Well, i figured I'd make this one a fairly long chapter for my fantastic readers. There is a lot of action to come after this chapter, just bare with me. I had to get the introductions out of the way before doing anything else. PM me with any questions or criticisms. Hope you like it, leave me a review if you do - MJ123 :)
It was just before sunset when Norma drove into Phoenix. Moving through all the neighborhoods and shopping centers, a wave of horrific nostalgia washed through her. Once she passed by the R & D Market, where she would always pick up her groceries, she had small memories of the bruises and bumps covering her face after a recent encounter with Sam. Or when she zoomed past the hospital and a flashback of her busted lip came into her mind. Wanting to get out of the nightmare, she shook Alex who had been sleeping since they passed through Mesa.
"Hey honey, wake up" she whispered gently. Norma watched as he began to stir with a confused look on his face. He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes, and refocusing on her. "Where are we?" he yawned, relaxing against the leather seat.
Norma looked over at him with a warm smile, rolling the window down to get some air in the car, the heat was getting to her already. "We just got into Phoenix" she answered, pulling into a familiar convenience store. "I'm stopping to grab some water and new sundries. Do you wanna call someone to tell them you're here?".
Alex nodded. "Yeah, I'm going to call my aunt. She was Chris's mother and wanted to know when I arrived. I'll just give her a ring while you grab the stuff" he said, taking out his cellphone and quickly dialing.
She nodded and headed out of the car. When she went in she was happy to not notice anybody. Norma lived in Phoenix for 17 years and totally feared seeing people she knew. They would all ask her questions about why she left and where she went. She wasn't prepared for strangers prying into her private life.
She strolled the aisles picking up a few large bottles of water, a bottle of Aleve, a box of condoms, toothpaste, and a small bag of razors. The zit faced, disinterested teen rung her up and she quickly descended the store before anyone she knew could come in. Norma had officially come to the conclusion that she would stay incognito through the whole trip.
Walking back out to the car, she reached into the passenger window and handed Alex the plastic bag. She moved back over to the drivers side and climbed in, restarting the ignition. "Did she pick up?" she asked, pulling out of the parking lot.
Alex nodded, stuffing the phone back into his pocket. "Yeah. She uh- actually said that she wanted us to stay with her for the next couple of days. She's offering us the guest room" he sighed, focusing on the road.
Norma thought for a moment. Meeting Alex's family members? Part of her was almost excited but the majority was nervous and jittery, not sure of how they would perceive her. What if they didn't like her and thought she wasn't good enough? She took a deep breath and glanced at Alex with a small grin. "Okay. That sound nice, I'd love to meet some of your family" she encouraged keeping a tight grip on the wheel.
He stayed quiet and watched her. "Okay. I'm sure my aunt and uncle will love you, they're pretty friendly people, acceptant".
She sat in anticipation. "Well, why don't you tell me a little about them before I actually meet them...you know just so I can pull the old line "I've heard so much about you" she mocked with a laugh.
"Alright. Fair warning, I haven't seen them in a few years so some of the information may have changed by now. My aunt and uncle actually met in preschool and always hated one another growing up, and then once they hit high school they fell in love and married after they graduated. They had Chris and settled down in an ideal neighborhood nearby. My aunt got a job as a kindergarten teacher and my uncle was a firefighter but he retired about five years ago. That's about it" he chuckled, watching her expressions.
"They sound like good people. I'm a little excited" she laughed, taking his hand and resting it on the armrest. "So, where do they live? Did she give you directions over the phone?".
Alex took out a piece of paper from his pocket. "When I was on the phone with my aunt she gave me the name of the street she lives on," he began, unfolding it "They live on 13 Wilsure Ave".
Norma nodded, thinking as she drove. "I think I know where that is…" she said, trying to remember where everything was. In that moment she really wished she had a map or a proper GPS system. She drove around aimlessly for a good half an hour before finally finding the street and the house. It was relatively nice, well furnished. She pulled into the parking lot and turned to Alex with a half smile. "Ready to go in?".
He nodded, getting out of the car, and stretching his legs. Alex paced over to the trunk and took out their luggage, thankful that they only brought one bag for the trip. Norma walked over to with a smile. "Are you nervous?" she laughed.
He set the luggage back on the concrete and wrapped her into his arms, pressing her softly against the car. He ran a hand through her blond hair and brought it around her neck for support. He leaned in to drop a huge kiss on her lips. "Not at all. Not with you. Just be yourself and charm them with that beautiful smile" he chuckled, kissing her cheek once more before letting her feet touch the ground again.
She placed a hurried kiss on his lips before grabbing her purse from the car. As they walked up the steps to the home, Norma could feel her heart rate going up, she was incredibly nervous even though Alex was calm. He knocked hesitantly, keeping a tight grip on the luggage. The door opened suddenly, a petite woman with brown wavy hair answering.
"Alex!," she cheered, leaning out to grasp him into a tight hug. "How have you been?" she asked with a giant smile and a pair of kind eyes.
