Saving Us

Chapter 19

Norma Bates sat nervously in the passenger seat of the SUV. She didn't want to mess anything up tonight. Alex was someone she couldn't lose; she needed him. Norma needed Alex more than anyone she'd ever known. He was the one exception to her never trust anyone rule.

Norma glanced over at him and he met her eyes. Alex smiled at her. She blushed and pretended to be looking out the window.

"Norma?" Alex said breaking her thoughts.

She turned to face him. "Yeah?"

He bit his lip. "You haven't seen that Cadillac again have you?"

Norma felt bad for him. "No."

"Please think a little harder. Have you seen him driving past the motel? You're really in a lot of danger."

"No Alex, I haven't seen him." She answered point blank.

"Okay. We're here." He said pulling into a busy parking lot.

He parked in a spot reserved for the sheriff and got out. Norma watched as the crowd of people turned to stare. Alex grabbed her door and she saw mouths drop. He took her hand and gently helped her out.

People actually gasped at the sight of her and started whispering. She automatically felt self conscious and looked down at her dress.

Alex put his hand on her bare back. "Don't worry you look great. That's not why they're staring."

She momentarily felt relieved. "Then why?"

"Uh." He said hesitantly. "I think I've gone to this thing nineteen times and this is the first time I've brought a date."

"Oh and here I thought you'd say something that would make me less nervous."

He chuckled. "You'll be fine."

Norma took a deep breath as Alex lead her through the crowd to the door. She felt famous when the doors were opened for them and almost every head turned to gawk as they walked in. She blinked as she took the room in. Tables lined the walls surrounding a huge empty dance floor. Music played but nobody was dancing. Hundreds of people were just staring at them. Norma gulped quietly.

"No pressure." Alex whispered in her ear.

She looked up to scold him but he was wearing a kind reassuring smile. Her heart all but melted at the sight. Suddenly someone grabbed her arm. Norma turned quickly to see Regina.

"Norma Bates." She smiled and turned to Alex. "Norma Bates. I should have known. God I can't believe I didn't see it before."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "See what before?"

Regina waved her arms excitedly. "That our little sheriff's in-"

Alex interrupted her. "Oh look champagne."

He hurried away from Regina and picked up two glasses of champagne. Norma stood awkwardly as he handed her a glass. She looked back at Regina who was smirking knowingly. She was about to ask Alex what just happened when another person came up to them. She saw Alex go rigid and recognized the man to be Declan Rogers: the one who did the polygraph test for Norman. He looked between her and Alex fondly.

"Alex." He nodded and smiled at Norma. "It's nice to see again Mrs. Bates."

"You too." She said hesitantly.

Declan sighed and looked Alex in the eye. "I saw him once. Yeah, he was looking for a place to stay after they wouldn't take him at the Bates Motel. I told him no. He left and that was it."

"Did he mention anything about me or Norma? Bob Paris?" Alex questioned.

"No nothing like that. I don't know what's going on Alex but I don't have to tell you to keep your loved ones close." Declan cautioned.

"No you don't." Alex responded absent mindedly.

Declan's eyes bounced between the two of them. "On a lighter note, what's going on here?"

"Uh nothing. We're just friends." Alex answered quickly making her heart sink slightly.

"I see. That's why you brought her to this event?"

Alex shrugged. "She likes dancing."

Declan glanced over at the empty dance floor. "Well good luck with that."

With that he left them standing alone uncomfortably. Norma was feeling nervous again. She was the first woman Alex had ever brought to this ball. She didn't feel like she was good enough and she got the impression that no else did either. People were still watching them and she wanted to hide.

"I should probably talk to people." Alex said sadly.

"Okay." She said simply.

After an hour of following him around and meeting new people Norma was starting to get bored. She was only half listening to Alex talking to three men when the song came on. It had an amazing tune and a good beat. She started tapping her foot lightly and looked longingly at the empty dance area. It was now or never.

"Can you excuse us please?" She said politely cutting the one man off.

Alex's face filled with worry but she just grabbed his arm and pulled him on to the dance floor. Norma stopped and started to sway while holding his hand.

"What are you doing?" Alex said confused.

She scrunched up her face but continued moving. "Dancing. I'm bored of pressing the flesh."

Alex looked around at the people watching. "Norma I don't dance."

"I don't believe you. Everybody dances."

He raised his eyebrows. "I don't."

Her mouth curled into a frown. "Fine."

She turned to walk off the dance floor but Alex groaned and grabbed her wrist. He twirled her around expertly and dipped her.

Norma gasped in shock. "You lied!"

Their faces were merely inches apart. "No I said I don't dance not that I can't."

He danced with her while she laughed happily. Soon other people started joining them until the dance floor was packed. The song slowed down and Norma snaked her arms around his neck. Everyone else clapped with the beat as she sung the chorus to him. The music picked up and he lifted her effortlessly and spun her around. When the song ended they were both panting. Immediately after it was announced that it was time for Alex to make his speech.

Norma went to the table and sat next to Regina. She watched as Alex took the microphone and began. He talked about how great of a year they'd had and how the years to come would be just as good if not better. He was in the middle of thanking everyone at the station when Officer Lopez piped up.

"Hey sheriff, this is usually the part when you thank your girlfriend for being so supportive!"

Alex went red. "She's uh not my girlfriend but uh yeah thank you Norma for being-" He paused and bit his lip. "supportive?"

She rolled her eyes as Lopez asked: "I gotta know how your dates work. Do you alternate between taking her to the movies and arresting her?"

Norma threw her head back and put her hands up. The room bursted into laughter as Norma and Alex grinned at one another. He thanked everyone again and joined Norma at the table.

"You only arrested me one time! I'm never gonna live that down am I?" She said in disbelief.

"I doubt it." A slow song with a waltz tempo began to play. Alex smiled and in his police voice said: "Norma Louise Bates may I have this dance?"

Butterflies filled her stomach and hear heart clenched. All she could manage was a nod as he took her hand. He lead her to the floor and began to dance. She could hardly focus on the steps. She looked at Alex and realized that she wanted to be with him. Norma wanted to be his.

She reached up and stroked his cheek. Alex leaned down so their noses were touching. She had almost closed the distance between their lips when she pulled away. As much as she wanted this she knew it was stupid to try and change their relationship. They could never be together. She would never get her happy ending. It was just time to accept that. Norma went straight out the door without looking back.