They had scheduled it for that evening, a time when he would on normal weeknights be keeping tabs on local illegal activity, deciding whether or not to intervene. Alex Romero didn't know what made him more anxious and insecure: the fact that he was spending time with Norma out of the normal circumstances and setting, or that he was leaving himself open for rejection and hurting. This was exactly why he regularly would shut most people out, however this time, there was no more turning away. She was under his skin.
Alex was always very inward, not entirely open to show how he felt, but as soon as Norma was within range, Alex felt as though she was entirely in control of him, some thrall that was near impossible to shake. Of course they were both extremely stubborn individuals, but she kept winning argument, kept pushing him too far. This is what frightened him the most. So that evening, he wasn't afraid of whether she would finally show that she liked him. He already knew this. What he yearned was for her to tell him everything, to open up as much as he felt he was doing for her. It took a long time to reach this point, and he wanted her to open her eyes to him. To not treat him like a simple-minded fool who just wanted to be physical. In his mind, it was more erotic for him to feel comfortable and happy, than to just be a physical match.
Strapping on a pair of sandals, Norma sat at the steps deep in reflection. There were a million ideas circling her mind. Was Norman all right? Maybe he is safer in the hands of the hospital. What if Alex would immediately regret the get together because all mystery was lost? If I stood him up how angry would he be? Norma shook it off, inhaled deeply, and made her way out of the house.
Alex stood at his bathroom mirror, leaning in to examine himself. It seemed so pointless to attempt and enhance his appearance. The closer he looked, the more he could see his own tired, morose features. As much as he didn't want Norma to notice the bags under his eyes, or his constant slight frown, it was all part of his greater self, something he couldn't alter.
He rolled up the sleeves of his white dress shirt before splashing his face with cold water. He rubbed his face with shaky hands. Looking back at the mirror, he tried to break into a smile. Small talk was not a skillset he possessed, nor was it Norma's. He was attracted to her strength and boldness, not someone timid and unsure. Yet this is how he found himself, wracking his brain to practice his first date small talk, cringing at his own attempts.
Eventually giving up, Alex grabbed his leather jacket and ventured over to the Bates' house. The sun began to set just as he pulled in front of the house. The SUV was not the most romantic vehicle in the world, but he ignored this minor detail while sluggishly made his way up the steps. He paused in front of the door before ringing the doorbell. Alex took a step back, and wiped his palms on the sides of his jeans.
The door swung open, Norma standing confidently at the doorway. She wore a red and pink floral dress, loose yet covering half her thighs. Alex shivered ever so slightly as the dress has spaghetti straps. He found himself mesmerized by her bare shoulders and collarbone. Shifting his eyes back to her face, he noticed her mouth crack into mischievous smile. He had most likely been admiring for longer than he had realized.
"Hi," was all that he managed to spew out, and she reciprocated the greeting with an equal tone of dreaminess. Neither knew what to say, and Alex just watched her in awe. Just as he had laid eyes on her, he saw the same reflected back at him. Alex cleared his throat and closed in the space between them so that there were only a couple inches between their faces.
"Did you eat already? We could pick something up and take it down to the beach," Alex suggested. Norma nodded and unexpectedly took his arm. His chest tightened and he turned to face her awaiting a response.
"I'm not very hungry. Worried about how Norman's doing. They haven't called yet. I hope everything is ok up there." She forced a brave face for him and tightened her grip tenderly on his arm.
"I understand. No worries. I think I'll stop to grab a bottle of wine on the way over want," he offered as they walked to the SUV. Once they were in, Norma sighed, "That sounds great. Thanks for all of this Alex. I-I wasn't sure if you were going to keep your distance for a while." Norma suddenly had a great fascination with her hands folded neatly in her lap. Alex started the engine, one hand on the wheel, the other placed at the back of Norma's seat.
His face went very dark and serious. Alex licked his lips and then spoke in a low register. So much so that she could hardly make out his words.
"There is no staying away from you. I can't be away from you for very long," he muttered. Alex looked down and then up at her again. And then he proceeded to lighten the mood.
"Not as long as you're getting up to trouble," he jeered. In his joke, she saw his eyes smile, something she had never seen him do before. Almost as if she had caught a glimpse of a light that had been blocked out for far too long.
Alex began to drive them in the direction of the liquor store, and there was no shortage of banter between them on the way. They picked up a bottle of white wine, and drove out to the shore. Norma couldn't remember the last time she had taken time for herself. Time that she deserved, and even better, time with someone who wasn't going to treat her like dirt. Needless to say it was a new feel for them both.
By the time they reached the beach, the sunset was half over. The shore was desolate, no one in sight for as long as the eye could see. Alex smacked his forehead, annoyed with himself that he had forgotten.
"Damn it. I forgot to bring a blanket to sit on. I'm really not prepared, am I?" he grumbled. Strolling along the shoreline, Norma ignored his comment to make him feel better about the situation, pointing to a random spot in the sand with the wine bottle clasped in her hand.
