It was finally Saturday, and Beth was taking a break from her assignments to help her mother bake as a practice run for the markets next weekend. It had been a peaceful morning; her father was out in the fields, her mother was taking a nap after baking for 3 hours straight and Shawn was about to leave to go into town to run some errands for the farm. The sounds and smells throughout the house were comforting in their familiarity. Beth was just setting out a tray of blueberry muffins when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a hand slowly reaching for one of the muffins, which she promptly slapped away, turning to Shawn with a mock glare.
"What?" He asked, an innocent yet outraged look on his face.
"You'll burn your tongue on 'em if you have one now," Beth warned, but stepped aside nonetheless. Shawn immediately snatched one of the muffins off the tray, tossing it back and forth before practically throwing it back down. Beth handed him a plate.
"Thanks," he said, a little sheepishly. Beth just nodded, unable to hold back smiling a little 'told you so' smile. He rolled his eyes in response and started rifling through the drawers for cutlery. Beth checked her phone, expecting it to be her friend Maddy but instead Daryl Dixon's name appears on the screen, above four words: I got your money. That was it. She stared at the screen, thinking fast.
"What is it?" Shawn asked around a mouthful of what must have been a steaming hot muffin.
"Oh…nothing," Beth shook her head, stuffing her phone back in her pocket. "Hey, are you leaving soon?
"Yeah, in a couple of minutes, why?"
"Daryl's got my money from the car, so could I get a ride with you?"
Shawn finished chewing before answering. "Sure…was that who just messaged you?"
Beth hesitated for a split second. "Yep…I gave my cell number as the contact."
Beth left a note on the fridge and Shawn grabbed two more muffins before they headed into town. Beth leaned her head against the window looking out at the fields as they drove, feeling as though she was living in a memory etched into her brain. The drive into town was one she had taken a thousand times but it was only recently that she had begun to realise that one day she would leave this place behind, and one day she would very likely miss these drives. It was rare that she and Shawn would sit in silence, but not a word was spoken until they reached the shops.
"Outside the Dixon's shop?"
Beth leaned forward, staring out the window as they approached the diner. "Um, just outside work. Thanks Shawn," she smiled at him as he slowed the car down to a halt outside the diner. Beth figured while she was here she could check if her shift times for the next day had changed. She entered the diner, the air inside cooling her skin. Carol was at the counter, serving customers – the dregs of the breakfast crowd. Absentmindedly, she started arranging the salt and pepper shakers on the tables as she walked through the diner, until she reached the counter. Carol finished serving the customers and turned to Beth with a smile.
"Hi Bethy, want somethin' to eat?"
"Oh no thanks Carol, just checkin' my shift tomorrow, 6 am till 2 right?"
Carol glanced behind her at the doorway to the kitchen before answering, lowering her voice.
"Actually, Beth, would you mind workin' till 4 and closing up?"
Beth tilted her head, eyeing the doorway before suppressing a sigh and smiling instead though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Sure, whatever you need."
The sounds of Ed, Carol's husband, from the kitchen spurred both women into an agitated state, Carol picking up the bottle of disinfectant and roll of paper towels and Beth mouthed 'see you tomorrow' to Carol before hurriedly leaving. Ed and Carol Peletier owned Rick's Café, although Ed was rarely ever there. However, no one ever complained about this because it was much better for everyone when he wasn't around.
From what Beth pieced together, Ed was usually passed out by the afternoon. Sometimes Carol would ask Beth to cover for her and she would disappear to who knows where, and Beth would do it without question, after all Carol was her boss. But that was before she noticed the bruises, and realised there was an ugly, hidden layer to their marriage. That was about a year and a half ago. Beth would still work whenever Carol wanted, but she would occasionally probe where Carol would go or what she was doing, as gently as she could. Possibly even worse than discovering what happened behind closed doors between Ed and Carol was realising that everyone knew. Everyone! Sheriff Grimes, Deputy Sheriff Walsh, her own father, even Mr Whitley would know. They knew and did nothing about it. Well, perhaps she was being harsh. She knew that Sheriff Grimes had tried but Carol would not admit to any wrongdoing by Ed. The poster of Sheriff Grimes behind the counter must feel like a twisting knife in his side whenever he came by the diner. Ed would eye him smugly, but shrink under his stare like a coward.
It was especially rare for Ed to be at the diner on the weekend, and Beth was glad to escape back into the heat without Ed noticing that she was there. Ed always made her feel quite uncomfortable, he would leer at her and other girls, uncaring that his wife was in the same room. She walked along the street, waving to a couple of people as she did so. This time she noticed Ed's truck parked a little further down as she crossed the street. Beth wasn't sure if she'd like living somewhere where you didn't know everybody, but she knew she wanted to try it someday.
