Daryl cursed himself as he walked over to Beth's. He still couldn't put his finger on why he had agreed to play at that dive three blocks over. He had never liked the crowd there and everything was overpriced, but the way her face had lit up when he said yes had been stuck in his head all week. He didn't want to see what it would've looked like if he told her no. Rick kept asking about her when Daryl stopped by for a drink in between his shift at the factory and going home. "She's definitely cute." Daryl had nodded. "Think she likes you." He had shrugged. "When are you gonna call her? Wonder if she goes for older guys. How long's it been since you got some anyhow?" Rick had made fun of the way Daryl ducked his questions and then finally started bitching about his ex-wife instead.

As he walked up the cracked sidewalk he could see her in the window. Her hair was down and she spun around the room a little bit. He tried not to think about the way her shorts were just a little too short or the way her shirt climbed up her stomach when she raised her arms. He wondered what music she had on, if it was something they were going to play. He told himself to look away, but she had already caught sight of him. Beth turned and looked right at him. He prayed that he was far enough away that she couldn't see the want in his eyes, in his hands, in his whole body. Daryl nodded his hello and she turned to let him in.

He was still trying to adjust to the fact that he liked being around her. When she brushed against his arm in the narrow stairway he was able to swallow down the feeling of panic that rose up into his throat. He noticed that he didn't completely freeze up when she asked him a direct question. She didn't twist up everything inside him and leave him feeling stunted and alone. Being near her was easy, almost comfortable. Sitting across from her he found himself staring every now and then, trying to pinpoint what it was about her that let him feel at ease. The list of songs he had given her was short. Beth had already known three of the four. They ran through them twice and he still hadn't narrowed down what it could be. When she stopped singing he ran out of reasons to look at her. Daryl dropped his gaze to the floor.

"I think we should close with that Foo Fighters song. You sure you don't wanna sing at all?"

"You got a better voice." He shook his head and tuned his guitar back up. "Definitely close with that one though. I don't wanna have to change the tuning back again."

He shifted a little under her gaze, it felt like she could see into him. He zipped up the guitar case and let out the breath he had been holding in when she finally got up and opened the refrigerator.

"I don't have any beer, do you want a soda or something?"

Daryl groaned when he saw the clock on the microwave, time moved too quickly with her. "Can't. I gotta get going."

Beth cocked her head, "Do you work nights? You always head out so early."

He swallowed against the dryness of his throat. "Nah, usually work day shifts."

"Oh."

He knew she wanted more from him, he could see it in the way she angled her body and raised her eyebrows. He wished more was easier to give.

Beth watched him move his weight from one foot to the other, like he was weighing his options on his shoulders. She couldn't take how uncomfortable he looked, she had to give him an out. "Well, you wanna meet me there tomorrow?"

"Sure. Nine alright?"

It wasn't hard for him to spot her. Her blond hair curled in waves around her shoulders and he could see the sparkle of nervous excitement in her eyes despite the dim light. She was standing by a table where Maggie, Glenn, and Rick were sitting. Beth was playing with that ring on her thumb again, it bothered him that no one had gotten her a drink. He adjusted the guitar strap across his chest and signaled to the bartender for two beers. There was a guy on stage playing some whiny version of a song Daryl didn't know. It didn't seem like anyone was paying attention.

Beth smiled when she saw him walking over. He nodded at her, he didn't know what else to do. Daryl ignored her when she tried to pay him for her beer.

"I signed us in. We are up after this guy. I was getting worried you weren't coming." She picked at the label on the bottle.

"I wouldn'ta stood you up."

They bantered back and forth with Rick and ignored Maggie and Glenn making out. Everyone clapped for the kid onstage even though they hadn't really been listening. Beth took a deep breath and rested her hand on his forearm, he steadied himself with a deep breath instead of jerking away.

"Ready?"

He nodded and followed her to the small stage. Beth pulled one stool closer to the microphone and he set his off to the side. Maggie smiled and whooped as Beth made their awkward introduction and started singing. They sounded good together, Daryl seemed to play off Beth's presence. He didn't look out of place playing the broken chords of 'Stay' or when he kept his eyes locked on her when she sang that Natalie Merchant song. Daryl didn't notice that Maggie spent most of the time watching him while he watched her little sister. He relaxed when they went into 'Under the Bridge' and even gave a small wave in the middle of changing the tuning of his guitar when Beth asked for a round of applause before their last song.

Daryl had always liked playing guitar, it had given him a reason to be around people but just a little bit separated from them at the same time. If a room got too tense he could drown it out with whatever chords his hands put together and hide behind the beat up body of his Yamaha acoustic. But Beth started singing about waiting for him. She was asking him to waste away with her. She sang about things feeling real and being good and asked him not to stop. He knew she was singing to him. Every word was so real and clear in his ears. Daryl had never felt so connected to anything in his life as he did to this girl standing in front of him. He didn't mean to cut her off at the last bridge but he needed her to know that something was happening to him right there on that rickety stage. He realized what he couldn't figure out the night before, there wasn't going to be one thing to pinpoint about her, it was just her. He cleared his throat and caught her eye when he dropped the tempo where it should have picked up. She held his stare and let his low, rasping voice take over for hers,

"And I wonder

If everything could ever feel this real forever

If anything could ever be this good again

The only thing I'll ever ask of you

You've got to promise not to stop when I say when."