A Friendship Or More

Girlfriend

It had been about two months sence getting the job with Norman, and my every waking moment was filled with him. He never stopped waking me up early, and I always went to bed late. At this point though, it had be come so rutine for me that I didn't care. I had even started just waking up, before Norman would call, but I always laid in bed and wait for him. He was a way better wake up call then just waking up.
This afternoon we were in his trailor, he was showing me some of the cool things fans had sent him. Including his brest implant. I laughed at him as he told the story with a little smile.
"Kinda weird, I know," he said as he set it back down. I laughed.
"Well, I mean I didn't want to say anything," I said with a smile. He eyed me a minute.
"You think I'm weird? Your afraid of feet, and masks," he said throwing two of my fears in my face. I looked at him.
"I never said I was normal," I countered. It was true never once did I tell him I was normal. He smiled, his little half smile.
"That's true, and I dont think we could hang out if you were," he laughed. I flipped him off. He stepped tward me. My breath caught in my throat, it always did when he would move tward me. Just then though, the door opend and we both looked up.
"Baby, I tried to text you when I was at the..." A tall, skinny brunette stood looking confused in the door way. Norman looked shocked to see her and I immediately felt like I shouldn't be there.
"Hello," she said, sounds a bit upset.
"Kate," Norman said sounding as shocked as he looked. I looked from her to him. In two months he hadn't brought her back up, I thought they had broken up. Aparently I was wrong, because here she was, and she didn't look happy to see me.
"Who's this?" She asked trying to keep the bitchiness out of her voice. Norman looked at me, he looked.... Cought, like a kid being cought doing soemthing he shouldn't. I felt very akward.
"Stephanie, this is Kate. Kate, Stephanie," he said in a rush. I smiled, but my heart broke. This was Kat. Kate, Norman's girlfriend, Kate. I don't know what I had been thinking up to this point. We weren't dating why did I feel like my heart was being crushed?
"Hi," She said strained, like it physically hurt her to be nice to me. I smiled weakly, still feeling like I got hit by a semi truck.
"Hi," I said lowly, I didn't want to be here. "So I'll let you two, do whatever it is you do," I said feeling less confident about saying the sentence then when I went in to it. "I have to get back to work, see you later," I smiled at Norman, heading for the door, Kate was currently blocking. She quickly moved and I smiled, again weakly. "Nice to meet you," I lied on my way out.
I didn't want to go back to the make up trailor, because I felt like I was going to cry. I wanted to home. I went to my car insted and light up a ciggarette. A stiff drink would go well with this, I thought as I felt like an idiot. There was a tap on the window that made me jump as I looked up to see Norman. I opend the door, but I didn't know what to say to him. 'Sorry I ran out, I just thought......' What? What did I think? He never said I like you, I want to be with you. Nothing, we were friends. Nothing more.
"I didn't know she was comming," he said first. I didn't know what to say to that. "I'm sorry," he said after I didn't say anything. I looked at him confused.
"For what?" I asked, really not knowing. He looked at me a long moment.
"I mean we've been hanging out for a while, and I never mentioned, her. I mean you knew of her, I don't know what you thought. I just feel like I've lied to you some how," he said lowly. I looked at him. He never lied to me, didn't say anything really.
"You didn't lie to me, I never asked because your love life I none of my business," I told him the truth. He gave a slight chuckled.
"I don't know, I guess your right though. You are deffenatly not like other girls," he said giving me a weak smile. I returned it. I sighed a little as I dropped my ciggarette.
"You should head back, before she thinks something is going on," I said. I mean he did fallow me out. Norman looked at me a long moment.
"You should come back with me," he said after just looking at me. I made a face.
"Probably not a good idea. I mean if I was her, and I came all this way to see you, I wouldn't want some random girl hanging around," I told him Norman looked at me a little funny, I thought.
"But I don't want you to feel like I ditched you," he said lowly. I kinda laughed this time.
"She's your girlfriend," I said hating the way that sounded. Norman looked at me a long moment.
"Your my friends though," he said. I kinda liked the way he was fighting for me to go back with him. The look on her face I'm sure would be priceless. I smiled a bit.
