On a dark desert highway

Dinner at the Bates'

You're greeted by a young boy opening the door. He appears to be around your age, clean-cut, and awkward. He's wearing a dark green button down and black dress pants. There is a very awkward silence while he is looking you up and down, seemingly deciding whether or not he approves of you.

Eventually, he invites you inside and seats you back in the taxidermy filled livingroom. He leaves you, he heads toward the kitchen to help his mother prepare the dinner.

You're seated in the livingroom silently fidgeting with the bottom of your dress, when finally Norma enters the livingroom and starts making her way towards you.

"Heyyyy Hunny, I'm so glad you came. Dinner tonight is speghetti. I hope you like it." Hunny... for some reason hearing her call you that sends waves of feelings down your body. It comforts you deeply.

When dinner time comes, theres for some reason an awkward silence between Norma and her son Norman. But after some time of everyone silently eating, Norma speaks to you.

"So where do you work Y/N?"

"Oh, I just work in a restaurant. I'm a waitress."

"That's nice, I was a waitress too when I was around your age. Do you enjoy your job?"

"Well, I don't necessarily enjoy it.. However, the tips do pay pretty well."

After dinner, Norman goes up to his room. He did not say a word the entire time you were there. You decide to ask Norma about the silence while helping her clean the dishes, although you're worried you might be crossing a boundry asking her about her son.

"Hey Norma, not that it's any of my business, but is Norman alright? He's really quiet."

"Oh, Norman?" She lets out a small chuckle, as if shes trying to make it seem like theres nothing going on. "Yea he's fine. Why? He didn't say anything... weird to you when he let you inside, did he?" She seems genuinely nervous and concerned.. What is going on with them?

"No he didn't say anything to me... the entire time... that's why I'm asking. Why? Is there something you're worried about him telling me?"

Normas mood suddenly shifts, from nervous to slightly angry. "No. Absolutely not. And even if there was something, it's none of your business at all. Goodnight Y/N. It's getting late, you should go back to your room. Now."

And with that, you make your way out of the house and toward your motel room. What a strange experience that dinner was... something is definitely going on between the Bates'.

You wipe off your makeup, set your alarms for the morning, strip naked and hop under the covers of your bed.

Just when you're finally falling asleep, there is a knock at your door. Once again throwing the robe over your naked body, you open the door. It's Norma, looking like a mess.

She's crying and shaking, and moves you out of the way so she can sit on the bed inside your motel room.

"Norma? What the hell is going on?"

"Norman is mad at me" She pratically chokes out and then breaks into sobbing even harder than she was before.

"Why is he mad at you?" You say and move toward her. You place your hand on her back and comfortingly rub circles on her shoulder blades.

"We did something.... terrible.. I can't even tell you. But it was an act of self defense. Now Norman wants to take the issue to the police but I...." She stops talking to try and contain her crying, but it's no use.

Not knowing what to say, you stand beside her in silence for a while, hand still on her back while she is sitting on the end of your bed.

"I... I'm sorry for coming to you I shouldn't have told you anything. Forget I was here, please don't tell anyone about what I've said." She says sternly, getting up and beginning to leave.

Before she can get to the door, you stop her and pull her in for a tight hug. The most comforting and warm hug you've ever had in your life.

"I will not tell a soul. I'm so sorry you're going through this... I'm not exactly sure of the circumstances but if there is anything at all I can do to help, please let me know."

Norma stays for a few minutes longer, cries a little more, and eventually thanks you and leaves you alone in your motel room to head back home.

Another weird interaction from Ms. Bates... You're not sure why she came to you, of all people, for something as serious as this. The two of you aren't even close (yet,) but part of you feels flattered that she trusts you already.

taking your robe off again, you head back to bed and fall asleep, for real this time.