Teacher's Pet

XXVII

Blair stood in front of Normani who was currently pretending he wasn't there. The action made him crack a slight smile, she was so petty sometimes. He knew she was upset with him and that she most likely didn't want him there but that's why he needed to be there.

To make amends.

"Can we talk?" He questioned, he was hopeful that she didn't completely hate him yet.

Normani stared blankly at him and shook her head, turning on her heels and leaving him to stand alone. With a sigh Blair watched her walk away before a hand touched his shoulders, he tensed a bit before turning his head around to see Zendaya.

"You know you fucked up, right?"

Blair huffed, turning his whole body around to face her causing Zendaya to drop her hand. "I know, tryna make it right."

"You in love with Mani or something?"

Blair laughed a little, shaking his head as he looked down at his shoes. He brought his head back up and guided his brows together. "Oh you're serious?"

"Uh yeah."

He began to shake his head repeatedly, he didn't know why she'd think that. He could never look at Mani that way.

"Nah, definitely not that."

"I wanna believe you trust me I do but it's hard. I mean outing her relationship to Mama D? Now you know that was wrong."

"I wasn't trying to out her, Z. I mean I was just venting, that's like my mom too. You guys really are the only family I have."

Zendaya responded with a sad smile, Blair had a point but still, it didn't make complete sense. There was clearly something missing to the story, something like what exactly Blair was venting about.

"I'll see if I can talk to Mani for you, you guys do need to talk. You know she's never willing to squash shit right away unless it's with me."

"That's too accurate man, I'm starting to think she has favorites."

"Not favorites, a favorite and it's me."

Blair chuckled, he missed Zendaya just as much as he did Normani. But, when one best friend is mad at you so is the other so Zendaya giving him the cold shoulder was expected. She was on Normani's side no matter what and he wasn't mad at her, he actually loved that for them.

"Appreciate it."

"Meet me in the backyard in 10 minutes."

• • •

Normani sat in one of the chairs on her parents' back deck, her right leg shaking which caught Zendaya's attention. Ryan noticed it as well but she decided against mentioning it, anyone who shook their leg that much was not in the best headspace and she did not want to experience Normani's wrath. Zendaya on the other hand did not care.

"You nervous or angry?"

"Maybe both?" Normani answered, it was slightly aggressive causing Ryan to mumble 'yikes' while she used her thumb and pointer finger to break the weed up. "I mean, my girlfriend is coming to meet my parents while my best friend or ex best friend? who everyone is convinced is in love with me is here."

"Why don't you just talk to him?"

That question made Normani pick her head up and study Zendaya, she couldn't believe she was on Blair's side. It was nothing for them to discuss, Blair betrayed her and that was the end of that. Bad enough her mother chose him, she didn't need her best friend doing the same.

"I already know you're being dramatic right now." Zendaya snorted, from the look on Normani's face she could tell that she had a conspiracy theory going on in her head. Normani was an over thinker at times so it's not like Zendaya expected anything less. "Look, I know we supposed to be upset with Blair but I still love him and I know you do too. Y'all need to talk."