Chapter Three

First Night

The streets were illuminated with the red, white, and yellow glow of car lights. Dorothy stared from the balcony, watching the clustered cars make their route to their cozy homes. The city lights held her hypnotized gaze. The view gave her peace from the scene that played repeatedly in her mind all night. It was unusually rash for her to kiss Roger the moment she found out she was human. What concerned her more was the fact that she didn't know why she did it. Dorothy felt the blood warm her face.

"Dorothy..." Roger joined her on the balcony still uncertain about everything. She smiled, never removing her eyes from the street.

"Roger...it's different somehow. This spot, it's still the same place I've always stood. But it seems different tonight."

Roger dropped his gaze. "As oblivious as it is, I still have trouble believing you are actually human. Just this morning you were..."

"Master Roger, Dorothy it is late. I suggest you take a rest, you've been through so much today." Norman persisted. The two looked strangely at one another.

"I guess that would be wise, Norman." Roger smiled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. Dorothy remained silent for awhile. She tried to figure out if Norman was talking about her too. She had never slept before, normally she would just find some house work that needed to be done while they slept or she would remain in complete silence sitting nowhere in particular. So when Norman suggested they both sleep, she was astonished and confused.

"Do I?" She pointed to herself curiously and looked at Roger for an answer.

Roger had seemed to have not thought of the idea as well, due to his startling expression. "Well...it makes sense to, since you are human." He finally replied.

Norman nodded. "It seems like we have a new member of the family all over again." He stated with a smile. "But now that the occasions have changed, I think it would be wise to take Ms. Dorothy out shopping tomorrow Master Roger."

Roger's eyes widened in surprise. "Shopping! But why!" The question mostly likely came from his insecurity with taking a girl shopping than not wanting to take Dorothy shopping.

"Because Master Roger, you don't expect a young girl to walk around in the same clothes all day, do you?" Norman smiled and grabbed Dorothy's wrist. "Now come along, Dorothy. We have a real room for you to stay in."

Roger had never thought of it before. Since Dorothy was an android she didn't require all the things normal people needed. He saw no reason to buy her new clothes and belongings when she was fine wearing the same plain black dress she always did. But of course he had to agree with Norman, it would be just plain ungentlemanly to deprive a lady of the beautiful things in life.

He watched calmly as Norman guided Dorothy to a new room. Following swiftly behind, he noticed her new room would be four doors down from his. Dorothy examined the medium size room. It contained a plain wooden dresser beside a small walk in closet and a matching nightstand beside the bed. A full body mirror stood conspicuously in the corner across from the queen sized bed with black sheets and pillows. As expected, the room was painted boring gray and had black curtains. The lights didn't seem to brighten the room in anyway. Most likely Roger designed the room himself, Dorothy concluded.

"Well, miss Dorothy we will be taking our leave, so that you can get some rest." Norman politely explained as he closed the door behind him.

Dorothy looked around once again. This was certainly unexpected. How is she suppose to sleep if she has never slept before? No mere memories of the real Dorothy could advise her on how to sleep. She figured it would just have to come naturally.

"Norman."

"Yes, Master Roger?"

"Aren't you the least bit curious or worried about this situation?"

"Why should I be? I know for a fact that is something Dorothy has wished upon for a very long time, that she feared would never happen as long as she lived."

Roger looked down, "I can't help feeling that this may all be some kind of dream. And when we wake up everything will be back to normal."

"Is that what you are hoping for?"

"What? No! Of course not. That would be cruel and inhuman. I'm happy for Dorothy, I really am. But I know their are things we humans experience that I know she can't handle. I just don't want her too discouraged when she finds all of this out. Life is too merciless for a kind hearted girl like herself." Roger replied sorrowfully.

"Than you are admitting she had a heart, even as an android?"

"You know she has one."

Norman smiled knowingly. "You seem awfully concerned about her feelings and her heart. Is it that you want to protect her from being hurt because of your own feelings Master Roger."

Roger blushed slightly and quickly turned, "good night Norman."

"Good night, Master Rogers."

A curious wind from the awkwardness of this night had sent shivers up her spine. Wetness skimmed the corner of the girl's eyes. A heavy furriness dropped over her face. In almost an instant she was awake, blindly pushing at the suffocating weight of her blanket. The moon was just barely seeable over the vibrate window beside her. In a surprised affection she held the pillow from beneath her close to her chest. The sound of her pulse echoed through her mind. Between the nights noisy orchestra and her mouth gasping for air there was a complete silence. Her sides heaved in and out demanding air and space. Awake in the still-dark she glanced at the mirror across from her. Capturing a few glimpses of the moon's light, she could see herself in the mirror. Her eyes widened as she stared at her reflection. Her shaky hands reached up to her face and gently touched her soft wet cheeks. Water ran from her eyes, which shocked her. She was crying. But why? She looked around the room, it was pitch dark with the exception of the moon's light. She had fallen asleep like she had thought, but she didn't expect to actually have a dream. She had forgotten it the moment she was brought back to consciousness.

Leaving the safety of her bed, she strolled to the door. She didn't feel safe in this room, it was too...lonely. A feeling she had yet to understand. The moment she opened the door, Dorothy shuddered; a body- tingling chill ran through her. She stood, listening to the silence. After a few moments, she stepped completely through the doorway, closing the door behind her.

"Norman?" She said aloud. Still, she quickened her step. It took a moment, but Dorothy's mind finally caught up with the pounding in her chest. This was what it felt like to be scared.

She peered into the dark hallway; the lights were out throughout the entire house. It must be really late if Norman has already gone to sleep as well. Then her glance moved to the balcony window, which she could see from upstairs The city lights continued to glow. That was when fear totally gripped her. That was when fear totally gripped her. She sought to collect her thoughts. Using her palms, she groped along the hallway wall in search of Roger's room. She moved quickly through the dangerously dark hallway.

"Roger..." She mumbled as she continued down the hall.

Roger, still slightly taken by sleep, woke up hearing something, but in seconds, it disappeared. The moment he closed his eyes again, it started again-a low whisper. He lightly pushed away the blankets from his bed and made his way toward the door. He opened the door and his eyes widened in shock. "Dorothy?" She was leaning against the wall, waiting silently by the door. "Dorothy..." She looked up at him with uncertainty. He was surprised to she a trace of tears in the corner of her eyes. She looked back down and walked over to him, stopping when they touch. She softly knelt her head on his chest.

"Can I stay with you?" She murmured quietly. His eyebrow lifted, was she actually scared of being alone? When he did not answer, she lifted her hands, tugging on his pajamas. Grasping them tightly she murmured again. "Please..." It sound as if her voice would crack and she was trying not to burst into tears. "Just tonight..."

Roger smiled sweetly and patted her on the head. "Just this once." Her head shot up and he was looking into watery eyes. He grabbed her wrist and closed the door behind them as he lead her through the darkness. It felt awkward to have her crawl into bed with him, but he pushed away the unfamiliarity as he let sleep consume him.