So it seems like you guys like this story! I'm glad! Enjoy this chapter (:
The night was cold as Beth exited the small diner. Puffs of crystalline breathe billowed from Beth's mouth as she made her way towards her car. She drew her coat closer around her as she stuck the key into her door and twisted. It unlocked easily and Beth slid into the car, instantly wanting to turn on the heat.
She stuck the key into the ignition and turned the key, waiting for the engine to ignite. An odd whirring noise came from under the hood of the car and Beth let out a small groan. Her car wasn't starting again. This was a constant battle she had with her car. Though she had the job at the diner, she didn't nearly have enough to get her car fixed.
Her father had looked at it before, but wasn't able to do much for her. He wasn't much of a mechanic. He could do simple things like change a flat tire or change the headlights or spark plugs, but nothing else really. Beth hit the steering wheel out of frustration. It looked like she would have to walk home.
Beth lived relatively far from the diner in means of walking. Five miles out and all she had was a small flashlight on her keychain to keep her company in the darkness. She swallowed the fear in her throat as she hopped out of her car and began to walk down the small driveway that led to the main road. "What're yah doing?" A voice asked her. Beth whirled, only to see Daryl standing there, hands in his pockets. "Yer not walkin', are yah?" He asked.
Beth nodded, answering his question. "My car won't start and I can't ask Jeanine for a ride," she explained, walking back towards her car, toeing the tire with her non-slip shoes. Daryl ducked his head and smiled towards the ground.
"Would yah like me to take a look at it?" He asked, pulling one of his hands out of his pockets and raking it through his hair. "It wouldn't hurt," he continued. Beth sighed and nodded. Daryl was right, it wouldn't hurt.
Beth rounded her car, unlocked the door again and popped the hood. Daryl opened it all the way and peered into the dark innards of the engine. "All I have is this flashlight," Beth said, shining the small beam of light into the engine with a blush. If that wasn't embarrassing, she didn't know what was.
Daryl gave her a small chuckle but started to tug on a few tubes in the engine. His hands were becoming stained with black oil and dust. "Can you try n' start it again?" Daryl asked, glancing to Beth. She nodded and slid into the driver's seat and tried the key again. It whirred again but didn't start. Beth jumped out again and stood next to Daryl at the front of her car.
"What's the prognosis?" Beth asked with a grimace. She shivered in the cold and darkness.
"Spark plugs," Daryl mused. "That's the best I got. I gotta admit that I'm not the best with cars, but they look to not be connected right. I'm surprised that you even got to work," her smirked, giving her a sideways glance. "I suppose I could give yah a ride home, if that's all right with you?" He asked, turning towards her.
Beth remained silent for a moment. Daryl was a complete stranger that she virtually just met. This could be a death trap or he could really just be offering her a ride home. "That'd be nice, thank you," Beth smiled. "Let me just get my purse," she said, grabbing her bag from the passenger side seat and closed and locked her car. Daryl shut the hood and gestured for her to follow him. When his back turned, Beth fished her cell phone out of her purse, keeping it close just in case he did decide to murder her.
"Nothing special," Daryl said when they walked to his pickup truck. She couldn't tell the color in the dark, but it was rusted and old. Beth waved him away and Daryl unlocked the door for her. Beth slid up into the cab and put on her seatbelt. "Now, where do you live?" He asked when he had put on his own seatbelt and started the truck.
He pulled out to the end of the driveway and they were plunged into complete darkness except for his high beams. "I live right outside Pine Lake," Beth told him, hoping he would know where that is. "Not too far," she said, hoping it was okay. "Oh, and I'll pay for gas if you'd like."
Daryl shook his head, pulling out onto the highway. "That's not necessary," he said. "I live in Pine Lake," he said. "Well, in the woods," Daryl continued, clarifying for her. A silence had fallen comfortably into the cab of Daryl's truck. Beth watched the white line as they drove through the woods.
She wanted to keep talking to him, but didn't know what to say. He was a stranger just giving her a ride home out of courtesy. "What made you come to the Hearth?" Beth asked out of curiosity and for the need of a conversation. Daryl weighed the question in his mind before answering.
"Someone told me the food was good," he said. "And the waitresses were nice to look at," he continued, licking his lips but keeping his eyes on the road.
Beth felt her breathing hitch. "And did we hold up our end of the deal?" She asked, her heart hammering in her chest as she waited for his answer.
Daryl looked to her and then back to the road in front of them. "I think you already know the answer to that question." Beth let out her breath. He thought she was attractive. At least it was mutual. Beth smiled to herself in the darkness. Once, again they were plunged into silence.
