Hotel Key

Chapter 26

6 Months Before Chapter One

RickyJo woke up to the sound of loud angry voices in her living room. She could tell the louder higher pitched voice belonged to Laney. Padding down the hall on her bare feet, she was trying to rub the sleep out of her eyes when she tripped over a garbage bag and almost landed on her face. The door to Daryl's room was still shut. Looking down to see what she tripped in, she noticed there was crap all over the place. It looked mostly like mens clothes and shoes that were spilling out a few hastily packed plastic bags. Laney came stomping back down the hall, and seeing RickyJo there, turned her hellcat anger on her and started screaming at full volume.

"You won't let me move in but he is allowed to stay here?," Laney raged, pointing back towards the living room. RickyJo had guessed by now what was going on. Merle must have broken up with whatever girlfriend he was living with and come to crash with her and Daryl for a while. Before RickyJo could answer, Merle yelled at Laney from where he was lying on the couch.

"I get to stay because I'm family! And yer nothin' but a fuckin' bean flicker," he hollered at her.

Before RickyJo could help herself she started laughing. Where did Merle come up with this shit? Does he sit around and think up insults for everyone and then wait until he has the opportunity to use them? After being called a derogatory name on top of whatever else was happening before RikcyJo came out of her room, Laney was really angry. She didn't like being insulted by a piece of trash like Merle Dixon. But she liked being laughed at by her own girlfriend even less.

"Are you going to let him talk to me like that?," she demanded of RickyJo. It was on the tip of RickyJo's tongue just to say yes and laugh some more.

"For fuck's sake Laney," she said instead, "Just relax. He didn't mean anything."

"Yes I did!," Merle called out, "Yer a stupid fuckin' whore!"

With that Laney stormed down the hall into the bedroom to get her things and leave. RickyJo walked out to her living room where Merle was still under a blanket on her couch.

"That's more than enough Merle!," she told him. He took one look at her and just started laughing. RickyJo thought about lecturing him some more but she knew it wouldn't do any good. Instead she took aim at where she guessed his ass was under the blanket and smacked it as hard as she could. He yelped and jumped a little, pulling his hand out from under the blanket to rub his behind. Laney, who was now fully dressed, stormed through the living room and out the door, slamming it behind her. RickyJo was temporarily distracted by this and Merle used the opportunity to snake his hand over and catch her by the wrist.

"Ya wanna play rough?," he asked. RickyJo immediately started trying to yank away from him and run but he had a tight grip on her wrist. She moved backwards, making him roll off the couch before he pulled her down onto the floor with him. Now they were wrestling, he was trying to tickle and pinch her and she was trying to smack at him and make him get off her. RickyJo was strong, but not stronger than a grown man who outweighed her by probably fifty pounds. She only got a few good whacks in before he was on top of her, pinning her arms above her head with one hand and using the other hand to tickle her ribs.

"Stop it you asshole, my titties are gonna fall outta my shirt," she yelled between giggles.

"Good I hope they do," he told her, grabbing harder at her ribs so that she would twist more in her attempt to escape.

At that RickyJo started screaming for Daryl as loud as she could. Merle let go of her arms, covering her mouth with both hands. With her arms free, she managed to shove him over. Rolling on top of him she straddled him and sat up so she could smack at his arms and chest.

"Why did ya have to be so fuckin' rude," she yelled, "She was going to make me waffles."

"Yeah. Twat waffles," he replied. This was too much for RickyJo and she collapsed on the floor next to Merle in a fit of laughter, holding her stomach. She looked up to see Daryl staring down at both of them like they had gone full on crazy. Merle was in his boxers and RickyJo was wearing boy shorts and a tight tank top. The coffee table was knocked over on its side with whatever had been on it thrown all over the carpet.

"What in hell is goin' on out here?," he asked them, "I'm tryin' ta fuckin' sleep ya assholes!" Getting nothing but more laughter in response, Daryl turned and stalked back to his room, making them both laugh harder. Finally RickyJo collected herself and stood up to fix the table and try to clean up the mess. There was a cup on the table, but luckily it had only been full of water. She was sopping the water up with a towel when Laney stormed back into the apartment. Laney looked around. She didn't see Merle, he was in the bathroom. RickyJo just looked at her, wondering what she wanted now.

"If you are going to let him stay here again after what happened last time," Laney announced, "I am done."

Ultimatums did not sit too well with RickyJo.

"Done with what Laney?," she asked. Laney was surprised at the other woman's tone. Laney was used to RickyJo giving in to whatever she wanted.

"Done with this relationship," Laney told her, preparing herself to start crying.

"Okay then," RickyJo told her, "I want my key back."

