Normily: After Effects

When You Know

Norman and Emily picked out a large enough apartment in Atlanta soon after. It was on the outskirts, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. They moved in together there, but remained separate in New York for the time being. The idea was that in New York, Emily would need a place to meet with people that wasn't packed with two peoples stuff and that had enough privacy that they could have downtime if they needed it and still be relatively close to each other.

Sitting in her room in Atlanta, Emily unpacked the last of her things that were from her first apartments here. She had stuff for music an pictures and stuff that just went with her personality. Halfway through one box she found a present addressed to her from, well that's odd, there's no name, she thought. She slowly opened the box to find a scrapbook with a locked clasp on it.

Emily attempted to open the book, but couldn't. It was clasped really well, and with no key in sight, completely shut. This drive her mad. She had to know what was in the scrapbook.

"Ugh," Emily threw it at the wall. The clasp popped open. She walked over and picked it up. Inside were pictures of her onstage at various clubs in Atlanta, a couple of her dresses as Beth from the show. Emily figured it was from a fan of hers. A sweet gesture. She put the book aside and unpacked the rest of her things.

Norman came in that evening with a pizza and Andy. They were laughing about something on set. Emily greeted them from her position on the couch. She had a pad of paper and a pen in her hand.

Andrew walked over ad picked up the scrapbook an sat down next to her while Norman got out three glasses from the kitchen and filled them with beer.

"This is weird, Em," said Andy.

"What do you mean," Emily looked up from her song.

"Did you look at this all the way through?"

"No, why?" Emily set her stuff down and scooted closer. Towards the back of the book were paparazzi-esque photos of her. Some from the beach, some from the street, even a couple of her onset. Norman sat on the other side of Andy and handed them their beers. He looked at the book and took a drink.

"That's fucked up," he said.

"Yeah, Emily," said Andrew, "You should do something about this. When you know you have a stalker, you have to stop it."

A stalker? Emily thought. She drank her beer and contemplated this. Someone was following her.