"Reedus, I guess you've twisted my arm," I said still smiling. Norman smiled big.
"Awesome, now I'm gonna try to have her outta here by Saturday, because it's taken me two months to get you to agree this this photo shoot I wanna do, and I'm not letting you back out now," Norman assured me. I laughed. On the plus side, her being here might get me outta that.
"If you can't it's no big deal," I tried to play it off. Norman looked at me.
"Hell no! I'll give her my Visa card and get rid of her for the day," Norman assured me. I laughed.
"You telling her why?" I asked, wondering if she was going to question why she was being shipped off.
"Fuck no! She won't care, as long as she's got that card," he said then he looked at me like he shouldn't have said that. I thought I was kinda cute how he didn't want to say anything bad about her. Even though he clearly knew what kinda person she was.
"That's sad," I said as we reached the trailer. He gave me a look, wich made me smile and we walked in.
"Norman, I don't think..." Kate started, and stopped, clearly suprised to see me again. "Oh you're back," she said. I wasn't sure what to make of that, was she being a bitch?
"Yeah, I figured my two girls could hang out together," Norman said smiling at me, then her. I liked him calling me his girl, and that he smiled at me first.
"Ohh, well. Umm Norman, can I talk to you outside real quick?" Kate asked, I eyed her. Norman looked at me then her.
"I'm sure it's nothing Stephanie can't hear, right?" He asked looking at her lost. She smiled and I could tell it was forced.
"Norm, baby, I would really appreciate if you'd come outside with me," Kate said walking by me clearly pissed and went out the door.
"Told you she'd be mad," I said lowly. Norman looked at me and shrugged with a smile.
"Yeah, well she isn't goin to just show up and then tell me who I can and can't hang out with," Norman said sounding mad. I was suprised, but I liked his Authoritive side. He then went outside and I sat on the couch akwardly. I could hear hushed arguing, and I knew she didn't want me around. I was happy though that Norman did. A little while later they came back in. I was unhappy to see Kate walk in first.
"So Stephanie, Norman tells me you work here," She said sounding fake, like she was talking to a two year old. I smiled, I could play this game too.
"That's funny, Norman hasn't told me a thing about you," I made a fake conserned face. I spoke to her in the fake haply voice she had me. She looked at Norman, clearly pissed. I flashed a quick smile.
"So your a hairdresser?" She asked loosing her happy voice and replacing it with a bored one.
"Yeah, what do you do?" I asked clearly not intressed just making it sound good. She looked at me.
"I'm a model," she said proudly. I looked at her, odviously Norman dated them all the time.
"Ohh, never hear of you," I shrugged truthfully. Norman hid a small smile. She looked pissed.
"I have a contract with Victoria Secret," she told me proudly. I made a impressed face.
"I have a contract with 'The Walking Dead'" I said sounding just as proud. She didn't look happy.
"Yeah, well clearly, those of us that arn't model material have to do something," she said annoyed.
"No, those of us who have brains get real jobs," I spat back. Getting up and walking to the door. "Norm, I'll catch you later, I have work to do," I said smiling. He looked like he was holding back something.
"Ya sure?" He asked. I smiled bigger, he was aparently enjoying the back and forth.
"Yeah, well some of us get paid to do more then just stand around and look pretty, " I said. He made a face.
"Hey, don't knock it, I've model before," he said lowly. I smiled.
"Yeah, but you also moved on and got other jobs that required some brains," I laughed. He made a noise trying not to laghed. "Text me" I said as I went out the door.
By the end of the day, I hadn't heard a thing from Norman. I thought about stopping by his trailor to see if he was there, but I figured I had caused enough trouble for the day. I headed to my car and saw Norman's Jeep was already gone. I sighed, of couse it was. Of couse he left with her, she was his girlfriend.
I went home that night and it was strange. I didn't know what to do. I was a stranger in my own house. I tried watching tv, but I wasn't interested in that. I walked around the small apartment aimlessly. I was use to being at Norman's. I was only here anymore to go to sleep. So then I decided maybe a shower and then bed.
After my shower, I picked up my phone. No messages, and it was only ten. I sighed, there would be no way I would fall asleep so early. My life literally had been surviving on as little sleep as possible for the past two months. I was trained, to be on Norman's schedule. I decided to listen to some music sence there was nothing else to do.
