The Makeup Artist (Norman Reedus)

Uninvited

Louise felt her lump in her throat, this was the first time she had seen James since she decided to stay, he had been ignoring Liam's texts and calls lately which upset Liam but he had made friends here and would spends weekends with them playing soccer or hanging at the skate park with Mingus, so he never seemed to bothered so Louise never intervened.

"Well, you look fantastic! ....may i?" James said pushing past Louise's arm to go inside. She tried to  pull down Norman's t shirt to conceal her more, standing in the doorway still Louise told him to go and that she would call him later, anything to get him to leave quick. James had no plans on leaving and sat down and helped himself to a glass of wine Louise had laid out for her and Norman. "Expecting company?" He smirked eyeing her up and down. Sighing she closed the door "i am actually, a boyfriend...so if you dont mind..." She said waving at the door for him to go. James didnt make no signs of moving.

"He will be here any minute please leave" Louise begged through tears. James got up and walked along side the fireplace, he noticed photos of Louise and Norman and one with the pair with Liam and Mingus at a basketball game. "Playing happy families with this one then?" He asked meaning Norman.

"Liam thinks you have just cut him off...he looks up to Norman" Louise said trying to defuse where James was going with that comment. Louise kept peering out the window to see where Norman was.

"Im going to go get changed." Sounding defeated Louise went upstairs, James wasnt going to leave anytime soon and with Norman arriving home shortly she thought best to not be in lingerie.

"So this guy made you stay here?" James said hovering in her bedroom doorway, shooting round to see James she yelled "JAMES GET OUT! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!!" Pushing him away, he grabs her arms "when are you going to come home huh? You cant do this by yourself you are kidding yourself babe, ive always looked after you" he says looking deep into her eyes that were trying not to look at him "Louise...you will never let me go you cant. You know that" he added, wriggling an arm free she slapped him in the face, he looked shocked that she would even do that. "YOU DONT CONTROL ME ANYMORE!" She screamed at him.

Pushing Louise into the bedroom, pushing her so hard she fell backwards he walked towards her as she shuffled back and tried to stand up. "I have given you money and looked after you and you still havent re-payed me" he said angrily. Getting to her feet she stated "James i dont do that anymore and you know that. You pay your way for Liam thats all i ask" she tried to hold a serious stance but James laughed her off. "Lou ive been in your head since you were 17, i know you better than you know yourself"

Louise heard the door shut downstairs, it was Norman. "Where are you Lou?" He called out. Louise pushed James away from her. "Leave now!" She yelled whispered. Norman called out to her again "Lou?" Her heart jumped when she heard him come up the stairs to look for her.

"What's going on here?" Norman asked looking at James and a visibly upset Louise. "James was just leaving" she said. James looked at Norman with a stance, he walked out and slammed the front door.

Norman shot a look at Louise "what happened?" He wanted answers and he wanted them now. "Nothing...nothing, he just came over...wanted to see Liam" she brushed him off and said he should come downstairs so they could enjoy their night alone.

Norman knew she was bullshitting. Pressing her further as he walked down the stairs he asked "why do you shut me out with him? that guy gives you the jitters...did...did he ever hit you?" He stuttered at the last part as he didn't want to think of Louise being hit.

"No! God no" she paused "you dont understand i was struggling when Liam was growing up i had no money and no family, James would give me money....but he always wanted something. Sometimes i wanted to because i was lonely but sometimes i didnt but i did it because i needed the money" louise revealed and couldnt stop sobbing. That was her one secret she promised she would tell no one. They would never understand and would think she was cheap and weak.

Norman grabbed Louise in the tightest embrace ever and kissed her forehead as she cried, "its okay, i understand, sssshh sweetheart its fine, you dont need to do that anymore you are your own woman" he told her, "im going to make sure James knows that as well, he isnt thinking he can snap his fingers like that anymore" he reassured her. "James wont listen he never does" Louise said lifting her head up. Norman just kissed her on the lips. He had an idea.

When Louise fell asleep he took her phone, knowing its wrong and text James pretending to be Louise about meeting at the all night diner down the road, about 15 minutes away. After James excited reply he left Louise in bed and left for the diner.

He could see James already sitting inside. Opening the door Norman headed to the booth James was in and sat down. James looked worried, Louise couldnt of been the one to text him after all. "Back off from Louise. You just focus on being a father instead of upsetting Louise...she doesnt need your money! He spoke with seriousness. "Hey, Louise needs someone to provide for her" James said with his smile. "Yea and she is doing just fine on her own. Trust me...you go round there again, upset her when Liam is nor there i will not be responsible for actions next time" Norman spat. He stood up and left James in the diner. The ball was in James's court. He had been warned.

Norman arrived back at the house and got back into bed with Louise. He spooned into her, she turned to face him, "i had a question i wanted to ask you tonight" she sighed as if she couldnt do it now. "What is it?" He whispered getting closer to her, she ran her hands up his muscly arms. "Will you move in with me? Like properly. " she asked, she planned to ask him over wine and dinner and then to put the lingerie to good use but this way will have to do she thought. Rolling on top of Louise he kissed her from her lips to her neck "of course i will" Louise pushed Norman so she was on top of him, she kissed his chest up to his collar bone, she could feel him hardening underneath her. "Let me get changed" she said jumping off him and running to the bathroom "why? Its like midnight now...Lou?" He called out confused when eventually Louise came back in in the blue lingerie she bought earlier. "Not that im complaining" he said as he eyes her up and down.