Unexpected

Chapter 16: Tied

Laying in her bed, Emily has been caught up in her bird book all day. With it raining outside, she has forgotten the world beyond her comfy bed and book. Her wrist is still casted after the incident three weeks ago and she hasn't really left her apartment after Norman dropped her off here about two weeks ago. She's not depressed, she's not overwhelmed, or even lonely. She's just being a hermit because it feels so good to just be a bum sometimes. Now, Norman himself has called her twice everyday, but hasn't actually came and seen her on account of TWD stuff- which she advised him to rest instead of go galavanting off to Walker Stocker Con, conventions, and other tasking things- but being a man and being Norman- he didn't listen.

She can't blame him for wanting to be out and about being a jackass like usual. But she wishes he would just listen to her when she says be careful.

So flipping through her book, a notification goes off on an instagram update. Opening it up, Norman posted a picture of him vaping with Melissa. It angers her to no end that he still does that stuff even when the doctor said no smoking or tobacco use of any kind. Now vaping may be different, but it's still a gateway back to cigarettes for Norman. He's come so far and Emily will be pissed if he turns back to that disgusting habit.

Setting her book down, Emily stares at the ceiling and wishes Norman would have just came over to hang out. It's like she's a teenager again who is jealous when her boyfriend is out partying with other girls and she has to stay home and babysit. Taking her phone, she opens up the camera and decides she'll play the game. She takes off her sweatahirt and lays in t-shirt and makes a funny face. Putting it on Instagram, she waits. Normally Norman is the first to like anything on her social media pages. But she waits patiently, setting her phone back on the night stand. Looking at the ceiling fan spin round and around, she feels impatient and checks her phone- nothing. She sets it back down and goes to ukulele she got a while ago. She's been wanting to incorporate it into a song or two, but has yet to make it work the way she wants it to.

You look at me and say I'm pretty,
I laugh because you're always witty,
But man it surely is a pitty,
That you are with her and not me.

I wish that we were naked,
Talking in my bed,
With a Streisand song playing,
And you kissing my head.
Of all the times we've laid awake,
Hurting and upset,
It's because you don't notice that I have yet to try and rest,

My mind keeps spinning,
Playing games,
Saying that She's yours and that we will never love the same,
I feel like I'm tied up,
And you have lit the thread,
I go up in smoke because
I left the Walking Dead,

You say to me you want me,
You put on a glorious show,
But when it comes to having fun or being with me,
You always choose to go,

It hurts to say I need you here,
Cause I don't want to see you're trapped,
But I don't want to watch you with her,
And hear you say you love her back,

My mind keeps spinning,
Playing games,
Saying that She's yours and that we will never love the same,
I feel like I'm tied up,
And you have lit the thread,
I go up in smoke because
I left the Walking Dead,

Yes I go up in smoke because you and she had lit the thread.

Sitting with Melissa at a restuarant in Philidelphia, Norman eats his meal and listens to her conversation with Michael about this up coming half of TWD. They can all feel it leading to a bad place, but no one knows exactly where. His phone goes off and it's Instagram. Looking at it, it's Emily making a weird face and he interallu chuckles and a small smile crosses his face.

"What are you smiling about? You could die too." Cudlitz reminds him and he looks up and his smile dims a bit, but he doesn't lead it on.

"No, he ain't smiling cause of that- he has a girly friend I bet." Melissa says and leans closer- so Norman quickly clicks off the screen. No one knows about him and Emily except Andrew, Greg, and Mingus. And he doesn't want a big deal made out of this. "Who is she Norman?"

"No one. It was no one special. Just Mingus sending a funny quote from a movie." He says nonchalantly. Melissa raises an eyebrow and Michael does too.

"That right?"

"Melissa, don't pry. If he don't wanna tell us about his lady friend- he don't have to." Cudlitz drinks his beer and Norman tries not to slink in his seat. He wants to tell them, but at the same time, he and Emily don't wanna spoil what they have with media.

Sleeping soundly in bed, her phone goes off and she looks at the screen: Norman Reedus. She really doesn't want to answer because her heart is heavy and she feels pathetic that she fell asleep crying over nothing, but Emily picks up anyway.

"Lo?"

"Hey sweetie. Did I wake you?" His voice is softer than normal and it makes her feel even worse.

"...it's fine." She says as she stares off into the blackness of her room.

"Is everything okay?" He can hear her- either in pain or stuck in sorrow, he can't tell.

"Yeah...How's convention?" She could careless.

"Fine. I miss you."

"Me too."

"Emmy, what do say I come home early tomorrow from WSC (Walker Stalker Con) and we take a vacation somewhere we've never been. I really need to hold you close and be with you." This makes Emily feel weird. Weird like Norman did something wrong. Or was with someone wrong- sexually. It wouldn't surprise her if something did happen because things often do. Is he feeling guilty about something she doesn't wnat to know about? "Em, you still there?"

"Yeah..."

"So what do you say about a vacation? Just you. Me. A bed."

"Sure."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." She's very short with him- whether it's her imagination messing with her or he tiredness- she is irritable.

"Okay- good. I'll be home sometime tomorrow and we can leave. Sorry for waking you up. I love you."

"Love you too. Bye."

"Bye..." She hangs up and tosses her phone to the other side of the bed. Why does she do this? Why does she always think of the worst poasible thing when there are no signs of anything bad happening?