Road Trip
"Lexi," AJ said gently shaking Alexis.
"What?" Alexis asked half asleep.
"Answer the phone," AJ said and rolled over.
Alexis glared at him, rolled over and picked up the phone.
"This had better be good," she answered.
"Is there an Alexis Hexling is your household?"
"If there isn't I sure as hell don't know who you're talking to," Alexis replied. "Who is this?"
"This is Erin Manx from New York Storage Spaces, you're hard to track down," she said.
Alexis sighed. "So why the hell are you phoning at seven o'clock in the morning?"
"Well Ms. Hexling, your storage space has not been paid in close to five months," Erin Manx said. "And I'm afraid that if you don't clear out your things in the next three days we're going to have to dispose of it."
"Are you serious?" Alexis asked falling back against the pillows.
AJ rolled over and wrapped his arm across her midsection.
"Get off of me," Alexis said pushing him away. Then she turned her attention back to the phone. "Can't I just make a payment on it?"
"I'm sorry, but our policy is four months and this is already the fifth month."
"Well I'll see what I can do," Alexis said and hung up.
"What was that about?" AJ asked.
"If you cared so much you'd answer the goddamn phone," Alexis said to him.
"Cause you're the role model for energetic people," AJ said sarcastically. Alexis slapped his chest. "Oh the pain a diminutive woman can do to a professional wrestler."
"You can be a real McBitch when you want to be," Alexis said to him.
"Well now that we got our morning skirmish out of the way let's get to the next thing on the agenda. What was that about?" AJ asked.
"That was New York Storage Spaces," Alexis said. "Apparently if I don't move my things in three days they're going to scrap it all."
"Ah," AJ said rubbing his eyes. "So, in other words, we're going on a road trip?"
"You'll go?" Alexis asked.
"Sure, I need a vacation," AJ said to her.
"Yay!" Alexis said hugging him. "We're gonna have fun."
"I'm going back to sleep in the meantime," AJ said rolling over.
Alexis wrapped her arms around him again but this time started kissing his neck and ear.
"So you want us to come to New York with you?" Laura asked.
"Yeah, we'll go out, have fun, find stuff, and come home," Alexis said.
"She's got it all planned so well," AJ said sardonically.
"Shut up asshole," Alexis said and slapped his arm.
"Love you too sweetie," AJ said smiling at her.
"So do you want to come?" Alexis asked. "Petey would only miss one show."
"I'd have to talk to him," Laura said.
"I wanna go! I wanna go!" Petey said from the stairs.
Laura laughed. "I guess we're going with you."
"Okay, we're leaving tomorrow morning at eight," AJ said.
"Eight?" Alexis asked.
"Yes princess," AJ said. "I know it's a bit before brunch but we all have to make sacrifices."
"Would you quit mocking me?" Alexis said to him. "You're pissing me off."
"You piss me off, you don't here me complaining," AJ said laughing.
"I have to go out for a little while," Alexis said. "Where're the keys?"
"Keys to what?" AJ asked childishly.
"I am going to beat you to death!" Alexis yelled and started hitting him.
"I can see the light!" AJ laughed. "Oh, never mind, I was just looking through your ears."
"God I hate you," Alexis said and stuck her hand in his pocket.
"I think this is pretty much a win-win situation," AJ said.
"You are so juvenile," Alexis said pulling his keys out of his pocket.
"That's why you wanted to play house the other night?" AJ asked. "You kinky thing."
"I never did that," Alexis said rolling her eyes and putting her shoes on. "I'll be back in about an hour."
"You can make three hundred bucks in an hour?" AJ asked. "You must work that corner well."
"Why don't you go try blowing something up?" Alexis asked him.
"You blew it up this morning," AJ said smiling.
Alexis' mouth dropped open as she looked at Laura and Petey who were both innocently listening.
"If I remember correctly Styles, you blew yourself," Alexis said and walked out of the condo.
"I need it by tonight," Alexis said.
"That's going to be quiet difficult," the man said.
"I'm afraid it won't be ready."
"I'll pay you three times more than what the flipping thing is worth," Alexis said.
"Well in that case, I can have it delivered at eight-thirty."
"Are you almost ready?" AJ asked.
"One second," Alexis said running around. "I wanna make sure that I have everything."
"What could you possibly be missing?" AJ asked.
"Just give me a couple minutes to pack my purse," Alexis said.
AJ looked at her. "How the hell do you pack a purse?"
"Well babe, this is the way the situation usually plays out, you forget something, you ask me if I have it, I miraculously pull it our of my purse and everything is fine," Alexis explained.
"The reason I can't find it is because you'd already taken it," AJ said. "Now could you please hurry up."
"Okay, calm down," Alexis said. "It's only eight-seventeen."
"Yeah, and you also aren't the one driving," AJ said to her.
"But its my car," Alexis fought.
"Hurry the hell up," AJ said to her.
"Why are you swearing at me?" Alexis asked.
"Because I don't see how it can take you so long to get ready when you could've had all of this done yesterday," AJ said.
"Well excuse me for getting my monthly this morning and not really feeling like hurrying," Alexis said.
