Rose and Henry were waiting for Emma to show up at Granny's diner. The sheriff made it in and found the kids already sitting and waiting.
"Hey. What's the emergency?" She asked, but instead her son shushed her. Emma looked at Rose with a questioning look for an explanation.
"It's sensitive." Rose whispered. Playing along for Henry's sake.
"If it's so sensitive, then why are we out in the open, at Granny's?" Emma asked.
"I'm hungry." Both girls laughed at his reason.
"Hey Rose." Norman came, catching their attention.
"Hi Norman. What's up?" She looked at him, and noticed something different about him.
"C-Can I talk to you for a second?" He asked nervously. This was new. Maybe it had to do with the folder he found. She looked back at Henry, and Emma for approval. Once she got it, she stood up and walked to the back hallway with him.
"Does this have to do with what you found-"
"Let's go out and eat tonight." His interruption surprised her. Especially because it didn't sound like a suggestion.
"You mean to hang out here at Granny's to study together again?" They always did that.
"Y-yeah! Exactly! Is that okay with you?" Again, something was different, but she didn't know what. Guess she would have to find out later herself.
"Why wouldn't it be okay? We always go there." She mentioned. What she didn't know was that her friend wasn't planning on doing school work together. He had other plans.
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Rose returned home to get her things ready to study with Norman. Another weird thing happened though. Instead of being in the office, Regina took a half day and was home way earlier than usual. And she was watching Rose closely.
"Rose, you don't have to bring your homework when you go see Mr. Hawkins." Her aunt told her.
"We're going to study, I kind of have to." She said and carried her back pack. She opened the door to leave, but quickly closed it. Getting that horrible sneezing feeling. It was the allergies season, she could tell.
"What's wrong?" Regina asked after watching her niece close the door and put her back pack on the ground.
"It's my allergies. They're acting up today. Maybe I shouldn't go." She didn't even get the chance to make it up the stairs. Her aunt was blocking her path.
"No!" That wasn't a normal reaction of her aunt.
"What's wrong? You're always telling me to take it easy and not get sick so much."
"Yes. Well…" Regina wasn't certain what o say. She needed to come up with something to get the girl to go so her plans would work. "Norman is your friend. You should never leave a friend, especially him waiting for you."
"I won't. That would have been rude. I was going to call him and cancel."
"Don't.". Regina quickly said and put her hands up to halt her. What is going on with her?
Regina realized how out of character she must've looked at the teenager, and composed herself.
"Look. Just get take some medicine and go. You will be completely fine. You'll see." She gave her creepy smile. Not comforting Rose at all. She knew something was up, but didn't want to waste time arguing. Why is she so desperate for me to leave?
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Rose did go to Granny's. But when she entered the place, she only saw Norman standing in the middle of the room by a table covered in white cloth and a candle to glow in the dark room. She took another look around to see if the lights were out or something. But it didn't seem like it.
"Uh…. Norman… What's going on?" She hesitantly asked. Norman didn't answer her question. He opened up a chair for her to sit at the table next to him. Why is he doing this?
She took her seat and he sat across from her. She continued to study his actions. Trying to figure the boy out.
"So what do you think?" He finally spoke.
"I think we're not going to study, are we?" She confronted him. He sighed, giving in.
"Your right, we're not." He admitted.
"Then what is this, Norman?" She didn't want her suspicions to be right.
"It's… well we are… we're on a-" He couldn't even say it. He wasn't sure if it was the nerves building up to confess or the fact that he knew he was in trouble. Rose didn't need to hear any words, her eyes opened up wide open. Knowing what he was trying to do.
"No." She stated and shook her head, and watched him hung his head down. Avoiding to look at her in the eyes.
"Norman, are we on a date?"
"Yes." No point in lying now.
"W-Why did you lie?"
"Because I knew you would say no."
"And lying, tricking me is okay?" Now she was angry and upset with him. They were becoming good friends, and now he wants to ruin it? He knew she didn't want this, and yet he is still doing it.
Before she could move away, he grabbed her hand that was on the table.
"Rose, hear me out. I love you!" Those words tookher breath away, butnot in a good way. In a scary way.
"I need to go." She pulled away and stood up tp leave. She headed for the door as fast as possible, not caring if she was dragging her tank.
"Rose, wait-" He tried to say and got up to follow her. To stop her from leaving.
"I have to go!" She repeated ignoring his plea.
"Rose-"
"I'll see you at school." She left, without turning back.
Norman stood all alone in the dark diner. Replaying what just happened, what he did wrong. Angry more at himself for pushing.
"I see your date went well." Ruby's voice teased as she came out from the kitchen. A tray of food for two in her hands.
"Shut up!"
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Rose continued to speed walk and carried her tank in her arms o move faster and father away from the diner, from Norman. She felt like an idiot. She should have seen this coming.
She was to caught up in her thoughts, that she didn't notice a familiar truck was parked right outside of her house. The girl continued to make her way to the front door and entered her home.
Her stomach growled when she smelled lasagna. She made her way to the kitchen to have some, but she caught her aunt making a move to kiss David Nolan on the lips.
"Oh My God!" She screamed, getting their attention from each other. They too were shocked to see the teenager home early. David was told she was out on a date and Henry with Emma. That they wouldn't be back for hours.
"Rose!" Her aunt spoke up to gain her attention. You were suppose to be on your date." Everything made sense now. Her aunt wanted her gone for this…. This weird sick thing! She wasn't sure who she was more frustrated with, her manipulated aunt or lying friend for being in on this.
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CutieChante: Yes, Norman is suppose to be her friend. The question is, why is he doing this?
If you comment, I promise to respond to your thoughts/ theories.Thanks for reading! Tell me what you think.