The most important part of my stories is making them as true to the characters as possible in order to make it more believable. In reality, I think the show is going to heat up. It's been disclosed that Bates Motel is going to most likely end after a 5th season! That means that character development will be key. This means Norman's decline in mental health, more Dylemma, and of course, more Normero. I hope my interpretation of the future story arc does the series justice!
Alex stood up reactively, knowing that her touch was too much to bear. He looked down at her frowning eyes, and took a slight step back from her.
"Y-your son probably will want to see you when he wakes up, Norma. You should head over to the ER." Even he could hear the lust in his voice, but right now, he needed to be a cop. With that, he quickly turned on his heels, and left her alone in his office, not turning back.
Humiliated and embarrassed at her actions, Norma sprang up from the chair, and did just as he had said. At the hospital, she rushed to the desk and was taken to Norman. Standing at the doorway, she watched him. He was battered and was still in a deep asleep. The sound of the heart rate monitor pulsed in her ears, and she became woozy just seeing him lying there. A doctor came in and lightly explained that Norman would be fine, and that he just needed to rest. His wounds would need some looking after, and he had to stay overnight for a while to keep him under observation.
Norma didn't fight the doctor's words. How could she? There was nothing she could do for him at this point. She needed to find him treatment, and she couldn't explain to the doctor that it wasn't physical in nature. It hurt her more than she could stand to see him this way, so she nodded, thanked the doctor, kissed Norman's forehead, leaving the hospital.
She sat in her car, emotionless, not being able to start the engine because that would mean leaving Norman. Pulling out her phone, she hesitated. She couldn't decide on whether to call Dylan, or maybe Emma, but then she chose the usual fallback. Alex.
He picked up on the first ring.
"Alex Romero." He sounded very brash and otherwise preoccupied.
"Jeez, don't you have caller ID?!" She asked, exasperated.
"Uh, hi Norma. No. I don't. Um, is there something you need?" He sounded cold, not soft spoken like he had acted with her recently.
"Norman's going to be okay. I thought we could maybe meet later…" She immediately wished she could retract that statement.
"That's really good to hear, Norma. But I'm sorry. I-I've got somewhere I need to be later on." Alex sounded distant and unenthused, and she knew he was lying. She knew exactly what has triggered him to keep his distance, and the pit of her stomach ached. She'd slipped up, been too bold, even for her. The trouble was, she regretted it but at the same time, she couldn't easily apologize either. Wanting him and wanting to do it right were two very different things, and they both knew it.
"Oh. I guess I'll talk to you later then?" Her voice caught in her throat and faded out in disappointment.
"Yeah. Later. Bye, Norma." The line went dead, and he was gone. Norma pressed her phone against her chest, and then angrily whipped it at the passenger seat. Once again, Alex was acting like a third grade girl.
A couple days later, Alex was still giving her the col shoulder. Completely by chance, Norma spotted him at the grocery store parking lot on her way back to the car. He was loading his van with grocery bags several feet away from her. Not being able to tell if she was enraged or filled with longing, Norma plotted. She couldn't approach him. That would be an act of desperation on her part, and she couldn't want him to think she was clambering for him. Staking out the parking lot, she eyed a fairly attractive man in his later thirties, and strolled up to him. Making sure she wasn't looking at Alex Romero, she walked up to the man, fully aware that he was only steps away from Alex.
Plastering a phony grin, she struck up casual conversation.
"Excuse me! Do you know where the nearest car dealer is? I want to trade in my car." Norma exaggerated her motions to get Alex's attention, watching from the corner of her eye ever so often to see if he had noticed.
The man smiled back warmly, and responded, "Yes, I actually do. It's just up the road on highway 4. Can't miss it. Make a right at Pinedale." Norma's eyes glassed over, not really paying attention, checking with her peripheral vision if Alex had turned around.
"Thanks." She giggled like he had said something hilarious, trying to project it so that she was audible from the other end of the lot. The man gave her a confused look, and walked past her. Irritated that her plan was a miserable failure, she turned to see if Alex was still by his car. His back was facing her as he closed the trunk of the van. Pausing, he spoke so loudly that she jumped.
"If that's your idea of getting me jealous, you're clued out." He slowly turned around to face her, face expressionless and clearly unimpressed.
"It was worth a shot," she huffed, heavy groceries in both hands. She should have just went to her car and left him alone. He studied her intensely, and strode up to her, arms crossed.
Alex was now standing square in front of her, eyes raking over her. Norma almost felt like she should be uncomfortable with him doing so, and it was very unlike him. He licked his lips and spoke again. "I mean, it did irritate me. The fact that you had the audacity to do that in front of me was a bit uncalled for." He cocked his head and a small smile lingered on his lips. They were now standing inches away from one another, and she could practically smell is cologne. Her legs grew weak as he then smiled with his teeth, something she only saw on rare occasions.
"Don't act so surprised. I've got to go put these in the car." She started to turn away when he leaned forward and took each bag from her hands. His hands brushed hers, as he grabbed a bag in each hand. Without uttering another word, he helped her carry her groceries to her car. When they were all packed up in her car, she slammed the backseat door shut, and felt his presence behind her. His body was achingly close behind her, and he was lightly breathing on her neck. She didn't turn around. She was stuck in between the car and him. His breath tickled her ear as he whispered; "I think I have some free time later today."
Norma couldn't think, couldn't speak. His words made her dizzy, and his closeness wasn't helping in the slightest. She knew his closeness wasn't at all new to her, but with him, everything seemed like a grand gesture. He left her some breathing room, and leaned on her car awaiting an answer. He gulped uncomfortably as she gazed at him, speechless.
"W-well it's good for you to get out once in a while and catch up with old friends. I'm glad you're being more social, Alex," she beamed, batting her eyelashes naively just to get under his skin. He stood up straight and took a step forward.
"You know that's not what I meant."
"I know. I just want to hear you say it," she said, much softer than before, looking up into his eyes, then at his lips chastely. Alex shoved his hands in his pockets and turned his head to the side, collecting his thoughts. She watched his Adam's apple move, his jaw clench, his eyes close for a brief second. He then turned back to her and looked intently at her, awkwardly leaning to one side.
Alex hadn't dated anyone in several years. He constantly found himself battling with his job. Trusting and investing in someone was last on his list of priorities, but right now, he felt like a schoolboy again. Alex felt extremely vulnerable, as he somehow often did around her.
"The coastal shore is really nice this time of year. I've been meaning to down there and check it out." Realizing that was the flimsiest pickup line he had formulated, he rubbed his temple with his hand and closed his eyes, hoping he would evaporate from this irregular situation.
Norma bit her lip, holding back a stifled laugh, not wanting to hurt his feelings. Her stomach fluttered when he looked up expectantly, his eyes glistening with rapture.
It made him jittery how she looked at him like she was seeing him for the very first time. Alex felt as though his heart was bruising his ribcage, and wondered how his chest hadn't already caved in.
"There's a strong possibility I could fit in some time this evening." She broke into an uncontrollable, giddy smile. Alex let out something between a chuckle and a sigh of relief. The tension fizzled, and he took his hands out a hand out his pocket to rub the back of his neck. Norma noticed that his neck was turning red, and his blush was rising onto his cheeks ever so lightly.
Alex was at a loss for words, and with a sharp intake of breath, he mumbled his goodbye, and walked off in the other direction towards his car. Norma incredulously watched him walk away. She found it hard to believe she could render him into a total state of insecurity. Nothing or no one quite like that had ever happened before. It terrified and thrilled her. How could someone make her feel so many things all at once?