Chapter 29 – Pretending


Hey there! Sorry I'm late. I usually update about an hour or so after the show (so 11 pm eastern time) but tonight I had no will to write. It took me hours just to get myself in the mood and then I remembered I had to edit ...

excusesexcusesexcuses

Anyway I just realized I had a few super friendly reviews while I was on my hiatus so I just wanted to acknowledge them. They'll be at the end of this chapter so if you want to read them, just keep scrolling.

Go ahead and enjoy ~~


Alexa woke up feeling wide-awake. She touched the side of her bed and noticed it was no longer wet. Did I imagine a wet bed? Did I see Norman last night?

She decided to take it upon herself to go straight to the source, and immediately dialed his number.

"Hello?" Norman cheerfully answered.

"Hey, I was just wondering, did you come over last night?"

"Huh?"

Alexa ran her fingers through her hair. "I know it's a weird question, but I could've sworn we spoke last night. Maybe I was dreaming but –"

"I think you were dreaming."

"Ah, I see, sorry," Alexa shyly replied. "God I'm so lazy – I don't want to get up and get ready for school."

Norman chuckled. "Clearly since you could've just gotten out of bed and walked a few steps to my bedroom."

"Shush," Alexa laughed.

"Actually speaking of school, why don't you home school with Emma and I?"

"You two are home schooling together?" Alexa rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "That's a bad idea."

"Why?"

"You won't get any work done when you're with each other."

"Believe me, we will."

Alexa rolled her eyes once more. "Ah, well, find out for yourself. Anyway, I'll have to decline on the offer, but thanks for the invite buttercup."

"Why?" Norman pursed his lips.

"Because Alex would say no, and I wouldn't get any actual work done without a teacher and because I'm kind of not alright in the head. I need structure and to see people."

Norman huffed. "You're fine in the head."

"And out too, I hope," Alexa joked. "But I know myself. Thanks for the offer, but I have to say no."

Norman opened her bedroom door. "That sucks. Well, if that's your final answer, you have to get ready for school."

Alexa shut her cell phone and threw it on the pile of clothing on the ground. "God damn."

Then her cell phone started to ring, and Alexa groaned even louder. Norman laughed aloud and picked up the phone, looking at the front. "Hey, it's your dad."

"Throw it to me." Alexa caught the phone and answered. "Hey."

"Wanna come to the motel? I have some pancakes."

Alexa sighed. "Yeah, gimme ten, I have to change."

"You haven't even changed yet?"

"Yeah, yeah!" Alexa huffed. "I'll be there!" She shut her phone and pushed Norman out. "I have to change!"

"Oh yeah?" Norman stood like a statue, making it impossible to move him.

"God, you're such a psycho, Norman!"

He only laughed in response, before jumping back, nearly causing her to fall over. Alexa pursed her lips in irritation before slamming the door in his face.

Changing quickly, she ran down the stairs and out the door to the motel. She really didn't want to be late since she had missed school yesterday. Plus, Alex would be on her ass for slacking off. And he was already on her ass for being a murderer, so it was best not to add academic laziness to it.

"Hey!" Alexa opened and shut the door. "The pancakes smell great."

"Yeah, not homemade but, I try, y'know."

She smiled. Alex passed a plate of pancakes to her and she poured some sickly sweet maple syrup on top. Digging in, Alexa went quiet and Alex just inspected her.

"Have you felt, dizzy or light headed lately?"

"Hmm?" Alexa gulped. "Uh, not really."

Alex looked her dead in the eye. "If you ever feel like things are getting to be too much, please tell me."

She stopped eating. "Well, yesterday kind of felt like that. That's why I didn't go. But I can't keep making excuses. That's why I want to make sure I'm on time today."

"Good, I'm glad."

Alexa nodded. "I'm sorry."

"Enough apologies about Cheryl," Alex whispered.

"Not that. Well, of course that but, that it's mom."

Alex looked up at her. Biting his bottom lip, he started eating the pancakes. Alexa followed suit and the two were thrown into silence for about ten minutes until he finished eating.

"Your mom was a hard person to love. She was rough around the edges. She showed that, even to you. And you have half of her and half of me, so I'm not so surprised you are complicated too."

"There's a difference …" Alexa started. "Between being 'complicated' and what I am."

"What do you think you are?"

Alexa looked at him in fear. "I am not okay in the head. And what scares me more is that I might just be the kind of person who can never be helped. That there is no form of therapy that can help me."

"Don't. Everyone can be helped. I'm going to help you. And all your friends will help you too."

"Why are you so afraid of sending me somewhere? So I can talk to a doctor and get medication."

Alex rolled his eyes. "You're strong, you don't need that. I know you don't need that. Don't worry. I know you."

"I should go to school." Alexa looked at her phone. "It's nearly 8."

"Okay. I'll see you later. Breakfast tomorrow too?"

"Sure." Alexa smiled. "Bye."

As she walked outside, she noted her phone buzzing and looked at the text she had just received.

'Can you come here for lunch? I have something to tell you that's really important.'

'Okay!' Alexa replied.


