Follow You Down - Bethyl Fanfiction

Twenty-Five Days without Incident

The days became repetitive. That also meant they were safe. Glenn had found an 'Accident at Work' sign when he was out on a run and let Beth have it to keep track of the good days.

Rolling out from the bottom bunk, Beth stood to swap the four for a five. Twenty-five days without incident. Without a scratch, without a bite, without loss. The prison was beginning to lose it's smell, or rather, she was getting used to it. Pushing the idle thought away with the darker memories of the farm that followed, she kicked her boots out from under the bed. Pulling them on and stepping out into the block, the brightness made Beth squint, hand raising to her forehead.

"Morning sleepy," Carol's voice floated from one of the blurry silhouettes as Beth's eyes adjusted to the light. "Long night?"
Beth nodded as Carol came into focus, putting a hand on Beth's arm and giving it a squeeze.
"I was readin'." She answered a little shortly. It  was true, but Beth didn't want to divulge what she had been reading. Carol didn't ask. She probably assumed it was the tattered bible that Beth used to share with Maggie, though Maggie didn't seem to ask for it anymore. 

Just outside the main block of cells was the dining area where a couple of the newer folk from Woodbury were helping to prepare lunch. Beth really had slept in. Walking past and smiling to anyone that greeted her, Beth headed for the corridor that lead down to the showers. At that time nobody else would be there, she was almost certain. 

Halfway down the corridor Tyreese, Sasha and her father came around a corner into the main hallway. Hershel smiled at her and reached out his hand, which Beth took and held as they crossed paths. Her father's touch on her hand grounded for for a moment, reminding her what was real. Her eyes then flickered past him as Daryl appeared, looking at her through his dark hair, blue eyes piercing hers. Beth's breath caught in her throat at the memory of her book the night before and pulled her hand from Hershel as she felt her whole body heat up. Her father didn't seem to notice but Daryl did, brow furrowing ever so slightly. Beth could feel her cheeks burning. Without knowing what else to do, the youngest Greene took off down the corridor at a quickened pace, feeling those blue eyes still searing into her back.

Once in the bathroom, Beth shut the two tone curtain, the opaque bit going up to her chin, so she could only just peek over if anything dangerous appeared. But the prison was secure and there had been twenty-five days without incident, so that didn't worry her. Removing her clothes, she rested them on one of the chairs with towels on. The showers were always cold. But they were showers. And in all honesty, Beth was hoping it would clear her head from her reading the night before. After winding the pump for a while, Beth released the water and within seconds the freezing water washed over her face and caught the breath in her lungs. Instinctively, Beth wrapped her arms around herself as if to shield from the cold, despite knowing she would be desperate for such coolness when she went outside.

Beth couldn't bring herself to regret her choice of book. How was she to know what happened in it? The novel seemed interesting in a -has nothing to do with the world they now lived in- sort of way. It was a simple story of a girl who was riding her horse and then there was an awful accident with a lorry, leaving the girl with one leg and a horse who couldn't be ridden. It seemed to be a story of healing and horses, something Beth could get behind. But as it went on, it became about the girls mother and the rough, tough man on the ranch who was saving their horse. It became a forbidden romance and then it became a fleeting touch, a stolen kiss and then-

Beth had never read anything like that before. Nothing with any reference to that, let alone a full description. There were never any books like that at the farm. But it had her hooked and she had finished the book in one sitting. Then she lay in bed, staring at the top bunk, picturing the man. He was strong and always collected and calm. He was gruff and antisocial but that only made him more enticing. As Beth lay there, the image of the man in her head became clearer and she imagined him giving her those forbidden looks and touches. Her mind focused on his face and she could see his beard, his slightly opened mouth, his light blue eyes through his dark overgrown hair...

Beth rubbed her hand over her face, feeling it heating up again. She reached for the pump and cranked it a few more times to have a longer shower. She had to get the thought out of her head. She heard footsteps and turned around to see, through the fuzzy top bit of the shower curtain, Tyreese and Sasha walk in. They headed past her to the sinks, talking about something intense. It was a rule to ignore anyone in the showers unless they talk to you first, to respect their privacy. Beth's eyes followed them through the shower curtain, curious as to what they were talking about. But then movement in the corner of her vision made her head whip around to catch the silent sneak. 

Forgetting she was covered by the curtain from chin to toes, Beth wrapped her arms around herself protectively as Daryl walked towards the others, about to pass her shower. She stumbled back against the shower pipe, which was freezing cold on her skin and let out a little yelp in shock at the feeling. Daryl's eyes snapped to her through the blurry plastic, without hesitating his stride. His eyes locked on hers again and Beth felt that same rush of heat, the water running over her face. He was breaking the rule and she did nothing but stare back. Through the plastic, she saw his lips press together and he swallowed, blinking quickly before turning back to follow Tyreese to the sink, dropping his head down. 

Beth didn't move until the pump was empty and the water stopped. Tyreese and Sasha's voices had faded down the hallway- a sign that she might be alone. Taking tentative steps towards the break in the curtain, she reached to grab a towel under her clothes. Snatching it off the chair, Beth grimaced as her clothes fell onto the damp floor. Choosing to ignore them, she started drying herself quickly, not wanting enough downtime to think. Having dried everything but her feet, Beth stood up straight again and took another look around the room before pulling the curtain open to pick up her clothes. Beth drew the curtain around herself instantly and stared, wide eyed around the room, searching the shadows. But he wasn't there. It was almost like he was never there- if not for the pile of Beth's clothes that had been messily returned to the chair.