I was laying in bed and listeing to the music, hopping sleep would find me. My music cut off, suddenly. I grabbed my phone looking to see what had happend. Then I saw Norman was calling me. Normally I don't like talking on the phone, but when it came to Norman he usually made me do things I didn't like.
"Hey," I said lowly.
"God its nice to hear your voice," were Norman's first words. I laughed.
"Are you drunk?" I asked. He exhaled, he was smoking.
"I wish. What are you doin?" He asked. I didn't realize how much I had missed talking to him untill now.
"Why? Nothing, " I didn't want to sound like I had no life, but the sad truth was I really didn't. Especially when Norman made himself the center of my life.
"Ehh, not important," he said exhaling again.
"Not enjoying your company? " I asked sarcastically. He made a noise.
"You really don't wanna hear about it," Norman answered. I rolled my eyes. I probably didn't.
"She has to do something right. This I the first time I've come home, right after work, pretty much sense I met you, " I said kinda annoyed, and not nothing to hide it. Norman huffed slightly.
"I though she could, but now, that's not even satisfing me," he said lowly. I made a face. Did Norman just tell me about his sucky sexy life?
"Ew," fell out of my mouth. He laughed.
"You asked," he laughed. I made another face, thankfully he couldn't see it.
"I figured she could do that right. Aparently blow jobs are hard then I remembered?" I laughed, I had been single for the past few months now. It was hard to date when a guy, who wasnt yout boyftiend, took the majority of your time. Maybe I forgotten how that worked. Norman laughed again.
"No I'm pretty sure it's the same," he said. I was surprised.
"What the fuck then?" I asked Norman laughed slightly.
"I don't know. Ya ever had any complaints?" He asked after a second. It suprised me he had asked me that. It shouldn't of, becuase it was Norman, but it always did, when he talked like this.
"Really? What are you doing interviewing me to.
see if I can do it right?" I asked with a laugh, use to Norman's humar.
"Mmhm, still waiting for it to be done right," he said lowly. I shook my head, I knew the game.
"Well your there and I'm here," I said lowly. Norman made another weird noise.
"I can be there in a few," he said. I giggled.
"Alright," I answered knowing the game. Norman made another noise.
"What would you do if I showed up?" He asked, I could just see that evil smile on his face now. I smiled. It had been a couple months sence I had been with a man. I knew what I'd like to do.
"Odviously give you a better time then your girlfriend," I said with a smile.
"Promis?" He asked. I giggled again.
"You'll never know," I finnaly said, knowing he'd never show up. He laughed. Then I heard a knock at my door. I looked up, trying to figure out who it was. I looked at my outfit, some sleeping shorts. They were a little short and a tank. I got up and slipped pants on. Then went to answer the door.
"Hold on Norman someone is at my door," I said to the phone, there was no rely. I opend the door and there he was. Norman. I looked at him and hung up my cell phone. "What the fuck?" I asked. He smile.
"I was told I could have a good time here," he smiled, putting his phone away. I blushed, I thought it was a joke, but god if he wants to try. I was never a one night stand kinds person, but he made it hard, so hard.
"Norman," I breathed. He smiled.
"Mmhm, baby girl are you speachless?" He laughed. I just looked at him. I wasn't sure if this was a joke anymore. Maybe he was just horny and looking to get off. I wasn't in to that though. It would mess up our entire relationship. Our friendship, I wanted a relationship, but I wanted I all. I wanted me to be only his, and him to be only mine. I knew that was never going to happen though. I stood there looking stupid I'm sure because he laughed again.
"Baby girl, I'm just kidding. I just needed to get out of the house, " he said. I smiled seeing that he was still just joking with me and stepped aside so he could come in.
"Everything ok?" I asked. That sounded stupid. Clearly not or Norman wouldn't be here, he'd be at home.
"Yeah," Norman said walking to the living room. I fallowed. We sat on the couch. "I don't know, Steph, your a girl. How do I tell a girl is not working?" He asked after a minute. I kinda laughed.
"Ok being a girl isn't going to help anything. That's going to suck any ways, but I don't know," I shrugged, break ups sucked. "Why aren't things working?" I asked. He gave me a weird look and took a deep breath.
