The Backup

Chapter 18

Past and Present

"Rihanna!!!" China runs to her mentor who had a look of shock, sadness and despair written in her statue. Her presence immediately softens seeing the much smaller girl run towards her happily. "I won, I got the prize." China rang the bell and Willow immediately comes out.

"Woah, you actually did it, nice." Willow applauded and China began to dance around.

Soon her whole squad arrived and Normani turns around to see Beyoncé's squad just behind her.

"Damn it, so close!" Kehlani groaned in annoyance at Rihanna's team accomplishments.

"Don't worry, you guys can be our plus one since you did get second." Gabriella shrugs and Rihanna gave her a soft smile.

"That'll give me a chance to talk to Beyoncé then." She reveals and Normani immediately lock eyes with her.

"You're going to tell her?" Normani immediately wondered.

"Tell me what?" Beyoncé questioned.

"Tonight, you'll know I guess." Normani responded, then she hugged Rihanna.

This shocked everyone, literally everyone there. It was so sudden but it meant a lot. The action spoke a lot of words. But what caught them off guard was Rihanna's laughing.

"Sugar crash, no more chocolate." Rihanna rubbed Normani's back but Normani pulled away with her jaw dropped.

"That's evil." She huffed.

"Had to be done, well let's go get ready for the dinner. You all will need fancy dresses so let's go shopping. Please attempt to dress properly doggies." Rihanna ushered her kids and they walked off happily.

Once arriving at the store after they all showered, Normani split a part from the group and arrived at the make up section where she sees pearl lining in the uniform at the facility.

"Hi." Normani greeted first.

"Hello...Normani. Long time no see." The girl in pearl lining, giggles, showing the girl in the chair a mirror to show her the makeup.

"What's your name?" Normani tilted her head and she patted the seat.

"Ryan, must not remember me?" Ryan rose an eyebrow, watching Normani sit down.

"I do, you never said your name. I only caught Ella and Kehlani's." She revealed and Ryan smirked.

"Do you want something light?" Ryan questioned and Normani furrowed her eyebrows.

"Thank you." Normani took the offered chocolate with a satisfied smile and bit into the delicate happily.

"Just relax...How was the game?" Ryan grabbed some moisturizer.

"Were you not there?" Normani asked.

"Sadly, no. I had something else to do." Ryan applied the foundation after the moisturizer.

"Rihanna x Beyoncé's squad. Fancy dinner." Normani tells her and Ryan smirked.

"With Beyoncé's squad? I heard you and Ella had been hanging about." She teased.