They both looked toward the hall. Knocking sounded again, only louder, more important this time. Dylan decisively went to the door and Emma nervously scurried after him.

"Who's there?" Dylan asked sharply.

"It's me, Sheriff Romero. Please, open the door."

Dylan and Emma looked at each other. Could it be possible that Romero had already known what happened between the boys and Norma? Dylan opened the door. Romero looked at him and looked as if he were about to say something until he noticed Emma.

"Miss Decody, what are you doing here so late? Motel had to be closed for like an hour now, right?"

Emma blushed, she didn't think it was his business at all, but she answered:

"Yes, it is, but I…uhm I came to see Dylan, 'cause I needed to help with something," she saw a hint of a smile run over Dylan's face.

"Ah I see…well, Dylan, I need to talk with your mother. Is she home?"

Dylan swallowed. What now?

"Eh…no, not right now. She went into town."

"And do you have any idea when she'll come back? I need to talk to her as soon as possible, it's pretty important."

"I honestly don't know, maybe tomorrow?" Dylan was a quite good liar, but Romero's glance was like an x-ray. Besides, Dylan kinda liked this sheriff - he saved his ass more than once.

"What, tomorrow? Where would she stay overnight?"

Emma stifled a chuckle to herself. Romero and his concern for Norma was kind of…strange. The whiskey suddenly woke up in her body and before she could even realize what she was doing, she blurted:

"Maybe in some another motel."

Romero looked at her incredulously.

"Why on Earth she would go to another motel when she not only has a house, but also her own motel? What's going on? Dylan, explain," Romero commanded and Dylan knew that game was over.

"Norma and I…well, we had a fight. She packed her stuff and left. I don't know where she could be, sheriff, and I'm not even if she ever will come back. She looked like she wouldn't."

"What the hell happened? Why would she leave- and what about Norman, does he know it?"

Romero started to look really nervous. 'Jesus, what's going on between these two? Why is he like cat next to rocking chair? She had to get involved in something' Emma thought. And it wouldn't be something nice as she knew Norma.

"Honestly, sheriff, I'm not under interrogation, am I? I don't have to explain our family issues. I really have no idea where my mother could be and I can't help you."

Dylan thought it was enough. Sure, if he could find Norma and bring her back it would be better, but he really had no intentions to share this problem with Romero.

Romero got the hint that this was all Dylan was willing to say. He knew him and he also knew that he is as stubborn as his mother.

"You're right you are not being interrogated. Thank you anyway for information about her departure and have a good night. You, Miss Decody, please drive home carefully tonight. If, in case, you do."

With those words, he silently turned and walked away. Emma felt herself turning red again, Romero's last words to her now under her skin. What does Romero even think? Well, that is if he thinks something at all because there is nothing to think about right?! Emma sighed. She was drunk and confused and she didn't like it.

"Well, with that motel line, you weren't quite my partner in crime there," said Dylan, but his voice was more teasing than angry.

"Sorry…I think the whiskey was stronger than me," smiled Emma innocently.

"It's alright he would've known sooner or later…but he was right about one thing. I really can't let you go home like this," he answered and this time she was sure- he was making fun of her!

"Hey, you drank just as much! And I think that I can make it home…not now, but in an hour maybe?"

"In and hour it will be one in the morning and I'm not gonna let you drive this late on top of how tipsy you are. Best thing you can do is that you call your dad and just stay over the night. After all, it's spacious here without Norma," he laughed little bit to into his own joke. But Emma wasn't so sure about this idea.

"That means that I'm gonna stay at Norma's bedroom?"

Dylan thought for a while.

"Hmm…you're right, it's probably not the best thing to do…okay, you are going to stay in my room."

Emma widened her eyes. Sleeping in Dylan's room? What about room - sleeping in his BED? And like…with him? She suddenly felt dizzy but it could be the Jack Daniel's again. As if he could hear her thoughts, Dylan then continued, amused:

"I meant, you can take my bed and I'll sleep down here on the couch. I think I can make it for one night."

"Oh, right, of course! Okay, thanks, that's really nice from you. I'll go call my dad right now."

She was sure that she had to be redder than the Chinese flag. So Dylan thinks that she thought that they would sleep together in his bed. Oh my God, oh my God, OH MY GOD!

I'm never ever going to drink again! she ordered to herself and went to the living room. She called her dad and explained him that Norma needed to help with something in motel so she stayed little bit longer and now Norma offered her to sleepover, as it was too late. Her dad was cool with it, he always was because he trusted her. She felt slight twinge of guilt as she hung up.

She came back to the hall, but Dylan was nowhere to seen. He wasn't in kitchen either and she realized there was only one place he could be. She gulped and started to go upstairs. Her invitations in Norman's room were so often that she had no idea how many time she was there. But she never visited Dylan's. It was ridiculous that she was freaking out over such a silly thing as being in a room of one guy. It's just a room. And that guy is just…no. Dylan is not "just a guy." For some reason he is…special for her. If there was something more scary than visitation of Dylan's room for Emma, that was her thoughts about him. She took a deep breath and knocked the door.

"Come in!"

He sat on the bed with lit small lamp next to it. She noticed several posters with motorbikes that covered the faded children-themed wallpaper, one pair of jeans and two T-shirts thrown on chair, and one or two books opened on the desk. Beside this, the room was perfectly tidy and she was kind of surprised. She never thought of Dylan as tidy person. He stood up with little grin.

"Bed at your service, ma'am!" he grinned. Emma thought that maybe he was also still a little drunk. But she was so happy that he relaxed a little and the depressed mood he was in early was away for now, that she cheekily answered:

"Thank you Mr. Massett - how kind of you!"

She stepped forward to him and he did the same. Maybe he stepped too far or she did, but they were suddenly they were very close. So close that she could feel his warm breath, that still smelt of whiskey and she noticed that he had five small freckles on his nose.

"Ermm…I'll be downstairs. If you need anything…just, call out." He was cute when he was nervous but Emma had no idea why he would be. They both stepped aside from each other, their arms brushing slightly. In that moment, Dylan turned around and put his hand on her shoulder. She looked at him with question in her eyes and he stared at her for a while, rubbing her shoulder gently. Then he just said:

"Thank you Emma."