"My intresses have changed?" He asked. I laughed.
"Are you asking me or telling me?" I asked still smiling. He looked at me making another face.
"I guess trying to see if that works. Would that be a line to use?" He asked. I smiled.
"It could, but how so?" I asked, I mean if he were breaking up with me, and thank god he wasn't. I would want to know what had changed. He made another face. These faces he made, made it look like he was thinking really hard about his answeres.
"I don't know, I'm just not intressed in her, I guess," Norman finnaly said. I looked at him funny.
"Have you found soemone else?" I asked. Not realizing how weird it sound until after I said it, and Norman looked at me weird. " I mean if I was her, I'd ask you that," I said, trying to make it sound better. He nodded.
"No, I mean I don't think so," Norman said, but like the first statement, he did sound convincing. I tilted my head.
"Ok, so what do you want to do insted of be with her when she's around?" I asked I was bein nosy. He slept all his time with me. Norman took no time to answer.
"Be with you," he said, then looked suprised. "I mean hag out with my firends, she's not fun. I didn't realize how much of a stuck up bitch she is, untill just recently. I hate to say that, but it's true," Norman finnaly opend up. I smile.
"Norm, I think being straight forward with her is the best approach," I gave my opinion, not just because he said he would rather hang out with me either, because I felt it would really help.
"Yeah, I just hate being mean to people," he said. I smiled at him, and got up.
"Ok don't tell her. Go home have shitty sex and stop hanging out with me," I said. He looked at me a minute.
"Are you throwing me out?" He asked. I laughed.
"If you don't be mean to her and break up with her that's what's going to happen. I'm not going to have to throw you out though, because you won't be allowed back here, she won't let you. At least if you were my boyfriend I wouldn't let you hang out with another girl, alone," I told him. He smiled.
"You'd be more fun, and I doubt we'd have shitty sex," he smiled. I couldn't help but smile.
"Focus Reedus!" I said trying not to laugh. He made a face and grabbed the remote.
"Focused enough, just wanna hang out with you," he finnaly said flipping on the tv. I smile sitting back down. How could I tell him no. I sat down on the other end of the couch. Norman looked over at me making a face.
"What?" I asked, getting comfortable. He shook his head. He went back to flipping threw the channels a little while later he made a growling noise
"Your cable sucks," he said starting over the channels again. I laughed.
"Welcome to the world of not being rich," I laughed. He looked at me, and made another face.
"I'm not rich," he said. I laughed.
"I can bearly afford this cable. My car is costing me a small fortune," I said. He looked at me.
"What's wrong with it? " He asked. I looked at him.
"I don't know," I shrugged. "It makes funny noises all the time, sometimes it starts soemtimes it takes an hour," I said. He looked at me funny.
"Time for a new one," he said. I laughed again.
"Sure, let me just stop buying groceries, paying lights, get rid of this sucky cable, oh and stop spending gass on going to your house," I said telling him all the things I would have to stop doing to be able to afford a car. He looked at me.
"You really would have to do all that?" He asked not believing me I guess. I looked at him.
"If I want it soon, yes. If I want to wait a year or two and hope this one stays working, I just have to cut out cable and extra running," I said. Norman made a face, not liking the answer.
"How are you supose to come over? Well I mean I can always come get you, but your always worried I'll kidnap you," he said justifying why he didn't. I smiled.
"It might become down to risking kidnapping if you want me to come over," I laughed. He smiled.
"I think you'd like being kidnapped," he said lowly. I smiled, by him yes.
"Only by certain drug attic, murders, with rapist tendencies, " I laughed. Norman smiled bigger, moving closer.
"I am that drug attic, murder, with rapist, tendencies, " he reminded me. I smiled and shook my head.
"No, sorry, not you, " I laughed. He frownd.
"If it wasn't for me Mac wouldn't exist," he said sounding kinda upset. I smiled smugly.
"They could have found someone else," I said. Norman lunged at me. I was pinned to the couch, all Norman's weight on me. I laughed, but my heart was racing.
