Norman woke up to the sound of popping and the smell of bacon. His eyes opened immediately and he sprang out of bed and into the kitchen to see Jessica cooking 3 things at once. "Wow your good in the kitchen." he yawned as he sat down at the island. She looked over her shoulder giving him a death stare. He realized what he said. "I didn't mean it that way." he forced a smile trying to show her he was sorry. She just shook her head grinning. They ate and she left in a hurry to get to her 2nd course. "Can you come walk me here again or pick me up?" she asked halfway out the door. "Sure ... Wh-" he was cut off. "Thanks! Bye Norman!" she shut the door and left. "Bye..." he said quietly to himself finishing his mouthful of pancakes.
Once he was done he washed up and headed to work. "Hey Jayden how's that case goin it's been a week or two and you still got nothin, the next chicks gonna die on you." Derek ruddily stated trying to get under his skin. "As a matter of fact she's safe at my apartment. Derek." Norman looked up at him, Derek smirked and Norman saw the flaw in what he said. "Soo... Shes at your place..? Did you... You know... Seal the deal-" he winked before he was cut off by Norman. "No Derek! I'm not sick like you!" Norman in all seriousness stared at him. "She's too young you pervert..." Norman looked back down. "So you're like what? 30 sumthin? And besides the younger the 'tighter'..." Norman could sense he winked and those last words sent him over the edge. "You sick fuck!" Norman stood up and hook punched Derek right in the left side of his face. Derek took the hit but them came back with a left hook punch which Norman dodged but got hit in the stomach by Derek's other surprising fist. Once Norman got the wind knocked out of him Derek was at the advantage and gave the helpless man a blow to the right side of his face. Derek had him on the ground but he didn't stop there. Office workers gathered, then finally security broke it up.
The secretary that was forced to drive him home was happy to see the bruised mess step out of her car. Poor Norman made it to his apartment took two steps inside after shutting the door and just collapsed on the couch still littered in Jess' sheets. Norman inhaled deeply still trying to breathe normally. He could smell Jessica's scent on her sheets. Norman didn't care at all in fact he liked in and just like that he dozed off.
Norman heard a jangle at the door and woke up to see the clock, it was 5:34 pm. *Shit! Jessica...* he flopped his head to the side to see the door swing open with a pissed off girl behind it. But once that girls eyes made contact with Normans, her whole completion changed. She switched from pissed to sympathetically pissed. Jessica sighed. "What the fuck happened to you..." not surprised or anything she just walked over to him, knelt down and inspected the bruise on his face and his cut lip. "Just a fight..." Norman winced as she touched his bruise. "'Just a fight'... That's funny..." she sighed. "Norman no offense... But you suck at fighting... Like you really suck..." she smiled and looked him in the eyes. Norman looked back at her. "I know but I was just stickin up for someone..." she moved her gaze to the bruise on his neck half hidden by his shirt. "Oh really... And who were you defending?" she loosened his tie. "Uhh...some guy... At work..." he lied, then looked down confused at what she was doing. "What are you doing?" he changed the topic. "If you have any serious bruises on your stomach or something you could be bleeding internally." She continued as she unbuttoned his shirt. "Um... Hey I think I can do that by myself..." he tried pulling the unbuttoned buttons together. "Oh so do you also have a middle ranking medical degree? Don't worry I just need to see what colour they are." she stared him in the eyes. Norman's hands released and she continued unbuttoning his shirt in silence. There was two thumb sized purple bruises merged together on his left pec and two purple baseball sized bruises on the left half of his stomach. She examined them and touched the skin around the baseball bruises getting closer to the bruise. Norman winced in pain and by that Jess knew how far the hits went into him, none of them were lethal. Norman this whole time watching Jess mesmerized in her work and knowledge. He was also praying she wouldn't look down any farther, considering being exposed to Jessica made him 'excited'.
Jess looked at him as he was looking at her hands on his chest and stomach. "Good news... You'll live." Norman stop looking at her hands and looked at her. She smiled. "Well that's always good to hear." he did up his shirt and sat up slowly feeling the pain in his stomach. Jessica helped him up and to his room. She left him shutting his room door but it failed to shut completely. Jess took off her clothes and threw them on the ground. *I need more clothes... I've worn those for two three days straight* she indulged the feeling of being naked and looked at the spot Norman had been laying on. *What an idiot...* she sighed *well he was just sticking up for someone... And shit Jess the man is letting you stay here... Be more respectful.* she mentally lectured herself.
