*Norman's POV*

The hard sensation of the floor in my room wakes me up.
"Just grab all of it. I don't even know how he got it." A familiar voice says.
Squinting, I see Dr. Vincent and another nurse, along with two guards who are going through my room. My mattress is flipped up against the wall and my heart starts pounding at the realization that they found the pills.

"Morning Sunshine, did you think you could outsmart us?" Dr. Vincent asks, walking over to me.
I bring my knees to my chest, resting my head on them. He grabs a handful of my hair, jerking my head up. "I asked you a question. Did you think you could outsmart us?"

Avoiding eye contact I shake my head, just wanting them to leave.

He laughs, releasing the grip on my hair. The nurse and guards leave, and he squats down to my level, tightly gripping my chin. "Try something like that again and I'll get rid of you for good this time." He grits, then gives me a sickening smile.

Once he leaves I sit there smiling to myself for a second, then go up to my dresser and into my sock drawer, where I'd hidden all of the pills. In my socks.

"Did you think you could outsmart us?" I mock, closing the drawer and going over to fix my bed where I could hopefully sleep the remainder of the night.

*Jolene's POV*

*Evening*

Do you ever wish you could lock yourself in your bathroom the entire day? That's how I feel right now.

Richard's parents are here visiting, and while I do love them, they can get a little..opinionated..sometimes.
When they're around, I get more anxious than any future daughter-in-law should.
They always try to embarrass me.

I lean against the sink, staring at my exhausted reflection. My nights usually consist of tossing and turning, my thoughts keeping me awake.

The faucet creaks as I turn it, leaning down to splash my face with cold water.

After a minute I dab my face with a towel and go back out to the kitchen.

Richard is laughing with his parents at the table and I bend over at the oven to get out the cherry pie I made. Richards father, Robert, whistles, making me a tad uncomfortable as I set the pie on the stove.

"Say, Jolene, that was a pretty nice view, but everywhere else you're looking a little pudgy. Maybe too much pie?" He says.
That hurt, especially considering I'm not big at all, and that Richard laughed at the "joke", along with his mother.

I force a laugh as I carry the pie and three plates to the table, having lost my appetite now.

Richards mother, Sylvia, smiles over at me. "Uh, Richard tells me you're no longer working." She says, trying to start a conversation.

I nod. "I'm looking to get another job here, though."

"Honey, when will you just let Richard bring in the money? It's more than enough, plus you could tend the house and baby while he's gone."

I furrow my eyebrows. "Baby? We don't even have a baby."

"Oh, but you will, and when you do it'll be awfully negligent to run off to work every day and leave it with a sitter. Don't you think?"

I lean back. "My sister worked while having a baby and she's not negligent at all. In fact, I'd call her a wonderful mother."

"Well, your sister also got in bed with someone after two months of knowing him." Richard chimes in, making his father laugh.

My blood is boiling at this point. Who are they to speak of my family this way?

''I just think women should let their husbands take care of them." Sylvia says.
"I agree, but Jolene is too damn hard headed to let me do anything for her." Richard says.
"You ought to put her in her place, Son!" Robert laughs, slapping Richards back.

"Did you all happen to think maybe I don't want someone taking care of me? Although I guess you wouldn't get it seeing as you've never had to work for anything in your damn lives." I berate, standing up from the table and turning to go to the bedroom.

I slam the door behind me, going over to sit on the bed and not five minutes pass until I hear the front door close, and then Richards heavy footsteps coming toward the room.

He slings the door open, his face redder than a tomato, and comes over to me, grabbing my shoulders, yanking me off the bed into the wall.

"What is wrong with you? How dare you disrespect my family and me? Are you some kind of moron?" He asks, no, he yells into my face.

"Maybe if you'd actually stick up for me I-"

"It's not like the things they were saying weren't true!" He spits.

My eyes burn as they fill up with tears.

"Oh, so now you're gonna cry? Did I hurt Miss Independents feelings?" He asks in a mocking tone.

I jerk my arms out of his grip, walking over and sitting on the bed.

"I'll be back later." He grumbles, grabbing his coat and keys off the dresser.

I jump up, running over and grabbing his arm. I know where he's going. He's going to a local bar to 'cool off' then come home angrier than before. "Richard, please don't, I'm sor-"

"Jolene you'll let go of me if you know what's good for you." He grits.
I let go, watching as he puts his coat on and walks out the front door, slamming it.

More tears fall from my eyes, so I go back over to the bed.
I grab the pillow nearest to me, cuddling it to my body almost as if it were someone who cares about me.
I cry and cry, hoping that someday things will be different.

*One week later*

*Norman's POV*

"Dr. Vincent, like I said, he hasn't spoken or moved all week. I'm not even sure he's eaten." A nurse says, shining a light in my eyes.

I'm completely fine, but they don't know that.

"So, what? If he gets hungry he'll get up and eat."

"No, doctor, I think he's out of it. I'm gonna get Mr. James and see what to do." The nurse stands up from in front of me.

"Don't get James. He'll be fine."
"I'm not just gonna let a patient die. Plus, do you know how many people would outrage?"

"So what if he does? It's just Norman Bates! No one even cares about him. Life will carry on.

Harsh.

"I'm getting James. I'm not losing my job over this." She starts to leave.
He grabs her arm. "Do you know how much Lila Crane is paying me to keep him here? He can't go to some hospital!"
She glares at him, pulling her arm from his grip. "I'm getting him."

After a moment, the nurse returns once more, this time with Mr. James.

"He's been like this all week, Sir. I don't think he's eaten in a few days."

Mr. James bends down in front of me, looking into my eyes and widening his own. "I think we should get him to a hospital."

She nods, going out to call an ambulance and Dr. Vincent rolls his eyes, following her.

Mr. James stays behind them, giving me a sympathetic look and patting my shoulder before leaving.

After he closes my door, I can't help but smile to myself again.

Hi, thank you again for your review! I agree. Poor Jolene. Poor Norman. It doesn't all make sense right now, but soon it will! (I think?)

Remember this story is entirely fictional, as in, I know its not realistic. Just bear with me. :)

I look forward to reading another review! :)