Her Eyes

Chapter 65: YOU'LL BE BACK

Alex headed back to his room and shut the door. He could already tell it was going to be a long night. That woman would haunt him for the rest of his life. He could never get past her. She was a shadow on the wall, constantly seeking him. He was trapped. The presence of her taunted him, ripping open the wounds that had just begun to heal. She'd ruin him. He glanced over at the empty bottle of scotch sitting on his nightstand and sighed. He'd have to suffer the pain alone.

He walked over to the bed and sat down. He found comfort in the slump of mattress. He could feel himself slipping—he was losing control. Arbogast would investigate the Bradley Martin case and send Norman to jail. Alex would lose Norma. He couldn't have that. He vowed to himself that this would be the last time he covered for Norman Bates. He knew it was wrong and that Bradley Martin deserved better, but Norman was getting better. Norma deserved happiness even if it lasted only a little while. The feeling off the mattress enveloping him soothed him, drifting him off to sleep.

A soft knock came from behind the door. His eyes flickered open and he sighed, getting up and opening the door. "What?" he grumbled, eyes half open.

"Might wanna rework your greeting for your guests." Norma smiled at him. When he didn't respond, her eyes fell to the plate in her hands. "Can I come in?"

Alex moved aside, a little embarrassed. "I thought you were someone else."

She chuckled a little, unwrapping the plate. "Who else would be knocking on your door? No one else knows you're here."

He stared at her briefly then glanced down at the plate. "Is that for me?" He wouldn't dare bring up Sally, though it didn't matter entirely. He and Norma weren't exactly together, yet in some sense they were. They had made their own unspoken commitment a while back.

She handed him the plate, an uncertain look written across her face. "It might be a little cold. I had to wait for Norman to go back to the basement. I didn't want him to get suspicious. I tried heating it up in the microwave, but..."

He took a bite anyway. "Still better than a lean cuisine." He glanced up at her. "Thanks."

She nodded in return and made her way to the other side of the room. "So how does it feel to be back home?" she teased, fixing the rumpled bed sheets.

He rolled his eyes and turned to face her, leaning against the dresser. "I actually sleep better here than anywhere else." It was the sad truth. He slept a little sounder knowing that Norma was only a few flights of steps away. He could protect her if he needed to. He enjoyed the easy access. The Bates had somehow become his family. He hadn't had one in so long that he forgot what it was to belong to one. He needed them just as much as they needed him.

Her eyes fell to bed as the silence broke through. He knew there was something she needed to say, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. He already knew what it was. He finished eating and placed the plate on the dresser before moving over to her. She looked up at him. The still of the silence was present in her eyes.

"You don't ever have to worry about me," he told her.

"I know," she replied reassuringly. She pushed past him to pick up the plate but he stopped her. His grip on her wrist was tight. He could feel her fleetingness radiating into him. "I have to go before Norman realizes I'm gone," she whispered...she lied.

He didn't move. He couldn't. "Stay for a while."

She wouldn't look at him. She never could. "Alex, I—"

"You're the only one that ever mattered." He loosed her grip, allowing her wrist to fall back to her side. She turned to face him, her eyes watering. He placed his hand on her cheek and wiped a few tears that had begun to stream.

Her hand came up to brush his. "I love you."

He stared at her bravely, breathing deeply. "I know." He gently kissed her goodbye and let her go. They'd have their time together another time when Norman had settled in. Alex watched her leave and shut the door, returning to the slump of the bed. His eyes began to drift shut again. The smell of her was still potent in the room.

A soft knock came from behind the door. His eyes flickered open and he smiled, getting up and opening the door. "Back so soon," he greeted.

Sally smiled back at him. "Fix that leaky pipe?" She knew he had been lying. She saw right through him. She always did.

"What are you doing here?" he growled. She could never take a hint.

She smiled widely. "My house is being fumigated."

He glared at her. "Don't be a smartass."

She never lost her smile. "Same old Alex, huh?" He hated every minute of this. He tried to close the door on her, but she pushed her way inside. "Why are you avoiding me?"

"I'm not avoiding you. I want you to get the hell out of my room." This was why he hated people.

"Oh, so you're staying here?" Damn this woman. He held back the urge to shove her out. He couldn't risk touching her. He glared at her. He'd do it until she left. "Alex," she cried. "I just want to talk." She glared back at him. Neither one of them would give up. This was who they were.

They stood in the doorway glaring at each other for ten minutes before she moved over to the bed and plopped down. "Comfy mattress." He held the door tight. He could have ripped the door off the hinge and beat her with it, but he'd never do that. He'd never hurt her. "So is that your girlfriend?" She couldn't handle the silence. "Cause I mean people don't usually take the owner of the motel they're staying in out to dinner. That'd be a little weird." She laid down and stared at the ceiling. "I think it's great that you're seeing somebody. I mean it's been over twenty years. Of course you've been seeing other people. It'd be a little pathetic if you hadn't." ...he hadn't. He turned his gaze out the door. He was a little pathetic. "But she says she's not your girlfriend."

He found solace in the stars. They were promise for something better...something more. "She isn't." He turned back to her, a little calmer than before. "It's getting pretty late. You should probably head back to your room now."

She sat up quickly. "Alex—"

"I'll walk with you there." He stuck out his hand to help her up and walked her out of the room and down the motel porch. "Which room are you in?"

She kept her gaze ahead. "Room 1."Alex smiled to himself. Norma purposely picked the room furthest from his. When they got to her room, she turned to face him. "Alex, I'm—"

He gently kissed her on the cheek. "Goodnight, Sally." He made his way back to his room, her eyes glued to his back. He turned just before the door of his room and looked up towards the house. He smiled at the sight of Norma through her window. "Goodnight, Norma."