Norman started putting on his pajamas when he caught a glimpse a one colored figure in the living room. He peeked through the crack and saw the pale peach coloured body standing there. It was only her back but that was enough for Norman to feel the pleasure of seeing the back of Jessica's legs, back and beautiful bum naked... Followed by the guilt. *Wow...she's so...* she turned around and Norman quickly flew back away from the door before he could catch a glimpse of her front or finish his thoughts. He sat on his bed. *Norman get a hold of yourself... You're not a pig like Derek...* he looked at his strained pajama pants. *Ok maybe a slight pervert but not a pig like Derek*
Jessica reached down for the old shirt she was using as a night gown and slipped into it. She went into her bed and herd Norman do the same. "Goodnight Norm!" she smiled to the now dark room.
His thoughts were interrupted by her goodnight. "Goodnight Jess." he closed his eyes. *wait did she just call me 'Norm'" he replayed what she said in his mind. He smiled liking the way she said his new nickname.
Norman woke up and threw his covers off; exposed to the cold his skin grew goose bumps. *stupid rain is making everything cold. He got out of his bed still in pain from the bruises. He entered the main room to a new surprise. Jess was not in the kitchen cooking and there wasn't a note on the door from her. Instead she was sleeping curled up of the couch, blankets slumped on the floor. *i wonder how long she's gone without the blankets on her, she must be cold* Norman picked up the blankets and pulled them over Jessica's small body. He looked at her relaxed face. She was still peach pale with freckles. Norman spotted a hair hanging in front of her face. He resisted the urge to move it out of the way... But failed. Norman took the piece and moved it. As soon as this was done Jessica woke up in a snap.
"Hey...?" she blinked. "You're up early..." she sat up and tried reading the clock. "Um not really its 10 am..." Norman Said awkwardly moving away from her as if he wasn't watching her sleep. "It's 10!?" she got up and took her uniform off the ground and into the bathroom. "Fuck!" her voice echoed from the bathroom. She bursted out a little messy. "Im gonna ...late..." Jess mumbled to herself then headed out the door. "Bye Norm!" she slammed the door and ran. *well I guess she was late*
It was 2:50 and Norman decided to make up for the last time he forgot to walk home with her. So by 2:52 he was waiting on the steps for Jess.
Jessica was on her way to the front doors when Bret put his hand on her shoulder.
The doors opened and Norman's expression of happiness turned to anger as he saw Bret trying to get with Jess. *I have to assert my dominance over him... But I could never beat up a kid that size...* Jessica broke free and paced quickly down the long steps, Bret still following her. *or I could completely show him she's mine which will hint him to back off... yeah then that'd force him to leave because she'd be on my side making him feel that disconnection from her... hopefully* Jessica spotted Norman in front of her and ran down the stairs to him. Once Norman had all his facts together he made the move. When Jess came to hug him, he hugged her back but lifted her up in a way so his face could reach hers. He leaned his head down into Jessica's and his thin lips met hers. Jessica was shocked, eyes open body still. Norman open his eyes just a slit and saw Bret watching. *Good my job is done, he saw* but Norman didn't stop he kept his lips glued to hers. Jessica relaxed into it and her eyes started to close as her body got even closer to Normans.
Norman opened his eyes and gently pulled his head away from hers. *Shit... I kissed her to long...* he stared into her eyes. Still glimmering dark blue. Jessica looked into his, green, her favorite colour. He lets his tight grip on her waist go and as did she. Norman snapped out of the accidental moment he had and glared at Bret. Bret stunned and angered stood his ground. Norman scowled at him and wrapped his arms around Jess' shoulders using his hands to cradle her head into his chest. Bret's facial emotions changed and he walked away.