Beth felt a slight fluttering in her stomach as she approached the Dixon's shop but ignored it as she purposefully strode towards the door, glancing about the yard for any sign of Daryl Dixon. The shop was closed and she couldn't see anyone inside. The smell of the yard was distinct and already familiar to her, metal and oil. When Daryl Dixon was telling her in the garage that the car was a lemon she'd been struck by how masculine it was; it was clear whose domain it was. Now, standing in the empty yard, she could let the smells invade her senses. It wasn't unpleasant. She peered into the shop again, holding her hands up to shield against the sun as she looked through the window. She looked back out at the yard, fishing her phone out of her pocket. She probably should have replied to him to let him know she was coming, although really she'd thought that was pointless anyway since he didn't seem to respond to messages. Just as she found her phone, she looked up to see Daryl Dixon driving into the yard in the Dixon's tow truck. Beth watched as he brought the truck around to the shop and parked it at the side, under the sheltered area. She hovered around the doorway, waiting while he got out of the truck.
He finally appeared from around the corner, sweaty and his black shirt sleeveless (as usual) exposing his toned arms, not looking at her as he fished his keys out of his pocket, unlocking the door. He entered the shop first and she followed him in. She watched as he tossed his keys behind the counter and dug into his pocket, taking out a fistful of cash.
"There, ya money." He grunted, holding it out to her.
"Thank you," she said as she took the money. He met her eyes for a second, nodding, before looking away again. He left the shop abruptly, and she began counting the money slowly. Five hundred and fifty dollars…Beth couldn't suppress the smile that spread across her face. She looked up just as Daryl walked through the doorway, carrying a quiver of arrows. His eyes snapped to her but he immediately averted them, opening the door next to the counter and disappearing into the room, walking back out a second later without the quiver, closing the door firmly behind him.
"Here." Beth held out $50 to him. "It's your cut."
Daryl stared at the money, his face seemingly void of any emotion. Beth faltered, unsure if it was too little.
"I ain't taking any of your money," he said finally.
"Yes, you are. This is me," she stepped forward, holding out the bank note, "thanking you for helping me, so please take it," she thrust the money out.
His eyes narrowed. "I ain't taking it, now get." He gestured to the door. Beth didn't move.
"Look princess, I got what you asked for, now I got things to-"
"I never asked you to do this," Beth cut in, her voice calm but firm. "You offered. It was a really nice thing of you to do, so I would like to repay you."
He shook his head. "Ain't nothing…keep your money."
Beth considered him for a moment. By the set of his jaw, she realised he wasn't going to take the money.
"Well...I owe ya one then." As Beth said it she thought it sounded a bit lame, but she appreciated his efforts. He huffed out a breath, looking very much like he wanted to roll his eyes, but this time he didn't argue with her.
"Anythin' else?" He probed, when she didn't seem to be leaving.
"Oh, um, yes, have you had a look at those cars? For me to buy?" Beth clarified.
"A look at 'em?" He squinted at her.
"I mean, just at the print outs I gave you. If any of 'em were worth checking out?" Beth looked at him earnestly. He nodded slowly.
"Yeah…yeah they all seemed all right, was thinking 'bout maybe checking one out next week, got a day off." He rubbed the back of his neck as he spoke, his face scrunched up in thought.
Beth's eyes lit up. "Oh, which day?"
He eyed her, his face shifting into a blank canvas.
"Ya ain't coming." He stated flatly. He sounded even more resolute than he had been about not taking her money, but in this instance there was no way in hell Beth was backing down. Her eyes narrowed, locking on to his as she raised her chin slightly.
"I need to look at the car as well, Daryl," she said firmly. "There is no point in you goin' to look at it without me there. If the car turns out to be all right, I'm the one who makes the decision."
He shook his head. It was clear that neither of them were willing to back down.
"Won't jus' be lookin' at one car, I can tell you which one you want to have a look at out of the bunch."
"You can tell me? Daryl, how can you tell me when you don't even know me? I'll be the one deciding which car I buy." She tried to keep her tone from being antagonistic, but still firm.
Daryl's jaw clenched.
"What if they all turn out to be good?" She pressed.
"Then you can pick from a picture, can't ya?"
Beth silently counted to three. "I won't pick the car I buy from a picture."
They stared at each other, arriving at an impasse. Beth supposed she was lucky he wasn't just refusing to do it, but then she was learning that Daryl didn't seem like he would go back on something he'd given his word to do. To Beth it was simple; she was buying the car, she was making the decision. It didn't matter how good a mechanic he was, she would be driving it.
