Close to You
Hotel Hell
Disclaimer: I own no one!
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John closed his eyes, as they sped through the country side. It was cold. It was damp. Randy was at the wheel. Trish was passed out in the backseat, beside Chris.
"You awake?" Randy asked, not taking his eyes off the road. Shaking his head, John grunted. "I'll take that as a yes,"
"Sorry. I'm exhausted," he murmured. Randy nodded. "Time check?"
"Yeah," he said. John glanced down at the dashboard. The blue illuminated numbers were the only light in the car.
"Two-seventeen Am," John said. Randy sighed. Where should he go?
"I'm checking into the first hotel I see. I can barely keep my eyes open." Randy said. John nodded. Sighing, he scanned the distance for the telltale lights of the motel.
"There's one!" he called. Randy drove up to it. He hated to admit it, but the motel was a dump.
It was two buildings. A wooden stall stood as the front desk. Beside it, there was a small house with the word, O T L, lit up in fluorescent lighting.
"Ohtl?" Randy muttered, trying to pronounce it. John rolled his eyes.
"I think it's supposed to say hotel," John said. "Do you want to stay here?"
"Do we have much choice? If I drive anymore, I'll fall asleep," Randy murmured. John nodded. He could see Randy's point. Gently, Randy nudged him. "Go see if there's a vacancy,"
"Why do I have to do it?" he asked. Randy rolled his eyes.
"They're not going to mess with you!" he exclaimed. "That would be crazy," John opened the door, slid out of the car and made his way over to the stall.
"Hello?" he called, trying not to get frightened. "Hello?" He jumped as somebody tapped him on the shoulder.
"You looking for a room?" a feminine voice asked. John, after turning around, nodded slowly. He was surprised to see a short teenage girl. She had bright red hair, and wore black rimmed glasses.
"Yes, as a matter of um, fact," John said. The girl nodded.
"I'm Merin Fuller, and this is my daddy's hotel," the girl said. "You're in luck. We have one room left." She moved into the stall.
"Okay. Is this the only hotel in the area?" John asked, not sure he wanted to stay there.
"For about fifty miles," she said. John closed his eyes. They didn't have much choice.
"I'll take it," he said. "How much?"
"Twenty-five dollars," she said. John withdrew his wallet. Then, he paid her. "Room seven, attic,"
"This place is gross!" Trish whined, climbing the stairs. Randy glanced behind him.
"Trish, relax!" he exclaimed sharply. He hadn't meant to sound harsh, but the creaky stairs were making him crazy. He kept thinking the stairs would break beneath him.
"Well, sorry," she muttered. Randy turned around again.
"Sorry, I snapped at you. These stairs are making me neurotic!" he exclaimed. "I keep thinking they're going to collapse,"
"Room seven!" John exclaimed, slipping the metal key in the lock. He turned the key and with a nudge of his shoulder, opened the door.
The condition of the room was less than ideal. The flowered bedspread was faded. The paint was peeling on the walls. The room smelled of stale beer.
They had to spend the night there?
"I stick to my original statement. This place is gross!" she declared. Chris put his arm around his girlfriend.
"What are we going to do?" John asked. "We can't spend the night here!" Randy sighed.
"We don't have much choice," he said. John nodded. He was right. They needed to sleep.
"We could sleep in the car," Chris suggested. Just as he said that, thunder clapped and rain began to pour.
"We'll freeze!" Trish squealed. John nodded. She was right. What could they do?
"Why don't we make the best out of a bad situation?" Randy asked. "I have extra sheets in my luggage, and a pillow or two. Why don't you and Trish take the bed and John and I will take the bathtub?" Trish looked at him. The bathtub? Why would Randy sleep in the bathtub?
"Are you sure?" she asked. Randy nodded. He knew this would be the best option for all.
John placed a pillow on the wall. Groaning, he sat in the hard porcelain tub. Randy glanced down at him.
"Do you mind if I share?" he asked. John shook his head. Yawning, Randy slid into the bathtub.
"Relax," John murmured, holding Randy. Before long, both were sound asleep.
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I'm honestly amazed by the responses this story has gotten. All I can say is Thank you for all your reviews and keep enjoying it. Thanks again!
-JenLea
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