Written by Hipsy Bohannon and co-written by Sadi Lynn Sabolchic.
"Rise and shine sunshine!" Merle hollered as he kicked the threadbare mattress that lay on the floor of Daryl's bedroom.
"Ya ain't gotta go home but ya can't stay here!" He plopped down on the empty side of the bed and lifted the corner of the pillow covering the growling beasts head. As the sun hit Ally's face she moaned into the bare mattress. She took a deep breath and got a whiff of the battered mattress beneath her. Something about the musky man scent that lingered on it was familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. When she managed to crack one eye open, her glance was met by Merle's, who was smirking back at her like the Cheshire cat. She clamped her eye back closed and stuffed her face into the dirty mattress groaning. Her head felt as if it was split in two and it was all she could do to keep the contents of her stomach where they were instead of spilling them all over the beer bottle and trash strewn bedroom floor.
"Did we have sex?" She asked in a muffled tone through the mattress. She knew she was going through some things, but damned if that would just be the icing on the cake.
"Not yet. Why, ya wanna fool around?" Merle said with a wiggle of his brows.
"Oh thank God," she breathed a sigh of relief and flipped over onto her back and looked up at the ceiling. The contents of her stomach, which were mostly liquid, threatened to make a reappearance and reminded her to move a bit more slowly.
"Well don't sound so relieved sugar tits." Merle feigned feeling hurt. Truth was Merle didn't care about too much to get hurt about. This situation was amusing and he planned on making the most of his entertainment.
"I'm sorry I'm just a little out of it still. The last thing I really remember was walking into the bar last night. Everything else is really hazy and now I'm waking up in a strangers' bed with no clue how I got here." Ally said, looking up at Merle. She seemed different than she had last night. Gone was the girl with the quick wit and fuck you attitude. In her place was someone who was a little more broken, a bit more lost. He knew it wasn't from the time she spent in Daryl's pick-up. The shots he watched her chug at the bar had helped her to forget her problems last night, but he could tell they were back, rising with the morning sun.
"Woo-hoo girlie! Ya had yerself one hell of a night. I'll tell ya that for sure! Ya want the good news or the bad news first?" Merle questioned with a twinkle in his eye as he remembered the nights events. Ally took a deep breath and exhaled.
"Let's go with the bad."
"Well, let's see. Ya raped my baby brother for starters…" Merle said eyeing her reaction, which didn't disappoint. As soon as Merle said it out loud, flashes of a truck, blue eyes, and roaming hands went through her mind causing her eyes to pop open wide as if she had just seen the ghost of drinking past.
"Oh my God, oh my God! I'm a rapist!" Ally whined and threw her hands over her face. Merle broke out in a fit of laughter at the little girl's plight.
"Oh that's not even the half of it girlie. After ya started a bar room brawl, ya passed out on the floor and left me and my dumb fuck yet kind-hearted brother to babysit yer sweet sorry ass for the rest of the night."
"Oh well, I guess it could have been a lot worse right?" Ally said peeking back over at Merle through her fingers.
"Oh, it could and it did darlin'. Ya woke back up on the ride home and started hanging out the window flashing every car we met. Not that I was complaining one bit, but I was surprised Daryl didn't get pulled over with all that weaving he was doing trying to pull yer skinny ass back in the window." Merle grabbed his pecks and gave them a squeeze, causing Ally to yank the pillow back over her face. Merle grabbed it and threw it in the corner.
"Wait I ain't finished yet! So by the time we got ya to our trailer here ya had stripped off all yer clothes saying some shit about how clothes where designed by "The man" and ya wasn't gonna be controlled by the forces that be." Merle slapped his knee and let out a loud laugh.
"Then ya jumped out the truck singing "Freebird" and made a lap around the trailer park. Hell, Daryl couldn't even catch ya! Ya fast girl, like lightening. " Merle said, mimicking a running motion with his two fingers.
"I ran track in junior high." Ally lamely responded, making Merle nod.
