She heard a car idling outside and had to force herself to sit still. She didn't want to let it show that she had been ready to go for nearly an hour even though he pulled up right when he said he would. When she heard the engine turn off and the door slam closed she went to the window. Daryl was there, standing caught in some internal limbo that showed itself between his truck and the sidewalk. He shifted back and forth from his toes to his heels a few times before raising his hand in greeting. He didn't go to knock or ring the bell. Beth watched him, he wore a dark button down shirt and a clean pair of jeans, his hair was still in his eyes but she could see it was clean. She knew he could see her in the window, that he could make out the lacy off-the-shoulder shirt she had on. She knew he could see her half up hair and barely there make-up. She knew this because earlier in the day she had Maggie stand in the window while she went out to the sidewalk, where he usually stood, and looked up.
Beth waved back and he moved to meet her.
They didn't talk much, she could tell he was nervous. He told her to choose the music. Beth turned it to the station he had on the last time they drove together. "So, where are we going?"
Daryl shifted in the seat and glanced over at her. He bent over, chest close to the steering wheel, and looked out the front window at the setting sun. "Couple towns over, not too far."
"You gonna tell me what we're doing? Or do I have to guess?" She hoped he could pick up on the teasing tone in her voice.
"Can try guessing if you want." He shot a small grin her way.
"You're bringing me to the drive-in!" Beth sat up straight in her seat, "I've never been before!" He looked over at her while they waited and saw the spark of excitement she hadn't tried to hide from him, she was looking around at the other cars lining up in front of the screen. "There aren't any speakers?"
"Nah, not anymore. You go by the radio station."
He parked the truck and set out a blanket over the rusted bed. They went to the concession stand and Daryl got them slices of pizza and popcorn. They sat close enough that their legs were touching. Daryl sent her a sideways smirk when the movie started and she spoke along with the opening scene.
"Dudes and dudettes, major league butt kicking is back in town!"
She finally opened the box of raisinettes she had asked him for when he started the car for the drive home. He drove with the windows down, Beth let her hair blow in the warm night air. They listened to that same radio station and everything just felt good, like it should be just like it was right there and then. Daryl would never admit, to her or himself, how many times he actually looked over at her sitting in the passenger seat. Her hair whipping around her face, every now and then sticking to her lipgloss. One hand making wave patterns out the window and the other resting on top of his on the gearshift. He swore he would memorize every song that she hummed along to, every scene in that movie that made her smile, every time she looked at him and smiled. He parked in front of her house and let the car idle for a minute before he quietly offered to walk her to the door. He forced a breath out through his nose when she laced their hands together for the short walk.
"I can't believe they were playing that. How did you know I liked it?"
Daryl cleared his throat, "That shirt, you had it on… that morning."
"Impressive. Well, you better start thinking about how to top that. I mean, pizza and ninja turtles is setting pretty high standards for yourself."
He looked at her through his hair. "What if that's the best I got?" He was trying to keep it light but Beth could see a silver doubt poking out from underneath that first translucent layer of skin.
"Then I'd say it's a good thing that was the best date I've ever been on." She watched the corners of his mouth turn up just a little. "You're still coming over tomorrow to work out another set?"
"Mmhmm. Right after work alright?"
"Yeah, I'll be back from school by then."
Neither of them noticed Maggie's curtain pull back.
Beth squeezed his hand before letting go, "I had a great time tonight, Daryl. Thank you."
He shoved his hands in his pocket, glanced up at her, and quickly nodded. "Me too." He ducked his head back down and opened his eyes in surprise when she pressed her lips against his. He stood frozen there for a moment before moving to kiss her back. His hands finally moved from playing with the guitar pick in his pocket to her, one in her hair and the other awkwardly holding her elbow. Daryl had never really liked kissing but he decided right then and there he could live in this moment for the rest of his life.
Beth pulled away first. She hadn't wanted to but this was where she wanted this memory to end, romantically on her front steps. She could've stood there all night, pressed up against his strong chest, feeling the way he went from holding his breath to kissing her back. She could've invited him up and tangled her body with his between the sheets she had washed just in case. When Beth stood in the front window of her apartment and waved to him before he turned to get back in the truck she knew that they would have time to do those things. She could see it in the small smile that had stayed on his face as he drove away and she could feel it in the way she finally felt like she was in the right place.