubt that he was excited for the movie. He liked seeing all the promotions out on the stores; he perked up every time the trailer for the film would come out on T.V, and he couldn't help but be a hundred times more excited about the movie when Beth agreed to go watch it with him when it was released.
Beth had intently and with amusement listened to him as he went on and on about the movie, and the book after they first saw the trailer of Jurassic World, one night they were watching T.V. Daryl had not known that there was a new film being released and when he saw that there was one coming out he couldn't help but tell his worries to Beth about the new film. He had watched the sequel and third movies and he admitted to her that those two films were in his 'How were there movies were "Okayed" to make' list.
Beth had told him how she remembered going to see Jurassic Park when she was five years old and how she had been super excited to see the movie, but then being scared and clutching to her daddy's arm as things became too intense for her. She had told him how she had gotten dreams afterwards about the T-Rex from the film chasing her and them ending up talking to her with Barney's voice, from Barney and Friends, once she caught up to her. She wasn't able to see the purple dinosaur the same, she also told him. He had laughed at her dilemma after she had finished with her tale and he promised her afterwards that he would protect her during the intense parts once they went to see the film because one thing, he knew, he would always do was protect Beth Greene; even though she didn't really need protection.
It was then Friday, June the twelfth, and the movie was released. Daryl wasn't much for going to movie theaters, especially on the days a new movie was released since he knew the theaters would be crowed, and he wasn't much for being around people, but for the dinosaur movie he made an exception. He had picked up Beth at her home, and after a briefly kissing they took off in his motorcycle.
Beth had told him that she loved riding his bike. She had never ridden one before him and Daryl couldn't help but like the fact that she enjoyed riding it, and was not scared or put off by the people who told her that bikes were dangerous. Bikes are dangerous, they are, but only when they are driven by the wrong people and in the wrong circumstance, she told him.
He also truly liked having Beth on his bike with him. Many times, for dates, they would just go on drives and set off to anywhere that his instinct led them to. He enjoyed those dates. He enjoyed having her arms around his waist, and her cheek between his shoulder blades or chin on one of his shoulders. If he was honest, Beth Greene was the best person he had ever liked. She was the one person that he knew he would always like –and love- and the one person he wanted to know everything about. Beth was one of the reasons he was glad that he let go off his father's influence on him and really allowed himself to live, and like things.
As they arrived to the theater and as Beth dismounted his bike, and turned to face him with her beautiful smile, Daryl then did something he wanted to do something he really liked to do- perhaps the thing he liked to do the most- and didn't get the chance to do when he picked her up at her home, since they were running a little bit late. He grabbed by the waist pulled her to him, whilst he was still sitting on his bike, and said.
"Kiss me if I'm wrong, but dinosaurs still exist right?"
Beth, who was at first surprised by his actions, couldn't help but then smile even wider and place her lips on him. Daryl, of course, knew that he was wrong but when he heard that pick-up line he knew that he had to use it on Beth, because one thing that he liked, above everything else, was to kiss Beth Greene. It was like when they kissed all those cliché stuff happened. Fireworks would explode. Electricity would shock their lips. Volcanoes erupted, and the world ceased to exist.
Kissing Beth was magical. Having her soft, savory lips against his, sometimes being pliant or domineering was something that he relished and couldn't get enough of. He would be completely happy if he died because he was too stubborn to stop kissing Beth and asphyxiated himself by doing so.
Breaking their kiss, Beth then breathlessly asked him, "Did you just bring me here to see this movie because you wanted to use that line on me or are you actually a fan of dinosaurs?"
"No, I am actually a fan of these movies." Daryl then responded breathlessly as well, whilst he moved one of his hands to the back of her head to push her back to him.
"But I, also, had that line, and I would never pass on a chance to kiss you." Daryl added as he stopped moving towards her, ghosting his lips against hers.
"I'm actually a bigger fan of that." He finished saying before he kissed her again with an euphoric passion.