Part 1

                                    

                                          
[People might recognise this story from my mini clips section, but I figured as this was already 6 parts and probably will have another 2 it doesn't really fit the 'Mini' stories idea I had! I have a problem of writing too much and getting carried away! So I've decided any Normero story that is longer than 4/5 parts will be published separately :) To anyone that hasn't read this yet, I hope you enjoy. Lots of love]
                          
The drive back from Pineview was long and painfully quiet, a dark and tense atmosphere filled the SUV like a thick fog surrounding Alex and Noma. Bitterness and resentment cursing through Norma as she tried to keep her opinions and disgust to herself whilst Alex tried his absolute best to lighten the situation and reach through to her, but it was pointless and Alex knew he wasn't going to break through her icy exterior, not now, not tonight anyways. Every now and again he would glance over at Noma, hoping that she would catch his eyes, but she never did, her eyes were glued to the window looking at the dark shapes and shadows that the moon cast its glow over. She watched how the moon bounced and dipped between the tall pine trees and then how it disappeared altogether, the light completely vanishing leaving just complete darkness, much how Norma was feeling inside. How had her life come to this she wondered, what did she do that was so bad that it meant she had to suffer through this, alone. Sure Alex was there she thought to herself, but he'd never understand, and he'd probably get sick of her crap and leave her. She expected it. 
                          
Alex continued to drive, they were almost home but still had quite a few miles to cover before they were back at the motel, he wasn't sure how best to approach Norma and the situation that they found themselves in. Alex was well aware that the past few days had been pretty awkward and very difficult for Norma, she wasn't used to having a man at the house, unless it was Norman and Alex wasn't adjusting to her rules very well, having gotten a lecture a few times for leaving the toilet seat up on more than one occasion and for putting down the wrong towel to stand on after his shower. He'd also been told that he put the bread back wrong and that the butter has to go back in the fridge. Truth be told he was losing his patience with her and he had to really bite his tongue not to snap back, he knew she was hurting but he was worried how long he'd be able to be her emotional punch bag. 
                          
Alex thought back to that morning and how it hadn't gotten off to a good start and it just continued to go downhill from there, he and Norma had fallen out, well at least Norma had fallen out with him, he took too long in the shower and there wasn't enough hot water for her, even though she repeated to him half a dozen times she didn't want a shower, then he hadn't washed up his coffee mug, Alex rolled his eyes at the memory, he was still drinking his coffee at the time, it was still hot. Next she moaned about him taking too long and how she wanted to get to Pineview as quick as possible, Alex practically begged Norma to eat something, anything, surely her mood was being fueled by an empty stomach, but she bit his head off again-she wasn't hungry, Alex struggled to deal with her many meltdowns that morning, in the end he tried to just tune them out or rather tune her out, it was on the tip of his tongue to ask if she was due or on her period but he sure as hell didn't have a death wish, he might not have a lot of experience with women but he knew this was the rule, don't ever ask a woman if she is on her period, and also under no certain terms tell her to calm down. He made that mistake before. Never, ever again. The journey to Pineview was also full of classic Norma Bates toddler tantrums and tears, after sitting in total silence for about forty minutes Norma started to get restless, fidgeting every few minutes and then sighing deeply every time they drove past a garage or diner. Alex eventually got the hint, she was hungry but rather than just say that she had to just be awkward. Normally he found her little moods endearing, well most of the time but today she was pissing him off. Alex asked the obvious question, did she want to stop for food, resulting in a pouting Norma topped with a sarcastic remark. Alex bit his lip trying to hold back the childish comeback forming in his mind, 'well then maybe you should have eaten earlier when i told you too' . But it wasn't worth being battered with her handbag like she seems to like to do to people that piss her off.