Clouds Cover the Sun Because they like the warmth

It's Time

Manon stirred with her head pounding. What had happened the last thing she remembered was at a bar and... panic shot through her. She had been drugged, but how??? It was nothing like when she had previously been drugged. But the real question was where was she? Surely not back at her house. But why was there a bed beneath her? She peaked open her eyes only to be blinded by a bright light. She closed her eyes almost immediately. Letting out a small groan as she looked away. "Manon!" A male voice cried in relief. Manon was confused. Who was there with her? After all, it was familiar to her. Her heart skipped a beat as a particular person came to mind. "Manon." The voice said again as Manon peaked open her eyes. The silhouette was met with shadow but Manon could tell it wasn't him. Her heart sank a bit before being met with a bit of relief as she recognized him. "Uncle Claude?" Manon grumbled as she sat up. Her head hurt. Which was a slight surprise as she hadn't drank anything the previous night. "Take it easy now." Claude said as Manon got a good look at her surroundings. She was in a Hospital. "How did I end up here?" Manon asked as she looked at her uncle. "What's the last thing you remember?" Her uncle asked. "I was in a bar, why is that important?" Manon asked. She just wanted to get to the point. Her uncle gave her a pitying look. "Someone spiked your drink with some kind of drug. Two guys said they were your coworkers and saw you being dragged off by two men. Their names were Bryce and Peter." Manon nodded her head. She recalled Peter bringing up how he and Bryce usually drank on Fridays. It didn't surprise her that they were in the area. Though the thought of them not being there now scared her. If they hadn't been there then, well she didn't want to think about it right now. "So they drove me here?" Her uncle Claude shook his head. "Called an ambulance down. They did some tests and told us what they assumed had happened. Me and your aunt got the call from Daniella. She told us one of them had called her to get us. Me and your aunt decided one of us should stay the night so I decided to do so." Manon gave a small smile, yet she was still rather shaken up. She had her doubts that she would go out for a while. At least with shitty company. If she ever ran into Rebeca again she would absolutely lose her shit on her. "Thank you Uncle Claude." He gave her a smile and nodded before looking over to his left. "But There is one other thing." Manon raised a brow as he followed his gaze to the bedside table. In a pink vase was a bouquet of white tulips and more peculiarly gray roses. Manon may not have been a gardener but even she knew roses weren't gray. Next to them was a brown paper bag. All seemingly left for her. "They weren't here when I fell asleep so I don't know how they got there but I haven't touched them." Manon looked back at her uncle to see he was rather sincere. Leaving her with what felt like no other choice but to see what was in the bag. What else was she supposed to do?  When she looked inside it she was rather surprised. A plastic container holding small little brownies with a notecard on top. Written with an all too familiar writing she had seen on her paycheck. It looked as if he wrote it in pencil which was very unusual for him considering he wrote most of his stuff in pen. Several parts were scratched out. "Manon, Bryce contacted me about what had happened. I am so sorry that happened and I hope you will be well in the end. You will not be required to work on Monday. If you feel unable to work any day after that please do contact me. Alongside if you feel like it when you get home. I was already making some brownies, so I offered some, alongside flowers I have grown. I hope nothing serious has happened and you are alright. Sincerely- Norman." The part before his name looked scratched out a bunch of times. Even before her name appeared the same way. Yet after she reread the card she felt her heart melt. He was so considerate of her. He made those brownies. He was making them beforehand, but why? Also he didn't have to give any to her. And the flowers. Manon looked back at the roses. She had never seen gray roses before. Hell nobody has even heard of them before. Surely this had to just be some kind of dye used on them. Then again who would make them gray? Let alone the fact that Norman said he grew them in his garden and didn't call it out that he had dyed them, or bought them. But then the gesture settled in. Causing a bright flush to appear on Manon's face. And at this point she couldn't deny anything. "What did the card say? Who's it from?" Uncle Claude asked. Manon hid the card from view. "Oh it's from another coworker." Manon replied as she tucked the card back in the bag. She would save the brownies for when she got home. Even though she was rather hungry right now. Still she didn't want her uncle to know. Though it appeared to be too late as he raised a brow. Giving her the look that he knew what was going on. "You know, it's not everyday a coworker brings gifts and flowers to employees who possibly got way too drunk." He said as Manon sighed she had been hearing the same crap from her parents as well. "I know uncle Claude." Manon replied. Her thoughts drifted back to Norman. If he truly cared then why hadn't he stayed over like her uncle? That was it, her uncle was already staying over. Not to mention like he said normal coworkers don't just give you flowers, a tub of homemade brownies, and handwritten notecards for something that may not have been all that serious to an outsider. No doubt that if he had stayed over it would have definitely sent the wrong message. Even if it was how they felt about each other. "So how long have you had a boyfriend?" Manon froze, never mind that previous thought the message was already clear as day. "He's not my boyfriend!" Manon argued back defensively, her face rather red. "No, so when is he going to ask you out? Or is he going to lead you on?" Uncle Claude said, his voice turning a bit more aggressive. "What if I ask him out?" Manon replied, the look on her uncle's face turning a bit more upset. "You know I don't agree with any of that new stuff. It has always been tradition for the man to ask out the woman." Manon rolled her eyes. Way to be supportive Uncle Claude she thought. A defeated sigh left him. "But if it's what you want to do, I can't stop you." Manon gave a small smile at that. "But just so you know if he breaks up with you for some silly reason, then I will personally have a talk with him myself." Manon knew that still had to do with his traditional set mind, but she could live with it for now.

