We'll Make It Work

Chapter Three

"I'm home!" I heard Mingus yell as he walks in, setting a few bags down on the counter.

"Hey you," I smiled as he takes a seat on the couch beside me. "Did you and Ma go shopping or something?"

"Yeah, I was in need of some new clothes." He yawns. "Where's my dad?" He asks looking around the room. "And why are you in his clothes?"

"He's in his room, I think," I gulped as I tried to make something up about why I had Norman's clothes on. "I uh, I wanted a pair of sweatpants. You didn't have any." 

I don't like lying to you, Mingus.

"More like you didn't even look," He laughs, wrapping his arm around my neck. "I have like, eight pairs of sweatpants. Don't lie. You were just to lazy too go upstairs."

"You got me!" I giggle, lying my head on his shoulder. "I want some ice cream. Do y'all have any?" I questioned as I sat up and walked to the freezer.

"Yeah, I think," Mingus yelled back. I grabbed the ice cream, chocolate, so cliche. I took a spoon out of the silverware drawer and started eating it. I hear footsteps coming from the stairs. I peak my head over the bar, Mingus still sitting in the same spot. 

Norman. 

He's coming down stairs. 

I'm obsessed with you, Norman.

"I don't think Genevieve should hangout with us anymore, Mingus," I hear Norman say quietly, but obviously not quiet enough. "At least not here."

Before I could hear anymore, I interrupted. "It's getting pretty late." Norman's head shoots up, his eyes meeting mine. It's hot in here. Why is it so hot. My cheeks are burning. "I think I'm gonna head home. I'll see you boys tomorrow, yes?" My eyes are still locked with Normans. I feel my eyes fill with liquid. 

Why did you let it happen. Everything would be fine if you would have just kept your legs closed.

"G, really? Come on, I just got back!" He whines, pouting out his bottom lip. He stands from the couch, now his eyes are locked with mine. "Genevieve, why are you crying.." He whispers. "Really, dad? Now you've made her cry. Thanks a lot." He gives Norman a look, quickly wrapping his arms around my waist. "Come on, I'll walk you out."

"Okay." I whisper back. My eyes lock with Normans again. 

He doesn't care. 

"I'm sorry he made you cry, he has that affect on people, especially on my mom," We stop walking when we reach my car. "And now you, obviously."

"It's fine really, I needed to go anyways. It's getting late and I have work in the morning." I give him an assuring smile. 

"I'll see you tomorrow, beautiful, text me when you're home safely." He kisses my forehead. 

I love when you kiss me, Mingus.

"I will."

*****

The next day went exactly as I thought it would. We ignored each other. Well, I would try and talk to him, but he'd just walk away. I also didn't get much sleep last night. My head was spinning and everything that happened just replayed over and over again like a song on repeat.

"Miss Genevieve!" Mr. Frank calls out as he enters my office. I mentally thank him for pulling me back in reality. "I need you to fax these papers and make sure everyone is all set for Comic-Con this weekend. It's suppose to be bigger than last year and I just want everything to go smooth." He hands me a folder. 

"Of course, Frank. Anything for you." I smile, but inside I'm hurting. I don't want to be here today. I want to be laid up in bed watching Grey's Anatomy and crying over who dies next. 

I walk to the copier, my head held high and my heels clicking on the tile floor. I begin to fax and make notes of how many are going and how many hotel rooms I need to book. I stand there for quit some time because the damn thing didn't want to work. My back was faced to the door.

Someone's walking in. 

They're behind you. 

He's behind you.

Norman.

I turn slightly to make sure my instincts were right. They are. It's crazy how our bodies just.. know when someone we're attracted to is near. A chemical reaction. He's dressed as Daryl, that stupid winged vest showing off his arms. Those damn arms.  I ignore him. I'm done looking like an idiot. I've tried talking to him all morning, and each time I get no response. Fuck him.

"I'm sorry," He stands beside me, his fingers grazing my elbow. 

Sparks.

"I've tried talking to you at least three times today." I say quickly.

"I know, Genevieve, I'm sorry." He sighs. "Let me make it up to you?" He brings his bottom lips between his teeth and his eyebrows furry together as if he's thinking hard about something. "Dinner. I want to make you dinner."

"How can you go from telling Mingus that I shouldn't hangout at the house anymore to I want to make you dinner?"I huff, snatching up the papers and storming out of the office. He follows e to my office, shutting the door behind him. "Really, Norman, what do you want from me? You have sex with me, tell Mingus you don't want me back at the house, now you're harassing me into having dinner with you." I stand in front of my desk. My arms crossed tightly.

"Look, Genevieve, I'm so confused.."

"And you think I'm not?"

"I don't know! I don't know anything! God, I just.. I know that I'm attracted to you, I know that we had sex and I liked it, I know that it's weird because of age, but now I can't stop thinking about you and it's killing me," His eyes meet mine. Those piercing blue eyes that I wouldn't mind looking at for forever. "Genevieve, I am sorry. Please, believe me. Mingus is going to Helena's tonight. Let me make you dinner. Please."

"Okay," I shrug. I'm already over this. I have a feeling this is how it's going to continue to be. We'll be intimate, he'll ignore me, I'll get my feelings hurt, then he'll come apologizing. "Whatever. Just.. what time do you want me over?"

"Eight-o-clock. Okay? I promise you I'll make this up to you." He walks over, placing one hand on my waist and the other on my cheek. He doesn't say another word, he just looks at me. He sighs, leaning in and kissing my forehead. 

"Okay, Norman."