evening everyone, hope your all well. Thank to everyone your followed and favorite it means a lot. there is the next chapter for you. hope you in enjoy. please review. just to let everyone know that carol and Daryl are both younger in this in they are in their 20s so they are both a little less damaged.

Chapter 3.

January 18

Carol pulled into the parking lot right around five and the bar didn't open its doors until six on Friday nights. She'd spent the first part of the last hour getting to know Andrea. And learning her way around the bar, and mixing drinks for Andrea's approval. Andrea was a few years older. She had a mind like a steel trap and a wonderful sense of humor. She wasn't afraid to say exactly what she was thinking, and carol knew that she was going to get on well with her.

Carol bit her lip, anxious but hopeful. "what's the verdict?"

"that's the best bloody Mary I've had in a long time. Might get you to refill this in a minute." Andrea took another slip.

"really?" carol chuckled. "well I'm glad you approve. It's not too spicy?"

Andrea took a quick sip and grinned. "no ma'am is that horseradish?"

Carol nodded. "it is."

"my last girl couldn't mix for shit…I swear one day she asked me how to make a rum and coke."

Laughter burst from carol's lips. "oh goodness…I'm guessing she didn't last long?"

Andrea snorted. "try a week."

Carol was still chucking.

"just gets busy around here and I can't do it all alone…I put off hiring and then I'm in a corner with my back against the wall and I got to hire the first empty-headed little thing that comes along."

"you're terrible." Carol laughed.

"I now I got a guy comes in couple nights a week. He's a good kid and he will be helping us out tonight. Glenn. Boy's smart enough, but he's still learning the how to work the bar. I get him to do odd jobs around here…helping with the kitchen, getting orders out…bussin' tables. You feel like you're getting overwhelmed, just pull him aside and tell him what you need doing."

"he sounds sweet." Said carol.

Andrea took another sip of her drink and smiled. "he is. Don't hurt that he's easy on the eyes too."

Carol's lips parted in disbelief. "well now I'm getting the full picture." She laughed.

"hush" said Andrea. "I didn't go hiring him just cause I liked his ass…he works hard and he don't complain. That tight little ass is just a nice perk."

Carol's cheeks were turning red she was laughing so hard.

"you'll see." Said Andrea. "we get a few pieces of real nice eye candy that come in here from time to time."

Carol blushed and cleared her throat. "I'm here to work, that's all."

"there ain't no harm in looking." Andrea laughed.

"guess not" said carol. "thank you for giving me the chance to work here, it means a lot."

"you're very welcome, any friend of Lori's is a friend of mine." Andrea smiled. "now I'm going to flip the switch on that open sign… folks usually start rolling in around six fifteen…gives us a few more minutes to get you set up here."

Carol nodded. "sounds good."

Merle pulled the heavy doors open and stepped into the already crowded bar. It was little past seven and the place was packed. He glanced up at the a tv that was mounted on the left-hand side of the bar, hanging down from a corner in the celling. There was a football game on and he took a second to squint at the screen to see which teams were playing.

Daryl moved past his brother, not wanting to linger in the entryway. Merle reached out to grab his arm. "where ya goin'?"

"thought ya told me to get a strong drink…I'm just making good on that promise." He yanked his arm away and stalked over to the bar.

"go on then; I'll catch up." Merle called out after him.

Daryl didn't respond, he simply continued on his path and slumped into the first bar stool he saw. His elbows were resting on the counter and he brought one thumb up, chewing the nail as he thought about what he should order. His mood was already sour and he was doing his best to block out the noise all around him. There was music playing, but he couldn't tell what it was… not over the sounds of drunken laughter, hands slapping tables, friends calling out to one another, and the blare of the television. With each passing second, he found himself longing for the peace and quiet of his bedroom. He was chewing his nail down to the quick and hoping like hell that no one tried to talk to him. In the periphery of his vision, Daryl could see men and women occupying the bar stools on either side of him, but he kept his head down…. He had no intentions of making eye contact. His free hand was splaying on the counter, his fingers drumming anxiously. He wasn't sure how long he'd been lost in his own head when he heard someone clearing their throat. Startled, Daryl looked and found himself staring into an unfamiliar face.

"can I get you anything?" she asked. She had a white cloth in one hand and she was using it to clean a tumbler.

Daryl swallowed hard and slowly pulled his thumb away from his mouth, silently cursing himself for the bad habit. The woman behind the bar was staring at him; there was a smile on her face and she had the prettiest bright blue eyes he had ever seen. She seemed friendly enough, but Daryl couldn't recall what she'd said. "sorry?"

She finished cleaning the tumbler and set it down on the counter. "I asked if I could get you anything. Were you still trying to decide?"

Daryl felt foolish.

She's the bartender…what the hell else would she be asking ya?

"I could suggest something if you like?" she smiled at him, her elbows resting on the counter as she leaned forward a little.

He rubbed the back of his neck for a moment and then met her gaze. "ya got ant even Williams?" he asked.

She chuckled. "of course. Straight up?"

Daryl nodded, his fingers gripping the edge of the counter. "yes ma'am."

She turned away from him and moved towards the shelves that held the liquor. Standing on her tip toes, she reached up, trying to grab the bottle she needed.

Daryl watched her, she was slim…small waist. Her top rode up when she stood on her toes and he saw the sliver of plan skin above her tailbone. Daryl didn't usually stare…his nerves had a tendency of getting the best of him, but when she stretched to reach that bottle…he stole a quick glance at her ass and found himself thinking that it wasn't bad…