The Baker and the Butcher

Chapter 13

She wasn't gunna be the only one to take him for a loop.
He wouldn't admit that maybe his ego was a bit bruised that she had been the one to make the first move, he was too stubborn.
So that's how he ended up in front of the old farm house out in the middle of nowhere under the damn cherry blossom tree that kept losing it's stupid petals all over his jacket.
He'd sent her a text as soon as he pulled in. He figured the ominous
"Look outside"
Text would be enough to get her to look out her window.
Apparently not.
10 minutes later and 4 texts later and he was getting nothing.
"Listen girl, I ain't gunna throw rocks at your window." He whispered just loud enough for it to carry through the open window.
"Feel like a damn seventeen year old again." He grumbled pulling his jacket tighter around himself.
He finally heard the soft giggle and saw the blonde hair peek out
" don't get ahead of yourself old man." She smiled. "What are you doing here?"
He shrugged biting his thumbnail
"Dunno you said I should call, figured seein' you in person wouldn't be much different. Was in the neighborhood anyway."
Lie. He lived fifteen minutes away.
She was smiling at his rosy cheeks and bashful behavior.
"I'll be right down! Hold tight."
He let out a big sigh of relief. Leaning against that damn tree
He shot up right at her voice.
"Hey Daryl?"
"Yeah."
"Would you reckon it's cold out there, don't know whether I'll need a jacket or not?" She asked raising an eyebrow.
He smiled relieved.
" it's pretty chilly darlin' I'd throw on a jacket and some socks"
"Daryl I always wear socks, what do you not?" She questioned.
"What?! Of course I wear socks, I mean not when I.. Beth can you just get yourself down those stairs." He rushed out.
She smiled at him showing all her teeth and winking.
He laughed out loud. That girl was gunna be the death of him.
A few minutes later a flash of blonde and blue ran past him grabbing his hand and pulling him back to his truck.
When they finally got to the truck they were both out of breath and panting. Beth was holding her stomach laughing so hard.
Daryl had tripped when they were running back to the truck landing flat on his face. Beth seemed to find that the funniest thing to happen in a while.
She was leaning heavy on him and just as she opened her mouth to speak he clapped a hand over it.
"Don't say a word" he threatened jokingly
She took her opportunity to lick his hand and cover it in her slobber.
"Ew god girl, that's nasty." He scrunched his nose wiping his hand on his pants.
"My names Beth not girl Daryl, I don't call you boy. I much prefer when you call me darlin'" she smiled cheekily.
He flushed and moved to start the car, not knowing where they were going.
"No Daryl this spots perfect! Just look at those stars! I bet they'll look even nicer on top of the car." She crawled to the top of his car roof patting the side next to her.
He plopped down next to her and had to agree the stars did look real nice.
" mama used to take me out to the open field over there" she pointed to the field a distance from the truck. " she would sit me down and say "Bethy Greene all those stars up there are what'll keep you safe, you ever feel lost or scared you look up and find those stars, they ain't never goin away."
Daryl smiled. He was glad she had such good memories with her mama. He wished he could share some about his ma, but he didn't have hardly one.
"That was before she got sick, she came down with something that no doctor could fix my brother got it a few weeks later. Daddy fixed up the old barn for them said it would be where they went to rest peacefully. I never saw them after they got put in that barn. Not until they were bein' taken out for the funeral. I was so dumb I ran right after the casket thought I could go and make them come back to life, like they were zombies or something." She sniffles rubbing her eyes and turning away.
He grabbed her chin softly
" Beth Greene you are not stupid, you're the smartest girl I've ever met." He whispered holding her face gently.
"I've done stupid stupid things Daryl." She whispered tears falling freely as her eyes shot to the bracelets covering her wrist.
" that don't make you stupid, it makes you strong, the fact that you came out of it that's what makes you strong"
She closed her eyes and leaned into his hand.
Daryl sighed this beautiful blonde baker had definitely stolen a piece of his heart. And he wasn't sure of many things in his life but one thing he was certain of.
Daryl Dixon was screwed.