Norma unlocked the motel office door, and flipped over the closed sign. This was not her greatest morning, as remembrances of last night's violent yet intimate spat was still lingering in her mind. Everything around her made her think of Alex. How could he have turned over the flash drive to the DEA? Slowly but surely she had been building up trust with him, but now she didn't know if Alex Romero was truly on her side. Both of them had protective barriers around them, had had terrible childhoods and didn't ever like to bring it up. But their deepest secrets, whether it be her dilemma with Norman's blackouts, or Romero's trouble with his dad, the dirty cop, and his mother, dead from suicide, were slowly unraveling. Last night, the "I hate you" may as well have been "I love you." It doesn't matter how many times we get into a disagreement about something, they had very few people to lean on, and it couldn't have been by chance that they met. Since the first time Alex stepped onto the Bates' porch, there was trouble swarming around Norma, and Alex was always there to put a stop to it.
She couldn't stand the thought of him walking out of her life. He made her feel safe and it turned her on that someone so stoic could be so smitten and dumbfounded just by her being there. But she was still furious that he had tried to steal a kiss from her in the midst of their argument. It wasn't the right time. With Alex, she wanted the time to be right, to be perfect. Every relationship Norma had in the past ended in pain and heartache. The growing desire for Alex was different. Seeing him made her a new kind of woozy: sickeningly happy. And it scared her. She couldn't help but wonder what was running through his mind. The old saying "eyes are the windows to the soul" didn't really apply to Alex. He was a mystery, and she wanted to know more, regardless of their latest disagreement.
While organizing papers in her filing cabinet, Norma heard the familiar sound of the motel office door swinging open. Turning around expecting the guest of room 6 complaining to come barging in about the broken toilet, she sighed and stated in a monotone voice, "Mrs. Carlton, the plumber is coming later on this afternoon. I called this morn…" Her mind drew a blank and her throat began to burn. Alex was standing in the doorway anxiously, his eyes softer than she had ever seen. He flashed an awkward smile and took a couple steps into the office.
"Hi Norma." His throat caught in his throat as her mouth slowly formed a frown of disapproval. "Look, I understand you're angry with me. I get that. I'm sorry about the flash drive. But I promise I won't let Paris get you back. I could never let that happen." He waited for her face to give him some sort of sign, some kind of approval. But she was the stoic one now.
Coolly she muttered, "So what? I don't need your help. I'm perfectly fine managing by myself thank you, Sheriff." With that, she tried to pass him and leave the situation. Alex grabbed her by the arm, and there was an unmistakable déjà vu. His heart stung. She had said Sheriff instead of his first name, and it hurt.
"Please, just hear me out for god's sake!" Norma could see the hurt in his eyes, and her heart began to beat wildly at his grip on her skin. She was wearing a short -sleeved blouse, and his warm hand was claiming her arm.
"Let go of me!" She snapped viciously. His eyebrows un-furrowed, and he licked his lips anxiously while letting go of her.
"I-I'm sorry. But please, give me a chance to talk." Norma looked helplessly up at his sparkling eyes, and hastily peaked down at his lips before answering him. He swallowed painfully at her behavior. He was feeling the same way, but just like last night, they couldn't do this. Not right now.
"I'm very tied up at the moment I…" But Romero would have none of her excuses.
"Stop by my place later," he demanded. However, he stopped and reflected on his words and added in, "Please?" There was an uncomfortable silence, and Norma finally replied.
"Fine, fine, fine. I'll stop by your house at 7, just stop getting in my way! I have a hotel to run! Norman's off with Dylan right now." With that, she snatched a broom leaning against the wall, and began to aggressively sweep the floor. Alex rolled his eyes and exited, leaving her alone in the room. As soon as the door slammed shut, she looked up and put the broom down. Her heart fluttered. She had just agreed to meet him in the evening at his house. How much longer could the tension hold up?
Norma found herself at this doorstep, debating on whether or not to get back in her car and drive back home. But it was too late, she had already knocked, and the door was already gaping open. Alex leaned on the doorframe, eyes fluttering as he gave her a once-over. It terrified her how her stomach flipped just by him looking at her.
"Come in," he said, seeming preoccupied, as if he was going over in his head what he wanted to tell her. When Norma stepped inside, the level of his home was dimly lighted with candles scattered around his dining room and living room. He stood anxiously behind her, hands in his pockets. She whirled around and sent him a sly smile. How could she help it? Norma hardly knew he had a charming side, and she couldn't help herself. She wanted to know more. Alex's face gradually melted into the silly smile he had on his face when he had returned Norma's car to her that day by the pit.
"What's all this?" She giggled, immediately frustrated with herself that she let a laugh escape her lips. He took a step forward.
"I want you to trust me. So let me tell you a sad story." Alex ran a hand through his short hair, and cleared his throat in discomfort. This would be a huge step in the right direction, she thought.