Beth would have been content with just the radio playing, but Daryl insisted on keeping it quiet. She wandered if he even liked to listen to music. It only reminded her that she virtually knew nothing about this man. Beth couldn't help but feel the sexual tension in the cab.
They rode for ten minutes more before they could see the city lights. "Which way?" Daryl asked, coming for the first stop light in town. Beth told him to turn left and Daryl turned his indicator on. Daryl waited for his turn before turning and gaining speed again.
"I live down this road," Beth said, pointing down a dark lane. It led towards the more densely wooded area of town. Daryl nodded and turned onto the designated road. Two minutes later, they had pulled into Beth's driveway. "This is it," Beth said. "Thanks for the ride," she smiled, catching his eye.
Daryl shrugged, staying silent. Seeing as the conversation was over, Beth let herself out of his truck, making sure she had all of her stuff. Daryl waited in the driveway, truck idling as she made her way up to her door. She stuck her key into the door and pushed the door open.
She looked back to the man in the truck and waved goodbye as another thank you for the ride. She stepped through her eve and closed the door behind her, sagging against it with a smile stretching across her lips. She hadn't felt like this in a very long time. Beth watched as Daryl's headlights spanned across her living room wall. He was backing out of the driveway and speeding away.
In the morning, Beth made herself up again, a flick of lip gloss, a swipe of mascara and tied on her waitress dress. Her shift was going to be longer today, seeing as she wasn't covering for someone. Beth slipped on her non-slip shoes, fluffed her hair, slipped on her jacket and dashed out to Charlotte – her ride to work.
She had arranged for a towing service to meet her at the diner after her shift was over. It would take her to the local garage in town, taking up a whole month of her pay just to get it fixed. It made Beth a little depressed, but she had to do it.
She slipped into Charlotte's car and buckled her seatbelt. Charlotte was a sweet older woman who had worked at the Hearth for over two decades. Charlotte loved Beth and loved working with her, she didn't mind giving her a ride this morning.
They pulled out of her driveway and sped off to work. "You're glowing this morning, Beth," Charlotte admired, smirking at her. "What's your secret?" She asked, nudging her. Beth only giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. Charlotte snatched at her hand, looking at her fingernails. "And you painted your fingernails! Beth, you never do that!"
Beth snatched her hand back, curling her fingers into her palm. It was true, Beth had painted her nails when she got home from being dropped off by Daryl. She took a shower, sang at the top of her lungs and when she got out, painted her nails and toenails a bright red. "It's nothing!" Beth defended. "I'm just in a good mood!" She was blushing as bright as her nails.
"It's a boy, isn't it?" Charlotte prodded, grinning wider now. Beth shook her head, defeated. Charlotte was seeing right through her phony lies. "It is," Charlotte sounded triumphant as they pulled into the Hearth's parking lot.
Beth felt only a little awkward gossiping about men with Charlotte, who was more than twice her age. "Well," Charlotte continued, crawling out of her car. She looked at the old woman over the top of the car. "Whoever it is to make you blush like that, he's a keeper," she said, starting for the front door.
Beth couldn't help but agree with her. But now that Daryl was gone, she didn't know where to find him. She knew he drove a truck, lived in the relative area she did and his name. That was it. Charlotte held the door open for Beth to follow in behind her.
It was a Saturday morning and it was bustling. Half the town's population of older couples had come out for coffee and bacon. They all smiled and waved when Beth and Charlotte had entered. "Thank God you two are here! We've been busy," Stacy exclaimed, throwing her hands up.
Stacy was another waitress, her hair always styled on the top of her head with a bad perm and more flyaways than a feather duster. "I know, I know," Beth said, throwing her bag down under the counter and sloughing her jacket off. "Charlotte had to pick me up, I'm sorry we're late!" Beth smiled at Stacy.
Stacy shook her head at Beth playfully. "Take this to table four, will yah?" Stacy asked, throwing a plate in her hands. It was blueberry pancakes, their specialty. Beth nodded curtly and walked away, not without a slap to the behind from Stacy.
Beth rolled her eyes, but continued on. There wasn't a day that went by without a warning from Stacy in the form of a slap. It was just her thing to make her get going. Beth skirted around the counter, smiling to the customers lined up at the counter eating their breakfast. Beth approached table four, one person occupying the booth. "Hi," she smiled down at the customer, only to realize that it was Daryl.
& Daryl's back! What did yah think and what do you think will happen? (: Review please!