After a fairly good day at school, Alexa went to the motel to meet with Emma. She was by herself, waiting for her outside the motel instead of inside.

"Eh kiddo," Alexa playfully called. "Is Norman in there?"

Emma stood up. "Yeah, he's taking over. I wanted to have a private conversation with you."

"Jeez, really?" Alexa rubbed the back of her neck nervously and shrugged. "Little old me?"

"Yeah." Emma nodded awkwardly and coughed. "Uh, I, went to the doctor the other day."

Alexa froze. "Y-yeah?"

"My lung capacity has uh, diminished, really badly."

No. No. Nononononononononono.

"Oh … I see …" Alexa looked away.

"It kind of made me realize something." Emma spoke up. "That uh, I, don't have all the time in the world and that I, um, want to try and spend that time with the people I love."

Alexa looked at her tearfully. "I've been going through some things, but that doesn't mean I've ever stopped loving you. You'll always be my best friend."

"I know." Emma gulped harshly to stop herself from crying. "I always knew that. I think. Well, no, I forgot after everything."

"I'm sorry I was such a bitch. Not even, I was just cruel."

Emma nodded. "You wanna know something, Alexa? When you told me about Cheryl, I realized something really mean, and I want to tell you."

"Okay."

"I think you and I might both be really sick. My sickness is physical, and yours is mental. And that's kind of reassuring to me."

"Why is that?"

Emma looked away, crying now, wiping her tears as she spoke. "Because it's scary to think I'll die. But then I think, if my sickness is as bad as hers, then maybe we'll go at the same time."

Alexa didn't respond. Emma was full on sobbing at this point, looking at her feet.

"It's horrible!" Emma choked out. "God is it so horrible!"

"It's true though." Alexa had streams of tears going down her cheeks. "If I'm going to die from this, I would not mind going down at the same time as you. I said it once and I'll say it again, I really can't imagine a world without you. I took that for granted. I'm not going to anymore."

Emma pulled her into a hug and the two cried into each other's shoulders. Norman very awkwardly watched from the office, wondering if he should intervene or not. But he realized that it was an incredibly intimate and personal moment, and that it had absolutely nothing to do with him.

"That being said." Alexa pulled away from the hug and sniffled. "This isn't an invitation to just give up."

"Yeah, yeah," Emma chuckled. "And if you can make it even if I don't, well, you know what I'd want."

Alexa smiled. "Of course."

"By the way, Norman and I are dating."

Alexa laughed, a half choke through her tears. "Finally!"

"Haha, I know right!?"


Later that night, Norma asked Alexa to come to her bedroom. She was pacing back and forth and Alexa could tell right away.

"What did Norman do?"

She shook her head. "One of my customers is gone. She hasn't been in her room for like, a day, and the last person who saw her was Norman. He drove her somewhere and then brought her car back. She's just gone."

"Shit." Alexa bit her bottom lip. "Do you think he killed her?"

"God, Alexa!"

"Well, I'm just being blunt," Alexa sharply spoke. "Rather get the worst out of the way first."

"Maybe! I don't know!"

Alexa sighed. "He needs to be taken care of, clearly. He's trying to start anew with his relationship with Emma. I think he wants to be normal."

"I think so too."

"We'll just have to keep an eye on him. And try and find this mysterious customer."

Norma nodded. "Yeah … I think so …" Norma fell onto her bed and sighed. "Wanna watch a movie?"

"Sure."

The film was slow and slightly tedious, and Norma was far too stressed out from Norman to stay away. Alexa had gotten far too much drama from Emma earlier, and found herself falling asleep. And before the two knew it, they were gone.

When morning came, Alexa was incredibly embarrassed to have fallen asleep alongside Norma, and found herself running the hell out of there. She got ready for school and went to her father's motel room earlier then usual.

"You're ready early!" Alex prided, and she grinned.

"Judging by the boxes, I assume home is all patched up and good."

Alex smiled. "Yes. You're gonna have to pack your things."

"Why didn't you tell me yesterday so I could put it in your truck now?"

"I forgot, honestly." He put a box in. "I'll pick you up after school and you can take all your things. Sound good?"

"Yeah, great." Alexa smiled. "Tell Norma before you leave though, so she knows."

"Yeah, I'm not going anytime soon."

"Okay, sounds good. I'm gonna get going."

Later that day, while Alexa was packing, Norma told her that both her and Emma had gone into the missing customer's room. Apparently she found some sort of invitation to a Gentleman's Club. Alexa immediately grinned, knowing exactly what kind of things went on in a party like that.

"Do you wanna come with me?"

"To the party?"

Norma nodded enthusiastically.

"I feel like this is a horrible idea, but what the hell, why not?"

And that's exactly how Alexa found herself climbing a stone fence with a determined as hell Norma. The both of them were in dresses, so it was proving to be quite the challenge to move quickly. First they tried getting in with the invitation, with Alexa hiding in the back and Norma smiling in the front. But apparently some password was needed so they thought, screw it, let's just break in.

Watching Norma penguin run was incredibly hilarious and made all the hardships worth it for Alexa.

