Clouds Cover the Sun Because they like the warmth

Apartments

Norman's apartment wasn't as far as she expected. A few blocks past before the two reached a large skyscraper. Walking inside Manon began to feel awkward again. If she had to describe it it looked more like a grand hotel over an apartment building. The tile floors were pristine and shiny to the point she could see her own reflection. A carpet leading over to a set of spiraling stairs and behind it a pair of elevators. Norman pressed a button as Manon continued to look around. Eventually a ding called her attention back to the elevator as the doors opened. A very rich looking couple stepped off. The woman gave a side eye to Manon before letting out a huff. Manon ignored them as she and Norman stepped onto the elevator. His face showed some form of annoyance. Before looking back down at Manon. "Ignore them, they're just being assholes." Manon gave him a small smile. "It's fine, I do look a little out of place." Norman scoffed. "Just keep your head held high." Norman said as he placed a finger under her chin. Brining it up higher. "They wear outfits similar to you when others aren't looking. They just need to make themselves feel on a high horse." Norman said as he removed his finger from under her chin. Manon felt a bit more comfortable but also more flustered. Norman also seemed slightly surprised by his own action yet the elevator dinged. Causing the two to turn their attention back to the doors as they opened. Both began to walk out at the same time. Accidentally bumping into each other as they did so. "After you." Norman said as he moved back a bit. Manon went ahead and walked out with Norman following. That's when she realized there was only one door on the floor. Though from the outside there were several balconies on each floor. "Where are the other apartments?" Manon asked as Norman pulled out a key. "Well there isn't. At least not on this floor." Manon remained frozen. "You're telling me you have a penthouse up here?" Norman shrugged. "Well yeah. Were you expecting something different?" Manon looked away. She actually was a bit, but then again he was an owner of a corporation. A penthouse would make sense. A lock clicked, catching her attention. Norman opened the door. "Welcome to my home." Norman said as he moved to the side. His penthouse was rather nice. A large set of windows were placed behind a fireplace. To her left was the kitchen. Complete with an island, and a rather large dining table. Off over to the right was a big bookshelf filled with books, and a door off over a solid wall. "I'm going to put these up. Feel free to make yourself at home." Norman said as he walked over towards the door. He had a rather spacious front room. A desk with a computer and paperwork had been pushed against the wall to her right. She wondered why he didn't have an individual office. Then again he probably did live alone. And maybe the people who designed the penthouse just didn't think to add an extra room. Manon walked over to the book shelf and looked over it. Seeing the many titles placed upon. They looked a lot more like they were just for decoration that actually read often. Though a few did have some bookmarks. One in particular caught her attention. La Belle et la Bete. Pulling it off of the shelf she noticed it was the least dusty of the books. Having a mark placed quite a ways in. She flipped it over to a random page. Though careful to make sure she didn't lose Norman's spot. Only to be met with a surprise. The language was french. "Looking at anything particular?" Manon jumped as she nearly swung back. Norman quickly dodged by leaning back. Seemingly surprised by her response. Manon closed in on herself. "Sorry." Manon apologized quickly. "It's alright I shouldn't have snuck up on you like that." Norman said. Manon didn't feel any less guilty. Though it was an opportunity to change the subject. "I am rather surprised to see you have La Belle et la Bete. Though I am noticing a few other books from France here." Manon explained as she pointed at the shelf. Looking up she noticed other books that were in different languages. Norman joined her in looking up at it. "Well if I spent time learning a second language I figured I'd make it worth it. Besides, you never know what was mistranslated." Manon shrugged. "Still wouldn't the overall story remain the same? I'm sure a few words wrongly translated wouldn't be the end of the world." Manon suggested Norman had a thoughtful look in his eye. "Well I suppose you do make a point. Though it still is interesting to read in other languages. It's partly how I learned." Manon looked back at the shelf. She knew books were rather knowledgeable. They were always surrounding her in her childhood. Her parents had made quite a bit of money and when they weren't critiquing restaurant food they would read her stories. Even though she didn't like to read as much as an adult. It gave her a small bit of nostalgia. Though it was interesting to imagine someone like Norman learning a new language from a story alone. "Huh I never really thought that was how you learned." "Part of the way you learn is through personal experience." Suddenly Norman's face twisted from relaxed to shock. Manon raised a brow. Was something on her face? "Marrianne, you're bleeding." Manon was confused. It wasn't that time, unless. Looking down at her side her shirt was beginning to stain with crimson. Fear immediately engulfed her. She would've felt if her stitches popped by now. Not to mention the bandage should've kept it patched. "Where's your restroom?" Manon asked quickly as she looked back at Norman. In the room, first door to the right. With that Manon rushed into his room. Not bothering to look around as she rushed into the first door on the right. She quickly shut the door and locked it and threw her purse down on the counter before removing her shirt. Sure enough her bandage was thoroughly soaked in blood. She quickly dug through her purse. Pulling out her bandages, needle, and thread, but no sign of her scissors. "Shit." Where were they? She could've sworn she had placed it there unless. The memory of the scissors on her bathroom sink came to her head. She nearly slapped herself for that. Perhaps Norman had a pair of scissors. A knock came at the restroom door. "Hey I know you probably don't want me in there but I do have a first aid kit." Manon approached the door and unlocked, and opened it by a crack. Hiding her body to see Norman looking away, eyes closed, and first aid kit in hand. Manon snatched it from him. Giving him a quick thank you before shutting the door and locking it once again. She placed the kit on the counter and opened it. Sure enough a pair of scissors were in there. She grabbed it and moved it down her side. Snipping the bandage off and throwing it in the sink as she pulled one of the