Rivals // Norminah

62

I groan rolling over a little and shifting awake. I roll over on my side rubbing my eyes at the light peaking through the window.

"Glad to see you're awake" I hear. I glance by the door to see Dinah leaning against the wall. I look around and notice I'm in her room.

"Mmm really?" I moan stretching my body out to its full extent.

"Yeah, because we need to talk" She says sternly. I groan pulling the covers up to my chest.

"Not now Dinah, can we do this later?" I mumble.

"No we can't" She states. She pulls something out of her pocket. She's holding out an orange pill bottle between her pointer finger and thumb. I immediately sit up.

"Where did you get that?" I question.

"That's all you have to say? Where did I get it?" She scoffs. "It was in your pants from last night when I was getting you out of your clothes" She throws the container on the bed. I immediately snatch it up. "There's nothing in there anymore, I dumped it out" She shares. I scowl my face at her throwing the covers off me and standing up.

"You had no right to do that!" I yell.

"I had every right to do that! You can't go numbing the pain with that bullshit Normani!" Dinah yells gesturing towards the bottle.

"And who are you to tell me that?!" I shout.

"I'm your girlfriend who cares about you!" She yells back. I roll my eyes looking for my clothes. I find my pants and slide them on with my top. "Where are you going?"

"To get more of these!" I throw the bottle at her feet.

"I'm not gonna let you do that" I scoff while letting out a little chuckle. I start tying my shoes.

"It's funny you think you have that much control over me" I finishing tying up my shoes. I try walking past her but Dinah grabs my arm.

"We're not done talking!" She orders. I yank my arm out of her grip.

"Let go of me Dinah Jane!" I yell. Dinah sighs taking a deep breath.

"I understand you're going through a hard time right now Normani but doing drugs and throwing your life away isn't the answer" Dinah confides. I laugh.

"Don't tell me you understand because you don't. You're here able to come home to a wonderful family every night! I go home to an empty house with nothing but reminders that my parents are gone! You understand nothing!"

"So then talk to me! We used to talk about everything and now you just shut me out!" Dinah leans down grabbing the orange bottle. "These aren't the answer Princess! There are other things that can give your life meaning!" Dinah argues. I scoff.

"Like what? Like you?" I challenge. Dinah looks at me hurt and offended.

"... Now this is the part where you apologize"

"This is the part where you leave me alone" I push past her out the room. I begin walking down the stairs and I notice she's right behind me.

"... Fine. I can't watch you do this to yourself anymore" She says. I roll my eyes.

"What? To difficult for you, is it?" I mock. We walk past the living room where her parents and Funaki are sitting observing us.

"Yes, it is... it breaks my heart to see you this way" Dinah shares. I immediately spin and look at her.

"Don't pity me" I hiss.

"I'm not pitying you!"

"Oh yeah? Then what are you doing here? Bringing gifts to my house like we're old friends hanging out? We are not friends Dinah Jane, we're shit lovers. But you just love a sob story don't you? Is that what I am to you now?" She shakes her head. "Poor Normani Hamilton, charity case! They finally need me, another dread of humanity for you to work on" I scoff. "Patch them up and send them back into the world, hearts just humming! You care so much, don't you?!" I snap.

Dinah looks at me in shock and anger with her face full of different emotions. The awkwardness as both of us glare at each other with other eyes watching us. She shakes her head in defeat.

"Goodbye Normani" Dinah walks away heading back upstairs. I roll my eyes spinning around to leave.

-

I get out of my Uber in front of Kehlani's house. I walk up the drive and knock on the front door. After a few minutes, Lani opens the door in a pair of boxers and a sports bra.

"Mani?" She questions. I smile.

"Well don't you look good" I joke. She playfully rolls her eyes. "Are you parents home?" She shakes her head.

"Nah, they're on a cruise" She shares.

"Awesome!" I try to walk through the door but Kehlani blocks me. "You're not going to let me in?" I ask.

"What do you need Mani?" Lani asks. I roll my eyes.

"Well if you must know, I need more pills. Dinah flushed mine" I cross my arms.

"Maybe that's for the best. You took it too far last night Normani" Kehlani shares. I scoff.

"Not you as well"

"I meant what I said last night. You're cut off" I tighten my fist.

"You don't get to decide that!" I argue.

"Actually I do! You're getting your supply from me and you're done!" Kehlani orders.

"Open the damn door Lani" I try to push it open but she keeps it closed. I try to push harder but she's now pushing me back.

"Mani stop!" She starts blocking out the entrance.

"Then give me what I want!" I yell. I fight harder but she manages to push me back hard making me stumble back. She slams the door shut and I hear her turn the lock. I start banging on the door with no avail making me kick it angrily. "Open the goddamn door Kehlani" I kick the door again.

"Go home Mani" I hear her mumble.

"Lani, I'm begging you just open the damn door" I say against it. I get no response. "Lani!" I kick and punch the door again. "You're full of shit you know that! You know you legit make your living off of selling drugs to teenagers!" I yell.

"Go home Mani!" She says a little louder. I bang on the door more.

"You're a fucking high school drug dealer who'd rather fuck me than her own girlfriend!" I yell. I kick the door again. "Open the door!!" I get no response. Is she seriously not going to open up? "Fuck you!" I yell. "Fuck you Kehlani. Okay? Are you doing this because you care about me, huh?" I scoff.  "If you gave a shit about me, you wouldn't have sold me the goddamn drugs in the first place, but you did!" I scream. "You fucking did! So open the goddamn door!" I bang. "Open the door!"

"I can't do that Mani..."

"Open the door! Open the door! Open the door!!" I continue to bang. My eyes start to fill and poor out as I become more angry. "Open the door..." I slide down to the ground crying. Just crying.

It's probably the most I've cried in a minute. Probably the most I've cried since finding out about my mom. Everything from the last few weeks was pouring out at once and I couldn't stop it.

The door opens and Lani immediately bends to me pulling me into a tight hug securing me. I continue to cry as she holds me tight.

"You fucking did this to me!" I cry. She holds me tighter rocking me and trying to calm me down. "You did this to me Lani..."