"Must you tell me that every time?" AJ asked her. "I'll wait for you downstairs."
"No," Alexis said almost too quickly. She looked around frantically. "You can be a gentleman and wait until Laura is done packing and take it downstairs for her."
"She has her own little slave monkey," AJ said to her.
"Well then can you wait for me?" Alexis asked.
"Oh God," AJ said leaning against the wall.
"I'll be done in a few minutes," Alexis said running upstairs. She ran into Petey's and Laura's bedroom. "Petey, get downstairs and do not allow him to leave this apartment and whatever you do don't say that it was because I told you to."
"Alrighty," Petey said confused.
At eight-thirty Alexis and Laura walked downstairs.
"Ready now?" AJ asked.
"Yes we are," Alexis said as AJ opened the door for everyone. Then he closed it behind him. "No one is allowed in for any reason. I don't even care if there's a fire in there."
They all walked downstairs. AJ stopped in front of the car that was parked right beside the RX-8.
"What?" Alexis asked.
"Remind you of something?" He asked looking at the car.
"Oh yeah," Alexis said. "Brings back memories."
"That looks brand spanking new," Petey said looking at it.
"That's because it is," Alexis said pulling a set of keys out of her purse. She looked at AJ. "I know that you think I forgot your birthday, but I didn't, it just took a while to get it here."
She handed the keys to AJ. He was stunned.
"Wow," he said looking at the car. Then he looked at Alexis. "Seriously?"
"Happy birthday," Alexis said.
AJ grabbed her, pulled her close to him and kissed her. When the kiss ended he pulled her into a snug hug.
"This is awesome," he said and kissed her neck.
"I'm glad you like it," Alexis said smiling broadly.
"So we're loading up the Charger then?" Petey asked.
"Hell yeah bitch," AJ said popping the trunk.
They quickly switched vehicles and then AJ got into the drivers seat. It took a couple minutes to realize that the car was actually his. But once he did he just wanted to drive.
"Hey Petey," AJ called once they were all in the Charger.
"What?" Petey asked.
"My birthday present is better than your birthday present," AJ said.
"You're an asshole," Petey said to him.
"I'm an asshole?" AJ asked. "You wanna see asshole?"
"Show me your best," Petey challenged.
AJ put the back two windows down and locked them while Alexis was busy laughing so hard that she almost peed her pants.
"I hate you!" Petey yelled.
"Please be quiet and try not to disturb the driver," AJ said.
"He's already disturbed enough," Laura said. "AJ close the windows."
"Not until he apologizes," AJ said.
Laura looked at Petey who didn't look like he would apologize any time soon.
"Take a right," Alexis said directing AJ.
Eventually they ended up at the hotel.
"So this is where you grew up?" Laura asked looking around.
"Are you kidding me?" Alexis asked. "This is nice compared to where I grew up."
"Is that where we're going tomorrow?" Laura asked.
"Sure is," Alexis said getting some things out of the back of the car. "You don't have to go down there if you don't want to."
"It's okay, I wanna go down there," Laura said.
"Don't carry anything valuable," Alexis said laughing.
They walked into the hotel and Laura and Alexis went to sign in at the front desk.
"Alexis?" A voice asked from behind.
Alexis turned around and saw a girl that looked around her age.
"Do I know you?" Alexis asked.
"Patty Helman, I went to school with you before your mom flipped and sent ya packing," she said.
"Oh, I remember you," Alexis said. "You're the one that told that I wasn't paying up."
Patty took a step back.
"I had to tell them Alexis, they were hurting people," Patty said.
"And what the hell do you think they did to me?" Alexis asked. "Do you think that they took me out for a four course fucking dinner?"
"Do you know what they were doing to people?" Patty asked. "They took them out."
"They tried to take me out you whore," Alexis said. "I fought them off and ran for my goddamn life."
"But you made it out," Patty replied. "Six people didn't."
"You're probably going to go run to them right away, tell them that I'm in town," Alexis said. "You probably haven't changed."
"They know where you've been," Patty said to her. "They know that you're living in Orlando with your boyfriend, cousin and cousin's boyfriend. Going on television wasn't all that smart of a move."
"What do they want?" Alexis asked.
"They just want their money," Patty said. "With interest of course."
"You're still running I suppose," Alexis said looking at the girl. "I think you owe me something."
"Pay off your debt to them? Are you crazy? It's over fifteen grand," Patty said. "I'm not that goddamn rich."
"What's wrong?" AJ asked Alexis.
Alexis looked around.
"Who's here with you?" She asked.
Patty looked behind herself.
"James is at nine o'clock and Tami's at two o'clock," Patty replied.
"Give me until tomorrow," Alexis said. "Without interest."
"I can't cut you a deal," Patty said looking around.
"You're not cutting a deal," Alexis said looking at AJ and then back at the girl. "You're paying the goddamn interest."
"How am I supposed to make the next week?" Patty asked. "How am I even supposed to trust that you won't skip out of town?"
"Take my word," Alexis said.
"Like Lonny did?" Patty asked. "How much did you cut yourself at the beginning anyways?"
"You pay interest or I go to Jesse," Alexis said.
Patty thought for a second then she looked around.