She walked over and snatched Laney's key ring from her hand. Before she could object, RickyJo took her key off the ring and then handed the rest roughly back to the woman. Laney looked down at the key ring and turned on the water works. Tears were streaming down her face. RickyJo felt a familiar pang of guilt but this time she sucked it back and put her foot down. She had enough of Laney's bullshit. It was nothing but constant drama with her and frankly she was sick of it.

"Don't you care about me at all," Laney sobbed.

"Laney," RickyJo told her, "I think it's time for you ta go."

"What do you mean," Laney cried, "I love you."

RickyJo said nothing, she just walked over and opened the door, standing next to it. Laney made no move to leave, she just stood there crying. RickyJo wanted her out, but she wasn't sure what to do now if she refused to leave. Merle narrowed his eyes at them. He was watching their argument from the hallway and he wasn't going to miss his chance to throw that little bitch out. He walked towards Laney, waving his hands at her to shoo her towards the door.

"You heard her Laney," he said to the woman, "...get the fuck out of here." Laney still made no move to leave so Merle grabbed her firmly by the arm and walked her to the door.

"Get your hands off me," she yelled, "Don't you fucking touch me." She tried to yank away but Merle shoved her forcefully out into the hallway and then slammed the door in her face, locking it. Then Merle turned to see what RickyJo's reaction to this was going to be. She stood there staring at the door with her mouth open. Then she turned to Merle.

"How long have ya been waitin' to do that?," she asked him, cracking a smile.

"A long fucking time," he answered. They stared at each other for another moment before they both exploded in laughter. The look on Laney's face when he threw her out was absolutely priceless. Daryl appeared in the hall, scratching his head.

"What the hell is goin' on now?," he asked. It was becoming clear that he was not going to be getting any more sleep today.

"Nothin' little brother," Merle told him, "...just taking out the trash." This made RickyJo start laughing again and she told Daryl what really happened.

"Good riddance," he declared. He knew there was a chance RickyJo might change her mind and make up with Laney later, but at least she was gone temporarily. He hated when she brought her home to their apartment. All she did was bitch and moan constantly.

Daryl and Merle helped RickyJo clean up the mess in the living room in exchange for her cooking breakfast. Merle was putting his things away in the guestroom while Daryl sat on the counter, puffing on a joint and watching RickyJo make the food. She took a few puffs first and then decided she wanted not just waffles, but chicken and waffles. The more he smoked the better it smelled.

"Ya still going to Mexico?," he asked her. She nodded.

"That's work shit," she replied.

"Going on vacation to Mexico is for work?," he asked, confused.

"It's a food science conference," she explained, "...they're payin' me ta come there and be a speaker." Daryl was impressed. He thought she was just going on vacation. "They're payin' airfare and food for me to bring a guest too," she added, "...that's why I was taking Laney." She glanced over at Daryl. He could tell she was leading up to something and he was guessing what it was.

"Nope. Nope. Nope," he told her, "...ya know how I feel about leavin' the country. I do not want to end up in Mexican jail." RickyJo walked over from the stove and leaned in, putting her arms around him and making little whiny dog noises. Daryl shook his head firmly and told her, "No way." She shrugged a little and gave him an evil smirk.

"Hey Merle!," she yelled down the hall, "...ya wanna go to Mexico with me?"

Daryl's eyes widened as he looked at her. If he didn't go, he thought she would maybe take her cousin or one of her little biology girls from the school. Not his brother.

"Hell yes!," Merle hollered back, coming out of the room and heading for the kitchen to pull her into a big hug.

"Alright," Daryl said reluctantly, "I'll go." Merle looked at him and then back to RickyJo.

"Hey, can I still go?," he asked.

"Sorry honey," RickyJo told him, "I have a plus one not a plus every redneck I know." She gave him a little kiss on the cheek to ease the disappointment and turned back to the stove. Before Merle went back to finish sorting through his things, he leaned in and put his mouth near Daryl's ear.

"If yer goin' instead of me," he whispered, "...get her drunk on tequila and give her a good hard fuck for me." Daryl shoved his brother away from him. Merle could really be disgusting sometimes. When he walked back to the bedroom RickyJo turned to Daryl.

"He tell ya to get me drunk and fuck me?," she asked. Daryl laughed at her.

"You hear him?," he asked.

"No, that's all he ever says to you about me," she answered, rolling her eyes and smiling. RickyJo went back to the food, turning every once in a while to smile at Daryl over her shoulder. She figured she better get him good and buttered up before she told him that some of the conference events were formal and he was going to have to go buy a suit before they left. She would pay for it, but getting him to go clothes shopping was like trying to shampoo a cat.