Their walk was quiet and finally in the apartment she asked him. "So... What the hell was that?" she said walking in. "It was just to... You know... Get Bret off your back... Big boys like Bret don't believe a hug means you're in a relationship... Sorry" he made no eye contact with her as he moved to the kitchen for a sip of vodka concoction. "Heh... Smart... And don't be sorry... your good." she smirked devilishly. "Well I am I psychologist..." he poured some liquids together. "That's not what I meant." Norman looked at her and she looked entirely different. Not her face but just what was behind it. What was a tough, smart, funny, artsy girl became a tough, smart, funny, artsy, seductive, devilish girl. The only thing visible that changed was her smirk. She giggled. "Ha...Ok time to for bed." she changed in the bathroom when Norman finished his drink. She came out in the big shirt and cuddled up into the couch. Norman walled past Jessica on the couch. "Oh can we go get some things from my house tomorrow?" she looked up at him. "Sure, it's a Saturday...why not." he went into his room and laid down on his bed and climbed under the covers. Norman couldn't stop thinking about that kiss. *I don't care anymore if that kiss was too long, it was amazing... her lips were so soft and I can wrap my arms around her so easily, and her body curves are just so nice. Ugh! AND the way her body fit into mine.* he thought about every possible thing about her and what happened. Then his thoughts began to calm down. *21 to 36... That's only 15 years apart... That's not much of a big number...right? ...It's not like its 20 years apart...*
Jessica was cocooned in her blankets, also thinking about what happened. *so he only kissed me to ward off Bret... But he didn't have to kiss me that long did he?... I wonder if he likes me... I mean he either thought Bret could see the 360 view of how close Norman pulled me towards him or he likes me... And if he did like me what would I do...* she thought about it then flashed to the memories of Norman. *well he is a good dancer... smart... Mature... A man not a boy...* Jessica listed 100s of other small or big things about Norman. * He has a nice body... that pale bear chest with his war wounds... The way he held me close...* Jessica began to feel her heart flutter and her face blush. She now liked him and she couldn't take it back. *the way he kissed me...*
That morning they woke up, ate and headed out. They took a taxi to her apartment building and went up to room 94. Jessica sighed once the door opened and she saw her apartment torn apart. She went to her room, got a suitcase from under her bed and started filling it with clothes. She didn't care to notice that her room was clean. "Hey Norm! Can you find my easel?" Jess shouted to Norman who was in the main room. "Ok!" he looked through the thin layer of debris on the floor and came across the wooden structure and pulled it up. The easel was about the same height as Norman, 5'10. Jess came out with the packed suitcase in her hand. "Ok let's go I got About a week's worth of clothes." she headed out the door. "Wait? So you need nothing else?" he stood with the easel. She looked back at him. "...Nope." she smiled and continued down the stairs. Norman followed. *She's a light packer...*
Before they went to Normans apartment Jessica requested they take a quick stop and that she needed to buy something. "C'mon in!" she pulled on his arm. "No no don't let me drag you down I'm not much of an art person." he smiled. "Okay well your missing out!" she smiled with joy and went into the art store. Norman waited outside watching taxis go by when out of the corner of his eye he saw a red vehicle. He turned quickly to that direction and all there were orange taxis. *I swear I saw a red car...* Norman started to get worried. The store door opened behind him and Jess came out. He turned around and Jess was carrying one shopping bag full of supplies and a massive 6 by 7 canvas. "Ok I got some stuff!" she said with glee. Norman forced a smile still worried about the red car. He hailed a taxi and the two got in awkwardly with the canvas.
They arrived at the apartment and Jessica set up her art things in the large space behind the couch. Norman locked the door twice to finally feel secure. "So... What are you gonna paint on that massive thing?" he crossed his arms siting on the back of the couch. "I don't know? Whatever comes to mind?" she smiled in awe of what might become of the canvas. Norman admired her ambition it reminded him of when he started learning phycology. "So is that what you wanna do for a livin?" he cocks his head at her. "Well... As a part time thing... What I'm recalling into is analyzing." she smiled to herself, her back facing Norman. "Symbols and people's behavior..." she looked up at her canvas. "Oh that's cool I didn't know you were into the behavioral analyst career... I coulda gave you some tips." he chuckled and smiled as Jess turned around caught his eye. "Well then, start teaching 'Professor Jayden'." she shifted her weight on one leg and put her hands on her tilted hips.
They spent the night talking on and on about analyzing and phycology and mental cycles. By the time it was one they decided to sleep.