"Makes sense. Don't ya worry none. No one saw ya…well, no one but crack head Jonny who lives next door. He was up sittin' on his porch. That's how Daryl finally caught up to ya. Ya had stopped and started chattin' with him. Pretty sure by the time Daryl finally dragged ya away, ya had converted Ol' Jonny to Christianity, which is crazy cuz he's a fucking Jew!" Merle finished, shaking his head.
"What the hell I'm not even religious!" Ally pouted as she flipped back over, more carefully this time, and shoved her face back into the old worn mattress, her cheeks burning red. She wasn't sure she was going to be able to hold her up chuck in much longer.
"But don't ya worry yer pretty little head now. Daryl done took good care of ya. After he drug yer ass inside, he wrestled ya into a shirt and sat ya down on the floor in front of the TV. Ya know, I wouldn't have pegged ya for a Looney Tunes fan, but ya sure seemed to be getting a kick out of it. Well, that was until Tweety bird came on, then ya started balling like a baby and going on and on about some damn lil bird and broken wings. I don't know what ya was trying to get at. I stopped listening to ya after ya blew yer nose on my pant leg."
"Sorry 'bout that." Ally said, peeking at Merle again.
"Then, Daryl cooked ya up a huge plate of scrambled eggs and liver. I don't know how ya choked down them damn things. They was the runniest eggs I'd ever seen and I don't think my little brother cooked that liver long enough. Looked a bit bloody ta me, just saying." Ally flipped over and bolted up. There was no sense in being careful cause the contents of her stomach were already rising in her throat. She threw her hand over her mouth and looked around in a panic, trying to figure out where the bathroom might be. Merle chuckled and pointed to the floor on her side of the bed. She looked down and saw a dented tin trash basket. She barely had time to sling her legs over the bed and grab it, bringing the can up to her face right as the chunks flew. Merle laughed from his position on the bed behind her.
"That's it…knew that would get it out of ya. You'll feel better now," He said rubbing her back. Ally finally finished and set the basket back on the floor as she hung her head between her knees. "Oh come now, little bit, it ain't all bad. Ya was gettin' kinda sweet there for a spell, but I'm guessin' that's how all girls act when they fall in love." Merle said, cracking his knuckles one by one.
"In love?" Ally moaned.
"Oh yeah, you was in love. Ya were spouting how ya were in love with me and my baby brother and the Beatles. But we kinda stopped believing in yer heart felt confessions when ya announced how much ya were in love with Daryl's bow. Ya said ya wanted to marry it and start a family, no pre-nup needed. It kinda lost its charm after that."
"Well it's better to love than hate right? A lovey drunks better than a mean one." she said, trying to rub the sleep out of her eyes.
"Well it's funny ya bring that up. Ya see, 'bout that time, Daryl took the cross bow away from ya, so as ya didn't hurt yerself with it. Big mistake on his part! Ya jumped up quicker than lightening and got right in his face, tellin' him to get the fuck out of yer house. Said ya was breaking up with him and never wanted to see him again, called him Shane, then grabbed the steak knife off the counter and managed to stick him in the shoulder with it. Don't ya worry none though, ya only went a few inches in, more like a scratch really."
"Jesus Christ! I stabbed someone too? What the fuck is wrong with me? I am never drinking again!" Ally bolted up from the bed and ran her fingers through her bed head hair pacing back and forth.
"Well if it makes ya feel any better, as soon as ya saw the blood ya hit the floor harder than a sack of bricks and were out fer the resta the night." Merle said, with a reassuring smile.
"Why does that not make me feel any better?" Ally questioned, pulling the old band t-shirt down on her thighs, suddenly feeling very exposed.
"Come on girlie, grab a pair of sweats off the floor there and I'll give ya a ride ta yer car. And just so ya know, I had a great time last night watching ya run my brother ragged. That was the best 300 bucks I ever spent!"
The sun blinded Ally as she stepped out of the trailer. She shielded the too cheery glare with her hand, but it did little to ease her pounding head.
"Hi Ally!" A voice called from the next yard over. She peered in the direction the voice had come from. A scrawny man was waving his arm off at her. She gave him a little wave back then looked to Merle, who was grinning from ear to ear.