"That looks like a nice spot over there." Norma gallivanted towards the spot and turned to see if Alex was following behind her. He caught up to her, and instinctively took of his jacket and lay it down for Norma to sit on. Norma smirked and gladly took the seat. Alex followed and sat down beside her in the sand, both of them facing the ocean. The silence wasn't deafeningly awkward anymore. It was peaceful and comforting to hear the waves crawl up and down the beach. For a few minutes they sat in complete silence, watching the scenery in front of them. Norma broke the silence, and as usual, wasn't up for small talk. Just by the hitch in her breath, he knew she was going to speak. Alex looked at her, taking in her features up close until she looked back at him to speak. As she did, she shied away like a child, and pretended to be staring out at the water.
"I wanted to be distant for the longest time only because I knew what attraction meant. Getting close to someone means they know much more about you than you let on to everyone else. It means allowing yourself to feel, and that scares me. You're the only sense of normalcy in my life," she confessed. He looked back at her. She looked so tired, and in that he saw himself.
Alex leaned himself back and formulated how to respond. It grew darker just in the time they had began talking, but he could still make out Norma's figure perfectly.
"You barged in and intruded on everything I've ever thought I was sure of. I never know what to expect with you. How you'll react to things." His voice trailed off and he clutched a handful of sand to fidget with. Norma was so unpredictable, so closed off. He realized that there was so much he didn't know about her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Norma spoke a little louder, face riddled with offense. Alex was vexed. Did he say something offensive?
"I didn't say it was a bad thing. In some way it's what draws me in. Everything is an exception with you," he replied sharply, unable to look at her. She doesn't know what happened, he thought. He had to let her know about Bob Paris.
"Norma, I need to tell you about something that happened the night I apologized to you up at the motel," Alex admitted. Norma's face immediately softened and she leaned in to hear him, brushing his shoulder with hers.
"What is it?" She probed, watching him with an equal amount of fear and interest. Alex took a deep breath and scratched his head.
"The DEA was planning on storming his house and arresting him. I manipulated the investigation, Norma. I called Bob and told him what was going to happen to him if he didn't meet me at the docks. He met with me and he had a bag with things like a fake passport…large amounts of money. Bob Paris was a threat to you and everyone around you…" His throat stiffened as he came closer to unveiling the truth.
"Was?" Norma breathed. Both were leaning back on their hands, legs outstretched. She noticed her legs were getting a bit restless.
"I already sort of knew that he wasn't…wasn't going to make it out of it alive. I'd known him for a very long time and that only made it more difficult. But the things he said. Those things he said were terrible and my temper got a hold of me." Alex could still see her eyes glisten in the growing darkness.
"Alex, killing him was a little extreme. You should have let him go," she chided, shocked at the admission. But she let it go for the moment and placed her hand on his back. It was getting darker, and so it made her bolder. She couldn't see much of his facial expressions.
"I had to be sure. And in that moment, he said things he knew would get to me."
"What things?" She cooed, rubbing his back so lightly through his dress shirt that he goosebumps formed over his overheating skin.
"He said I was becoming my dad. That I was selfish and doing it for my own interests," he croaked. On some level, Bob was right. His fear was that Norma would uncover his motive for killing him. However, he refused to believe he was turning into his father.
Much to his mortification, she asked the question she had done once. The last time, it had left him a mushy, stumbling Alex. "I-I did it to protect you, and Norman. Now it's clear to me he's unwell from what you've told me. Listen to me, I've given this a lot of thought. Tell me what you think. After I killed Bob, I realized that he had all this money. Drug money, I know, but then I thought about it. If it's put to good use, maybe…" He struggled to continue. All of what he had done and thought about doing was for her. He had sworn to himself that it would never happen, but it had.
"What if the money went toward Norman? Actually, I'm not taking no for an answer. I don't really need it. With all the medical bills…" Alex didn't know about the therapeutic center Norma had wanted to take him but couldn't afford it.
Norma's eyes began to water, but she didn't let him see her cry. The last she needed was him feeling any more sorry for her. But he could hear it in her voice. "Why do you do all this?" She choked. Alex shook his head and smiled to himself, lying down on the sand with his hands folded behind his head. Norma reclined back so that she was lying right beside him, their legs touching.
He couldn't have said a more ambiguous statement than the one he said next. "It's what I have to do," he said. She turned her head to get a better view of him.
"I see," she replied. "In all time I've known you, I don't think I've seen you do anything so drastic." Alex finally moved to face her, he was on his side, eyeing her intently.
"You know how the job is sometimes. It requires you to…" He started but was suddenly cut off.
It didn't take much to seal the distance between them, and gently kissing him on the forehead. It was electrifyingly rewarding to hear Alex's breathing hitch right in front of her. Being so close, she could see his eyes close shut at her touch. To continue this reaction, she moved to peck him on his chin. Alex pressed his lips together to restrain himself. She then made her way to his left cheek, and then the right. Norma was running out of places to kiss him. No longer able to stop himself, Alex claimed her himself, knocking over the untouched bottle of wine at his feet.