The Setup

Chapter 7: Empty Apologies

The street lights felt blinding on Briana's tender blue eyes.

The night was cold a strong breeze crawling up her spine causing her to slightly shiver. She felt as if she was losing her mind, paranoia creeping in as she felt as if someone or something was following her every move but with each turn of her head she saw no one as she walked down the darkening streets. 

 Briana was walking home from the restaurant after her long shift, her flats making feather light taps on the concrete sidewalk. It had been exactly 2 weeks since she had that whirl wind encounter with Norman. When he was finished he treated her with no respect. He told her to get out with his cum still on her face and she felt filthy, dirty, and unwanted just like she felt by her own mother. 

 She never planned to see him again, the thought of Norman stirred mixed feelings inside her gut she couldn't describe. She hated him, she longed for his embrace, to hear him tell her he was sorry for shutting her out like that, for treating her so coldly. 

 When Briana reached her little apartment she planned to crash into her bed but she wasn't alone. She turned the lights on in her apartment and jumped from pure shock, a soft scream emerging from her throat as she saw Norman on her couch unconscious wearing a strange metallic green suit. 

 She wanted to be angry, wake him up and tell him to get out but then she noticed the blood on his lip. He was injured. She didn't like this feeling, her head felt as if it were a carousel, spinning around and around with no end in sight. Something wasn't good about this situation, something felt wrong.

 "Norman" Briana knelt in front of the couch, nudging him gently. "You have to wake up" Norman's  eyes fluttered awake, his head throbbing in confusion as he scanned Briana's apartment. "W-where am i?" He sat up a bit on the red couch. 

"Norman, i found you on my couch. Are you alright?" Norman looked Briana up and down. "Ah..Briana. I-i don't know. I'm confused..." He sat up slowly, holding his head. "He must have lead me here" Briana furrowed her brows in confusion. "Who Norman? Who brought you to my apartment?" But he wouldn't answer her question, he just kept shaking his head. 

Briana was more than concerned "Let me get you a glass of water then i can help you back to your home, okay?" He nodded. "Thank you...i am really sorry" he seemed so different than before, gentle and soft but very confused. Briana filled up a glass of water from the tap, handing it to the older man. 

"Here" she sat beside him, looking his injury over, her left hand landing on his cheek. "what happened to you, Norman?..." Norman did not answer her question. Briana didn't know if he was avoiding it or truly didn't know the answer.

She sighed. "You know i really didn't appreciate that you haven't called me for 2 weeks" before he could respond she kissed him and surprisingly he reciprocated, His kiss was gentle and soft as if she were kissing an entirely different man than before. 

Briana separated the kiss, holding his hands in hers. "How about you spend the night instead? It's late and i can loan you something to wear. My old roommate left a few things behind when he moved out a few months back" Norman wanted to protest, insist he go home but he felt very unwell and wasn't sure if he could make it back to the mansion on his own that night. 

 "Alright. I don't have much choice...i don't think i can make the trip alone and i wouldn't want to risk having you out so late in New York" he replied softly. "It isn't safe" Norman stood up, slightly wobbly as he caught his footing and headed to her claustrophobic bathroom. Come to think of it his master bathroom was the size of her entire apartment.

 Norman didn't spend long in the shower, changing out of the suit. Briana could have sworn she could hear him talking to someone in the bathroom as she walked by, but she was sure she was just tired and over thinking. 

 Briana was out of sight, in her own bedroom when he stepped out in a black t-shirt and black pajama bottoms. Norman stood by her door just a moment as it was slightly ajar. He felt guilty for involving her with him and the Goblin. He was almost certain the Goblin had touched her but to his dismay he never recalled sleeping with Briana and a part of him ached at the thought that he could have hurt her, especially tonight. He woke up confused in her apartment and knew the Goblin had taken him here and he wasn't sure entirely why. 

 Norman stepped away from the door but his foot created a creak in the hall. "Norman?" Briana's soft voice called from the room causing Norman to curse under his breath and push the door fully open. "Thanks uh...for the clothes and shower. I will repay you" he nodded his head and went to walk away but something Briana said stopped him in his tracks. "Norman, why did you pay for my college? We never discussed it..." She knew it was him, who else did she know with that kind of money? she knew Harry but he didn't have access to his father's money like that. 

 "Because you're bright and i wanted to give you a good chance. I found it strange you were never offered a scholarship and i didn't see you being able to graduate without help financially" He answered honestly. "I want to help you, Briana...i was serious about offering you that job before. Remember we discussed it at dinner?" Briana nodded her head. "Yeah" she pursed her lips. "I do..." 

Talking to Norman felt nice but she wasn't done getting things off her chest. "Norman, you really hurt me" he stiffened. "What you did was wrong. Icing me out like that after i had sex with you. Did you know that was my first time? You dismissed me like i was nothing and i felt like a whore. Imagine walking down New York City with a billionaires cum on your face"

Norman didn't respond, he pursed his lips trying to find the words but nothing was coming out.

Briana sighed. "I-it doesn't matter. Just forget it" just talking about it he could hear the tremble in her voice, she was holding back tears. "I'm sorry" he finally croaked out "that's not fucking good enough!" He had never heard her scream like that before, her eyes blood shot and red. 

 "No" he responded in a grey tone. "It isn't good enough but it's what I've got to offer. Briana, i-i-i'm not well...something is going on with my head...i am sorry to say i don't even recall us having sex and i am very sorry" A part of her did indeed believe him. "Norman...let's assume you are telling the truth..." She said, calming down. "Then you need help because what if you black out and do worse? What if you kill someone?"

Neither exchanged another word, creating a long pause as they both stared deeply at each other. "I don't have to ask anymore questions...just please lay beside me" she pulled her blanket up, inviting him in her small bed. It felt good to just lie beside someone, especially Briana. He felt at peace with her, his arms instinctively coming around her, her head buried in his chest and the two quickly fell asleep. 

 When morning came the sun streamed through the soft cotton curtain into Briana's eyes but that was the least of her problems as she felt an empty bed beside her and  sudden heated yelling in her kitchen.

It was Norman and Harry, He must have found his dad in her bed. She had completely forgotten Harry was coming over today to borrow her notes for class.

Briana leaped from bed and practically sprinted into the kitchen. "Harry! I can explain!" with hands on both knees Briana panted from jumping up so quickly. "you don't need to explain anything Briana. I know my father can't help himself" he snarled, giving his father an icy gaze. 

"Harry..." Norman sounded defeated. "I already explained it isn't what it looks like. Do you really think i would sleep with her!?" Briana didn't like what he was implying. She felt as if he had stabbed a dagger into her heart. 

"Yes i do. Dad, you always do this! i'm tired of the lies and denial for fucks sake, Just admit you slept with my friend" Norman pursed his lips, looking between his son and the girl he seemed so drawn to. 

Norman could see he hurt her again, his face sympathetic as he cleared his throat. "i apologize but i really must go. I'm sorry for causing any inconvenience to you. I'll make sure you receive payment for my nights stay and the clothes" 

Norman turned on his heel and left her standing there awkwardly with Harry.