"Crack head Jonny?" she questioned. Merle just nodded, causing her to drop her head in shame and walk quickly over to him. Merle was hopping on his bike and already starting it up. She grabbed at her already pounding head. The bike was so loud her teeth where chattering in her skull. She sighed and climbed on the back, holding tight to Merle as he sped out of the park.
Merle pulled into the Birds Foot Café and shut the bike down.
"What are we doing here?" Ally questioned. She climbed off the back of the bike and bent down to tighten the laces on the giant old work boots Merle had lent her so she wouldn't have to ride barefoot. Despite the fact that riding on the back of his chopper made her hangover headache feel like someone took a jackhammer to her head, the ride over was kind of nice. Ally loved the sweet earthy smell that seemed to permeate the air around her and the wind blowing on her face like it could erase every bit of bullshit she ever had to deal with.
"Well I don't know about ya, but I could sure use a cuppa joe. It's on me sugar. Ya earned it after the free show ya gave me last night." He winked at her and picked up the hem of his shirt flashing her.
"Shut up." She gritted her teeth as her face turned red again.
Ally looked around and finally really took in the once thriving little town as she and Merle entered the diner. The diner looked clean and well kempt, but was in desperate need of a good scrape and paint job. More than one of the letters on the sign needed to be touched up and the "We're Open" sign was barely legible. A few of the other shops on either side of the diner were open even at this early hour. The pavement in front of their storefronts was neatly swept, some shops even displaying colorful flowers in chipped and weatherworn clay pots. Although a lot less nicer than the last one she called home, this town with its dilapidated corner market, rarely open post office and barely stocked library was familiar to her. This one would be different though. This town was exactly like where she grew up and it made her feel at home already. Some way she was going to make this work for her. A slightly mocking, slightly sarcastic, and slightly joking female voice interrupted her thoughts before she could continue the journey down her own tortured memory lane.
"Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in." Andrea greeted the pair while placing two cups of coffee in front of Merle and Ally. "Rough night," she asked taking in Ally's disheveled appearance.
"You have no idea." Ally sullenly replied sipping at her coffee.
"Merle put ya through the ringer did he, you old dog you," Andrea said swatting Merle's arm playfully.
"Oh no, no, no it wasn't like that I mean..." Ally's protests were cut off by Andrea when she placed her finger over her lips, shushing her.
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. We've all been there. The morning walk of shame is no stranger to me," Andrea said with a knowing wink. "Must have been one hell of a night though! Merle doesn't usually splurge on breakfast the next day. Trust me. I know from experience." Andrea ruffled Merles hair.
"Don't be getting all jealous sugar tits this one ain't mine. She belongs to my baby brother."
"Daryl?" Andrea's eyes widened in shock as Merle nodded a yes. Ally thought her cheeks must have literally caught fire. She sunk down in the booth trying to disappear from existence.
"Well that's a new one, I don't think I've ever heard of Daryl taking home a girl."
"That's cuz it ain't never happened." Merle agreed.
"Well good for him, he deserves a little fun in his life." Andrea glanced around the packed diner. "I gotta go. This place is crazy and it doesn't look like I'll be getting a break anytime soon," she said wiping sweat off her brow.
"Dale still ain't found a new waitress to replace Carol?" Merle questioned looking around the place.
"No and It's killing me working all the doubles. I don't mind the extra money, but it's murder on my social life!" Andrea laughed and nudged Merle who winked up at her.
"I need a job!" Ally's eyes lit up.
"I don't know" Andrea said looking her over. Ally tried to pat down her crazy hair and straighten her shirt.
"Please I don't normally look like this! I have experience. I waited tables in high school and I can work any shift. Please I really need this right now," Ally pleaded with her.
Andrea looked around the diner and at the patrons who were still pouring in through the door.
"Come on give the girl a chance," Merle said nudging Andrea in the hip with his elbow.
"Ok, ok. I'll have to run it by Dale, but I'm sure he will be on board. We really need the help right now. Can you be back in here at 1 pm and make sure you don't look like…that," Andrea asked gesturing at Ally's hair and outfit.
"Oh my God…Thank you so much! I can and I won't. I promise I won't let you down! You're a life saver!" Ally beamed up at Andrea, excited about the new opportunity that had just fallen into her lap.