He slipped his hand in Norma's and gripped, "I've actually been great. And I uh- wanted to introduce you to someone very special to me. This is Norma Bates, my girlfriend" he smiled, kissing her cheek, not caring that she saw their affection. Norma extended a hand and shook with the warmest grin she could give. "It's so nice to meet you. Alex has told me so many nice things" she complimented. She felt happy at that moment, it was different than the time she met George's parents, there was no more of that fake and phoney feeling.
"Well, I'm Laura. It's very good to meet you too" she smiled. "Why don't you both come inside. Norma, I'll introduce you to my husband Patrick".
Alex walked through, leaving the luggage by the front door and tightening his arm around her waist. Soon enough, a taller man with greying hair came out of what seemed to be an office nestled near the stairs and the living room. He immediately paced over to the couple and gave them a kind smile. "Alex, it's wonderful to finally see you" he exclaimed, giving him a small hug. He pulled back and looked to Norma. "And who, may I ask, is this lovely woman?".
Norma felt her cheeks getting redder. Laura piped up, patting her husband on the shoulder, and moving next to him. "Patrick, this is Norma Bates, Alex's girlfriend" she smiled, shooting a cheerful glance Alex's way. Patrick politely shook her hand and grinned. "So nice to meet you, Norma".
"It's good to meet you as well. You have a beautiful home" she complimented, still holding onto Alex's hand. Laura and Patrick both looked at each other with a smile and walked the pair to the vacant guest room.
"I set it up for you two. There are fresh linens and towels in the bathroom closet. We'll let you both get settled in and put your stuff away. I put some hangers in the closet in case you had anything that needed to be hung and there is some available drawer space" she smiled, looking at the both of them.
"Thank you so much for letting us stay" Norma said with a shiney smirk, taking another look around the room. It was clean and quaint, just the way she preferred. For once in her life, she felt like she was apart of a normal family dynamic, with two happy caretakers and someone to love her unconditionally.
Once Laura left the room and shut the door, Alex put the suitcase on the mattress and opened it up, taking out their clothing. Norma took the articles from his hands and placed them in the open drawers. She put both of their funeral outfits in the closet, so they would stay neat for the upcoming day. Alex snaked a hand around her waist as she closed the closet. "I think they really like you" he murmured in her ear, kissing the side of her cheek.
She took a breath of relief and turned to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "That's good to know...I was so nervous about meeting them. They are just so kind" Norma smiled, rubbing his cheeks with her fingertips.
"Yeah, they are. I told you they were good people, hard working and caring" he laughed, picking her up and walking her to the bed, placing her down. Alex lay on top of her and kiss her face. He was so happy that his Aunt and Uncle were acceptant of her because she really was everything to him...Norma was his whole world and he longed to share that with people.
They paused when they heard a knock at the door, "Dinners ready" Laura said through the wood, wanting to give them privacy and space. Norma and Alex got up, straightening their clothing and heading out to the kitchen.
Norma took note of how nicely the table was set up, everything looking nice and polished. Alex pulled a chair out for her and let her sit. He took the seat next to her and took her hand under the table. "This looks delicious" Norma said to Laura with a small grin.
"Thank you, dear. It's my specialty" she answered, filling everyone's plates high with rice, salad, and steak. "I hope you all like it".
They all dug in with wide smiled of enjoyment. Laura was a fantastic cook. Both she and Patrick asked Norma a variety of questions, none of them made her feel uncomfortable or out of place, she knew they just wanted to get to know her better. They were simple questions like what she did for a living, if she had any kids, and how she met Alex. She was abundantly happy that they didn't ask about her early life or anything before meeting Alex.
After the group finished their meals, Norma rose to help Laura with the dishes, she was grateful for the assistance. As they stood at the sink washing and drying, Laura kept with the easy questions. "So, how do you feel about Alex?".
"Alex is amazing, he is the greatest guy I've ever met. I just...I love him so much" she laughed, drying a glass with the wash rag and staring ahead with a pair of glittering eyes. She was pleased that she could finally open up about the relationship.
"That's wonderful. I see they way you two look at one another, you both have sparkles in your eyes" she claimed, with a smile.
"I can't help it" she laughed, placing the final dish down on the drying rack. "Whenever I look at him it's like I turn into a schoolgirl or something. I mean, you probably feel that way when you look at Patrick right?" she asked, turning towards her.
Laura shut the sink off with a smile. "Of course. Let me tell you that in 25 years of marriage, I have never lost that sparkle for him. He's not perfect but he's mine and I love him deeply. I've know it from the moment we moved into this house that we were going to be together for a long time. And I can't say that it's always perfect, because it's not. Love is pain...it takes a lot of hard work to make a relationship successful".
"Boy do I know it" she sighed, her thoughts trying to stay away from bad memories and stay focused on Alex. "I just want to let you know that I will never hurt your nephew, I'm going to try and make him as happy as I can".
Laura just smiled, patting her shoulder and walking out of the kitchen. Norma stood with happy thoughts of her and Alex being together for a long time. With that, she walked into the guest room to find him sleeping on the bed. Norma quickly changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed, trying her damndest not to wake him. As she watched the peace flood his handsome face, she felt good. She loved seeing him so at rest.
Norma knew she'd strive her best to make him happy.
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