A/N: Deciding to give an update. Haven't really had much time to write this and kinda became unmotivated. My chapters might end up short because I like to free write and just go with the flow. I do have an ending in mind though. So here goes chapter 4.
The next day at school was one full of exhaustion and dread. Everyone in Alex's first period class bothered him about the argument he had with his best friend, or soon to be ex best friend, Zack yesterday.
"Is it true you stole his girl. Didn't think you had it in you Alex." one of his peers snickered.
Alex found no amusement in any of it. It was embarrassing enough that it happened in front of a crowd full of people. Now they were openly talking about the chain of event in front of him and sometimes Norma. That's what bothered him the most. He felt he dragged Norma into his and Zack's nonsense when all she was doing was being the friendly person that she is. Now people were spreading ridiculous rumors about how she was sleeping with both Zack and Alex. He felt so guilty.
"Everyone please settle down and find your seats." Alex's teacher stated. He looked to his left to find that the seat Norma usually sat in was empty. He never knew her to be one to miss a day of school unless she was sick and could not come. He wondered if her absence was solely because of him and his drama.
Class was finally over and Alex was heading to his next one when he spotted his friends Kieth and Bob coming towards him.
"Alex what the hell was that yesterday! You guys are nuts!" Kieth exclaimed.
"Yeah. Are you two trying to get suspended right before prom?" Bob joined.
Alex held back the urge to roll his eyes and instead shrugged his shoulders. He knew what the consequences would have been if he actually fought Zack but he did not care in that moment. For some reason he threw out the option to back down. If it had not been for Norma pulling him away, he was sure he would have threw the first hit. It wasn't because he was trying to seem tough and impressive. He actually felt the need to protect Norma and that confused him the most. He did not know her well, but he was willing to get into a physical altercation with his best friend since childhood for her.
"Yeah well... Zack had it coming." Alex said.
"True. He's been a real asshole lately ever since he started hanging with that blonde. Hey is that what all this was about? That girl?" Bob questioned.
Alex was in no mood to give into his friends interrogations. He didn't need his headache to worsen from all their questions.
"Listen, I need to go before I'm late. See you guys after school?" Alex said, hoping they would grasp on to him not wanting to eat lunch with them today.
"No problem. Later." Kieth responded and walked down the hall with Bob.
Alex was still worrying about Norma Bates and her presence. He hoped she wasn't upset with him and he especially hoped those stupid rumors that were being spread didn't make their way back to her.
Alex made his way into his last class for the day which he shared with Zack. He saw him sitting in the desk that's right next to his. Mentally preparing himself for the worst, Alex makes his way towards him.
"We should talk." Alex stated.
"Now you want to talk? After you forced my girl into your beat up old truck? Making her slap the shit out of me? What lies have you been putting in her head. Because just the other day she was letting me do all kinds of things to her. Now she's hovering all over you like a drug addict!" Zack said as his temper became evident.
Aldx jerked his head back in shock. Do all kinds if things to her? Alex thought.
"What? I didn't force her to do anything. She's NOT your girl. You were being crazy as hell, that's why she slapped you. I never put any bugs in her ear or do anything to make her do that do you. Zack, what is your deal really?"
Zack stood up in Alex's face causing Alex to instantly ball his fist.
"Alex I'm 2 seconds away from beating the sh-"
"Hey! You two come here now!" their teacher Blair Watson yelled.
Too busy in their feud, they didn't notice she walked into the room. They both slowly made their way towards her and she guided them into the hallway for privacy.
"You boys want to tell me why you're yelling and cursing in my class?" she asked.
"Sorry Ms. Watson. Alex and I are just having a small disagreement on something. We got carried away. Won't happen again ma'am." Zack answered all while flashing her his flirtatious smile.
She raised an eyebrow. "Ok well I don't want to have to hold you boys after class for this, although I have a feeling you wouldn't mind. So just keep the drama out of my class. Ok sweeties?" she smiled.
"Of course ma'am" Zack smiled.
Meanwhile, Alex was so tired of her trying to subtly flirt with them. He would never understand why a woman like her would pursue her students. She was young, beautiful, and had a nice career. Alex was also sure she was in a relationship as he overheard her having phone sex one day between lunches during school hours in her classroom when she didn't realized he had walked in.
The three of them went back inside as Zack continued giving Alex dirty looks throughout the class period. Once the bell rung, Zack made his way to Alex.