The elevator doors parted, letting Manon off onto the seventh floor. She was swelled with nerves as her footsteps made soft sounds against the plush carpet. She knew Norman said she could have Monday but she still felt a bit guilty about possibly not showing up. As she made her way around a corner she nearly bumped into someone. "Sorry." "Manon?" Just as she turned, Manon was wrapped in a hug. It took her a few seconds to realize it was Norman. He was actually quite tall that he had leaned over to at least get her shoulders. Leaving her face lodged into his shoulder. Norman quickly pulled away. "Sorry, I should've asked first." Norman said as Manon remained there shocked. He really was worried about her. Then she remembered Norman was probably waiting for a reply. "No, it's fine." Manon replied as he began to walk towards the counter. "Are you sure?" Norman asked as he followed her Manon nodded as he seemed relieved. "So how are you doing?" Norman asked. Manon felt her heart skip a slight beat. She didn't know what all Norman had been told, and to be honest she was afraid of him asking. "I've been doing good. Taking it easy." Norman nodded. "Oh by the way, thank you for those gifts. The brownies were delicious." Manon said quickly, hoping to prevent any more questions about her well being. "I'm glad you enjoyed them, I did kind of rush them in the end as that was when Bryce called me." Manon nodded before another question popped to mind. The flower vase that was now stuck on her counter. Filled with regular looking flowers. "Also about the flowers, did you dye the roses?" Norman gave her a rather confused look. "People dye flowers?" Clearly he had not. "Yeah?" Norman looked horrified. But it gave Manon her answer. "So wait, the roses you gave me are naturally gray?" Norman nodded. "I grew them in a little community garden I participate in. It's something I sometimes do outside of work." But surely those roses were rather unique. No where else had she seen gray roses. Then Norman's face became a deep gray. "I can take you some time if you'd like." He said as he became more tight in his posture. Moving his hands closer to them as his eyes looked off to the side. Manon felt a similar blush grow on her cheeks. This wasn't a date or anything. He was just offering to show her his hobby. Yet with the way his face was, it was possible he may see it as a date. This was a preplanned encounter instead of just them bumping into each other by coincidence. Though his face seemed to get a bit sadder. As if he realized it may not have come across that way. "Sure. Maybe we could get lunch after as well?" Manon asked shyly. Norman's eyes light up. Neither of them had to say it, but it was clear to both parties what the course of action was from here. "Okay, does Saturday work for you?" Manon nodded quickly. "Alright then, I'll see you on Saturday, I'll pick you up." Norman said as he began to walk off. "Okay, see you then, maybe sooner." Manon said knowing they did work together. "Yeah." Norman replied before he was out of sight. Manon felt like she actually might burst with happiness right then and there. Resisting all the urges to twirl around like some middle schooler. Work was going to be very distracting for her with Norman stuck in her head all day.