Author's Notes: Sorry about this being so late. I had a nasty case of writer's block and to be honest I'm not sure this chapter is good enough, but I'm putting it out there anyway. I hope you're not disappointed.
*This isn't edited, so it may be a mess. I'll fix it later.
*If you would like to read more chapters, please let me know by leaving a review.
I hope you enjoy…
Chapter 6: Let's Play a Game
After receiving the first message from Norma this afternoon, Romero finds himself driving in the direction of the motel. He grips the steering wheel a little tighter as he continues to drive closer and closer to his destination.
There is really no reason for him to feel the amount of tightness he is feeling in his muscles at the moment, but he can't seem to relax. This will be his first conversation he'll have with Dylan since he discussed the young man's future plans with him months ago. Though their talk was generally civil at that time, there were still moments of obvious tension. At least their previous talk is something they could build on, unlike with Norman whose conversations typically are generated from some sort of investigation.
After debating with Norma the best tactic to handle this situation, it was decided that Dylan would be the best person to speak with first. The Sheriff isn't looking for this to be a long exchange with the young man. Instead, this is meant to be a brief introduction to hopefully grow into a more positive association between the two men.
As Romero slowly approaches the street leading to the Bates Motel, his thoughts begin to race in an attempt to remember the cover story he and Norma thought up earlier as to why he is spontaneously dropping by today. The reason the two of them have come up with is flimsy at best, but it's the only option they have right now. Maybe with time it won't be such a stretch of the imagination as to why he's making more of an appearance around the motel.
Norma mentioned the interesting exchange she had with Dylan and Emma yesterday in the office, which led Romero into a fit of laughter. Norma also pointed out that Dylan has for the most part been hiding in his room since the uncomfortable exchange, in an attempt to avoid his mother.
With knowing Dylan hasn't left the house, this is a perfect time to have a spur-of-the-moment conversation with the young man. Especially since Norma decided to take Norman on an impromptu trip to town to allow her boyfriend and eldest son to converse more comfortably.
After parking his official Sheriff's Department vehicle in the lot, he gradually begins to step up the long outside stairwell leading to the house perched on the hill. With each footstep Romero becomes more and more anxious. He's suddenly rethinking this whole idea and realizing just how idiotic this strategy is. At most this trip to the house will provide a few minutes of conversation alone with Dylan. It hardly seems worth all of the effort, but the Sheriff silently reminds himself this whole ordeal is worth it if it takes him even one baby step closer to making a connection with one of Norma's sons.
Now here the Sheriff stands at the front door with a folder full of nonsense paperwork held in one of his shaky hands, trying to steady his breathing after climbing the incredible amount of stairs. After a few deep breaths and a mental pep talk, Romero apprehensively reaches for the doorbell.
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Dylan welcomes the silence consuming his bedroom at the moment. In fact he hasn't left those four walls in probably hours. It's not only the embarrassment he feels from his awkward encounter earlier today, but also some unwanted theories keep creeping into his mind. Surprisingly, the quietness is helping to tame the beliefs that are plaguing his thoughts.
His concentration is suddenly broken by a flash of light displayed on his phone. A message from Emma, which will go unanswered just as the nine others had. He's not mad at her after stumbling across the few fallen out-of- state university catalogs sprawled on the floor underneath the office desk, but rather disappointed and confused about all of the secrecy her actions silently insinuated. Was she ever going to let him know she was interested in leaving White Pine Bay?
Maybe their relationship isn't as strong or as solid as he thought. Maybe he's just a way for her to pass the time before she leaves him for good. Or maybe she's finally realizing what he always knew, he's not good enough for her.
What future could he really offer her anyway?
The next message that appears on his phone's display appears a bit more frantic than all of the rest. He can sense Emma's uneasiness through a simple text, leaving him restless and feeling a little guilty. This is what compels him to finally answer, offering no reasoning for his previous silence.
Without really knowing what to say, he only sends a request to meet her 30 minutes from now at a location known well to the both of them. She'll be leaving the motel office soon, closing for the day since Norma and his brother decided to run some errands somewhere. Truth is, he didn't really care and only heard their voices in passing while he was retreating to his room.
Sure, maybe he could've spoken with Emma at the house, but he feared his mother could return at any time. Probably even more of a reason for meeting elsewhere is he could leave the situation without giving Emma the chance to change his mind, because he won't.
Time passes quickly as he continues to figure out the perfect words to say to Emma. Dylan doesn't want to hurt her, quite the opposite actually. He wants to set her free. Free to pursue her apparent dream without having him as the burden holding her back. She doesn't deserve to be stuck in White Pine Bay when her desire seems to be so far away.
