Normily: After Effects

Wake Me Up

"Mingus," an angelic voice said, "Wake up."

Mingus groaned and rolled onto his stomach. He'd only been asleep for three hours, and it was killing him. A hand shook him. It was small and dainty, ladylike. He opened his eyes. Emily was standing over him in her pjs, holding a glass of orange juice.

Emily's eyes had dark circles under them and her hair was all frazzled. She looked like she'd been up all night. Between managing looking for an apartment, canceling the movers, trying to sleep with a teenager tossing and turning next to her, and the coffee she'd had, Emily hadn't slept at all.

"Come on, buddy," she said groggily, "let's get some breakfast and then call your dad."

"Do we have to?" Mingus said in protest.

"Did you have to run away?" Emily said.

"Fine."

They had breakfast and Mingus took a quick shower before grabbing the phone. Emily was dressed in jeans, a white tank top, and a blue, unbuttoned flannel shirt. She had donned makeup and fixed her hair. She watched Mingus shakily dial his dad's number. It rang a couple of seconds before Norman picked up.

"Hello?" he said groggily.

"Dad," Mingus began.

"Mingus?" it took a second to set in, "MINGUS, WHERE ARE YOU!"

Mingus held the phone away from his ear before replying. Norman was not nice when he was angry.

"I'm at Emily's," he said, switching the phone to speaker.

"Emily's? Who's Emily?" Norman asked, fuming audibly into the phone.

"Hey, Norman," Emily said into the mouthpiece, "I'm Emily. You know, Emily Kinney. I'm on The Walking Dead. I sing. I apparently received custody of your son at four a.m. this morning after he used your key to get into my apartment. That Emily."

"Ems, oh god," he said, "I'm so sorry. Did he wake you?"

"No, I was still awake."

"Oh, you should of come over if you were still up," Norman said, sounding like a teenager in love.

"I didn't think you were up."

"I'd always lose sleep for you."

"Norman," Emily smiled, "That's so sweet."

Mingus smiled. He thought he was gonna get off easy now that Norman and Emily were lovestruck. They really did love each other.

"Now, about Mingus," Norman said, turning serious.

"Dad, I'm sorry," Mingus said.

"I know, but you can't run off like that. Especially in Atlanta. It's dangerous at night."

"I was fine," Mingus said, "I came straight here and slept with Emily."

Norman had been drinking something when Mingus started talking because he could now be heard spewing something and then choking on it.

"YOU WHAT?" Norman said. Emily took the phone from Mingus. She pointed to the kitchen chair while she listened to Norman explode at what he had heard. Mingus sat down and put his head in his hands.

"Norman," Emily said, "He didn't mean it like that. He was upset so I let him come to my room and lay down. He fell asleep a little bit after that."

"That's it?"

"You don't really think... Do you?" Emily said. Mingus groaned out of embarrassment.

"I have to make sure he didn't do anything stupid."

"I'd never let Ming' do anything stupid Norman, I love him," she said.

"I know, Ems," Norman said, "I'm sorry."

"Come on over," said Emily.

"I will."

Norman arrived thirty minutes later at her doorstep. He rapt on Emily's door then took a step back. He held a bouquet behind his back and waited. Emily opened the door a few seconds later and smiled.

"Hello," she said.

"These are for you," Norman thrust the flowers toward her.

"Why thank you!" Emily said, taking the flowers, "Come in." Norman followed her inside and closed the door. He walked into the livingroom and found Mingus. Mingus tackled his dad in a hug.

"Hey!" Norman said, embracing his son, "I was so worried."

"I came straight here, I swear", said Mingus.

"It doesn't matter," his father scolded, "You should never run away from people who love you. Not if they're pissed at you. And certainly not if you're afraid of a punishment."

Emily fixed Norman and Mingus a bowl of fruit before bringing it and a cup of coffee to them. Emily had always thought that you should always be a good host, no matter who stepped through your door. She set the bowl and coffee in front of the pair.

"Thank you," they chorused in unison.

"You're welcome," Emily replied.

They ate and conversed for while. Norman rose after they'd finished the fruit and walked towards the door. Mingus followed him. Emily cleaned up and met them on the porch.

"Thanks for the fruit and coffee," Norman said, "And for keeping this one out of trouble." Norman set a hand on Mingus's shoulder.

"It's no big deal," Emily said, "You would've done the same for me." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Norman's cheek. Then, as if deciding against it and then arguing it in her head, she kissed his lips. Norman's eyes grew wide and his cheeks slightly reddened. Even after the coffee and the phone call he wasn't fully awake, until now.

"So, uh, I guess you'll be going?" Emily said nervously.

"I.. I guess," said Norman, feeling blood rush to his ears. He couldn't believe it. Emily had pushed the boundaries of their relationship and it felt good. As he was about to step off towards his car, one of Cupid's arrows seemed to shoot through him and impale their lips together. This time the kiss wasn't as innocent as the first. It felt strange. The kiss lasted for several seconds before they pulled away.

"So..." Emily began.

"I love you," Norman cut her off. He'd kissed all kinds of people: Models, Actresses, Attractive Women; never had a kiss felt like it was meant to be, like it was the will of God.

"I love you, too," said Emily, gazing into Norman's eyes.

"I'll see you later," Norman said, turning to leave.

"Yeah, I look forward to it," said Emily, "bye guys."

Emily went inside and shut the door. She leaned against it and slid down slowly. Was that too fast, or just right? On the other side of the door Norman was thinking the exact same thing.