"You know how desperate you look? I mean I really can't believe you Alex. You're supposed to be my best friend and you know how much I wanted Norma and you go and sneak behind my back with her." he scoffed.
"Move Zack." Alex replied.
Zack laughed. "You know what? Whatever. There's so many girls at this school that want me I don't even know why I'm wasting my time on you and that bitch. She was just a huge tease anyways"
Alex stared at him with anger. He was so close to losing his cool and attacking Zack like he had did his own father just the other day. If it had not been for the familiar face he had seen out of the corner of his eye, he would have did just that.
"Norma?" Alex said to the young teen who was walking past the door were Alex and Zack stood. It was obvious she was trying to slip by the two of them unnoticed.
"Hey um... I have to go." she said and picked up her pace as she quickly hurried out of the White Pine Bay High School.
"Is she fucking serious right now!? What a bitch! I swear I should have-" Zack's sentenced was stopped by the blunt force of Alex's fist. Zack falls hard to the ground and appears to be knocked out cold.
"Shit" is all Alex said as a crowd once again forms around him and his ex best friend's body on the floor.
Norma makes her way down her usual path she walks when she is headed home from school. She skipped her first period intentionally so she could avoid running into Alex. She did not want to have the awkward conversation she knew they would have. Suddenly, she hears a familiar truck slowing down behind her on the street. She closes her eyes as as she realizes it was Alex and scolds herself for not taking another path home as Alex knew this was the way to her house.
"Norma?" he yells from the passenger side of his window.
"Hey" she simply replies.
"You okay? I didn't see you in Chem today. Look, can we talk please. Hop in."
She obliges and opens the passenger side to Alex's truck as they make their way down the road. She doesn't know why she just got into his truck, but she was having such a terrible day, she wanted to be comforted by someone, anyone, even Alex.
"So look. About what happened between me and Zack, I hope that didn't like freak you out or anything. I know we don't know each other well, so it might seem weird that he and I were about to fight over... well you." he takes a quick glance at her before turning his focus back on the road. She stays quiet as she continues to listen to the smoothness of his voice.
"I didn't know you and him were like a thing. I just thought you two were friends. If I would have known, I would have kept my distance and I hope it didn't look like I interfered with what you guys had going on. I'm sorry Norma."
She quickly turns her head to him.
"Me and Zack aren't a thing? Why would you even think that? God, you can't be nice to a guy without people thinking you to sleep with them!"
Alex frowns as he is confused by what she just said.
"He told me you guys...you know...did 'things' the other day when you asked to meet with him to talk? I mean we didn't go into details but knowing Zack, I just assumed. So was that not true?
She chuckles as she shakes her head. "He's the last guy I would ever do anything with."
Feeling relieved, Alex remembers the conversation he had with Zack and how he said Norma let him do all kinds of things to her. So he was lying. Alex thought. Zack clearly only said that to make Alex jealous. Well it worked. Now he felt guilty that he even believed that someone as pure and beautiful as Norma would even go that far with some womanizer like Zack.
"Oh... wow. Okay. That's good to know." he says as he grips the steering wheel tighter. Norma notices how tense he is. She then takes in his bruised hand that were covered in small scratches and cuts.
"Would hate to see the other guy." she says.
Alex looks at his hand to see how bruised it were. "Yeah. Zack just did not know when to shut up."
Norma mouth drops open "You fought Zack? Your best friend? Oh please don't tell me it was because of me."
Alex face turns red as he starts to feel embarrassed. The tone in her voice made him think she sounded disgusted that he actually fought his best friend over her. He doesn't say anything.
She turns to him taking in his profile. His perfect jawline and long eyelashes. She clears her throat as she regains her focus on the road ahead of them.
"Well Norma yeah. He said some things about you that just set me off. I've spent years with my dad talking to my mom inappropriately so I have a problem whenever a guy talks down on a woman, especially one like you. He had no right to say what he did about you." He didn't want to tell her that Zack called her a bitch and a tease.
Norma smiles at his confession. She knew how private he was and he just told her about his dad. She can tell he doesn't have to best relationship with him. She is reminded of her own parents.
"Thank you Alex." she says as her soft hand touches his, instantly feeling him relax.
They pull up to her house and she opens the door and gets out but not before placing a quick peck on his cheek. Alex starts to blush and he stares into her light blue eyes.
"I'll see you tomorrow Romero."
With that, he watches her enter her house with a key and disappear inside. He rubs the cheek she just kissed and can't help the grin that creeps upon his face as he heads to his own home.