"Could they?" He asked pinning my arms on either side of my head. I smiled up at him. I wanted to know what he would do. There were so many things I wanted him to do. I nodded. His face came down inches from mine. I couldn't breath.
"Answer me," he said lowly. I looked up at him.
"Norman?" I asked lowly. He smiled down at me.
"Scared?" He asked bearly above a whisper. I shook my head. "Say it," he said again. I looked up at him. I could feel his hot breath, god I wanted him to kiss me.
"I'm not scared," I said lowly. He smiled more.
"Good," he said as his eyes started to cloes. Mine did too, then I felt a vibration against my thight, and I bucked my hips in to his. Was he hard? I'm pretty sure he was. He had Gotten off me, I was sad.
"Yeah?" He said in to the phone. I sat up. Damn what happned? I think he was going to kiss me, maybe not. God I wanted him to, but I also didn't want to be a one night stand, or maybe just a rebound for shitty sex. I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't even hear Norman hang up untill he was sitting beside me again.
"Hey, sorry, um, I wasn't just messing around," he said lowly. I looked up. Of course he was. He didn't like me. I needed to stop thinking he did.
"Yeah, of course. I know," I said sadly. I hope he couldn't tell. He looked at me.
" I wouldn't do that to you," he said after a minute. I looked at him. He went on. "I wouldn't come over to sleep with you because I have a shitty sex life. I don't want to mess up our friendship like that," Norman assure me. I smiled, it was sweet he valued our friendship like that.
"Your the sweetest guy ever," I told him, I moved in to hugged him. He held me close for a long time. I didn't mind. I liked it, I felt peaceful in his arms. Suddenly sleepy too. I could sleep here if he'd let me. I rested my head on hi shoulder, Norman bent his down so he could whispire in my ear.
"Comfy?" He asked. I nodded. He didn't bother to make me move and I didn't move. I felt myself falling alseep. I wanted to sleep in his arms, but I knew I couldn't. I pulled away. Norman looked at me funny. I looked at him.
"I was falling asleep," I kinda laughed. He smiled setting back on the couch.
"Come on," he said holding his arms out. I smiled.
"Norman," I said shyly. He smiled
"Come on, we aren't doing anything. Just sitting together. Maybe watch a movie, and maybe you fall asleep. You might as well be comfortable," he smiled. I did too. I couldn't help it, I went to his out streched arms and laid my head on his chest.
"Comfy?" Norman asked again. I nodded slowly, my eyes were already closed. I was already falling asleep. I felt warm, and safe, and happy.
I woke up sometime later, I was in the dark, but I wasn't alone. I shifted feeling song arms holding me. I sighed and tried to think, what had happend before I went to sleep. Norman. Norman had come and we had talked. Then he had turned on the tv, and I was sleepy. So he let me go t sleep, but why was it dark? Why had he stayed? I rested my head back on his chest. Norman shifted and groaned a little.
"Your couch sucks," he said in to the darkness. I stiffend, did he know I was awake? He moved and kissed my head. I loved when he did that. I couldn't pretend to be asleep anymore.
"I didn't buy it to sleep on," I said lowly. I heard Norman chuckle and shift.
"That kiss thing works," he said lowly. I smiled. In the dark he couldn't see my face but I loved when he'd kiss my head. It was sweet and endearing.
"I don't think so, I think I might have been awake," I admitted. I heard Norman make a sound. "I think you have to be a Princess for that" I said lowly Norman shifted again.
"I'd believe you were," he said lowly. I smiled, I liked When he talked to me like that. When he said he said sweet things. I probably shouldn't, but I did.
"How did we end up sleeping on the couch?" I asked changing the subject. I heard him breath in.
"Well you fell asleep, and I was bored, your cable sucks. So I decided to sleep too. Should have gotten up and went to your room, would have been more comfortable," he was smiling, I could tell. I smiled.
"Oh really, and what makes you think that I want you sleeping in my bed? " I asked with a laugh. Noman bent his head down tward me.
"You do, you always do," he said lowly. I made a face, nope, never really thought about it, in my bed. It was always his bed, we were ways at his house .
"No," I said lowly. Norman grunted.
"Alright, if you wanna play shy that's fine. I'm just saying," he said. It was an advantage and a disadvantage at the same time. Advantage, he couldn't see my face. Disadvantage, I couldn't see his. I thought about this a second.