After debating the many words he could express, Dylan finally believes he is ready to meet with Emma. When he looks at the clock resting on the top of his side table, he instantly realizes he's running late to meet her. In haste, Dylan seizes his phone from the bed and shoves it into his pants pocket while simultaneously reaching for his keys.
Dylan races down the stairs and jogs for the front door. When he whips the door open, he's met with a surprising familiar face.
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Before Romero gets the chance to press the doorbell, the front door flies open causing the man to flinch. Standing inside the door with widened eyes is Dylan, the young man he's determined to have a chat with today.
"Shit. Sheriff?" Dylan questions with a confused look written on his face. But, his confusion instantly turns into frustration after only a second of internal debate. "I told you before, my business is legit. I'm not in that world anymore and I never want to be again."
Romero is caught off guard, never did he expect the young man to jump to that conclusion by the mere sight of him. Maybe having a civil conversation with Norma's eldest son will be more difficult than he originally thought. As a reaction the Sheriff immediately holds up both hands in surrender, almost dropping the folder in his now slightly shaky grasp to the ground. "No, this isn't about that. I know you are running an honest business Dylan."
"Oh Jesus, what did Norman do now?" Dylan asks with a hint of concern in his tone.
This is also a response Romero wasn't expecting, but now he's curious. "Why? Did he do something?" He asks with a raised brow, oddly beginning to relax while dabbling in his automatic police nature of questioning. Sadly, the Sheriff would much rather question a perp for hours at the station than try to have a personal conversation with either one of Norma's sons. Even though Dylan is the lesser of two evils in this whole situation, it's still very unsettling and definitely out of his comfort zone. To avoid a shaky tone, the Sheriff decides to handle the rest of this conversation as he would any other type of chat he has as an officer.
"Ah, no? I don't think so," Dylan says slowly as if he's trying to predict the Sheriff's true intentions of this awkward and impromptu visit. He's starting to wonder if this stopover is some sort of trap. As he starts to think about it, Dylan decides he's done with this conversation and moves to step out of the doorway causing Romero to take a step backwards. "I don't have anything more to say," he mumbles while hurriedly shutting the front door behind him. "And, I need to leave right now."
Standing unintentionally or maybe a little on purpose, Romero blocks the stairwell earning a sigh of annoyance from Dylan. "The reason I'm here is actually to talk about the motel. I have some paperwork I need to speak to your family regarding the zoning here," he says all in one breath.
"Interesting," Dylan responds sarcastically with a roll of his eyes. "Honestly, I could care less about the motel. "This," he motions to the area of the motel, "is Norma and Norman's concern, not mine and they're not here. And before you ask, I don't when they're coming back."
Dylan sneaks around Romero, accidently nudging him in the shoulder. He begins to rush down the long amount of stairs with the Sheriff hot on his heels. Romero could not feel worse about how this conversation is transpiring. He promised Norma he would make every effort to make this chat a positive one and he is failing miserably. It's quite obvious he's caught Dylan at the wrong time, but there has to be a way to salvage at least a little of this conversation.
Once Dylan reaches the gravel to the parking lot, he rapidly makes his way to the driver's side of his truck. Following immediately Romero tries to catch him, but the young man is already inside and ready to reverse. However, before the truck even makes a move the driver's side window is suddenly lowered enough for him to say one last thing to the Sheriff. "Sorry Sheriff, I don't mean to be an asshole right now. I'm just late for something," he shouts out the window in Romero's direction. "If I see Norma, I'll let her know you were here and why."
"Thanks," Romero responds with a tight lipped nod. After he hears the squeal of Dylan's tires on the road, he sighs and takes consolation that at least this mess didn't end in a total disaster. He isn't sure Norma would agree though.
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Norma was definitely disappointed about how her eldest son handled the conversation with Alex, but she was still hopeful so she hatched another plan. Of course Romero was on board with it, no matter how many problems he could foresee with her strategy. He knows how important it is for Norma that he gets along with her sons; therefore, he's willing to try anything and forget the possible disasters that could happen as a result.
A whole month after the initial attempt of a conversation with Dylan, Norma's new scheme is actually working. Who would've thought that a simple exchange of nonsense paperwork would be the step he needed to get closer to the young man.
It all started a few weeks ago, a day after the initial chat with Alex actually, when Norma noticed something was different with Dylan. In fact, that very same night she felt Dylan's urge to open up to her. She could tell by his pause at the stairwell leading up to his room there was something weighing heavily on his mind, but he must've changed his mind at the last second because he raced up the stairs without muttering a word.
