Hope || Bethyl Fan Fiction [UPDATING+EDITING]

chapter nine

UNEDITED

A few weeks pass as Daryl continues to give Jordan non stop vicious glares. No body else seems to have a problem with him and he gets along with everyone. Every once in a while he will sort of snap back at Daryl but it's all just self defense.

As for Daryl and I, it's slow and confusing. There's still a slight roller coaster to being this close to him and it's as if I've been strapped on and there's no end. I'm not complaining but sometimes he does. Jordan is not the only one who gets little glares from the so prejudice Daryl. It's all part of the roller coaster and I hate it. The only thing I want is to be with him, openly and happily. But with his childish attitude I have a feeling that what I want does not even cross his mind sometimes.

Still he comes from behind me and embraces me in a hug as I begin to dig into the ground for a garden Rick wants to start.

"How much longer are you going to be?" he groans and I smirk from his dissatisfaction. 

"Soon I hope. I only have to finish this row and I should be done," I gesture to the amount of digging I still have to do and try to hide my smug look from him as he plants a kiss on my cheek.

"It would be a great day to sit outside and enjoy the sun while I watch you naked swimming in a pool.." his voice fades out in a very clear sarcastic tone.

"Oh you wish. I'm never going to let you see me naked swimming in a pool," I scoff at his fantasy.

"A man can dream," he chuckles in my ear.

I roll my eyes and I hear Maggie call out for me. Daryl tenses up and pulls away from me immediately. Before I can even turn around Maggie is running towards me with something in her hand.

"You won't believe what I got you," she beams at me with excitement. I nod to urge her into showing me what ever she is talking about. Maggie complies and reveals a kitten.

I gasp and my hands fly to my mouth, "Oh my god!" before she can say anything else I reach out and take the kitten from her, "Thank you so much!"

"Of course. I saw her.. I think... and I knew I needed to give her or him to you. I'm pretty sure it's a she," Maggie continues to smile at me, seeming very proud with herself, "And we can feed her scraps,"

I thank her again and show her my gratitude by tackling her in a hug. The moment seems too joyful and good to be true, so as if on cue a walker decides to make an appearance. Even though this area is fenced, the gate gets left open. Daryl effortlessly stabs it in the head with his dagger and drags the body away.

The kitten begins to purr and meow at me as I stroke her, "It's definitely a girl," I say to Maggie and check to make sure, "Yep,"

Maggie giggles a little bit then leads me inside to show everyone else the kitten. Rick and Carl were taking a break from digging since they had been on the duty all day, so I stepped up to help out for a few hours for them. Jordan is preparing some food for us that Glenn and Maggie found on their expedition, while Carl and Rick discuss something serious.

Daryl's POV

I scowl as Beth walks over to Jordan, showing him her new kitten. It was a sweet gift from Maggie but honestly it's just something to make noise and attract unwanted attention. It's a wild cat so obviously it will leave at some point and Beth is going to be super bummed and sad. And right now, that's the last thing we need.

Beth doesn't seem to care and happily allows Carl and Rick to pet the cat and hold it. While she is smiling and watching Carl play with it, she looks to me. Her smile fades a little and her head tilts. I can already tell exactly what she is thinking.

'Daryl is a dumb asshole and he should stop ruining this moment'

Even though I know the atmosphere is different and the soft look in her eyes is actually concern, I feel jealousy bubble up in me and it's pathetic. I'm jealous of a fucking cat? How dumb could I be.

Beth holds her eye contact waiting for me to do something or respond to her, but instead I maintain the same look and head to my room. I feel Beth's eyes on me the entire way until I turn the corner where she can't watch me and lean against the wall. But then of course her sweet innocent voice is heard as she excuses herself from the others and asks Carl to watch her kitten.

"Way to be discreet Beth," I remark to myself, feeling the annoyance rush over me. I don't want the others to get suspicious of us. So instead of waiting for her, like she most likely thinks I am going to do, I walk to my room and shut the door and lock it. Right as my head hits my pillow there's a knock at the door and I hear her voice,

"Daryl, what's going on," she says softly and I can tell she's leaned up against the door listening in, "Talk to me please,"

I sigh deeply feeling dumb for these emotions, and for being incredibly stubborn and not wanting to let her in, "Just go away,"

I hate those words and I really want her to come in and lie with me while I hold her in my arms, but once again, I am way to stubborn and full of pride for that shit.

"Daryl. Unlock the door and let me in. There's no reason to shut me out, and I won't get mad I promise," relief rushes through me knowing that this won't turn into one of our fights again. I hate them, even though I know I caused them.

Slowly, I get up and unlock the door, but not opening it and laying back on the bed. Beth enters and sighs, "Now tell me what's wrong," she sits on the edge of the bed and looks at me.

"Nothing. I'm just tired," I already feel extremely embarrassed and I really don't want to worsen that but explaining all of this to her.

"You are literally the worst at lying," Beth slightly chuckles then puts her hang on my leg, "let's try that again, what's wrong,"

I sigh, "I want to be the one that you're showing off to the others and proud to have Beth. I want to be able to hold your hand in front of them and kiss you and hug you, I'm tired of hiding it," I whisper.

I feel her hand move away from my leg and she scoots away a little.

"We are not even like that when we are alone. I don't understand," she sounds confused so I look to her and see her looking down at her hands. I sit up and scoot towards her.

"I want to progress there, I want to be with you and be able to call you mine. I'm just too scared to do it," Beth nods and sighs.

"Okay, I agree. That's what I want too and I'd be more than happy to move forward," she smiles and looks to me.

I gape at her with my big goofy smile and pull her in for a kiss.