"Look!" Alexa pointed out. "Those guys!" There were two men walking to a small cabin away from the party, and the two women decided that was where they should go.

This proved to be a venture that practically scarred both their eyes, as they watched some sort of strange sex scene reveal in front of them. Norma immediately covered Alexa's eyes and pushed her aside.

"Oh god," Norma sighed, looking at the scene.

"Why are you still looking?" Alexa said under her breath until she noticed a man approaching them. "Shit!"

"Norma?" Alex called in disbelief.

Alexa had to shut her eyes in embarrassment before cocking her head out. "And your daughter!"

"What the fuck!?"

"Judge me all you want, but why are YOU here?" Alexa put her hands on both her hips. "I never knew you were such a pervert!"

"I'm not here for that!" Alex practically growled. He looked through the window and glared at Norma with such malevolence that Alexa was actually scared. "Did she see that?"

It was times like these that Alexa remembered no one knew she long ago discovered sex and the thought of that brought a blush to her cheeks.

"No, of course not!" Norma lied. "Anyone, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here for business. What are you here for?"

"Please, Alex, I need you to help me. A woman, a customer of mine, she's been gone for two nights now. Her name is Annika Johnson."

"Norma –"

"Alex. The last person who saw her was Norman. Her car is still in my driveway. I don't know where she is or if she's coming back or what happened!"

Alex put his palms up. "You two need to go before someone finds you guys' here."

"But could you just go in there and – "

"Go!" Alex insisted, and Norma ran off.

"Dirty old man!" Alexa hissed before running off. Alex managed to slap her back before she ran off, and yelled, "We're talking about this at home!"

Ah shit.


On the way home, Norma completely beat the shit out of the memorial bypass sign. Alexa watched in shock, unable to really say anything because honestly, she could understand how Norma felt.

Helplessly watching her son possibly delve into something dangerous and psychotic, and helplessly watching her money source go down the drain slowly.

When Norma got into the car, Alexa faced her and suggested, "Why don't you run it down?"

So Norma did.

Then she drove Alexa home, who waited for her father to come home and yell at her. Though it was all totally worth it, she'd never admit it to her dad.


I really wanted to have a lighter feeling this chapter just because things are going to be extremely heavy this season - for both Norman and Alexa. They're really getting into their own hells so silly moments are necessary. That being said there's going to be chapters like 27 which are full on dark and heavy and even disturbing. We all signed up for it by watching the show to begin with. But again, I hate constantly writing like that, so when I can, I write lightly like this chapter. As the season goes on though, moments like these will lessen. Hell, even this chapter with its slight fluff (between Alexa x Norman , Alexa x Norma) had some tragic moments, like Emma and Alexa's talk about death and dying from their 'diseases'.

Anyway here's some replies to y'all :

kksambo : "I can't wait until the next season starts so you can continue writing! I love Bates Motel, but I find your story even more entertaining than the show because I love Alexa! She like Norman, no matter how screwed up you can't help but like them. I like her as the non-blood related Bates' family member. Like I said, I can't wait for season 3 to start just so you will start writing again!" Thanks! I really enjoy writing the parallels between Norman and Alexa. It's a great challenge writing as the show is on, and it's even more fun since we all know the end game. But it's also very depressing, since we know no amount of help with aid Norman. Wonder if Alexa will get better ... Anyway, thank you for your praise, that's a very high raised compliment. I appreciate it a lot! :D

HenduluinCuculindo : "I love this story! Please keep going!" I will! Thank you very much for your words of encouragement! (and cool username)

GUEST (2 messages you left) : "It'll definitely be different by not adding a love story. Good different." Thank you, I hope so! There is romance for sure, but definitely not a love story. Hope you're still reading :D

"What happened to Cheryl was horrible. Why torture her? And sorry anyone who roots for Shelby and a 14 year old Alexa is disgusting. I completely understood why Cheryl wanted to tell, her life has been in a ruin all to protect Alexa. And lets not forget Cheryl would have been about Alexa's age when she was 14, so why didn't Romano arrest Keith for rape. She was a kid. How would she be the bad influence for Alexa?" Because Alex Romero loves Alexa and holds her to such a high degree that he truly believes she can do no harm. Hell, even without proof, there's a 99.9% chance Alexa MURDERED Cheryl in cold blood and even after discovering this, he ignored it. What she needs is to go to a institution and talk to someone who can actually help her. But she won't get that help, because Alex really thinks she's an innocent girl who lost her parents in a tragic way and has the burden of dealing with the crimes of the town they live in. He sees HER as a victim, and anyone who attempts to sway her from that is seen as a villain to him. It's messed up, for sure, but its his mindset. Now that he feels like she, deep down, resents him, he'll hold onto that belief even tighter. As for Shelby x Alexa, well yeah, it is totally disturbing. It's meant to be that way. He took away her innocence. I don't mean virginity, I literally mean her positivity in life. But to each his own, really, I'd say like .5% - 2% ship the two so it's not a huge amount. Oh well. Thank you for your heated review! :)