"What about your bed?" I asked. He shifted, slightly.
"I dono," he said lowly. I sighed, maybe I could let him stay. I mean we did just cuddled on the couch and sleep. I rested my head on his shoulder, feelling sleep, again.
"Well make up your mind Reedus, becuase I'm sleepy," I said in to the dark. His head rested against mine.
"You'd let me stay, wouldn't you?" He finnaly asked. I looked at him even though I couldn't see him.
"Of course, we are friends right? You need a place to crash I'm here," I told him. I felt him grab my hand, or maybe he was already holding it, I'm not sure.
"Your one amazing woman," he said lowly, more like he said it to himself and not really to me.
"Norman?" I said lowly, I didn't want to move from his arms, but I also was tired. As if on instinct, he sighted his arms around me, but it was only for a second.
"I know," he answered. I didn't want to make the first move. I didn't want him to leave. I knew he would though. I wanted to tell him to stay. I wanted a lot of things, with him, but then he shifted, and I knew it was almost over. "Light" he said as I braced myself for it. I sat there another few moments, Norman looked down at me and smiled. I smiled up at him.
"What?" I said lowly, I could tell I was sleepy just by my voice. He shook his head slightly, but was still smiling.
"Nothing," he said lowly. I looked up at him as he looked down at me. What was he looking at? I knew what I was looking at. The most amazing man in the world. I stopped myself. I was falling in love, I had to stop that. We were friends, he was just a sweet amazingly good hearted man. That I needed to stop falling for, his girlfriend was sleeping in his bed. He was here with me thought. That stuck out, I smiled agin, he was here with me.
"Hey," Norman said softly. I smiled at him.
"Hey," I repeated. He smiled bigger and laughed.
"Are you getting up or we sleeping here again?" He asked. I looked at him, my brain was dead, I just wanted to look at him. My eyes were getting heaven though.
"Ok," I said as I looked at him and smiled. Norman smiled and shook his head, because I didn't move.
"Come on," on he said, as he moved and got up. Holding his hand out to me. I smiled up at him, taking his hand. We walked slowly to my room and I saw my bed. It looked nice, comfy, and ready to be slept in. I climbed in, then I looked up at Norman, he was just standing there, looking at me.
"You ok?" I asked from my spot on the bed. He smiled at me.
"Yeah," he said as he sat down on the bed. I laid there and watched him. He finally laid down. I smiled at him. He smiled back.
"Good night," I said lowly. Norman reached for me moved in to his arms.
"Good night," he said. I laid there listeing to his heart and smelling his cologne. It was perfect. I was almost asleep, when Norman shifted. I sat up a bit.
"Sorry" he said lowly as I saw him pull up his phone, it was ringing. I sighed and turned away, I know it was Kate. Norman answered it. I tried not to listen, I didn't want to. I knew she would call and he would leave. I didn't want him to go, hell we weren't doing anything, but he just made me happy. He was the best boyfriend I'd never have. I felt him kiss my head and I rolled tward him.
"She just figure out your still gone?" I kinda laughed.
"Yeah," he answered. I sighed.
"Well, I guess your going now," I didn't know how to keep the hurt out of my voice. I didn't want it there, but I knew I was getting too close to him. Norman pulled me close again.
"I'd rather stay here," he said lowly, and kissed my head. I smiled, then I felt like shit. I felt like the oher woman, I wasn't, but that's how I felt. Why? Why would he rather stay with me when there was a Victoria Secret model in his bed at home? I nodded. I was so stupid. Norman kissed my head.
"I'll see you tomorrow," I said.
"Yeah, get some sleep baby girl," he said. Then he got up and left. I heard the front door. That's when I cried. I was so stupid, Norman was never going to like me. I was just his friend. I was starting to think too, if possible he'd would add the benefits. I didn't mean anything to him. Why should I though? I wasn't special. I was normal. A normal stupid girl with a stupid crush on a man who didn't like relationships. I knew that, I knew Norman didnt have a lot of long-term relationships. I sighed as I rolled away from his sent. His presence, his everthing. We were friends, that's all. End of story!