Even though he never approached her that evening, she felt hope he would one day.
Even though Dylan has grown closer to her throughout this month, Norma can't help but notice he's somewhat sadder these days. Norma would love nothing more than to ease his apparent hidden pain but it's very clear Dylan isn't ready to explain. Her curious nature has heightened her detective skills; therefore, since her son is offering zero details in whatever is upsetting him, Norma decides to take her questions elsewhere... Emma.
Sure, pressing Emma for questions regarding her son is probably inappropriate but when has that ever stopped Norma.
Careful not to let on that she does in fact know Emma is in a relationship with Dylan, Norma treads with caution regarding her research. Unfortunately, Emma's behavior tells her all she needs to know without even a single question. It is clear something has happened between the young couple and Norma is determined more than ever to figure out what.
One clear sign of trouble is Emma can barely muster a smile in speaking with customers, which is totally out of character for her. Ever since meeting the young woman, she's always radiated a grin in greeting a new motel resident but now it looks as if it physically pains her to do so. Regardless of the secret she's keeping from Norma, she still thinks of Emma as the daughter she's never had. Seeing her sad, is almost as upsetting as seeing her own son upset.
With still no answers after days of trying to figure out the abrupt personality change with the young couple, Norma decides to take a different approach with all of this. She elects to enlist the Sheriff.
The plan was simple...
Basically, Norma persuades Dylan to exchange some fictitious motel paperwork with the Sheriff one day. Then the one day turns into a couple of more days, until Dylan finds himself at the Sheriff's Department a couple of times per week. At first, her eldest son was hesitant and unwilling to bother with the task but eventually she could tell he no longer minded.
Alex reported how the conversations between him and the young man were growing easier which gave Norma hope that soon her son would be able to share what is truly bothering him. In reality, the only way this plan could fall apart is if Dylan ever realized the paperwork he exchanges with the Sheriff is actually the very same paper that has been passed back and forth from the beginning. Apparently, her eldest son didn't inherit her curious behavior or maybe it's because he has been going through the motions for the last month without even a hint of thought to his days.
As much as she wants to take things at Alex and Dylan's gradual pace, Norma can sense her eldest son's behavior declining. She knows this can't continue; therefore, Norma decides to put a little more pressure on Romero to figure out what is truly ailing her son.
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"SHERIFF ROMERO!" Norma screams in the hallways of the Sheriff's Department until she's met with the nervous eyes of the receptionist.
"Ma'am. Calm down," the receptionist whose name appears to be, Katie, according to the nameplate on her desk. "He's not here right now."
"BULLSHIT! I know he's here or is he too much of a coward to face me!?" Norma continues, watching as Katie appears to flinch at the volume of her voice.
Katie decides to stand up from her desk with her words a bit sterner in an attempt to stand her ground against the lunatic lady standing in front of her. "Ma'am, as I said he's not here."
With all of the screeching coming from outside his office door, the Sheriff decides to make a quick entrance to deescalate whatever situation is happening right now in the lobby. "What is going-" He attempts to ask, but stops suddenly in seeing a red faced Norma shouting at the top of her lungs. "Nor- Ms. Bates, can I help you?" He asks politely, mentally kicking himself for almost calling her by her first name in front of a couple of other deputies and his assistant.
"Yeah you can help me, you scumbag!" She exclaims, still at an increased volume poking the man's chest when he moves closer to her. "How DARE you!"
The Sheriff is absolutely puzzled at what is happening at the moment. He's mentally trying to sift through all of his actions and conversations from the last 24hrs to figure out exactly what could be triggering this kind of behavior from his love, but he can think of nothing.
Finally after several minutes of pure shouting, the Sheriff has had enough and decides to lightly take ahold of Norma by the bicep to haul her in his office to discern the reason for her outrageous behavior since he's certain he hasn't done anything wrong.
Once the door is slammed shut behind him Norma flashes a sinister grin before not so subtly seductively glides closer to Alex, grasping his shirt tightly in her hands as she does. Romero's eyes widen as he's easily turned around until he's forced to step forward while she in turn takes a few steps back.
Suddenly, Norma's backside reaches the Sheriff's solid wood desk forcing her to stop her movement. Alex's confused expression remains unchanged as he's pulled forward.