stitches. She felt a sharp pop as she pulled one out. She hissed at it before grabbing the other thread and placing them alongside the scissors in the sink. She dug through the kit and picked out a wipe before cleaning some of the blood as she grabbed needle and thread. She tied the knot and sewed the wound back shut. Using another wipe to clean more blood before bandaging it. Using the wipes to get whatever else is remaining before throwing the bloody thread and bandages into the trash. Before returning to the sink and washing her hands and the scissors before placing it back in the first aid kit and putting her shirt back on. Norman knocked once again. "Is everything alright in there?" Norman asked as Manon remembered where she was. "Yeah, I'm fine." She said as she unlocked the door and opened it. Norman looked away quickly as Manon sighed. "You can look I'm not bleeding anymore." Norman looked back and his face relaxed a bit as Manon handed him the first aid kit. His face still showed concern. "Are you sure you are alright?" Manon was walking back to the bathroom to grab her purse. She feared admitting the truth. "Yes I'm sure. I do apologize for it" Manon said as she placed her stuff back in her purse. Norman let out a loud sigh. "Madeline usually I wouldn't pry, but not just as your friend, but also as your employer I don't want this to be happening not just in daily life, but at work as well." Norman said as he walked in and placed the kit down. Manon felt her heart pound. Norman was still off to the side. She could run past him if she wanted to. "Please Marianne, I'm not asking how, but I want to know exactly what it is." Manon knew she wouldn't have been able to hide it for long, but it still was something she wouldn't want to tell. She was fearful of being judged. Yet her abuser was farther away. Norman wasn't forcing her to tell him everything. She figured it wouldn't hurt to open up to him. "They're stitches. Sometimes they pop." Norman's face instantly became filled with more concern. "They shouldn't be doing that! Do we need to go to a hospital?" Norman asked as he reached a hand out. Manon quickly swatted it away as she moved back. "No!" Manon said as Norman showed some small bit of regret as he moved back a bit. "I uhhhh, I didn't get them done at the hospital." Manon said as she looked away. "You don't go to the hospital for that?" Norman exclaimed as he sucked in a breath. "I'm not going to force you to go to one, but, Jesus Christ Marianne, based on the blood you should've gone to a hospital." Norman said as Manon sighed. "I know that, but it's fine." "That's not fine!" Norman said as his whole hand pointed over to her shirt, and skirt. Manon sighed as she moved a hand through her hair. "Look, it doesn't happen everyday, and I always carry bandages just in case." Manon said as Norman let out a long sigh. "Look, if it gets any worse please just go to the hospital." Norman said as he placed a hand on Manon's shoulder. Manon looked back at him. His face continued to show concern. Manon's shoulders slumped. She knew she should've done that. It could risk it getting infected. "Okay I will." Manon said as Norman nodded. Removing his hand from her shoulder. "Okay." Norman said as he removed his hand. "Would you like to go to your home and change clothes?" Norman asked as he grabbed the first aid kit. Manon looked down at her outfit noticing how much blood was on her shirt and even on her skirt. "Oh right." Then another fearful thought popped in her head. "Oh shit! I can't go out with blood on my shirt! They'll know about the wound!" To her surprise Norman began laughing. "I mean they probably would think you were just attacked by me." Manon went silent before also beginning to laugh. "Yeah that's a good point." Manon said as Norman moved past her and to a walk-in closet. He flicked on the lights giving Manon a good glimpse to see it was mostly made up of suits in all the different shades of gray. He came back out with a jacket that looked like it would be small for him. "I think this is the smallest I own." Norman said as he offered her the jacket. Manon hesitantly took it. It was a light gray color that actually went well with her outfit. Though she quickly noticed that her arms barely even reached the cuffs, and the back went half way down her thighs. Norman's face immediately cracked up as Manon stared at him with an annoyed expression. "Don't you dare laugh." Norman was still trying to keep his laughter in. Though he was about to burst with laughter any moment. Manon got to work cuffing the sleeves. As Norman looked away. "You just offered me this jacket to laugh at me." Manon said as Norman finally doubled over with laughter. "No, no, that is actually the smallest I have, though I still didn't expect it to be that big on you. You aren't very short, at least to normal humans." Manon shook her head as she grabbed her purse while Norman grabbed the first aid kit. As the two walked out and back into the main room. "So shall we get going?" Norman asked as he placed the kit back in the kitchen. Manon nodded. "We shall. Though I feel you are going to make fun of my place." Norman playfully scoffed. "Please, I'm not expecting anything grand." Manon shrugged though she didn't know how she would top a whole penthouse. She would fear that he would be very similar to some of his more snotty neighbors. Her discomfort was felt more when she stepped back out onto the streets. Getting a few odd glares from passersby. She wasn't sure if it was because it was a suit jacket, or because it was too big. Or perhaps it was because it was Norman's jacket. It was rather romantic of him. No it was just him being nice. Perhaps he didn't realize the implication of it. That was fair. Eventually they made it to Manon's apartment. She unlocked the door and let him in. "Welcome to my little place." Manon said as she let Norman in. He walked past her and looked around as she shut the door and locked it behind her. "I don't see why you would think I would judge you. This is a really nice place." Norman said as Manon gave a small smile. "Thank you, I'm going to go change clothes. Feel free to make yourself at home." Manon said as she rushed into her room. She shut the door and looked over in her closet and picked out a black dress with white polka dots, white knee high socks, and black pumps before walking into her bathroom. Quickly changing into that outfit. Though she made sure her stitches, and bandages were secure beforehand. After feeling satisfied she walked out to see Norman relaxing on the couch. He quickly took notice of her. "You have a very nice place." Manon smiled. "Thank you." She said as Norman stood up. "Shall we head out?" Manon was confused before remembering she had to get groceries. "Right." She rushed back into her room and grabbed her purse. "Let's go." With that the two left for the store.