How did you guys like the 'I love yous' in the last chapter? Sweet? Rushed? Well here is the after math... enjoy

Norman's POV

We finally said it.

He loved me and I loved him. It was completely different when he said it than when Norma said it. When Norma said it there was a certain quality missing that I never noticed before. When Alex said it I could feel it wash over all of me. I actually felt loved.

Now we were just holding each other. The silence was actually peaceful. I could just about fall asleep in his arms if it wasn't for the fact that I was so nervous about the upcoming mess. I knew it wasn't going to go over well. Norma was a snake… she wouldn't go down without a fight. If it wasn't for Alex I would probably still be under her spell. I would still be listening to every single lie she decided to fill my head with.

I wonder just how often she did lie to me.

I jerk from my thoughts when Alex kisses my cheek. I sigh softly "Sorry, I was lost in thought." "I thought so, and I figured you needed some saving. It's going to be okay Norman… I'll make sure of it." I smile a bit "Thank you." He made me feel safe. He made me feel loved. I couldn't imagine a better boyfriend.

The peaceful silence didn't last long. Alex's phone started ringing. I let go of him and go to retrieve it. I raise an eyebrow and answer it "Hey Dylan." I say. Alex and I share a look. We both knew what this was about. "Hey, Are you okay? Norma just called me. She was freaking out, saying you ran away." I roll my eyes "We got in a fight… I'm fine." I can hear Dylan's concern "Are you sure? What was the fight about? Do you need me to get you or anything?"

I smile at the true concern in his voice. "Yes, I'm sure. I'm with Alex. The fight… she knows I have a boyfriend. I don't know how she found out…" A thought hit me "Yeah I do, she went through me phone. I don't think she knows who it is or she would be over here by now." Dylan speaks again "Yeah about that… she actually is on her way to Alex's house… you know… the Sheriff." Panic flutters up in my stomach. "Thank you for the warning." He hums "Anytime, let me know if you need anything. Best of luck."

I laugh softly "Thanks Dylan, I'll talk with you later. I should explain to Alex what is going on." We say good bye and hang up. "Bad news?" Alex asks. I nod "Norma is on her way over here according to Dylan. She probably wants to report me as a run-away." He opens his arms for me and I crawl back into them. "In the state of Oregon, there are no specific laws about runaway kids. You won't get in trouble. I promise."

I scoot closer to his warmth "I love you." I say softly. He runs a hand through my hair "I love you too, Norman."

We get to lay there for a few minutes before loud knocking echoes through the house. I sigh and scoot away from Alex "I'll just stay here." He nods and heads down the steps. I can't help slipping out of the bed and getting as close as I can without being seen. I needed to hear what she said.

I heard the door open and Norma's high pitched voice. "Norman ran away!" She sounds like she has been crying, but with her it was hard to tell what was real and what wasn't. It seemed she had perfected the art of lying. Alex is quiet as she rants about how I had pushed her down and ran out of the house. She claimed she had chased me down to try and talk to me, but I had hit her and ran out.

She then goes on to lie about how she tried to come after me in the car, how she had begged for to come back. She claimed the fight was because I didn't want to go to school anymore or listen to anything she said. The woman was straight up deceitful and I had to go back to Alex's room before I went down there and exposed everything.

There was no way Alex would believe anything she said. I knew he wouldn't. I waited for him to come back to the room. I couldn't hear the words they were saying, but I could still hear her voice. I blocked it out with a pillow and end up falling asleep.