The silence seemed to stretch out, but must have only been a few seconds before Daryl rolled his shoulder.
"Fuck's sake…It's an hour's drive from 'ere, the car I was lookin' at. Figured I'd start there."
Beth's face lit up.
He had grit his teeth throughout the entire discussion, but Beth had finally gotten Daryl to agree with everything. The shop was going to be closed on Monday, which Beth luckily had free as well. He'd said he would come by the farm at 9 am, at which Beth had then panicked and insisted he picked her up at her friend Vanessa's house. He had immediately realised why, and nodded while she had explained that her parents would be home. He'd then suggested that he pick her up at 10 am, which she'd gratefully agreed to. Her parents would think it strange that she was going to Vanessa's house at 9 am. They would still think it was weird at 10 am, but she rarely got to see Vanessa in between class and work lately so they'd probably accept it without too much thought. Beth was just waiting for Daryl to find the print out of the details of the car, before she would leave.
He strode out of the room next to the counter with two sheets of paper clutched in his hand.
"Here…this one we'll check out Monday, and this one, I crossed off…two door car. You ain't gettin' a two door car."
Beth nodded, accepting the papers. She'd noticed that once he was actually talking about the cars, he was a little more comfortable.
"How're gettin' home?" He asked, while she folded the pieces of paper up.
"Oh…I was gonna wait at the diner till Shawn gets back," Beth replied, thinking that would probably be all day. She wouldn't mind though, she could keep Sophia company while her mother worked. It was either that or she walk, which she'd done before plenty of times but didn't really feel like today. If Ed was still at the diner she probably would though.
"S'not a good day to wait around at the diner," Daryl said, giving her an even look. Beth met his gaze, nodding slowly; realising there wasn't a whole lot Daryl wasn't aware of.
"Well, I figured…if I can't wait around there I'd just walk," she shrugged, smiling slightly at him. To her surprise he sighed, before grabbing his keys from behind the counter.
"C'mon then," he grunted.
Later on Beth surmised it was the most awkward drive home she had ever endured. Not that she wasn't thankful, she was grateful for the offer even if he acted like he'd rather be sitting on a bed of nails. She found herself studying him out of the corner of her eye, trying to be discrete but clearly failing. He shifted in his seat until he finally looked at her, his blue eyes narrowing, and she resolutely met his gaze just for a moment. She wasn't going to act all silly and flighty; she was just curious about him. She would ignore the urge to look at him again; to check his reaction. She was just curious.
Not long after she was home, Beth called Vanessa.
"So…you're coming over on Monday, but you're not actually coming over?" Vanessa asked, her voice flat.
Beth winced. "Uh…yeah. Oh, I can come by later in the afternoon!"
"I have class."
"Oh, right."
Beth paced around her room, unsure of what to say. She'd really been banking on being able to go to Vanessa's as she knew her parents would both be at work.
"What is this for anyway?" Vanessa asked, curiosity clear in her tone.
Beth explained the situation to her, feeling more and more like a bad friend. She hadn't been keeping Vanessa up to date on much of anything lately. She was expecting a lot of questions when she finished.
"Beth…you should be careful with him. I mean, he helped Austin pick out his car but…it's different, you're goin' with him alone."
Beth took a step back in surprise. Her train of thought had never even taken that path. If anything, her personal experience with Daryl Dixon had strangely never made her feel like she was in danger or that he would try anything. It clashed with Daryl Dixon's public perception.
"Well, I can't exactly ask anyone else to help me if I want it to be a surprise…it'll be fine," Beth spoke firmly.
"All right…well I'll be home at 10, I leave for class around 11 so it's fine by me."
Later on that afternoon Beth sat by the pond out in the fields, listening to the crickets. Her back against a tree, she flipped through her phone occasionally, looking at photos from graduation with Vanessa, Maddy and Jimmy. They looked so happy, and so close. It was hard to believe that was only a few months ago. She never saw Jimmy anymore; apparently he was working over near Macon as a labourer. Vanessa hadn't been able to make Beth's birthday, and she went to a different college. Maddy went to the same college as Beth so she still saw her quite often, but she could feel things changing. She wondered if she should forget the car and move to the city. If she managed to get a job in the city…there was no work these days. Bad economy, people kept saying. The sun hung low in the sky as she pondered. She heard footsteps and she glanced around to see her Mum walking towards her. She sat down next to Beth when she reached the tree, reaching out to hold her hand.
They watched the sun go down together.
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