"Give me a second," she said and walked over to James.
Alexis looked at AJ. "I owe those people money."
"How much money?" AJ asked her.
"Seventeen grand," Alexis cringed. "But if they give me until tomorrow I can come up with twelve."
"And the other five?" AJ asked her.
"I'm hoping that that girl will pay it," Alexis said. "Just don't say anything or you'll drag me down further."
"Why do they want it now?" AJ asked her.
"I'd rather pay them now rather than them coming down to Orlando and killing everyone," Alexis said. "She just told me that they know everything. They even know that I've living with you, Laura, and Petey."
AJ raised his eyebrows.
"Trust me," Alexis said. "Tell them to go upstairs and we'll be there soon."
So AJ told Petey and Laura to go upstairs and they did as they were told. Right when AJ came back to her James started walking towards her.
"How much you got?" He asked.
"I'll have twelve tomorrow," Alexis said.
"I usually wouldn't do this, but I'm gonna take your word," he said pulling a cigarette out from behind his ear. "When and where?"
"New York Storage Space, lot 13, three in the afternoon," Alexis replied.
James looked at the two girls and then back at Alexis.
"So how you been doing?" He asked.
"Better," Alexis replied.
He nodded and then looked at AJ.
"As long as she's got the twelve it's all gonna be good," James said. "I ain't gonna hurt her, she's like my little sister but since Patty spotted you first and now Tami saw you I'm obliged to get the money."
"How've you been?" Alexis asked him.
"Getting out pretty soon," James said smiling. "I've been clean now for a year, going into the army."
"Good job," Alexis said.
"But they don't know," James said. "I'm just gonna pay up, cash out and get lost."
"How much you owe?" Alexis asked.
"I owe five to Lonny, six to Leo and nine to Benji," he said. "I've got nine right now."
"You go make something of yourself James," Alexis said. "I'll meet ya tomorrow."
"You know it," James said. "Lonny won't know a thing."
James walked away leaving Alexis holding her breath.
"We're going to go upstairs and talk about this," AJ said wrapping his arm around her.
"Yeah, I know," Alexis said.
"So I'm just gonna try and get this straight," AJ said to her. "When you were dealing you put a little bit aside every time?"
"Yeah, basically," Alexis said. "But it's alright. I know where it is."
"You're not even worried?" AJ asked her.
"I grew up with these people," Alexis said. "I can see how you don't understand but James wouldn't hurt me. He's been protecting me my whole life."
"Oh yeah, good brother material," AJ said.
"Just get some sleep," Alexis said. "It'll happen fast and be over faster."
Alexis drove to the storage space with AJ in the passenger. She didn't want him to freak out and not go there. She parked the car in front of lot 13 and got out. She took a quick look through her keys and found the right one. When she found the right one she opened the door and looked around.
"Exactly how I left it."
She turned around quickly when a loud car raced around the corner and stopped quickly beside her. James got out first and then Patty with Tami.
"Where is it bitch?" Tami said.
"Shut up," Alexis said. "C'mon."
James followed her inside of the storage area with AJ.
"Boost me," Alexis said to James.
So James gave her a boost while she worked at something in the ceiling. Eventually it fell down. James opened the bags and sifted through them quickly.
"Looks good," he said.
He stood up and looked at her.
"I guess this is goodbye," he said to her. "See ya in hell ya little devil."
"Watch yourself out there," Alexis said and hugged him tightly.
To Alexis' surprise James looked at AJ.
"Take good care of my baby sister, she's a prize," he said.
They both waved to each other and before you could blink they were all gone.
A little while after they left a taxi pulled up and Laura and Petey got out.
"Taken care of?" Laura asked.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Alexis said. "Let's get this shit sorted through."
After six long hours of sorting they finally finished. They ended up finding bags upon bags of clothing, several debit cards for different banks, a lot of pictures and a whole bunch of useless junk.
"I just wanna get some sleep," Alexis said falling into the Charger.
"I know how you feel," AJ said after everything was transferred to a short-term storage space.
The next day everyone slept in until noon, ate lunch, and then packed up.
"Are you sure you're alright to drive?" Alexis asked AJ.
"What?" AJ asked.
"You're not driving, especially when its raining," Alexis said taking the keys from him. "Laura's gonna drive."
He was too tired to even put up a fight.
AJ fell asleep in the back instantly and Alexis soon fell asleep on top of him.
"That was a long weekend for both of them," Laura said looking in the rearview.
When Petey didn't respond she looked at him. He was smiling.
"What?" She asked knowing that she was going to regret it.
Petey turned the volume dial onto full and then turned the radio on, causing AJ to jump and throw Alexis off of him.
"You idiot," Laura said turning the radio down. "That was all him."
Soon they both fell asleep again. But Petey wasn't done yet. He rolled the back two windows down and locked them.
"God!" Alexis yelled as she started getting wet.
"Unlock them right now," Laura said to him.
"Not until AJ apologizes," Petey said smugly.
"You want an apology?" AJ asked. "Here's your apology."
AJ punched Petey in the back of the head. While he was distracted AJ reached into the front, unlocked the windows and rolled them up.