Once they're standing still, Romero's mind appears to be frozen completely unable to wrap his head around what Norma is doing. However, the various sounds of papers, folders and writing utensils hitting the floor snaps him from his lost stare. Without a second to waste, Norma hops to sit on top of his desk and again pulls her man closer with her momentum.
Romero narrows his eyes, growing angrier in looking around to see the files he's been working on all day are now scattered on the ground. "What the hell Norma!?"
Quickly she places her index finger to his lips and whispers, "I needed to talk to you in person and I didn't want to give away that we are together in front of your entire department."
"We could've met at my place," he responds in a whispered shout. "I just finished those files."
Norma meets his angry brown eyes with her alluring blue ones, batting her long eyelashes to convince him to play along. "I think this is a little exciting, don't you?"
"Not when my work is destroyed Norma," he says with a groan. Of course his tough exterior is already starting to grow weak when he sees her suddenly capture her bottom lip between her teeth, obviously teasing him.
"I promise I'll help you fix this, but I really do need to ask you for a favor first. Now, come on play along. Yell something, anything. If you don't, they'll all know we're faking."
The Sheriff rolls his eyes and takes a deep breath, not really sure what to say. "RELAX MS. BATES! So we can have an adult conversation!"
"Really?" Norma mocks quietly as she leans forward, tugging him to her level with a strong grip of his uniform. "That's the best you could think of?"
Romero feels her warmed breath ghosting the side of his neck, causing tiny goosebumps to slowly radiate up his arms. On instinct his eyes close and the palms of his hands rest on her thighs, occasionally squeezing her flushed flesh between his fingers. The sensation of light and tender kisses now replace the petite puffs of air from her lips, eliciting a small gasp to leave his lungs in his spontaneous weakened state.
Remembering Norma's reason for stopping in has to do with a favor, the Sheriff clenches his jaw and forces himself to lean away from her. He then pries her claw-like grip from his shirt and takes her hands tightly in his with a smirk. "Not so fast Norma. I know what you're trying to do." His usual strong voice wavers. There is nothing he wants more than to continue their previous promiscuous activity, but he also knows how Norma's mind works when she wants something and he's not going to give in without a little more information. Besides, he can tell her body yearns for his closeness just as much as he misses hers.
No longer will she be the one in charge of this situation because he has some tricks up his sleeves also. He is completely capable of teasing her now as she has always teased him in the past, it's somewhat empowering and brings a hint of a smile to his lips at the thought.
"What do you mean?" She asks in a sweetened tone.
Alex lifts one of her hands to his lips and kisses her knuckles before lowering it again to intertwine their fingers. "You mentioned a favor?"
"Well, yes I guess you could call it a favor," she sighs in annoyance that he's not closer to her right now. "I need you to talk to Dylan."
"I have been talking to him, Norma." He answers quickly, almost offended at the accusation.
Norma untangles her fingers from his and reaches to touch his left cheek. "I know you have. He's so lost right now Alex. Something has happened between him and Emma, I know it. I need to figure out what it is."
"I'm sure he'll tell you when he's ready and if it's never, then you have to accept that," Romero says with concern.
"I understand, but he's closer to you I can tell. Just try to have a deeper conversation with him. I promise, if he doesn't open up to you then I won't push it any further. Just try, okay?" She pleads, cupping his chin with the palm of her hand. "I only want to help him."
"Alright. I don't see the harm in trying I guess." He grins, slightly proud of the support she's willing to give her eldest son regardless of the state of their relationship.
"Thank you, Alex!" She responds eagerly while pulling him toward her once again. "Now, let's continue where we left off, shall we?"
"Only if you promise to help me clean up this mess," he warns with an irresistible smirk.
"I'll be happy to help," she giggles while placing her lips on his before shouting out an insult to pacify the others no doubt listening intently to their supposed heated conversation through the lobby walls.
For the next 30 or so minutes, the couple exchange foul language at each other while enjoying each other's company simultaneously, making their time together in the small office even more intense and exciting. While hurriedly cleaning up the files from the floor, they both agree to play this little game again in the future with smiles never leaving their faces.
After emerging from the room, they are relieved to see the deputies previously occupying the lobby have all vanished. Unfortunately, Katie the receptionist remains seated at her desk with a tight lipped smile, pretending she didn't hear all of the commotion occurring for over 30 minutes. Instead of returning the smile, Norma throws one more insult at the Sheriff and shoots a nasty glare at the assistant before turning around to walk down the hallway with a brief wobble on her heels.
Luckily, the receptionist is too distracted to notice Norma's wrinkled dress and the Sheriff's messily ruffled hair or the fact his police belt is no longer hanging around his waist.